THE STAGED BLAND HOLT DRAMATIC COMPANY. WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 47

THE STAGED

BLAND HOLT DRAMATIC COMPANY.

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS

Costrlbntloni bom tbe Fro'cssloo rh-ovlcliae their movement! •nl doints mre invite*. All communications to De a-idreaseil "PtMain," OUga Witness 08 o«. "

PRINCESS THEATRE BOOKINGS. Bland Holt, September 28 to October 28. R. Henry, December 26 to January 9. R. Brough, January 12 to January 28. "Williamson and Musgrove, Ferbuary 1 to February 7.

THEATRICAL ASD MUSICAL NOTES

TUESDAY, October 3.

News has been received of the death of a young and popular actress, who made her first appearance on the stage in Dunedin. Lettie Le Vyne (Miss Jessie Burnes) was born in Dunedin, and in 1882 made her professional debut as Little Nell in "Chris and Lena," with the Bakef and Farren Company. She afterwards joined Miss Alice Dunning Xiingard, and played small parts, and after "being a member of George Rignold's Company, joined that of Mr Bland Holt, when he toured the colony with " The "World." After playing several engagements in Australia, she joined Hudson's Surprise Party, but later on leased the Empire Music Hall iii Melbourne, which she managed for some 12 months. In 1889 she went to America, and after various engagements in San Francisco and the Western States she played at Chicago during the World's Fair in that city. After flan-ing with the Gormans, she organised a rnmpany of her own, touring through Canada and the West. In 1896 she made her first appearance in New York, and after playing a number of successful engagements there she visited South Africa. Returning to New York, she accepted an offer to appear at the | Bittner Theatre, on her way to visit her friends in New Zealand. While preparing for her journey across the Pacific she was I seized with illness, which was diagnosed as cancer of the stomach. Realising that she , could not recover, she went to New York to see her son, who was being educated at Montreal. She found it necessary to enter the ' Holy Ghost Hospital at Cambridge, and there she died. She w:is married while quite young \ to Mr Charlos Shipp, leaving her with a son to support. Mrs Licldle, of Longridge, will, j ■we feel sure, have the deep sympathy of her many friends in Otago in her bereavement by the loss of her talented daxighter. Miss Daisy Chard, the Australian lady whistler, and Mr Thomas Edwards, acrobatic • comedian, have arrived by the Mararoa from Sydney, and made their fiist appearance at the Waxworks on Monday evening. The Henry Dramatic Company is touring Tasmania to good business. The Invercargill Amateur Operatic Society will produce Gilbert and Sullivan's opera, "The Sorcerer," in the Gore Town Hall on Wednesday, October 25 (first race night). The Gore Amateur Dramatic Society intend to produce the farcical comedy, "The Guttapercha Girl," in the Gore Town Hall on October 5 and 6. Mr Brandon-Cremer has also in preparation the drama, "Face to Face," which will be staged on October 24- and 26 (second race night). Heller's Mahatma Company have had a successful tour in Queensland. Ths company leave for India and the East early this month. M'Adoo's Georgia Minstrels, at the conclusion of their Melbourne season, make a tour of Western Australia. The Payne Family Bellringers are having very good times in South Africa. Seymour Hicks and F. G. Latham have given the title of "With Flying Colours" to their breezy, stirring drama, produced at the London Adelphi last month. Miss Ada Crossley has been engaged for several of the Royal Choral Society's concerts next season. The Australian contralto will have a long holiday in Scotland this autumn. Mr -Percy Kehoe, lender of the orchestra of the Bland Holt Company, was presented by those who had played under his baton, through. Mr M. A. Phillips, with a silver-mounted umbrella. The function, which took place in Melbourne was a pleasant little one, at which some very nice things were said. Mr Bland Holt has secured a two years' lease of the Melbourne Theatre Royal, dating from the conclusion of the Holloway season. Directly after the Tivoli fire, Mr Harry Rickards was cabled to, and is already on Iris way back. Mr Harry Lynch, the Australian entrepreneur, has engaged the London Glee Singers for a visit to Australia on the termination of their present American toui.' He sailed on September 20 for Melbourne. The Holloway Dramatic Company opened at the Melbourne Royal on the 16th ult. with " A Soldier and a Man" to a crowded house, with every prospect of a successful season. "Secret Service" has been drawing big ■houses to Sydney Her Majesty's, and The Firm's new "juvenile lead" (Mr Thomas Kingston) has. as Oaptain Thome, made a most favourable impression. Miss Gertie Campion has returned to Australia. This clever young artiste has been pn the temporary-returned list for some time

