THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 55

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Bt Pasqtjtn.

TUESDAY, October 2,

Humoured lo me that a rival variety manager is negotiating for the purchase of the Alhambra Theatre.

"Mr Percy Dix has engaged two "stars" for hib .New Zealand shows who will totally eclipse all others — Dainty Irene Franklin, the pet of Rickards's Tivoli Company, and Ferry, the Human Frog, absolutely the most wonderful contortionist seen in the colonies. The salaries of these two artists alone will require some getting. An interesting event will be solemnised on Saturday next, October G, in St. Matthew's .Church, Dunedin, when Mr Ben Fuller, the popular manager of the Alhambra Theatre, will be united in the holy bonds of matrijnon3 r to Mrs J. E. Burton, of the Imperial Hotel, Dunedin. "" Pasquin " wishes the happy couple long life and continued prosperi t.y.

The strongest company of variety artists which Mr Ben Fuller has up to date imported to Dunedin is that at present performing at the Alhambra Theatre. The artists include Miss Lottie Lome, Miss Gcorgie Devoe, Miss Lena IToung, Miss Coralie Cbardone, Mr Johnny Coleman, Mr Charles Faning, Siv"oni, and Mr Johnny Tudor. With svueh a company as this the salary list naturally c;oes up. The public, however, are not a iked to pay any more than the shilling and sixpence, so they get the bsneSt. Judging by the crowd who flock nishtlv to the Princess Theatre to witness Mr P. H. Dixs No. 4 show, it would appear that he had come to- stay. And why not? If there is room in the town for two vaiietj- shews?, by all mean=. It is, however, only a question of the survival of the fittest. Lat the best show win.

Little Ethel, the wonderful contortionist with Percy Dix Gaiety Corny my, hns only one rival whom this -miter ha» seen — Rosie Aqinnaldo, of Fitzgerald's Circus. These iwj <■"• t'wis might be bracketed, with Rosie Aquinaldo on the top of the biacket.

" Lorgnette " in the New Zealand Mail says (seriously) that a new soprano, Miss Marie Mueller, of Melbourne, has joined the Pollard Opera Company. Miss Marie Mueller ang "'II bacio " with the Pollard Opera Company in New Zealand two yeaiM ao-o, and n.-.s-;ince trri veiled with the company. Mho i« probably better known as Zvlrs E. B. Kilt?

The Pollard Opera, Company commenced z ohree nights' season at the Opera House. Wanganui, on Monday. The company open in Wellington on the 10th of October for twe weeks, then to Christchuroh for Juunee seaon.

Miss Broughton. an ex-member of the Carl Kosa Opera Company, comes out to New Zealand under engagement to Mr Ben Fuller, and will appear at. the Alhambra, shortly. Misy Ada Reeve is receivins; £105 nev week under engagement at the T-3'ric Theatre, London. Her understudy in New Zealand is receiving that number of shillings.

Talking of salaries, Ugo Biondi, who was through this city with Harry Rickards's Company about two y-enrs as^o, wao receiving £75 pei week ashore and afloat. If this scribe's memory can be relied on ihere was not ±)?5 m the house after the opening night in Dunedin.

tt would be interesting to 'know the salaries, paid to several variety artists at present in New Zealand. But, there, to whom little is given little is expected from.

Dear Pasquin, — I am forwarding you a few photor of animal acis i am arranging to produes from time to time in our show in A.us•lralaaja. Herr Carl Hugenbeck and I have come to an unelerstandin g whereby. I have the first right to produce throughout Australasia all his latest sensations in the animal training world, and as soon aa each act is ready it Avill be foi warded to you ot oi;ce. \Vi.,h l"-sH -wisheo, and many thanks for your kind treatment of us on previous -visits — 1 remain, yours always, Thcs. Fiizgekalu, I'j tag ert> ld's ' ' rcus and Menagerie. Berlin, August 16, 3SOO. Mr C. R. Stanford, formerly 'of the Hollo■way and Anderson combination, has organised a company to tour New Zealand. Punch says he ha? secured dates from Christmas to Easter. Where?

Little Charlie Godfrey, son of the late Charles Godfrey, the well-known descriptive vocalist, has obtained his discharge from the army, and will appear at one of the variety Lulls in London.

