NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1196, 1 February 1895, Page 16

NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

The “New Boy" made an excellent etart on Monday night, there being a capital house and the amusing comedy going remarkably well throughout. As a very detailed criticism of the piece has appeared in the Times, it is unnecessary for me to say much in this place. I was glad to see an old acquaintance, Miss Jenny Watt Tanner in a part which so admirably fits her, and which she plays with great spirit and a full conception of its humour. Soma of the imported artistes, however, did not strike me as anything very wonderful, but it is true that the piece does nbt afford very great chances to any but the leading charaters. The pieoe undoubtedly caught on, and although I cannot agree that it is so riotously funny as “ The Private Secretary," as plaj ed by Thornton’s first company, or “Charley’s Aunt," it is undoubtedly a first-class mirth-producer.

The Liliputians* season, a wery long one it has been, dosed on Saturday with a capital entertainment made up of songs, duets and dances , from the various operad composing the company’s repertoii e. On Sunday the company left for Blenheim by the WMhi. Their future dates, as kindly supplied me by Mr Duval, are as follows .-—Blenheim, this week; Nelson, February 2 ; Westport, February 8 and 9 ; Greymouth, February 11; Kumara, February 18 and 19 ; Hokitika, February 2D; returning to the North Island, and commencing at Wanganui on Monday, March 4 (the race week). Three more operas are now in rehearsal : “ Paul Jones," “ Pepita," and “ Madame Fayart."

It ia undeistood that Mr Pollard’s clever company will pay a return and flying visit at Easter when, so I hear, they will prodaoe a hew version of that good old timer, “Unole Tom’s Cabin," with special spectacular and musioal effects of a highly attractive character.

Walter Bentley has, I understand, severed his connection with Mr Manfred Bose, and has further, so I am informed, stated that he will never tread the boards as an actor again, which is a resolution which I hardly think he will keep. The retired journalist is always hankering after the scissors and paste —he calls it his pen — of other days, and “ once an actor always an actor " is a saying in which there is much truth. However, I wish Mr Bentley success with his lecturing project.

Mr George Leitch, I notice, now joins Mr Bose and the members of the old Bentley-Rose combination, in a six nights season to be commenced at the Opera House on Monday next, the company appearing in “ The Old Homestead," a drama which has had a remarkable vogue in the States. Mr Leitch is an experienced actor, and I wish Mr Rose every success in his new venture.

A Christchurch paper is responsible for a report that Fitzgeralds will take their circus to Frisco after the conclusion of the New Zealand tour, and “ from America to Queenstown, Dublin, Liverpool, London, Paris, Berlin, Milan, Naples, Romo, ar.d then home to .Australia by the Suez Canal.” Why not Japan, Jericho and Jorusulem while they’re about it ? It’s a good show, but it’s hardly good enough for London and the Continent.

“ Up-to-date" writes me as follows : Dear Lorgnette, —l see that Messrs Williamson and Musgrove’s agent advertises that the “ New Boy ” has boon played “ in London" over 800 consecutive nights. This is an error. The first night was the 21st February, 1894, consequently the 800th night will be Tuesday, February 6th, as I don’t suppose they played on Sundays." I may point out to my correspondent that for some months past Saturday and Wednesday matine6 performances of the *• New Boy " have been regularly given at the Vaudeville, and that counting these in the 300th performance of the piece has long ago (been reached. ‘‘Consecutive nights" is

merely a slip of tho pen. Theatrical agents are not infallible.

A correspondent, “ Thespis," writes to inform me that Miss Eloise Juno and Miss Louise Crawford have taken the part of Hamlet. I am much obliged for the information, but 1 must protest against his introductory remark —“ Since you pretend to know everything about the stago I’m astonished that you can say in your last notes, that Mrs E. B. Lewis is the first actress in the colonies to play Hamlet." “ Thespis " is as stupid as ho is rude. I merely quoted the fact of Mrs Lewis’ appearance in the part and then simply asked “ Have there been many female Hamlets?" As to any pretence on my part, as alleged by my correspondent, to an infallibility as regards the stage, it has never existed. I merely collect or write such paragraphs relating to the stage and to players as may seem to me to be of interest to my readers, and do not pretend to be free from making mistakes. When, however, a correspondent, like “ Thespis," so absurdly misrepresents what I have written, I think that regular readers of this column —and I have reason to know they are many—will agree with me that it is I who have cause for complaint. I trust that in the future my friend “ Thespis" will road my notes with more care before he rushes into print to express his astonishment at a statement which I never made.

