NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1651, 21 October 1903, Page 28

NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.”

Tho second! edition of "Monte Carlo'' has been nightly witnessed by large audiences at the Theatre Royal. Fuller's Entertainers, at the Choral Hall, have done splendid business during the week. _ , It is probable that the Woods-Wiliiam-gon Dramatic Company will tour the V est Coast of the South Island’ at Christmas time. The following paragraph is clipped from "A Woman's Letter" in the "Bulletin" of the Bth October: —"Julius Knight one day last week, was entertained at Bigjohn Forrest's. The Knight with the brilliant!ned locks finds things a little changed since the days of liis Marcus Superbus glories. It used to bo related how station-holders threw _ out piteous entreaties for week-end l visits from Julius, and one or two actually had Saturday night -specials switched on to steam the noble youth to their homes. Now, there's none of that extravagance. Still, Julius scores an occasional lunch, and the glory of his legs has not altogether departed. "Pasquin" must have been "caught on & wet wicket" when he penned the following paragraph which appeared in the "Otago Witness" of last week: —"It will come with something of a surprise'to most) people to learn that Miss Maud Beatty, long time of Tom Pollard's Company, and last year principal boy at Drury Lane. London, is returning to tlie colony under engagement to P. R.- Dix as principal boy of that manager's Christmas pantomime in "Wellington." "Pasquin" is perfectly right when he says "that it will come with something of a, surprise to most people." The person who is most surprised happens to be Mr P. R. Dix himself. It has been freely stated that Mr George Musgrove's "In Dahomey’’ Company of coons will commence a tour _ of Australia at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide, next April. "Lorgnette" hazards the opinion that it will be some considerable time before "In Dahomey" is seen in these parts, especially by the original company. After the London season a tour of the English provinces will in all probability be undertaken, which will keep the company "down under" for some considerable time. " The Watch on the Rhine," the national song of Germany, was composed by Carl Wilhelm in 1854. The German®, inspired by this song, gave Wilhelm an annual pension of £l5O, in 1871. for composing it. When lie died, in 1875, a statue was erected to liis l memory. Mr Tod Calloway met with a hearty reception on his reappearance at the Theatre Roya : l on Monday evening when he sang his usual budget of half-a-dozen songs. Mr William Anderson's No. 1 Dramatic Company have got another hlood-curtiler in active rehearsal, entitled "Her Second Time on Earth."

Philip Newbury lately sang before Sir Frederick Bridge on trial for the Royal Choral Society's festival in London during November, and was the first to be chosen for the tenor parts. Mr John ■Harrison, whom Amy Sherwin so praises came next in the trial number of the "Messiah." Madame Spada also has good London engagements. The Rev. Forbes Phillips, vicar of Gorleston. whose play rt For Church or Stage *?" Airs. Brown-Potter produced recently at Yarmouth. is a strong ritualist, and officiates in gorgeous vestments before an altar brilliant with many-coloured flowers and! sparkling candles. Last year three of the leading ministers in his parish not only brought their own people to a. oar tain great service of his at the parish church, but they themselves, clad in surplice and' cassock took part in the gorgeous procession and 1 assisted: in the stately ritual. The following arc the West Coast datea of Mr John F. Sheridan's Musical Company:—Westport, 23rd.and 24th October; Greymouth, 27th to 30tli; Kmnara, 31st and 2nd November; Hokitika, 3rd and 4th; Reef ton, sth to 7th; WestjAvA. (return), 9th and 10th; Nelson, 12th to ISth; Blenheim, 17th to 19th. A season will then be played) at Christchurch commencing on the sth December and extending until the 18tli. The Dunedin season will begin on Boxing Night.

During the Perth season of Mr George Musgrove's "Sweet Nell" Company, Miss Emily Levettez had the misfortune toi sprain her ankle badly, and Mrs Haroourt Beatty made her first appearance in Australia in Miss Levettez’s part.

Mr Leader Williams is getting CA'erything ready to commence the painting of tho scenery for Mr B. R. Dix’s pantomime, Avhich goes up at the Theatre Itoyail on Boxing Night.

