THE ATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13984, 17 August 1907, Page 14

THE ATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES

Bl PASquiN. Prihcbss .THMTM. Pollard's Opera Company—Aug. 29 to Sept. 11. E. Geach' (Willoughby-Ward)—Oct. 7to 12. Allan Hamilton—Nov. 26 to Dcc. 3. W. Andorson—Dec. 26, 1907, to Jan. 23, 190S, Brough-Flemming Co.—April 29 to May 6, 1308. Allan Hamilton-June 1 to 6, 1908. E. Geach (Prank Thornton)—June 25 to July 1. 1903. Bland Holt—Nov. 23 (1908) to Jan. 2 (1909). Allan Hamilton—May 31 to June 6, 1909. His Majisty's Tnsmi. Julius Knight Co.-August 12 to 24. Medamo Albani—September 4 and 5. Grand Opera Co.—Seot. 25 to Oct 10. "Mother Gooso" Panto.—Oct 12 to 24. ■ Competitions Society—November 4 to 14, A. Hamilton (Uaud Hildyard)—Nov. 16 to 20. J. C. Williamson—Dec. 26, 1907, to Jan. 10,1908. Allan Hamilton—January 11 to 18, 1908. Wost's Pictures—February 10 to 29, 1908. ~ Allan Hamilton—June 1 to 6; 1908. J. C. 'Williamson—Sept. 30 to Oct. 10 (190$). Rickards (Cinquevalli)-April 10 to 21, 1909, Allan.Hamilton—May 31 to June 6, 1909. Auuuniu. F-1! lets'—Permanent.

The members of tlio Diinedin Amateur Operatio Society are rehearsing "Tho Bell# of Now York" with the view to its pToductiou in March of next year. Commenting on tho production of " Bluebell in Fairyland" by tho recently-formed Pollard's Juvenile Opera Company in Christchurch, tho critio of the LytteKon Times lias this to nay: The piece was a bright »n<l sparkling success, blessed with all tlio light and pretty life which only children oan supply. The dancing was particularly good throughout, the pictures were oxoellently conceived, ajid the vaudevillo parts mto olwer and original. In buoli a long oast it is difficult to discriminate, but Miss Minnie Topping, Mis Lily Thompson, Misses T .vy and Alma Aldous. Miss Dora Rogers, Miss Edio Boulter, Messrs Charles Albert and Ernio Schatz. and Masters Nicholson and Drummond stood out prominently for sterling work. Mise Topping.sang and acted delightfully, and Miss Lily Thompson also scored for her pretty sr-ging and her effective acting. Mr Scliatz floored the honour of a double encoro for his "Apple on the tree" song, and Mr Albert, by his pure versatility, recalled vivid memories of "The Insect." Of tho lesser mites Master Bert Nicholson as "Blib" and tho Aldous sistcre were exceptionally clovcr. Tho staging was on a most elaborate scale, and the dressing waa as bright and pretty ' 86 could' be desired. The wholo performance was, in fact, a veritable triumphal " first night," and th® success of tho season is assured by its reception. A Christchuroh theatrical syndicate has acquired a short loaeo of the _ Zcalandia Hall, Invercargill, witfi the option of a longer term. Tlio objeot is to supply Inveirargill with permanent popular entertainments, comprising dramatic, vaudeville, and bioscopio attractions, at cheap prices. Thjco performances will be given weekly, the remaining nights of each week being dovotod to the .Bluff and Orepuki. In all probability the interests of the 'JtfiPHra'Fuller, awi Song sti the Alhainbra

will be transferred to the Prinoees Theotro at Christmas time.

