NOTES BY “LORGNETTE”

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1847, 31 July 1907, Page 26

NOTES BY “LORGNETTE”

Lennon, Hyman aad Lennon, the clever Australian acrobatic team at jpre&ent with the "Mother Goose” 'pantomime Company, have been engaged by Mr J. p. Williamson for his next Christmas attraction.;', •• * » Wirth’s Circus is at present touring Queensland, # s « J. B. Atholwood (says "Gadfly ,** in an appreciation of the welhknown actor) left school to become a plumber, and at 00 was laying railway lines at the Richmond (Melb.) Railway Station. A rjermanent Government billet at £3 per week came just as Atholwood was attacked -with stage fever, and was consequently refused. He started his theatrical career with Wm. Holloway’s company, Essie Jenyn'S being star. Later he toured India, China, and Japan with George Miln, alternating with him various Shakespearean roles, including Othello and lago, Romeo and MercUtio. Atholwood was the first actor to speak a line of Shakespeare in Japan. Returning to Australia, he. had a run of hard luck. Stage billets were few then, even for men of merit, and for a whole lfl months the -\ilaybills did not know the name of James R. Atholwood. At a time when he was most despondent; he joiUbd J. C. Williamson, to appear in a small part in" The of Zenda.” His salary then was <£4 a week. About five months latex he married, and his salary went up a pound. Three years after his marriage his daughter arrived. She proved a mascotte, for since then the star of, J. B. Atholwood has always been in the ascendant. He played Nero at a day’s notice with the date Wilsson Barrett. How he .holds "the position of foremost character actor in, Australia, at a salary of £l2 per week—a salary, paid him frequently for playing those few line parts which he lifts into such prominence. Miss JEJdna May's marriage on the 4th June, in the Windsor Registrar’s office, to Mr Oscar Lewislion, son of the wellknown American copper magnate, was a quiet affair, and extraordinary precautions were taken to prevent, the time, and place cf the ceremony from being communicated to the public. However, feneral itnerest in the affair was too ecu to be altogether baulked, and as the bride, with her mother and Mr Lewisohn, set off from her residence at Ascot for the seven-mile motor spin to Windsor the party was followed by several cars containing friends determined to witness the ceremony. The bride wore a pretty gown of crepe-de-chine and lace,~ with the Romney type of hat which so well suits her demurely attractive features. According to the entry in the register, Mrs Lewisohn, who was described as the • divorced wife of Frederick Titus, is six years older than her husband, who attained his majority a year ago. .

To judge by the alraming epidemic of short runs at the London West End theatres, says the "Rialto,” there is either a dearth of-decent playwrights just now, or else a lack of amongst pls;f ;oers»

Madame Nordica’s itnended retirement from public life will leave her plenty of time for looking after the interests of her intended “American Bayreuth,' near to New -York, tlie site for which she has already bought at a cost of 100,000 dollars, and which ivill probably be completed in about a year. Besides having Wagner’s plays lep resented in this.palatial building every summer, the American vocalist will establish negj; to the Opera House an.institute of music for the instruction of native aspirants to operatic distinction.

A combined church and music boll is to be started in Eliiladeiphia, U.S.A. The Rev. Charles B. M. Clellan, pastor of the Fairliill Baptist Church in that city, is asking liis congregation ior funds to construct a new church building/on theatre lines, where high-class music-hall performances and movmg picture show's can be followed by Gospel addresses on Saturday nights. He also wants .-£2OOO for a roof garden for performances and services in the summer.

Signor Puccini, the composer, was at latest advices in London, a city which he “loves much,” for rest and changes, after some hard work , at Milan on his forthcoming opera, regarding which the most famous composer of the day is reticent. He fears that the plot might be forestalled by a rival before his own opera is completed, which will be in aoout a year. His subject deals with Marie Antoinette and her times. He keeps the name of the hotel where he is staying a secret, in order to secure himself against the too-numerous callers who beset him when lie last visited London.