past in Wellington, owing to an accident she met with while acting. George Rignold is to make a tour of New i Zealand, taking with him a specially attracj tive repertoire for New Zealand playgoers. i Mdlje Trebelli and Mr Prouse are indeed scoring a great success in their concerts in j Australia. In Hob&rt Mdlle Trebelli wae presented by her admirers with a gold circlet wreath. We cannot appreciate everything in the way of art that is set before Us — music, pictures, the drama ; but there is a sad habit of ignoring our limitations, and of supposing i that what bores us must be bad. A coni spicuous lover of the drama says he cannot stand " Cyrano de Bergerac," and implores iVlr Wyndham to forego his intention of playing Cyrano in English. "It bores me — it will bore the public," says the lover of the j drama. — Illustrated London News. I It is more than half a century now Bince Mr Morton became a servant of the London public, and the enormous change which during the interval has come over the class of entertainment provided by the halls is largely the result of his work, whilst several of the halls now most famous are the result of his fostering management. August 15, Mr Morton's birthday, was selected as the date of his benfit, which appropriately took place in the Palace Theatre, which is another of Mr Morton's triumphs. j The Broughs' Sydney season was to close on the 26th ult., after a run of 26i weeks. The company were to open in Adelaide on the 30th ult. After a short return season, opening on November 4, in Melbourne, the com- ; pany come on to New Zealand. Mr H. J. Carvill, who was a member of . "The Sign of the Cross" Company, at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, has returned to London, and has been interviewed by the Era. Mr Carvill speaks highly of Australia. ; "I love Australia." he said, "and though I shall be glad to stay in London, I am looking forward to the time when I shall visit the antipodes again. I have been all round the world, as near as a toucher, but though I j know the qualities of the 'glorious climate' I of California, nothing can beat Australia. It's the loveliest country in the world. Ent thusiastic? Of course I am ; so would you be 1 It's the heart of the world. If you can escape the summer and get to Tasmania, then, the Australian climate can't be beaten." He also speaks strongly of the ability of the Australian actor. "There may not be many of them," he remarks, "but they are all good. When an actor gets over in those latitudes he has to 'buck up.' If he is no good he soon knows it. If he is all right — well, then he is all right. The country abounds in character actors, and the people know it. The i Australians are no 'slouch.' A good thing , ! appeals to them at once." I I Under the title of "The Kendals," Mr Edgar Pemberton has written a gossipy, illustrated account of the stage career of this celebrated couple, which Messrs C. Arthur Pearson will publish shortly. The writer H a well-known dramatic critic, and hoe already published volumes on Solhern and Mr John Hare. This month Mr Wyndham and Mr Prohman join forces in the management of the Criterion, their initial production being an adaptation of the French comedy, "Ma Bru," bearing the title of "My Daughter-in-Law." Of this the complete cast has just been settled, and includes Miss Ellaline Terries, Miss Fanny Brough, Mr Herbert Standing. Mr VaneTempe&t, Mr J. L. Mackay, Mr Ferdinand Gotlsohalk, and Mr Seymour Hicks. After the triumphant production in New York of Mr David Belasco's adaptation from the French of "Zaza," the play i= oominp <o England. It has been arranged between Mr Belaeco and Mr H. T. Brickwell to present "Zaza" at the Garrick Theatre next April, with Mrs Leslie Carter in the cast. Mrs Carter made a great impression in America as the heroine of the drama, and is already very favourably known to us for her performance at the Adelplii Theatre of the leading feminine character in "The Heart of Maryland," of which also Mr Belasco was the author. One of the most generous of our actors, writes "The Perixiatetic Pagan" in Modern Society, was driven home, recently, in a hansom, and, being in an absent frame of mind, when he alighted handed the disgusted Jehu a legal and meagre shilling. Cabby, who had recognised his fare's familiar and unmistakable features, thanked him satirically: "And I'm blest if I don't spend this 'ere bob in coming to see you hact ; it u'd be wortli it, if you can do the Jew as well inside the theatre as you do out of it." To which Shylock responded by producing a half sovereign and a pressing invitation for "cabby" to honour the next performance of the ''Merchant of Venice" with his patronage. A note in the Globe refers to the LL.D. accorded to Sir Henry Irving, and adds, "He cannot but be gratified by the compliment, though it comes late in the day — too late to enhance in any way his reputation in academic circles. Irish playgoers, we should say, are rather proud of the fact that, so long ago as 1876, they recognised and saluted the genius of the greatest English actor of their day. It was in that year that the graduates and undergraduates of Trinity College, Dubttn, presented to Mr Irving, as he then was, an address of thanks — in particular for his Hamlet, his Charles I, and his Mathias. "Acting such a? yours," they said, "ennobles and elevates the stage, and serves to restore it to its true function as a potent instrument for intellectual and moral culture.'" ( Carlotta Grisi, in spite of her great age (78), kept her wits and her gaiety to the last, and she may almost be said to have died with her still pretty foot up in the air, for she was teaching a little neighbour a difficult etep when she was seized with her illness. Her daughter, who married a M. Pinchart. is a

