PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 29

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

" The actors are com-e hither, my lord, Buz, Buz —Hamlet.

NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.’

The Nance O’Neil season terminated as it begun with a fine performance of Sudermaim’s “Magda. 15 Miss O’Neil afforded the play-going public a great dramatic treat, and it is much te be regretted that owing to previously made engagements and other reasons the season was so short. The future career of the talented young tragedienne will he watched with much curiosity.

The Stanford Dramatic Company commenced a season at the Opera House on Monday last, when the fine melodrama, “Tne Power and the Glory,” was staged before a large and highly appreciative audience. The company includes several artists of high rank in their profession, and the play is splendidly mounted, the scenic effects being specially worthy of praise. The season promises to be most successful.

Business continues good at both the “New Royal” and the Choral Hall. Capital programmes are being presented at these two popular places of amusement. * -* * * *

Mr Dix’s panto. “The Babes in the Wood,’’ has been drawing big houses at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunedin.

Fitzgerald Brothers take their circus to Tasmania almost immediately, and after a complete tour of that colony come on to New r Zealand, commencing at the Bluff and following the firm’s usual route through both islands. In addition to the many novelties already brought out by Mr Tom Fitzgerald, a special attraction will be provided for the New Zealand tour in' the shapel of the famous diving horses, which have been creating such a sensation at the London Hippodrome. The horses dive from a height of 40 feet into water. «

Mr J. C. Williamson leaves for juondon and the Continent, via America, early next month. He will combine business with pleasure, and keep a keen: look-out for suitable attractions. He has already, it is understood, engaged a new American comedy company for an Australian tour.

“A Message from Mars” has beesn drawing big audiences at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, where Mr Hawtrey and his London Company have made thetmselves extremely popular. The next production will be a farcical comedy “Tom, Dick and Harry.” After seasons in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, Mr Hawtrey will visit New Zealand. He has a repertoire of no fewer than ten successful comedies, mostly of the farcical nature.

The Arnold Company has been, I hear, doing splendid business all along the line since leaving Wellington, and the tour will add a bulky amount to the popular actcr-manager’s banking account. Mr Arnold is not due at Sydney Palace until Easter, so a return visit to Wellington may be expected.

Mr George Musgrove’s grand opera company is now in Brisbane. It is to bo hoped that Mr Musgrove will carry out his new rumoured intention of visiting Netw Zealand.

An additional attraction in Mr Williamson’s Sydney panto., “Australis,” is now a “kine. 1 ” exhibition showing .natures of the Commonwealth procession and the ceremony in the Centennial Park. “Australis’’ will be “moved on” to Melbourne this week, its place at Her Majesty’s, Sydney, being taken by “Flo adora,” in which the! re-organised “Royal Comics” have been so successful in Melbourne.

Jimmy Bain, who was so great a favourite with Dix’s show at the Exchange Hall, is now touring the Auckland goldfield’s district with a company of Ills own.

Wirth’s circus is now in Hawke’s Bay, West Coast of this island to follow.

Donald Macdonald did splendid business at Fremantle and Perth, and is new touring the Westralian goldfields. At Perth the popular ‘‘Mac” Avas entertained

by the local journalists at a complimentary picnic. Mr GeacJj forwards .a copy of the menu, which includes such items a? “Boiled Tugela Schnapper and Pom-Pom Sauce”; Roast Lombard’s Kop Chic Ken and Long Tom Ham.” Amongst the sweets is “Mulberry pie—a veldt wan l ' Mac and his friend Geacb. are evident ly having a good time.

Julius Knight, here with Williamson’s Dramatic Company, is still “resting” in London. Even for good actors, “shops” are hard to get in London just new. The fact is that the profession is lamentably overcrowded.

Alfred Dampier has produced a new Australian play “The! Bush King,” by W. J. Lincoln, at Sydney Criterion. * * * *

Among the Sullivan stories related by the American press is one of a New York editor, now dead, who was much annoyed by the constant use of the “hardly ever’’ catchword. Calling his staff together, he threatened instant dismissal to any offender. “This thing occurred,” said !ie, “twenty times in as many articles in yesterday’s paper. Never let it be used again.” “What, never?” exclaimed the staff, in chorus. “Well, hardly ever,” replied the distracted editor, surrendering to the inevitable.

Lauri has held his place as principal comedian in the Royal Comic Opera for nine years, barring only a few months’ back, Avhat time he filled an engagement at Rickards’. He made his first Austral han appearance at Melbourne Princess’ on Boxing night, 1891, in “The Moi.y Monarch.” J. C. Williamson was just then running the theatre on his own, Musgrove being in opposition. The tenth year of Lauri finds him going verv strong in “Floradora” for Williamson and Musgrove.