Miss Jessie Maclaclilan, who opens her farewell season in the Wellington Town Hall on August 28th, is one of the most celebrated singers of Scottish songs in the world. She is, in Scottish song, what Catherine Hayes was many years ago, and Marie Marelle, oh late years* in Irish song. It is not only in the more dramatic and songs of Scotland, such as “Scots Wha Hae,” etc., that Miss Maciachlan excels. She charms her audience quite as much with “Home Sweet Home,” “Angus Macdonald,” and “Can ye sew cushions.” Since she was here tivo years ago, her voice, magnificent then, if anything has improved, and considerable interest will be evinced by all lovers of music to hear her during her return visit. Mr Douglas Young, the Scottish tenor, who has joined Miss Maclachlan’s company on the present tour, brings with him from the Old Country golden opinions, as to the quality of his voice and artistic rendition of the various numbers sung by him in the programme. Mr John McLinden, whose artistic ’cello solos were so popular on the former visit, is also a member of the company. Mr Robert Buchanan acts as musical director and accompanist.

Oumiroff, the Bohemian baritone, has had a most romantic career. Being the son of a wealthy manufacturer, himself a musical enthusiast, able to play on six instruments, Oumiroff developed musical tastes. He commenced to study the violin and piano when only five years of age, and at 18 took a diploma for the organ at the Prague Conservatoire. A few months later his father, worried by speculation and losses, died, and the youth found himself called upon to take charge of the business, which did not prosper under his management. After three years M. Oumiroff decided to realise the remnant of his property, and devote himself to singing as a profession. He proceeded to Milan, and later found himself a student in Paris, under Giraudet, with a view to an operatic career. Here he had the good fortune to be introduced to a member of the Old Nobility, whose only pleasure was music. M. Oumiroff’s various musical gifts and poetic temperament strongly appealed to this “Grande Dame,” and as her great age practically confined her to the house, his services were requisitioned daily. After several years the lady died, and out of consideration for the interruption to his operatic career, caused by his constant attendance on her, and in grateful memory’ of the pleasure his musical gifts, had given -her, she left him a fortune.

(Mr Nat Goodwin, the American actor, is leaving the stage for the roaring life of a Western mining camp. He told an interviewer that “he was quitting the footlights because acting interfered with his evenings,”, also that he “preferred real men in the desert to artificial London with her fops.”

Mr Walter Kirby, the Victorian tenor, ■continues to improve his position in London. He sang recently at a dinner given, by the American Ambassador at his home. Dorchester House, Park lane, to a number of celebrities. Edouard de Reszke, who also was singing there, went into raptures over the young Australian’s voice, the quality of which he pronounced as simply perfect. At Hampden House, the residence of Mrs Walter Palmer, an American millionairess, he again scored, Madame Eremstad becoming equally excited over the young Australian’s vocal gifts.

Mr Leveaux’s article in the London “Express,” on the subject of those who go into the theatres without the* sordid formality of paying for their seats strikes a blow, says the "Globe,” at what is coining to be the principal amusement of the Londoner. "Never has the system of deadheading been so rampant as it is to-day. The deadhead has no shame and no scruple. We do not refer to what might be called the legitimate deadhead —that is to say, the actor or actress with an evening off, who wishes to study the ways and manners of the actors in another piece. Professional courtesy alwavs has allowed licence to these honest workers. . . . It is the theatrical parasite who -must be excluded. ... It is estimated that over -6100,000 is given away in free theatre seats every year. It is time that the managers combined to make a stand against the custom.”

“The Merry Widow,” the new musical play which was a few weeks ago successfully produced at Daly’s Theatre, London, and the Australasian rights of which have been secured by Mr J. G. Williamson, has been responsible in its original form, “Die Lustige Witive,’ for a terrible tragedy in Copenhagen, rrau Gerda Nathansen, who achieved an enormous success in the title-role, nad, during one scene, to dance a waltz with another performer. Her husband, himself an actor, grew Uncontrollably jealous of his wife, and shot her with a revolver. He firid three shots, wounding her in the head and lungs: Then he blew out his own brains. Frau Nathansen is not fatally injured, but her condition is critical.