"Motbor Goose" Panto. Company commence tho Now Zealand tour on September 2, at Awskknd, working overland and playing the small toyns en route to Wellington. From the Empire City tho pantonamore jump to Dunedin, the ice to Invercargill. At tlie termination of tho latter season the company make their way back to Christchurch, opreiinfr' tho new thoatro in that city in November (Carnival Week). Not generally known that there arc five Dunedin natives connected with the Julius Knight Dramatic Company now in the city. These arc Reynolds Denniston, A. J. Patriok, E. J. Wiseman, E. Odell, and Walter Monk. It is said that Mr Walter Baker, for many years principal member of the Bland Holt Company, is making an effort to organise a Shakespearean company in London to return to Australia to star in "Lear," "Macbeth,". "Shylock," etc. Miffl Elsie Wileon and Mr Ealpli Julian (here with the Julius Knight Dramatic Company) were last in these parts with John F, Shoridan's Musical Comedy Company. . Riots are not unknown in tho New Theatre at Cambridge, and tho following notice, Bet in bold type and hung -up ail over 'tho theatre, is not lacking in humour. It reads: "While tho piece is proceeding, the same rules as to good behaviour which are commonly accepted in London theatres are to bo observed licre. There is no objection to reasonable applause or to an encore of a popular sons and dance, but noisy inter fenuice with tho. perrorraanoe or any attempt to draw attention to a word or a phrase in which a perverted intelligence may think it has detected impropriety. will be met with immediate expulsion, etc."

"Gadfly" says:—"Geo, Stephenson—himself at one time a ohampion Rugby footballor in New Zoaland—was tlie only theatrical manager who made any attempt to form, an athletic club in his company. The cricket eleven of his musical comedy company was reokonod invincible by other theatrical combinations."—l would remind "Gadfly" of tlio W. P. .Hawtroy Comedy Company's eleven, of which it used to be said they played orieket and acted between whiles. Mr Bert Rojle states that dunnfr the early part of next year Mr J. C. Williamson will present to tlio Now Zealand publio "The Bluo Moon," "Browser's Millions," and "Peter Pan." ■ "Brewster's Millions" is an Amerioan comedy, founded on the book of Cr. B. M'Outoheon, a woll-known American novelist. . Though the piece was strongly criticised by some. of tho Home papers, who characterised .it aa "pure farce," it proved to be one of the successes of the season, anil was the only American production to "oatch on" during the recent Yankeo invasion. "Peter Pan has proved a moneymaker everywhere, and it is sure to meet with muoh success, oh these shores.

Another important engagement just concluded by Mr J, C. Williamson is that of Miss Fanny Dango, who has Bailed for Australia in the Mongolia to create for this country the character of Peggy Sabine in "Tho Dairymaids," which is the next new piece to be doile by the Koyal Comio Opera Company, MiWDarigo is a younger,eieter of Miss Letty Lind, whom everybody will remember ,as a prominent member of the first London Gaiety Company to visit Australia. She has made her mark on the Loudon lyrio that wonderful musical oomedy "San Toy" standing sponsor for one of her biggest euooesscs. She played the. title role—curiously enougrh -with Mr Reginald Kenneth aa the Bobby Preston of the cast—during the two yeara run of tho piece in London. . Mr Bert Royle, the New Zealand represor.tative of Mr J. 0. Williamson, at present in Dunedin with the Julius' Knight Company, advises that the "Mother Goose" Pantomime Company, which is tho next big production to visit these- shores, will be seen in its entirety in Dunedin. "To give you some idea of the strength of the company,". remarked Mr Royle to the writer, "I'need but mention that the roll call of the company numbers 130 persons." To a question whether that little array would travel to New Zealand, Mr Royle replied in the affirmative. "It is the biggest production yet sent out under Mr Williamson's management, and the expense involved in bringing it to New Zealand is enormous." "Business will have to keep up to a high standard to make tlio venture pay," I suggested. "Yes,"'replied' Mr Royle, "we will have to take no. less a sum than £1100 per week to clear expenses." "And the priocs?"—"Cannot do it on less than 6s, 4s, and 2s; anything under would bo a distinct loss."

John Fuller, jun., who is Btill on a "Cook's tour," writing from the "beautiful UkC6 of Killarnoy" under dato July 2, say 6: "Just a line to let you know that I have got as far as the lakes of Killarncy. '.riiere's no mistake, they are simply lovely. 1 would like to stay hero two weeks, hut time presses, and as I have yet many towns to visit I can only spare two days. Ireland is a lovely country, and I am per. fectly delighted with it." The popular voting theatrical manager 6ends best wishes to all friends in New Zealand. He says not a word about the vaudeville business in Ireland, so we may ta.ke it ho lias been so busy sight-seeing that he has not yet visited tho musio halls John F. is duo buck at Christmas timo, when ho will have an interesting story to tell.