Miss Olga Nethersole’s !?aplio, at Wallaces Theatre, New York, was the first performance in English that Mdme Sarah Bernhardt witnessed after her arrival, and she went) behind the scenes to congratulate Miss Nethersoie upon her impersonation. In acknowledgement of the compliment, Miss gave a “Bernhardt luncheon.”

Mr C'diy.'tice Pounds is/ to make his first appearance in Shakespearian comedy as the Clown in the English revival of “Twelfth Night,” at her Majesty’s Theatre early in February.

■X if * & * Miss Maggie Moore has returned from America on a brief business visit, and Mr William Anderson has arranged with her to make a. short tour through the principal States of Australia. The season will begin on the 9th February at Newcastle, and Tasmania and Victoria, will afterwards be visited. Miss Moore has brought several new pieces, amongstthem “Killarney.”

Mr Robert Loraine, a well-known London actor, who recently retained from South Africa, where he' bad been serving with the Imperial Yeomanry, is one of the few men to whom it has been permitted to read his obituary notice. In the back numbers of several theatrical papers lie will find a long circumstantial account of his own death, as a report reached England some time ago that he had been swept down a river that his regiment was trying to cross, and drowned in sight of his comrades.

Mr George; Darrell, whose association with the Australian stage dates back to. the days of Walter Montgomery, is about to leave on a visit to the States, says the “Leader.” Before he goes, he is to be treated to a special complimentary send-off.

A member of the Charles Arnold Company, Mr George Willoughby, is so impressed with Australasia, that at the close of the tour of the company he intends to return to England and bring out a company of his own.

Mile. Antonia Dolores, as Mile. An-* toinette Trebelli now styles herself, will open at the Town Hall, Sj’dney, about April 25. A New Zealand tour is on the cards-

* * * * Miss Florence Eisdaile, the Australian singer, has written, to us (London “Era”) concerning her experiences in Berlin, where she is engaged to sing at the Apollo Theatre. She states: “When I called to see the directors re the rehearsals, they informed me that on account of my not sending in the words of my songs for the police to see, they could not allow me to sing. You can imagine my dismay. Fortunately for me, there was a ycung lady with us who spoke German, for not one person in the building could speak English. Of course, even in England there is a rule to send the words of songs in to managers ; but that only applies to serio-comics, and I thought it would be the same here. The director drove me to the police' bureau for the chief to read the songs, hut it being Saturday he would not look at them, so I had to lose Saturday and Sunday nights. Anyhow, I made my first appearance on Monday night, and made a big success, and have had offers for Frankfort, Dresden, and Copenhagen at £lO a week increase, for which I will sign later on, as I wish to fulfil my engagements in London in February!”

Mdme. Bernhardt* who is* touring the United' States, recently told a little

anecdote concerning herself at a diimsv party in New' York. During the convert sat.on which ensued, reference was made to an accident which had befallen Mr E. H. Sothern while playing “Hamlet,” and Mme. Bernhardt was most sympathetic in her inquiries. “It reminds me,” sfie said, “of an accident, which happened to me when I was last in. America. I was playing “Jeanne d’Arc,” and one night, when kneeling, was hurt by a hasty nail. Tne wound gave me considerable pain and trouble, and it was thought that a slight operation might possibly be required. This fact appeared in the daily papers, and a day or two' afterwards I received a telegram from the manager of' a museum in Chicago saying that if it was found necessary to amputate ray leg, might he please have it? He added that he hvould drape it if desired.” This story was told in 'Mme. Bernhardt’s inimitable manner, and was received with shouts of laughter.

****** lhere was a saying that Professor Papper, and not Gounod had made Faust popular m England. Certain it is that the pliant os cope has never been eclipsed as an entertainment of magnetic power. The performance of the Phantom Guards at the handsome theatre in Leicestersquare is designed to reveal the resourcefulness of stage art, the ue.nity and skill of the Empire s most accomplished coryphees and the musical offer* cirpucss of adequate orchestral and musical accessories. Electricity's potent aid has been utilised to secure a picturesque result, and the phantom duel, with flying sparks flashing like glow worms, wins high approval. YVe are reminded of Rio's threatening gnomes,in the Kaatskills when these dashing guards''disappear into space'to be presently ; re-bm-bodied as a human and highly trained, military company. w

* * * * ■* . . Melb. mummers have sworn off . fivh suppers, Charles Kenningham having just gone through a very ticklish attack after a. late crayfish salad. 'Morphia had to be injected several times, ancl/the wonder was, considering the severity of the attack, that he was got back to - his part at Her Majesty’s, Melb., after only a few days’ collapse.

