THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4319, 30 March 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

(BY "LORGNETTE.") Fitzgerald Bros, are to be congratulated on their splendid show. Hundreds were turned away unable to gain admission on tho '.pening night, in all that is expected of a circus in the shape of highly trained horses the display left nothing to be desired. As was anticipated iast week the public enjoyed a great treat in following Mdlle. Adelina Antonio in her really marvellous aerial performance. The lady juggler, Rhodesa, also reaped a rich harvest of applause. Wonderful dexterity was shown by Walhalla, Simolisten! and CardoJlo in. an acrobatic act Of the many curious and wonderful things seen, perhaps the most curious and wonderful was provided by the spectacle of five thousand up - turned faces and five thousand pairs of eyes concentrated on the figures of the three Dunbars in their silent and graceful Rights across the dome cf the tent. It was curious to watch the waves of emotion passing over that sea of faces and to listen to the roars of applause that broke from a thousand throats as one brilliant piece of daring followed another. Country residents will have the privilege of seeing Fitzgerald Eros/ greatest’ show next week, as tho circus and menagerie will appear at Featherston on Monday, Greytown, Tuesday, Carterton, Wednesday, Master ton, Tuursday, Paliiatua, Saturday, and at Napier on Easter Monday.

Dix’s Gaiety Companies in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin are all doing great business. The company at the Theatre Royal has been reaping a big harvest of applause from audiences which have filled the house to its utmost capacity nightly during the past week. ***«•*

On Monday we are promised a treat in tho shano of Montgomery’s Military Entertainment by the Bioscope, which will he opened for a short season on that date at the Opera House. The set of military pictures, entitled, “Army Life,” are new since Montgomery’s was here last. A capital variety company will appear in connection with this attractive show. *'* * *

Tho Stanford and the Adelphi Dramatic Companies and Fuller’s Touring Bijou Company are ail doing good business in’the country, which speaks well not only for their attractive qualqities, bub of the prosperous condition of the country districts. ,

Fuller’s Empire Vaudeville Company has been doing satisfactory business-here during the past week. Crowded houses, which were the rule before the death of the fate Queen, at the Choral Hall (by the way, could not the Fuller’s find a more appropriate name for their popular house f), are again the order of the night at Courtenay place music hall. ,

Tom Fitzgerald took some more lessons in singing what time he was away from Australia looking after circus novelties, and his big baritone voice is mightily improved.—“ Bulletin.”

Marshall-Hall, according to the “Bulletin,” describes Sullivan’s music in the operas as “miserable burlesque forma of art.” It is M.-H.’s misfortune to be' woefully lacking in the humour-sense. The man who preaches the gospel of joy is as serious as a boiled cod. M.-H.’s opinion of Sullivan is provoked evidently by an expression of appreciation of the “Pinafore* series from the new Ormond prof.

The drama’s laws the drama’s patrons give. * * * * *

Mr John F. Sheridan’s company lately appearing at the Theatre Royal, Perth, W.A., contained three members of Mr Bracy’s opera company which was here in 1897, viz.. Miss Celia Mavis. Miss Nina Osborne, and Mr F. Wentworth. Six other members of the company have also re-visited Perth—Mr Bracy, Mrs Bracy, Mr Sydney Bracy, Miss Mabelle Darley, Miss Adelaide Place, and Mr W. Rosevear.

Mr J. C. Bain’s Vaudeville Company was playing with success on the East Coast during the past week.

Mr Fuller, junr., informs me that Fuller and! Son aret withdrawing their Bijou Company from Christchurch. Mr Walter Fuller is l now on his way to Melbourne, where he intends starting a mu-sic-hall on the lines of Fuller’s Sydney venture.

It was on the cards that Mrs BrownPotter was to pay a visit to New Zealand, but it is now stated that she will be unable to fulfill her engagement with Mr George Musgrove. “The cost and inconvenience caused by Mrs Potter’s change of plan,” Mr Musgrove is reported as saying, “can better be imagined than described.” Mr Bellew is, it is believed, on his way out to Australia; The arrangements for the production of “Sweet Nell of Old Drury” were in an advanced stage, but now everything will have to be abandoned.

"Woman, thy name is fickleness.” This, apropos of the foregoing news and of actresses of the Brown-Potter stamp particularly; for the indictment, general as it is, has only too much justification in the characters of many our modern theatrical stars. In ' two of the arts only does woman reach the perfection man is capable of attaining; in the arts, namely, of singing and acting. Too often, however, exceptional talent in a woman is accompanied by a most vexatious spirit of caprice. « • * »; • •

Miss Kate Vaughan is to open a South African tour at the Opera House, Capetown, next October, under the management of Frank De Jong.

Miss Ida Rosslyn and Messrs M’Kisson and Kearns; old Wellington favourites, have had; a most successful season at the Alhambra, Dunedin. The Williams Quartet has turned out a profitable speculation for .Mr Dix. The public never tire of seeing these clever and versatile girls at one or other of his popular halls. ' '

The Patterson Bros., horizontal bar experts, had a great reception on their first appearance at the Dunedin Alhambra.

1 Miss Lottie Collins, who is now in Adelaide, has been telling a representative

or the “South Australian Advertiser what she thinks of Australian audiences. “They are mere demonstrative than English audiences, and I could net help noticing that they are quick to pick outpoints worthy of approval in young and inexperienced artists. I can recall quite a number of artiste who, having made a name in Australia, have travelled to London, and on the strength of their Australian reputation established themselves in the front rank. In London, it is so different. A beginner, striving to make a name, has so many .hundreds cl others to climb over that unless extraordinary merit or good luck accompanies him or her, very Tittle chance of achieving distinction is afforded.” °»» • • *

The Charles Arnold Company which, piloted by J. L. Lohr, has just completed a successful tour of New Zealand, will re-open at the Princess’s, Melbourne, on 3rd August.