THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4824, 29 November 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

BY “LORGNETTE." (From the "New Zealand Mail.”) BOOKINGS. OPERA HOUSE, WELLINGTON. WillQughby-Geach Co.—Nov. 26 to Dec. 3. Rickards' Co.—December H to 17. Holloway Dramatic Co. —Dec. 26 to Jan 22. J. C. Williamson—Jan. 23 to Feb, o. Thornton Co. —Feb. 21 to March 10. J. C. Williamson—April il to May 2. llmvtrey Co.—May 4 to May 3t). Rickards' Co.—June 1 to 13 (pencilled). Pollard Opera Co. Juno 17 to July 15. _ THEATRE ROYAL, WELLINGTON. P. U. Dix’s Vaudeville Co. NOTES BY “LORGNETTE,” Preparations aro well ahead for Mr P. R. Dix's Christmas pantomime, “Dick Whittington.” A strong icaturo will ho tho ballets, which will bo produced under the supervision of Madame Clifford, who arrives next week. Tho scenery is well advanced, and as being painted by Mr N. L. Baird. The pantomime is Doing localised ami brought thoroughly up-to-date by Mr T. E. Doonard, The properties are being made, by Mr J. D. Stoyle, and Mr Frank Clark js stage director.

Tho Wellington season of the Wil-loughby-Geach Comedy Company, which was inaugurated at.tho Opera House on Wednesday evening, ought to be a very successful one. Tho bill of faro for tho initial performance was tho curtainraiser "'The Grey Parrott,” by Messrs W, W. Jacobs and diaries Rock, and Broadhurst’s farcical comedy “Tho Wrong Mr Wright.” Mr George Willoughby has a very congenial part to play as Singleton Sites. Tho attitudes in which he appears excite roars of laughter, and his performance alone goes a "dong way towards junking the piece so successful. Miss Roxy Barton was distinctly successful as Henrietta Oliver, tho lady detective. Mr George Leopold's Wayland Clengstono was also a clever performance. Miss Roland Watt-Phillips' pourtrayal of the unappropriated angel, Arabella Clcngstono was a fine character study. Mr Frank Denton makes Mho most of Frederick Bonds, and the same might bo-said of Miss Appleton as Ethel Bonds. Mr Tom. Cannam was good as Belmont Stuyvcsant. jun., while Mr Lester did all that was required of him ns Captain Frank Crosby. Miss Ascoli as Tillio Bird, and Mr Tom Leonard and Mr A. H. Tasman as Front, the waiter, and Johnson, the detective, ably filled tho parts allotted to them. " Tho characters iu "Tho Grey Pjrrc't” wero admirably represented by Misses Appleton and Dryer and Messrs George Leopold, Leonard, Tasman, and LojAer. Both pieces are splendidly mounted, tho parade ground at Fort Muuroe h*?rg especially good. Tho orchestra is under tho conductorsbip of Mr Hal, HenaUigham, while Mr Edwin Geach and Mr A. Cowan aro in charge of the front of the house.

After his Wellington season "Tho Wrong Sir Wright” proceeds northwards to arrive at Aiicklaud for the Christmas season. He will, however, stop as follows on route when enormous audiences may be safely predicted:—Palmerston North, December Bth and 9th; i'eilding, 10th and 11th; Wanganui, 12tb to 16th, then llawcva, Stratford, and New X’lymouth to follow. "It's a good thing—push, it along/' Melba had a packed and wildly enthusiastic audience at the Adelaide Town Hall on Saturday night on the occasion of her second and last concert. There was not a vacant scat from the organ loft to the remotest corner of the gallery. Madamo Melba was billed to appear threo times, but had to sing no fewer than eight numbers before the enormous audience could bo satisfied. A tremendous crowd gathered outside the hall when Madamo Melba took her departure and cheered vociferously. The diva bade them all good-bye before the carriage drove away.

