NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 30

NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.”

Mr J. C. Williamson's Comedy Company created a very favourable impression last Saturday evening wlion they made their first appearance at the Wellington Opera House in the comedy "The Marriage of Kitty." Both play and players were accorded an enthusiastic reception from all parts of the crowded house. The plot of "Kitty" is neither deep nor complicated. The dialogue is smart, the situations piquant, and the- acting bright. The comedy is clever and entertaining in the truest sense of the term. Miss Itose Musgrove scored an instantaneous and brilliant success as Kitty Silverton. She played the part with vivacity and cleverness. Hers was a humorous and dashing impersonation of -the character. Miss' Florence Hamer performs a difficult and trying part with unqualified ability. She was thoroughly convincing as the jealous Madame de Semiano. Miss Florence Le Clercq's impersonation of the French maid was as delicate as it was delicious. Mr Wilfred Draycott, as the foolishly amorous Sir Reginald Belsize, was excellent, but this actor's work has to be witnessed more than once before its merit can be fully appreciated and understood. Mr Athol Forde again proved to Wellington theatregoers what a sterling actor he is by his pourtra.yal of the part of John Travel's, the solicitor and godfather of Kitty. Mr Fred Perinain gave a good character sketch of the part of Norbury, the man servant, while Mr Claude Fleming did all that was required in the small part of Hampton, clerk to Mr Travers. The piece is staged in Mr Williamson’s best style, and is produced under the stage management of Mr Fred Fermain and Mr Tlios. 3D. Foster, the whole being under the direction of Mr K. H. Vincent. The scenery is from the brushes of Messrs W. Coleman and George Dixon. The orchestra, which is under the conductorship of Mr J. Connolly, is an efficient one, and plays some very fine selections. Everyone who wishes to see a clever comedy well acted and excellently staged should not miss seeing "The Marriage of Kitty." , Mr P R. Dix's Gaiety Company, at the Royal, presents an attractive programme this week. Miss Fanny Powers sings and dances nicely. Mr Fred H. Graham and Miss Nellie Dent give a clever performance in their musical sketch. Mr J. W. Winton and M'Ginty get off a lot of new gags and clever patter in their turn. Miss Louie Perfect, Hiss Florence Leigh, Miss Hilda Lane, and Messrs Ascot, Wilson and Leg Wharton all did acceptable turns. Little Dorothy Swift, who plays Max in ‘'Counsel’s Opiilion" at His Majesty's Theatre, deserves a special word of praise for her plucky effort m doing her part last Friday evening. The clever youngster was under the doctor's care but notwithstanding the pain she was suffering gave a really fine performance. On Saturday night she was too ill to appear and the management of Mr J. C. Williamson’s Comedy Company generously allowed Master Sid. Halliday to play the s>art so that the patrons of Messrs Fulerg popular house would not be disappointed Master Sid, who went on at short notice, gave an excellent performance. In fact there was not time even for a rehearsal, but as he had played it ' with the Hawtrey Comedy Company m Australia, and being gifted with a very retentive memory he came out with nying colours. Master Halliday, who is only twelve years of age, is considered by the Australian press to be one ot the cleverest child*artists ever seen on the colonial stage. Miss Nellie Stewart, who is coming out in the Oroya, will arrive in Melbourne on the 21st insfc-

