NOTES BY “ LORGNETTE.”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1756, 1 November 1905, Page 29

NOTES BY “ LORGNETTE.”

Crowded, houses have been toe rule at His Majesty's Theatre during the past week. The programme contains many clever items, chief amongst which is undoubtedly the contortion act of Ajax, the flexible marvel. The manner in which he does his act is simply astounding, and the applause he receives at its close is well merited. Mr John Fuller is in splendid voice at present, and the manner in which he renders his solos is fully appreciated. Mr Leonard Nelson is a performer that has "made good." His style is unique. Miss Gertie MoLeod sings and dances nicely. Miss Beatrice English sings with exquisite taste. Miss Alma Lyndon and Miss Goldie Collins are a couple of clever serios. Mr Charles Howard, Mr Bob Lloyd, Mr Fred Stanbridge, Mr Ted Stanley, and the Sylvan 'Sisters all do good work. Mr Edgar Collins has got a compact orchestra under his baton. Wellington theatregoers will be pleased to know that the A Brough-Flemming Comedy Company will play a return season at the Opera House during December. The season commences on the 4th, and extends until the 18th. During the season several new plays will be staged. Mr George Homan Barnes arrived at the Bluff by the Wimmera to arrange for the New Zealand tour of the Strand Farcical Comedy Company with the successful. play "The J.P." ( Miss Jessie Maclachlan will give t-wo farewell concerts at the Wellington Opera House on the 7th and Bth November.

The - Gunn-Meynell Comedy Company will commence a Wellington season at the Opera House on the 19th December with the London success ‘The J.P/' Writing from Glasgow under date September 11th, Mr Charles Faning, the well-known vaudveville performer says: ‘■You will see that we are at present in the Land o' Cakes. This is one of my favourite cities. They are supposed to be very hard to please, but they have beep most kind to me. If they take a fancy to a performer they are very sincere. The weather is just commencing to show its nasty temper. Journeyed from Newcastle to Glasgow yesterday in what is known as the ‘Actors' Special/ The Eaytors are showing Glasgow at present. The Selbini Troupe are showing at Edinburgh. _ The Leslie Brothers are on the Continent. Sid Doody and Addie Wright are doing splendid, also the Twin Sisters Anderson, Florrie Forde, Jake Friedman, Harry Grey, and Florrie Esdaile. In fact, I don't know of an Australian or New Zealander that is not doing well over here. I have a fine offer for a twentyweeks' tour of the Keith circuit if my agent can arrange for the cancelling of mv English bookings. Would very much like to go if only to see the country, but contracts are very binding. If you don't fulfil them they can claim the salary mentioned in your contract besides all expenses. I return to London on the 2nd October playing three halls, the Metropolitan, the London, and the Grand, Clapham, so you may imagine that means busy times. When I get the “New Zealand Mail” you may depend all Australian performers have a read of it. Am still looking forward to rerturning some day, but when ? is the question. Kind regards to all inquiring friends/' Sanford's Dramatio Company have just finished a fairly successful season at His Majesty's Theatre, Brisbane, and are now on an extended tour of Queensiland. During the season of Mr J. C. Williamson’s Bio-Tableau, some real Australian subjects, such as sheep-drafting, cattle droving, buck jumping and so on, will be shown. It cost an English syndicate two years' work and an expenditure running into four figures to collect them, and Mr Williamson ha 9 secured the sole Australian rights. Australia was very nearly losing Miss Florence Young altogether a few weeks ago. She was out picnicking on the Hudson (New York) with a party of friends when the boat capsized, and it was only with great difficulty that the occupants were rescued. Apart from the discomfort -occasioned by having to spend the night in a friendly farm-house, which hospitably sheltered the boatless and dishevelled pleasure seekers, Miss Young was none the worse for her unpleasant expedience.