Mr. Harry Rickards, as the result of his present trip to England, has arranged for his first contingent of new performers, and they are already on their way to Australia. The Tivoli manager has cabled; to Mr. J. Leete, who is in charge of his Australian business that tlie following performers are coming by the Oroya : —Madame Vulcana, a female Shadow j Atlas, an athlete ; Johnson, a musical comedian ; and) Mrs. Sims Reeves, soprano. With the exception of the A\'id‘ow of the famous English tenor, the new artists Arill open in Melbourne at the Opera House on Saturday. Mrs. Reeves AvilJl make her Australian debut at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney, on October 31. Mr. Richards has also informed Mr. Leete that he has engaged the D union ds 1 , a company of Parisian minstrels, who are coming to Australia by ivay of America, and are due this month. The New Zealand tour of Mr. Daniel. Frawley and Company Avas commenced at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on Tuesday evening, the 13th inst. The opening production Ayais. the successful American drama, " Arizona." A packed house witnessing the performance. This is what the "New Zealand Herald" has to say of the performance! :—" TlnleOs you see it. you have not the remotest idea AA'hat it is like." This remark (overheard from a patron of tlie reserved seats) aptly enough expresses Avhat Avill be the general opinion of the Daniel FraAvioy Company's first performance at His Majesty's last night of "Arizona." What a lovely play ! A page torn bodily out of nature's book of frail humanity, and put upon the stage as sweetly and a.s truly and as naturally as any mam could Avish. It could not possibly be that a play so natural and so time as " Arizona" had only come to stay a Avhite. It is one of those sAveet human plays that time itself cannot efface, a piece which everybody ought to see if only because it is so-SAv-eet and. true to nature. "Arizona" is the A T ery essence of the best. We cannot too strongly recommend it to. the notice of everyone Avho is fond of witnessing good acting of a human story. Acting ! That's the point. There is no. acting 1 (as the term is used) about it. Each character in this play—a. play that Avill astound the average person because of its simplicity, and therefore its ideal fidelity to nature—is a living, breathing, human being. There does not seem to be an actor or an actress in it. Al'l the folk one sees’ are real folk, tlveir trials real, their joys real, their ordinary, e A’ery-day experiences just us real and 1 as meaningful 1 as reality. At times the onlooker is moved to tears, so touching is the story. Again, the interest it creates keeps every nerve at tension point in folio wing out some tender passage in a moving episode of life. Is this a theatrical company at all ? Is it not rather a preconceived plot on the part of a few Avel 1-meaning people—people who used to live on a ranch out West, to come down East, to come out to the colonics and tell their story to a band of sympathetic listeners P " Unless you see it. you have not the remotest idea of Avihat it is like !"—a phrase caught up, and Avel.l avoitli catching- up, for it justly applies to " Arizona." The author of this sweet play (Augustus Thomas) has been clever enough to realise that stage characters can be human, and ho ha© picked his types of characters accordingly. Moreover, he teaches an innovation —the descending of the curtain upon a quiet scen e Avitliout the usual blare of trumpet and the bangng of drum. Of "Arizona" as a play, and of its plot, the merest suggestion is all that it Avould be fair to give. Picture an ideal, ranch out West, Two gilds*—one married and one single.—daughters of a fine, highspirited man of splendid grit, and. a woman moulded to the stern necessities of Avestern life. The lover of the. younger girl and husband of the elder become, entangled in a natural yet pitiful quarrel. Of course there is a villain (a most naturally conceived one) at the bottom of it all. In the end sad turmoil gives place to happiness and all is AA'ell. Good a® the plot is. it is> the atmosphere of this play that, counts. There is not a moment of artificiality in it ; there is nothing but a continued sens© of pleasure, Avith a mingling of pain for those Avho Avitness. it. Mr. Daniel Frawley plays the role of Lieutenant Denton a time lover and misconstrued friend. He acts with consummate ait, convincing by his freedom from artifice and impressing by his earnestness. He is beyond doubt an actor of quite uncommon, ability. Miss Mary Van Buren pourtrays a faithful Avife (Estrella Bonham) under stress of great temptation. She acts so sweetly as to bring herself into direct sympathy Avith all her auditors’, giving one of the most sincere performances that could be imagined. Miss Eva Dennison is more than good as Estrella's younger sister. Sh© gives an entirely fresh idea of the type of chaffacter and makes it Avelcome and! most charming. Mr. Jeffrey Williams cleverly pourtrayi < the part of Henry Canby, ai western ranch-OAvner, putting many touches of pathos into contrast Avith its comedy element. Miss Christine Hill plays the rancher's! Avife to the very life. Her Avork is that of an accomplished artiste. One of the finest played characters in the piece is that of Colonel Bonham by Mr. Harrington Reynolds. Here is a complete study in reserved dramatic Avork—ai role most worthy of the seeing, so Avell is it presented. Miss Belle ErAroy is admirable as Lena a victim of the villainous Captain Hodgeman. Her work is indeed worthy of more than passing praise. Mr. Harry Plimmer as Hodgeman gives a forceful and most court pci ng study of the villain. He has done nothing finer in our recollection. Ml, Wallace Shaw is good! a® Sergeant Keilar, and other parts in a long cast are filled Avith unusual ability. The play is mounted beautifully.