The detective in Bland Holt’s “"With Flying Colours” is the best joke of the shows of the Xmas season, says a Melbourne paper. He is a portly person, with the professional manner of the stage detective strongly developed. He cannot say “pass the mustard” without making it a remark of quite epic significance. But the apex of his splendour is reached in the last act, when he is seen at midnight in the centre of a moor searching for an escaped prisoner with a lighted lantern. For sublimity of folly this beats the police records of the land of the Gat ton horror.

“When the Lamps are Lighted” intervened at Sydney Lyceum betAveeri “The Noav Barmaid” and Ldmund Gurney’s version' of 'Last Lynne,” Sheridan plays Murtv O’Flyn, a comic servitor. The Sheridan season was to conclude on February 2nd, and the company opens at NeAV castle on- the following night. Then Sheridan- ships tbTasmania and JS'ew Zealand, and thenefe.to W.A., Avhere only small cast- pieces I 'will he played 1 .

Some idea of theatrical profits. A’Mr E. Herzberg Hartmont, who advanced £BOO to give “Charley’s Aunt” her start, raked in over £28,000 as ( his share of;the profits. This fact leaked out in a/recent London case, where a Miss Brinsley, who introduced Hartmont tq Mr Penley, desired to have another division of the profits on a 5 per cent, basis. Mr Penley’s version of the case has yet to be heard.

Snazelle is running his Royal Navy jßiograph show in Melbourne to good Liz. A Melbourne correspondent of the ‘Bulletin’’ says :—Snazelle ! . Snazzy ! Ife drops down from the clouds like : '|the> hobby in the shadow-pantomime. - Tie is overwhelming, chokes you off with: ‘I know exactly what you are going to. ask, my dear boy,” wheirCupon the greatest show on earth is unfolded before ‘ yc-ur dazzled vision. Such a whirlwind, Fourbillon of a fellow there never was. His talk is like a cyclorama, where you cannot tell whetre the actuality ends and the painting begins. Edwin Forrest said ‘T act Othello, hut lam Lear.” So Snazelle is Bill Adams. I have a dim idea now that he put up Marshall Roberts to tne taking on of this here job. Anyhow/lie organised the whole Spit-head naval •; review. He ran away from England feecause Chamberlain was searching everywhere to collar him for First Lord of the Admiralty, instead of Goschen. * * * * *

Harry Leston, well-known in theatrical circles, completed his 50th year on Thursday 17th January. Thirty-two years ago he made his first public appearance as a mesmerist, and shortly afterwards joined Martineftti’s French “Pantomime Co.; Paul, of that ilk, who recently visited us, was then only a youngster. Leston then drifted through various stages of shovbusiness, including circus-clowning, conjuring, ventriloquism, nigger minstrelsy, song and dance, and comic opera, until he finally settled down to : the , “legitimate.’’ He is considered, at the present day, one of Australia’s best Shakesperian scholars.

The folloAving gem is from an interview with Paul Martinetti, in the latest

“Era,” : “Sydney la as its drawbacks. It abounds in what axe termed' ‘Pushers’ or •‘Larrikins,’ somewhat similar to the Louden Hooligans. I was warned to be on my guard against their practice of demanding your money or —look out. Some one sent me an anonymous letter saying that it was the intention of these gentry to waylay me, and hater I was personally advised to .be careful. I was. I went to the police about it, and informed the inspector that I had bought the! quickest and deadliest shooter to be had in the city. I let it be known generally, too. I need hardly add that I was uninolestee. But one performer, who was rather fond of boasting, and who usually wore a xot of diamonds and jewellery, was caugiit one night, and relieved of exactly £l7 ibs in solid money. Luckily for him thax night he had left his diamonds at home. But that is only the rough or tough side). Generally speaking, the aie the pleasantest people possible, and as straight as a die.” . * •* , * * *

This is the latest from a London paper concerning Henrik Ibsen: “Upon his writing table a visiter saw a small tray containing a number of grotesque figures, including a tiny devil. Ibsen said: ‘I never write a .single) line of any of my dramas without Having that, tray and its occupants before me on the table.’ Now we know the source of the little wildhaired gentleiman’s inspiration." -* * * * *

.The “Era’’ says that the absence of ■ Mr W. S. Gilbert’s name from the list of those who : attended the! funeral, of the late Sir Arthur Sullivan is accounted for by the fact that Mr Gilbert is at present in Egypt seeking health. He was represented by his brother. • -ft * * *

Mr George Musgrcve claims, to have spent-over £7OOO on “Tannhauser’’ before the curtain went up.. A very big stub for a piecd which can only be staged for s:x performances . before the season, closes. The company, says the “Referee,” will open at Brisbane shortly, after which it skips over to Adelaide prior te farewelling in. Melbourne. It has not yet been decided whether the! combination will dis-

band in Melbourne or whether New Zealand will be visited before the artists return home. ,

Private advices from America report that Mr “Billy” Ernmersom- the famous minstrel, who visited Australia some years ago, is in sore distress —both financially and physically.

