THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4806, 8 November 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

BY “LORGNETTE."

(From the “New Zealand Mail.") BOOKINGS. OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON. Alusgrove Co.—Oct. 18 to Nov. 6. J. 0. Williamson—Nov. 7 to 22. Willoughby-Geach Co.—Nov. 21 to Dec. C. Rickards’ Co.—December 8 to 17. Majeroni Dramatic Co. Dee. 18 to 24. Holloway Dramatic Co. —Dec. 26 to Jan 22. Madame Melba—January 19. Pollard Opera Co.—Jan 23 to Feb. 21. Thornton Co.—Feb. 24 to March 10. J. C. Williamson—April ll to May 2. Hawfcrey Co.—May 4 to May 30. Rickards’ Co.—Juno 1 to 13 (pencilled). Pollard Opera Co. June 17 to July 15. ■ THEATRE ROYAL, WELLINGTON. P. R. Dix’s Vaudeville Co. MADAME MELBA IN GRAND OPERA In the course of an interesting chat on Monday with Mr Thos. P. Hudson, Melba’s “Bismarck," that gentleman informed “Lorgnette” that Mr George Musgrove had completed all arrangements for the diva’s appearance in grand opera in Melbourne and Sydney. The season in each city will be limited to three performances. Tho performances in Melbourne‘will be given on the 22nd, 26th and 29th November, and im Sydney on the 6th, 10th and 13th December. The operas in which Madame Melba’has decided to appear are “Faust," “La Traviata" and either "Romeo and Juliet" or “Lucia de Lammermoor." Mr Lempriere Pringle is returning to Australia, having been specially engaged to support the diva in the forthcoming operatic season. Herr Louis Arens and Signor M. Bensuade will also appear. A full chorus has been engaged from the students of the Melbourne and Sydney Conservatorinms, whilst Herr Slapoffski will conduct an orchestra of ninety instruments. The prices of admission havo been fixed at one guinea and two, guineas. These prices are considered to be comparatively cheap, especially when it is remembered that tho tariff for the Melba concerts in Sydney and Melbourne, at which the diva on an average rendered seven solos, was one half a'guinea and five shillings. Judging by;the results of the recent concert seasons in both cities. Hr George Musgrove’s arrangement for Madame Melba’s appearance in grand opera ought to he an unqualified success.

Included in the illustrations of , this week’s '“Mail” is a very fine picture of Madame Melba, and also a portrait of Mr Thos. P; Hudson.

' NOTES BY “ LORGNETTE.” Mr J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company commenced a'tour of tho colony at the Opera House last evening. There was a large and enthusiastic audience present to witness New Zealand’s premiere of “A Runaway Girl," and judging from the applause accorded to the principals the comedy, should have a . successful 'run. Tho honours of tie production fall- to Mr Fred.' Graham, as Plippef.T.and .Miss Rose 'Musgrove as Alice. Miss Lilian Digges was firstclass as. Winifred Grey,' both singing and dancing very nicely.'