Another correspondent, “ Constant Reader," who is as courteous as “ Thespis," was rude, writes as follows: I would remind Lorgnette of Louise Pomeroy, the American actress who toured these colonies about .1.4 years ago with George Elliott. She played Hamlet, and played it well, though there was a smattering of tne nasal twang through the p'erformance which somewhat grated on the nerves. As far as my memory serves me, she was tho only female Hamlet that over came to the colonies. I have no experience of the Old Country." A third correspondent informs me that Eloiso Juno and Miss Louise Crawford have both played Hamlet in tho colonies, and states that, so he thinks, Miss Bateman, whose “ Leah" was so famous, used to play tho part in tho English provinces.

Miss Janet Achureh (Mrs Charrington), who played Nora in Ibsen’s “ Doll House," round New Zealand, seems to have dropped out of the London play bills of late. A few weeks ago she appeared at a matinde given by Mr Beerbohm Tree. I hear she has lost much of her old intensity and, horrible dictu, has become very fat.

That good old “ frivoller " Dr Bill, was revived at the Jjondon Court Theatre about the middle of Docombor. fears ago, Mr George Alexander (of Tanqueray fame) made the piece the first production of his management at the Avenue, and the leading parts were played by Miss Fanny Brough and Mr Fred Terry, and afterwards by Mr Alexander himself and Miss Alma Stanley. In the more recent production at the Court, Mr Charles Hawtrey (the best of English light comedians) playsDr Bill and Miss Lottie Venno the principal lady part. Miss Edith Kenward is the Kangaroo Girl and an old acquaintance of New Zealanders. Mr Robb Harwood, also has a small part.

The Brough and Boucicault Company were to follow the pantomime at Sydney Lyceum, opening with “ Sowing the Wind "on Saturday last. Mr Boucicault is now on his way out from England with new peoplo and new plays. Mr and Mrs Brough start for England on the 16th March. The new people Mr Boucicault is bringing out include Miss Gernldino Oliffe (who takes Mrs Brough’s part), Misses M. Talbot and Beryl Faber, and Messrs Arthur Ellwood and Otway Compton.

Woodloch’s Circus, recently at Adelaide, has now moved to Sydney where a water pantomime is to be one of the chief attractions. Allan Hamilton is the business manager.

Did you ever see a girl who was brought up (?) upside down, that is to say, who has to bo led by her feet as ono would lead a child by the hand ? Tho>'o was such a young woman exhibiting herself at Koster and Dial’s in New York. Her name is Eugenie Petorescuo. She is not a freak. On the contrary, she is well formed and has an attractive face and golden hair. She is merely tired of the oldfashioned way of walking, and prefers to ambulate with her legs in the air. Her father, a distinguished looking foreignerwith a gigantic diamond and a good supply of table d'hote French, told the doctors and newspaper men present at a private exhibition that when his daughtor was a child he noticed that she always drew the weight of her body on her hands and knees, and not on her feet as the ordinary mortal does, and he said, “ With time and patienco I soon had the pleasure of seeing my daughter use her hands like feet." With evident regret he added : “If she had been brought up among quadrupeds I have no doubt that by now she would be a quadruped."

London Topical Times , just out by the mail, announces that Teddy Lonnon has signed a seven-weeks’ contract to appear at the Alhambra, the famous music hall in Leicester Square. The T.T. says:— “ This is certainly a good move on the

part of tho Alhambra, and tlieir gain is the regular theatre’s loss.

In the Melbourne Royal Pantomine, our old acquaintance, Oily Doering, who plays the Emperor of China, wears, so it is said, BGlbs of padding. Considering how hot it is in Melbourne just now, and time Oily is by no moans “ scant of llesh," it is not surprising ho is now known as “ Oily ” Deering.

Tho latest Bulletin publishes the portraits of Mr and Mrs Arthur Dacro (Miss Amy Roselle), who have just come out to join Elton in a sort of co-operative show at Melbourne Bijou. They are a handsome pair. Amy Roselle was in the original cast of “Our Boys"—a good many years ago now —at London Vaudeville. So by the way was Mrs Lohr (Miss Kate Bishop). The two old acquaintances will have a chance of foregathering after a long spell of separation.

“ Charley’s Aunthas started on a tour of Sydney suburbs. This doesn’t look as if the recent season in the city had been any surprising success.

The Dacres, alluded to above, make their first appearance in Australia in “ A Wife’s Ordeal,” a play written specially for them by George R. Sims.

The Australasian says that Miss Nina Boucicault, who is played in Jones’ queerly named play, “ The Case of Rebellious Susan,” in London, “ takes off the colonial accent and intonation of Australian ladies.’ “ All Australian ladies in London,” says the Australasian, “ go to see her.” How they must enjoy it!