The Taylor-Carrington Dramatic Company arrived from Sydney by the Westral'ia on Thursday morning for au extensive tour of New Zealand. Hearty congratulations to Miss Mando Beatty on her engagement as principal "boy in • the Christinas pantomime’ at the Drury Lane Theatre. Miss Beatty received all her professional training from Mr Tom Pollard, who will, no doubt, ,be pleased at tho appointment of tho ex-member of his company to tho important part of "principal boy" in what is ono of the greatest Christmas productions in. England. Last Saturday evening tho following letter, which was signed by every member of Mr J, C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company, was presented to Mr R. E. Bannister;—"R. E. Bannister, Esq., ‘N.Z. Times,* Wellington. Dear Sir, —Tho members of Mr J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company desire to send thoir heartfelt thanks to Mr Bannister for all his great kindness and help which materially contributed to making the fete, in aid'of the Elingamite fund, tho big success it was.** Mr Frank Dyer, of W. M. Baunatyn-e and Co,, was ' also presented with* a similar acknowledgement for his efforts. Rumour has it that the Williamson Musical Comedy Company will pay a return visit to Wellington before proceeding to Australia,!’when "The Circus Girl" will most likely be staged. Mr Sam Rowley, "the little man with the big voice.** opened with Mr Dix*s Auckland company on Wednesday evening. Pop© and Sayles are also in the bill. .

Mr Henry Arthur Jones has settled tho details of a new piny which Mr Arthur Bourchier will produce at tho London Garrick next year. Tho Christchurch season of Wirt Vs Circus was a great success. The show is working Ha way South, and always to good business. After the present tour it is the intention of the Brothers Wirth to visit the States of the Commonwealth. .Mr Hairy Lyons has arrived in Dunedin to make the necessary arrangements for the New Zealand tour of tho Frank Thornton Comedy Company, Tho Dunedin season begins on the Ist December' and extends until the 18th, after which the company works its way to Christchurch, opening in the City of the Plains on Boxing Night. The North Island will then be exploited. The Wellington season will commence on the 24th February. Included in the repertoire of the company are "Facing the Music,” "A Little Bay of Sunshine.” "Charley’s Aunt.” '"The Private Secretary” "Tho Strange Adventures of Miss Brown.” and the curtain raiser "A Test Match.” Mdlle. Antonia Dolores sang at the fourth suheprintion concert of the Melbourne Philharmonic Sncietr, which was held on tho 17th inst. The work produced vra* Mendel ssl ion’s great oratorio "St, Pool.” Miss Grace Palotfa already talks of returning to Australia. ‘ . An extraordinary stage noyeltr is announced at Vienna. Count Stngard. who is to rday shnfflv th» character of tho PW Piper of Hamelin. will have as realistic accessories a'thousand tame