There is an actor still living who came on once in the city of to play the luquisiior in " Gondoliers.'' He was mentally concealed behind a large quantity of beer, but he got on all right till he tried to sing the lines : "And bit'hops in the shovel hrts vsoie plentiful as tabby catf." What he did say vwio: ""And bishops in their shovel cats were plentiful as tabby hats." The audience laughed. and inbtead of going straight on he unwisely went back and tried again. This time tho re.ult was: "And bishops m their tabbj ] aU wore plentiful os shovel cals." 'the audie ■'•'s howled, and the obfuscated one <r-lt thp'u !u> must do or die. so he reeled off the-e seven versions in quick succession : " And labby bishops in their hats were plentiful as shovel cats"; "And shovels in their bi&hon cats were tabbiful as plenty hats"; "Aril labbies in the catful shovels were bi&liopful as .plenty hats"; ''And plenty hishoD<= in their cats were talibifnl at plenty (jhoves "' : "And fhovels in their biahfui cats were cn.op]iiful as — hie — plenty hats." Just here the curtain came down, but, even aftei Lhat o thick voice ■was heard sa3"hi£>' something from behind "about " Tabby hat-shops in this bish v ere plenty fjliovg as tabfu l di :?!•>," oi '/ords to ihat effect.— Bulletin

Alit? Irane Franklin, whiiot in Adelaide, had a narrow escape from being killed. She was out driving and o.io of the horses r>lun o ,ed, reared, and frightened il^s companion, oan&iflg it to bolt, and only for the driver's* nene and pome bystanders' n&slfitauce thing, migal ln'\e bei-n very Herions. Anyhow, Irene escaped, whioh is tho point of feh© story.

Charles H. Hoyt, the well-known American playwright, was committed to an insane asylum at Hartford, Conn., recentl- on the app'icalion of Fiank M"Kee, Mr JEloyt's paitner, a certificate given by Dr Charles L. Dana, after c?reful examination, being to the effect that be_bad found Mr Hoyt incurably iiijone. Mr Hoyt ajked the judge who made the commitment Lo pllow him to joroduce counsel befoi'3 signing the order, but his reqiiest was refuoed. Many of Mr Hoyl's friends, and iellow townsmen are indignant at his commitiiient, Mr Hoyt, in their opinion, being perfectly sane, and capable of managing his own pfl'airs. It is alleged that Mr Hoyt v.\s& decoyed from the State of New Hampshire into the jurisdiction of the committing judge by unfair mean? 1 . Mr Hoyt's wealth is believed to "be betv, een 3'Jo,ooodol and 400,000d01. He broke down soon after the death of his wife and child in 1398, and. has never been ths same man since.

A perofrmance i- being given in one of the booths in the Fair at Rome of a drama entitled "The Great iVJbs-acreo in Chino." The plot turns on the love of iT-iace Tuan for'tlio beautiful wife of the Italian Ambassador. The virtuous spou-se refuses 1 nan's advances, and he abducts her, but a fe>v Italian marine? ccme on the sceno very handily and save the victim. Then the ma;s?cie-» b^gin. The Boxers spread ruin and bloodshed, and Tuan icgaius his prey, but &he saves herc'slf from dishonour, and stabs herself and her- hrsbaiicl. The performance winds up with sn apotheosis of the Italian martyrs. A crowded audience nightly grows delirious with cries of " Evvn a I'ltalid ! Death to the assassin ! "

The Examiner of Plays has refused to license a modern melodrama entitled " The Women of London," which vres to have been produced in the suburbs by Mr Alexander Loftus, because the piece contained a massage scene. Tiie scene has been cut out, other alterations have been made, and "The Women of London" will be submitted to Mr Redford pgain. Mr David Belatco, just before leaving for America, presented Mrs Brown Potter with the rights for Australia of " Madame Butterfly," which, with Miss Evelyn Millard, was bitch a success at the Duke of York's Theatre this past season. Mrs Brown-Potter has also been presented by Lady Meux v.-ifh a play by the same author. Mrs Potter will "star" in Australia e^rly next year. Miss Marie Corclli finished, during Vao spring, a play which the late Mr Franklin M'Leay had commissioned her to write for him. Ct contained a "character part " he intended to play himself, ond with which he w.as extremely pleased. Miss Ooreili spent quite two months on the v-;?ra. putting aside all bar other woi'k so ps to finish it, and thus delaying the production ol her much-talkec-of books, "Boy" ar.d the forthcoming "Master Chris liaa." The miblic has been, by the ■ieath of Mr M'Leay, deprived of a production of much interest.