STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2368, 20 July 1899, Page 47

STAGE GOSSIP.

Dear Pasquin, — J. H. Clyndes, a popular English actor, is playing Conn in " The Shaughraun " round London theatres

The Kentucky Four, a combination with M. B. Curtis's Afro-American Minstrel Company, now in Sydney, issiie a £1000 challenge to the world to produce their equal in buck and wing dancing. Practically Miss Amy Castles has to learn a great deal, and also to unlearn something. It may be presumptuous to say that — in the words of more than one contemporary — she is " bound to be " a second Melba ; but it is not absurd to say that, being so naturally gifted vocally, she will — nay, must — if her voice will bear the strain, take a prominent place in the front rank of vocalists, who, maybe, have possibly had such a distinct advantage as herself m the shape of a beautiful voice, allied to natural talent.

Hogarth's Opera Conrpany has given some 3800 performances of " Les Cloches de Corneville ' r m the English provinces. Though 21 ycor3 old, Planquette's delightful opera does scarcely show a sign of age yet. What of modern musical comedy beside this? With the Hogarth Company* our old friend 13. W. Koyce is entitled to the first mention, says The Era. It was a difficult undertaking to follow the late Mr" Shiel -'Barry, 'but* Mr Eoyce has shown himself fully worthy of the trust. His Gaspard is^n wonderfully impressive performance. It may be in places compared to the Mathias of Sir Henry. Even the interpolated witticisms of the Bailie and G-obo do not succeed in robbing him of the effect he creates. In the same company Miss Zeala Sampson, a Moaland lady, is a sweet and pretty Germaine with a nice voice.

Miss Violet Cameron, who contributed a song at Lydia Thompson's £3000 benefit, has returned to the stage after, several years' "absence, making her reappearance in " The Dream of Whitaker's Almanack" at Crystal Palace last month. Miss Cameron began life on the stage as a child, her first really big and famemalting part being Germaine in " Les Cloches de Corneville " at London Folly Theatre, February, 1878. She afterwards held her own everywhere, her chief achievements being, however, afterwards made in "Madame Favart," " Olivette," md " The -Mascotte " at London Strand and Comedy Theatres, and also in "Falka"' and "The Sultan of Mocha." She wps for a long time at the Gaiety, her last original part being in " Morocco Bound " at the Shaftesbury in 1893.— Yours truly,