THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14002, 7 September 1907, Page 14

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Bi Pasqdik. Peikciss Trams. Pollard's Opera Company—Aug. 23 to Sept. 11, E. Genck (Willoughby-TVird)—Oct. 7to 12. His MiJMTT'a Theatki. Grand Opera Co,—Sept. 25 to'Oct 10. '' Mother Gooee'" Panto.—Oct. 12 to 21. Competitions Society—November 4 to 14. A. Hamilton (Maud Hildyard)—Nov. 10 to 20. Allan Hamilton—Nov. 26 tc Dec. 3. J. C. Williamson—Dec. 26, 1307. to Jan. 10,1S08. Allan Hamilton—January 11 to 18, 1903. Wait's Pictures—February 10 to 29. 1903. Brough-Plenmurg Co.—April 29 to' May 6,190?, Allan Hamilton—June 1 to 6, 1908. E. Geach (Frank Thornton)—3'une 25 to Julj 1. 1903. J. C. Williamson—Sept, 30 to Oct. 10 (1908), Bland Holt—rJov. 23 (1908) to Jan. 3 (1909). Rioltaids (Cinquevalli)—April 10 to 21, 1909, Allan Hamilton—May 31 to June 5, 1909. AT.HJLUBRA. Pullers'—Permf.nent

Tho Pollards a.ro rehearsing " His Highness iiie Bey," an American musical comedy, which is to go up when "Blueboll " : has run its course. I had tho pleasure of witnessing a rehearsal of t.ho new production on Friday morning, and WM: impressed with lie intelligence the children displayed in their work and the intore3t they took in it. "His Highness" should be a great sucoess, Tho scenery and .wartlroba for "Hi 3 Highness tho Boy," tho next to bo staged at the Princcss, is being prepared in Dunedin. The scenic artist and tho wardrobe mctrcse arc very important personages in Pollards' Opera Co. at the present time. Mr George Bulicr will arrivo in Auckland on Monday, September 9, to complete arrangements for the Maoriland tour of tho distinguished English actress, Miss Maud Hildyard, supported by Meyr.ell and Gunn'fl Dramatic Company. Miss Hildyard's reportoire embraces "Tho Great Awakening," "A Warning to Women," and "Tho Beautiful Fiend." The tour opens at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, September 16. and will bo under tho direction of AHan Hamilton, Tho Pollards' Juvenile Opera Co. hod tho ploasure of performing to a "record" house on Saturday night. Every evening nines tho opening tho Princess has bocm crowded by large and delighted audiences. Tho management is immensely pleased with the reception tho company has received in Dunedin. Allan Hamilton lias arranged the following tour for his new dramatic company's domestic drama "Home. Sweet Home": —Invercargill, October 21-24; Palmerston North, show week,. October 28 to November 1; Damievirke, November 2; Napier, November 1-5; Hastings, November 6-7; Masterton, November 8-9; Marlon, November 11; Wanganui, November 12, 13, .14 (show wcok); New Plymouth, November' 15; Auckland, November 18-23; Wellington, November 26 to December 6; Wostport, December 9, 10, 11; Greymout.il, December 12-13; Hokitika, December 14; Nelson, December 18-19; Blenheim, December. 20-21; Christchurch, • Boxing Night to January 6; Ashburton, January 7; Timaru, January 8-9; Oamavu, January 10; Dunedin, • January 11-18. Charlie Albert, at present in Dunedin with Pollards' Juvenile Opera Co., recently did a 10 months' successful tour of the Far East, during which time he received the' top salary for a vaudeville artist—to wit, 75d0l per week. A severe illness necessitated : his return ro Australia and New Zealand. In connection with the statement that Pollards' Juvenile Opera Company will visit South Africa at the oonelusion of the New Zealand tour, I am' informed that the matter is _ not yet definitely settled. The company, it appears, is morally under obligation to go out to South Africa under the management of the well-known South African entcr.preneurs, tho Wheeler Bros. However, there is a good 12 months' run for the company in New Zealand, and longer, if suitable pieces of production can be eeoured.

