AUSTRALIAN STACKS GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 47

AUSTRALIAN STACKS GOSSIP.

(Specially Written for the Otjlgo Witness.) How JSdwin G-each " tells it to them " in the East: — "Novelty Theatre. Under tlie direction of Edwin G-each. Positively foe four nights only. Latest London novelties in the appearance of Carl Hertz, assisted by Mdlle D'Alton, absolutely the world's greatest conjurer. Mr Geach announces with pleasure that, at an. enormous expense he has induced the eminent London illusionist to undertake a flying lour of the East, feeling assured that true artistic talent and genius will be duly rewarded, with, packed and delighted audiences. Carl Hertz, King of Conjurers and conjurer of kings, Prince of Princely Performers, JKniperor of England's Entertainers and Entertainer of Emperors. All the world echoes . Hertz is to Legerdemain what Melba is to Opera and Irving to the Drama ; absolutely the greatest living exponent. In his unique and fascinating entertainment of miscellaneous mystery, mu'nc, ma°ic,, and mirth, which appeals unmistakably to all classes of the community. Including his latest sensational illusions, Vanity Fair, After the Flood, Aerohthe, and Sfcroubaika. Theatres too small everywhere, &c. Harold Ashton, now m front of "The Two Little Vagabonds," was engaged by the Firm for two weeks. He's been with them for two years. Nuffi said, "Parson Thome" has not been produced in Sydney or 11 -1 bo acne (and' perhaps never will be). It's imst Maoriland production was at Auckland Opera Houac June 16, '97. When veteran circusian Billy Jones gets too old for graft Fitzgerald Bros, intend to pack him up with the centre pole. Signor Bartola, the one time clever contortionist, is "laying 'em" roimd Sydney courses. Jttck Cousins, tire circus rider, and whose clever and dashing hurdle act has never been equalled, 13 in. the States. Wnth's Circus when last hoard of was at Lancaster, England. Marizles Wirth is vow.

ilk Fillis. Wirth's show inclnrlcs "the lampion jumper of England." Financially the brief Albani season has been boom. About Albani, the singer, the public still riding on a rail. The general reeling :ter the first concert was, " We're all disapainted but we're too frightened to say so." he wicked iconoclastic Australian public as a bad name for shattering imported idols id refusing to listen to the trumpet of fame, awever loudly tooted from old- world shores, herefore before the advent of any celebrity, le irreverent public is now consistently eduited up io the star, with irritating conde* icnsion of its ignorance of Art. Albini'a aice, though still pleasing and never harsh, lows unmistakable signs of a quarter-cen-iry's wear and tear — 25 years during which le has been fetching the great British publia ith her top-note. Sister Mary Jane's topote is a great British Institution. Albani ig Ibani, and one of the greatest vocal artists 1 the world, but her vocalisation in " Ah fors liv " and '" Casta Diva" showed that if she idn't sing so well she wouldn't now be able > sing at all. — BuLletin. The intermezzo from Cavalleria Rustic* na" is played as incidental music to "The wo Little Vagabonds." Lord, how eager is 10 dramatic conductor to utilise good music id work it m. Nothing is sacred to them, he play was first produced at the Ambigu heatre, Paris, under the title " Lea Deux osses." M. Pierre Decourcelle after writing put it away and thought little of it. It lay i his desk for years and might have stayed iere but for the fact that his old friend the lanager of the Ambigu, wanted a play for a ;op gap, and it was only to oblige him Decorcelle allowed it to be put on. Though only staged for a Tew nights as a stop gap, it ran for 800 nights. For some reason which it is not very easy to understand, the adapters of M. Piorre Decourcelle' s " Les Deux Gosses " describe their version as "a nevy and original melodrama." Certainly praise is due to Gfeo. E. Sims and Arthur Shirley for their clever manipulation of the material placed at their disposal, but it cannot be said that they have made the best use of it. And when all is said and done, the chief honours roust be awarded to 11. Decourcelle for his ability in writing a play so thrilling and so strongly pathetic. " Sign of the Cross " Company has a lot of enthusiastic cyclists in it. The other day in a Maoriland town a race was arranged. Thousands turned out, and the excitement was intense. Some of the company had (foolishlj) backed the speedist cyclist of the show to race a traction engine for five miles. The whole town was there to see the go, and although the ladies of the company raced alongside the cyclist cheering him on, the- traction engine ivon, after a most exciting finish, by a length. " Wilson Barrett's Hamlet did not satisfy expectations. Possibly the sultry weather reduced the large audience to such a condition as to preclude fervid or enthusiastic views upon any subject. But making ample allowance for this adverse influence 'the solid fact remains that the performance was a disappointment. Mr Wilson Barrett's Hamlet is most wanting in breadth ; it is unintellectual, and only reaches the commonplace level of melodrama. It did not excite ; it moved neither to terror nor to pity. . . It was lacking in fire, in vitality, and suffered seri- • ously from staginess. . . . The general '■ cast of the tragedy was also mediocre." — Melt bourne Age. ' The just-married Beryl Faber (her name was Smith), through Maoriland with Brough and Boucicault Comedy Company, 'is sister to Mr C. Aubrey Smith, who played the Black Elpliberg in " The Prisoner of Zenda " , Frederick in "As- You I/ike It " (revival 2-12-96) and Lieu- > tenant-colonel Arthur Eave in " The Princess and the Butterfly , or, the Fantastics "(29-3-97) at the London St. James Theatre, under George Alexander's management. Grace Dudley, principal girl in London G?rrick pantomime " Cinderella," is a native of Melbourne. Her first English engagement was as Nancy Roach in the " New Boy " through the provinces. Her first London appearance was as Millicent in the original production of " Miss Brown " (in which she was understudy to May Palfrey), and several times played the lady lead, a character she played all through the provinces up to 12 months ago, when she left the company to play the name part in " Cinderella " at the Grand, Leeds. Then engaged to play Dora Wemyss m " The Circus G-irl," on tour with No. 2 . company by George Edwardes, who transferred her to company No. 1 and a month later to the Gaiety Theatre, playing the same part. Then carno her engagement as Cinderella at the Garrick, under Oscar Barrett's management. Sydney shows, 5-3-98: "The Slanxman," Her Majesty's : " A Terror of Paris," Lyceum ; " Thou "Shalt Not Kill," Opera House ; Eickard Combination Company ,Tivoh. Melbourne shows, 5-3-98 : " The French Maid," Princess , Charles Cartwright Company, Bijou , "Jack the Giantkiller," Opera House ; " Shadows of a Great City," Koyal ; Dan Barry's Dramatic Company, Alexandra. Yours truly, .Bis. I Poverty Po^nt, March 5.