THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 54

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES

By Pasqiix. TUESDAY, April 2. Ben Fuller's front-ranker Fred Bluett departed this life and joined the Great Majority yesterday. The ceremony of joining the hearts and hands of Mr F. Bluett and Miss M'Keehnie, second daughter of Piper M'Kechnie, of this city, took as little time as possible. In fact the blushing bride and. pale bridegroom wore met on the steamer well before it was thought the ceremony had begun. But "such is life — now gliding on, if, glimmers like a meteor and is gone " There was Fred struck by Cupid's fata! darfc at the most critical pa^fc of his life now' happily married Well, good luck attend the bridegroom and the blushing bride, who could not face the fusillade of rice fired by an admiring crowd farewelling the happy couple. An interesting ceremony took place at the Alhambra Theatre on .Wednesday evening last, when Mr and Mrs Kearns (Miss Ida Ro°lj'n) were the recipients of handsome present? at the hands of seveial of their admirers. The testimonial presented on behalf of the donors to Mr and Mrs Kearns by Mr Walter Rivers read: — THE THREE XINES. To Two of the Beat — !Mr and Mr 3 Kearns. On the occasion of then departuie from Dua-p-chn, tha unders>gned lnends of Mr iind Mrs Kearns wish to acknowledge in some way our sincere appieciation 01 their talents and of their ohepry disposition and general good fellowship, t-A* this opportunity of expressing our sincere regiet at their departure from Dunedm and our sincere wish thnt their future v;ill always ba l blessed with good luck. "We hope this small memento will serve to remind them of the many ■pleasant days spent in our midst and of their friends. vKere follow the names.) Dixs Gaiety Co. move into the Pnncess Theatre for Easter Saturday and Monday. The Haytor trio are on the top of the bill for the opening night, .April 3. and should draw more than their salaiy — they will Misa Alice Lavton, the soprano pinger of Dixs Gaiety Co , has been out of the bill for the past three nights— a relaxed throat, which, I am p_lea=ed to hear, has "lelaxed" its victim, being the reason of absence. Mr Low Humphries, who is now a member of Northcote's new company, at present appearing at the Agricultural Hall, had a funny experience on Saturday evening laet. Whi'e j laying Simon Legree — in " Uncle Tom's Cabin"— at the close of the drama, an excited spectator rushed up to the stage wildly exclaiming that " While he (the speaker) was white, he objected to see even a nigger knocked about, and he just wanted to settle matters with Legree right there. Humphries, however, wasn't taking any— and it took some time explaining that "it was all in the play." I am advised that Mr G. H. "Bill Adams" Snazelle, the popular entertainer, who is doing high-water mark bueiness with the briny biograph picture show, "Our Na-iy.'* will visit New Zealand in July. What'a the matter with June, Snazzy' During the Dook's visit to Dunedin the picture of Dook of York, jun., playing the "absent-minded' beggar" at Marlborough House would be a, great draw. Madame Adehna Antonio, the daring trapeze artist, whose back-drop and double somersault from the distant top of the tent (Fitzgerald Bros' big phow) made one's heart flutter and hair stand on two pnds. is a. Roumanian, having been borne m Bucharest, so few years ago that Madame would _ nofe tell me, fearing I would not believe. Madame Adelaide informed me that «he was the only woman in the world doing the back somervuilt drop act from the highest pinnacle in the tent. Seioral have successfully accomplished the forward somersault drop from 75ft. Many have ascended to the 75ft, trapeze, determined to do the back-drop comei^anlt, but lost nerve when it came to let go A challenge to the world has beeni thrown out on behalf of Madame Adelina to do this claims; fete. So far no one has picked up the glove Madame'* highest drop has been from the dome of the Melbourne Exhibition to the net, a distance o£ 135 ft. The rar which has made Mi«s Billie Bar-* low and the Sydney Bulletin famous — e~pecially Billie: — "Sydney Ti\oli pantomime still rushes along, and as it lushes one bocomes moie and more impressed by the r,-ki-ne=s of Bilhe Barlow's fiist co-tume. It is a costume that doesn't simply luotge-t the ' nnod ' in an ordinary sense , it lather '-ujzSTPste that Miss Bill has taken off her flt-'.i ajASj >j w& m iyi n £. about clothed iv her uakad

