STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 47

STAGE GOSSIP.

(Specially Written for the Otago Witness.)

Dear Pasquin, — " Dante the Great " will have not the slightest trouble in his present Melbourne season in " knocking out " the receipts of his 101 nights in Sydney. M'Adoo's Georgia Minstrels and American Cake-walkers open a colonial tour at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, June 17.

Mr John Jay Hodge, with the W. J. Payne Family of Bellringers, in an interesting letter written from Durban, published in this column a fortnight back, mentioned that " Mi Cooke, of circus fame, the proprietor of the only threelegged foal in the world, brings his show to Natal shortly." Of " the Cookes, of circus fame," " Bis " would like to say a word or two, which should be interesting to Witness readers. Perhaps the oldest circus family in the world is that which bears the historic name of Cooke, and which is now represented by John Henry Cooke and his children, who form the fifth generation. The first Cooke was a contemporary of the original Astley, and was an immense favourite in Scotland towards the end of last century, when his first violin enchanted Burns at Mauchline by playing " The Braes of Invermay " and " Roslin Castle." He was succeeded by his son Thomas Taplin Cooke, who was a first-rate all-round performer — equestrian, tight-rope walker, and heavy balancer. Like many of his descendants — for wherever there is a circus there is a Cooke — he travelled all over the world. He built several great circuses in America, saw many ups and downs of fortune, but lived .to the good old age of 84. He left a family of 12 to perpetuate his name and fame. The eldest, who lived until he was nearly 90, was a most ingenious stage manager; the second introduced circus performers to the Queen, who visited his establishment at Astley's. He lived until he was 78. Another son, Henry, was the tight-rope walker of his day. It is the eldest son, Mr John Henry Cooke, who ilqw runs tlia bvi ciiQiia called after the family

name. Three of his^family, Mr Leicester, Miss Ernestine, and Miss Edina Cooke, rank amongst the foremost circus riders of to-day.

Several London prints have remarked that the performance of "The Prentice Pillar" by the National Grand Opera Company at Kennington recently was its first production in London. This is not correct. This favourite one-act opera, by Guy Eden and Reginald Somerville was first heard in London at Her Majesty's Theatre in 18?7, under Mr Hedmondt's management.

" A Soldier and a Man," a drama by Ben Landeck, which was: originally produced at Coventry, England, nine months ago, received its first colonial production at the Lyceum Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday, May 20. The piece is a four-act domestic and military drama of more than ordinary merit. When originally staged at the' Opera House, Coventry, England, by Messrs A. Clifton Alderson and Charles E. Machin's touring company, the' former gentleman, who is very well known in the colonies, played the hero, Harold Sinclair, a lieutenant in the guards. Th» following is the full cast of /the fiist colonial production of

"A SOLDIEE AND A MAN." Colonel Sinclair (lieutenant in the guards) Mr John D. Saunders Colonel Sinclair (29th Foot) Mr George Chalmers Colonel Westerton .. .. Mr Harry Douglas Captain Pelham .. ..Mr Robert Inman Captain Roe Cook .. ..Mi William Taite Captain Denton „ .. Mr Hugh Power Captain Aylmere .. .. Mr Allan Easton Captain Berry .. .. Mr A. Lamberte Captain Bassett .. „ Mr F. Rossmore Sergeant Wicks .. .. Mr 6. S. Melville Sergeant Tomkins .. .. Mr J. O'Neill Hubert Walgrave (a S. African mining expert) Mr C. R. Stanford Jake Harding .. .. Mr J.-"W. Sweeney Jim Farrow (servant) .. ..Mr Wm. Gourlay Horgekinson Mr F. Dempsey Jabez Mr W. H. Preston tTambi , .. Mr J. H. Greene Jantje (a Hottentot) .. Mr Frank Harcourt Drover Smileon .. .. Mi W. Winfield David Melbury (a Devonshire farmer) Mr Charles Holloway Nora Melbury (his wife) . . Miss Alice Deorwyn Rose Melbury .. .. Miss Dora De Winton " Sergeant " Jaue . . . . Miss Ada Gresham Kate Debelle .. .. Miss Rose Mossman Miss Clare Howard (with George Daventry's Company), Miss Janette Steer, and Mrs Band-mann-Palrner are each playing Hamlet in the English provinces. Prioi to Mrs Ban dm arm - Palmer's portrayal of the character in Glasgow recently, no female H»mlet had been seen in the Scottish city since Miss Marriott played the part there 15 yeai-s ago.