Raymond Hitchcock tells an amusing cut story: “A few weeks ago, during a performance of ‘A it alikee Tourist’ m a Colorado town, a oat strolled out to the middle of the stage in the second act. It squatted right down and looked, at me. The audience tittered, and 1 turned around and saw the cat. ‘Beat, you!’ I yeiied, and clapped my hands. But kitty never moved, borne of my best lines were to follow, and I realised the scene would be utterly spoiled. But at that point the cat came to my rescue. She opened her mouth and said ‘ineouw!’ ‘We try voices at eleven o’clock in the morning,l said. ‘Get out! You are interfering with the performance.’- Then i picked her up and carried her to tne wings, and the show went on. Now that caught; like blazes. But if it happened again; it could not (possibly have the same effect. If I had a cat trained to come on every evening and meouw, the spontaneity would be gone.”

a # # Regarding the “Mikado” incident, De Saumarez, who has lived in Japan for four years as secretary to the British legation in Tolrio. writes to the London “Times”: His Majesty the Mikado is invested with a distinctly religious character, being credited, indeed, with divine origin. He is the head of a religion in a sense that does not apply to the sovereign of any other civilised State. The feeling of profound reverence for everything that pertains to his Majesty’s narno is ingrained in the being of every Japanese, and this in a degree far stronger even than that of devout Roman Catholics for his Holiness the Pope. It is pertinent, then, to ask what the feelings would be of Roman Catholics throughout the world, but especially iu England, if a comic opera entitled 'The Pope of Rome’ were put on the stage, and the sacred office of the Pope were made the subject of burlesque. 1 remember on the first appearance of this opera in Ehgland about twenty years ago my feeling of surprise that such a title as the one in question had been permitted by the responsible officials of that date; but now, when Japan has become our ally, and when England has an opportunity of returning the splendid hospitality that his Majesty the Mikado has on so many occasions. shown to our royal princes, and to all distinguished Englishmen visiting Japan, the offensiveness of the production of a burlesque bearing this . name is obvious to all who have anything but the most superficial knowledge of the Japanese nation.

Captain Marshall’s clever comedy, “A Royal Family,” was recently revived in London with great success. A prominent critic says of the performance: “Mr C. M. Lowne, as King Louis VII. is not so droll as Mr Eric Lewis used to be; Mr Lewis is inimitable in a part of this kind, and Mr Lowne wisely refrains from attempting to imitate him. But Mr Lowne is droll in his own way. So is Miss Dolores Drummond, in her way, as the Queen Dowageiu Mr Lyall Swete is easy and genial &*> Cardinal —a very different Cardinal from the ‘foxy’ personage presented By Mr Dion Boucicault. Of course, Mr Henry Ainley makes a gallant young lover. But the joy of tho evening is the Princess of Miss Alexandra entirely charming figure of girlish spontaneity, simplicity, and grace. The revival was welcomed with every token of delight/'

Mr Walter Rivers and Miss Nina Rochester, after a very successful enigagement at the Orpheum, Manila, have gone to America to try then- luck.

The Covent Garden Opera Syndicate has definitely made up his mind to give at least two cycles of Wagner’s “Ring” in English, beginning on January 27th of next year, and has already begun its search for the most talented Englishspeaking artistes possessing voices of the highest class. At no time in its history has Covent Garden had so many English-speaking artistes in its company as during the present season, and it has been the dream of Dr Richter’s life to produce the “Ring” in English, “to show,” as he says, “his devotion tc the fame of the great master.” His desire is now to be gratified. In Dr Richter’s opinion, English singers are superior to the Germans, and the British instrumentalists who serve under him are,, he thinks, quicker at reading a score and more intelligent in interpreting it than any musicians in the world. No expense will be spared to give these English performances of the “Ring” in the most perfect way possible, both as regards the singers and the orchestra. The mounting, too, will be equal to anything done at any time at Covent Garden. The Covent Garden Syndicate wish it to be understood that their production of the. “Ring” will be in'no way connected with a three weeks’ season of grand opera in English which is to be given at Covent Garden by the Carl Rosa Company, commencing next Boxing Day.

