STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 51

STAGE GOSSIP.

(Specially Written ttob the Otago "Wit-

M'Kinley and Garfield, "the presidents of American comedy," two vaudeville artists, have made a hit in London.

It is told of "Walter Bentley that some few years ago he was playing with a semi-amateur company in Moaland, several of the members of which were imperfect, and orie of whom wore a kilt that was kocked up in a ridiculous fashion behind, and having straightway lost the hang o£ his lines waited for the prompter Jus? then there came to him the agonised voice of Bentley from the wings: "Pull down your kilt, man," and concluding that this was the cvie, he solemnly faced the audience and started in hollow tones: "Pull doon yer kilt, mon!"

Mr George Harpur, who is a.%. present coaching two North Island amateur clubs, came to Mo^lftfiS with the Hardje-Ljacag Dranjaiie

* Company. Since his two-years' stay in this colony he has toured with his own (the Harpur Diamatic) company and other organisations. Mr Haipur, who is now residr-it in Wellington, has played, amongst many parts, the following : Earl of Dorincourt ill " Little Lord Favntleroy." Jaikes „ " The S lyer Kmaj " Ku'us „ '"Held by the Euemy." Jiccles , " Oa&te " Badger , "The S+j-ets of Eandon." Glenouble ... „ " The Victoria Cross." Dt aeon Skinner „ " S* ruck Oil." Fivd Fa^gles " The "British FJag." Picard „ " The Two orphans." Or Delaney ... „ "SwP'-t Lavender." Scsrum „ "'me Ulick ITlig." C s Fjrrirg.lon... „ "The Magistrate." Hairy Dufi ... „ " The Miaigbraun." Beiu Fariutojh „ " School." Teikyu Middle wick „ ''Oar Boys." Blove "Damlv Dik." Johnson „ " The Lanc^liire L"\?s." Sol Sloman " The Double Kvent." ' Lodger "Oliver Twist." \ G. W. Hunter, comedian and raconteur, whom Rickards imported, returning to London, advertises in the Era that he "left Africa just in time to escape the war, and arrived in Australia just in time to get burnt out at the s Tivoli Theatre, Sydney. Out of the frying 1 pan into the fire. Lost everything, but still on deck." After a stay in London, Hitnter visits America. i Happy St. George : Pianist Walter Smith has signed on with Valdares Circus of Varieties, now on the Wellington-New Plymouth circuit. Geo. T. Callender, "the Midget Globe Trotter," is at present in Wellington. "The Sarah Bernhardt of the mu%ic halls" — Marie Loftus. Fred Norris, comedian skater, is with Fuller's Waxworks vaudevilles at the Choral Hall, Wellington. Latest London song hits : "That's what spoiled the miner's dream," "Boys who will never return," "Only a bugler boy." i The "old boys" of the Marist Brothers' School, Wellington, intend shortly to produce "The Colleen Bawn," to provide funds for painting the schoolhouse wherein they learnt the three R's. Mr .George Harpur, a wellknown professional, has the old boys (and girls) hard at it, and under his tuition they should give a very favourable performance. The scenery will be painted by the clevei young artist Mr Gil Hoskins. In the" cast I notice two very well-known names — Mr Richard Marshall, a member of the well-known acting family of that ilk, and a brother of the late comedian Harry Marshall (also a pupil o£ the Marist Brothers), and Mr Frank Dunne, who in years gone by, with the writer, was a member — but, no, my modesty prevents me. In the coming production Mr Dunne will play Kyrle Daly; Mr Richard Marshall, Hardress Cree ga.n ; Mr Ned Toothill, Myles Na Coppaleen ; Mr T. Welsh, Father Tom; Geo. Harpur, Danny Mann ; Miss (Ella) Sullivan, Ann Chute; Miss Lily Collins, Eily O'Connor; Miss Reid, Cheelah; and Miss Collins, Mrs Creegan. As the performers were letter perfect the night Bis saw them, they should give ,a good account of themselves, and meet a packed house, if only for "the cause that needs assistance." — Yours tiuly,

BIS. Permanent address: G.P.0., Wellington, N.Z.