soul." On the strength — or weakness — of the par, Billie Barlow sued the daring Sydney weekly for 5000 lovely sovereigns, but missed the 'bus. Had Rickards's principal boy woo, she cotild not be more famous than she is to-day by losing — in fact, I like her notoriety by losing better than her famousness by winning. Emile Lazern and old-time Horace Bent, through here during the variety boom, were at latest with Frasier and Shaw's Variety Company at the Gaiety Theatre, Bendigo. Madame Patti has explained (says the Sporting and Dramatic News) why Craig-y-nos Castle is for sale. Baron Cederstrom wishes the prima donna to spend her summer holiday in Sweden, and as the Welsh caetle ■was chiefly used as a summer residence, owinj to the delightful situation and the lovely scenery surrounding it, Madame Patti has "decided to part with it. The prima donna might, it is true, have let it, but Craig-y-nos would require the income of a prince or an American millionaire to keep it in its present condition. Miss Katie Lynne, Pollard Qfeg Company's missed soprano — Miss itsstw" 1 Hickling — who is reported to be about to marry a Buluwayo Johnnie, is boss ballad singer ■with Ben Fuller's Empire Company in Sydney. Mrs Dorothy Vane Menzies, the clever little actress who married Mr Norman Memzies some time ago, declares that sh,e does not again desire to renew acquaintances from over the footlights. This by the way of saying that she is perfectly happy — married. Several others, with perhaps as much determination as clever and talented Dorothy V., have declared that once married they would never again face, the footlights. They got back just the same. Miss Maud Hewson, of Dunedin, is with Jones and Lawrence's Variety Company in Perth, Westralia. Maud has travelled and eeen a good deal since she left the chorus of the Pollard Opera Company. 'An " Out West " correspondent drops a line of the reception accorded Mr Charlie Failing and Miss Georgie Devoe, under Jones and Lawrence at the Cremorne Gardens, Westralia. "Out West" says: — It is seldom that an artist arrives without a leception of some description in the Golden West. That accorded to Mr Charlie Faning ana Mi=s Georgie Devoe on their reappearance here was of the most cordial kind. It was with difficulty the artists were allowed to proceed with their " turns," so great was the applause testifying to the popularity of iho comedian and his talented wife. — [Hold, enough ! Most artists have experienced the reception of some kind — some kind of fruit, some of flowers. When the artists deserve it the fruit is usually over-ripe. " Out-of-season " hen fruit is very popular on these occasions. However, I am pleased and not surprised to know that it was a floral and not a fruit reception accord c&^tei Mi c s Georgie Devoe and Mr Charles FSming. — Pasquix.] Of "Mr and Mrs Daventry," p. four act play by Air Frank Harris,' produced at the Theatre Royal (Lou.) recently, a writer say* : "" 'Mr and Mrs Daventry ' is certainly not th • sort of play to which it is desirable to take the typical young lady of 17. Indeed, some adult, but oJd-fashioned play goers may perhaps find the picture it gives of a certain phase of life too boldly drawn. Bui if one cau stand the realism of certain scenes and excuse the strained style of the lighter dialogue. Mr -Frank Harris's play makes the inevitable appeal of the ' naked truth,' as one of the minor characters in the cast puts it. The c! araotcrs are certainly neither faultless nor 'sympathetic'; but they are uncloubtedtjißJjdive and real. And they ate drawn Viith all the impartiality of a "cool and consummate artist. We feel that there is something to be said on both Fides ; that if the sensitive and neurotic wife suffers agonies from contact with the brutal and * beefy ' husband, she entered into the agreement with her eyes open, and that he, on hi 3 part, may have a little to complain of. Even the ' bullocky ' spouse reveals eventually an