Mr Allan Hamilton's new dramatic company will leave .Melbourne for Tasmania and New Zoaland about, the end of September. The principal play will lie "Home, Sweet Home," a domestic drama which has passed its thousandth performance in England, and is still " (joint; strong." In reviowing the production of "Homo, Sweet Home" in Adelaide, a contemporary wrote;—"lt is a long time since any drama proved go much to the public taste as 1 Homo,' Sweet Home.' The work contains all the elements to make up a typical ladies' drama. It is olean, healthy, and wholesome to a degree—in fact, a domestic drama pure and simplo from the rise - to tho fall of tho curtain." It is interesting to know tliat Mr-George Musgrovc is Well satisfied with the financial results of his grand opera venture in _ Australasia to date. Mr Musgrovc is .going Homo (says. a .Wellington writer) ,whon tho present combination disbands, to make fresh arrangements for his enterprise in the Southern Hemisphere. He has' four: theatres running under his management in the Old Country, so that tho responsibilities he is called upon to boar are enough to weigh s down tho average individual. s ; Miss Maud Duprez, the jolly American girl, who was round theso parts 6ome year or two ago under the management .of Mr Harry Rickards, has created a sensation at London Hippodrome, where ehe is appearing in tho "Ice Carnival." Interviewed in London, Mr Harry j Rickards stated that ho was well booked up until 1909 for his theatres. Amongst those whom ho was sending out from London for immediate dates wore the Molisso Quartet, who have sailed for Australia: Price and Revort, and the Creo Bros., comedy acrobats, and the Whitclevs, acrobata and wire-walkers. During his present sojourn in England Mr Rickards will engage performers' for the whole of the years 1909 and 3910. Ho informed the interviewer that ho had made ' a number of re-engagements, including Charleno and Cinquevalli, and that Cinqucvalli's return visit to Australia would bo made in 1909.

Mr Rickards will not admit ihat tho taste of tho Australian playgoer is at fault. On the contrary, ho says, "the root of the difficulty is that the Australian playKoor lias been spoilt: lie haa horn jfiven too good shows for the money." The cost of exporting to the antipodes a first-rate English comedy company and repertory, according to Mr Rickards, is so great that the margin of possible profit docs not tempt men who know how much better they can do in other branches of i.he business. "My own view of the position," he remarked, "is shown by my own action. I am dropping theatrical business absolutely. Last winter I had three dramatic companies out there, and-wnll. T think I can do better with music-hall talent Tho Chronicle states that Mr Rickarck before returning to Australia, will buy an estate in England. ' Mr Harry Rickards, of. the Tivoli, Sydney. the Opera House, Melbourne, and half a dozen other variety theatres in Australia and New ZcaJand, arrived in London a few days offo (says an English exchange) on his annual -visit of inspection and turn finding. To tho present generation of variety thoatregoore ho is unknown, but by tho-older ones ho is remembered as a "comio singer " of great popularity, whose namo i* imporishably associated with such lyrical ijems of the time as "Want to Buy a Little Dog?" "The Blighted Gardener," "Cerniia was Beautiful." and other songs which for a timo • delighted : audiences a t tho "Old and elsewhere. Many years ago