It is like old times to see the BrougliFlemming Company in a play of the calibre of “The Walls of Jericho.’’ It is precisely the class of piece that the talented combination is seen at its best in. There has not been a better drama staged in Wellington for years, nor one in which the performers have, individually and collectively, shown to better advantage, “The Walls of Jericho" invades the brittle, “jerry-built" walls of a “society" that is rotten to the core. The author (Alfred Sutro) has not hesitated to nse drastic measures to show-up the inanities, the loose morality, and the artificiality of a set of people whose aim is pleasure, and pleasure only. Many of his characters are examples, warnings, of the evil and influences of the giddy atmosphere of the “smart set." The modern cancer upon manners and morais, the component parts of which include the inordinate thirst for bridge (and not only for the playing of that gambling game, but for* cheating at it) on the part of women of society, is stripped bare in all its ugliness by this clever and deep-seeing dramatist. As mere exposure of the rottenness of the smart set" the play is fine. But it goes further than that in that it shows in strong relief the healthy atmosphere of the lives of real men and women, and in the comparison makes the insincere life utterly odious and contemptible. The character drawing is truly remarkable and wonderfully contrasted. In Jack Frobisher is conveyed the embodiment of all that is manly, all that is the opposite of the fast and frivolous set he finds himself amongst. In his’ wife (Lady Aletbea) we have a true woman whose nature is at the outset, however, encrusted in the fashionable snobbery of her stirrotindings, of her relatives and friends. Her true heart is buried beneath this artificiality, and the gradual awakening oi her nobler self under the master-influence of her husband’s noble ideals is strikingly worked out. In the Marquis of Steventon (her father) is presented a type that contains within itself most of the failings of the “smart set." He is a callous, shallow individual, who thinks of nothing but marrying his daughters to men of means and then proceeding to “borrow” from them. A man who js more horrified at hisson making honourable reparation to the girl lie has ruined than he is at the sin of the eon. The girl is to blame, according to bis cade of honour( ?), and must suffer. Another fine character is that of Lady Wcsterby, a woman made charitable by her own sufferings. Again Avelldrawn is the character of Dallas, a young unprincipled foil, who makes love to married women, and is let off very lightly on being detected. Hankey Bannister, toe, is a decided acquisition to the story. A rough miner, rich through finding a nugget of gold, who wants to live in the atmosphere of the smart set, and is unperturbed by Jack Frobisher’s hitter warnings. These form a coterie of characters upon whom devolves the main issue. In the side phases the author is equally happy in his conception. There are remarkably strong situations in the play, notably the scenes between Frobisher and Lady 'Alethea, and particularly their quarrel in the third act, Frobisher s encounter with Dallas, and his noble self-re-straint, the final scene of all when Frobisher and his wife are brought together bv Hankey Bannister and Lady Westerby, and in their presence work through a, sad scene to a happy reconciliation. It is all verv delightful, very moving, and exceedingly interesting. In Miss Beatrice Day we are introduced ed to an actress of the purely natural school. Her work is simply magnificent from beginning to end, and it is very doubtfuf indeed if her equal in emotional passages has been seen here. Mr Herbert Flemming makes an ideal Frobisher. He dominates the piece throughout, his deep sincerity and seriousness, his wonderful depiction of the man’s healthy and vigorous honesty, and his scorn for shams, all ring with truth, and are most forcible examples of inherent ability. Mr Brough’s Hankey Bannister is a clear-cut study of a most excellent type. Miss Emma Temple is perfect as Lady Westerbv. and, for the rest, there is no single character in a long cast that is not well sustained. “The Walls of Jericho’’ should easily run for several nights to come, and the opportunity of witnessing it should on no account be missed.

® This evening Mrs Robert Brough will renew acquaintanceship with Wellington theatregoers, when she will appear in the play “Niobe.” The season will be brought to a close to-morrow night. Miss Tittell Brune greatly enjoyed her holiday in Queensland, at Yandilla station. ‘‘lt is such a beautiful world up here/' she wrote enthusiastically to a friend. “I have long rides over the country in the sun glow, and great restful hours of perfect quiet, sometimes swinging under a dear old tree with only the note of a wee bird to break the silence. If people could only see me here, embracing the pure air and singing and laughing for the mere joy of living, perhaps they would then really know me.” The last week of the farewell Melbourne season of the Knight-Jeffries Company at the Princess Theatre was devoted to revivals the “The Silver King/' “A Royal Divorce,” and “The Lady of Lyons/'. The Company visit Bendigo and Hobart before touring New Zealand. The production of “Utopia, Limited” bv the Gilbert and Sullivan Company will, it is feared be somewhat delayed, owing to the necessity of waiting for sketches and costumes, which Mr J. C. Williamson has instructed his London agent to forward. Having arrived at the top of the tree as an Australian entrepeneur, Mr J. C. Williamson is sighing for other world* to conquer. Ilis ambition lies in annexing that blue ribbon double the V.R.C. Derby and the Melbourne Cun. To that end he recently purchased the Wallace colt, Arcturus, which will carry his colours in those races next year. Mr Williamson at present has his growing string of race horses in Melbourne for the Spring Racing Carnival. Miss Lizzie Kirk and Mr Frank Leon are at present playing a season at the Theatre Royal, Brisbane, under the management of Mr Ted Holland,