The prices of admission charged by Mr George Musgrove during the tour of the West Australian goldfields of the "SAveet Nell" Company Avere 7s 6d, ss, 4s and 2s 6d, Avith one shilling for early doors.

The Corriclc Family are at present touring Queensland Avith good results. Extensive alterations are to be made to the Theatre Royal, Sydney, in the directions of improving its appearance, and of providing more comfortable accommodation. Tli© scheme Avill comprise aifterations to all parts of the front of the playhouse. Beginning with the gallery the seating is to be improved by the •seats being raised at the sides, so. as to giv© the occupant® a better view of the stag©. The dress circle is to be re-car-peted throughout and re-decorated, and the last row of seats raised so as to improve tho sighting. All tbs hangings ar© to be removed 1 and replaced by ornamental AA”ood fittings, and the Avindows are to be reconstructed Avith a. view to improving the ventilation. New fronts are to be put in the boxes, which are to be thrown forward. The proscenium is to be re-decorated. Tlie stalls are to be re-upholstered. Tlie back stall seats have benefited Avitli uew polished backs and re-upholstered Avith J apanes© matting of a very close texture, Avhich should make them cool and comfortable. This is a neA\ r departure, and it should! be Avell adapted to th 0 Sydney summer climate. The front stalls are to be decorated in crimson, the prevailing colour of the theatre. The AA r a,lls of the stalls are also to be redecorated. The entrance to the reserved stalls is to be ’enlarged, the tile pavement remoA r ed. and replaced by marble. The orchestra, accommodation is to be enlarged and closed! in ay!th a rail and plush curtain. It is also proposed to move the- footlights nearer to the stage for the purpose of improving the distribution of th© light. Tlie work is to ho commenced at once, and the proprietor, Mr. Ramaciotti, expects to have his improved theatre ready for the public Avhen Mr. George Musgrove's Opera Company begins its season on Nov. 21st. "With the consent, cf Mr. Williamson. Mr. John Gordon is to supervise the decoratiA'o portion of the scheme. Miss Lizzie Walsh., a metmher of Mr John F. Sheridan's Company was during the Auckland season, taken seriously ill and had to go to tlie hospital, Avhere she received excellent treatment. Miss Walsh is now out of danger. "The Great Millionaire" is to be Mr Bland Holt's next attraction at tlie Theatre Royal, Melbourne!. Mr Robert Gran has offered Mary Aiv derson (Madame De Navarro) ,£45,000 to give a series of 150 readings, from Shakespeare. Madame Nevarro replied that she had a very decided disinclination to face the public again, and eA-en tlie rich offer did not tempt her. The Willoughby-Geach Comedy Loiiipany comenced a season at, the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, on Saturday evening with the farcical success "Mistakes Wi< Happen." In noticing the first performance of tho piece at the Sydney Palace, on the 19th September, the "Telegranh" nays:—The members of Messrs Willoughby and Geach's Comedy Company left such a. good reputation behind them in Sydney that it Ava® not at all surprising to find that their reappearance at tinPalace Theatre on Saturday night was witnessed by al crowded audience. The opening piece, "Mistakes Will Happen." is a farce.-comedy by Charles Dickson and Grant Stewart. It is rare good fun from start' to finish. The play is well mounted, and acted 'with a! vim Arhich pie mi' illustrates the authors.’ idea. As the title perhaps sufficiently indicates, the story presents one or two of those situation® between men and women which, although perfectly innocent, may, in the absence of facts seem compromising. The purpose i s not only to bring about these) laughable situations, but explain them, and make eA'erything appear in its proper light. That the piece is satisfactory from this point of view was amply demonstrated by th,© obvious way in Avliich- Saturday night’s large) audience enjoyed the production. The only surprising part about the piece is that such! a pleasant evening's entertainment can be provided out of such a slender story. A piece like' "What Happened to Jones" Avas simple enough;, but "Mistakes Will Happen" is much simpler, and provides a.s much laughter. An actor and an aceress, Tom Genowin and Dorothy May land, who are secretly married, have a play to place, and in order to attain this object they search for "an angel,," Avho. in stage parlance, is a, person having mucili more money than a, just appreciation of what kind of piece wall suit the public taste. Generally speaking, these people are of a poetic turn of mind, and end up by having less money in their pockets and more plays on their premises. Hoav at comes that parsons having the poetic temperament have money is not explained, and it does not matter, so far as the actor Avho has a play to produce is concerned. Mr Hunter Chaise is one of these agreeable people, and his Avife, Avhile not evincing any special disposition to stage plays, is Avilling to assist the. production of anything that ha® love scenes in it. These two sets of people are, of course, brought together. Miss Mayland being anxious to have her husband's play produced, promises to read it to Mr Chase. An appointment for this purpose' is made for a specified time in Mr Chase’s coacliliouse. Mr Tom Genowin is equally anxious to have his piece presented'. He accordingly 3'ields to the desire® of Mrs Chase to teach her how to act especially how to act 1oa t © scenes, touching lo\*e scenes. An appointment is accordingly made to bo kept in Mr Chase's coach' house. AboA'e the coach-house is a hay loft, AA'liich makes up a. very good scene, and which is in full \ r iew of the audience. Not only are both of these* appointments kept, but a meeting which has been arranged betAVeen a coachman and a German serving-maid. Naturally enough, the three couples arrive about the same, time, and as the action of the play proceeds things become amusingly complicated, OAving to the efforts of each to escape the observation of the other. In the end matters are, of course, satisfactorily explained. The story, in fact, provides good Avkolesom© fun. which no one can fail to enjoy, and which, as a matter of fact, Avas thoroughly relished by every person present on Saturday nieht.

