BOOKINGS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 29

BOOKINGS.

TTTS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Fullers Entertainers. OPERA HOUSE Curtis's Novelty Os —Aug. 24 to 30. Macmahon Dramatic Company—Aug. 31 onward. , . Hill-Birch Opera, "A Moorish Maid"— Sept. 25 to Sept. 30. Physical Training School —Oct. 2,3, and 4. j. C. Williamson —Oct. 5 to Oct. 16. Allan Hamilton (Brough Tour;—Oct 18 to Not. 4. J. C. Williamson —rlSTov. 9-to Nov. 29. -J. C. Williamson —Dec. 19 to Jan. 13. 1906. George Stephenson—j an. 20 to Feb. 8. Allan. Hamilton (J. F. Sheridan's Tour) —Feb. 10 to March 10 J. C. Williamson —April 14 to May 5. William Anderson —May 26 to June 14. Harry Rickards—Oct. 20 to Oct. 31. J. C. Williamson —Dec. 26 to Jan. 17, 1907. THEATRE ROYAL. Pro. Andrews' Magic Kettle—Aug. 24, onwards. TOWN HALL. Charity Ball —Aug. 80th. Choral Society—Sep. Ist. Hugo Heermann —Sept. 4th. ■ Savage Club —Sept. 14th. Salvation Army Biorama —Sep. 17th to 19th. Wellington Musical Union —Sep. 21st to 23ra. Sunday School Anniversary—-Oct. Ist. Jessie MaoLachlan Company—Oct. 4th and sth. Wellington Musical Union—Oct. 14th. Wellington Branch Navy League—Oct. 20th. E. A. Reynolds—Oct. 23rd to 28th. West's Pictures —Nov. 2nd to 11th. New Zealand Alliance—Nov. 19th. Wellington Rose- and Carnation Show — Nov. 23th and 29th. West'* Picture® —Dec. Ist and 2nd. Wellington Musical Union (Messiah) — Dec. 21st. CONCERT ECAXIi. Y.M.C.A. Anniversary—Sep. 14th. Hew Zealand Alliance—Sep. 20th to 24th. NOTES BY “ LORGNETTE.” Curtis's American Novelty Company opened in Wellington on Thursday evening to a rather thin house. ■. “Clive" did some card and other sleight-of-hand tricks very clearly, and commendation may be extended to his variations in the rather worn device of the lady and the box. The balancing feats of Major Edward Newall were well devised and very cleverly done. The singing of Princess Chinquilla in Indian costume, was very attractive, and the trifle of dancing which she did was quaint and graceful. This, lady as wen as Major Newell, plays prettily on the banjo. Mias Idle Goodwill and Miss Edith Challis sang a couple of picture songs each, and Mr Ernest Barbour told some funny stories not wholly new, and recited a piece that has become worn out. A kinematographio item sadly out of focus concluded the entertainment. Seldom it happens that a “star" acts upon the stage for a whole lifetime before reaching that coveted position. Such, however, was the case with the star of "The Bonnie Brier Bush." Stoddart, an 'American, played in companies where he invariably had principal parts up to the time when Kirke La Shelle, a well-known manager, made him a "star." One day, after a rehearsal, as the old actor was leaving the theatre, he was dumbfounded to behold a three-sheet picture of himself featured as a “star." After standing speechless before the counterpart of himself, then walking up to it and wonderingly touching 1 it, he turned to the manager and breathlessly exclaimed: "Is it really true?'' La Shell© stated that he never ihould forget the illumined face of the sterling old actor, nor had anything ever given him greater pleasure than to be the one to bestow upon him the final right earned by his long, conscientious Career.

"Standing Room Only" is the nightly order at His Majesty's Theatre, where the Messrs Fuller are submitting a programme of unusual excellence. The Driscoll Brothers do a clever turn, whilst Mr Fred Rivenhall is as great a favourite as ever and has to do his usual six before being allowed to leave the stage. The Rollos are seen to advantage in a Japanese sketch. The St. Leons do a clever act. The other members of the large company all do work of a meritorious nature.