The Strand Farcical Comedy Company at present touring Tasmania are due in New Zealand in the ccwrse of a few days. Mr Henry who came out under Messrs Meyne‘l and Gunn’s management with Mr Dallas and Miss Lloyd, will be in charge throughout the tour. He has been identified with this farcical copiedy for three years, having managed a company of his own in the English provinces for that period. The Strand Company has two other pieces, “There and Back’’ and ‘'On the Move," in its repertoire. The latter may probably be staged in Sydney next January, as the artists will then be passing through on their way to Adelaide and Perth. About that time Mr Meynell will begin to prepare for the production of Theodore Kremer’s melodrama “The Fatal Wedding," a piece that has an immense popularity in the English provinces. Several new actors will come out from England, and the piece will be staged about Easter time. Mr John F. Sheridan will produce “The Moneymakers" in Sydney on the termination of his forthcoming New Zealand tour.

Heller’s Mahatma Company, at present playing the up-country towns of New South Wales, contemplate touring New Zealand in the near future. Morris and Whlson the well-known acrobats, have been engaged by liam Anderson for his pantomime, “Sinbad the Sailor." At a meeting of shareholders of the Canterbury Agricultural -and Industrial Hall Company, held at Christchurch, it was resolved to effect extensive improvements in the main hall, according to plans submitted, at a cost of J220G0. Provision is made her bringing the existing gallery nearer the stage, allowing more space between the seats—which will remove two of the present drawbacks —and providing seating for three hundred and fifty, exclusive of chair room at the back, permanently grading the main floor, decreasing the “rake" of the stage, giving a new entrance to the pit from the right-of-way, closing the roof-lights and boardlining the roof. Altogether accommodation will bo provided for throe hundred and fifty in the circle, two hundred in the orchestra stalls, four hundred and eighty in the stalls, and six hundred in the pit; an additional three hundred odd could be accommodated by the nse of the space at the back of the circle. There will be a promenade at the back, and it is expected that the building will be well suited for theatrical performances. Offers have already been received from theatrical managers to lease the improved building. „ __ The West Australian lour of Mr George ’Stephenson’s Musical Comedy Company was a great financial success. Miss Ida Berridgo and Messrs Bob. Bell, Jim Marion, Leslie Forest, and Ted Herberte are all members of Mr Ted Holland’s vaudeville combination which is appearing at the Brisbane Royal. Miss Carrie Moore has a good part in “The Blue Moon" in London at the Lyric Theatre. She made a hit in a a>ng, “She didn’t know," and in the “Entertainment” with Mr Walter Passmore, the latter item a burlesque on popular London shows. Mr Harold Tlior_ lev. who was out hero recently with Mr Williamson, has the principal baritone part. Mr Courtiee Pound, who was a failure in Australia, is thus spoken of by the '‘British Australasian”: —Mr Courtiee Pound, as Major Collabone, evidently left his voice at home. In his song about his high G captivating the ladies, the G, like the ordinary gee-gee, was “off." , , 0 , At the Liondesborough Theatre, Scarborough, on September 7, the Countess of Londesborough produced an amateur theatrical performance for charitable purposes. The piece presented was the military comedy “Brother Officers,” by MrLeo Trevor, who directed the theatricals at Chatsworth on the (occasion of the visit of the King and Queen. The author took the part of the hero of the play, Second Lieutenant John Hinds, V.C., and the Hen Mrs Ailwyn Fellowes, wife of the President of the Board of Agriculture, filled the responsible part of Baroness Royden, Lady Margaret Pleydell being portrayed by Miss Montagu, and Mrs Hammond by Miss Dansey. Lady Angela Forbes, the sister of the Earl of Rosslyn, who was in the original cast of the play at the Garrick Theatre, appeared as Miss Kate Johnson. Miss Emelie Melville, who was all the rage in Australia in 1878-77, and was playing in opera in Melbourne in 1888, is with the Baldwin Company in New Orleans. In a letter to a friend. Miss Melville says: “We were to open on 3rd September, but owing to the yellow fever it is postponed until the 17th September; the fever had been getting worse and worse as the heat got more intense. They had to ask the United States Government to take charge of the city, as the doctors here could not manage it. Yellow fever in New Orleans has always been a very serious thing." Mr Hall Caine, while expressing his gratification at the success of “The Prodigal Son" at Drury Lane, says thaF there was, after all. no great temptation for the novelist to abandon novel writing for the stage. „ _ , During the second act of The Duchess of Dantzic,” at the King’s Theatre, Ham. mersmith, recently, the occupants of the ■stalls and dress circle were observed to be suddenly donning wraps and turning up coat collars, while anxious glances were cast in the direction of the auditorium ceiling. It was then discovered that a sudden squall had come on while the roof was “off," so that a section of the audience had the ntorel experience of real rain effects never contemplated by the producer of the opera. A few seconds sufficed to replace the movable roof, and the enthusiasm of the audience was in no way damped by the incident. Mr J. O. Williamson’s Repertoire Opera Company, Mr John E. Sheridan’s Musical Comedy Company, and Mr George Stephenson’s > Musical Comedy Company were all touring West Australia at the same time and doing good business.