Mr Eardley Turner, of the JeffriesKnight Company, besides being a good actor is a writer of some note. Verse, short stories, comic songs, libretto, auai a couple of successful short pieces have been, placed to his credit. Miss Lulu Evans, at one time a member of the Pollard Opera Company and at present in England, has been again ou the sick list, and aaws at latest advices recuperating' at the seaside. A dramatisation of Tom Gallon's "Latterly" is to be put into rehearsal shortly by the Hawtrey Comedy Company. Mr Hawtrey Avill doubtless make a fine study of old Caleb Fry. Avho personates his deceased servant in this famous "story of a dead man." Montgomery's Entertainers ha\*e started their West Coast tour m a very successful manner.

Mr. George MusgroA r e's Shakespearian Company, Avhich has been doing remarkable business at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. Avn.ll inaugurate a season at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on the 26th inst.,- after which Wellington theatregoers will have the pleasure of Avitnessuig Mr. Musgrove's talented company in a round of Shakespeare's brilliant comedies. The opening attraction in each city Avill be "A Midsummer Night's 1 Dream." In noticing the performance of " A Midsummer Night's Dream " at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, the " Australasian" says :—"The representation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the Princess's is successful beyond all expectation. Melbourne audiences have responded to the call made on their artistic appreciation. Tlie beautiful stage pictures prer seated in the Avoodland scene® and the ravishing influences of appropriate music delight the senses and maintain the poetic illusion Avhich is necessary to the acceptance of th© fairy comedy. The only inartistic blot Avhich may be noticed is t-h© resort to th© pantomime device of flying faiiies. All aids to the imagination may be accepted, but it is not Aids© to attempt to give realistic effect to the impossible. It is in the spectacular aspect more than in tbei acting that the charm of the representation is to be found, but it would 1 be unfair to the ability displayed by sever a L members of the company not to recognise the excellence of their performance. Oheron and Titania are depicted avit li a dignity and delicacy AA'liich add grace to their marital disagreements, and th© impish Puck exhibits an agility both of mind and body which gives visible creation to the poet’s fancy, the mortals in the play ar© also presented Avith some approach to naturalness in demeanour and gesture. The Helena of Miss Maud Milton is specially deserving of high praise.