Mr Claude Bantock, who played the part of Brother Tamarind in the' first production of the “Girl" at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, gave a fine representation of the part. The other characters in the play were all ably filled. I he play was staged in magnificent style. ■ There was a very large audience at.the Opera House on Thursday evening, to Witness the farewell appearance of the Musgrove Comic Opera Company in',“The Thirty Thieves." , The performance was one of the best, if not the best, given during the seventeen nights' season, and principals and chorus seemed to.revel in their work. Miss May Beatty and Miss Josephine Stanton did full justice .c the vocal numbers allotted them, and bed to respond■.to numerous encores. Ur J. C. Piddook was in splendid voice, his solos • being artistically rendered. He was also heard to advantage in > tao concerted Messrs Courtenay and Shirley seemed to infuse move Hie into their parts than hitherto, and had to respond to enthusiastic recalls , for their vocal work. Mr Edward Lauri IS.d thh audience in a perfect simmer of laxighter while he was on the stage. Tho * "little gentleman” displayed ‘ his rare qualities as a comedian and dancer, his patter and grotesque dancing being very fine. The chorus and orchestra also did good work. The performance as a whole was a fitting finale to a very successful season, and it is hoped that it will induce Mr George Musgrove to continue sending his attractions to this country. If he does he may rest assured that ho will receive the beany support of all theatre-goers. Visitors to Palmerston North next week are promised a rare treat, Mr P. R. Dix having decided to visit fbat town with his gaiety company. • The star attraction of the combination will be Messrs Callahan and Mack, two, of the finest Irish comedians that have ever visited the colonies. Tho company that supports them is a very strong one, and ought to do good business There is a probability that the Pollard Opera Company will visit South Africa where an extended tour of that country’will bo undertaken. The Willoughby-Geach Comedy Company commenced their New Zealand tour at tho Dunedin Princess's on Saturday evening, the 25th, The theatre - was packed to tho doors by a most enthusiastic audience to witness the company's performance of "The Wrong Mr Wright." In criticising ,the initial production in this colony of Broadhurst's farcical comedy the "Star" says:—“The Wrong Mr Wrght" was staged admirably, the dressing of the characters being a special feature of the presentation, and it was acted without the sign of a hitch. The audience were pleased also to note attention to matters of detail, such as the elevator cage seeming to ascend, and the business-like movements of the office clerk. Considered from a literary point of view this comedy is vastly superior to either “Jones” or “Charley's Aunt,” since it has a stoiy to tell, and , some of the writing, especially parts of the say. ings pnt into the mouths of Mr Singleton Sites and the female detective, are crisp and a clever condefisationof worldly-wise philosophy, while certain of the playwfight's ideas are of the gubtly-humourdus nature, as for instance the scone wherein Miss Oliver first meets the .man she suspects and entices him to acquaintance by phrases which, though as strictly noncommitting as a repetition of the alphabet would be, are by artful wavs and cunning inflection made to sound very much like love-making. Another merit about “The Wrong’ Mr Wright" is that it gives good business to several characters and does not depend upon one for all the results. Its leading theme can be easily followed. Mr Sites, a wealthy wholesale liquor dealer, has been robbed by a clerk who has decamped. After placing the matter in the hands of the police; he takes the fancy to start on his own account after the runaway/ and in pursuance of his design he changes his