Mr John F. Sheridan Avill produce “The Money Makers” in Sydney op the termination of his forthcoming Noav Zealand tour*

The Macmahon Company are still touring the South Island with success. The proprietors of the Christchurch Theatre Royal have informed the City Council that they are prepared to erect, forthwith, a modern theatre, on plans to be approved by the Council, provided the license for the existing one be renewed during 1966 and 1907, a&-l jirovided in case the new theatre be erected, no new regulations are to be adopted that would imperil the safety of the proprietors’ investment. As the Council had received an undertaking to erect an up-to-date theatre, the offer was referred to the subcommittee set up to deal with the question of a municipal tl«satre. Sara Bernhardt’s South African repertoire includes “L’Aiglon," “La Sorciere," "La Dame anx Cammellias*’’ “Magda," “Adrienne," “Le Couvrier,’' “La Femme de Claude," “Angelo," “La Samaratine," “Pliedre," “Andromaque," “Hamlet,’’ “Fedora,” “Frou Frou," “La Tosca," and “Bohemos." She thef. tours the United States, and does not return to Paris till March. Bostock and Wombell’s circus and menagerie has arrived in Western Australia from South Africa, and is at present touring that part of the Commonwealth. It is almost a certainty that New Zealand will be included in the tour. On Friday evening, at conclusion, of the programme at His Majesty’s Theatre, Mr Fred Graham and Miss Nellie Dent were the recipients of a warm farewell demonstration on the part of both the audience and their fellow-performers. The (Orchestra struck up “Say Au Revoir but not Good-bye," and after insistent calls from the audience Mr Graham appeared before the curtain to say a few parting words. He warpily thanked the audience for their kind appreciation of the efforts of himself and Mrs Graham (“Miss Nellie Dent") also the manager and orchestral staff for every possible assistance. During their thirty week’s engagement with the Fuller circuit both Mra Graham and himself had received every kindness from the management, and had never had a more pleasing and satisfactory engagement. In submitting their little plays, Avhich had met with unanimous approval, he was proud to think that he had rightly gauged the taste of New Zealand audiences when he had determined to put before them only such work as was free from coarseness- and vulgarity. He and Miss Dent had accepted a long Australian engagement with Mr Harry Rickards, but hoped next year to meet them all again. Mr Graham was, we understand, fairly inundated Avith offers of engagement for the Christmas eeaspn. He and Miss Dent and Mr Frank Graham left for Sydney on Saturday, and Avere seen off by a large number of friends.

