PEOPLE WE MEET.

Otago Witness, Issue 2215, 13 August 1896, Page 39

PEOPLE WE MEET.

No. 111.-MISS FLORENCE SEYMOUR. An Aciiiess of Many Pakts. Playing Juveniles at 15 years of age. leads at 16. Miss Florence Seymour, who recently, touved Maoriland with Williamson and Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company, is a native of London. Her first appearance was when quite a dot in "The Sylvan Statue "at the Surrey Theatre, London. Roberta Krskine and Miss Lillian Grey were aUo at the Surrey at that time, then under the management of Mr W. Holland. Miss Seymour next played Mrs Dismal in "Married Life^" and Mary in "The Day after the Wedding." Fred Bilton and wife were the At 16 Mies Seymour played Nan in "Nan the Good-for-Noihing." In a stock season at Exeter Miss Seymour played a round of " old woman Went to Paris under the l*te Dion .Boucicault's management, being specially engaged to pay the Irish boy (with jig) in-just think of it-a French translation of " Arrah-na-Pogue at tne Porte St. Martin Theatre, Pari«, for six weeka. M. dv Maine wan Shaun the Post. MM La Rochelle and Got were the managers of the Porte St. Martin Theatre. . " Arrah-na-Pogue," one of Dion Boucicaults greatest successes, hai had representations in England, lrelaud, and Scotland, Paris, throughout the French provinces, the Unite i States, Australia, and New Zealand. The French version, ' Jean la Poste ; oulas Noces Trlandaises," had a run of 140 nights at the Gaiete", Paris. • At the conclusion of this engagement Miss Seymour went on a concert tour, lasting some manths, through the principal cities of Germany, Holland, and France. Her sister, Miss Rosa Conroy (now with Maggie Moore at Melbourne Royal), and Mi3S Brennan were in the concert company. Miss Seymour returned to London, where her voice attracted some considerable Attention, and, through introduction* to Australian managers then in London from Mr George Edwifdes, Miss Seymour camo-to the colonies with Dunning's Opera Company. Other members who came out were Kate Chard, Dean Br*nd, A.nnette Ivanova, KhUUt Ashton, Mons. Loredan, T. B. Appleby. 'I'h'-y opened at the Opera House, Melbourne, in " Boccaccio. ' Septembor 2. 18S2. A T. Dunning's London Comic Opera wasthrough Maoriland in 1886. On the return tour J. F. Goldsworthy was treasurer and M. Juncker was musical director. The following was the ILL. cast of H. B. Farriie and Lecocq's threeact opera "Manola" (Le Jour et la Nuit). DoeCalabaza Mr T. B, Appleby Manola „. ,„ ,„ Miss Annette Ivanova BetktxiK ,i» vi m« „. KlsßAantaLetf