" From an actng point of A'iew the most important character in the play is undoubtedly Bottom the Aveaver. Mr. Denny's conception is excellent in so far as it brings out the overweening conceit and aggressive nature of the man, but it is lacking in th© imaginative quality. In an admirable appreciation of tlie part by Sidney F. IrAvin. the saying of Hazlitfc is quoted that ‘ Bottom has neA r er had! justice done him, ; lie is the most romantic of mechanics.' ‘No one,' observes Mr. Irwin, ‘ Avoukl deny, except Puck, Avhat Bottom's company ar© so eager to affirm, that he' is another class- from themselA r es.’ ‘ SAveet bully Bottom ’ not only ‘ hath simply the best A\'it in Athens, but the best person, too,' and is besides ‘a paramour for a SAveet voice.' Such things indicate. that lie is not, to say the least of it tlie normal mechanic, much less the shallowest of them. But he may have something more conceded to him. He is fantastical in the highest degree ; and if romance is not fantastical, Avhat is it? He is as ‘full of' shapes' as ‘fancy' itself. He can ‘ move, storms'—he can make an, audience ‘ look to their eyes'— he can be ‘ lofty ’ —can ‘ roar you and Twer© any nightingale '—he can .speak in a ‘ monstrous little A'oice' —and ‘ Ercles’ vein' and ‘ the tyrant's' ar© no less Ms. All this, is very unlike the mechanic, and goes far to justify the admiration of his fellows. That Bottom is ‘ serious ‘ and conceit tad'—that he is the ‘finest efflorescence of the absurd'—does not invalidate the claim to be romantic in the sixteenth any more than it has invalidated ’it in th© nineteenth century or the t wen tie th. " And then as to Titania and his ass's head. Hazlitt,'in supporting his general position that ‘ poetry and 1 the stage go in together,’ properly insists that ‘ Bottom's head is an illusion produced bymagic spells and not an ass's head and nothing more' —which is all it can be on the stage, avlier© ‘ delightful fiction become® dull pantomime.' This is true, continues Mr. Irwin, for the reason, among others, that the mechanics, too, ar© in a debatable domain —in a Avorld of poetry or illusion. And this is not the less evident because Bottom resists the supernatural influences —nowhere is he so literal and prosaic as in Titania's presence ; his ‘ reasonable good ear' ig only for the music of the ‘ tongs andi bones/ Hei Avail only recognise Cobweb, Peaseblossom and Mustard in such menial service as they render to ‘ th© human, mentals.' He faces the fairies quite boldly, even carrying off the ass’s head Avith dignity. But his adventures in the land of fascination and unreality had great ulterior consequences. Titania aid not purge him of al : l his mortal grossuess or make him ‘like an airy spirit,' but the weaver sh© left was not the weaver she found. The mystery overhanging this episode shook Bottom out of his ordinary self. Whether it ha® made or marred his foolish fates ha cannot tell ; but his reflections show that he 'is not out of place even in the fairy world of this play—for he knoAvs that ‘man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream/ It htfl® taught him the truth that the best are but shadow®-—even the self-compla-cent accomplished Bottom. ‘ltis a most rare vision' —this ‘Bottom's dream which hath no bottom/ As to the play the mechanics have chosen to aict, it i® full of ambitions, albeit 'the silliest stuff' that ever Hippolyta has heard*. But Theseus has a sounder criticism to offer, andi it i® the mechanics’ imagination, or at least Bottom's,' that ‘amends it/ Mechanic* cannot enter on such literary attempt* and enjoy alliteration and! other device* of the poetical craft without having some of their ‘ mortal grossness purged.

