THEATRICAL GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5372, 3 September 1904, Page 11

THEATRICAL GOSSIP

(BY "LORGNETTE.”) (From the "JN'ew Zealand Mail.”) BOOKINGS. OPERA HOUSE. J C- WilUair.3on---(“Marria£c of Kitty”)— August 27 to September 10. Paderewski—.September It and Is. 0. Stephenson— Oct. 20 lo Xov. 2. Jt. Kick.', rds—Kov. 6 to Aov. 15. .1. C. Williamson—Doc. 23 to .laa. H. .Maeiauium—March 14 to April 11, 190 a (pencilled). George Ml,strove—April 22 lo May 13, , Allan Hamilton—October 18 to November 4. 1903. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE, j'ullcr’a Entertainers. THEATRE ROYAL. Dirts Gaiety Company. NOTES BY “LORGNETTE.” Mr .T. C. Williamson’s Comedy Company created a very favourable impression last Saturday overling when they made their first appearance at the Wellington Opera House in the comedy "The Marriage of Kitty.” Both play and players Were accorded an enthusiastic reception from all parts of the crowded house. The plot of "Kitty” is neither deep nor complicated. Tho dialogue is smart, the situations piquant, and tho acting bright. 'Tire comedy is clever and entertaining in (ho truest, sense of tiro term. Miss Rose Musgrovo scored an instantaneous and brilliant success as Kitty Silver-ton. She pluved the part with vivacity and cleverness. Jlers was a humorous and dashing impersonation of lire character. Miss Florence Hamer performs a difficult mid frying part with unqualified ability. She was thoroughly convincing as the jealous Madarno de Semiaun. Miss Florence Lo Clereq’s impersonation of the French maid was as delicate ns it was delicious. Mr Wilfred Uraycott, as the foolishly amorous Sir Reginald Belsize, was excellent, but this actor’s work has to be witnessed more than once before its merit can bo fully appreciated and understood. Mr Athol Forde again proved to Wellington theatregoers what a sterling actor ho is by his ponrtrayal of the part of John Travers, tho solicitor and godfather of Kitty. Mr Fred Permain gave a good character sketch of the part of Norbury, the man servant, while Mr Claude Fleming did all that was required in tho small part of Hampton, clerk to Mr Travers. The piece is staged in Mr Williamson’s best style, and is produced under the stage management of Mr Fred Permairr and Mr Tiros. E. Foster, tho whole being under tiro direction of Mr 11. H. Vincent. Tiro scenery is from tho brushes of Messrs W. Coleman and George Dixon. The orchestra, which is under the conductorship of Mr J. Connolly, is an efficient one, and plays some very fine selections. Everyone who wishes to sec a clover comedy well acted and excellently staged should not miss seeing “The Marriage of Kitty.” It is probable that Mr W. S. Percy, late of tho "Pollards,” will bo included in the cast of ‘"Die Orchid” when it is produced in Melbourne by Mr J. C. Williamson’s Royal Comics. T’hoNawns, who have drawn the biggest business ever known at the Dunedin Alhambra during tho past two weeks, commence a season in His Majesty"s Theatre on September 1211 t. Mr Waller Fuller is most anxious for them to play a return at Christchurch aud Johnny Fuller is loth to let them depart hence, but Wellington and Auckland want to see them ere.they depart these shores. Their Wellington season will be very limited. On Monday evening last Mr Dix had tho honour of entertaining their Excellencies (ho Governor and Lady Plunket, the Hon. Kathleen Plunket and suite at lire Theatre Royal. Tho theatre was packed to tiro doors. Tho programme went with every success aud their Excellencies expressed much pleasure at the entertainment provided. Those who took part were Mr Fred Graham and Miss Nellie Dent, Mr Jay W, Winton, Miss Fanny Powers,' Mr Les Warton, Miss Hilda Lane, Miss Louie Perfect, Mr ’Wallace Ascot, and the cake walkers.

