THEATRICAL GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5134, 28 November 1903, Page 11

THEATRICAL GOSSIP

(BY ‘'LORGNETTE.") (From tho “New Zealand Mail/’) OPERA HOUSE. WELLINGTON. Crossley—'Nov. 2S and 27. /.o. Miisgrovo’s Shakespeare Co.—Nov*. 28 to Dec. 18. 'William Andorson Co.—Doc. 2G to Jau. 22. /. C. Williamson —Jau. 23 to Fob. 3. ■4. u. Williamson —Fob. 4 to 17. Dampier Dramatic Co.—Fob. 22 to March J. C. Williamson—April 15 to May G ir. Stephenson—Oct. 20 to Nov. 5, 1004. J. C. Williamson—Doc. 20, 1904, ihroo ■weeks. THEATRE ROYAL. WELLINGTON. P. It. Di 2/3 Vaudeville Co. CHORAL HALI<, WELLINGTON. Fulicr’g Entertainers*. NOTES BY “LORGNETTE-" Mr. George Mvsgrove’s Shakespearian Company will comiaanco an eighteen tugirts* season at tho Oi*>ra House UiAy evening. Tho first production ■will be “A Midsummer Night's Dream/' rrhioh is staged in siioh a lavish manner • never equalled before in tho history of tho colonial stage. Tho company -which Mr. Musgrovo has got together to interpret Shakespeare's comedies numbers amongst its ranks several of England's leading artistes. Tho Australian Press has been exceedingly eulogistic in its praise ox tho various productions. In noticing tho first product-ion of the '‘Dream’' at the Sydney .Royal, '‘The Newsletter" says: —“Mr. Muagrove’s Shakespearian Company opened last Saturday night to a crowded house. ‘‘A Midsummer Night's Dream" ig a gratifying appeal to our artistic senses, and surely uo more delightful entertainment could well be imagined. Shakespeare’s fairy comedv with all its sweet enchantment. Its beautiful jjootry and wondrous imagery, has indeed been given a magnificent Betting. Tho scenes in Athens and in lb© realms of fairyland arc exceedingly lino, while the band of mortals and immortals who Hit across the stage are gorgeously arrayed. In particular, the'moonlight revels—with the clever mechanical appliances*—present quite a fcaa>t of colour to the eye. Moreover, the acting is a*drairablo. Mr. W. H. Denny as Bottom is excellent, and his rnerry men are in capabLo hands. Th 0 fairy scenes are peculiarly charming. Miss Dora Rignold looks truly regal os Obcron,' and sings delightfully in the familiar duet “I know rv Bank" with Miss Gladys Ore, who. as the singing fairy, was encored for a tasteful rendering of “Over Hill and Dale," But a special word of praise is due to Wise Dorothy Marsden’s Puck, whos© embodiment ot the mischievous spirit is one of the prettiest bits of acting we have seen for a long time. Miss Nora Kerin makes a dainty T’itania. and delivers her beautiful Ihic-s con am ore. Miss Aland Milton plays with much grace and intellivonce as Helena, and Hormia has a pleasing representative in Miss Cynthia Brooke. Mr. Alfred Bucklaw, who was heartily welcomed back, appeared as Theseus, Mr. N. Partridge as Lysaiuler. and Mr. Holding as Demetrius. The introduction of Mendelssohn's lovely overture and incidental music, together with items from .feber. Horn, and Cooke, gives additional charm to this most tasteful performance of the most poetical of plays. Tho programme which Air. P. R. Dix la presenting this week is an excellent one, Tho musical frivolity “On Shannon's Shore," is well received. The second half of the programme is as usual devoted to vaudeville, the star attraction being Zeno, a juggler who does some veiy clever work. Carlton and Sutton give a very good turn. Air. George Dickie, tho ventriloquist, is well received. The other mambers of the company all do their share to make the programme an amusing one. The two concerts given by Miss Ada Orosslev at tho local Opera House were > a huge artistic success. Indeed, it is safo to say that Miss Crossley is absolutely the finest contralto that has ever visited Nfcw Zealand, and fully deserves the high place she has attained’ in the musical world. Her introductory sblo, “Caro Alio Ben/' was most enthusiastically applauded, her encore numbers being “(hit on the Rocks" and the dainty coon song, “Ma Curly-bended Babbie. In tho second part tho celebrated vocalist had five songs bracketed, all of which were received with vociferous acclamation. It is seldom, if ever, an artiste was greeted with such an enthusiastic burst of applause as that given to Miss Crossley for her exquisite rendering of “Oh that wo two were Maying/' and on her