rats, who will follow him on the stag© as he pipes. ilr Ered. Duval, Southern manager for Air Dix, was in town this week. Hamilton Hill, the-Australian vocalist, is at present touring ilio Ai.oss Circuit of the English provinces, and was at latest appearing at the Empire Theatre, Edinburgh. Hisa Rose Do Vella (serio-comic) and Miss Ethel Clifford tbailtulist) open at Air Dix-’s City Hall, Auckland, on Monday evening. Jilr i/runK Thornton's Comedy Company is said to be a very even combination. Mr Joseph Wilson, one of the leading members, was the original sailor in the cast* of “The Trench Maid" in London. Mr Bradley was once “juvenile lead" for Miss Eui tescuc. of breach of promise lain**; -Mr Herbert has been a member of Air Benley's company, and Mr Demon has had experience in England and .South Africa. Miss Eordyce received her early training from Mr Beerbohm Tree, and Miss Norbury was lor some time with a company headed by Air Herbert T'leming in South Africa. An amusing incident is related by Hie “Brisbane Courier" in connection with the demonstration which greeted. Medamo Melba at tho Ipswich railway station on her way to Brisbane. The platform was crowded, and the people surged round the carnage window. Melba dialled very pleasantly to them. A venerable old man ventured to'take iici hand, and as he did so he spoke to her and addressed a sermon to those about at the same time. “I like you. mum," he frankly burst out. “because \ouT*o go°d to your old father." Before the train moved on he asked Melba would she have something to drink, and fearing he had offended her added: “I mean a bottle of lemonmje, or some* rlpng." Melba graciously declined, and as the guard’s shrill whistle sounded the old follow showed he did not entfrtaiu animosity on that account. Ho waved his hat and called “Good-bye, darling." Tho .diva was greatly amused; so was the crowd,. Air Harrv Richards's No. 3 Company of Vaudeville artistes will appear at the Opera House on the Bth December. Tho combination has for the “star" turn the mighty exponent of physical culture, Lugo n Sandow. Included in tho company that supports Sandow are Air and Airs Sydney Drew and Professor ATaccan. besides several other artistes of repute. In reporting Sandow's first appearance at tho Auckland City Holi, the “Herald says:— (, On tho rise of. the curtain the world-famed athlete was exposed to the view of the audience, and to facilitate the inspection of his wonderful muscular dove loom cut, bo mounted a low rostrum. To say that the audience was astonished at the example of strength that was revealed to its gaze would but inadequately state the facts. Standing*before an admiring audience, Sandow first threw into relief from different postures each respective grouns of muscles, betraying o tension which must have been as liard as iron, and their relaxation gave a thorough indication of the perfection of muscular tissue. By inflation he next gave an illustration of his muscular development and range of expansion as a whole and tho result attained was the signal for a prolonged outburst of applause. Momentarily the curtain fell, rising again on a stage representation of a Roman amphitheatre with costumed attendants, whose physique formed a striking contrast to that of tho athlete. An attendant lies prostrate on the ground. Sandov/ steps forward, and with lightning rapidity picks him up and holds him like a rood high above his shoulder, and deposits him safely on his feet with gentle’ cure.

Next Sandow lies horizontally on two trestles, picks up a sGlh. weight dumbbell in each hand, and then at tho same time bears with ease the weight of four attendants on his prostrate body; then rises and lifts a 2121 b bell cleanly above his head; then prostrates himseif, and with an attendant seated on his thigh, raises it with seeming ease. Whilst on hands and knees an attendant stops .on to the sole of each raised, boot, and the power-of the biceps is again . demonstrated. Lying prostrate, ho raises and balances a bell of 1301 b weight on his knees, and with his hand raises a dumb-bell of 1301 b weight above his head and safely lowers it again. Sandow then gave a wonderful illustration of his “huger strength, and with case tore completely in half packs of playing cards, containing in number 52, 10k, and 156 respectively. Strength of arm was shown when an elastic net baffled the attempts of six attendants—three on each side—to stretch it, whereupon Sandow with caso extended the net to arm's length, amidst a storm of ax^plause. A Roman column, feat, in which Sandow. suspended as he was by chains at tho knees, hung head downwards and by sheer strength raised a dumb-bell of 156Jb weight from the ground to a horizontal position, was a truly marvellous • feat. After other trials of strength, Snndow*s performance concluded with his feat, entitled "Tho Tomb of Hercules.** With his feet and hands as sole support, Sandom.raises his body, -whereon is placed a platform bearing all the available dumbbell weights, Tho sight of cix attendants then standing upon his body, and which must have increased tho weight to half-a-tou. was enough to send a thrill through the spectators, and the curtain fell, leaving an amazed audience with food for much .trought.*' Mr Frank Thornton created the character of "John Smith in 'Facing the Music** in the English prov.nres, but when the farce was produced in Lon-, don Mr James Welch, one of the cleverest, character actors at present :n Great Britain, played it. Mr Williarii Anderson has withdrawn "The Favourite** from the programme of the Theatre Royal. Melbourne, and is now ’ playing "Saturday Night in London** to good business. Miss Katie Seymour, a well-known danscusc, has been engaged by Mr Harry Rickards for atom* of the Commonwealth. According to t~o Sydney "Daily Telegraph ** Mr Bland Holt nas aeoided for bis Christmas attraction upon a drama dealing with the drought. However the theme may be handled, we should imagine it will yield but dismal gaiety. It is the one sorrow-laden subject which wc should have expected a manager to steer wide of How r does Mr Holt expect amuse-ment-seekers to banish dull care for a few hours on these conditions? The engagement of the Florenz Family of acrobats fer a tour of the Dis circuit has been cancelled. . , _ - Mr J. C. Williamson s Musical Comedy Oonmany is to bo congratulated on too result of its efforts to raise xuuds in aid of the Elingamite sufferers. One and all of the company worked *;ko trojans, with the result that the sum of «£SI7 was added to the fund. A word of praise is dim to Messrs Pete Hughes, J. B. Moutrie G. H. Hall. J.C. Whitfield -and G. Brv’er for the clerical and other ivork which they did in connection with tho fete. _. ! "The Derby Winner, by H. H. Hamilton, Cecil Ealeigh. and A. Harr ris has been successfully revived at the Sydney Lyceum by th eßland Holt Dramatic Company, the drama being witnessed by packed houses every evenin" The revival is staged in the richly complete and even lavish manner characteristic' of the management, which improves every melodrama handled from its English guise and a<3d» more scenery and more mechanical effects and sensations to those conceived be the original authors and