" Sweet Lavender," A. W. Pinero's famous comedy, was recently revived at Terry's Theatre, London. It is not often that the acting of a revival surpasses, or even equals, that of the first production of a piece, but certainly the company taking part in the recent revival of '• Sweet Lavender " at Terry's Theatre will bear comparison with the artists who performed this piece at the same house on March 21, 18§8. No carping criticism can deprive "Sweet Lavender" of its real claims on the favour of the play-going public, of the admirable individuality of its intemperate, chivalrous, and excessively amusing " hero " ; of the prettiness of its love scenes and oi the admirable stage craft, by which the very most is made of each scene and of every incident. The lines placed in the mouth of the bibulous barrister go to their mark just as directly now as- they did 11 years ago. It is hard to separate Mr Edward Terry from the character of Dick Phenyi. The numerous repetitions of the role which he has sustained more than 1500 times in London, the provinces, and Australasia, have not made him careless or neglectful. More than one London writer hails the recent revival — which will hold the boards until July — as a triumphant success. Here are the- casts of the original production and the present revival of

" Sweei? Lavendeb." March 21, 1888 February -ISM Brandon Thomas Edmund Maurice Geoffrey Wedderbura Bernard Gould ... Clement Hale ... Marsh Allen Alfred Bishop ... Dr Delaney ... Richard Purdon Edward Tecry .. Dick Phenyi ... Edward Terry F. Kerr ... Horace Bream ... Ben Wester Sanf Matthews ... Mr Maw ... Lionel Walsli I. V. Valentine ... Bulger ... Percy Bell ftlus Victor ... Mrs Gilfillian ... Miss M. A Victor Maude MiTlett ... Minnie ... Maude Millett Carlotta Addison Miss Carlotta Addisou Ruth Holt Miss Norreys ... Lavender... Miss Nina Boucicaulr

The Countess Russell who recently began her stage career, appearing in Miss Ellaline Terriss's part of Winifred Gray in " A Runaway Girl," at Plymouth, is the youngest of three daughters of the late Sir Claud Scott, a banker, and cousin of the present baronet. She jnarried in 1890 Earl Russell, the grandson of the famous Lord John.

The Maribel Grcenwool Company are filling In Sunday afternoon with a concert at Coogec (Sydney) Aquarium.

" The Sole Survivor," a drama by George Conquest and Henry Pettitt, is the latest production at Sydney Royal Standard, by J. P. West's Dramatic Company. Prices Is, 6d, and 3d. E. F. Gallaugher is manager

Messrs Ed. Farley and A. Travers are running pops, at Sydney V.M.C.A. Hall in opposition to the Newbury-Spada Company at the Town Hall. Raymond Wcbbe is manager. Artists: Edith O. King, soprano; Eva Mylott, contralto; Augustus Travera, tenor; Edward Farley, baritone ; and Miss Mary Robinson, solo pianist.

Dante the Great gave his 48th performance in Melbourne on June 3, and is still booming, " hundreds being turned away both at matinee *nd evening perfoimances." This big business seems really astonishing considering the many strong counter attractions. A big fair at the Exhibition in five weeks netted £11,000, but still the clever Dante packed St. George's Hall. Then there was Julius Knight and Ada Ferrar " farewelhng," Bland Holt with his big attractions, and Cinquevalli, "the king of jugglers" — whom everyone predicted would '" knock the stuffing " out of Dante. The " knock out " has not yet come off, (or the receipts at St. George's Hall, where Dante is located, have been big ger since Cinquovalli opened. " Chinki " is certainly a great artist, but he has bumped against one equally as great, and both are the talk of Melbourne.

Dante is playing in a " morgue " (St. George's Hall) in Melbourne; but notwithstanding its dingy, dirty approaches and interior, the clever conjurer is drawing all the elite of Melbourne. Everything has got " dry rot " in the hall, except the " Standing Room Only " notice.

Daisy Holly (" one of the prettiest women on Jie Australian stage ") and Jessie Williams, * well-known colonial song and dance team, are in London.

Little D'Elroy, of the well-known dancing team, D'Elroy and Lynn, was recently married to James Foreman, of Foreman and Fannan, one of Harry Rickards's London "imports." Johnny. Forde, the original Mikado in Aussralia at Sydney Royal in 1885, is playing Porthos in " The Three Musketeers " with Alfred Dampier'u Company. Watkin Wynne is playing in Eglington and Little's " Brave Hearts " Company in the English provinces.

W. H. Downes, the coloured tenor, here with Hicks-Sawyers Minstrels, has distictly " caught on " at the Empire, Hull.

Miss Alma Gray, All Boothman'a clever dauahter, and Mr Harry Atkinson. " the Aus-

iralian Orphesus," at Jatest were at Edia* burgh. Miss Muriel Carr, out in Australia with th« Dacres, is playing "with success and taking simplicity" the part of Mabel in "The Broke? Melody," with the actor-musician M. Auguste Van Biene in Glasgow. «

Miss Edith Craig (Ellen Terry's daughter) v! playing the small part of Princess Elisa in 'Madame Sans-Gene." with the London Ly;

ceum Company. Mr C. M. Lowne, a great favourite when her* with J. L. Toole 10 years ago, is playing Viscount Montyghal in a revival of "The Ghreai Ruby," at London Grand. Mr Lowne played this part when it was first produced at Drurj Lane.

ti "Jerry and a Sunbeam" is the curtain-raiser ta " What Happened to Jones," on tour in the English provinces, by Herbert Sleath's Company.

Miss Nellie Shannon, "one of the best Topsy's on the English stage," is still playing the girl dat nebber was born " with Charles Harrington's Company in the provinces. — Yours tr « ] y» bis.