"A Moorish Maid," the much talked off comic operaj composed by Mr Alfred Hill and written by Mr J. Youlin Birch, is to be produced at the local Opera House for one week commencing September 25th next. The young collaborators are now both resident in Wellington, and have been able during the past week or two to remove what they considered to be weak points in their work; so that we shall see here a revised edition. Seeing that in its original shape the opera drew .£IOOO to the box office in Auckland in a week, it should on its forthcoming production prove even more attractive. Mr Hill has wisely elected to re-engage Madame Lilian Tree (prima donna. Covent Garden Theatre, London) for the principal role. This distinguished artiste nightly created a furore in Auckland, noticeably in the fine second act in which she has vcea] work to do that can only be described as grand opera music. As a concession to her gifts the authors have given Madame Tree the solo "Loverland" —one of the daintiest ballads in the opera—to sing in the first act, and have reconstructed a scene in act 11. so as to permit of her sustaining the soprano lead in a beautiful quartette of the madrigal type. Mr Fred H. Graham (re-engaged by kind permission of Messrs Fuller and Sons; will not only stage-manage the Wellington production, but will re-fc>„s-sume his grotesque impersonation of the arch-imposter Gastro. Mr Graham's conception of this role has been classed a© quite the funniest and most artistic he has been seen in. He kept the Auckland audiences in roars of laughter. Probably his singing of the humorous sung, “Only Myself to Blame," was his most admirably ludicrous effort, though he put a deal of comedy and imitative skill into the musical sketch in the second act. A new comic song has since been added for the clever comedian m which ho is certain to score heavily. By-the-way, it should be mentioned, in view of misstatements that have been made, that the whole of the libretto and lyrics of “A Moorish Maid" are from Mr Birch's P. en —his own original brainwork. Not a single song, verse, or line, is interpolated from the work of' any other writer. Miss Jennie Opie has gone to America to try her luck, and arrived in the land of the Stare and Stripes on the 10th July, per e.s. .Sierra. During the voyage smallpox broke out, and the first thiim uh.a ; fc happened to jMies Opxe in sl new country was that she had to be vaccinated.

Mr George Stephenson has purchased the Australasian rights of "The Nautch Girl." It will be included in the company s repertoire for the forthcoming New Zealand tour.

The closing nights of the Melbourne season of the Brough-Flemming Comedy Company were devoted to the presentation of Mr J. M. Barrie's play “Qualitv Street.” In noticing the first performance the '‘Beaded' says: —"Quality Street” must be counted one of the daintiest and most lovable of modem comedies. Mr J., M. Barrie has an exquisite sense of humonr which delights in quaint conceits and the expression of pathos in a manner which commingles laughter with tears. He bring® his audience into a state of feeling when they hardly know how to distinguish between the two, but realise that a master hand has been playing on the chords, and that their imagination has been pleasantly stimulated into the acceptance as reality of the stage representation of the story. Under the direction of Mr Barrie the theatre may be regarded as a wholly enlightening influence. The atmosphere is one of absolute purity: there is no suggestion of the moral problem and no fierce conflict of passion. But the sweet uhaffectedness of the play has a delicate charm which makes instant appeal to the heart,. and the ripple of humour, never passing beyond the boundary imposed by artistic restraint, gives irresistible provocation to appreciative response. The comedy may be described aa an Idyll conceived in sympathy and humanised by the happy manner of treatment. The measure of welcome given on the opening night at the Princess’s Theatre and since continued shows that Melbourne audiences have not lost the faculty of recognising that which is good. ‘'Quality Street” should bring the present season of the Brough-Flemming combination to a triumphant close. Mr Fted W. Duval is at the present time doing the advance work of Mr George Stephenson’s Musical Comedy Company.