There are numerous pirates on the vaudeville stage of Australasia. Artistes who have been engaged at big salaries in America and England for a tour ot tbe colonies only make a few appearances before some of their fellow-performers who have no ability to create "turns ' of their own, will appear at another theatre in an exact imitation of the act. In New Zealand at the present time there are several "turns" being foisted on to managers and the public alike by employees who have the audacity to state publicly that they are original. I may mention one or two cases in point. It may not be generally known that Miss May Moore Duprez, the “Jolly American Girl," will in ail likelihood shortly visit Now Zealand; and. a great part of her work has already been done here by an imitator. Again a musical team has been engaged by a New Zealand manager for a tour of the colony. As soon as the fact was made public another so-called artiste interviewed his manager and informed him that he had seen the "turn" in Australia and wanted to put on an imitation of it. Of course it would only be an imitation —nothing more. In these two cases the artistes are big-salaried ones. It would be a good thing if vaudeville managers mutually agreed to exclude from their companies any artiste who could not give an original act. One of the latest music hall sketches which have caught on in London is called "A Stage in a Stage." The scene represents a second stage—on one a performance goes on, while the other is filled with an audience who continually interfere with the actors by interjections and other interruptions which culminate at the finish with a general "scrap" between the actors and the mimic audience. The Knight-Jeffries Dramatic Company did record business during the recent Adelaide season. The Swifts, Wilton, Dorothy, and Amy, now starring with Messrs Fuller, are most versatile mummers; comedy, drama, opera, burlesque, are all played effectively by them. Their turns go far to disprove the assertion that there is no room for drama or comedy proper on the vaudeville stage. In their acts they provide twenty minutes' legitimate comedy and pathos, in which there is neither a. dull moment nor a questionable sentiment. As an actor, manager, and vocalist, Mr Wilton Swift has had a long and varied experience. Little Dorothy, who is only ten years of age, is one of the finest child-actresses yet seen in Australasia, is the possessor of a fine contralto voice, and a charming dancer. On their last- trip through New Zealand, with the Brough Comedy Company, Miss Dorothy was specially engaged by Mr Brough to create the part of Chris in "Sweet and Twenty." Much controversy was caused when Miss Dorothy was playing this part at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. Although only 6 years of age Miss Dorothv was called upon by the Income Tax Commissioner to pay her tax; the papers took it up, it was even mentioned in Parliament, but in the end she had to pay, thus becoming the youngest taxpayer in Australasia or even the world. It is the intention of the Swift Family at the conclusion of their engagement with Messrs Fuller to organise a special company to tour the inland towns of New Zealand before returning to Australia where they are to fulfil an engagement in pantomime. Mr Fred H. Graham leaves for Sydney by the Monowai on Saturday on business and pleasure bent. He will bo away about three weeks, and on his return will re-appear at the Theatre Royal. Judging from a picture in the Australian “Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News" a medley duet, which is sung by Miss May Beatty and Mr ElcV ward Lauri, could with advantage be “cut” right out of the piece. Mr George Stephenson's Musical Comedy Company, which shortly tours New Zealand, is doing good business at the Melbourne Princess. The second production of the season was "The Dandy Doctor" which was only played for twelve nights. In noticing the first appearance of Miss Fitzmaurice Gill and Mr Charles Blake at the Melbourne Gaiety the “Age" says: —An innovation, which was well received, was the appearance of Miss Fitzmaurice Gill, who is well-known on the Australian melodramatic stage, and Mr Charles Blake in a comedy sketch entitled “Rumpus." The piece itself is not particularly novel, hut it is amusing, and was rendered by Miss Gill and Mr Blake in a manner which met with the warmest applause. The part of a family factotum was taken in an amusing style by Mr Frank Clark. The sketch was well mounted, and the fact materially assisted to make the performance effective.