Harvy .Riekawls visitor! Australia with a' little company oE picked artists. He succeeded so. well that, lio made a. second journey with another fond of merrymakers, and at, length ho turnod a shrowcl oyo upon, the _ chancos of settling- in Australia as tho chier ot a permanent variety theatre or two, or three, or several. It was a' hard fight at first, but ever' sineo the surprising night on which ho oponcd tho ram■slucklo old Opera. House in York street, Sydney, to'an audience that almost bulged its aged Avails outward pood fortune has almost continuously smilod upon him. Today H3rry Riekai'ds owns a whole variety "circuit"lie has taken to Australia sonio of the'brightest "stars" of the music-hall profession, and, to the deep joy of the he is hero to. sign on sonic more. He will have, tho best, and up'on that policy ho has waxed rich in worldly possesions. Tbo old-time einger of "Tho Blighted Gardener" now lives in a, magnificent homo by the margin of the most beautiful harbour in all the world. Madame Albani tolls an oscellont story of a rccoption that miscarried during her last Canadian tour.—a story, by t,lie wav, illustrative of tho clim.itio severities of her -native . land and of Kipling's " Our Lady of. tho &nows." Tt vtcs at- Fredorielon, N. 8.,' and' (hero was much enthusiasm'! among the local musical folk over the coming of so great, an artiste for a first visit. To do the occasion due honour, a committee of civic dignatanes was formed (o mcf-t tho diva at the station, and the town band engaged to. .serenade her as she entered the topi, and "play her to her .hotel/" ■ The liand duly mustered at 'tho station, ivith .instruments, snider-legged music stands' and'all. Everything would have been well, and according to Drogramme, but .unhappily the train was late. The bandsmen stood about, stamping their feet and blowing upon chilled fingers while 10 minutes nassed. Fifteen minutes—half an hour—still no train. After lorn; waiting: the shrill shriek of the locomotive at last ! Instruments' wore hiifriodlv picked up, as the band tool: up a position about where the great singer might, bo expected to leave the'train. "Ein, zwei, tlrei." commanded tlm Teutonic'leader.. ' And the band tried nobly but ineffectually to rcsixmd to the order. It was .useless. Brass band instruments are susceptible when tho mercury toys with the zero mark, and a frozen silence came from all tho fluffing and Wowing. Albani took the will for the deed with her usual happy chcoriness. "It was anything but 'a .cold retention, anyway," she paid, laughingly. Apropos of the recent nrodnclion of the " liellc of New York" in Sydney, ; Mr Gerard Coventry was the first to produce tho musical comedy in Australia. That was in 1899. Mr Covontrv has' much of interest to tell about tho history of tho opera, for ho ■was at tiio_ Casino Theatre, New York, when tho piece was first rehearsed there, just 10-years ago. It was on this occasion that Miss Edna May was "discovered."