. The puritans of the Berlin police, says the “Stage,” have different ideas from those of our censors. In Berlin, apparently, while Sunday performances <•£ operas and plays are freely permitted, they are very strict with regard to what is done on “days of penitence) and prayer.” It seems that on one of those occasions, recently, the President of the Berlin Police forbade the performance of Handel's oratorio, “The Messiah,” on the plea that a concert rendering on that day might offend churchgoers. The restriction in connection with “The Messiah” seems especially curious, and it is hard to trace its motive, considering that Brahmses Requiem managed to elude the) censor, and reach a performance. . b• - * ‘ ■ • - * - * *

Mrs Langtry has acquired all the English rights to the dramatisation of Egerton Castle’s novel, “The Bath Comedy/' which the a-ut-hdr in collaboration with ■'David Belasco l has adapted for stage purposes. Mrs Langtry intends to use this comedy in -due course at her new house, the Imperial. She, of course, opens with the Pierre and Claude Barton version of ‘'Marie Antoinette. 1 ”

There is a distinct “_\iglon” craze m America which has been taken every advantage of by enterprising stars and managers of stock companies. There promise to be as many versions of the famous ■play in America as of “Quo Vaais” ? or '“Trilby.” Even, in classic Boston a yer'kicm is to be produced prior to the visit of either Madame Bernhardt or. Miss . Maude' Adams. • - - - , •

' The London Gaiety Company we learn from Sydney, is not to visit Australia.after all, an alteration in the building arrangements of Mr Geo. Edwardes having Compelled the abandonment of the projected tour to the colonies. Mr Williamson declines to. accept a substitute company, preferring ratuer to purchase the Australian rights of the pieces, and produce them with the company which is doing so well with “Fioradora.” He has therefore completed arrangements for the purchase of the rights of “San Toy,” “The Messenger Boy,*’ “The Circus Girl,” and “The Runaway Girl” for production in Australia. The first of the new pieoes, “The Runaway Girl,” in which Miss Grace Pafoita appeared in London, will be played in Sydney. The opera company now playing: will be strengthened for the production, in the direction of securing prominent players for special parts. Mr* William son is now negotiating for the engagement of several, people, but before a. selection is made he will see and hear hims.elf during his coming European and American, tour.

* • ‘ In addition to the pieces mentioned, Mr Williamson has secured “The Casino Girl,” and two other musical comedies, which are shortly to be produced, and of which he has the option of purchase if successful.

On the subject of his Grand Opera Company, Mr Williamson!,says : —“I have information that my agents in Milan are

hopeful of being; able to find all the artists ' they require, with voices of the very best quality.” Signor Hazon is to meet Mr George Allen at- Milan on the 29th inst., and they will at once visit the principal opera houses of Italy, and, if necessary, go on to Vienna and Berlin.'It is quite possible that Mr Williamson will join the selectors on the Continent before the company is completed. The company will include 24 Italian choristeirsv 12 male anti 12 female, and in addition there will be 24 specially selected choristers chosen in Australia, “to be the best obtainable in Australasia,” says the manager.

Next month Mr Williamson will start on the long-deferred visit to England, America and the Continent. He finds that lie cannot postpone it any longer for both private and business reasons, and what is more important still, lie; says it is absolutely necessary in the interests of his health. “You know,” he confided to a “Daily Telegraph” interviewer, “the- continuous wear and tear Gf business, such as mine nas been, make a man stale, and, besides, 1 must make the trip, in order to keep pace* with the times, and maintain, my position among Australian theatrical managers.”

Mr Richard Mansfield is a well-known American actor and manager, and Miss Katherine Grey, though not so well known, is an actress who has supported him. She, however, left- Mr Mansfield’s company because . he-;was accustomed to ' lose his temper.. Mansfield, who is not noted for fiis moddsty, replied to the lady’s protest that it was his privilege to lose his temper as that it was an eccentricity of genius.- Miss Grey has now brought an action against the Richard Mansfield Company claiming damages She further complains of and seeks damages from the defendant company that, ‘while performing in a play called The First Violin,’ the part or char act ef she was to perform required this plaintiff t'o permit the said Richard Mansfield, the agent and servant of tne aforesaid defendant, to kiss her. and that in the said scene, and in the said act of kissing, the said Richard Mansfield performed the same in so rude and indecent and insulting a manner that uns plaintiff became humiliated and became seriously ill and shocked, so that she) required medical care and attendance.” We have, heard of many passionate stage-kisses, the Kyrle Bellew kiss, the Olga Ndthersole kiss and others, but the Richard Mansfield kiss seems to be the strongest of all, since its application requires the kissed one to seek medical care and attendance.