It is good news (says the London “Standard") to learn that Mr J. M. Barrie is busily engaged at TrouArille placing the finishing touches upon his new play, which Ave may hope to see early in the new year. One is also glad to be able to state upon, authority that Mr Barrie has set out, for elaboration in due course, the plots of various other pieces. That is good news for the playgoer. Less pleasing are the tidings one has to convey to the reader of books. While Mr Barrie has by no means “sAvorn off" the Avriting cf novels, it is certain that in the future his attention Avill almost entirely be given to the stage as a medium of expression. Mr Barrie has found an ever-growing inclination towards the drama, and this necessarily means a restriction of his output of novels. Let us hope, hoAvever, that he will not altogether forsake his lovers in the library for the beaux yeux of his admirers in the playhouse. The Misses Florrie and Stella Ranger are due to appear in Wellington under the Fuller banner. The old Princess’s Theatre in Oxford street, London, Avhich was as distinctive a home of melodrama as the old Adelphi, 13 about to revive its former traditions. Negotiations are in progress for granting a seven years’ lease of the playhouse to a theatrical syndicate, under whose auspices the theatre will be re-opened l for tbe Christmas season with a new melodrama. The present owners of the Princess’s are Messrs Keith, the proprietors of a number of vaudeville theatres in NeAV York. They acquired the theatre a feiv years with the intention of opening it with all-day “continuous performances," after the style of the regular American vaudeville theatre. This plan was not carried out; and since then, the Princess’s doors have been closed. It is expected that the transfer agreements Avill be .signed this week; and the re-building and re-decoration of the theatre will then~be taken in hand. The plans, which have first to be submitted to the County Council, provide for a general rearrangement of the seating accommodation, the provision of new exits, and a new fireproof curtain. The incoming lessees do not propose to run any plays other than melodrama. Mr F fed her, the London (representative of Messrs Keith, told the “Morning Leader" representative that the intention of eventually opening the theatre as an '‘allday’’ vaudeville house had not been abandoned, but that since the building waa acqnired by Messrs Keith, the American variety theatres under their control had increased from four to 14; and they felt 1 that at present they could not undertake any fresh venture in this country - They proposed, however, to lease the Princess’s for only seven years*, and at the end of that time there was no uonbt that the theatre would go over to vaudeville. Messrs Keith still believed ir the possibilities of the “continuous performance" in London upon the American plan. It is interesting to record rhe fact that a leading Australian theatrical manager has for epme years past had a standing offer to £Jie late Sir Henry Irving to play a twenty weeks’ season in Australia at a salary of £SOO per Aveek. The offer, however, Avas never accepted. It is stated that Mr R. G. Knowles will visit Australia on the termination, of his South African tour. Miss Queenie Leighton has been engaged to play principal boy in the forthcoming Drury Lane pantomime. This will make Miss Leighton’s third appearance at the said theatre as principal boy.

The famous Scots prima donna, Jessie Maclachlan, will give two farewell concerts in the Opera House, Wellington, on November 9, the Kang’s Birthday, and the following night* November 10. An old-time actor, well known in. tralia, Mr Jptseph Gardiner, died a few days ago in the Destitute Asylum in Adelaide. He played in various parts of Australia in his day. More than once he worked as a gold digger, and at one time kept a hotel. In hie old age MrGardmer referred to the stage as “The down grade,” and wrote against it. He wrote a book on “Twenty-five years on the stage, or the life of an Australian actor, hie experiences and vicissitudes.” The following well-known vaudeville performers were touring the Moss-Stoll circuit on the 23rd September:—Carl Hertz, at the Empire Palace, Birmingham; Cinquevalli, at the Empire, Hackney; Sisters O’Meers, at the Empire, Newport; Miss Florence Esdaile, at the Empire, Nottingham; Hies Frasettes, at the Empire, Stratford; the Haytors, at the Empire Theatre, Belfast; and William Gourlay, at the Empire Palace, South Shields. There is living in Grantham, England, an acrobat famous years ago. named Henry Johnson, who is close on 100 years of age. He was associated with the original Sanger’s Circus, and at the age of 22 entered into partnership with Mullaba, the Chinese juggler. Having been informed of these facts by the Vicar of Spittlegate, the King has sent a message of congratulation to Johnson on attaining his great age. and an expression of the hope that he will live for many years to come. He is remarkably active, and can, so it is said, perform feats which many middle-aged men yould find impossible. He is, says the “Morning Leader,” in high glee about the King*s letter. He was born, he said, at Norwich on Christmas morning, 1806. At an early age he joined Hughe’s Wild Beast Show and, Circus, appearing in equestrian acts. They visited China, and at Pekin the management expressed the intention of docking his wages, so Johnson left. Returning to England, he became associated with Sanger’s, and later he entered into partnership with Mullaba, the famous Chinese juggler. In 1830 they gave an exhibition before Baron Rothschild at Aylesbury; and whilst at that place they were commanded to appear before King William the Fourth and his Court at Buckingham Palace. They journeyed by coach to the Palace, where they found a stage erected on the lawn. His Majesty expressed his pleasure with the performance, and the company were presented with <£so and granted the royal permission to perform in “any market place, town, or hotel.” They also appeared before the late Queen Victoria when she was a little girl, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, at the Rjoyal Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, and received <£lo. The partnership was dissolved in 1862, Johnson performed in the presence of King Edward VII., then Prince of Wales, at Sandringham, Doncaster, and Epsom. Johnson and his wife took u - ’! their residence at Grantham about forty years ago, but he continued tp travel the country for many years afterwards. He is not a teetotaller, and has no objection to an occasional smoke.