It is .reported that "Parsifal” will be mounted at the. Opera House in Brussels in 1913 (!) as soon as the copyright expires, and that Herr Mottl has, refused to conduct. This is taking time by the forelock indeed* 'h.7) 7 7

Frank Leon and the Harvey Boys were showing at the Canterbury Musi# Hall, London, on the Ist June. ® * •

Mr John Robinson, a Cincinnati capitalist, offers to buy Zion City for 18,000,000 dollars (T 3,000,000), and to make the late “Prophet” Dowie’s tabernacle the headquarters of an American circus with Vwhich the purchaser’s namo is associated. Mr Robinson has several wealthy' colleagues behind him, his object being the formation of an antiTrust circus league to combat Barnum and Bailey, Buffalo Bill, and Ringling Brothers —three concerns which control the show business throughout the country. Zion City is in the hands of the official receiver, with whom Mr Robinson has to negotiate. Overseer Voliva, who succeeded Dowie, has failed to reestablish religious harmony or industrial prosperity. o# ' *

Mrs Langtry, who has been resting in England since her recent American tour, will return to the London stage in September. The theatre and play were not chosen "when the last mail left. Her London season must necessarily be a limited one,was "she appears in New York under • Mr David Belasco’s management at .'Christmas. This disposes of the rumour that "she is retiring from the stage.. *•••: - •

The new version of Sardou’s play, “Divorcons,” in which the American actress, Miss Grace George, made her first appearance in Loudon, was staged at the Duke of York’s Theatre on the 10th June. The story tells of" a young French girl who is married to a man much older than herself, who prefers the comfort of his own fireside to taking his wife to ail the pleasant little entertainments that usually go with married life. So far the story is that of a common enough domestic tragedy. It is in the development of the plot that Sardou achieved novel success. One might add to the name of the piece the supplementary title, “Ilow she fell in love with her husband.” She flirts at first aimlessly, then seriously, with her cousin, an officer iu the French' army. He, to make sure of her affections, tells her of a divorce bill to be passed by the Chamber of Deputies which would make legal separation from her husband an easy matter. Then the husband becomes aware - of tlie extent to which the friendship has carried the two young people. Wisely he thinks first of a plan for regaining his wife’s love. He affects to fall in with their desire; lie throws his wife into her cousin’s society on all occasions; he makes believe to be anxious for tlie divorce. Constant association with the selfish young cousin brings to the wife the expected disenchantment. Not only so, but his behaviour brings into strong relief the nobility of her husband’s character, and the more anxious the husband appears to be to gain a separation the more determined the wife is to regain and deserve her husband's love. The inevitable ending is, at the same time, a supremely happy one.

It is reported that Mr J. M. Barrie expects to liave his new comedy ready for representation at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London, next season.

Mr Marc Klaw, of the American firm of Klaw and Erlangor, of whose variety bookings at record salaries a good deal was heard some time ago, was in London at latest advices arranging for the production at a West End theatre of a dramatic adaptation of Mrs Humphry Ward’s novel, "The Marriage of William Ashe.” Negotiations are in progress for the representation of the piece at the Waldorf. The play, which has already been seen in America, is a dramatisation by Mrs Ward herself. The characters of the story, it may be recalled, were said to be certain historical and political personalities of the early Victorian period. "The Marriage of William Ashe” was produced in New York last year with fair success. Among the artistes who took part in the production were Miss Maud Williamson and Mr Alfred V 7 cods.

The King and Queen were present at ,the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, on Saturday night, the Ist June, when a brilliant performance of “Der Fliegende Hollander” was given under the direction of Dr Hans Richter. In the interval before the last act his Majesty summoned the veteran conductor to his box to personally congratulate him 'on the interpretation of the work.

Asked, not long ago, for information as to her favourite oratorio,. Madame ■Clara Butt gave her verdict for Elijah and the Messiah, and chose as her favourite solo “O Rest in the Lord.” “In singing it,” she said, “I always experience a delicious sense of restfulness myself and have a vivid realisation of the message of peace it brought to the distracted prophet.” Madame Butt is indeed very predisposed to . sacred, and semi-sacred music, for her : favourite song is Liddell’s beautiful setting .of “Abide With Me,” which, she probably gives as an encore more than .any other song in her entire repertoire.