repeating the last verse tho singer was rewarded with another round of applause .which was even greater than any of the previous ones. Her singing of “The Four-leaf Clover" was another beautiful piece of vocalism, and in response to the applause which followed she sang “Tho Banks of Allan Water." The concluding item on tho programme was tho song, “Dove, tho Pedlar/' which was sung with such archness that a most imperative encore wag . demanded, and to which Alias Crossley most generously acquiesced by singing, “Home, Sweet’ . Home." The reception which Atiss Drossier received from the large audience ha? never boon .equalled in Wellington, and every cheer and hand-clap was nothing more than she fully deserved. The company which Alias Crossley has supporting her is assuredly an “all star" one, each artiste being a past master of his profession. Air W. A. Peterkin's rendering of '‘Arm, Arm, yo Bravo" and “The Sailor's Grave" were greatly appreciated, ‘ Ho was also very successful in his encore numbers. Mr Percy Grainger was exceedingly successful in hig two piano solos, also his encoro numbers. The violinist of the company, Mr Jacques Jacobs, . contributed four solos, two of which were in response to enthusiastic encores, besides taking part in a duet for piano and violin with Air Percy Grainger. Herr Benno Soherek acted as accompanist. Last evening. Miss Crossley and company made their farewell appearance in Wellington, the programme being as successful as the previous night's one. The booking for the first six nights of Mr George Musgrove's Shakesperian company.’ which opens at tho Opera House this evening, must surely be a. record for Wellington. No fewer than 2000 seats were booked during the first ten hours of thJe box-plan being opened, while nearly all the seats in the circle and stalls for the first six performances were taken. It is said that several of the up-country papers have decided in future not to insert any theatrical advertisements unless they are paid for in advance. This step has been taken owing to tho large number of “snide" companies travelling tho country, the management of which have not , the common decency to pay their advertising or printing accounts. If the hotel-' keepers would only decide on the same course of action, it would go a long way to rid the colony of a lot of would-be artiste, who are neither use nor ornament and a discrrace to the profession. Mr. Alfred Dampier will play a season at the Wellington. Opera House in February. Buaiier do Kolta. one of the world's greatest exponents of legerdemain and a poorless inventor of illusions, has just died in New Orleans, TJ.S.A., after a brief illness of one week at the ago of about njxty. De Kolta was a creator in his line. He did not imitate. His productions were original, and many of/them have never been duplicated, for tho simple reason that other coninrors could not penetrate them. Ke had studied the art of magic for over thirty years, and mastered all of its intricacies. It was with a programme of almost entirely new tricks that Buatior (as he was then called) appeared before the British public in 1873, at the Egyptian Hall London, where he appeared in conjunction with another ... famous conjuror. Dr. Lynn, and chief among his new tricks at that time was the admirable and extraordinary illusion of tho “Flying Bird Cage Trick/’ At the ~. first performance he gave in the above U hall, there were five professional magi'dans and many amateurs sitting to-

gothor. and, as new trick followed new trick, tho principle of which wholly evaded them., with admiration in their eyes they stared at each oilier with a glad surprise. That wonderful stage illusion known as the “Vanishing Lady" is the invention of Do Kolta, as also that entitled “Lo Cocon. or the Birth of a Butterfly," besides those solcndid tricks of Hie billiard balls, and the flowers from tho paper cone which are familiar to colonial playgoer?. Do Kolta’s latest great illusion and tho one which ho was showing in America at tho time of his dcai.li was the “Enchanted Dice." He came forward with a small satchel in h>s hand and informed his audience that it contained his wife. From the satchel he tool: a dice, or cube, about five inches square, and placed it on an ordinary table, and at lus command tho dice was seeti lo instantly