THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4330, 13 April 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

(BT "LORGNETTE”) v The Pollards, Charles Hawtrey’s “Message from Mars 1 ' Company and the Stanford Dramatic: Company are the only show bookings for the Opera House remaning, thie year. -, The Gaiety Company appearing at the Theatre Royal this week is in many, respects the best tliat has been seen at that house illtdor Mr Dix’s control. I have the hames in my minds’ eye of several successful local business men who predicted that Mr Dix’s lease of the Theatre Royal would be attended with calamity for that enterprising entrepreneur. However, as all the world and his wife are aware Mr Dix’s. effort to light the sacred, lamp of healthy amusement in Wellington has been followed by the verv reverse of calamity. One secret of Mr Dix’s success is to be found in his liberality, and another in his Napoleonic eve for picking out good men to carry out his ambitious projects. A glanco round tne entourage at the Royal tells its own. story. From Mr Claude Whaite, the local manager, to the door-keepers it would bo difficult to find a more obliging set of officials in any place of amusement in the colonies than that employed on the staff at the Theatre Royal.

If anvoM in the crowded audience at Johnston street “gaff,” on Saturday night, needed to be told that Frank Yorke is the greatest “nigger” of them all, surely he yould have been purged of his ignorance before the curtain fell. With a few more or less notable exceptions the average burnt cork artist who tries his luck as a “corner man” relies upon his memory of what can only be described, in nine cases out of ten as stale bar-room buffooneries, for his business. The highest art isi to conceal art, and Yorke’s charm is mainly to be found in his apparent spontaniety. Simple as the means are by,which he produces such merriment, they are nevertheless tile' outcome of much cogitation, endless private rehearsals and a varied experience of men and the world. To be recalled seven times, as he was, for a song cm Saturday night, is sufficient proof of the extraordinary popularity Mr Yorke enjoys in Wellington. • • • • a

Ferry is also revisiting the scene, of his former triumphs with some new business of a wonderful character. Others who met -with great receptions on their re-appearance here were the charming Sisters Williams and Arthur Hahn. Master Arnold Jarvis is a genius in his way. •*• * : *

Now that the newly organiser! orchestra at the Royal is shaking itself into its proper place it is beginning to make its exceHonoe felt. The three brothers Cimino have long been noted for their abilities as instrumentalists, and their appearance in the orchestra as leader, first _ violin and double-bass respectively is a matter for congratulation.

Mr McMahon, the cornet player at the Royal, is a musician of unusual ffnd varied abilities. His solos used to be a popular feature of the programmes, and it is a matter of regret that ho is net heard oftener. • ,* - • •

The success attending Montgoraey<s Bioscope exhibition at the Opera House has been thoroughly well' The animated pictures are singularly clear, and the absence of vibration accompanying their appearance on the screen is conspicious. The poseesraon of the last named quality is oftener claimed by exhibitors of . kinematograpbic pictures than realised by their audiences. # . m

Mr Edmund Montgomery is the possessor of a tenor voice of unusually sympathetic quality, and excels in singing ballads of a simple and pathetic character. Like many singers who are without the advantage of haying undergone a proper system of vocal training, he does not possess the' requisite knowledge which would enable him to strengthen and preserve his valuable organ. It is not surprising that occasionally it fails him, and io is unable to appear.

At his best he is an admirable singer of the pleasing natural order.

Mr Percy James, an old Auckland boy, Ls at present with Montgomery’s Company. He is an actor - vocalist whose merits are quite abovb the average, and is fast developing the method of a first-class drawing-room entertainer. • • • • •

Mr Bismarck Shannon, who successfully piloted the Stanford Dramatic Company through the North Island, on his re turn to Wellington this week found no less than three engagements awaiting his acceptance. This speaks well for the good opinion which exists of the versatile “Bis’ ” talents. * • • • •

The Brisbane “Courier” of a recent date spjeaks a/> follows of Mr Haarcus Plimmer’s performance in “The School for Scandal” (Nance O’Neil company): Mr W. Harcus made an excellent Macaronni (sic) of the old school as Sir Benjamin Backbite. • • • • • •

Mr Charles Holloway supported by the Stanford Dramatic Company, onens in Sydney in Mav with a number of new pieces just out from England.

Dainty Irene Franklin, according to Melbourne exchanges, is shortly to join Mr Dix’s Variety Company in Auckland.

Mr J. C. Williamson’s attraction in Melbourne during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York will be Miss Nance O’Neil and her company. The company opened last Saturady in “La Tcsca.” One of Ibsen’s plays, “Lady luger of Ostral,” will be produced during the season, which is to last six weeks. It has also been definitely decided to produce “Macbeth.” Mr Thos. Kingston will play the Thane in place of Mr McKee Rankin, and Mr Harry Plimmer will appear as Macduff. Altogether eleven pieces will be presented during the season. • • ♦ •

. The death is announced by cable of M* Francois .Jules Edmond Got, the eminent French comedian, aged 78 yeprs. M. Got* first appeared before a Paris audience in 1814 at the Comedio Francaise, of which society in 1850 he became a member. His fame steadily increased, avid he became recognised as one of the greatest actors on the French stage, a reputation ho retained up to his retirement in 1895. • * « * «

Miss Marie Lloyd and Mr Aleck Hurley were to open at Mr Harry Rickards’s Tivoli, Sydney, on Saturday. • • • • •

Prior to do Rougemont making his appearance at the Tivoli, Sydney, Mr Harry Rickards stepped forward and made a short speech. “I have the honor to introduce to you,” he said, “M. Louis do Rougemont, and I want you, as Britishers, to give him a fair show and hoar him through. He was on this afternoon,' and’ seemed to get ;on -alright.” As an introduction to a “star’.’ turn, the last portion of the quotation is exceedingly humorous. As requested, however, the audience good-natured-ly let the lecturer finish his story, and nothing serious happened.

Mr John F. Sheridan will visit mania and New Zealand at the conclusion of his present Westralian season. • • • -• ■

“A Cigarette Maker’s Romance” was produced at the Court Theatre by Mr Martin Harvey recently. The character of Viera was entrusted to the charming Miss De Silva. *•■ • • *

Miss Portia Geaeh, sister of A 1 Edwin Goach, has painted an excellent picture of Donald Macdonald, which has created very favourable comment from both press and public. *****

Mr Harry Rickards has unearthed a lovely silvery tenor in Mr Jas. Wallace, a young Victorian, it is reported.

Included in a long cast of performers at the Cremorne Gardens, Westralia, are Mr Charles Faning, Miss Georgie Devoe", Missi Daisy Chard, and Mr Tom Edwards. These artists are popularly known in Wellington. ••• • ■ •

Mr J. St., Clair, who is in advance of the Nance O’Neil Company, thus gives the itinerary of his tour after Brisbane: —Melbourne, Adelaide,' Perth, Capetown, Cairo, Berne, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Paris and Rendon. Miss O’Neil’s season in London is to open in August, 1902. m

Ida Rosslvn and Alice Layton, Kearns, and Patterson Bros, have gone to Sydney. McKisson has gone to Melbourne.

It will be of interest to the theatrical world and lithographers generally to know that Mr George Clarke, late of Freeman and Clarke, has just arrived from Melbourne, and intends, settling in Wellington. Mr Clarke was one of the best lithographic artists in Melbourno, and turned out some really good work for the profession. ; In view of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, he should find his time fully taken up, as he is a spepcialiat in designing decorations to buildtime fully taken up, as he is a specianumber of his designs accepted for some of the leading buildings in Melbourne, but had to leave hurriedly owing to his wife’s ill-health* .