THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2253, 6 May 1897, Page 39

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Br Pasquin,

Tuesday, May 4-.

• . ' There was a capital house at the Princess

Theatre on the 27th, when the final entertainment of a succeisful season was given by Carl Hertz. The card tricks, thought reading, and other illusions were performed with much skill, and proved most interesting. Mdlle. D'Alton was again very successful in her rendering of vocal selections, and the cinematographe was greatly admired. The concluding portion of the entertainment was equally good, and the verdict of the patrons was signified by frequent and general applause. • . • " The Streets of New York " was produced 'at the City Hall for the first time on Saturday night by Col. D'Orsay Ogden's Dramatic Company, there being a fair attendance upon the occasion. Mr E. B. Russell took the part of Gideon Bloodgood, the villain of the* piece, and did so with a fair measure of success. Col. D'Orsay Ogdcn represented Badger, Bloodgood's confidential clerk, in a humorous njanner, and afforded the audience a considerable amount of amusement. . Mrs Helen Dunbar was well cast as Alida Bloodgood, the heartless daughter of Gideon Bloodgood, who deserts her father in the day of trouble, although his love for her had prompted him to crime. Mias " Nell" Oakdene capably portrayed the character of Lucy Fairweather, the daughter of Captain Fair weather, and was the recipient of a nice floral offerißg during the evening. • • At the Garrison Hall on Saturday evening Mi- Fuller's Kyriorama attracted a large audience, the hall being well filled in every part. The views shown consisted of about 60 of Irish scenery, or of places or objects of interest in the Green Isle. The views were all good, beiDg large and clear, and were so skilfully exhibited as to cause no sense of weariness to the onlookers. Songs and recitations were judiciously interspersed, so that the interest in the proceedings was never allowed to flag. „• . • Mr George Rignold opens in the Christchurch Royal on Monday night, 10th inst. The opening piece will be " The Lights o' London," and it is noticeable that the original in New Zealand of the character of Bess Marks, Miss Rowland Watts Phillips, is a member of the company. Miss Emilia Hughes, a young English actress, comes as leading lady, and in addition to Miss Watts Phillips there are also amongst the company such well-known favourites as Miss Georgie Smithsoo, Messrs Sterling Whyte, J. W. Hazlitt, and Harry Diver. The repertoire of the company includes, in addition to the •pening piece, "Henry V" (in. which Me Rignold made his first appearance here some years ago) and the military drama " Tommy Atkins." " . • At the Dunedin S.M. Court; on Friday, Barrie Marschel cued D'Orsay Ogden for £1 6u Bd, for salary as an actor. There was no appearance of the defendant. Plaintiff stated

that he had been engaged by defendant to play

at a salary of £8 a week. He was to be paid nightly, and had received part of what wns due 'to him. There was, however, £1 6s 8i st : ll owing for playing in "On Change " on the night of Saturday, the 176h April. Judgment was given for the amount claimed, with costs, and on the application of Mr Barclay, solicitor for plaintiff, his Worship mado an order that if the amount was not paid that day t-xecutien

should iesue on Saturday.

• . • Mrs Charles Godfrey, wife of the well- - known actor-vocalufc, died at Melbourne recently from hemorrhage. The lady had been ill for some time. * . • Mr Charles Arnold, the entertaining head of "My Sweetheart " and " Hans the Boatman" — incidentally the fortunate owner and original singer of " Tommy Atkins " — iias collaborated with Mr David Christie Murray in writing a romantic musical play entitled "An Alpine Romance," in which he will figure as a mountain guide with a genius for painting. "An Alpine Romance " will be produced in London se socn as s. 'suitable theatre can be found. " . • Miss Emily Soldene, in her autobiography, tells how her first chance was replacing Julia Matthews in " The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein "at Covent Garden, London. Julia was the Melbourne star, 35 years back, in the burlesque where. Fawcett Rowe took off L L. Smith and other celebrities. It is alleged that Burke, of Burke and Wills, only went on his exploring expedition because Mis 3 Matthews refused h : .m, and that he haunted the theatre when she played. She married aMr W. H. Mumford, who ab the time carried oa a commission agency business in Jetty street, Dunedin. He was a handsome young fellow,

and the wedding was a' clandestine one, Julia's

father not being consulted, and certainly nofc approving, as Julia was far too profitable a . . daughter for a closa-fisted father to part with sooner than he could help. Like so many weddings of its kind it turned out unhappily, but poor Julia did not live long to brood over her disappointment, being cut off almost at the commencement of what promised to be a brilliant career. " . • When he was a younger man, Mr George Wyndham, the actor, took part in the American Civil War, and bad one or two very narrow shaves for hia life. • . • Mi-s Roruer, so long with the Brough and Boucicaulfc Company, and who was the most charmiDg " old woman " on the Aus1 tralian stage, is now living with her daughter, Fanny Brough, the famous London actress, and Robert Brough's sister. Brenda Gibson, another daughter of "Miss" Romer (these stage names are a trifle awkward in discussing family connections), is living with them. • . ' Mr Frank Thornton's present season afc the Criterion so far has been the most success-ful-of any experienced during his four tours. Daring his three months he will only* 1 produce four pieces, for " Charley's Aunt," who made her re-appearance the other night, will run until the end of the season, a couple of weeks hence. The productions, too, have allowed Mr Thornton excellent scope for the display of his versatility, for no two characters have had the

slightest resemblance to each other. It is claimed for "Charley's Aunt" that she has - earnedmore money than any other play written this century. One or two of the Shakespearian plays may have earned more, but they are as many centuries old as " Charley's Aunt " is years. A London financier who advanced £400 on it is said to have , subsequently drawn £600 a week as representing his half-share in the profits. Mr Penley, who produced it and played the name part, had netted over £100,000 two years ago, and the author, Mr Brandon Thomas, had then benefited to the tune of over £50,000. Out of the Sydney seasons alone Messrs Arnold and Thornton made over £3000, and remitted

£1200 to Mr Penley for royalties. These royalties amounted, over the whole Australian tour, to just on £4000, and for a twelve months' tour Messrs Arnold and Thornton divided £10,000. For a virtually continuous run "Charley's Aunt" has the Australian record, of course, as it has in London, where it was played for four years. Ia Australia the piece also achieved the feat of running for 14- months before showing a loss on a single night.

• . • Madame Patti possesses a queer fad, which she has kppt quite a secret for many years from the public. It is only a few months since this peculiar fad or. hobby became known. It is the passion she has for daggers and similar pointed weapons ; they are very small in size, and many of them are quite historical.

• . • "I'm going to give the playgoing public something new and interesting very soon," said Miss Fortescue the other day, •• and we shall see what we shall see. My novelty is nothing less than Mr W. S. Gilbert's new play, the sole rights of which I have acquired, and the script of which is now iv my possession. Yes, it is a comedy in Gilbert's best vein, and I have great hopes of it. The title has not 3 r et been chosen, and I am still undecided as to whether to give the first performance in London or in the country." • . • During the season of 1895-96 there were 100 pantomimes in the old country — namely, 18 in the London and suburban theatres and 82 in the provinces. In the season of 1896-97 there were also 100 — namely, 22 in the London and suburban theatres and 78 in the provinces. In 1896-97, " Cinderella " was ohosen by 15 theatres, "Robinson Crusoe" by 14-, "Aladdin" and " Dick Whittington " each by 12 theatres. The total number of people engaged for the pantomimes in various parts of tne country exceeded 30,000, the numbers ranging from 800 afc Drury Lane to between 30 aud 40 afc the theatres in the smaller towns in the country.