grow larger until it was about two and a half feet square. On lifting tho dice De KOl fca's wife wa« sec*u sitting c/osslcggr-d on the table like a Turk, ./ke Robert lloudm, the “Father of Modern Magic," De Kolta was a Frenchman. having been born in Lyons, whore ho was educated for tho priesthood, but abandoned that for the calling lie so honourably followed for «o many yearn. Ifo was ar man of classic learning and a painter of talent. Painting was his greathobby—'magic his pleasure. Fuller's Entertainers are doing good business at the Choral Hall this week. Messrs. Harley and "Williams aro a sniccessful couple of acrobatic comedians. Miss Amy Blaoki© and the Bertotos contribute acceptable items. The other members of the company also do good work. Over two hundred of the leading clergy who attended the Synod Sitting in Auckland, visited “A Midsummer Night's Dream" at the invitation of Air. Georg© Alnsgrove, and expressed themselves highly dd’phted with the.performance. The Sheridan Comedy Company did not show at Carterton last Saturday evening owing to the late arrival of the steamer from the West Coast, causing the company to miss tho train. Fiom an acting point of view, tho basis of the effective ensemble of “Midsummer Night’s Dream" is (says tho “Sydney Morning Herald") the Bottom as rentiero.l with an effect of egregious vanity', stupidity, and humour by Air W. H. Denny. Playgoers will bo interested to learn that tho realistic awakening of Nick Bottom, under tho combined iu-fhif-nco of tho morning sun and the view halloos and horns of Theseus' huntsmen, is a close study from Ilfo. Air Denny watched his own children rousing from tho heavy sleep of childhood, and reproduced as far as possible their artless gestures and facial expresions. Air Denny comes of a thearical family. His father, Air Henry Leigh, was popular chiefly on tho stag© of Birmingham, to which city Mr Denny also belongs, whilst Airs Henry Leigh was for many years in London at th-Told Gaiety Theatre. and later was “firs f old woman" at tho Adclphi in “Harbour Lights," “The Trumpet Call," and similar dramas. Air Denny, after a lot of stage experience as a child, was placet! by Edmund Yates in the General Post Office, where Air Charles Cartwright was one of ‘ his fellow clerks. However, ho soon returned to his old love, and one of his earliest engagements, strange to say, was to play Lion to Samuel Phelps' Nick Bottom at the Gaiety Theatre. This was in 1874, and tho young actor did not again appear in Shakespeare for many .years. Ilis most important term was im ler Kendal and Hare at the St. James' Theatre, whore in 1881 Tennyson’s “The Faloon" was produced. Air Denny then met at rehearsal our present GovernorGeneral of tho Commonwealth. Alany of the newcomer's greatest successes have been in comic opera. He was in D’Oyley Carte’s company at tho Savoy Theatre from 1888 till 188*4, and “created" at that famous homo of Gilbe-rt-Sullivan opera the gloomy gaoler fShadbolt) in the “.Yeoman of the Guard," the Grand Inquisitor in ‘’The Gondoliers/" the Idol Bumbo in “Tho Nauteli Girl," tho AlcCiankie in “Haddon Hal]/' and Scaphio in “Utopia Limited." Both in London and in New York Air Denny was the original Fizelton in “Nita's First," and ho might s»cill bo “frivolling" in farcical coutedv but for the remonstrances of Mr W. H, Vernon (still alive and well), who persuaded him. about fivo years ago to join the “rude mechanicals" at Glasgow. Tho comedian at once became identified with the character of Bottom, later ho made a success as Touchstone, and he has been playing tho former role now for nearly threo years, as Mr George Musgrove’s engagement followed pretty closely on the provincial tour after the Afanchester production. Tho Black Family of Musicians have just completed a successful tour of the southern part of tho North Island, businesg being good right throughout. Tho family is at present enjoying a well-earned rest ait New Plymouth, while Air. and' Airs. Black have gome to Nelson for a fortnight’s holiday, after which they will play a season in Auckland. Air Georg© Musgrovo regards “A Midsummer Night’s Dream" as the most expensive thing he has brought to the country. Six members of the Manchester Company are included in the production, which goes up at the Opera House next Saturday evening!!

