PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 14

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

" Hero come the actors, Buz, Buz." ' —Hamlbt The theatrioal editor of tlie New Zealand Mail will be happy to receive and print route dates and any other information concerning: the movements of companies. A post card giving "route dates "for the week is recommended: Address all Communications for this column to "Lorgnette," New Zealand Mail office, Lamb ton quay, Wellington.

NOTES BY LORGNETTE.

The writer;of theatrical criticisms in the Wangaoui Chronicle got a little mixed the other day in his notice of 4i Ransom," an Australian drama played by the Mostyn-Dalziel company. He says :—" In some .way one is reminded of BoldreWood's famous Under Arms;' the latter piece coming into one's recollection more through contrast than aiihilarity. i For instance the brutality of Captain Frere, the prison governor depicted by Boldrewood, is counterbalanced by the humanity, evidenced in the goal officials who play their parts in * Ransom,' while the gentlemanly conduct of Starlight, who figures so prominently in ■' Bobbery Under Arms,' is set off by the ; savagery and low cunning displayed by Captain Grrainger, the leader of the bush- : rangers in i' Ransom:'" But Captain Frere is not a character in " Robbery Under Arms;'' either novel or play. He is One of the characters in Marcus Clarke's "For the Term of His Natural Life."

v ' "'■'•: What apity it isv that there can't be ' Bome copyright in; journHlistic norm de ; A plunteJ I see that the Auckland Graphic ■U has started a column i. of " Footlight " Flashes,", b^y" 4 'The .Prompter.'' But there is "already a * Prompter" who writes theatrical gossip, and very chatty arid interesting gossip it is, for an Inverv 'cargill; paper, the Southland News. V Another who signs himself u writes Musical and Brama- •.' tiCal Notes for the Canterbury Times, and ( ,a;third gentlehiah, Rompter," coni; theatrical notes to . tlie Witness. ' Surely my. worthy confrere • on the Graphic might have chosen another t.name% rather, than have selected one .alreadyso freely in; use. I might also % point out; that "/Fobtlight Flashes" is r;the heading Of ''Gill Boy's" brisk and readable theatrical-gossip in the Dunedin -star. " .'■".;. ' : ■

' In referring, in )&$ week's notes, to , 'Mr John Hare's:projected visit to, Australiai I mentioned that he had played for,* long time with the Bancrofts at the Haymarket. <* Hfymarket" was a slip or .'the pen for the Prince of Wales's Theatre, the cosy- little house off the Tottenham Court Road, where the Bancrofts scored so many triumphs. A few further details about Mr Hare will, no doubt, be of interest. : I quote from '•'" Players of To Day Mr Hare made his first appearance in London on September 25th, 1865, at the Prince of Wales's Theatre ~tas Short in "Naval Engagements'' Then.;he was concerned in all the Robertsonjah successes, playing Lord in "Society," Prince Perovsky \ii " Ours,.!' Sam Garridge in 1 ' Caste,'* and Beau Farintosh in '* School." la March, 1875, he undertook the management of the Court Theatre, opening with the comedy of " Lady Flora," which was followed by the production of a number of original works, amongst these being " Broken Hearts," "The House of Darnley,"and "Brothers." On October 4th, 1879, he joined the Kendals in the management of the Si. James's Theatre, ' where his performances in " Still Waters Run Deep ". (Mr Potter), *The Money Spinner " (Baron Crpodle), "The Lady of Lyons " (Colonel Damas), "Home" , Mountraffe), and " The Squire " (Rey. Paul Dormer), all added to his reputation. On April 24th, 1889, Mr" Hare opened the Garnck Theatre, of which he became responsible for the managements His most notable productions- at* this theatre have been "The-Profligate/ and "A Pair of Spectacles " ; in the latter play his performance of Benjamin Goldfinch will live in the memory of those who saw it for ' its admirably artistic qualities. Mr Hare is the most delightful impersonator of old men parts of our time. In a range one might think limited, his performances are as distinct one from the other as they would be if he were capable of playing Romeo and the Apothecary.". Pollard's Opera Company did well at Hastings, and this week are ab Napier.

"Tambour Major," "Madame Favart," and " The Gondoliers" are on the bill.