Sho had lxsen singing as a chorus girl, and when Mr Lederer, the manager of the Casino, brought, the nnknown singer .:to (lie theatre to rehearse tho part of Violet Grey it was immediately recognised that she would attain a great suocees; and so she did. There have been many Violet Greys since that time, but, in Mr Coventry's opinion, not one of them could be compared with Miss Edna May, then a. girl of about 20, whose sweetness, grace, and charm enabled her to give a delightful presentation of the character. Sho was then receiving £10 a week; m complete was lier success that, as soon a? the contract ended, her salary was increased to £100. The company: the following year wont to London, where during a run of 84-. weeks at, tho Shaftesbury Theatre, MrGeorge Mnsgrovo was said to have cleared £60.000. ■ Mr Alf. Stephens, at one time .prominent in Pollard's Juvenile Opera. Company, made his dolwi with Ihe Kov;i! Comics, in Sydney asJchabotl Bronson in "The Belle of Now York." Tho newcomei' (says-a Sydney writer) gave a sound rendering of ilic.character, the solemn humour, .selfsatisfaction, and shrewdness of which wero well indicated, whilst -!us .exceedingly clear enunciation of the linos also caik for favourable comment. Mr Stephens's reJieated' start of shocked alarm at each entry of the ■ percussion instruments during , tho solo And chorus of tho Young Men'sßcscuo League and., Anti-Cigarette Society of Cohocs was so naturally done as to be comic, and though he did not make neW points, he pleased iho audience on familiar linos. _ Miss Florence Young, critically, speaking, was somewhat out of her element as Violet Grey, hut she. is now an aetres3 of 60 much experience' that' sho eamo through tho ordeal cleverly, and her melodious voice told out splendidly in the finale to the first act, whilst she proved at homo in the solos of the part. Mr W. S. Poroy proved the host Polito Lunatic seen here since W. L, Don played tho part, lie was a doep&rately funny little figure as Karl von Pumpornick, and his declaration to tho Queen - of Comical Operas, : "Goddess of my dreams, I have never loved till now," completely upset the house. Miss Nellie Wilson, who followed Miss Blanche Wallace, a particularly effective Cora Angclique, rcrosonted' rath'cv too refined a-type of brunette beauty, but had her sparkling moments. Miss Connie Milne, made nothing of Kissie Pitzgartor, .arid Miss Tilly Woodlock. though rather-, too mild at Mamio Clancy, the tough Pell sfcroot girl, played it winsomoly, and contributed a little finished 6tep dancing. i Much interest was taken in ' theatrical circles in the marriage of Miss. Gillian Scaife and Mr C. "Warburton Gamble, an event which took place • at St. John's Church, Glebe, Sydney reoently. • with Mr Edward Bonficld as best man. Bost artiste arc appearing with the WilloughbyAYard Company at Sydney Criterion in -i".Mr Hopkinson." Aftor tho corcmony an entertainment was given ' with the social ■assistance of Mrs Douglas Walker, .and some two score peoplo sat down, including Miss Grace Palotta and the artists of the' company, Mmc. Graeo Miller Ward, Miss May Congdon (Theatre Royal), and others.' Tho Rev. S. S. Tovey, who had performed tho ceremony, made a particularly felicitous spceeh of congratulation, in which. ho referred to tho connection of his family with tho stago in past yeara. Both' tho bridegroom and bride responded, and Mr Hitgli Ward an<l Air Neville Montagu also spoko, whilst Miss May Summerbello- played nuptial marches by Mendelssohn and Grieg. . 1 . An in the London Daily Mail recently reviewed tho dramatic yf?j of 1906-7_ (which ends in July) for that oity, and, in tho course of its remarks, it mentioned _6ovoral facts of interest.lo theatregoers in this country. There were all t01d.78 plays producod during the period, of whioh 57 wore now and tho; balance old. Dramatic pieces (excluding onc-act plays) totalled 62 (now and old), nnrj musicalplays.2l (now and old). Of them all, however, only 15 were performed more than. 100 _ time 3, and in ' this 1 oompany of aristocrats" six picccs belong to Mr"J, C. Williamson,' and. over two others : ho holds an option,' Tho half dozen lie has acquired includo tho one which reached "tho second top ecorc"—"Tho Scarlet Pimpernel "—which though it was a socond revival, was played iSA times. The. other 'five wore—" The Now-'Alladin" (203 times), "The Lady Dandios" (196), "Robin Hood" (162), "John Glaydc'6 Honour" (138), and "Peter Pa.n" (another second . revival,' 102). Besides theso there wore still running as assured successes—. "Brewster's Millions," "Tho Girls of Gottenbcrg," and "The Merry Widow."