D.mßrasiero MrGeorgoDea* Miguol Mons. Loredan Pablo ... ... ... Mr Fred. Wentworth Suuichitta Mi"B Lily-Kelly Toledo Mißs Schraedee Anita Mias Daisy Avenal Tessa ... «•« Miss Juhn Gwynne Stftffano M'-A.. Li«sant. Caailas Van Ghele was the musical director on the company's opening tour, when the other members were-Knight Ashton, Annie Wybar, Miss A.nnio Martin, who led the J& thetica, ana her si»ter Kate- Martin, who used to do a very Bood clog in " Rip Van Win We.". Thomas B lton Aoploby, who was a great favourite in Maorilana, died Nivembor 1, 1893, at South Shields. England. Mons. Loredan, who3e right name wa* Samuel Green, and who claimed to be * Frenchman .by birth, thouuh in reality an Englishman, died m Syduey early in 1894. Went on a two-years' touv (which include! the Philippine Islands) through the {East with the Mascotte Opera Company, playing a round of Gilbert and Sullivan. Frencb t and English operas. Edward Farley was the princjpal. it Hongkouz Miss Seym >ur w*s tendered a grand complimentary benefit:- " Les Cloches do Cffrncvillo'' was the bill-, Miss Seymour playing Germaine. The audionca-was-a- record on«. It may be worth mention th-»t the dresses used by the Masco'tte Cotoi»!iny in -their production oE " The Mikado" were orlgmallrworn at the Lourt of the Mikado.-. , ' Retumine to- Australia, Mi«s Seymour played a short engagement "at Sydney G*|ety under Edward Farley's management.' At the close o£ this engagement Miss Seymour enjoyed her farst ; holiday, six weeks' in' 10" yeats-truly well and honestly earned. Next went to Queensland with the (vharles Hardirin Opera Company. Principals: Floreuce Seymour, Gracio Plaistc*, Rosa Conroy, Chris Johnston, and Clurles Harding. On recjvevy from a severe cold, which necessitated her laying up /or three weeks at OharteM Towers, Miss Soymour received a special engagement frpra Mr Harry St. Maur to play Lady Maggie Wagstaff la "Pink Dominoes" in Melbourne. This was followed by a special" erigwmeirt from Mr Boucicault to play Mrs.Rnlston in 'Jim the Penman at Melbourne Bijou. • Miss Carrie Swalu ("The Tomboy") wis then 'playing at the Royal, and Miss Nellie Farren,' Fred •Leslie, and others with the Londou Gaiety Company at the Princess, but "Jim the Penman "ran to very good houses tot four weeks. Mis 3 Agnes Thomas played the part of Mrs Ralstou iv the Sydney production, which was followod by " The Candidate " (in which Miss Seymour played MrdMarllett) and "The Arabian Nights" (Miss' Seymour pbying ISra Hummingtop). Next -joined ' . Simonsen'i English and Comic Opera Company for the Maoriland tour, opening in "Maritana at the Theatre Royal, Invercarisln; Tuesday, May l4. 18 C 9. viembers : -Messrs .Warwick Qaiaor, Will i Walshe.-Eiskine Bcott, Farcy Shannon, Georgo De^n, Fred Eh«land. f H. West. Frank Sceats. ( Mi«ses Elaa May, Florence Seymour, Ethel Mackay, Julia' Beaumont, and Lucy Oobb. Mr Harcourt Lee Was conductor, Tom Pollard (of the Juvenilos) stage manager, and Bosco Wihon aeent. The following was tha' cast in Lecocq s three-act opera . ' " La Fille de Madame As got." OUiret'e Aa^ot „. „. ■•>. Mils Elsa May Mdlle L»ngc ... ... Miß» Florence Seymour Amannte ... ... ... Miss Ethel M«ck»y Javotte , ...• Miss Julia Beaumont Birbette „ • Miss Atkins HersilUe ... ', Miss Lucy Cobb AugaPitou r ,. „. Mr William Waisho Pompomiet ' .„•• • ..r- --Mr Percy shannon La Rivaadierel.. • ... ... Mr. Warwick Gainor Trenitz ... • ... MrGeorge Dean L-'ii-hard .>. ... •. Mr Fred En^Und Cadet .'. Mr H. West Guillaume ... .... .MrFSceata Boteux __ Mr G. Bram An Officer Mr Tom Pollard "Miss Florence Seymour, besides possessing a commanding presence, -has a well-cultivated mezzo-soprano voice, and, added to a good knowledge of its u«e, has histrionic abilities of no mean order. As Mdlle Lange in the duet in the ouarrel s*ene with Clairette it must be sftld she bjth sang and acted admirably."— New Zealand Referee, June 21, 1889 Simonaen'fl company disbanded in Wellington, , M.L., and Miss Seymour w«nt into management 1 in November 1889 with Mr William Wal?he, opening in Dunedin, taking- en tour through Ota?o, Westland, and the North Island tha Seymour- WaUhe Opera Company. While touring with the Seymour-Wahhe Company Miis Seymour received a cable- to support Mr Harry St. Maur, whose Maoriland tour opened November 7, 1890, with "The Candidate," a three-act comedy, adapted by Justin Huntly M'Oarthy fro.ni Alexandra Bissou's "Le Depute* de Bombignac" (Thdatre Franciis, Pane, May 1884), which was originally produced at London Criterion, November 2, 1884. and revived at the same house May 30, 1894. The repertoire also included •' Nad's Chum," a four-act play, by David Christie Murray (originally produced at Abbot f Opera House, Auckland, M.L., in 1890, and which had it 3 first London representation at the Globe Theatre, August 27, 1891, and was revived at the same house. July 4, 1893) "The Arabian Nights.' " Booties' Baby," " Betsy," " Brighton," and Sir Charles Younps four-act play 11 Jim tiie Penman." James Ralston Mr Harry St. Maur Louis Pevcival Mr Frank Gerald Baron Hartfeldt Mr J. J. Kennedy Captain Redwood ... Mr Fred Clifford Lord Drelincourfc Mr Stilling Duff; George Ralston Mr Charles Berkeley Mr Netherly, M.P Mr R. W. Greville i Dr Petty wise " Mr Chas. Hill Mr Chapstone ... ... Mr Sugden Moora Mrs Ralston Miss Florence Seymour. Lady Dunscombe ... ... Miss Hetty Kennedy Acnei Ralston ... " Miis Eily Mayo Mrs Chapstone ... ... Miss Nellie Duranfc 1 Of tho St. Maur Company, "Pa" GroviUo^and fl Jack" Kennedy have goa« the vr»y of »U ltai i

