PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 29

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

NOTES BY k LORGNETTE.”

" The actors are come hither, n»y lord. Buz. Buz!"

The advent of fresh artists J at Dix’s Theatre Royal is always an event of in. terest. Among the new comers this week figure such famous acrobats and trick cyclists as Les Thieres, the dainty serio and dancer, Miss Olive Lenton, and that charming vocalist. Miss Maud Hewson. * * * * * The vaudeville -'company at Fuller’s Choral Hall is exceptionally strong this week, and is drawing crowded houses nightly. * * * * # The production of “lolanthe" by the Auckland Amateur Operatic Company has been fixed for October 22nd. Mis? Etty Maerinnitv has accepted the northern society's offer to play the part of the Fairy Queen, in which she appeared with such success in the Wellington production of Gilbert and Sullivan's charming opera. It is understood Miss Violet Mount has also pccepted the role of Phvllis, in which her fine voice should be heard to advantage. * * * ~ . * * ,' r There are several familiar names m Mr Williamson's production of “The Casino Girl?'' at Her Majesty's, Sydney, by Englander and Harry L. Smith, including Lauri, Hugh J. Ward, who was here Avitli Harry Conor in “Trip to China Town." Conor, I hear, is playing at the Duke of York Theatre, London, in “The Girl up There" J at a salary of 600 dollars a week. * » « * • Miss Ivy Scott, who appeared in Dix's panto, at the Royal is also in J the cast of “The Casino Girl." So is Miss Lillie Everett. who will be’remembered as a first class Bettina in “La Mascotte.” Little Eileen Bovcl is cast as Rastus, an errand boy. * * * * *

Yorkshiremen in Wellington, ■r'articularlv those from the West Riding, to whom the name of the Earl of Harewood must be familiar, will reed the follow'ng paragraph with interest. How many are acquainted with Eric Lascelles’s romantic story? **■»**

The Honourable Eric James Lascelles, sixth and youngest son of the fourth Earl of -Harewood, and half brother of the pre. sent and fifth earl, and wiio recently died, h-d for years, as Mr Lascelles, travelled the English provinces as a showman.. w ** * M. -Edmond Rostand has been elected a member of the French Academy, and now ranks as one of the forty “Immorttals, of whom he is the youngest. The new academician's reputations has been quickly made, as it is only seven years since he produced his first-play. “Le 3 Romanesques, at the Theatre Francais- “L'Aiglon” and “Cyrano de Bergerac" will probably be produced in New Zealand by one of Mr -■Williamson’s companies next

The Broughs produced Robert Marshall's famous comedy, “'ine Second m Command at the Theatre Royal on the 6th inst. The -following members of the Company made their fiist appearance in Australia: Mr Ernest Vere and Mr Charles Garry, Miss Susie Vaughan and Miss Mary Chatteris- _

The latest “World" contains a chatty account of Captain Robert Marshall, who is regarded at Home as a coming dramatist of the best school. His earlier efforts in the field of dramatic authorship had great variety locality of production. From Bermuda —where his first play, a burlesque called “The Subaltern.” was produced—he passed to Halifax, N.S., and thence to Barbadoes, and in Natal he wrote His Excellency the Governor. Since the success made by the last named play three years ago, Captain Marshall is not so great a wanderer, and, to judge by the popularity of “The Second in Command,” the public -will not in future let him go far from London.

Mr Harry Plimmer and his wife (Miss Thynne) booked recently by the Mariposa for America. That clever young actor should do well in the land of the Stars and Stripes, whither he has gone, no doubt, in consequence of the success of Mr Harry Roberts, Mr Harry Jewett, and the unfor tunate Scott Inglis. His many New Zealand friends will wish him every possible success. *

* * * * I have been hammering at the subject of starting a stock company here for some time in this column and gladly insert the following from an English exchange The New York “Dramatic Mirror" of May 25 devotes a long, thoughtful article J to the subiect of the revival of the stock comnany movement in America, wTiich started a few years ’ago as dog day ventures, and has developed into very strong and abiding institutions in every city throughout the Union.

A Vriter in an Australian paper asks his readers:—Have you ever tried to put an ordinary sized billiard ball in your mouth ? I heard of the feat being attempted some time back in New Zealand, and being attended with rather painful results to the experimenter, for. before the ball could be removed from the mouth, most of his. teeth had to be extracted. Neither Billy Wilson, nor Irving Sayles, the negro -comedians, who have capacious buccal cavities. could manage the act; vet I saw -a youth the other evening in “the hotel Ar. cadia accomplish it, and -he has a rather smallish mouth, too. It is not the size of that organ so much as the formation ’of the jaw that allows of the ball being enveloped in the dental ’orifice. * * * * *

Mr J. M. Barrie’s new play is a comedy in four acts, ‘and its action takes place about 1815. It will be produced in New

York in October with Miss Maude Adam® in the heroine's part. 1 ***** The sum of .£SOO was subscribed at the initial meeting of admirers of the late Sir Arthur Sullivan, towards a monument to his memory. m * * * * The plan of establishing an English theatre in Paris has once more come to the front. The persons who have revived the movement, and who have long been prominent in English amateur theatricals in Paris, declare that with a fund sufficient to pay the expenses of one season a theatre of this kind would be sure to succeed. The idea is to bring over English provincial companies, including musical comedy companies, which would play for a month or six weeks at a time. « * » * Mr Hamilton Hill and Miss Beany Galletly '(his wife), after a lengthy and remunerative tour in America, will make their London debut next mpnth. They will do two months at “the halls.” A recent American exchange, by the wav, speaks of Mr Hill as the great Australian baritone —undoubtedly one of the finest singers who ever visited America. Another citizen of the Commonwealth on top. ***** Mr -George Grossmith, following in tho footsteps of many other comic opera stars, has joined the music halls. The ex. Savoyard favourite is starring at the London Palace. •* ** * •» * It is now said in the London press that Mrs Brown Potter’s daughter is to be married to Mr James Stillman, jun., who ia described as being ‘’fabulously wealthy." ****** On all hands, says the “Stage," one sees the profession aiding--as fit hag ever been willing to aid— at matinees and performances for one charity or another. A suggestion was made -last year that all these benefit performances should in return con. tiibute a small percentage of their receipts for the charitable funds and associations connected with the stage. The idea seems excellent. I can see no possible objection to it; 'it would fce fair and just. * * * In addition to other American successes, Mr J. C. Williamson has secured the Australian rights of “Lovers Lane,” and, in England. “The Man Who Stole the Castle.” latter piece ig by Tom Gallon. Miss Irene Frankin, an American artist, says a London theatrical journal, who has appeared on the vaudeville stage, mads a great hit in Australia in Floradora. London did not understand the American language used in “The Fortune Teller" at the Shaftesbury Theatre, s ays the New York. Spirit of the Times." - When the low comedian said “I'm no rag baby!" or Yon concertina faced goose!" or “JVlarria o e is not a failure, it's a temporary embarrassment!" or “Tell me what I mean & nd I'll say it for you!" the unsophisticated audience maintained a dead silence, instead of raising the roof with applause, as folks do at Oshkosh -and Cowboyville, But poor old London is learning. In. the opinion of keen ‘critics, Miss Susie Vaughan, who has come to Australia under a twelve months’ engagement to Robert Brough, shares with Miss Fanny Coleman the honour of being recognised as the first old woman ' of the London stage.