Miss Fitzmaurice Gill will Tenew acquaintance with Wellington theatregoers at the Opera House to-morrow evening, when a twelve nights' dramatic season will be inaugurated. Miss Fitzmaurice Gill will be supported by Mr Charles Blake and the Messrs Macmahon's Company, which include© several well known artistes. The first production will be Frank Harvey's Irish drama, in five acts, entitled "Bearing Her Cross" with the following cast of characters: —Sir Terence O’More, Mr Charles Blake; Father McGrath, Mr Harry Douglas; Martin Drake. Mr J. Lambert: Larry Beamish, Mr Lionel Walshe; Andy Gaven, Mr T. K. Henderson; Pkelim MacDermot. Mr Peter Savieri; Official, Mr Launcelot Vane; Lady O'More, Miss May Granville; Bridget Flanagan, Mrs Barry Lane; Sheelah Blane. Miss Hilda Meade; Kitty Sullivan, Miss May Renno; Kathleen Malone, Miss Fitzmaurice Gill. The scene of the play is laid in the village of Korveen, in Ireland. "Bearing Her Cross" will only be played for three nights. On Monday evening "Uncle Tom's Cabin" will be staged.

Mr J. M. Barrie is the author of the following successes: —"The Professor's Love Story," "Walker, London," "The Admirable Crichton,". "The Wedding Guest," ‘The Little Minister," "Quality Street/' a-nd "Little Mary." Madame Sara Bernixardt, now playing in London, states that she has had two offers of London theatres at which she may assume supreme control throughout the year. The scheme is that she shall have a season there, and that at other times the theatres shall be tenanted by French companies. Mr A. Moss, of Dunedin, who recently accompanied Mr, Fred Duval on a trip through America in search of theatrical attractions for New Zealand and Australia, a-nd who .is alleged '(says f Pasquin") to be concerned in several theatrical ventures at present running in Australasia, has initiated a private club room in Dunedin known as the Albert Club, which has been furnished in lavish style, where a pleasant hour may be spent at cards, chess, draughts, billiards, etc. Members of the theatrical profession should find these rooms a pleasant rendezvous when in town.

.. Mr Bland Holt's Dramatic Company has been doing excellent business at the Melbourne Royal with his magnificent produced "Besieged in Port Arthur, 5 ' which includes) a marvellous tableau showing "the bed of the ocean and the Russian and Japanese warships anchored overhead. Ahead of the audience is a dim, greenish light, across which something flits far away. Gradually this reveals itself as a submarine torpedo-boat, dodging hither and thither, like a fish in search, of food. The submarine finally sights the warship, and, coming to the trout with its full size apparent, slows down under the fated ship. By an ingenious mechanism the surface _ of the port is shown, with the vessel riding comfortably at anchor. Suddenly there is a roar and a spurt of smoke, and the big battleship, with one side caved in, heels over and sinks to the bottom of the sea. It is said that Mis® Alice Pollard, late of Pollard's Opera Company, joins Mr George Stephenison'is Musical Comedy Company for the Melbourne season, which commences in November. It is ©aid that the owners of the Christchurch Theatre Royal are asking the Christchurch City Council for the property. It is anticipated that a loss of something like .£2O will be the result of the Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society's season of "Rip Van Winkle." Mr George Musgrove's Dramatic Company commenced a fortnight's season at the Melbourne Princess last Saturday evening with the comedietta "'Op 'o me Thumb," and Broad hurst's farce in three acts entitled “‘The Marquis de Grenville." Both pieces had their premier as far as Australasia- is concerned at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland. , In fact, Broadhurst’s farce was produced for the first time on any stage during the recent Auckland season of the Musgrove Dramatic Company. "All-of-a-Sudden Peggy' 5 is the startling title of a three act comedy by Ernest Denny, an author hitherto unknown to fame, the American and English rights of which have been secured by Mr Charles Frohman.