Mr George Leitch, who until recently was acting as caretaker of the Napier Theatre Royal, has been in town during the week. Mr T. Nicholson, scenic artist, has, I see by a paragraph in the Napier Telegraph, been placed in charge of the Napier theatre.

Recent productions of the Kennedy Company at the Dunedin City H*U have been "The Shaughran," "Current Cash," and "Neck or Nothing."

The Marton amateurs are about to produce the favourite domestic drama, "The Chimney Corner."

Mr Walter Bentley, and the syndicate behind him, have been very successful with "The Passion Play" lecture. On Sunday night a grand Scottish night is to be given. Mr Bentley gives "The Passion Play " lecture at Chri3tchurch at Easter.

The Lynch Family of Bellringers are touring Tasmania at present.

Walter Howe, a great favourite when here with Bland Holt, and afterwards with Miss Spong, is now in America, playing a leading part in "A Prodigal Daughter."

A monument (broken fluted column with marble panels let into the pedestal) has been erected at Aliwal North, Cape Colony, to the memory of the late John J. Wirth, of circus fame, who died there last year. The deceased was only 38 years of age, and was a native of Ipswich, Queens'and.

"Mr Walter Bentley has definitely retired from the stage for the lecture platform." They all do it. Coppin did —about 1846. But Walter-r-r has only had his last appearance, prior to the positively last, and most positively, after which you begin again de novo. —Bulletin.

Oscar Wilde, cheeky as ever, says his last piece "is exquisitely trivial." It would be interesting what adjectives he would apply to the charges (alleged to be libellous) recently brought against him by the Marquis of Queensberry.

Two members of the original cast of " Our Boys," are now playing in " Esther Sandraz," at Melbourne Bijou, Misses Kate Bishop. (Mrs Lohr) and Amy Roselle (Miss Dacre). These two ladies played the two Melrose girls. David James (dead) wasthePerkinMiddlewick; Farren (dead). Sir Geoffrey Ohampneys ; Charles Warner wa3 the Charley Middlewick, and Thorne (James' partner at the Vaudeville) young Talbot Champneys,

Jennie Lee, last heard of as doing well at Capetown, is said to contemplate a revival of " Jo " in " dear old Londing."

Perth, Western Australia, is to have two theatres. Up to the present it has had none. One of the new theatres is to be built by a local publican, the other (to cost £15,000) by a company floated by Woodiield, late tenor in Williamson and Musgrove's Opera Company. Of course, all this enterprise is a result of Coolgardie.

Messrs Brough and Boucicault send me a bundle of press notices about the new people. They are all highly eulogistic, and when the Bulletin actually praises most of the new importations, we may be sure they're all right. After all, the Bulletin is the only reliable paper on the "other side " in matters theatrical. Like Lorgnette, it (nearly) always tells the truth.

Bulletin on Miss Geraldine OHffe, Mrs Brough's successor, as leading lady : Miss Geraldine Oliffe, Mrs Brough's successor, is an unalloyed success. She is tall, graceful, and stately, with a* bright expressive face, a strong musical voice, and a magnetic presence ; also, she is a finished actress, and, as Jones's heroine, she is nearly half the drama.

Melbourne shows :—" The New Boy" and Tableaux Vivants at the Princess ; "A Bunch of Violets" (Mr and Mrs Dacre), at the Bijou ; " Shamus O'Brien," ab the Royal ; and ; Rickards' Varieties at the Opera House.

Sydney shows .-—Lyceum, " The Masqueraders" (Brough and Boucicault) ; Theatre Royal, 4t Fatal Card" (Bland Holt) ; and Tivoli, Rickards' Varieties. Mr and Mrs Brough have left for London by the Austral. For Mrs Brough's benefit "Niobe" was staged, and drew an immense house. Mr Brough will be away about ten months.

Charles Holloway's Company, recently touring Tasmania, has now gone to Newcastle, N.S.W., and "Charley's Aunt," piloted by the ever-festive Lohr, is off to Bananaland.

" Skipped by the Light of the Moon " has broken out afresh (with Johnny Gourlay and Isabel Webster) at the Oxford, Melbourne.