The conversion of one of the London theatres into a music hall is within the bounds of- theatrical possibilities. The house, although it is not exactly within the theatrical area of the West End, "is certainly a West End theatre, and on© of the brightest and most perfect in equipment in London. The name of a manager at present connected with another West End theatre is associated with the new venture.

The committee of the Coventry Lady GodiVa procession, to' be held on August 7th, selected La Milo (Miss Pansie Montagu, of Melbourne) to ride in the procession as Lady Godiva, the dress to be ‘the same as on recent occasions, namely, [fleshings,- a light cloak, .and falling hair. There were fifteen applications for the position. It 'is understood' that La 'Mild .gives her services without payment.' .7

Alice Pierce, Alec Hurley, My Fancy, and the original Golhams were showing at the Oxford, London, on the Ist June.

Mr. Klaw, the American , impresario, pronounces Mr Henry. Arthur Jones's new play, “The Galilean’s Victory," to be the best that author has yet written.

There can be no possible mistake about the increased popularity that Mr Andrew Mack is enjoying upon his present visit to Melbourne. “Tom Moore,” for example, the piece in which he opened showed for the week to which its run was limited at Her Majesty's Theatre, a substantially larger total both in numbers and in money than the very best week t»f his former season in the same house. This latter was,' moreover, in the nature of a special. week, for it not only had the usual Saturday night but also a still bigger holiday (Prince of Wales’ Birthday), on which both a matinee and evening performance were given, whereas “Tom Moore” played the ordinary six nights and a matinee without any "adventitious” aids of that sort. It could indeed easily have been played a second week to very remunerative returns, but Mr Mack :e anxious to get through his revival reoertoire and give acquired pieces. So “Tom Moore” gave place on Saturday night (July 13tli) to Way to in which modern drees and modern types succeeded tbe costumes and manners of the idol of Ireland's day. Tbe change was evidently very much to the taste of a crowded houoe, who enjoyed the love story of the young Irish American who proved to be an earl, quite as much as they revelled in the career of “Tom Moore” a week previously. Mr Meek himself was of course the brierht portion Ist “star” of the evening,' but the rest of the company a’l appeared to advantage and confirmed the gcod impressions they had made »t their• opening.

The following is the full cast of characters and synopsis of scenery in the Russian play “A Beautiful Fiend,” which was produced for the first time in Australia at the Sydney Royal on July 20th: —Ivan P-auloviteh, Mr Conway Wingfield: Sergto*? Mr Charles Vane; Count Fedor Kara toff. Mr Ja.wor Lindsay; Malachi, Mr Rut l and Beckett• Captain Hardy. Mr Tracy Barrow; Nicholai Trolski. Mr Frank Stanley; Henri, Mr Charles Boris; Christopher Crackles, Mr Willie Bovis: Nadine Karateff, Miss May Congdon; Patty Woodlands, M : Violet Dene; Wanda Lubinoff. Miss Maud Hildyard. Synopsis of Scenery : Act I. The Chateau. N-dine (Nadine's Sacrifice); Act 11. Scone 1., Office of the Imperial Police (The Fiend's First Victory), ccene 11., Noviski’s Prospect, scene ITT . Sr-rgius Strogoff's House; Act TIT.— 1., Grand Hotel, St. Petersburg (Tim Dtend and the Angel), scene IT.. Noviski's P--ro. pect, scene lit.. Interior of the Prison, scene IV.. Trokki'* Wayside Tnn: A,, t IV.—-Scene 1.. Grand Quay, Kwa (Heatt to Heart). Grand Tableau—The , ship leaving the quay.

The London production of “The Merrv Widow.” at Daly’? was a triumph, for Mis© Lily Elsie, who com mon-rod Iv\r stage career in the chorus end small parts in the provinces, and afterwards played the Princess in “The Chinese Honeymoon.” She appeared in the title role of “The Merry W’dow.” and the critics record her success in glowing terms.

