THE WORLD'S STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2106, 5 July 1894, Page 37

THE WORLD'S STAGE.

(Notes collected by P. Rompter.)

" Claudian" was first put on the American stage by Wilson Barrett at a co.st of 35,000d01.

Olea Bull, daughter of the famous violinist, Ole Bull, is to marry Harry Vaughn, a Harvard man of the class of '90, and now an architect in Boston.

Several burglars^ who claim to be reformed, have already applied to succeed "Spike" Hcnnessy and " Kid " M'Coy with " The Stowaway" when those eminent ex-cracksmen go starring with Steve Brodie in " On the Bowery." Frank Mayo's Davy Crockett is a gem in its way— as inimitable a creation as Jefferson's Rip. " Be sure your right, then go ahead." Beorbohm Tree, the English actor, has a four-year-old daughter who has a fondness for snakes. She keeps a pet snake in the house, to the intense sorrow of the maids. Now, however, she wishes to enlarge her dumb retinue by the purchase of a pony. She told her father. " I'm afraid," said that gentleman, " that I can't afford to give you one just yet." " " Then," said the child, with great severity, " why don't you act bettor and get more money?"

Rham-a-Sania, the "missing link," at the Ninth and Arch Museum, earns a salary of 400dol per week, which is held in trust by the Royal Anthropological Society of England, and yet ho does not know the value of a penny. In an interview regarding her recent attempt to break her contract with Canary and Lederer, Lillian Russell stated that " a flattering offer had been made to her by Abbey, Schoefel, and Grau, not for grand opera but for comic opera. I should have liked to accept it," continued the prima donna, " but I knew that litigation would follow, and, moreover, I did not want to end the season in New York on account of the members of the company, who would be deprived of their positions." It is announced that the trouble between the heirs and executors of the P. T. Barnum estate has been settled. The annual expenses willbele&s in the future.

Professor Bartholomew's Equine Paradox is a strong attraction in the States. In the opening scene the horses are on the stage at play. Some are playing tag, others are sparring, some are wrestling, while some prefer the tug-of-war. The professor calls for a good speedy horse to act as monitor. Prince steps up to the professor, and it is hard to imagine a slower horse when he wants to be slow than Prince. Cseaar, the deaf horse, is a wonder that must be .seen to be appreciated. Chevalier, the wonderful talking horse, carries on a conversation with the professor in a very original manner. Bucephalus dancing a jig always is applauded. Petite, the little Brazilian pony, is late for school and is made to sit on the dunce block. Twelve horses then manipulate the bells and play perfect tunes without any accompaniment. The court scene is a most remarkable performance. The judge's charge to the jury is the soul of wit ; the retirement of the jury and bringing in a verdict is brief. The prisoner is found not guilty and released by the sheriff. The picnic in the forest, horses doing cleverly some of the finest jumping ever seen, and the other features of the programme are each and all of a character that should be missed by none. A New York paper says:— "Anton Scidl has decided to abandon his German opera idea and leave the field entirely free to Walter Damrosch. Interested friends of these two leaders have been trying to bring about co-operation between them, but after careful consideration Herr Seidl reached the decision that if the scheme were tried with two artistic heads there would surely be disagreement, and he therefore resolved not only to withdraw but to give up his own plan. Mr Damrosch states that lie will go ahead, and within a month expects to have completed all necessary arrangements for the Wagner opera season." A specialty performer playing dates furnishes his own lithographs, but they are generally furnished by the manager where performers are engaged for the season. There is on show in New York one of the most astonishing curiosities the world has ever known in the form of James Barnes, commonly known as the half man, half horse. From the waist down he has the anatomy of a horse, and is obliged to walk around on " all four?." And the advt. doesn't call him a Centaur !