well-to-do and sedate lady, whom she nevercould understand, and there was a reciprocity of feeling, for Madame Pinchart cotild not help thinking that a lady of 78 ought to have forgotten long ago that she ever wore flimsy petticoats and showed her legs to the public. In consequence, Carlotta, who was kindness in person, and did not like to shock her prim entourage, had her little private museum installed in one room of the Villa St. Jean, and no one, except the foreigners "de passage," whom she liked to receive, was ever admitted into this sanctum,- where portraits of herself in the shortest of attires, jewels of great beauty, letters of amorous Sovereigns, and tokens of love, all that had made the joy of her life, were arranged with a certain amount of taste, though the old lady constantly changed her ideas about her cabinets, shelves, .aud albums, and was perpetually busy arranging things differently. Those who have seen Carlotta Grisi's treasures must wonder as to the fate which awaits them, io v to-day, no doubt, Madame Pinchart fingers them with a feeling of reverence — for she loved her mother — but with the secret vexation of a '"sage bourgeoise," who would rather not have been born under the wing of a butterfly.

Mr Justice Stephen, at Sydney, recently had before him an application on behalf of Robert Henry Nicholls, actor manager, for the setting aside of a writ ca. re. under which he had been arrested. The plaintiff, Denham, is the proprietor of a play named "The Kelly Gang," while the defendant is the proprietor of another play named "Outlaw Kelly." Denham had brought action against Nicholls to recover £500 for alleged infringement of the copyright. Defendant was arrested on the suit of Denham on the ground that he was about to leave the colony. Nicholls, whose professional name is Robert Henry, denied that he intended to leave the colony except temporarily. His Honor ordered that the ca. re. be set aside, and said that in his opinion the act under which these writs were gwanted was too stringent considering modern conditions. Ellen Terry made her debut at the age of eight as the boy in "A Winter's Tale." She was spoken of as a youngster of great promise at the time. • v

" SPORTING LIFE."