Miss Florence Baines, a well-known English dialect actress and singer, arrived in Sydney a few davs ago in advance of _ her new musical farce company, which is due here bv the Tte" ’ next Friday. Mis© Baines will open heseason at the Palace Theatre on August 3rd with a smart and amusing piece entitled, “Miss Lancashire. Limited,” by Sydney Sydney. Tire newcomer, who was born at Manchester began her career in Battersby's Juvenile Opera Oompanv in whici she piavrol the titte rotes in and “Billee Taylor,” and in many other opera© during a period of four years. After that. Miss Baines played leading parts on tour in “The New Barmaid,” and for five month© starred with the late Dan Lsno as a dialect comedienne at the Pavilion Theatre, where, and at the Tivoli, and other leading London halls, she became a favourite during the two years An engagement then took her to South Africa, where she remained 18 months, and acquired the manuscript of “Miss Lancashire, Limited.” Miss Baines met Lord Roberts at Capetown, and embarked on the same ship with him and his family for England. Thu© it came to pass that during the voyage England's Field-Marshal took the chair at a readlng of the new piece, and declared that he hadn t laughed at anything so much for ten years.” This opinion and the applause of others on board, led to the production of the piece at Croydon in September, 1904, when such a hit was made that Miss Baiues ha© toured with Sit ever since, and i© booked to resume, after visiting this country and the United States, in the autumn of 1908. The Lancashire comedienne will play her original part of a Lancashire farmhand visiting London, and will be supported by Messrs Burt Burton, Patrick Evans, J. H. Booth, Walter and Richard Hicks, John Price, Misses Muriel Johnson, Gertrude Douglas, and Nellie Birchenough, all of whom are new to this country.

When the plan for the Perth visit of the "Mother Goose" Pantomime Company opened there was a tremendous rush or the pnblio to secure seats, and eome stirring scenes took place at the office before the first excitement calmed down. In three houre—from 9 till 12, when the box office closed for the day--a total of 1 700 seats had been booked, while next day over 1000 was added to this number. As one result the opening performance on Saturday evening (Jaly 13th) was witnessed by tne biggest audience that had ever assembled m the city while as another consequence the success of the season, in spite of the great expense inourred in taking over the company, was assured.

The “Human Hearts" Company commence a season at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on August 17th. The New Zealand tour of this combination ha©, proved a very successful one to the management.

Mr J. C. Williamson has made arrangements for the early production in Australia of “Peter Pan."

Miss Olive Godwin will May the part of Jill in the pantomime “Mother Goose” during the New Zealand tour.

A very strong porgramme was prepared for the matinee in aid of the Distressed Actors' Fund, which was held at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on Tuesday (July 16th). With their customary generosity the members of tme profession volunteered their services in practical unanimity, while scores of willing heJ]> ens, realising that tnere was not room for all in the entertainment, devoted themto the sab of tickets, programmes, flowers, and sweets. As for the items it need on.y be mentioned that every single company playing in Melbourne was represented. Mr Andrew Mack di* the first act of “Tom Moore,” Mr Bland Holt the second act “The Breaking of the Drought,” while Sir J. C. William son's Musical r 'o-ue»! • and Mr ■firry Rickards’s Company were hoti responsible for a long list of individual altraot.ons. Last, but certainly not least, Mi's Titteli Bruns delayed her journey to Queensland on purpose to play in the Balcony Scene from “Romeo and Juliet” —needless to say to the immense delight of her thousands of ad mirers who had bidden her a bond farewell a few weeks previously without any expectation of seeing her again befo.e her departure.

The following is the full cast of characters in the opera “ ! •o.othy,” which w.'ii> revived at Her Majesty's Tlieatiy Sydney, on July 20thDorotiiy Bantam, Miss Florence Young; Lydia Hawthorne, Miss Nina Wood; Phvllis Tunnitt, ■■ .: Alma Barber; Airs Privett, Miss Clara b..i.on '--‘j ■ i - vty. -'j--.os Pj.<.fSs>y Fres ton; Geoffrey Wilder, Mr Reginald i. baits; Harry Sherwood, Art 1 Aivtiar Crane; Squire Ban tom, Mr Z. R. irontoek; John Tuppitt, Mr Arthur Hunter; Tom Strutt, Mr Robert Needham; foa-j-san, Mr J. Tertio; Lurcher. Mr Coo. Lauri.