No other country in the world, it i 6 safe to say, could show the equal of "Mother Goose's" wandering for the past two months. Since the end of tho season in Sydney tho pantomime has travelled in eight weeks an-average of 1000' miles each week or 8000 in all made up thus: Sydney to Melbourne, 576 miles; Melbourne to Adelaide, 'via Geelong, 570; ■ Adelaide, to Perth and back, 3880; Adelaide to Broken Hill and back to Ballarat, -1000 to Brisbane and back to Svndey, 2123 miles. All this. travelling was done for the sake of 611 appearanoes, or an average of 125 miles for each performance. The Now Zealand trip wilt add over 5000 miles, to tho total. ' The Home entertainment world has lost two striking'figures by Ihe deaths of Sir William Morgan, of tlij Scarborough Aqua: rium, and Mr 11. J. Curry, of Grimsby. The former started life in a very humble capacity,'and then became Ixiokstail'attendant at ..Bradford, By dint of hard work he became part proprietor of the local theatre, lmt all ' his savings were lost when the place was destroyed by'fire. He persevered, however, and ended in making a fortune out of his theatrical ventures, spread over a period of 50years. Mr Curry was tho founder of th'c Prince of Wales's Theatre, Grimsby, and also of tho Tivoli Variety. Theatre in tho same city. A cable from Fremantle says: Madame Melba, accompanied by her son arid daughter-in-law, has arrived on a six months' purely private visit to Australia. In tho course of an interview Madame Melba stated that the most promising Australasian singer in London at present was Miss Ainelie, a New Zealander. Several people have been inquiring how Madamo Albani really obtained her name. Sho was, of course, originally a Mdlle. La Jeunesse, and it is stated' in the standard musical dictionary that' she was named after tho city in- New York State, where sho achieved her great first success. Accepting tho current doctrine, a correspondent recently wrote a letter in which lie tendered his congratulations to the diva on her arrival in Australia, and said how auspicious it was that almost .tliefirst place' at which sho touched on reaching this part of the world (i.e., Albany, W.A.) should remind her of the city after which sho was named. But the gifted soprano denied having been named in the manner suggested, and gave an account,' of how sho really obtained tho namo by which sho has ever since been and always will be known. After achieving her success in- Albany, it. appears, she went .to Italy, and her teacher there said lie would find an Italian name for her -as it' was impossible for her to appear thero bearing, such a pronouncedly French name las her own. So ho fixed on Albani, which Mdllc. La Jeunesse at once adopted, and with all her greater ploasuro that it happened to bo that of the city which was associated in her mind with so * many. charming reminiscences. ' ■ Tho '•Mother Goose" Pantomime Co., at present inaugurating a New Zealand tour in Auckland, terminates tho Maoriland season about tho middle of November, when they will return to Australia in order to prepare for the next Christmas attraction, t.ho cast for which will '.be strengthened by the introduction of somo new members from London, Mr. J. C. Williamson having already completed some important engagements. The production of "Tho Dairymaids" should be specially interesting to Australian playgoers as it will be the occasion of tho introduction of Miss Fanny Dango to this part of the world. ■ Miss Dango arrived in Melbourne on Monday,. 26th ult,, and proceeded to .Sydney the same afternoon to lie present for a full-, dress rehearsal of the musical comedy by tho Royal Comic Opera Company. Another engagement which will be welcomed with delight is that of Miss Emma Temple, who has long held a high place ill the esteem of the theatre-going public, and tho part which she is to fill is one to which she may lie expected to do full justice. As Miss Pycchase, "the school marm" who exercises slern .authority over a class of feminine gymnasts, Mits 'Temple will doubtless add considerably to the enjoyment of tho audience. Mr George Lauri has a very congenial part, and Miss Florence Young is placed very satisfactorily. as indeed are the remaining members of the cast, who will be welcomed back in a manner befitting old favourites. The real gymnasium scene is one of - the features of the piece, and the physicalculture girls have been working hard in order to acquit themselves creditably. Mr Gerard Coventry is responsible for the production, which will bo launched at Iler Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, on Seplem : fcer 7.