Messrs Williamson and Musgrove have, it is stated, rocently bought the Australian rights of four plays by Mr Albert E. Drinkwator, including a four act drama “ Two Christmas Eves." Mr Drinlcwater is a dramatist of provincial reputation in England.

Veteran Duncan McCallum, who recently went to Ooolgardie is'back again in Sydney, saying that for theatricals the place is no good now.

Mr John Fordo, who was here with Maggie Moore, joins Billy Elton at Melbourne Bijou, replacing Mr Walter Shine, one of the unfortunate Morocco Bounders, who retires. The company will shortly produce “ Tho Foundling," recently played at Terry’s Theatre, London.

The new pieces of which Mr Boucicault has purchased the rights are, “ Tho Masqueraders," “ Tho Caso of Rebellions Susan," “Tho New Woman," and Iladdon Chambers’ new play “ John A’Dreams." All these pieces are now being played at loading London theatres. The B. and B. combination certainly don’t lack enterprise.

Many are the anecdotes concerning Rubinstein which have been printed since the death of the great pianist-composer took place. Nothing more pathetic, however, it seems to me, has been written than Herr Zabel’s account of the closing scene in his memorable life. On the Monday when the Emperor’s funeral took place, says this authority, he stayed up until eleven, and had his accustomed rubber cf whist, and then retired to his bod-room. Madame Rubinstein, who was particularly anxious on this evening, noticed towards 11.80 a light in her husband’s rootn. She went to him as he lay in bed, pointed to the burning candle, and aßlced why ho had not put it out. He smiled, pointed to the clock, which was on a table near his bed, and said : “ There are five minutes yet." Ho loved to have everything go as if by clock-work, and would not go to sleep before half-past eleven. Madame Rubinstein then withdrew to her room. But about ono o’clock she was awakened by a piercing cry from her husband. She was hurrying to him when she met him at the door. Pale as death, and with the coverlet in his hand, he stood before her and cried hoarsely, “ I am choking." Madame Rubinstein tried to load him back to bed, but he refused, and remained in his wife’s arms until he died a few minutes afterwards. He had evidently had an apopleptic stroke during his sleep, and in jumping out of bed was already dying. Excessive smoking, which was a habit from his early youth, seems to have accelerated his untimely end.

“In the midst of life, &c." An actress who was playing Ophelia at Johannesburg, South Africa, lately, went on herself for the corpse on the bier, instead of a dummy. Next day she was taken ill and died before evening.

Miss Alice Lethbridge, I see, accompanies Mr Lonnen to the Alhambra, where they will do the “ Marionette dance," which has been very popular in “ Little Christopher Columbus," in which both artists have been playing so long.

Smart I—A little daughtor having been born to Mr Tree, the well-known London actor, a London evening paper headed the news, “ A Now Branch." The sub editor is nothing if not up-to date. Modern Society, referring to the same event, says,—“ The family Tree ia increasing in the female branch. Twiggoz vous ?

Fitzgerald’s circus lias been doing good business as Christchurch, but it is very

finlucky for both the circus and the Royal Comic Opera Company that their dates should have clashed.

Mr Bert Haslem, round with the Gaiety Company, is now playing “ Bobby "in the “ Gaiety Girl" at Daly’s Theatre, London.

The London Evtr' Acte says ; —“ Have you heard the news?" “No 1" “Why, they say that ‘ John-a-Dreams ’ has sent ‘ The New Woman ’ ‘ A Bunch of Violets,’ but just as they wore arranging to go for ‘ A Trip to Chinatown,’ ‘ A Ratal Card ’ came which said that ‘ Claude Duval ’ had been out late one night with ‘ A Gay Young widow ’ and committed ‘ A Rob bery Under Arms.’ ‘Charley’s Aunt’ has given an awful spanking to ‘ The New Boy ’ because ho put all his ‘ Money ’ on ‘ The Derby Winner,’ and wont on the spi'ee with * Rebellious Susan.’ "

The “Gaiety Girl" has recently been appearing with tremendous success at a theatre in New York. The nightly congregation of mashing Johnnies attracted to the stage-door of the theatre by the ladies of the company has, for some time past been the talk of New York. All sorts of stringent measures were adopted by the management to put a stop to this state of things—but all to no avail. About a fortnight ago, however, the management (according to the Figaro) got a reporter to stand at the stage-door, with pad and pencil, and take down the names of the Johnnies as they appeared on the scene. The next morning the society columns of a paper contained the following : “ Among the well known gentlemen who called at the stage-door of Daly’s Theatre last evening were "