THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4384, 15 June 1901, Page 1 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

(BY "LORGNETTE.”) One of the best entertainments that has been before tho Wellington public of late is that provided at the Opera House by the Ada Delroy Company. It is four years since this clover combination visited us, and their welcome on Monday night bore ample testimony to the number of friends they possess here.

Ada Delroy, in loose sweeping garments, flitting round the darkened stage, in the glow of a many coloured aureola, presented a vision of grace such as seldom greets the eye. * * * * *

James Bell has ranked high as a comedian for many years, but the quality of his humour is of that kind that improves with age. To the blase theatregoer there is something distinctly refreshing in that delightful humourist’s simple method of making his audience laugh—which it does consumedly whenever ho occupies the stage.

The Fullers have never presented so good a bill at the ever popular Choral Hall as they are doing just now. Mr Blutch Jones is a comedian who appeals irresistibly to the risible faculties of his audiences, who greet his sallies with peals upon peak of as hearty laughter as ever stirred a dyspeptic to envy.

Freddy Garnet is another mirth-pro-voking artist, who belongs to a school of humourists seldom seen nowadays outside the circus arena. The success he is achieving at the Choral Hall atfords convincing proof of his unique talent as a mirth-maker. * « * » *

With the long blanks between shows we are accustomed to, it sounds strange to read that Mr J. O. Williamson, as I am advised, is finding difficulty in getting continuous dates for two of his companies which he proposed to send on tour through New Zealand. One result of the Fruhmann-Williamson partnership for exploiting New Zealand, from a theatrical point of view, will be the formation of a New Zealand circuit, in which the theatres will bo owned and managed by the partners. Wo are on the eve of great changes in the theatrical world. .

It is unreasonable to expect Mr Dix to import such highly priced artists as Marie Lloyd. Under tho system pursued at Home by the Moss Syndicate (another Jewish concern, by tne way), which controls countless music halls, an artist drawing a big salarv for a fifteen to twenty minutes “turn” is able to do it in two different towns on the same night—receiving half pay tor the second turn. In the West Riding, where towns practically lie at each other’s back doors, this is practicable. New Zealand, of course, offc; j no such advantage. * » * » *

Tile question arises, is it not the duty of a paternal Government to assist in providing high-claps amusements for the people? Why could not artists be permitted to travel at half-price, alwavs provided managers maintain a commodious shilling pit? ' • * * » *

Wybert Reeve writes from London; —lt is a pity that so many actors and actresses have been deceived by their popularity in Australia. They have had to pay the penalty of disappointment on their return home.

Tho company with Mr Bignold in Westralia includes Messrs George Herron, Chas. Blake, De Chateu, George Cross, J. Ricketts, and the Misses Lillian Wheeler, Florence Richter, and Lily Rochfort. The business right through W.A. has been very good. * • • • *

The latest news of Mr Robert Brough’s plans for his new season appears in the London press, to the following effect: —“Mr Robert Brough will start his new season in Sydney in July, commencing it with a production of ‘The Second in Command.’ Mr Brough has also secured the Australian rights of ‘Sirs Dane’s Defence' and ‘Lady Huntworth’s Experiments,’ which will form part of his repertoire for next season. He has engaged Miss Susie Vaughan, Mr Ernest Vere, Mr Charles Garry, and Miss Mary Chatteris, and they now sail for Sydney.” * * • * * D’Oyley Carte made a, fortune in ten years out of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and dropped it in ten months at the new English Opera House (now the Palace Theatre) with Sullivan’s “Ivanhoe.” It is said once mor e that Frances Ross was the Honorable Miss So-and-So ere she married a doctor and came out to New Zealand some years aro. There she is reported to have starred with her own company, and failed financially.

Charles Arnold |s one of the few managers who studies nis company. I‘or tlie Westralian season lie raised salaries £1 a week all round, recognising that expenses in the M ost are greater than in the East. m

‘'England’s Elizabeth” is the title of a new play which will ho brought to London should a fortnight’s trial at Manchester realise expectations. Mr Louis Calvert and Judge Parry are the joint authors. #

Tho first fortnight’s receipts of “Floradora” in Sydney exceeded those of Melbourne for a similar period. But Sydney appears now to be the best show town ‘in Australia. It has run cither six, seven, or eight theatres during the vear, to payable business in each case, while some (if not all) of the Melbourne shows have been struggling with adversity for some time. * * • • *

“Little Tich,” the famous London music hall artist, refused £-400 a week to go to America.

Mr George Musgrove opens his grant Italian opera in New Zealand to following dates;—Auckland, July 15; ■Wellington. August 12; Christchurch, September 2; Dunedin, September 16; plaving “Mignon,” “Flying Dutchman,” “Faust,” “II Trovatore,” “Traviata,” “Tanhauser,” “Bohemian Girl,” “Lohen. grin,” “Maritana,” etc., etc. * * * * w

Rodney (King of Laugh Makers), tours Queensland shortly with New Zealand to follow—piloted hy Lieut. S. Y. Byrne. J » * * * *

Harry Cogill’s Musical Comedy Com. pany goes to Queensland ports. Manilia. Hong Kong, etc., playing “Trip to Chinatown,” Stranger in New York,” “Bell Boy,” etc., etc. • « • • *

A strong English company open in Tasmania in middle of June, playing a new and (sparkling musical farce, “Nurse,” and the beautiful comedy, “Nell Gwynne of Old Drury.” New Zealand and Sydney dates to follow. The “leads” are at present a big secret, hut they will be a great surprise to the theatrical world.