Kirkhart'b Great American Circus thus writes itself up for the papers: — "We don't lay any claims to having the largest show on earth, but we do claim to have everything new. Our main tent has a 100 ft round top and two 30ft middle pieces, the side show is 40 x 60, dressing room 50ft round top, two cook tents, one 12 x 20, and the other 20 x 40, and two 40ft horse tents. We carry 50 head of as fine stock as could.be seen with any .show, with 21 waggons, besides three advance waggons. J. D. Andrews is agent and contractor, with six assistants, first advance ; 11. Harvey, who handleo the daily programme, with four assistants, conducts the second advance ; and L. B. Kendall, programmer, with two assistants, is in charge of the third advance. Roster :W. F. Kirkhart, sole owner and manager ; A. S. Kirkhart, treasurer ; George Rien, equestrian director ; J. F. Kirkhart, steward ; George Day, boss canvas man, with 16 assistants ; S. A. Kirkhart, boss hostler, with 12 assistants ; Joe Bullinger, musical director, with II musicians; Joe Janson, chandelier man ; Tom Fuller, boss property man, with three assistants Jack Keat, seat man ; and Charley Calhoun, cook ■with two assistants. Performers : Kics Brothers, Charles Lain, St. Aubin, Lozzello Brother.-,, Charles Whiting, Sam Golden, Gardner Brothers, Rogers Family (four in number), Miller Sisters, Lottie West, Miller and Fay, Buckskin Bill. Montana George, Cherokee Jim, Raj' Farrow, Georgie Lareau, and five cowboys." A late New York item says: — "Last Sunday night the Fall River line to New York carried 108 theatrical people, including the following com panics : 'The Prodigal Daughter,' 'The Silver King,' Kate Claxton and Janau.schek Company, ' The Black Crook,' ' Land of the Midnight Sun,' ' The Crust of Society,' Turner's Engliah Gaiety Girls, and two other variety companies."

The will of Mrs Caroline Clarke, sister of TonjT Pastor, the well-known American manager, leave* most of her estate to her brother. The real estateis valued at 15,000d01, and the personal estate afc 4000dol. Among the bemiests to Mr Pastor arc two houses, GOOdol, and all his sister's jewellery except minor articles. To Josic Pastor, wife of Antonio, are left 550d01, some articles of jewellery, and some of the household effects. To Frank Pastor's wife, Adele, are left 500dcjl mid a pair of bracelets, and to the nephews, James and William Fuller, and William H. Pastor, 50Cdol each. To Jane Falconer, a friend of the deceased, 600dol is givcu and tho household effects and furniture. The residue of tho estate is willed to Tony Pastor.

On May 7 Pinero's "The Amazons" entered on its twelfth week in New York, at the Lyceum, to crowded biz,, and tho critics place it in the vau of modern comedy. Summarising the theatrical doings in New York the first week of May, the ClijTner says :— " The past week witnessed the first American production of a German play entirely novel in theme and treatment, the first production on any stage of » domestic drama, which, however, was accorded but one performance, and the revival of a comedy that had a successful career many ycavs ago, and which had been shelved for a long time. Apart from these'three events, the relative importance of which varied very widely, ncrthiug of value to the season s record was presented," In America, to obtain copyright of a play you aic required to send two copies to the Librarian of Congress, 'J he title page must be either printed or type- Written, and must boar the title of the play, its classification, and the name of the author. A fee of Idol wnist accompany the application. Captain Paul Boyton, who is running a big water show in London, thus advertises in an American theatrical paper :— " Wanted,— Record Breakers and the World's Champions in High Diving and Aquatic Feats, both men and women, otate height you can dive from. Wanted, also, Aquatic Specialty Performers', Trained Water Animals, New Water Acts, Curious Marine Inventions, &c.j and the Greatest Sensational and Daring Rope and High Wire Performers. The best only ncc( i apply. No balloonists required. Valuable spaces to let in London and Antwerp for small side shows and exhibitions or sale of any American novelties or marine goods. We don't make offers. In all cases cither come over and take chances or quote actual lowest terms and give full details, without which no notice taken. We don't board performers ; and we don't want tourists or people wishing to visit Europe. State lowest price. You are not dealing with amateurs. Really good ai-tists can risk coining and be sure of work. Note : Postage is Gc per half ouncej Weigh your letters. No excess postage will be paid. No wall paper wanted. Fares paid one way from New York, second class only. Antwerp Show opens May 5 ; I ondon Show May 12." Charles K. Harris, tho composer who has made it fortune with "After the ball," is a music publisher at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A. I find he has also written other songs popular in America, such as " I love y6u in spile of all," " Fallen by the wayside," "Humming baby to sleep," "I wonder! I woneler!" "I was talking in my sleep, and his very latest is entitled " Waiting for footsteps that never came." I notice the Yankee style of bringing out a new song is to advertise for pros, to sing it, and it will be supplied free, in most cases with nine orchestral parts.