name to Wright. There is no dodging | about with anybody else as a consequence 1 of the change, but in order to carry out | his plan he is forced to deny his identity i to all old acquaintances who chance to meet him, and it is his incomprehensible shuffling and contradictions that cause the detective to shadow him instead of following up the real defaulter, who has also assumed the name of Wright. Mr Willoughby piays the part of Hr Sites, and therein presents a singularly consistent and recognisable impersonation of the genuine Yankee—one of the pushing and driving sort, who has heakh for sale and cannot bo bothered with conventionalities or polite subterfuges. It is the best and smartest acting of this particular sort that we have seen for many a day. But Mr Sites would he no character at all without the foil of Henrietta Oliver, the detective, and this character is most pleasingly and effectively sustained by Miss Roxy Barton, an accomplished and graceful actress, who was received into the audience's friendship long before the first scene hud ended. Mr Leopold also extracts a Jot cf legitimate business out of tho part of Wayland Clingstone, an old college chum of Sites, and the character of a rich young numskull called Stuyvesant is elevated into importance by Mr Tom Oninam. whilst Miss Appleton walks through the piece as leading young lady without any sign of tripping. Miss Bciand iVat's Phillips performed her thankless task as a formidable old maid in a conscientious manner, and Miss Millie Ascoli's vivacity and dancing ability enables ner to win her way quickly to general favour. Her serpentine waltz brought down the house, and secured an encore. Mr Victor Kelly, who recently toured the Dix circuit, is at present appearing at the Sydney ■ Tivoli in his specialty, “The Acrobatic Tramp." Mr P. R. Dix’s compact company continues to do excellent business at tho Theatre Eoyal. The acrobatic act of Morris and Wilson is nightly received with shouts of applause. They are undoubtedly a clever pair of acrobats, some of the feats performed by them being exceedingly difficult. Mr Sam Rowley is as great a favourite as ever. r Messrs Prank Clark and Joe Cowan also? receive hearty applause for their items. Miss Olive-Lenten, Miss Jennie Johnston and Mr Millar Prascr have nightly to _ respond to encores for their contributions. Montgomery's Entertainers - have bfen doing excellent business since their return to the North Island. They have just concluded successful seasons at tlisborno, Napier and Hastings, and, visit Palmerston North, Wanganui, Stratford and New Plymouth' en route to Auckland, where they expect to open on the 24th inst. At the finish of the Auckland season, a tour of the goldfields will be commenced. Mr George Gathro is still touring manager. ' ( The musical play, "Sfm Toy," which is to be staged in JNew Zealand for the first time by the Williamson Musical comedy Company is said to be bright, piquant, exhilarating and quaintly humorous; the lyrics being well written and the music of a light, fanciful and melodious nature. The scene, of .the play is laid in China, partly in the town of Pynka Pong and partly in Pekin, which affords plenty of. scope for the imaginative powers of the scenic artist. In referring to the production of "San Toy" during tlm company's recent visit to Adelaide a cifntemporary says : —ln the first scene in Pynka, Pong there' is a very offectiveichange to moonlight, - and the scenic' arrangements and accessories are singularly excellent. It gives scope for quaint and picturesque scenery, it is no; less remarkable for the variety and gox-geous character of its costumes, and in “San Toy" ample advantage has been taken of the opportunity. to present a delightrul picture, in which harmonious colouring is skilfully blended in costumes of quaint and ingenious design. Whereas some of the dresses rivet the attention merely by their fantastic strangeness, others charm the eye by the richness of their tints and the beauty of the handiwork displayed upon them, but -all combine when 'the' forces are marshalled upon the stage in forming a scene of-Oriental splendour. Regular theatregoers scarcely look for-any intricacy of plot, or indeed for any particularly connected story in musical comedy; if there be sufficient thread on which to string gems of mirth and music.., the average playgoer looks for little else. When eye and ear are so, beautifully appealed to one can be very content not to trouble his head about plots; if the situations are effective, the dialogue funny, the action brisk, and the music melodious it were mere affectation to cavil at the story. There is a theme in "San Toy," but it ,is much, too airy and trifling to be told in sober.prose. In the.itown of Pynka Pong, where the hours are never long, • But are banished with a song, and where love is ever rife. Dwelt a little Chinese maid, who was very much afraid Of a monarch, scarcely staid, who demanded her os wife. And her father, cute Yen How, to avoid an ugly , row, • In a wardrobe found somehow, just the ■ costume for San Toy, And a little plan he .laid for his daughter’s masquerade. And in silken robes arrayed she was - quite'a pretty boy. Then a Chinaman named Li. whose short ■ surname would imply Ha of truth was very shy, was sent quickly to the Court; But the Emperor was wise, and this ■ tricky enterprise Which he knew was based on lies, made his temper very short. So he sent for bold Yen How and his daughter, and I vow That a change came o’er tho brow of the Mandarin at .last, - For his soul was full of dread, and he feared he’d lose his head. Or be steeped in molten lead, and his courage oozed out fast. But the dainty young San Toy brought true love to her employ; ■ Bobby Preston was her boy, and he sought the maid’s release. ■ , So the Mandarin arrives with his daughter *,and his wives, Snd the- Emperor contrives how his ■ harem to increase. But the others in the play also happen in that way. And as Pelrin’s very gay and the maids are. nowise coy. And the lovers do not sever, for they’re : , very much too clever. And there’s happiness for ever for young Bobby and San Toy. This, is, of course, a very brief outline of the play, for the adventures of Id, a playful Chinaman, whose ample' sleeves are used for tho accommodation of any unebnsidered trifles he may. desire to annex. is a very considerable personage in the cast, and there are many others of almost eonal importance. . Mr Arthur Nelstone and M'ss Elsm Forrest have been scoring heavily in Auckland Vrith their clever sketches. It is probable that tber will in the near future play a retain visit of the 'Du circuit. Mr Conway Tearle. who was a member of Mr J. C. Williamson’s “Ben Hurt’ Company, is in the cast of the new Drury Bane drama. ■ The Paris correspondent of the London "Evening News” writes:—A theatrical manager in this city, hearing to his dismay that theatre hats this year will, if