The Knight-Jeffries Dramatic Company y< resented for the first time in Australasia vhe picturesque and romantic play "His Majesty’s Servant,” by S'arah Barnwell Elliott and Maud Hosford at His Majesty’s Theatre Perth on the Bth August with the following strong cast of characters : —•

Geoffrey Mohun .Mr Julius Knight King Charles II Mr A. Wontner General Monk Mr Geo. Chalmers General Lambert Mr Harry Plimmer Lord Wilmot (Royalist) Mr L. Willey Sir John Porter (Royalist) Mr Norman Jeffries Sir Harry Taplow (Royalist) Mr Jas. B. N. Osborne Sir Ralph Ingram (Cromwellian) Mr Herbert Leigh Captain Desborough (Cromwellian) Mr Frank Stirling Salvation Stubbs (Cromwellian) Mr W. Leonard Tom. Fielding (Cromwellian) Mr H. Latham Thomas Jebson (Cromwellian) Mr El. M. Beresford Sergeant Makepeace (Cromwellian) Mr Arthur Snp-tmo John Holden (a player)...Mr G. P. Carey Tony (his prentice) Miss E. G. Quinn Martin (Ladv Holland's Servant) Mr William Rqsevear Servant to Ingram A. Richard® Countess Holland Mies Madge Hope Lady Margaret Knolleys...Miss U. Russell Damaris Holden (Holden’s Niece) Miss F. Hamer Biddy (the Orange Girl)...Miss M. D’Alton Lady Lattice Pierrepoint . Miss Maud Jeffries

Synopsis of Scenery: —Act I.—l6sl—Boscobel Wood. The Royal Oak. The Fortune of War. Act 11.—1660 —Parlour Behind Holden’s Bookshop. The Envoy, lll.—Skene I—Room1 —Room in Sir Ralph Ingram’s House. Scene 2 —The Gilt Room. Holland House, London. "God Save the King.” Act IV.—Tne Grounds of Holland House. The King'® Player.

An advertisement of pa /dcular interest to reputable theatrical managers who ar« anxious to secure good ©how dates will be found on this page. Mr George H. Barnes has terminated his engagement with Mr George Stephenson, and has joined the Gunn-Meynell forces.

A new and revised edition, with illustration®, of Clement Scott’s "Some Notable Hamlets" has been published by Messrs Greening. The Hamlets critically discussed are those of Mme. Sarah Bernhardt (1899), Sir Henry Irving (1874 and 1885), Wilson Barrett (1884), Mr Tree (1892), Mr Forbes Robertson (1897), and Mr H. ®. Irving (1905).

Sir Henry Irving has arranged to reu main in England for the next twelve months, and will - make his farewell tour of America in the Autumn of next year.

In Boston the other day a newspaper was discussing the German Chancellor* and illustrated the article with a splendid portrait of Han® von Bulow. A,ti English theatrical paper did nearly as well the other day, and produced a picture of "the eminent playwright, Victor Sardou," as an ornament to an article on Sarah, Bernhardt. It was a prmtrait of Victor Hugo.

A Schiller monument- is to be erected' at Leipzio at a cost of 200,000 marks. A new play, entitled "The Vengeance of Women." from the pen of the late F. A. Scudmore, was to have been produced by Mr Lionel Scudamore at the West London Theatre on the 24th July last.

That popular American aotrees. Miss Ethel Barrymore, is engaged to Captain Harry Graham, the Paris “Herald" announces. Captain Graham, who is the second son of -Sir Henry Graham, and is aged 30, was formerly m the Coldstream, Guards. For five years he was on the staff of Lord Minto, Governor-General ox Canada, and is now Lord Rosebery's private secretary. The ex-Guardsman has a reputation for versifying, having published several volumes of satirical verse, as well as some in lighter vein. Mr Haddon Chambers has lately done "a fantastic opera" for Mr Geo, EcL wardes, and a comedy in three acts "Sir Anthony." The American rights of the latter have been Isecured by Mr Nat Goodwin.

um tae subject of Miss Nance O’Neil’* pi-esentation of “Marie Antoinette" in Melbourne, the "Australasian" says: "Miss O’Neil, as she stood sideways in Act I. bore a striking resemblance to> that dainty little bust of Marie Antoinette that stands on the mantelshelf in the Queen’s cabinet, in the palace af; Versailles, but afterwards she rather marred the likeness by wearing an ngly wig, with the hair too low oh the fore, head."