" Mr Bland Holt and his combination of dramatic favourites," to quote from the programme, renewed their acquaintance with Dunedin playgoers at the Princess Theatre on Thursday evening, under circumstances which should prove a happy augury for the New Zealand tour. The theatre was well filled, and the reception accorded Mr and Mrs Bland Holt and .the -well-known members of the company was of unusual warmth. " Sporting Life," a dramatic creation which has emanated from the joint pe.is of Messrs Cecil Raleigh and Seymour Hicks, and which was originally produced p.i the Shafte3bury 'Theatre, London, served .to inaugurate the season. The piece, in its essential features, in its staging, and in its interpretation generally, is characteristic of the Bland Holt Company. It was produced with all the spectacular effect and realistic tableaux that the playgoers of the colonies have been taught to look for in Mr Holt's productions. In "Sporting Life" it is doubtful ii the popular actor-manager has not attained to a greater perfection in the way of scenic effects and stage accessories than in any of his previous efforts. Some of the finest stage pictures that •it has ever been the lot of Dunedin playgoers to see are introduced into the piece, and of them not the least important is the one in which is depicted the sale at the spendthrift lord's mansion. The stately old English country seat, wijih its niullioned window & and lofty towers, its broad park and groves of oak, is brought into view, aud the audience is afforded an object lesson strikingly illustrative of the old adage, "Wilful waste makes woful want," as the unfortunate nobleman's string of thoroughbreds, his kennel, and all the appurtenances of a country seat are submitted to the hammer. Quite a gorgeous scene is presented in the second act, when tlie Karl's Court Exhibition is shown. A glimpse of the gaieties of city life is afforded as the tkrougs of hujuanity pass to and fro under the gleaming electric lights, while in the distance the famous giant wheel, brilliantly illuminated, revolves in the darkness of the night. The scenes, however, which perhaps most appeal to popular favour are those in which the pugilistic encounter at the National Sporting Club takes place and the Epsom course on Derby Day. In the former the audience is favoured with no perfunctory exposition of the noble «.rt of self-defence, and the two sports, Messrs J. and A. M'Gowan, went through seveial rounds with stimulating vigour. As in a good many melodramas, the story and succesmon of incidents are not without their unsatisfactory features. Character? are introduced, and their careers are pursued up to n certain stage, and then incontinently dropped. The comic element is not nearly so pronounced as in most of the pioductions with which Mr Bland Holt has been wont to regale his patrons. In fact, this is one of the deficiencies of'Sportiag Life." Mr Holt himself is cast as a Hebrew money-lender, a role that he has been seen in before; bnt the Hebrew in this instance differs considerably from the orthodox stage character. There is no ostentatious display of jewelJery, no striking peculiarities of speech or expression, and no aggressive checks in the pattern of his nether garments. On the other hand, the wealthy Isidore Andread, as impersonated by Mr Bland Holt, is a model which might be tet up 'before Jew and Gentile as worthy of imitation. Not only does he befriend the luckless -lord through all his finanpial difficulties, but actually assumes the duties of his second in the famous encounter which the nobleman has with a great pug, whom he knocks out m the first round. What little opportunities there were for creating fun, however, Mr Holt, it need 'scarcely be said, took full advantage of, and in other lespects he invested the part with a great deal of interest. The unfortunate Jord was portrayed by Mr Walter Baker, who found his task congenial in every way. The Earl of Woodstock seemed to be indebted for his misfortunes in no small extent to the family of the girl whose hand he sought — Norah Cavanagh. First, Norah's brother forges the name of his piospcctive brother-in-law to a bill, and, to save the name of his fiancee's people, the earl accepts the liability. The immediate result is that he is sold out- of house and home. Then the earl's pugilist, who had to fight another champion of the fistic art, is drugged on the eventful day by Cavanagh, senior, and finally Cavanagh, junior, murders an adventuress, the suspicion of which crime falls on Lord Woodstock. At to the latter incident, the "audience is left in doubt as to how tha earl manages to satisfy the law, although the conclusion of the affair is suggested by the guilty man producing a revolver and darkly hinting at finishing himself. The impersonation of the earl was by no means a light task. Pursued by an evil genius, who, with the aid of an adventuress, plotted his ruin, Mr Baker Jiad enough to do, but when the family of his fiancee operated against him, when he was called upon to tackle a prize-fighter without any preparatory training, and, worst of all, when he was attacked and captuied by gipsies on the very day his presence was required at