anything, be even larger than they were in former seasons, has decided upon an ingenious plan which onght to quell the nuisance altogether. He intends this season to divide his stalls and dross circle in two, one side for men only, and the other side tor ladies. Tho only exception which will bo made to the rule will be for the ladies without, hats, who will be permitted to accompany tbeir male friends. "Sherlock Holmes” is drawing crowded houses at the Sydney Royal. Mr i illiamson’s company is said to be seen to great advantage in this drama, and not only Mr Cuyler Hastings, in the all-im-Xiortant central character, but Messrs Hamilton Stewart, J. B. Atholwood. Lumsden Hare, Edmund flwenn, t uct the Misses Mabel Lane and May Chevalier all contribute to the strengtn of a first-rate ensemble performance directed by Mr H. H. Vincent. I Before Madame Melba attained the topmost rung of the vocal, ladder she was staying fit a little seaside place in Australia. and noticing that the cemetery was in a dilapidated condition, determined to give a concert and raise fuhds for 'its restoration. Her parents were against heridoing so. Nothing daunted, she had printed some posters of the gaudiest sort, and to savo the expense of a billsticker. she sallied forth, brush and bills and paste in hand, and stuck the posters on the most prominent walls of the town.—Australian “Star.” The Dunedin season of Mr George Musgrove’s Comic ■ Opera Company will begin at the Princess Theatre on Monday evening. The opening production will be “A Chinese Honeymoon.” The Willoughhy-Geach Comedy Company staged “On And Off" at the Dunedin Princess last Monday evening. Mr Fred. H. Graham is stage manager of Mr J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company, Mr George Hall being musical director. . Mr J. C. Williamson will send one of bis companies to play a three weeks’ season ’at the Adelaide Royal at Easter. The. Jackson Family of musicians, who wore one of the principal attractions in Mr Harry Rickards’s No. 2 Touring Company, have cancelled their American engagements, and "signed on" for another six months with Mr Harry Rickards. They were passengers for Sydney by the Talune last Saturday. Mr Alfred Dampier will commence a season of sensational drama at the tho Theatre Royal. Adelaide, on Boxing Night. As Madamo Melba has decided to spend Christmas in Australia with her family at Lillydalo. there can bo no doubt that the operatic appearances in Sydney spoken of for early in December will be eventually arranged. Mr J. Winton, the ventriloquist, round New Zealand with Mr Harry Richards’s No. 2 Touring Company, returned to Sydney by tbe Talune last week. little Vora Kearns and Miss Ida Rosslyn aro great favourites with the patrons of the Auckland City Hall, both artistes being the recipient of several encores every evening. Certain Leeds billposters have raised objection to some theatrical posters on the ground that the colourea pictures on them are of an outrageous character, Tho head of a leading company of billstickers has called attention to the fact that the Billposters’ Association had condemned tho pictures. A figure resembling a man, but like a vulture, is regarded as bad taste, and the refusal to post such pictures has created some stir. Miss Amy Castles, accompanied by her sister, Miss Dolly Castles, leaves for England on the Ist January. Madame Melba was horn at Doonside, Burnley street. Richmond, Melbourne, on 19th May, 1865. Before her marriage she was known by the name of Nellie Mitchell, In 1382 Miss Nellie Mitchell married Charles Nisbett Frederick Armstrong, sixth son of Sir Andrew Armstrong, first baronet of Gallen .Priory, King's County, Ireland. 