STAGE GOSSIP. Bell and Delroy are touring in Queensland Walter Rivera and Nina Eochester recently left Manila for America. ■ . Fuller'o Entertainers' are doing excellent business at the Alhambra. There was a record liouse'at the Princess Theatre on Saturday night. Bcported that a-ncw theaitro is to be built in Castleresgh street, Sydney. Pollard's Opera Company play in Invercargill on September 13, 14, 10. Groasi the Marvellous was showing at tie Cplliseum, Glasgow, on the Bth July. Mr'Williamson's Musical Comedy Company was to finish its Melbourne season on August 16. . Mr. Pinero, the author of many lino draraatio works, ha.o been suffering from i serious illness. La Roy, Tfdma, and Bosoo were appearing at the Olympia, Liverpool, when the last mail left London. Miss.'Lilian Bcanas, formerly of the Comic Opera- Company, is taking a year's further study iii Paris... . ; Emilie Melville, was at latest appearing in New York in a dratratised version ot "Car■men," as Anita. Dan; Leno's'right name'mm George Galvin. He was but 43 .years of age when he died, oil Octolwr 81, 1901. , A. Sydney syndicate offered to take n 10 years'"°leSso of Wonderland City from Mr. William Anderson. '■Jlt',"Ernest Leicester made- his Australian debut.: at the Princosa's Theatre, Melbourne, in ''.'Human Hearts." Clara' Butt and lior concert company open their- ICew Zealand tour in November. Prices will ,bo : £t Is. 10s Cd, and 6s. . ifiss' Iloao Musgrove, now in. London, baa bosn engaged'.by Mr Otho Stuart for his autumn -season at the Court Theatre. ■Ferry,' tho Human Frog, is featured in big letters" on the bill of tho Orpheum, 'Frisco. The.turn is entitled " In the Dismal Swamp." Harold Thorlcy, who was tho Toreador in J. C. Williamson's play of tho, same name, is appearing in "The Girls of Gottenburg" in London. 1 Charles ifcxie Gilbert and • EnTi'co • Caruso have been made,by tho King honorary memberrof: the fo\u# class of the Eoyal'Tic; torian-Order. • William Collier has made a' big hit in New York., with "Caught in the Esin." Tho "two hundredth performance .was,; just wming'wben the. mail -eft. . .. ..■ ' Over 3000 seats were booked for the panto, mime season, ill' Brisbane between ,tho day ths plan opened and the first performance of "Mother Gioso." Charles J. Stine arid O'ivo Evans will be starred, nest season in a, three-act version of their sketch, "A- Bachelor's Holiday," says a New York paper. Little Tich will be shortly leaving London for Paris,. whore .be onjoys tho reputation of being tho most,,popular English comedian on the French variety,stßge. -Tlie "'Home, Sweot Home" Company has added "Little Lord Fauntleroy" to its r'epertoiro.. It .Baby Watson plays tho "Lord" sho will/be.the youngest on record. Mr;; Edmund, Gwenn, who. avss . Prince, tho cockney burglar in Cuyler Hastings's production "Sherlock Holmes," -is appearing in "Vote,v,for Women" in London; - . The' many -friends of Miss Clara Clifton, the-clever vocalist-who was here'with "The Orchid" Company, will learn with regret that she has,been laid up.with laryngitis. Miss Maud Hilayard is described as a "sensational actress" with a most powerful personality. Her costumes are admitted to be the /litest ever seen on the Sydney'stage, William Donmead, Ireland's oldest actor, died on Juno I*l. . Somo years ago Denmead lost his eyesight, and, with his wife, has since .'struggled. to eke out an existence by flinging in the streets. Eight days after Miss Tittell Brune finishes i:er season at.'Charters Towers on the 20Lh September,- she will embark in' Sydney for England on her. long holiday trip to Europe and -the United States. Eobart Ilanlon, one of the greatest gymnasts.ever known, died at Homo recently. He was years of age only. H? had had a remarkable career as an aerial trapeze artist,

and lijs fame was wor'.d-wide Ada; Reeves, the English music-hall singer,' is ssd£ to have been offered to 'Joe 'Weber for his company' next season (says Variety, If.Y.). • Websr, however, couldn't we his way to pay ■'out' tha\£loo salary demanded. Mr George "Bul'er and Hr Fred Duncan will represent Allan Hamilton during the Ifaoriland tour of Miss Maud Hildyard, while Mt Herbert Leigh.and Mi M. Marcus will be in charge of tho "Horce, Sweet Home" Com' l

Pany. . .. , . At ■the age of 87 a'famous old Eng'ish actor, in the. person-of Mr John Carter, has passed my..; Mr Carter played Francois '{# Macready's Richelieu. He iras also associated, with Charles Dillon, Edmund Falconer, H. L. Batcman, and Henry Irving. According to latest advices ll& John Fuller, jiin., is at present in Chicago. He leaves San Francisco for Japan on September 11, and is expeded io reach Sydney about Ist December. Ho will probably be back jn Dunedin about the end of the third week 'in December. There died in Melbourne a few. days ago Minnie Livingstone, daughter of the lato Victoria Bedford, and grand-daughter of .the late Sir Douglass, County: of Armagh, Ireland, for many years a member of the Bland Holt Company. She was 'a, clever character and so'ubrette'actress. The-following hew-artists are portly leaving. Australia to take up engagements on tho Fjillsr circuit:—George Sturm, aerial racquet spinner and gymnastic juggler; Sal-, mon and Chester, Australian sketch team; Dunbar and Blake, bounding acroba>ts; and Jams iind Mr.rtyn, comedy jugglers. . Miss Denise Orme, vocalist and actress, who distinguished Oioreelf in "The Little Michus" at , Daly's Theatre in London, has been married to' Captain J. R. L. Yarde-Bullor, of the Soots .Guards, and heir to Lord Churs'on. Captain Ynrde-Buller, who is 34, was A.D.C. ■to tho. Duko of Connauglit for two years.