# * # A London theatrical writer says:. “Mr Jerrard Grant Allens sememe for i>. miniature theatre is now taking definite shape, and ho will open it in GctoaoiFollowing on the lines of the Kammer Theatre, Berlin, the Theatre dcs Capacities, in Paris, but much more nearly those of tne little Boite a J?ui*y, in Paris. Mr Allen will take a hall which will hold three hundred people, and this ho will convert —at a cost of about —into a theatre. Tho stalls will be halt a guinea, tae seats behind those will bo three half-crowns, and there may be a five-shilling circle. The orchestra will oo moved into the vestibule, which may bo the beginning of intellectual conversation during the entr’acte. Ono will suescribe' for one's seat in the new theatre in the same way as one rents a box at the opera. It is % all to be yeiy smart and 'exclusive.' Meanwhile, perhaps at the Criterion, Mr Allen \\ill produce in the West End at the end ot this season, or at the beginning of lie A r > a modern comedy by Mr Kennedy Box, called ‘The Cherub and the Houseboat.' This is a comedy which requires a small theatre, and is one that . lends itself to .peculiarly pictorial scenic arrangement,”

A rare first edition of Shakespeare s foundation play, on which “Henry VL, Part II.” is based, sold at Sotheby's tor <£l9lo, or just on .£6O a leaf. This constitutes a record price for a Shakespeare quarto. The previous highest price realised was .£1725. At the same sale nineteen other genuine and doubtful Shakespeare plays produced nearly <£sooo. Few of them contain more than forty leaves, and one, consisting of thirty; seven leaves, reached £I2OO. Conies oi the first four editions of Shakespeare’s plays in folio were also offered, the first making <£2400, the second £l4O, the third £1550, and the fourth £BO. * * *

Mr Henry Arthur Jones sailed from London on the 4th June for New York to arrange the casting of his new play, “The Galilean's Victory,” which is to be produced in New York by Klaw and Erlanger in the Autumn. » • *

One of the biggest things m the way of moving buildings is to take place m Brooklyn. The Montauk Theatre will be moved 300 ft from its Fulton street site to one on Flatbush Avenue. The structure will be turned round in the process. The Montauk has a 44ft frontage on Fulton street, runs back to De Kalb Avenue 225 ft, and has 75ft frontage on that avenue. The height over the stage is about 80ft. The first operation will be to raise the theatre from its foundation about one or more feet, when the moving will begin. This will be accomplished by means of about 1500 jacks and screws 2ft in length. The theatre, after being raised to the necessary height, will be put upon a steel structure directly under the ground floor, and then moved upon steel rollers, which in turn revolve on tracks made of railroad iron. They have four months to do it in, and confidently expect that it will be ready to open again in the fall season.

If Edward Terry who has recently been made a magistrate, achieves his object, as expressed to a distinguished assembly at the St. James's Theatre, on May 7th, Mr Plowden will have to look to his laurels. It was at a meeting of the "Rehearsal Club," attended by Princess Christian, that Terry promised to be genial on the bench, "even to the most atrocious criminal." f T will always try to enlighten the court with frivolous remarks, and make prisoners feel it a pleasure to be sentenced by me."

More than sixty years ago all the principal avenues of the city of Delaware converged to a toll gate at the entrance to the Elmwood Cemetery road. Tho cemetery having boen laid out long before the construction of the plank road beyond the toll gate, funerals were allowed to pass through the latter toll free. One ' day as i>r Price, a wellknown physician, stopped to pay his toll, he observed to the gatekeeper: “Considering the benevolent character of the profession to which I have the honour to belong, I think that you ought to let me pass toll-free.” “No, no. doctor,” the man replied; “we can't afford that. You send too many deadheads through here as it is!” The siory travelled, and the term “deadheads” became fixed.