( Miss Clara Clifton, a member of Mr George Edwardes’s Loudon Gaiety Company, at present playing a season in Sydney. has been engaged by Mr J. C. Williamson for the Iloyal Comics. Miss Clifton will make her first appearance with the organisation in “The Orchid," which will be produced for the first time in Australia about Melbourne Cup time.., Mr Harold Ashton left Wellington by the Mokoia on Thursday for Christchurch to make arrangements for the opening of Mr J. C, Williamson’s Comedy Company at the Theatre Iloyal on the 12th inst. with "The Marriage of Kitty.” Mr Harry Bickards is getting together an exceptionally strong company for a tour of New Zealand in. October. The company will include Madame Marzelle and her marvellous troupe of trained birds; and Mr Nat Clifford. Mr Allan Hamilton will probably have the management of the tour. Mr Percy Denton opened with Mr Dix at the Theatre Eoyal last night, and Mr Carden'Wilson, Kellmnnn (the magician), and Miss Pearl Hellmrich made their reappearance. ’ Mrs. Henderson who appears with the Williamson. Company on Saturday night, will bo better known to New Zealand playgoers as Miss Maggie Knight, who some thirteen years ago was "starring’’ in Australia. Mrs Henderson is New Zealand born, and is the wife of Mr Harry Henderson, sou of the late Hon. Thomas Henderson, for many years a member of tho Legislative Council of this colony. She retired into private life for some years, but has again returned to the Australasian stage. The following press notices, wo feel sure, will be read with interest by all who knew her in tho past and appreciated her exceptional ability as an actress.; “The Bulletin,” Juno 30th, 1301.—Maggie Knight (Mrs Henderson) came back to the Sydney stage with Mr J. C, Williamson’s Comedy Company in "Cousin Kate” after thirteen years’ rest. Mr Williamson, who played Kerry to her Kate in about her last appearance (that was in Melbourne), looked down on tho opening night from a box. The house seemed to be full of old friends who remembered her Nellie Denver and Dora and Moenio. Afterwards they loaded her with flowers. She is Mrs Henderson in tho bills. Her reappearance will bo welcomed by a host of friends, "Punch" (Melbourne). —It must have been very gratifying to Miss Maggie Knight (Mrs Henderson) to find her old friends surrounding her like a wreath of roses at the Criterion, Sydney, on Saturday last. Tho ease and sureness which came from training and experience sustained Mrs Henderson as Sukuki, the maid, in "Madame Butterfly,” and as Mrs Spencer in "Cousin Kate.” As the mild an’d motherly old lady in “Cousin Kate," Mrs Henderson completely won the sympathies of the crowded audience* It was a triumph of art and amiability. At the close of the comedy Mrs Henderson went off with her arms full of flowers. “Sydney Morning Herald,” 37ih June, 1934. Mrs Henderson (Miss Maggie Kinght) reappeared in a new line of part as Mrs Spencer in “Cousin Kate.” Her portrait of the soft-voiced, amiable, weak, and fussy mother of the family formed a perfect piece of quiet comedy acting and convulsed the audience." The "Evening News” (Sydney), 27th Juno 1904.—A really admirable piece of work, and one which will be the last memory many will retain of the comedy, was Mrs Henderson’s evenly excellent characterisation. As Mrs Spencer she called up most laughable recollections of many goodnatured, fly-away creatures, who comprise much of tho comedy of life, and who, only by a special dispensation of Providence, miss adding tragedies. The "Daily Telegraph.” 27th June, 1904.—Quite one of tho successes of tho performance was Mrs Henderson's sketch of the homely and simple-minded Mrs Spencer, Mrs Henderson can be congratulated upon a popular ro-anpearanceu

The Musical .Johnstons, three in number, arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday umb*r engagement to the Hiller i rojirietru v I nev open in Dunedin this evening. They are only engaged for sis wanks -o fhc’V stay in each centre will necessarily be brief. They arc .-aid by tbf press of Australia, to be marvels on jho xvlophono. Tho Fullers having embarked on the imported star sea are evidently going into it thoroughly as a number of stars of this calibre have been engaged by arrangement with Mr Harry Rickards. , . , Various changes are taking place in Mr I*. R. Dix's companies this week. Miss Fanny Powers, Mr Les Warton, and Miss Louie Perfect arc joining the .Dunedin company now appearing at the Princess The Fullers have engaged Miss Dorothy Drew, the American singing and dancing soubrcttc. This is the lady who introduced tho popular coon song “Any Rags lo Australia. She opens in Dunedin on September JOlh. . . The Tossing Austins changed their minds re coming to New Zealand and liavo sailed for London, the Mecca of all good, bad, and indifferent pros. Burke, Moller, and Teller, an American sketch team leave Sydney next Wednesday for Auckland, where they arc due to appeal* on arrival at the Opera House wit h the Fullers. This is one of the turns by arrangement with Mr Harry Pickards and is a sure drawing card. Their season in each centre is limited to nine nights. One of the next big attractions to sail for these shores under the Fuller management is the micro-bioscope, which is something out of the common-graph. The films are said id be very unique. Tho Knglish Cathedral Choristers and Miss Alice Layton open with. Mr Dis on Monday night.

Tho ’McAuley Sisters, ‘The minaturc Macs,” go north on Monday to reinforce the Fuller Company in Auckland. These two little girls are thorough little artistes, quite different to the stereotyped pister turn. They remind one forcibly of the Main* Sisters who toured the colony with the World’s Entertainers, and as they were tho daintiest double seen here that is no left-handed compliment. Seeing that the alterations to the Wellington Opera House have been commenced I would like to suggest to the directors the advisability of providing cloak rooms for tho patrons of the stalls, family circle, and pit. There is not much comfort for either ladies or gentlemen who “do tho play” on a wet night, when they arc compelled to either wear damp wraps or keep thorn on their knees during the performance. Some will likely assert that cloak rooms arc not necessary for cither the stalls, family circle, or pit. It would have gono extremely hard with a number of companies that have visited New Zealand during the past few years if it were not for tho patronage bestowed by those who never enter the dress circle. The nimble shillings from these parts of the house has helped to stave many a show from bankruptcy; aud for that reason alone patrons aro entitled to some consideration.