Miss Henrietta Watson, the well-known actress, is contemplating an appearance on the vaudeville stage, where she will present a sketch which has been specially written for her by Mr William Gourlay. Ministerial sanction has been given in. Paris to the erection of a monument in the gardens of Cours-la-Reine in honour of tiie deceased poet and dramatist, Arman d Silvestre.

Miss Nance O’Neil's recent Brisbane season was -a great success, both financially and. artistically. in noticing the production of “Ingomar/’ the “Courier” - says: —“The play is cast in an old-fash, ioned mould, but it is poetic in concep- . tion, and picturesque in treatment, and it finds a natural and appropriate place in the repertoire of so fine an actress aa Miss Nance O’Neil. If ‘Parthenia’ is not her most striking impersonation, the char, aeter is one which she invests with a sustained- impressiveness. Parithemia should have been a Viking’s daughter rather than the child of a timid and aged maker of armour —a skilled artisan, but no warrior. The story of which she is the heroine runs a simple but not an eventful course. Her father, an armourer in Massilia, in one of his journeys beyond ‘ the confines of the city, is captured by the barbarous Alemanni, Parthenia offers herself as a ransom, and half in scorn and half in pity Ingomar. the chief of the warlike savages, accepts her offer, and the old man is allowed to return to jhis native city. The bravery and the re. finement of the girl win on the untutored chieftain, and from being the master he becomes the slave. In his passionate love for her he relinquishes his power and his place among his people, and re. turns to Massilia with her. There he labours for her father, and, despite ingratitude and unmerited suspicion, at the hands of her relatives, proves his devotion even to the extent of voluntarily becoming a ©lave to placate the father’s vindictive creditor. Rescued by his brave people, he is able to avert their vengeance, and in the end is rewarded with honoursL and, what he prizes more, the hand of Parthenia. The story is unfolded in five acts, but'the interest never flags, nor does the sympathy with the rough but heroic Ingomar or the brave and queenly Parthenia know diminishment. The two stand out as the central and predominate ing figures. All the rest are more or leso ignoble. Miss O’Neil’s realisation of the part of Parthenia is essentially womanly and natural. Her Parthenia has just those courageous qualities and those feminine graces, which might be supposed to appeal to such a hero' as Ingomar, and Ingomar is pre-eminently the noble savage. That, at any rate, is how he appears in the very capable hands of Mr John Glendenning. A very meritorious performance also is that of Mr Mario Msjeroni of Poly dor, the merchant. Mr Geoffrey Williams’s Myron, “the armourer,” is well sustained, and Mrs Bracy’s Actea, his wife, is a satisfactory presentation. The many other parts were played with ability. The piece is beautifully staged, and nothing is wanting to make the performance worthy of the high reputation of the company.’

The Brough-Flemming Comedy Company commenced a seven weeks' season at th« Criterion Theatre. Sydney, last Saturday evening with ‘'Beauty and the Barge." x A new play bv Stephen Phillips, "Aylmer's Secret," has been produced by M? F. R. Benson at the Adelplfl,/ It deal 5 with the vivifying of a mechanical figure, a subject which Mr Paulton has treated in “Niobe" effectively in jest. Mr Phillips's drama appears to be stronger poetically than as a dramatic work.