k. Harding was touring agent. Mils Elsa Shevwin wrs also a member. The St. MaurChvistie Murray "squabble" ended at Geel.ng (Vie), where the tour of tho St. Maur Company j closed. " | " Miss Se}'mour received an offer from Mr Bland Holt to play in "London Day by Day," but owing to the St. Maur-Murray engagement, which onSinally included an Eastern tour, the offer was edined. On arrival in Melbourne Miss Seymour received a special engagement from Mr Bouclcault to play the Countess in " Diplomacy and Lady Stanhope in "Captain Swift" at Sydney Criterion. _ , , , In 1892 Miss Seymour went to England, and on arrival in London was offered Miss Olga Brandon s part in "Tho Broken Melody," a three-act play by Herbert Keen and James Leader (originally produced at the Prince of Wales'a Theatre July j 28, 1892), but owing to domestic. troubles could not accept. During her stay ia London Miss Seymour received many kindnesses from Miss Jtllen Terry, which included an introduction to, and afternoon tea behind the scenes with, Mr George Alexander and wife at St. James Theatre. Miss Seymour was engaged for six months to understudy Miss Ada Rehanat Daly's Theatre ; then went on tour through England and Scotland, under Horace Sedger's management, pl«iying the lead in " The Magic OpaL" At the conclusion of the tour Mr Sedger offered Miss Sfyinour the lead in the "Golden Wedding" at tbe Trafalgar IThea'.re, London, but owing to a spraimd ankle Ihe 1 lady had to decline. Was offered by Mr GeoTae Edwardes the part of Lady Virginia iorreßt in " A Gaiety Girl?' but was again prevented from accepting by dome&tic trouble*. Lottie Venne (Mrs Walter Fisher) is the original if this P During her stay in London Miss Seymour had the pleasure of Beeing Verdi play Count de Luna in "II Trovatore" daring the Italian oporrt eeaspn »t Covent Garden. Each part was filled except ihat of tho Count. The management was m a quandary, when ~Vertli -appeared on the scene. "The very man," said' the manager. But the leader of the band disagreed, .aud said it was impossible for Verdi to play the part unless he iad the music* " Never mi nd,' said Verdi, 111 have a try," and the rehearsal started. The result was that verdi'B hold of the part astonished not only the leader, but everyone in the theatre. Ihe tenor was Tamngno (said by London s leading musical critic to be the greatest tenor in the world). Miss M'lntyre was the Lsonora. Miss Seymour created tbe lead in Chums, "Gratitude," (a- dramatisation of Christie Murray's book entitled "Heftvts I }. Ihe lead in " George Garth"' and tfe« part of the Countess in " The Puritaos" (in- which Join L. Flnne and Christie Murray collaborated, and which is now touring the English provinces) were written specially for MisvSeyniour. -While at Home M«s | Seymour lagain contracted influenza, and Bpent the winter in France. , Returning to the colonies in 1885 Mias Seymour organised the Seymour-Forde Opera Company, which included John Foide, Robert Fitzjerald j (tenor), Rosa Conroy, Madge Stagpoole, Fred Wentworth. aud S«m Gale. At the concluilon of a three months' tour Miss Seymour was engaged "by Williatnion and Mtisgrove to play Lady Virginia Forrest in " A Gaiety Girl "on tour with the Royal Comic Opera (Jomp*«y. Miss Seymour during her career bas played close on 108 parts, amongst which are the following :— DRAMATIC. Irish Boy m ... "Arrah-no-Pogue Aii ce „ " Wond«rful Woman " Mts Dismal , "Married Life'/ Mary ... „ , " Day^f ter the Wedding Meg • , . „ ... " Green Bushes "^ MrsMoutflgue.,. ........ "On His Last Leg s " Nan ..." ... «,„... "Nan'the Good-7pr-Nothirig. lady Magtfe".« ... „„. , " P*nk Dominoes " j Mrs Carter .„ ... , lRh( i?, n „ j Nanine... • " .... „ « anilllc ,, Mrs'Ralston ... ..'.„... "Jim the Penman ' Minnie Munchmonty „ ... "Tbe Nyjtwicbes Lady Clare ■ , ... t( The Ironmaster I Rose „ ... "The First Nieht" Lady Clarissa "The Candidate Mr* Martlet* , ... "The Candidate iKfiw Remington B IWH n » La Marquise , " Cwte ,, Lady Isabel ... ........... "EastLynne Balßawlins ... • ... ,; ..."Mystery of a Hansom Cab " Drace Harcourt ........ " Booties' Baby Marina „ ..."Barnes of New York Mrs M'Manus..; ... "^V" \ Grace „ ... "Current Cash" Kat* Medland ,- ... « " Queen's Evidence^; MrsDraycott .» , ♦ ,<» I- 11 ?- 1 Estelle Darblay ... "Gratitude Mrs Hummingtop ... „ ..."The Arabian Nights Diana Vernon „~. ~. n "Bob Roy Anne Chute* „ ... "The Colleen Bawn Ophelia „-" .y,_ ". H rtJ. "Lady Stanhope ....... " Captain Swift Countess Zieka ... „ "Diplomacy Countessdelaßequiere „ ... ... 'The Puritan The Witch „ .« 'The l.<"est«s Lady Virginia Forrest „ ... " A Gaiety Girl Mrs Stofel „ ''Struck Oil" Dearest „ ..."Little Lord Fauntleroy." OPERATIC, ETC. Beatrice ... -.. "?, OC £«f IO L Bacchis „ ' B . ell , eH^ e! f a Governess , .M. M ... ' LUtle Duke Lazirillo ((T Mwita Fiametta „ "LaMascotfce" Fiametta „ ... „ .. " B ° c ?™ c }°„ Queen , ... " The Royal Middy " Germaine „ ... "Les Cloches rie Corneville' Suzanna .... .«,. „ .... "MadanwFavart" Aunt Chute „ „ ... , " Lily of Klllarney " Ruth ... „,„.• Pirates of Penzance' Buttercup ... „..„..,. "HM.S Pinafore" Lady Jane „.,... '•Patience" MdHe Lange ... .» „ „., "LaFille de Madame , Angot" Josephine «. .«.„ .....* "HHS. Pinafore" Clairette .• ,„ " Madame Angot Fmquita „ >.. ' v. a £ m S n ,i Kfttisha ... „«., ,^ lkado » ! Jlacaela ... ..... ..',.., •••. t P arm ?a Queen ■> ,»■... Bohemian Girl ' Guadelina ' ... "... , " U Pe-ichdft.; 1 Yum Yum ... ......... ...''The Mikado Wanda... ... ... t , ...The Grand Duchess" Aurora „ ... "Girofle Girofla" Peronella , "Boccaccio Siebel ... „., ..J^Sf'" Nancy . . ... ... >, • Martha Grand Duchess ... „ ..:" The Grand Duchess" Azucena „ "IlTroyatore LaPerichole " La Perichole Lelia ... ». ... — Satanella Queen '..". ... ... „ ... "ManteanxNoirs" Beatrice „ ;"« MaDola ,'! Maritana „. ....... ... "Mantana Arline „ ... Bohemian Girl Serpolette » ... "Les Clocjjes dt Corneville Marguerite v ... ... ... "J™**" Martinu „ ... " The Magic Opal , Girofle Girofla ........ "Girofle Girofla Countess , - '" Olivette ' p,q U ita „ ... " Girofle Girofla H The only Shakespearian part* played by Mrs Seymour was Ophelia in * H«mlet at the Academy of Music, Launceston, Tasmania, with the Harry St. Maur Company. From the above !i»t it will be seen that in several operas Suss Seymour has appeared in more than one part in the same piece, while in " Girofle Girofl* she has played no less than three characters— Girofle Girofla, Aurora, and Paquita. High as Miss Seymour's qualities as a singer were entimated, her powers as an actress are estimated still higher. Her performances as Lady Maggie in >" Pink Douiinces,"> Mrs Ralston in "Jim the Penman," Lady Clare in "The Ironmaster," Marina in •" Barnes of New Yck," Kthel Darblay in. ".Gratitude," Lady Stanhope in "Captain Swift," and Countes3 Zieka ia "Diplomacy" speak for themselves. It is not unlikelythat-Miss Seymour, who is » clever actress and a' decided favourite, will be through Maoriland' shortly playing lsads in a somedy corapauy now organising.— Yours truly, Poverty Point, August 1 • Bis.