Mr. Harold Carr, an. old Wellington boy who went to tie Bast with tho Pollard Comedy Company, hae returned to Melbourne. Mr. Carr contemplates trying his luck in America shortly. Mr. William Anderson's Touring Dramatic Company is doing record business in Western Australia. Mr. Fred Hemningham is managing the tour; It is stated that it cost Mr. Bland Holt over ,£'-1000 to stage “Th© Groat Millionairr£’ at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Fitzgerald’s New Circus will commence a tour of New Zealand at the Bluff on the Bth December. The Dunedin season will extend from Boxing Night until New Year’s Night. The company which the Fitzgeralds have got together is a very strong one, -some of tho new acts being of a thrilling nature. Mr. Tom Fitzgerald will accompany the show as manager. Mr. J. C. Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera Company has done enormous business with tho musical play. “A Country Girl,” which .was staged for the-first time in Australia at Her Majesty’s. Sydney. on the 7th imst. In noticing^the first peiformanco the “Sunday Sun*’ of tho Bth says:—Sydney playgoers and especially "first-nighters,’’ have been on the tiptoe of anticipation for some time past in regard to the production for the first time in' Australia of the “musical play.’’ "A Country Girl," at Her Majes. ty’s Theatre by Mr. J. C. Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera Company, assisted by several prominent members of Mr. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company. The event came off last evening, and the big theatre was filled to overflowing by a fashionable and enthusiastic audience whose pleasant expectations of a tip-top evening’s enjoyment were fully realised, if unstinted .applause cam be taken as a criterion. Tho play, which, consists of only tub acts, is by J. T. Tanner, with lyrics by Adrian, Ross and music by .Lionel Monckton. and dcKi) i to the‘fact that any continuity of plot is somewhat Tacking, as is generally the case in productions of this character, still the three hours which it occupies is brimful of. amusement of tho most enjoyable land. Tuneful songs, humorous dialogue, rotis. ing choruses and graceful dancing make a charming medley, which should not fail to meet with universal approval. Commendation has not been withhold in other big centres of population, for the play has nearly completed its second year at Daly’s Theatre. London, and is still running to big business. Comparatively speaking, it promises to be equally successful here as a successor to “The Toreador,*’ -which, had an excellent run of seven weeks. The new production has commenced its career under most auspicious circumstances, and the great audience that witnessed its initiation included Miss Ada Crossley. who was accorded a very warm reception. The famous contralto apparently took a deep interest in the'play and presented Miss Florence Young. .Miss Rose Musgrovo, and Miss Evelyn Scott with bouquets, which were very wudl deserved, and which were accompanied by several other floral tributes. As already stated, there is no particular clot, although -the first act depicts a Devonshire village with a parliamentary election in full siring. In the second and last act, which, presents' the interior of the Ministry of Fine Arts, the plot is |

to a great extent lost sight of. but nevertheless tho career of “A Country Girl” becomes, if anything, more entertaining. The acting right through was even in character, and it would be a difficult matter to draw distinctions. Needless to say, Lauri as Barry, a land-tick man-o’-warsmar., attendant upon Commander Geoffrey Challonor. but subsequently masquerades in various disguises, including that of a lady of society, was a host in hiniholf, and kept the* vaat house convulsed. Aliss Florence Young as Marjory Joy. a Devonshiro la<*<, who becomes a great actress, was altogether charming, and the sain* may be said of Aliss Rose Musgrovo as Madame Sophia., a designing costumier, Aliss Evelyn Scott as Nan, a village belle, and Aliss Celia Ghiloni as a dusky princess visiting England; while Allss Aland Chetwynd danced herself into the hearts of tho audience. Mr. Harold Thorley as Commander Geoffrey Challonor, in love with Marjory Joy, tho country girl, sang and acted in a manner which cannot fail to greatly strengthen his reputation and excellent work was also done by Reginald Roberts as Douglas Verity, desperately in love with Nan, Air. Fred 11, Graham as Sir Joseph Verity, his father, and Air, Claude Bantock as the Rajah of Bong, who sings more than one funny topical «o.ug. The principals were strongly supported, and tho entertainment left little to be desired. As a matter of fact it went with a swing from start to finish, and was warmly ai>plauded throughout. The play way magnificently staged and dressed, whilo the scenery by Messrs. J. Gordon and W, Little was perhaps as fine a sample of the art as has boon seen in Sydney.

