NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1190, 21 December 1894, Page 16

NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

. The sensation next week will be Mr Pollard’s grantL pantomime production, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," which will be staged for the first time on Wednesday (Boxing Night) The pantomime has been in very careful rehearsal, and preparations forsQme time past, and Mr Pollard vows he will break the record as far as New Zealand is concerned, and give us the most gorgeous spectacle Wellingtonians have .yet seen in -this line. The same pantomime was originally produced at Drury Lane, the dresses and scenery being afterwards copiod for similar productions ab the Theatre Royal, Sydney, and the Princess’, Melbourne! Mr Pollard bought the scenery and costumes used in Melbourne, and the panto, here will be staged exactly as it was in the Victorian metropolis.

A big feature is the Congress of Nations, which is described as being one of the xnoßt gorgeous spectacles ever produced on the stage. The costumes and emblems of each nation represented are of the most brilliantly effective chaiacter, and the music includes national airs, and is of a thoroughly representative nature. At Adelaide, where this pantomime was produced by the Liliputians last Christmas, it drew' crowded houses for four weeks, and no doubt a similar success will be achieved here. In the last act there is a bridal procession which, I believe, is of exceptional interest to the fair sex. The dresses are trimmed with real Honiton lace, and .no expense has been spared to-make the spectacle one of the most brilliant ever seen on a Welling ten stage. - ,

Miss Cissy Saudford (Samuels) plays a “boy" part—Ganem—for the first time in Wellington, J*Vlies Marion Mitchell is the Morgiaha,'Young Percy is the Ah Baba, Quealy .the Ccgia, and A If. Stephens, always a great favourite, has an excellent part in-Hassarac, the chief of the thieves. The music is “ up-to-date," comprising the very latest English and American melodies, and the dialogue has been ‘ ’ written up " specially for the occasion. Altogether, judging by what I can hear as to the Christmas production of the Liliputians, it should create quite a sensation.

From Wellington the Company goes to the Blenheim and Nelson, and then on to the West -Coast of the South Island, returning to Wanganui for race week.

Mias Amy Gourlay and Mr William Gourlay, who are to appear at Thomas’ Hall on the 24th, 27th, 28th' and 29th'December, are the youngest children of old William Gourlay, who was round New Zealand with “McGregor’s Levee" some 25 years ago. Miss Amy: Gourlay has been playing in Messrs Williamson and Musgrove’s and Brough and Boucicault’s companies for the past six years. Their entertainment is known as “ Music, Mirth and Monody," and is said to be of a very

varied and attractive character, including comic songs, “coster" ditties, skirt and corkscrew dancing and short comediettas. Miss Gourlav is a very graceful dancer and Mr William Gourlay is stated to be a dancer of the Fred Storey type. Other artistes, including good singers and a firstclass conjurer, are to be included in the company appearing here, and a thoroughly good entertainment may relied upon. The 'Sydney Morning Herald says : Miss Amy Gourlay and Mr William Gourlay, in their entertainment, reminded us of their father and mother, who appeared before the Australian public about twenty years ago in “ Mrs McGregor’s Levee." The present generation is, undoubtedly, a worthy successor of the past; their performances are high class and refined, full of good music and amusing, without a suspicion of vulgarity. Good houses have been the rule all through the Brough and Boucicault season, which closes to night, Friday, with a performance of the very laughable “Niobe." “Lady Windermere’s Fan" made quite a hit, although the “freedom" occasionally displayed in the dialogue (especially in the first act) was not relished by a good many among the audience. “ She Stoops to Conquer " went fairly well, and as for the acting in “ The Second Mr 3 Tanqueray" it was, I think, of a higher degree of excellence than any this clever company have done here.

' The company go direct to Invercargill, where they give a single performance of “ Niobe," and then proceed to Australia. Mr Wallace, the acting manager, te'.ls me that the B. and B. Company, with many new faces, rnd a completely new repertoire, will re-visit New Zealand some time next year.

Mr Walter Bentley and his Company give two performances at Masterton this week.

Fitzgerald’s Circus give performances at Nelson on Saturday and Monday last, West Coast to follow.

George Leitch has gone to Dunedin to fulfil an engagement with the Kennedy Dramatic Company.

Mr William Hughes, the evergreen “ Petey," is, I am glad to hear, coming ahead of the Royal Comic Opera Companyrand another old friend, Mr Joe Sb. Clair, will act as avant courier for the Firm’s Comedy Company. Both are welcome visitors.

The Auckland Herald's London correspondent writes Among the passengers to New Zealand by the Doric this trip is Mr. C. Cummings, a son of Mr W. H. Cummings, the once famous English tenor, and the equally celebrated musical director, composer, and writer on musical subjects. Mr Cummings, jun., is, like his father, an excellent singer and musician, and will, no doubt, receive a warm welcome from New Zealand musicians, to some of whom he takes letters of introduction and recommendation.— Mr Kirkley Campbell, the New Zealand tenor sang with great success two of Sir Arthur Sullivan’s songs at a recent London concert, receiving a double encore. The songs were ‘ Once Again ’ and 4 Edward Gray.’ The latter is one of h?s especial 4 hits ’ ; he sings it splendidly, as I can testify from personal experience."

M. Leon Caron, the well known conductor of the Royal Comic Opera Company, had a very narrow escape from a serious accident recently at the Melbourne Princess. He fell through one of the doorways underneath the stage, which had been inadvertently left ungardod during the progress of the alterations. Luckily somebody caught him and broke the fall, otherwise he would have been precipitated acme 15 feet.

From the Bulletin :—“The critics, remarks our London correspondent, have been very kind to Alfred Dampier and ‘ Robbery Under Arms,’ just produced at the Princess’s. Alfred put all he knew into the leading character, whilst Herbert Fleming was a manly and vigorous Dick Marston. Charles A church Charrington got special leave from Janet to play a desperado, which'he did to the satisfaction of the gallery. He gave full vent to his voice, and stormed and raved after the most approved manner of bushrangers. Anna Face-lotion Ruppert gave a charming interpretation of Starlight’s devoted Aileen, and what gave even more pleasure than her acting was her appearance on a milk-white palfrey which she bestrode with m uch grace. Clarence Holt got a rare reception, and showed how melodrama should be played—no mealymouthed business, sir, but your real old Astley’s form. ‘Robbery Under Arms’ should draw money to pit and gallery, but it will not be a lasting success. However, Dampier made a good entry on the London boards, and that is some-thing.—-Unfortunate Melbourne criticism oh Maggie Moore: ‘Taking her all round, she certainly has no equal amongst Australian actresses.’ Maggie Moore. Moore intends having three farewell seasons, the present one in Melbourne, then one in Sydney, and another in Brisbane.—Camilla Urso, who has gone to South Africa, is accompanied by the cherubic tenor,, Charles Saunders, and the mop-haired Polish pianist, Benno Scherek. The stories about Urso’s

financial failure in Australia are blatherskite. She made a clear thou., says a correspondent."