Mack— Sounesa. White— lt Iwmes. 11 15 811 12 1^ 5 9Z> 26 31 ; 23 19 25 22 30 26 28 24 24 20 9 13 14 17 3 7 10 14 31 27 26 23- 21 14 •26 23-* 18 15 18 15 6 9 30 26 16 20 14 17 27 24 22 18 31 22 23 19 22 18 8 8 15 22 11 15 2U 27 17 22 9 14 25 18 19 W 33 23 11 8 3 8 OH 714 7 10 4 11 14 17 18 9 423 18 19 16 15 8 812 5 14 14 23 1 5 22 26 Drawn. 29 25 27 18 16 11 23 19 • (a) 24 20 would have lost for White by Black ikying 2 6. (b) 2 6 here would havejnade a nice draw :— 2 6 10 14 21 26 31 23 23 14 23 19 19 15 22 18 7 10 16 15 14 23 26 31 26 23 11 7 7 2 2 7 10 1 Game 2499 -"Fife." V.&ck— Wllmick. White— Souness. 11 15 6 13 3 7 15 18 6 10 23 19 29 25 18 14 23 19 14 9 9 22 8 11 10 17 16 23 10 14 22 17 23 18 21 14 28 21 30 25 5 9 11 15 11 16 23 27 27 23 26 23 18 11 32 28 24 19 7 3 9 13 723 12 16 27 31 14 17 24 20 27 18 20 11 19 15 25 21 15 24 4 8 716 31 27 17 22 28 19 25 22 26 23 15 10 3 7 13 22 8 11 13 17 2 6 Drawn. 25 9 31 26 22 13 10 7 Game 2500 -"Glasgow." Black— Sounoss. White— M'llwrick. 11 15 3 7 10 17 15 11 1« 23 19 28 24 21 14 27 9 7- 3 811 716 6 9 514 14 17 22 17 21 20 14 10 32 28 3 7 11 16 16 19 > 9 14 4 8 19 23 24 20 25 28 29 25 20 16 26 19 123 914 .5 9 811 16 23 jfr 11 22 18 25 22 16 7 22 18 716 14 23 913 3 11 17 22 20 11 17 14 31 27 10 7 711