' stage managers. "The Derby Winner has a connected plot and a number of remarkably nne scenes, Air John Druutou being the scenic artist. The sensations include a great scene showing a regimental bail, a sale at Tattorsall’s, and the race for the Derby. The piece is well played all round. Mr W. E. Baker is the Dari of Desborough; Mr Albert Aorman, the Major Mostyn; Miss llarrie Ireland, Ihe adventuress, Mrs Dawdle; Miss Ross, the Countess of Dcsborough; Mr Bland Holt. Sur-geon-Captain Cyprian Strcathficld; Mrs Holt, the sporting Duchess; and Mr Clms. Brown, the trainer. The-recent season of Hie llavrtrey Comedy Company, at the Melbourne Bijou, "did not prove quite so profitable from a business point of view as the first. It is said that “Tolanthe." as well as “The Mikado." will be revived during the present Melbourne season of the Koval Comic Opera Company. While Air Edward Lauri nnd Mias May Beatty were in possession of the since during one of the performances of “The Thirty Thieves." at the Dunedin Princess, there was an audible buzz of conversation in the wings. The versatile comedian, stopped dialogue for a moment, and directing Miss Beattv’s attention to the place where the conversationalists wore assembled, said: "Listen to the humming birds!" The “jar" was nnfc without salutary effect for the remainder of the evening. Montgomery's Entertainers are at present touring the "smalls" # of the Auckland district to good business. It is said that Miss Agues Janson, who was one of the principal members of Mr George Musgrove's Grand Opera Company is on her way back to Melbourne. . Mr Arthur Nelston© and Miss Elsie Forrest, who recently toured .the Dix circuit with great success, have gone to Sydney. They will probably return to ’ Now Zealand, in .a few weeks to fulfil another engagement with Air Dix. Pope and Snyles passed through this week to Auckland, where they were to open last evening. , ; Air Robert Brough has purchased the I Indian rights of “Facing the Music," ; from Mr Frank Thornton.

The Wellington season of the ‘Williamson Alusical Comedy Company was brought to a closo last Saturday night, when there was a pocked lions© to witness the final performance of “San-Toy." Tlie season wag altogether a brilliant success, both from an artistic and financial point of view, and ought to induce Air J. C. Williamson in future to include New Zealand in all his companies' tours. 'The pantomime which Air J. F. Sheridan intends producing at the S3'dcey Criterion during the Christinas holidays will bo entitled, “Cinderella, the Glass Slipper, and the little Girl who put her foot in it."