Aliss Alay Gfiyner, a popular member of the Aiusgrove “Dream" Company, in addition, to being a clever anti refreshing actress, is a penwoman of some note, and a capital story-writer and well known in literary circles cm the other side. What tho press ha-s lost the stage has gained. Mr. George Alatheson returns to Australia on the 28th lust., to complete arrangements for Aliss Ada Cros.sley’s farewell tour of tho Commonwealth, Air. Alfred Dampier intends staging “The Merchant of Venice" during his present season at tho Auckland Ox>cra House. Air. George Cathro, who lias acted os touring representative of Montgomery's Entertainers for some considerable time past, has left the company, and is at present in Wellington. > in reference to tho recent season of Air Geo Igo MusgroveVs Shakesperian Companj*, at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, ‘‘The Sydney Alail" says:—lt there were no tier formers at the Theatre Royal., it w'ould bo -well worth tho admission money to visit the theatre more than once as an art exhibition. The critic who has said all that can bo said on tho super-excel-lence of the staging of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and “Twelvth Night" stands still amazed at what is done by the scenic artist for “As You Like It." Wo have had in Sydney some exquisite eiaga pictures of tho Forest of Arden, by tho Gordons and Spong, and the Tatter’s bracken-strewn woodland will never be foi gotten by those who saw it, but Mr Robert Courtniodge at those now famous Mw Chester Theat.ro productions went beyond anything previously attempted elsewhere, and it is not surprising that all England rang with the triumphs achieved by such a galaxy of brilliant scene painters and builders as tho ex-comedian gathered to his bidding—Hawes Craven, Conrad Tri tech ter, R. C. Oldham, W. R. ’Coleman, Stafford Hall, and R. Al'Cleery. Nothing to equal the result had ever been seen before, and Australian playgoers have to heartily congratulate themselves that Air George Alusgrov© saw and secured the whole outfit, lock stock and barrel, scenery, stage manager, and artists. Australians have been - spoiled in the matter of fine mounting and staging, and are apt tt> accept the most beautiful stage effects- with a blase air and pass them without a “hand." but this Royal, season has aroused even tho tired playgoer, and on each first night the calls for artist, or in his absence stage manager, have stopped the play till they have been acceded to. What is going to happen in the future it would be difficult to say, for though it is hard to. say that the greatest no'sibls has been achieved, it is still harder to see how anything further could be done, and it is certain that no other management is at all likely to give us anything approaching it again. That may mean that other managers will for long hesitate to restage Shakesperian con edy. Take the present production fo? example. Usually we are given one fine set of the Forest of Arden. Here there are three, each more beautiful than the last, and finally there is 0 “sheep cote/’ a sot of which the like has never been •seen here. Air Hawes Craven seems to excel, apart from his exquisite colour, form, and lighting, in the suggestion of great space and wild nature, and the wonderfully and lavishly elaborate as it reeds', and rushes are simulated. Thus tho “sheep cote" scene shows . a great stretch of boulder-strewn hill and moorland most elaborately built up, with a creek, rush bordered, meandering through it. and a'wonderful sky above. It is not at all as though we were looking upon a stage scene, but as though w© were gazing at a wild green English landscape, and the ey© seems free to roam over miles of nature into far distance. Other of the wood scenes show glades, but in all of them there is this supreme trick of perspective. in some cases achieved by giving the effect of a hill slope, falling, not to, as i« usual in scenio effects, but away from the spectator. In one of the sets 1 the bush surface seems to suddenly dip to what sugests Illimitable depths, and in a 1! the “building up" of the sets is as wondorfullly'and lavishly elaborate as it Is singularly skilful. It is a most extraordinary example of the art which conceal? art.

Mr, ,T. C. Williamson’s "Sherlock Holmes’’ Company, _ which commences a tour of New Zealand at Dunedin on Boxing Night, has got both “Hie Admirable Crichton’’ and "The Light That Failed” in active rehearsal. It is probable that "The Admirable Crichton” will be tho play that the tour win bo opened witn. Mr. Beorbohm Tree’s Company will mako its first appearance in Sydney on Boxing Night in "Monsieur Beaucaire.” During tho season, which is expected to last fourteen weeks. "Resurrection,’’ “The Eternal City,” and "The Darling of the Gods” will be produced, besides revivals of "The Sign of the Cross," “Under tile Red Robe,’’ and “Tho Prisoner of Zemda.” Mr. J. C. Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera cxmvpany will commence a season at her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, on Boxing Night with “A Country Girl." Before leaving London fop hor concert tour in America Madame Melba declare! that She would grant no interviews to newspaper writers assorting that they "hare an exaggerated idea of their importance." More than likely that Maiskelyne and Cook, who for a number of years past have been appearing at the Egyptian Hall, London, will tour Australia and New Zealand some time in 1905. Hall, the manager of Hall’s Australian Juveniles, is reported to hare died in South Africa on the 29th of last month. This (says the "Bulletin”) may be of interest to tho parents of sundry juven■ilee.