The Heermajm Concert Oompanyhave done ‘excellent business down South. Much was made of the Frankfort Professor of the violin in Dunedin. Cm nis arrival there he wa * formally welcomed by the Mayor of the city which was claimed to he secomi to none” in its apreciation of the Dost forms of the musical art. loca T^^^7' ei-tafel also attended at . Mr Heermann s hotel, and serenaded him with sweet part-songs until 10 p.m., when ami inexorable law put an untimely stop to the festive proceedings. “The greatest violinist to visit the colonies” will hold one more recital in Wellington on, Monday next, when it is promised that he will give a rendering of the great Beethoven concerto which has brought him universal fame. The occasion will be a notable one in the musical annals of the city, for ; Heermann’e supremacy in the performance of the solo portion of this wonderful composition is undoubted. The company proceed to Palmerston North on Tuesday, Masterton on Wednesday, Dannevirke on Thursday, and Napier on Friday. So much success nas everywhere attended the Repertoire Company, and so eager have been the playgoing public to renew their acquaintance with their old Gilbert and Sullivan favourites, that Mr J. t. Williamson is seriously contemplating the extension of their repertoire. Already they have won golden opinions m tne seven best known operas of the series—- “ Pinafore,” “Patience, 5 The Pirateeof Penzance,” “lolanthe,” "The Mikado, “The Gondoliers,” and "The Yeoman of the Guard,” to wib-but there are others less well known with attractions quite as pronounced. Such for .example, are “Princess Ida,” “The Sorcerer, and “Utopia, Limited,” all of which the Australasian, public have either already expressed their approval of or are anxious to see. Indeed, the repertoire might be • extended beyond the Gilbert and Sullivan pieces to embrace other favourites in opera bouffe v The scheme is stall m the problematical stage, but Mr Williamson ’ will come to a decision during the course Of the next few weeks. “His Majesty's Servant,” which will be one of the trump cards in the repertoire of the Knight-Jeffries farewell tour / ot New Zealand, is a romantic play, and denis with the times of Cromwell. The costumes worn by the members of the company have a due regard, for the customs of that era. The play is said to be full of the dash and glamour of heroism, and besides dealing with a picturesque period in a picturesque manner, the interest of the story is maintained throughout The dialogue is gracefully formed, / und carries with it a feeling of conviction that the hero ,of the lines lives m a period in which they are supposed to be spoken. The recent Melbourne season of the Brough-Flemming Comedy. Company is stated to be absolutely the best that Mr Brough has ever played in the Victorian Still another member of the talented Castles family will shortly make her appearance on the Australian stage in the person of Muss Eileen Castles, the third sister in a redoubtable trio. She joins the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, to follow, it is hoped, in the footsteps of Miss Dolly Castles. Miss Eileen Castles has already made a favourable impression on the Melbourne concert platform. In appearance she is remarkably like her eldest and best-known sister, Miss Amy Castles. ~ ~ . . Th* John F. Sheridan Musical Comedy Company, which shortly tours New Zealand, will be the largest J. F. S. has ever toured New Zealand with. Amongst the floral designs for Mrs Brough's appearance m * Niobe at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, was one very lovely gold staff, grouped 'most artistically with pink carnations, and tied with beautifully inscribed ribbons. It was most effectively finished by a star, lit with electric light. The John F. Sher dan Musical Comedy Company commence a New Zealand tour at Dune-din cm Boxing Night. Include.! in the company’s repertoire will be ‘'The Bari and the Girl,” “King Dod-o,” and several other novelties. The Kmight-Jeffries Company are at present experiencing their usual run of popu- - l&rity in Perth, whore they have staged “The Darling of the Gods” to very appreciative audiences. From West Australia they return to Melbourne opening at the Princess Theatre on the 23rd Sep- ' ternber with “His Majesty”® Servant.” Miss Tittelt Brune finishes her notable New Zealand season- in Auckland on Friday night, and leaves immediately for Brisbane, where she begins again on the 11th of the same month. For that visit she and her company are at present hard at work on “La Tosca,” which Mr Williamson intends making the chief feature reserving “Merely Mary Ann” for an *arly attraction in Sydney. The newcomers to the companv for the representation of that piece—Miss Susie Vaughan and Mr Douglas Geri'ard —are both on Board the Ormuz, which is due to reach Fremantle this week. A dinner was recently held at the Savoy Hotel to mark the twenty-fifth year of the establishment of the Oxford University Dramatic Society, which grew out of a smaller society called the Ph lothespians. When Mr Arthur Bourchier went up to Oxford he obtained the J official recognition of acting in Oxford from the late Professor Jowett, then Vice-Chancellor, on the condition that in future nothing but Shakespeare’s plays were t> be acted, with ladies taking the female characters, and he thus founded the present flourish ng University Dramatic Society out of the nucleus of the Philothespians; while a few years later, with the assistance of Mr W. L. Courtney, he opened the New Theatre at Oxford, one of the most successful provincial theatres of the present day. The season of Mr Andiew Muck in Sydney, which it will be remembered was prolonged from seven to ten' weeks, has proved every bit as popular as did the - Melbourne visit of the young Irish-Ame-rican singing comedian. Curiously enough “Jack Shannon” was the most successful piece staged there, and so much appreciation did it win that matinee attendances were almost, if not qnite as good as ; • the evening performances. In Melbourne it was “Tom Moore” that trained the