1811. Tbeir son, George Nisbett. was bom: in 1883. - The Bland Holt Dramatic Company is doing splendid business at the Sydney Lyceum with the sensational drama, "A Million of Money.” The receipts for Madame Melba’s two concerts at Brisbane amounted to over £3OOO. ■ . A capital story Is going the rounds of a little adventure that befell Madame Melba on the occasion of her last concert at the Sydney Town Hall. When, her brother-in-law, Air J. A. Paterson, arrived at the door with the diva on his arm, a new attendant, who failed to recognise them, refused admission without tickets. ’ "In that case,” remarked Mme. Melba, with an air of quiet authority, "there will be no concert." The man looted puzzled for a moment, and then, much flustered and with cap in hand, cried “I beg: your pardon. Miss.” The first blunder was nearly fatal, but the second "Miss” saved him, and with a gracious smile the diva passed on. The Pollard Opera Company have the London gaiety success. "The Toreador,”in active' rehearsal. It will most likely be produced for the first time in New Zealand during tbe company's present Auckland season. • Mr Bernard Espinasse has concluded an arrangement with Mr Charles Fisher, a London agent, who will in future manage him. Already one of Jus plays has been produced for copyright purposes, and ho expected to have at least another in regular performance. His one-act; drama. “Her Good Name,” was on the bill of the Camberwell Palace of Varieties on August nth.' ' The Neville-Oswald Dramatic ; Company are at present touring the country districts of tho North Island to good, business. Some of their productions include "For England’s Glory,” ‘‘A London Mystery.” “Falsely Accused,” and several other uprto-date dramas. The company J s said to be one of the strongest that has toured tbe inland towns, and Northern papers speak favourably of tho combination. A Wellington visit at an early date is anticipated. To few "leading men” of the present day stage can the' term "powerful” bo i more legitimately applied than to Mr j Cuyler Hastings, as viewed in “Sherlock Holmes.” Physically he is a big man, he has a strong.- commanding face, and his style is quietly forcible and free from the taint of exaggeration. The new actor was born in Canada, near Toronto, was there educated for the law, was admitted, and then went on the stage. Pive years later, however. Hr Hastings had the enterprise and talent to drop his stage work for a time and to become (by the usual examinations) an attorney and counsellor-at-law of New Tork. Mr Hasting’s first Canadian experiences were with Mile. Rhea, in the drama "Josephine, Empress.” in which he played both ns Napoleon’s faithful Mameluke and as Murat. Mr Hastings can only account for such & good beginning on the supposition "that it was because he didn’t know much !” This was a defi- . ciency that he supplied rapidly, however, as a little later, in 1891, he' .played a good part in a melodrama named "The Merchant," at the Maddison Square Theatre. Prom that time on Mr Hastings has been constantly in evidence, generally playing a season in New Tork every year and touring the United States in the interim* from one end of it to the ether. Ho played William- Gillette’s character of Sherlock Holmes for 23 weeks in America, and was then engaged by Mr J. C. Williamson to head the Australian production directed by Mr H. H. Vincent. As Mr Cuyler-Hastings has

been engaged for a year, it may be reasonably. expected that lie will appear in olhor characters as well, Sydney •‘Morning Herald." WANGANUI THEATRICAL NOTES. . (From a Correspondent.) Montgomery’s Entertainers will be in Wanganui on the 10th. and 11th inst., with a first-class bioscopic e'ntertaiumeut. Since hi s last visit, Mr Montgomery has acquired n, large number of new and highly interesting films, includ. iug some very fine Coronation pictures. McMahon’s Dramatic Company, at present performing in the South, will bo with us for show dates, when a dramatic treat is promised* local patrons. Considerable interest is already centred in the approaching appearance of the mighty Saudow in tVanganui. He comes with Richards’s No. 3 Company, and Mr M. Marcus, the popular manager, will ■- pilot this strong organisation through - New Zealand. -

Mr Gower Bums (Christchurch) and Mr John Prouse (Wellington) have been engaged for the principal solo work in connection with thejorthcoming two nights' production of “'ine Messiah" in Wanganui. Tho Orchestral Club is to bo congratulated on its enterprise.