A lino from Sydney to the effect that Mr J. A. Matheson, Edmund Montgomery's Sydney representative, leaves on Saturday for New Zealand to join the well-known entertainers. _ He brings with him new films, including one of the Webb-Towns boat raco for the sculling championship of the world.

Marat and Bcndigo will be the first towns to be favoured with a visit from Mr J. C. Williamson's new musical comedy company, whea they start their tour of Aus tralia at the close of their Melbourne sea. son at the end of this week. On the 31st August they will open in Adelaide for three weeks. Thence tbey sail for-tlie west, and on their return at the end of Octobpr will go to Sydney, remaining there till Christmas time. Wellington will bo the first city to welcome them in New Zealand, and they will open there on Boxing jii^lit. Next week Miss Tittell Brune will say good-bye to Brisbane, and after a flying visit to Toowoom'ia, will "play" the coastal towns of Queensland, proceeding northward as far as Townsvillo and Charters Towers, finishing her present engagement with Mr J. C. Williamson at the latter town on the 20th September. Her company will then go to Sydney, where they will begin rehearsing "Brewster's Millions," in which produc. tion Mr Thomas Kingston will take the lead. A sort of rivalry is at present going on between Mr J. C. Williamson's two musical companies—not so much on the score of their histrionic and musical abilities as on the ground of their muscular capabilities. The Crocodile Girls in "The Blue Moon"— as has been mentioned previously—have developed wonderful physique as the result of their strenuous exertions, and now tho Royal Comio Opera Company possess a contingent who aro going in for physical j development in the most approved fashion.' Included in the production of "The Dairy- ! maids" is a "real" gymnasium scene, and all the appurtenances which go To make up a genuino school of muscular develop- i mcnt are contained therein, while physical culture training is being practised under tho supervision of fully qualiflod teachers of the art. If the ( wish of the two companies could be gratified, and a trial of strength wore arranged between the respec. tive "Sandow" teams, it would certainly be a novelty capable of drawing a crowd as big as a test match. The culmination of the rush from Perth to Broken Hill, just completed by the "Motlier Goose" Company, was its final stage. The Kyarra met with exceptionally bad weather in the bight, and only reached Largs Bay at midnight on Thursday. There was a tender waiting to take the company off, however, and, with tho A.U.S.N. Company's . willing assistance tbey all left by special train at half-past 3 in. the morning. Travelling all day, they got to Broken Hill at 5 in tho afternoon' of the opening day. "A publio character" like Madame Clara Butt is the recipient, of course, of scores of curious letters, but 6he seems to specialise on long-lost relations, and Australia Bcemß to ho the home of such, in her case. A year or so ago someone in New Zealand who had been reading an inter: view with her discovered that she was fond of monkeys, and immediately wrote claiming kinship on tho ground that her mother had also had a passionate attachment for the simian tribo. More recently —just before she left, as a.matter of fact— Madame Butt received a letter from a lady, evidently with the vaguest ideas as to Australian topography, who had lost touch with a rich uncle who once owned a cattle ranch in Wc6t Australia, but was believed to; bo in South Australia. In the opinion of the writer everyone in those two States was "sure to hear Madame Butt's heavenly voice," and she therefore craved the contralto's assistance in finding her missing relative. As tho pastoral country is not likely to come down en masse to the cities to hear Madame Butt, it may be as well

to mention that tho missing uncle's name is Yerrite.