Seeing that the alterations to the W ©l- - Opera House have been commenced I would like to suggest to (lie directors the advisability of providing cloak rooms for the patrons of the stalls, family circle, and pit. There is not much comfort for either ladies or gen liemen who “do the play" on a wet night., when they are compelled to either wear damp wraps or keep them on their knees during the performance. Some will likely assert that cloak rooms are not necessary for either the stalls, family circle, or pit. It would have gone extremely hard with a number of companies that have visited New Zealand during the past tew years if it were not for the patronage bestowed by those who never enter the dress circle. The nimble shillings from these parts of the house has helped to stave many a show from bankruptcy; aud for that reason alone patrons are entitled to some consideration. During the present Melbourne season of the Royal Comics the musical comedy “The Orchid" will be produced. This is the play that Mr George Edwardes opened the new London Gaiety Theatre with, and has now been running nearly a year. Mr Charles Frohmann, who probably controls more theatres in New York and London than any other entrepreneur, has noAV written to Mr J. C. Williamson with the object of arranging for the visit of a musical comedy company _to Australia next year. It seems that Miss Edna May, who was the heroine of "The Schoolgirl" at the Prince of Wales' Theatre, London, this season, is now appearing in the same piece in New York with one of Mr George Edwardes’ many combinations. Mr J. E. A. Malone has gone over to stage the piece, and as that gentleman represents Mr Williamson in London, no doubt his meeting with Mr Frohmann had something to do with the proposal under discussion. The Edna May Company will be touring the United States till next year, and" in the event of their coming on here, via San Francisco, they would include "Veronique" in their repertoire. This is the French comic opera composed by Messager, which is just now running brilliantly at the Apollo theatre, London. In referring to the proposed alterations of the Melbourne Princess "Punch" says: —"A brass bar is to be put down the centre of the handsome marble staircase to the dress circle. This seems almost like wicked vandalism. Seemingly, a broad, shallow-stepped staircase would be safer aud easier to travel down in time of danger or great crowding than a staircase divided into two by iron uprights supporting a brass rod. Room and easy locomotion are the great things in a stampede, and one could not well get either in a flight of steps cut in two by a barricade. Two to one it would bo smashed in the first rush, and people hurton the wreckage. Or if it did not give the weaker of a crowd would be forced on to it and cut and hurt seriously. One is always eager to see things done for the public safety, and most of the requisitions as regards the Princess seem fair enough, all save the staircase one. and it would be a thousand pities to spoil the appearance of the best playhouse, and one of the most artistic buildings, this side of the line.” Mrs Powis Stuart, who will be re>membered by New Zealand playgoers as Miss Virgie Vivienne, made her first appearance with the Sanford Dramatic Company at the Sydney Lyceum on the 20th inst. in tTie good old-timer "Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” She played the part of Marie St. Clair. The Five Delevines were in the bill at the Oxford and Brixton Theatre, London, on the 10th July. The Harvey Boys, boxing comedians, who toured New Zealand under the Dix banner, were appearing at the London Tivoli and the Camberwell Palace on the 10th July. The Charles Holloway Dramatic Company are touring Western Australia with excellent results. In S'ardou’s “La Sorciere," which Sarah Bernhardt has been playing in London, the sensation is px*ovided by M. Decoeur, as Don Enrique, who kills himself by sucking poison from the lips of Zoraya, who has just dropped dead by suicide. Mr Richards has come to an arrangement with Mr Harry James by which his company vacates Melbourne Opera House in favour of the American Travesty Stars, when they decide to move on from Sydney Palace; and goes to the woods what time the Yankees hold the fort at Rickards’s Melbourne stronghold; Mr Rickards standing in with Mr James.—S'ydney "SDortsman." Miss Julia Davis, the Sydney soprano, has been engaged to go to South Africa and support Miss Alice Hollander and Jean Gerardy, the 'celloist, in a concert tour. Miss Tittel Brune, the new leading lady of Mr J. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company, is described as “dark, bright, and petite, and has all the ease Ox & finished actress."