This evening Mr J. C. Williamson New Comedy Company will produce “His Excellency tho Governor.’’ This piece was played for the first lime in Australasia during the company’s recent Auckland season and was well received by the theatregoing public of that city. Regarding the performance the “Star" says: —After “The Admirable Crichton,’’ “His Excellency the Governor” is the best thing of the fantastical satiric kind yet seen in Auckland. It is a play so light, so radiant, so dainty and delicate that the sheer joy of it all fails to express itself. Tlie audience comes away happy and delighted; but it cau no more explain its delight than it can account for the joy of a sunbeam. You know that the situations are finely ’humorous, that the dialogue is surprisingly brilliant, that the plot is deliciously absurd, but you also know that to make the aifeet of it all clear to anyone else were as possible as to catch the sunbeam aforesaid. The author, Captain Robert Marshall, well aware that humour is the thoughtful presentation of the incongruous, has devised of such incongruity ns, if they could be tine, would set the world by the ears. The change of the vice-regal circle of the Amandaland Islands from a trio of mere officials to a band of lovesick swains, guilty of antics the moat absurd and laughable, and all through tho prevalence of t-.a dust of tho aloe throughout Government House, is a situation which lends itself to the most superbly comic developments. When tho Colonial Secretary fa being in outward appearance not unlike another and a real Secretary of State) is also infected with tho mighty passion, the position becomes still more delightfully grotesque. Situation after situation is developed, the satirical giving way to the merely fantastically absurd, and that again making room for the satirical. The last act ends in a most daring and happy satire on the War Office, in which "tho .enemy’’ is another British force, and neither is wounded because both are supplied with tho latest pattern of rifle. The play is simply a series of tho most brilliant points, and it could not be done justice to without their enumeration.

Mr P. K. Dix’s Gaiety Company, at the Eoyal, presents an attractive programme this week. Miss Fanny Powers sings and dances nicely. Mr Fred H. Graham and Miss Nellie Dent give a clever performance in their musical sketch. Mr J. W. Winton and M’Ginty get off a lot of new gags.and clever patter in their turn. Miss Louie Perfect, Miss Florence Leigh, Miss Hilda Lane, and Messrs Ascot, Wilson and Lcs Wharton all did acceptable turns. The programme submitted this week at His Majesty’s Theatre is an exceptionally good one, containing as it does two star turns. Tho Uesscms made their first appearance last evening, and the manner in which these clever lads did their act prove them to be postmasters in tho art of head and hand balancing. The case and grace with which they perform the difficult feats is simply marvellous, and at tho end of each feat they were greeted with enthusiastic rounds of applause. The Swifts are exceedingly clever in the playlet "Counsel’s Opinion.” Mr Denis Carney and Miss Kitty Lenton are nightly accorded enthusiastic applause for their songs. Tho other members of tho company contribute acceptable items which are well received., Mrs Pewis Stuart, who will be remembered by New Zealand playgoers as Miss Virgio Vivienne,, made her first appearance with the 'Sanford Dramatic Company at the Sydney Lyceum on the 20th inst. in tho good old-timer “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” She played the part of Marie St. Clair. Miss Tittel Bruno, the new leading lady of Mr J. C. Williamson’s Dramatic Company, is described as "dark, bright, and petite, and has all the ease of a finished actress.” Tho Knight-Jefferies Dramatic Company conimenced a four’ weeks’ season at the Theatre Eoyal, Perth, on the 19th August. The first production was "Mon. sienr Beancaire.” During the season “Tho Eternal City,” "The Sign of the Cross,” “A Eoyal Divorce," and "The Silver King’’ will bo produced. A vaudeville artist at present states that he has a repertoire of over one hundred and fifty songs. Some of them are now, but the majority are a bit ancient. In fact a lot of them have grown whiskers. . . Mr Mel. B. Spurr commenced a farewell season at tho Athenaeum Hall, Melbourne, last Saturday evening. Two engagements made by Mr George Musgrove for next year include Mr Charles Warner and Mr Van Biene. One of tho features of Air Warner’s season will be a revival of "Drink.” It is about sixteen years since the creator of "Compear." was seen in Australia, but, according to English and American criticisms, he has lost none' of his effectiveness in the character. As to Mr Van Biene, who is a ’cellist as well as an actor, he will appear in a comedy drama entitled “The Broken Alelody.” Miss Beatrice Day will be leading lady of the comedy company which Mr Herbert Fleming is organising for a tour of the Commonwealth and New Zealand. Miss Carrie Moore is now singing in “The Cingalee." with much success, a now song specially written and introduced for her.