Wirth’s Circus is doing a great holiday business in Sydney, and no wonder —it is a strong show and good in every particular. * * * * *

Hawtrey opened again at Palace, Syd. ney, with the “Message from the Big Planet Mars,” but business does net commence as good as it loft off, but is sure to grow again on a good and wholesome play like this.

On Wednesday afternoon a “Punch and Judy Show” will he followed by a comedy, “The Duchess of Bayswater,” m which Airs Fell and Aliss K. Henry and Messrs H. G. Nichols, J. King and A. Ballance will appear. Later, “My Lord in Livery,” by the Misses Newton, Lawrence and Henry, and Messrs Nicholls, Newton, Bastin and Ballance, will he staged. In the evening tho Wellington Liedertafel will give a concert, and Mr hi. T. Hill and Aliss V. Alount will appear in the “Rose cf Auvergne.” * » * » •

The “side shows” at the bazaar to be opened in th e commodious building, recently erected in Whitmore street, on Tuesday next, by the Duchess of Cornwall, will be on a scale rarely atattempted tiy local amateurs, j-- is a great W/ork the devoted promoters are enter, ing upon—the foundation of a Homo for Incurables —and it is only becoming that all who can should help them.

First among the side shows will rank a series of theatrical entertainments, of vvhicn the following is a synopsis : Tuesday—the opening day—at 4.15 p.m., a comedy will bo staged in the Academy of Fine Arts, converted for the nonce into , a cosy little playhouse worthy of the occasion. In it will appear Dr Purdy, Messrs Hadfield and C. Gore, and Miss Alice Johnston. This will be followed by “APeen into Fairyland,” organised by Miss Estelle Beere and Miss Williams. In th e evening, “A Morning Call” will b e produced by Miss Jane Newton and Mr A. W. Newton, to be followed by a concert by the Glee and Madrigal Society.

On Thursday, at 4 p.m., “Chalk and Cheese” will be produced by Dr Purdy and bh e Misses Coleridge and A. Bell ; to be followed at 5 p.m. by a repetition of “Hook and Eye.” In the evening a “Peep into Fairjdand -- will bo repeat, ed, followed by a concert by Turner’s * » « •

On Friday, “Punch and Judy” will be repeated in the afternoon, and “Chalk and Cheese” and “Hook and Eye” in the evening. On Saturday afternoon “Chalk and Cheese,” “Hook and Jv-e ” and “Peep Into Fairyland” will be repeated, and “My Lord in Livery” and the “Duchess of Bayswater” at night. Another side show which ouglit to draw liberal patronage will be the “Caf 0 Chautant,” to be held in an annexe, where performances of a variety order will be given every quarter of an hour. AN ACTOR’S BENEVOLENCE. MR CHARLES ARNOLD AND THE SOLDIERS. Mr Charles Arnold, who was recently through this colony with his English Comedy Company, is referred to by th e Earl of Roslyn in' his book on the Boer War “Twice Captured.” The author says: “Mr Charles Arnold, who is touring here with his theatrical company in “What Happened to Jones,” came to see me at the Citv Club last night, of which I hav e been made a temporary member to tell me how and where to buy my fruit for the invalided troops. Ton will wonder why he came. Well, h e has done wonders in this way since he arrived; first he spent his own money, and since then he has received over £l 0 to support his movement in supplying fresh-cut fruit for our troops at the front—a very laudable act. H e came round the mar. bet with me very early this morning, and so busy have I been that though it is 2 p.m., I have not yet "ot a shave.” Evidently the Earl met Mr Arnold at the commencement of his fruit supplying scheme, for so well did it “take cm” that in seven weeks subscriptions amounting to eleven hundred pounds were sent to Mr Arnold for the furtherance of his scheme. An explanation of what gav e rise to the scheme may he interesting. The company were

playing at Pietermaritzburg, when, a brother of Mr Willoughby's, who, is a member of Mr Arnold’s Company and whom he had not seen for twelve years, and who was a Captain in tho New South Wales Lancers, canio down from tho front to see him. Whilst lh e party were one day at luncheon the Captain, noticing some delicious-looking grapes on the table, made a remark tliat it would be a great boon to th e troops if they could mily get some such fruit up at the front. No sooner said than Mr Arnold took the cue and first purchased himself and then received subscriptions for the purchasing of fruit and tho forwarding of sam e to the troops. Mr Arnold devoted a great deal of time and labour during the remainder of his stay in South Africa to the management of the fruit scheme, and almost daily quantities of fresh packed fruit was forwarded to the front. Needless to say, it was a great boon to Tommy Atkins, and Mr Arnold will bo long remembered for his kindness both by offi. cers and men.