"Brigadier Gerard" oomes to us with a great reputation. Its aotion is also modern —at least comparatively so, for it was enacted during the Napoleonic period. The play is intensely bright by reason of its military atmosphere, and, strange to say, the hero has an affinity to those of "Robin Hood" and "Raffles!". The Brigadier (Julius Knight) is in the Secret Service, and is despatched by Napoleon to obtain certain papers, by any means.' It is tho old story, in which a woman's love enters, and upon which is hung tho success of a risky undertaking The surroundings of the play are romantic, with touches of sparkling comedy, and the staging and military costumes are picturesque. The piece, by the way, is by Sir Arthur Conan Dovle, "Monsieur Beaueairo," one of those tried and proved successes, will also be produced by tho Julius Knight Company. This play is always a welcome one; tho book was ever charming, and as the play follows it with quite exceptional fidelity, it naturally partakes of the same quality. "An opera house for tho masses" is the important schome formulated for London by 11 r Osoar Hammerstein, the director of tho Manhattan Opera House, New York. "Hitherto opera has been conducted on wiong principles," lie said the other day to a Daily Chronicle representative. "It lias been supposed that this form of enter, iainmcnt only appeals to the people of the highest intellect and the greateet amount of money: I might almost say to people with much money and little intellect. In th'j fashionable opera houses the scenery is not on the stage but in_the where one finds an exhibition of diamonds and of costly garments. • It is for this display that architects ' have designed tiers upon tiers of rabbit-hutch boxes. But the opera house of tho near future will be built for the accommodation of the great paying middlo classes, and it will not bo long before London possesses such a building. A scheme which I have in my mind i 6 nearly settled, and the money is ready. The theatre w.il be specially built for tho purpose. You cannot adapt a house for tho needs of opera. I glanced at your Coliseum, but it was no good to me. When 1 return to London in the late autumn I Blia.ll be able, I hope, to announce full details of my scheme. New York has two opera houses, and surely London can support two. The masses hare little knowledge of opera, but that they appreciate it is shown by the popularity of excerpts at Jour variety theatres. But you must offer'them good performances in order that they may bo educated up to modern works. The old Italian school forms an excellent 'start; and then you can give them Wagner and some of tho newer compositona of living French, Italian, German, and even English masters." STAGE GOSSIP. The Gibson Girls are on the bill at Adelaide Tivoli. The "Mother Goose" Pantomime has concluded a record season in (W.A.). Mr Julius Knight opens at the Princess, Melbourne, on August 31. Bland Holt recently produoed " The Cotton King" in Melbourne. A successful matinee was given by Fullers' Entertainers on Saturday last. It is anticipated that the new theatre in Ohristcliurch will be opened in November. Mr. G. S. Tithervdge is now a member of Mir .John Hare's Comedy Company.

Tho Tylers, .well known in New Zealand, are appearing with Clay's Vaudeville Company in Sydney. A record by the Australian-made drama "The Squatter's Daughter" has been created in Sydney. '

It is said . that the oldest clown in Australia is now bellman and street crier at Warwick, Queensland. Miss "Fanny Lidditad, who was for long connected with comic opera in Australia, has returned ,to Melbourne.

The, great scene in the now autumn dram at tho Drary Lane' Theatre 1 -will bo the race .for tlie Grand Prix, Paris. ; Mr John Hare, the well-known English actor, has determined to retire, and will, next month,-begin his farewell tour. •. ■ "Mother Gooae" is; at ■ present.in Broken Hill.. After, a short visit to Queensland the company 'proceeds; to New Zealand. . Mr CWles Hdlloway's Dramatic .Company op, --lis at the -.Bijou ■ Tlbatre, Melbourne, shortly in "Two Little 'Vagabonds," Salmon and Cheater, Nina Gonzales, Fr&nk Hsrtlcy (boy - juggler), and Pearl Lovell are with Holland's Company,at Brisbane Koyal. Mr Douglas Bostoek, who was here with Wombell and Boetock'a Circus,is now manager of the Hippodrome at Paisley, Scotland. Mr Bert Gilbert is appearing in '" Tin

Zuydor Zee" at the London Hippodrome. Miss May Moore Dnprez is also in the cast. Mr Bland Holt's latest' attraction at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, is' a' dramatio version of Hall Caine's work "The Bondman."

Helen Hambeck, known as Baby, a famous New York danseuse, died recently from spinal meningitis, brought on by excessive duicing, Charlie Albert, the well-known comedian, is stage manager for Pollard's Juvenile Opera Co., at present staging " Bluobell in Fairyland" in Chriatohurch.

Miss Trttoll Bruno terminates her engageincut frith l£r Williamson at Charters Towers, Queensland, in two months' timo. She them takes a prolonged holiday.

Carl Hertz left London for South Africa on July 6. He will return during October to produce a wonderful illusion, to be known as "l'he Garden of Eden."

"Human Hearts," the melodramatic play which toured New Zealand recently, will commence its Australian career at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on August 17. Miss Maud Milton, who has appeared'in Shakespearian parts in Australia, is playing tho part of Raohel, a blind beggar, in Mi Martin Harvey's religious play, " Great Possessions."