[Black.]

PitOBLEH 1402 (By W. 0. Beldon). -Black men in 8, 20, lea 29, 31 ; White men on 15, 27, ka 19, 21. White to play and win. 21 17* 17 14 18 25 28 32 30 26 31 24 25 22 11 18 20 24 22 31 19 £8 14 18 26 30 32 28 28. 32 29 25 811 18 22 24 2/ W. win*.

17 14 !2 26 II 7-2 10 U 7 101 115 25 30 15 19 6 10 7 11 23 26 14 9 15 18 11 15 10 151 31 27 32 23 (1) 14 17 23 26 32 23 31 27 10 H 20 16 (2) 23 27 24 20 31 24 27 .23 32 27 19 26 15 31 White ' wins. White wins. 30 23 20 16

11 15* 9 5 12- 16 20 16 .35 11 13 9-1 10 15 24 20 19 24 Black 15 10* 27 24-2 16 19 16 12 wins. 2 7-3 7 2-4 27 23 Black 15 12 16* 15 10 wins. (2) 27 23 fr 7 7 2 23 Iff Black 12 10 . 16 20 20 24 05 1> win?. s ' " (3) 27 24 24 20 2 f 20 11 Black 12 16 15 U 11 2 1 5< wins. (4) 7 3 27 23 23 18 18 14 13 9 12 16, 15 11 16 £0 11 IB 15 18 Black wins.