, MrsT. Fitzgerald is starting out in October with i big waggon circus, allow, with P. 11. .Tones, formerly of Fit&geralds', as manager. Jlrs- EV i 9 importing a number, of people, including Bob and Pipp, Swiss clowns; Roma and Iliano, comedy bar performers; a big living statuary turn, and a number of others. . "Little Lord Fauntlcroy" is to be inoluded in the repertoire of Allan Hamilton's Dramatic Company. "Lit.tle Baby Watson" will essay the -title role, and, to quote George Carey's letter" to Mt Hamilton, "you. have certainly found an ideal Fauntlcroy in this child, who rehearses the Tpart admirably." Sam Eowlcy, well known on the Australian and: vaudeville stage, writes to a friend in Hobart that he is on tho Seattle (U.5.A..) " circuit. He lias had ft continuous engagement of 59 weeks, and has had several offers from well-knovm managers in the Slat« 9. He adds: "Artists are well paid in America." The death is announced at Home of Mr C. ,H. Taylor, the well-known lyrical writer. Mt Tiylor, who was a native of Manchester, succumbed to an attack of pneumonia. The deceased ,wrot« .the lyrics of '"Die School Girl,";'"The Catch of tho Season," "My Darling," "Tom Jones," and other musical comedies.

The fast-vanishing race of gymnasts is made the poorer by the death of the last of tho HinJon boys>— 1 " Xattlo Bob,"—who, in combination with Vo'Aas, performed wonderful iierial. feats at tho Crystal Palac© and other places, not many years since. He was an intrepid gymnast—quite as daring as Leotard, Kibloy .and Lulu. Miss Henriquette Maude, a. little New Zea--1 finder, whoee proud boast- it is to have appeared', in at least 1000 theatres in different parts of tho two hemispheres, is (says an English paper) on tour illustrating her experiences by picture and story. Her personality is highly interesting, and licr turn novel and attractive. Miss Amy Castles has recovered from her recent indisposition, which neceuitated the postponement .of lier debut in opera at tho Cologne Opera. House until lute •in the autumn. _ She has studied (according tb the Australasian) the leading roles in five operas, and is prepared to sing at any time tie parts of Juliet; Marguerite, La Toea, Mimi, and Ophelia. A statue of tho Into Sir Henry Irving is to be raised in London by the theatrical profession. Mr T.' Brock, I'.A., is tho sculptor. The figuro and'ornamental base will bo in bronze, and the pedestal in Portland stone, tho. total height of tho monument being 21ft and the extreme dimensions of the base lift square'. Tho height of tho statuo itself i 3 to bb Oft Gin. The question of a site has not yet been settled.

AllaiV Hamilton lias returned to Sydney at the.etaso of tie Auckland Rickards's season, which has proved phenomenally successful. Having superintended Ihe final details "on the other side" of his Maud Hildyard and "Home, Sweet Home" Companies, Mr Hamilton leaves for Hobart, where he intends to remain during the coming summer.. ."I have been catching trains and steamers for several years without a spell, and feel the time has come when I must take one."

Mr J. (Mitcniahon, of the well-known Macmahon Bros., is at present in Cbristchurch Ilia special business in this city is, I understand, in connection with the cyclorama of "Gettysburg" which was on viov; at tho New Zealand Exhibition. Jlr Macniahon is endeavouring to secure tho cyclorama as a going show. The firm is also forming a new dramatic company, and Mr C. Macniahon is now in Australia in connection with the project. The new company will probably give a season in Christchurch during October. • "

Paris is to have anolher National Opera House, which will lie a people's theatre. It. Briand, Minister of Public Instruction and the Fine Arts, is the founder of the new theatre. It will provide -tho pjop'o of.Paris with grand opera and light opera at cheap rates, and Eerve as a training school for singers who aspire to appear at the grand opera, if. Coquelin's playhouse, the Gaiety, will be the home of the new national theatre, which will icoeive a State subsidy, and probably also a reduction of rent from the municipality of Paris, which owns the building. The director .will he M. Isola, one of the two brothers who are successful vaudeville managew in ESSA