No name is more familiar to the hungry man than Fne name of Gattis, -the proprietors of the London Vaudeville. The present generation of Gatti is the third in London. Sixty years ago a Gatti opened a small marble-topped restaurant in the Hungerford Market —now the site of the Charing Cross station. For cooks he had two brothers, and for waiters his two nephews. These two brothers nearly fifty years ago left their uncle to set up for themselves at the Adelaide Gallery in the Strand, which had, among other tilings, been the home of a waxwork show. Success came to them from the first, and .tUigostura and Stephanotis, as they were nicknamed, became well known and popular. Res-taurant-keeping by no moans exhausted their energies. They were the proprietors and managers of tme Aueiphi Theatre in tiie Halcyon nays of William Terris© and Henry Pettit. They ran pantomime at oovent Garden. They owned tne v auueviiie. They initiated the Electric lagac worn yaUj. uiu noa, however, possess tne music nails Known as “Gattis.'' mom Agosano ana ocepnan,) uatti aie dean, mu tne wonderfui~ business they bunt up is directed by two more brotli-rs, ono of wnom is an Oxford man and a canister.

A new work by Andre lUassager (ol “Ver-oniquid” iMie) entitled, ne Chan-deiie-r, v> ril os tire licxo production at tuo C/Oera ceiaiiquo in x axis. Tne libretto r.s bdijou upon a by Alfred tie Musset.

The Theatre Royal was packed on Saturday night, wiicii a complete change ol programme was made. Armstrong and Verne, the popular comedy sketch artists, made their reappearance. These two clever performers presented a new travesty entitled “colonel Ketchup,” which pleased tho audience immensely, and, in response to an encore, they added their American hit, “ Give My Regards to Broadway.” Not satisfied yet, the audience compelled Mr Armstrong to contribute one of his clog-dances. Miss Ho Galcutt, a graceful soubrt-rte, gave a song which won a recall. The Siagpoole Trio staged one of their mirthprovoking skits, “ Turkish Baths,” which was in keeping with tho reputation of those favourite laughter-makers. Mr Val Newton’s ballads were enjoyable contributions, and Hammon and Wyatt, the Sandqjir girls, achieved an unqualified success m a new and original turn. Miss Maud Florence's serio number was vociferously encored. Mr Joe Verne displayed his prowess as a dancer. The comic songs by Mr Bob Bell were accorded enthusiastic applause. “ Victor the Great” is a facile ventriloquist, and a master hand as an entertainer. The torpedo attack on H.M.S. Dreadnought and the comic film, “ The Shortsighted Cyclist ” are exceptionally meritorious biograph subjects. # * * ILLEGITIMATE MELODRAMA. The prompt suppression in Melbourne of a melodrama which appealed to the most depraved section of the populace by a representation of the re< *it murder of .a Collins street diamond merchant, contrasts strongly and favourably with the practice obtaining in the United States, where it seems possible to present on the stage anything that is sensational, depraved, and in villanous taste, so long as it does not cross the border-line of what in the States is called decency. For some weeks past (says a recent issue of the “Toronto Globe”) there has been running through the United States a theatrical travesty of the Thaw murder and trial, iif which the melodramatic spirit has been allowed to run into insufferable license. For tho deliberate killing of Stanford White by a pistol shot in a position of the utmost publicity Harry K. Thaw was put on trial, and the case ended in a hopeless disagreement of the jury. He is to be tried again at no distant date; and it is doing him incalculable wrong to make his homicide the subject of a play while he is still liable to be brought in guilty by a jury and sentenced to the death penalty, due in the State of New York to the convicted murderer. Apart altogether from this aspect of the matter there are the feelings of the surviving relatives of each man to be taken into account. It is impossible to dramatise the whole incident without exhibiting White as a libertine. Why should the playright be permitted to harrow the feelings of a respectable domestic circle in order to increase his gains by pandering to the morbid tastes and pampered appetites of vulgar crowds? One figure in the whole terrible tragedy stands out as an object of sympathetic compassion and unlimited respect. The elder Mrs Thaw typifies the mother —common enough in real life —who will not desert her erring boy though the whole world may turn against him. She is reported to have heavily mortgaged her property to provide funds for his second defence, and in the face of her sublime self-sacrifice she ie subjected to the brutal and torturing insults of a play-writer who is a disgrace to his calling. On one ground or another this wretched travesty Bhould be driven from the stage wherever an attempt is made to present it for the amusement of the ignoble crowd of theatre-goers who are past enjoying any play that is respectable.