Included in. the illustrations of tins week’s "New Zealand Mail" are very fine portraits of Miss Thome and Miss Bessie White, tun clever members of the Mnsgrove Opera Company. The photographs are from the Victoria Studio, Manners street, of which Mr J. N. Isaacs is proprietor. It is currently reported that Miss Maud Beatty is not a passenger to Australia by the Orontes, she having decided to stay in England for some little time longer. The fallowing is the cast of characters of “The Two Mr Wetherbys” which is tobe played for the first time in the colonies by the Hawtrey Comedy Company at the Wanganni Opera House on the 30th October, and also the original cast when the comedy was played in London on the 16th March, 1903: THE HAWTREY PRODUCTION! James Wetlierbv Mr Gregan McMahon Margaret (his wife)...Miss Winifred Austin Richard Wetherby Mr W. F. Hawtrey Constantia (his wife)...Miss Elsie Austin Aunt Clara (aunt to Margaret and Constantia) Miss Emma Bronton Robert Carne (his nephew) Mr O. P. Heggje Maid at the James Wetherbys’... —* THE LONDON PRODUCTION. James Wetherby ....Mr A. E George Margaret (his wife)...Miss Ellen O Ma.lley Richard Wetherby Mr H. Nye Cji' Constantia (his wife) Miss Nancy Pries Aunt Clara (Aunt to Margaret and Constantia) Miss Henrietta Cocen Robert Carne (her nephew) . . Mr Denis Fame Maid at the James Whether by s’ Miss. Lilian Marew Time —The Present Day. The action of tlie play covers some 20 hours, from the . afternoon of one day to the forenoon of the next. Act 1. —Drawing Room in the Janies "Wetherbys’ House at Isorwood. Act 2.—Their Dining Room. Act a—Same as Act I—Next Morning. During Act 2 the curtain will be lowered for a minutes to denote the lapse of 3 hours. In criticising the first performance of '‘The Two Mr Wetherbys,” which was produced at the Imperial Theatre. London, on the 13th March. 1303, Mr Labouchere’s paper, “Truth,” says:—Some time since after reading one of Mr St. John Hankin’s “Dramatic Sequels” from “Punch,” I remember welcoming him as a bom librettist. Now I am grateful to the Stage Society for producing “The Two Mr Wetherbys,” and demonstrating that lie is a master- of witty dialogue. “Life ig a. comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.” he quotes on the programme, and, being a thinker rather than a “feeler,” with a most malicious sense of comedy, he gets all his effects by adhering rigidly to the commonplace. Great emotions are not for him. When a broken-hearted wife is about to leave her husband she drifts round the room with a tray collecting twopenny-halfpenny knick-knacks, and his aim seems to have been to show on the stage how insignificant is even the simple step which divides the sublime from the ridiculous. It is the ridiculous side of things which most appeals to him., and a hundred little cynical touches in his suburban tragi-coinedv gave me at least two hours laughter of a self-respect-ing. intellectual character. That section of the Stage Society which practises rdain dressing in the belief that high thinking will follow —the section which an irreverent member alluded to in my hearing as the “Jaeger Brigade”—these serious souls must have been a little pained by Mr Hankin’s flippancy, but it seems to me that we are in desperate need of a comedy writer who can be infinitely amusing without condescending to inanities. I cannot help thinking that if some astute manager would take ‘‘The Two Mr Wetherbys” and cast it perfectly, ho would reap the reward of his pluck in a goodly harvest of guineas drawn from, the after-dinner playgoer. The morality of the thing is atrocious, the motives of the characters are wholly despicable, but the comedy is delightful. Mr Fred W. Duval left for the West Coast last Sunday to complete arrangements for the appearance of the St in ?- Evans Company in that part of the colony. The members of the Hawtrey Comedy Company whose prowess in tlie cricket field is well known have oommiemced' the season’s operations at Westport, having recently beaten the local senior eleven. Madame Patti is said to« have bequeathed her larynx to the museum of the "Royal College of Surgeon**. At sixtyyears of age the diva has still a spier*- 1voice, and she attributes the fact to- perfect technique and to her refusal to sing Wa cm er’s niusi c. “Melbournian” writes as follows in the “Bulletin” of the Btli October:—“The 'Eternal City’ appears to be withdrawn from the Jeffrie-s-Ivnight repertoire. I happen to know that Beerbohm Tree and Williamson agreed to open with it in Melbourne. Afterwards they were persuaded to take “Resurrection” instead. The fact is that Williamson and Meynel], Tree’s representative, cannot get over the episode of the Pope in the ‘Eternal City.’ As readers of the book are aware, h-e is Pi its X., and not an excellent character at that. William,son thought at first that he might be called Gregory or something. but yet the Catholic interest is feared. So ‘Monsieur Beaucaire’ goes up. I doubt if the 'Eternal City’ will be seen at all in Australia.”