The programme submitted this week at His Majesty's Theatre is an exceptionally good one, containing as it does two star turns. The Uessems made their first appearance last evening, and the manner in which these clever lads their act prove them to be pastmasters in the art of head and hand balancing. The ease and grace with which they perforin the difficult feats is simply marvellous, and at the end of each feat they were greeted with enthusiastic rounds of applause. The Swifts are exceedingly clever in the playlet “Counsel's Opinion." Mr Denis Carney and Miss Kitty Lenton are nightly accorded enthusiastic applau.se for their songs. The other members of the company contribute acceptable items which are well received. The Knight-Jefferies Dramatic Company commenced a four weeks’ season at the Theatre Royal, Perth, on the 19tli August. The first production was "Monsieur Beaucaire." During the season “The Eternal City," “The Sign of the Cross," "A Royal Divorce," and "The Silver King" will be produced. A vaudeville artist at present states that he has a repertoire of over one hundred and fifty songs. Some of them are new, but the majority are a bit ancient. In fact a lot of them have grown whisk era. Mr Mel. B. Spurr commenced a farewell season at the Athenaeum Hall, Melbourne, last Saturday evening. On Saturday evening Mr J. C. Williamson's Comedy Company will produce “11 is Excellency the Governor." This piece was played for the first time in Australasia during the company’s recent Auckland season and was well received by the theatregoing public of that city. Regarding the performance the “Star” says: —After "The Admirable Crichton," “His Excellency the Governor" is the best thing of the fantastical satiric kind yet seen in Auckland. It is a play so light, so radiant, so dainty and delicate that the sheer joy of it all fails to express itself. The audience comes away happy and delighted; but it can no more explain its delight than it can account for the joy of a sunbeam. You know that the situations are finely humorous, that the dialogue is surprisingly brilliant, that the plot is deliciously absurd, but you also know that to make the effect of it all clear to anyone else were as possible as to catch the sunbeam aforesaid. The author, Captain Robert Marshall, well aware that humour is the thoughtful presentation of the incongruous, has devised situations of such incongruity as, if they could bo tine, would set the world bv the ears. The change of the vice-regal circle of the Amandaland Islands from a trio of mere officials to a band of lovesick swains, guilty of antics the most absurd ana laughable, and all through the prevalence of the dust of the aloe throughout Government House, is a situation which lends itself to the most superbly comic developments. When the Colonial Secretary (a being in outward appearance not unlike another and a real Secretary of State) is also infected with the mighty passion, the position becomes still more delightfully grotesque. Situation after situation is developed, the satirical giving way to the merely fantastically absurd, and that again making room for the satirical. The last act ends in a most daring and happy satire on the War Office, in which “the enemy" is another British force, and neither iswounded because both are supplied with the latest pattern of rifle. The play is simply a series of the most brilliant points, aud it could not bo done justice to without their enumeration. Two engagements made by Mr George Musgrove for next year include Mr Charles Warner and Mr Van Biene. One of the features of Mr Warner's season will be a revival of "Drink." It is about sixteen years since the creator of “'Compeau" was seen in Australia, but, according to English and American criticisms, he has lost none of his effectiveness m the character. As to Mr Van Biene, who is a 'cellist as well as an actor, lie will appear in a comedy drama entitled “The Broken Melody.” Miss Beatrice Day will be leading lady of the comedy company which Mr Herbert Fleming is organising for a tour of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. One attraction which London managers provide now for early-door patrons might with advantage bo copied by Australasian managers. In some of the theatres they show biograph pictures to relieve the tedium of long waits. A theatre very celebrated m its day, with which Mr Roy Redgrave, now in Melbourne, was far long associated, the Britannia, Hoxton, is for sale. Many authors including Charles Dicieens and Sir W ’Besant, have written concerning "the Brit” Mr Samuel Lane was its best-known manager. Mr G Barnes Bigwood. its recent manager, has taken a Brighton theatre. Miss Mary Anderson (Mine. Navarro) lias appeared in Belfast. She sang at a concert got up in aid of the church fund of the Passionist Fathers at Ardoyne. She also was much applauded for reciting the balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet." , ... Aliss Carrie Moore is now singing in “The Cingalee,” with much success, a new song specially written and introduced for her. Misg Eileen Munro, who visited New Zealand with the "Are You a Mason?" Company, is supporting Miss Louie Preear in a new play entitled ‘ Boy Bob. On the termination of Mr George Stephenson’s lease of the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, that theatre will be closed to allow, of alterations and improvements in conformity with the demands of the City Council. The principal items in the list of improvements required are new stair ampitheatre at a cost of -6800. Several of the dressing rooms are to be altered and the interior staircases and passages overhauled. K will take some three weeks to complete the alterations which will cost .£4OOO. Heckenschmidt, the champion wrestler of the world, has been engaged by Mr Harry Rickards for a tour of Australia to commence about Christmas. The William Anderson Touring Dramatic Company commenced a season at Charters Towers last Saturday. They afterwards work down to Queensland.