STAGE NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12283, 9 July 1914, Page 2

STAGE NOTES.

Miss G. Helen Gard'nor, the Dimcdin soprano, arrived in Wellington on Saturday to commence, rehearsals for the coming production of "Paid Jones." in which sin; is to play the leading soprano role. Caruso's princely fee has heen easily beaten by that paid to Mine. Marie Kousnetzoff, the- Russian, dancer. After ■ dancing at the Russian Court and appearing in the opera at Monte. Carlo, .she has just concluded a contract- to appear in New York and Chicago at a salary averaging £2400 per week. It has now been arranged that the New Zealand tour of Harry Lander shall open, at Invercargilf on August 17tli instead of at Auckland, as originally arranged. This is ,to enable return seasons to be played in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and one or two other Australian centres. - Padorewski, the famous pianist, will revisit New Zealand and Australia, beginning in April next year. During Sir J. Forbes-Robertson's 30 weeks' tour of Canada and the United States his receipts totalled £111,453, constituting a record for British artists' takings. Mr Branscoiiibe's ''Smart Set" Company, which opens in Clamant next week, comprises ten members. Harry Lauder is no longer the rocord salaried "star." In America Gaby Des_ bys draws £1250 a week. 'Within a 15-mile radius of Sydney there are 130 picture shows, and on a Saturday night it is estimated that 'these theatres seat 130,000 people. • It is reported that efforts are being made to induce Caruso to come to the Antipodes on a concert tour. A guarantee from New Zealand has been arranged, if the report can be relied on, and the 6nlv portion of the proceedings to he completed is in connection with financial matters at the Australian end. Whv? A guarantee suggests* risk for the' management, but an artist with the reputation of Signer Caruso should not he at all risky in those parts of the world. W. S. Percy, is one of the comedians in Franz Leha'r's and Victor Leon's "Maid of Athens." produced in New York. His companion comedian is Beit 'Gilbert," who is well known in the Dominion from his work with J. C. Williamson's in the "King of Cadona and the "Dollar Princess." Katherine Grey, the American actress who "starred" in this country with "Paid in Full," "The Third Degree," and "The-Lion and the Mouse," is appearing in comedv in New York. August 29 has been fixed, for Miss Nellie Stewart's return to the stage, and she is to appear in "Maflame Du Barry," and the first production will take" place in Sydney. _ . Madame Slapoffski hae won high praise in the iliiglisli provinces for her

singing with the Quinlan Opera Company,'in roles so important as Senta. Elizabeth, ilrti-yiiPfitii, Santuzza, aiu Leonora. I lor fine vocal quality and dramatic, spirit, have, enabled- her to score omnhatic. success. In London also she ha* <lone u'ell in ballad singinc at the Palladium. She its to appear sliortlv with the London Choral Society at Albert Tlall. Mudnde SlapofUslti" states that London is "hill ol Australians, who are all doing well." Miss 'Ella Caspovs is a. great favorite, and her voire has improved unmenseh-, while Miss Bertie. Adams is also doing well on tire stage, and has just conehulod a. long tour with Mr Huntley Wright, the well-known comedian. People have been asking about the age T)f Miss Ellen Terry. She was born, according to her own statements, and she ought to know something about it, on February 27, 184 S. There have been attempts to show that she is older, but the evidence supports 1848 absolutely. The eldest of the family was Miss' Kate Terry, who was born in 1.841. Madame Sarnli Bernhardt was born on October 2.5, 1545. The Grand Opera Company scored another triumphant success nt Paris on Mav 15. wli'on they produced Verdi's "Oiello." It was Mine. Molba's farewell appearance in Paris as Desdemona. and the vast Champs Elyseo theatre was packed in every part. The enthusiasm was tremendous.