Mr Erekine Scott, formerly with 'Wirtha', Fitzgeralds', and Bostock's, is now managing Johnson and Gibson's moving picturo show, wliicll is working tho small 3 on the way'.to Queeensland.

Mr C. Macmahon has left Wellington for Sydney to make arrangements for tho organisation of his new dramatio company, which is to commence a New Zealand tour at Auckland in October,

At the Adelphi, London, Mr Martin Harvey announces that anyone entering the theatre after the raising of ,the curtain will not be permitted to take their scats until the end of tho act.

During the present winter months 45 different shows, dramatic, musical, biograph, and circus, have toured Queensland, whioh has never before supported so heartily suoh a host of invaders.

Miss Nance CNeil has gone into a stock venture with Mr L. K. Stockwell and Mr Norval Macgregor. The latter will be remembered here as the lending man of the Janet Waldorf Co. \ Itr Oscar Aaahe and Miss Lily Brayton, who wore thinking not long ago of umtertaking mi Australian tour, h»v® le&Bed His Majesty's Theatre, London, and will appear there early in September. Miss Florence B&inoSj ■ an English actress of experience, opened a season at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, with a new musical fajce * "Miss Lancashire (Limited)." The company includes eight or ten English artists. ' ii Allaj Hamilton's ' " . Sweet Home tour in New Zealand will start at InyercaigiH on October 21. Mr Hamilton's' company will be the Christmas attraction at the nevr Theatre Royal, Christohuioh. Miss Marie Hall completed her successful tour of New Zealand under tho direction «f Messrs J. and N. Tait last week, and is already on her way to England again on board the Aorangi, which she joined at

The death is announced of Mra W. G. Jones, who was tiho oldest, actress in the United States. Born in ChaitJiam, England, 79 years ago she wait to America at an«ny ago. She was Miss Julia Wagstafl before marriage. A theatre on a new plan is being built in New York. The boxes and some of the best seats will be sold outright, and their owners can use them or sell them, as they please, ihe boxes have been disposed of at an average price of £5000 apiece. Mr Percy Grainger, aooording to letters received by Messrs J. and N. Tait, is atill persuing his upward progress as one of the rising pianists of to«3sy, and his second London rental in the jEolian Hall was even tetter attended and more cordially received than the first.

Tn the Bishops Carriage," produced in Sydney by Miss Nellie Stewart before her American torn; was played: in London for the first time the other day at the Waldorf theatre It brought again before the-foot-lig-tlta Miss Fanny Ward, who played Nance Miss Beatrice Irwin, an actress who has already won an enviable reputation under Sir Ohailes Wyndham and the late Sir Henry 1x6,1 en S^f 4 Mr J. C; Williamson for Brewster's Millions," the Australian October ° f Wl " 011 k eina in Mney next

Miss Christine Hill, the beautiful woman who so cleverly disguised her beauty in character ports when with Mi Dan Fnwley, is s|ub » member of his reorganised company Mr Frawley has gone back to his old plan of running his own etook combination in the Western Stales of America. I'or many a year Norfllca has been able to command a night fee of £900 in America, and now shs scarcely evor appears under llßOdol, or, roughly, £230 a performance. Her annual earnings are said to amount to at least £14,000, tui income which she earns in a bouttwo months of actual singing. In the "fight for stars" between the American theatrical trusts, it is said that heavy sums are being paid to wellOmown dramatists for one-act plays suitable to the vaudeville form of entertainment. The Amerioan theatrical public, once hostile to English talent, is gradually chaaging its taste. After a six weeks' run at the Princcsa Theatre, Melbourne, "The Blue Moon," in which Miss Amy M/urphy made her Anstra lian debut, has been withdrawn in favour of "My Lady Madcap." The title role is played by Miss Daisie Wallace, one of the English importations for the Musical Comedy Company.

The Mongolia.,' with.. Madams Olm Bntt on board, will soon be in Australian waters, and .towards tho end of the month " the greatest contralto of modern times" will be in Melbourne, resting and preparing lor her concert tour of Australia, which begins in the Melbourne Town Hall om the 10th September.