Mr W. S. Gilbert, cantankerous fellow, seems bent upon keeping the hatchet unburied with Sullivan. The other afternoon (says the London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian to hand by

last mail), an extensive selection of Sir Arthur Sullivan's vocal compositions was performed at the London Ballad Concert, and as it included several pieces from different Savoy operas, Mr Gilbert's sanction was asked for the words to be printed in the programme. The following notice appeared in the book of the words: "Mr Boosey regrets to say he has been unable to obtain Mr Gilbert's permission to print the words of the Gilbert and Sullivan numbers." The author's rights are beyond question. It only remains to be seen how far it is his intention to push them. The crucial test will come when Mr D'Oyly Carte finds it desirable to revive "The Mikado" or some other popular opera of the series, and c*n obtain only the composer's permission to do so. This point, I happen to know, was arrived at shortly before the revision of "The Contrabandista " was determined upon, and it will certainly, sooner or later, crop up again.

Latest " Murkan" advices report Max O'Rell lecturing at Chicago. Ovide Musin (violinist) at Louisville,- Kentucky, and Brown-Potter and "Curly" Beliew at Philadelphia.

Mr George Grossmith, jim., is engaged to Miss Adelaide Astor, sister of Miss Letty Lind. Both of London Gaiety.

At Cracow, recently, the manager of a wandering theatrical company asked permission of the police authorities to perform Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar." The request was granted on condition that the soldiers who appear in several scenes ehould " not be dressed in the uniform of the Imperial and Royal Austrian Army." The permission is signed by a Court; Councillor, and is treasured by the manager as a curiosity.

South Africa is to be over-run with English actors and actresses. A London paper states that Miss Alice Atherton and Mr Willie Edouin intend to make tracks for the Land of Diamonds. Also, vex-y probably, the long-necked E. J. Lonnen.

From the latest Era to hand I notice that Mr 3 Walter Bentley is announced to appear on tour with her company, headed by Mr C. B. Keston, from Easter Monday. The repertoire includes "Nell Gwynne," "Joan of Arc," and "Jane Shore." The reported death of Mrs Bentley was, therefore, premature. "Call Boy" writes in the Dunedin Star :— Louis Braham, who died recently in the Prince Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, was the tenor in that excellent combination the United States Minstrel Company, which included Amery, Tommy Hudson, Charlie Holly (' ° id times, Rocks '), and others. Subsequently Braham came to New Zealand under Messrs Hiscock and Hayman's management, and with Messrs Beaumont Reid. and Amery he helped to form a trio of unequalled excellence.

Mr Tom Fitzgerald, of Fitzgerald Brothers' Circus, passed through Wellington by the Tarawera on Saturday for Gisborne, where the show will open for a short season. The New Zealand season, Mr'Fitzgerald states, has been a great success. The proprietors have decided to take the whole show to Auckland, where they will lay up for the winter. The brothers then leave by the Mariposa on the 20th of April for America, after which they visit Great Britain and the Continent. They will secure a new company of firstclass artists. The second New Zealand season will be started at Auckland in November next. The Brothers Fitzgerald are deserving of success in their new enterprise.

From a private letter received this week, we learn that the late Mr Harry Marshall died very suddenly. It appears that he had been suif ering with his old chest complaint, and while on tlie railway journey from Gympie to Brisbane he suddenly said to his wife, "Fanny, it's all over/' and expired shortly after in the arms of his partner, Mr Bailey. The sudden death of Mr Marshall cast quite a gloom over the members of the company, with whom he was very popular.

While Pollard's Company we te playing " Tambour Major " in the Theatre Royal, at Napier on Monday night, a piece of scroll work caught fire. W. Percy, with great coolness, and still singing in a perfectly natural manner, picked up the burning paper, deposited it in the wings, and placed his foot upon it.

Mr C. H. Mills, M.H.B. for WaimeaPicton, has come up to Wellington for the purpose of urging upon Ministers the importance of extending the present tramway right through the Eai Valley as a means of utilising the valuable timber resources of the district.

Several residents of Wellington have been victimised lately by a man who has been representing himself as an official of the Corporation. His practice is to inform the householder at whose house he calls that he is deputed to number the house, and he thereupon fixes a number on the wall, for which he makes the modest charge of 2s. As a matter of fact, no such work is being carried out by the Corporation.

The Postal Department has accepted the tender of Mr S. Harding for the conveyance of mails between Eketahuna and Pahiatua via Mangaone Valley and Kaitawa. The service is to be a tri-weekly one, and Mr Harding will drive a, fourhorse coach.