Epsom, the demands made upon his resources can well be conceived. The British frankness and manly virtues that imbued his acting, however, carried him through all his ordeals, and his eSorts were rewarded with the most appreciative applause. Mr Arthur Styan made iris acquaintance with Dunedin for the first' time as Malet de Carteret, the designing viliain., who plays such an important part in melodrama. Mr Styan has a fine stage appearance, and acts with easy grace and eSect. He immediately installed himself in the good opinions of the audience, and it was generally recognised that his presence in the company is a distinct accession to its strength. Mrs Bland Holt appeared in her favourite type of character — the ingenuous young female who ppends most -of her time flirting with the policemen or military gentlemen, and who is always pert, pretty, and vivacious. As the conspiring female who has ruined many a score of the opposite sex/> lured into her snare by her charms. Miss Harrie Ireland acted with force and artistic skill. Her performance was one of the bright phases of the pioduction, and calls for the highest commendation. Miss Frances Ross also acted with skill as the heroine, -and at one point gave an exhibition of powerful emotional acting, while Miss Fitzmaurice Gill gave due expression to the miseries of the wretched girl who was ruined and abandoned. Mr Charles JLsrowh extracted a good deal of fun out of the part of the Hibernian gviardian of the peace, Mr E. C. Corlesse made the most of Miles Cavanagh, Mr Albert Norman was effective as Joe Lee, and the boxing display of Messrs J. ancl A. M'Gowan elicited warm applause. The pleasuie of' all present was enhanced in no small degree by the playing of the orchestra, under Mr Percy Kehoe. Not only was the incidental music admirably played, bxit the entr'acte selections were decidedly good.

September 29.

Dear Pasquin, — Here we are on the verge of another month, and before we realise where we are we will be having the jovial " Here we are agains " on to us. Things theatrical have been a bit mere lively with us during the week, thank 3to the Colossophone and Vaiideville Variety Company, which has fceen running since Saturday last at the Exchange Hall, under the direction of Harry Hooper, the bleached and wbite-headed boy of the purfesh. We've got a lot of hoopers up here jiist now — whooping cough, you see, is in. I can write down the Colossophone items which I heard the other night at the Exchange as the best phonographic records which I have listened to — and I have heard a few. Then the vaudevilles are not all boredevillains. Sid Doody is an amusing cuss, after the manner of Johnny Coleman in eccentric dancing, and his team partner, Edie Wright, is the right girl for Doodyisma. Miss Trixie Le Mar makes, and does not mar, the gay and festive scene when she comes out to dance. She gets the back kick on to her lovely hair that's flying down her back all right. Hsrry Leeds is a comic singer inclined to 'coarseness. I was greatly taken with Miss Belle Solomon with her song and dance, " Arabolhia Snow." Miss Daisy Trevitt at the piano completes the company, which is working south, concluding here to-morrow night. Rowley's Waxworks have been doing good business at the Criterion all the week. On Monday night the perennial Pollards are to open in the Opera House in " The Belle of New York." Booking is already heavy. On the same day the Fancy Fair, to raise funds to send our champion band (the Garrison) to the Bathurst Competition, is to open in the Skating Rink, and will run for the vi eek. As to musical doings. On Wednesday evening Herr Friedenthal gave us his final recital, and lias since been infiuerizaed, but hopes to catch the 'Frisco boat on Monday, en route for Germany and the fair land of Poland. Last night Maughan Barnett gave us his twentysecond organ recital. Next week we are to have the Orchestral Society's concert, and the fourth of the Barnett-Hoppe chamber, concerts.

To-morrow afternoon Captain Lorraine is to make a balloon ascent (and parachute descent) from the Basin Reserve.