Mr M'Kce Rankin has announced liia plan 'to revive a custom of his early days next season. This is to arrange a stock starring tour -with Miss Nance o'Neil of four weeks in each of 10 cities. They mil add to their present repertoire a new play, "The Golden Pleecc," written fw Miss O'Neil by an Oak. land University man. Mr Jean Gerardy, the famous 'cellist, was recently married to Miss MTQuade, of Potto Point, Sydney. Miss M'Quade oome3 of a musical family. Her undo is 0. fine pianist and her mother, who owns Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, first came to Australia as Miss Cissy Durant with Mies Emily Soldene in 1877, appearing subsequently in pantomimo at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Groat sucoess has attended the first Continental appearances of Miss Amy Oaatles, which were made at the Oatend Kursaal, and the Victorian singer was engaged to return to Ostcnd immediately. In addition to her previous Continental engagements, Miss Castles has now been booked for Moscow find • for several additional oonceits in Germany.

Mr Ben Puller informs a Wellington writer that the plans for the new theatre to replace the Theatre Royal are well forward. The general manager of Fullers? Proprietary states that his'firm does not want to hurry things too much, as the expenditure in connection with tho new building will be great, and it is the desire of his firm to put up a theatre which will be a credit not only to "Wellington," but the whole colony. Marie Lloyd recently made her first appearance in Paris before a large and enlhusiastio audience at the Marigny Theatre. It wßa a gala night, and Marie, who had received 110 leas than 60 telegrams from London friends wishing her good luck, immediately got on tho best of terms with the audience. Marie Lloyd's English engagements mn right up to the end of 1909, with just one tour to America between.

Regarding the Continental sncoess of "The Merry Widow," which has taken London by storm, some surprising figures are quoted. The opera, began its career in Vienna, wh®r« it lasted for 450' nights —a jtm never approached there before,-while .it put up records of 300 nights in St. Petersburg and Copenhagen, and 200 in such "provincial" centres as Hamburg andi Cologne. It has brought in over a million marks in royalties to 'its authors, and over a million copies of the famous waltz tune have been sold. Mr Hamilton' Hill, the baritone singer, who was well known to Australian audiences up till about eight years ago, when he went abroad to secure finish and wider fame, made his appearance in Melbourne Opera House recently, and created a very favourable impression. Mr Caiden Wilson, mimic and character sketch artist, has returned for a short season. Mr Fred. H.~ Graham, Miss Nellie Dent, Miss Bijou Russell, and Teeohow Cats are also on the Opera House bill.

Mr Harry Lauder, the popular music-hall comedian,.has appeared in the unusual role of sacred soloist .in Union Church, Morrison street Kingston, Glasgow. (United Free Chuxeh). The announcement that lie was to take part in the service attracted a large orowa. The church was filled to the pulpit steps, many people being turned away from tbo .door. Mr Lauder sang Owen's "The children s home" with fine effect, and in a manner which came as a surprise to those who knew him only as a rollicking comedian Mrs Lauder sang a setting of "Crossing the bar very artistically.

Oscar Hammameiß, the American impresario, has a new "find" this year. It is a girl called "Sober Sue," who has ere this made her bow to New Yorkers. Her special talent consists in mi inability to laugh or smile even at the jokes of monologists and the antics of oomic opera combinations. She does not appear cm the stage, but has a little platform on whioh she may be seen and talked to by all wits, jokers, punsters, storytellers, and ooiMdians generally. A prize of lOOdol in gold is offered to anyone who can. make "Sober Su<i" change lier stolid expression even for a second.

It is stated that H. B, Irving and his wifo will 'open in Melbourne at Christmas time ■**Ad6X trllQ Ol>H * r £ T H£U-t fcf J*fl*wpauiler..1 er..

Carl Hagenbeck Las opened a novel wild animal exhibition near Hamburg. H is a park of 26 acres, so arranged that the various beasts appear in natural sur.-oundings. Instead of cages the animaJs are confined in spaces bounded by cleverly concealed ditches, which it is impossible for them to -cross. There are 600 animals in the enclosure, valued WBaaaaß—bwi—w

at 250,000d01. Thoy include 35 li\ tigers. 24 elopb&nts, six leopards, four and two hippopotai