Miss Blanch Sloan, sister to Tod Sloan, tho American jockey, was hilled to appear at the London, Oxford, on the 13th October, in an aerial acrobatic act. Miss Sloan is said to he an absolute stranger to fear, and swings through and around her aerial rings in the most daring manner. Mr and Mrs Sydney Drew return to America after their tour of New Zealand with Mr Richards's Vaudeville Company, of which Sandow is tho principal attraction. Mdlle. Dolores intends to return to Europe in the near future, and null mako her debut in Vienna. She proposes to give vocal recitals in all the leading art centres of the old world, and it will be interesting to watch her career. Song recitals have become quite the vogue in tho old world, and such .artists as Elanch© Marchesi, Liza Lehmann, Nordica Piunket Green and Kennerly Bumford are giving them with pronounced success. . Tho Formans are doing good, business in Tasmania with their vaudeville company. ~ Afhas and Collins, who appeared at. the Theatre Royal under the Dix banner some mouths ago, are “doing” the Moss Circuit, and at latest were appearing at the Empire Theatre. Nottingnam. Mr Wallace Brownlow is appearing with great success at the Melbourne Opera House Arrangements have been completed for tho erection of a big theatre at the corner of St. Martin's Lane, Lordon. The name' of the new place of amusement is to be the Colisseum. A continuous entertainment is to be provided, starting at midday and lasting until midnight. WANGANUI THEATRICAL NOTES. {From a Correspondent.) Tho Majeroul Dramatic Company, miner the-sole direction oi Mr McMahon, opened in tho opera House to big business on tho 19th inst. Mr McMahon's ability and popularity as a manager is so well known that ic is almost superfluous to state the fact, but in tho combination which is at present louring tho colony lie has displayed a. strong power ot selection, for the compiany is one of the best seen in Wanganui for some considerable time. The opening piece selected was the attractive melodrama of Irish life entitled “The Shamrock and the Rose." Though built on somewhat conventional lines the situations, dialogue, and scenery are above the ordinary; the whole indeed fanning a.most enjoyable evening’s entertainment. Mr Goo. Majeroui as Dandy Dunravcn, showed himself to be a highly-gifted actor, while Mr Mario Majerom in ths thankless role of the villain (Stephen Flint) was equally at home. Mr Knight gavo a fine pourtrayal of the hardened old landlord, Nicholas Flint. Mr S. Adson was excellent as Mixy Mulcahey, Stephen Flint's assistant, and hia witticisms brought down the house. The part of Dr Riversdale found an adequate- exponent in Mr J. B. Fitzgerald, while roars of laughter wore caused oy Messrs W. G. Fernside and F. A. Saveiri in their clever impersonation of two typical members of the Irish Police. Coming to the ladies’ roles, first place in excellence must bo given to Miss Nellie Ogden for her representation cf the part of Morna Moore, while Miss Hilda Meade achieved a high measure of success as Rose Riversdale. Miss May Renno showed ■ great promise in the part of Peggy O'RalTerty. Other smaller parts were well token. The scenery was excellent, many of the se<s being vigorously applauded. On Thursday evening, 20th inst., Frank Harvey's fiveact drama. “Brother Against Brother," was staged to a packed house. The powerful play was splendidly acted throughout, the performance being freely punctuated with hearty applause. The military drama “Enlisted " or Tho Chain .Gang s ’ was played-on Friday evening to another large audience. The acting throughout was of a high order, while the scenic effects were fully up to the' company’s standard. Saturday evening saw tho reproduction, of “The Shamrock and the Rope," and. on Monday the season wa<? brought to a successful conclusion with Frank Harvey's fine play entitle.l “A Ring of Iron." St. Paul's Hall was filled on *he second show night when a most enjoyable Scotch concert was given by the members and friends of St. Paul’s choir. Most of the performers appeared in full Highland costume, and the various part songs, solo?, and instrumental selections were much enjoyed. The proceeds will be devoted to the organ enlargement fund.