popular verdict. Mr Mack brings hisexperiences to an end with a visit to Brisbane. . , According to Australian files The Great Thurston will not tour New Zealand. He is supposed to leave Perth for London at the end of his Australian season. Mr Ted Box hag got back to England, where he is whistling for a big salary—which you may take any way you please. The New Zealand tour of the BroughFlemming Oomodv Company commences at the Wellington Opera House on the 18th October with "Beauty and the Barge.” Miss Rose Musgrove is slowly but surely winning back her health and strength after her recent severe illness, and her convalescent stage is being spent at the Blue Mountains. It will, however, be some time yet before she is again fit for active service.

Mr John Hare has concluded arrangements with Mr Charles Frohman by virtue of which he will pay the United States another visit in the autumn of next year. He will take an English company across with him. An instance of Mr J. C. Williamson’s carefulness and attention to detail, is afforded in connection with the elaborate scenery for “The Clngalee”—perhaps the most artistic sets that have been seen on the Australasian stage. In order that the original scenery used in the Sydney production might be preserved as fresh as possible for the Melbourne season, he had another touring set painted for the Adelaide and West Australian visit, a replica in every particular of the first set. “The Cingalee” was staged for the first time in Melbourne on Saturday evening, 26th August. The play turns upon the adventures of Chambuddy Ram, an Anglicised Hindu and upon the love affairs of Harry Vereker an English tea planter, and Nanoya, a Ceylon maiden. But as usual in musical comedies the plot is of minor importance, and its chief features are the abundance of humour supplied by such artists as Messrs George Lauri, W. S Percv Claude Bantock, and Mi&9 Evelyn Scott, the melodious lyrics sung by Miss Margaret Thomas. Mr John Doran, two vocalists who have yet to make their Melbourne reputation, and Mr Haign Jackson, and last, but by no means least, the gorgeous character of the two a tea plantation in Ceylon, and a Bajaii s palace by the lake of Kandy, the Oriental atmosphere and the lavish dressing and mounting generally. , , , The following is the full cast of characters and synopsis of scenery of Mj J. M Barrie’s new and original tour-act comedy “Quality Street,” which was presented to Melbourne playgoers for the first time on the 13th August: Valentine Brown . ..Mr^Brough Ensign Blades Mr Carter Pickford Lieutenant Spicer Mr Leslie Recruiting Sergeant ...Mr Edgar B. Payne A Waterloo Veteran ...Mr John F. Forde Master Arthur Wellesley Tom son Master J. Wheel ans Mms Susan Throssell... M ss Beatrice Day Miss Willoughby Miss Emma Temple Miss Fanny Willoughby Miss Gordon Lee Miss Henrietta Turnbull Miss Kate Gair Miss Charlotte Parratt Miss Mary Milward patty Miss Bess’e Major Harriet Miss Olive Dudley Isabella Miss H. McMurtrey Miss Phoebe Throssell Miss Winifred Fraser Synopsis of Scenery. Acts 1., 11., and IV.—The Blue and White Room in the House of Miss Susan and Miss Phoebe in Quality street. Act lII.—A Tent Pavilion, used as a Card and Retiring Room at the Officers’ Ball.' Nine years elapse between Acts I. and 11., one week between Acts 11. and TIL, two days between Acts 111. and IV. The scene ie. in England during the time of the Napoleonic Wars.