A few minute® after the performance of the Black Family in. the Gretna Hall, Taihape, on the 9th October, a large lamp in the centre of the hall fell and exploded. Had it occurred during' the performance a serious catastrophe most surely have resulted as the place was packed to the doors. The following paragraph referring to the occurrence is taken from the Taihape "Post”:— 1 r We had a very narrow escape on Friday night, the 9th inst., from another disastrous fire. About five minutes after the Gretna Hall had been, cleared of its packed audience, drawn thither by the talented Black Family, the large lamp in the centre of the hall fell to the ground and exploded. Willing hands were soon on the spot and a plentiful supply of empty sacks from Mr Harvey's sfcaJ>le» lust opposite, smothered the flames.'

Mr George H. Barnes left Wellington for Auckland on Monday morning, when he will complete arrangements for the appearance in that city of Mr George Musgrove’s Shakespearian Company. This will make the fifth company that Mr Barnes has piloted through New Zealand for Mr Musgrove during the past twelve months. The combinations are the “Chinese Honeymoon” Company. Madame Melba Concert Company, the “Sweet Nell” Company, the “Fortune Tel lei - ” Company, and the Shakespearian Company. The Stine-Evans Comedy Company did good business in the Manawatu and Taranaki districts. Mr Bentley Young, touring representative of the Hawtrey Comedy Company, left Wellington on Tuesday morning for Palmerston, Feilding, Wanganui, Hawera. and New Plymouth to make arrangements for the appearance of the company in those towns. A toiir of the Auckland province will afterwards be undertaken. On the occasion of Miss Ada Cro-ssley’s first concert in Melbourne, on the 3rd inst., the talented contralto was the recipient of no fewer than seventy-five distinct; gifts, or twelve more than any other artiste has hitherto received in Melbourne. The Stine-Evans Musical Comedy Company will be. augmented by the inclusion of two dancers who arrived from Australia this week. Mr Daniel Frawley and Company will commence a thirteen nights’ season at the Wellington Opera House on the 30th inst. The opening production will be the successful American drama “Arizona.” The company is an exceptionaliy strong one, and includes Messrs Jeffrey Williams, Harrington Reynolds. Frank Crossley. J. R. Amory. Wallace Shaw. Harry McLennan, Stanley Ford, Harry Plimmer, Thomas E. Foster. Galway Herbert, and John P. Wade, Misses Mary Van Enron, Blanch Douglas, Christine Hill, Eva Dinnison, arid Belle D’Arcy. Mr Albert Gran has been engaged to support Miss Fitzmauriee Gill during her Sydney season which commenced at the Palace Theatre last Saturday evening. The late Sir Augustus Harris, the theatrical impress-arm of Drury Lane, was a superstitious man. He had a deep hatred of peacock’s feathers. On one occasion he refused to- engage a- ballerina because she applied for a. position weaving peacock plumage in her hat. The young lady entered the managerial office several days later minus the plumes, when she was engaged. Mr George Stephenson, who introduced the Stine and Evans American Comedy Company to New Zealand, hopes, to open the new tliaatre in Christchurch in November of next year with a company which he' is bringing out under arrangement with Messrs Klaw and Erlanger, of New York. The Black Family of Musicians have done splendid business in all the towns they have visited in the North Island. Tlie West Australian tour of Mr George Musgrove’s “Sweet Nell” Company terminated at Fre-emantle last Monday. The tour has broken all previous records for West Australian business, being simply phenomenal. Miss Nellie Stewart returns to Melbourne for a few weeks after which she visits America and England. The company which Mr Harry Rickards has at present touring West Australia is only doing fair business.