STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2388, 7 December 1899, Page 47

S TAGE GOSSIP.

(Specially Wbitten for the Otago 1 Witness.) Dear Pasquin, — The Brough Comedy Company,'which opens a Moaland tour %{ Dunedin Princess, January 12, completely "knocked de fctuffiji' " out of two opposition shows. The Broughs did big business, whilst .Trebelli (the enly one of that ilk) did' very poor business, and the Flying Jordans were also indifferently patronised.' "Bis" thanks tho Happy St. Georges (Horace and Adele) ior a fine enlarged photo of this clever pair of entertainers in their smart musical .act. The photo has been assigned a- place ' in my Gallery of Footlight Favourites. Each and everyone of M'Adoo's Jubilee Singers gripped the 'flue on their ' South Aiistialian trip. This meant cancelling their dates and lying up at Largo Bay. Pianist Harry Milburn is, I believe, now resident at Waipawa, H.B. This in reply to a correspondent. In Melbourne during the horsey season Fitzgerald Bros.' Circus had a successful season ; Anderson, supposed to be a son of the "Wizard cf the North, had a season of "one night only" at Melbourne Town Hall. Rickards, Holloway, and Anderson, and the Princess boom in spite of war and rumours of war. Ernest Hogan's Minstrels "hit 'cm up" in Masterton ("the worst show town on airth"). In three nights they took over £120. The poorest house of the lot was at Sunday's concert, when the Town Hall, which was rammed, jammed, crammed, only held £22 in threepenny* bits — and buttons. Miss Neva Manning, who is now with St. George's Happy Hours Company, is a Dunedin girl, and made her first appearance there in' '96. Neva is more than seven, and in gloves takes six and a-quarter. . * In reply to Paul Pry: Harrj Power, "the popular comedian and character actor," was born in Kilkenny, arriving in Duuedin with his parents in the early sixties! He followed mercantile pursuits after leaving school. An account of his "ups and downs" in this colony would fill a whole issue of the O.W. ■Hp debuted as the Prince of "Wales in "Richard the Third " at the Princess Theatre, Christchurch, 22/4/1864. He went to Melbourne ih 1867, ■ and after appearing at the principal theatres there, did two years' provincial touring. On his return from the provinces to Mel-- > bourne Charles Mathews, then .-starring there", wrote Power the following letter: — Menzies' Hotel, Melbourne, May 23, 1870. H. Power, .Esq. Sir, — On the occasion ot my benefit on Friday next, we play the drama of "Black Sheep" ; . would it be possible for you to phty Jim , Swain for me ? lam alraid your engagement)? v/ili prevent thi3, but if you can manage it, 1 shall esteem it a favour. — I am, sir, yours truly, (Signed) C J. MATHEWS. ' That Power was successful is proven by tho j fact that he was called to the footlights in the middle of a scene and roundly cheered. This compliment was quite deserved, for at the end of the play Mr Mathews led him on with Mrs Muthews. So pleased was Mathews — "that master of his art" — with Power's performance, that he wrote him as follows: Menzies' Hotel, Melbourne, May 28, 1870. H. Power, Esq. Dear Sir, — Allow me to thank you, in the name of Mrs Mathews and myself, for your assistance last night. Your performance of Jim Swain was nio<3t valuable to the piece, as well as excellent in itself. — Believe me, my dear sir, faithfully yours, (Signed) C. J. MATHEWS. Harry Power will be, perhaps, best remembered in this colony as a member of tho Lydia Howarde Opera Boutfe Company, and for his performance of Fluclleu in "Henry the Fifth" on tour with George Rignold. His last trip to this colony (in management) was in 1886 with a buricfeque and comedy company. If 1 mistake not, they broke up in Christchurch, and one half accompanied Mr Power as far as Wellington, whero they opened in "The Babes in the Wood" at the Theatre Royal. (2) The words you quote : "Sell bouquets, girl, sell bouquets," was the advice given by Provoßt, a professor at the Conservatoire do Musique, to Rachel, the one time famous Parisienne actress. She was specially selected by Provost to play comedy soubrettes, and was given the part of Lisette in Regnard's ''Folies Araourleuves." After a few clays' study Provost heard her repeat her part, and, according to his custom, was exceedingly harsh and violent with her — his usual manner with all his pupils. Rachel was snubbed, scolded, and brow-beaten like the test, with the additional comment that she had the voice of a costermonger. "Go, child, go sell bouquets; that's all you will ever be fit for, was the comforting finale of the professor's lecture. Some months after this .stormy lesson the derided jjuuil had sin opportunity to remind the false prophet of his disheartening predictions. She had played Hsruiione to an enthusiastic audience and been greeted v;ilh a shower of bouquets. When the curtaiu fell, gathering her trophies in the skirt of her Grecian tunic, she approached Provost, v/ho was behind the scenes,' and kneeling with mock humility, snid: "Sir, you once advised me to sell bouquets; will you now be my first customer?" Provo«t gracefully admitted his crior, adding that none could lejoice more pincerely than himself in the falseness of his piophccy. When Madame Rachel made her professional debut it was in a play specially written for her by Paul Duport entitled "La Vendeene" (most of which was borrowed from tho novel of, "The Hpart of Midlothian"). My confrere "Dis," the Wellington theatrical special to the Canterbury Times, writes asking if I have any objection to his using Hie pen-name "Dig," owing to its similarity, in pronounciation and spelling, to my own. Certainly hot. "Dis" is at perfect liberty to use whatever pen-namo he thinks fit, and I thank him for tho straightforward manner in which he has written me. Bis heartily reciprocates his confrere's good wishes, and hopes he will live long to wield a pen. — Yours truly,