unsuspected unselfishness and a touching belief in his wife's high-minded-ness." Included in a long cast of performers at the Cremorne Gardens. Westralia, are Mr Charlie Faning, Mi*s Georgie Devoe, Mits Daisy Chard, and Mr Tom Edwards. These artists are popularly known in Maoriland. The big baritone Charles Santley is now the leading conductor of the orchestra at the pro-Cathedral at South Kensington. Mark Hambourg will return to Australia in July for a season. Australian actor-author George Darrell cleared something like £300 at his recent " send-off." Mr Harry Hooper, the advance representative for the young soprano, Miss Kate Connell, is in town making arrangements ior a concert to be given in the Choral Hall on Easter Monday night. Miss Lonnell's press opinions read very nicely, and no doubt so will the Witness, when we have iieai-a the lady i i i *i Walter Fuller leaves for England shortly on a business trip, and returns to the colony in December next. . Mr "E. Sincock (Roland Staveley), of this city, left Melbourne for Adelaide yesterday with Williamson's "Royal Divorce" company ' Mr J. St Clair, who is in advance of the Nance O'Neil Company, thus gives the itin- I erary of his tour after Brisbane: — Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Capetown, Cairo, Berne, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Berlin, Paris, and London. Miss O'Neil's season in London is to open in August, 1902. Miss Minnie Bradon, lately on tour in Australia with fXie Walter Bentley Dramatic, is about to many • wealthy

I Frenchman, and settle down in Paris, where she will study singing. Miss Portia Geach. a whilom art student of Melbourne National Gallery and Royal Gal lery, London, is now in Melbourne, and has, 1 just given an exhibition of paintings. Her brother is Frank Geach, the barrister-at-law, , who has had a chequered career. In early boyhood he was employed in a hat mill, which he quitted for the sea. He then became a selector, and founded the Gippsland village of Peachville For a time he edited a provincial weekly. He then came to < Melbourne to s f udy law, and qualified in 1899. He was third on the poll at Gippsland West last elections, and is now canvassing the Federal electorate of Flinders. He is in features and build very like his brother Edwin, the successful manager for Donald Maedonald. Mr and Mrs AT. Manson. of Duned'n. have now settled down at their new home at Ilford, which they seem to like very much as a^Pkce of residence. Mrs Manson still continues her musical studies with Mr Santley, and lately has been fulfilling some very good singing engagements. The following advertisement was accidentally omitted from the '"Era'" : MR PAUL KRUGER On tour with his own Farcical Comedy, "INTERVENTION." Several vacant dates owing to disappointment. Business Manager, Dr Leyds, The Hague. Mr Northcote and Zeno, of the Novelty Combination, were entertained la«t evening at Mr Jenkins's (medical electrician), Rattray street, with an exhibition of the automatic electric lady, in the manipulation of which Mr Jenkins is now becoming very dexterous. The visitors were greatly surprised at what they taw, and acknowledged that in all their world- wide tiavels they have never seen anything ot the kind fo wonderfully natural in mo\em€iit and appearance. Ben Fuller sends me letter, press cuttings, and 'gram of the opening of the recentlypurged and painted Royal Standard of Sydney Purging and painting ha\ing metamorphosed the playhouse, which has passed through so many trials, it is now known to the world at large as the Empire. Speaking of the opening performance, the Sunday Times says: "A v cry large and extremely cordial audience welcomed the opening of the Empire Theatre by Mr John Fuller's Minstrel and Specialty Company last night, and without question a distinct success was achieved. Mr Fuller announces a complete change of programme every Saturday, together with the appearance of new arti°ts. Thera was every indication last evening that his ventur-e at the Empire will prove a success, for the audience unmistakably showed appreciation of the opening bill of fare." Mrs How ;e (Te Rang; Pai). the Anglo-Maori contralto introduced to Australian audiences last year by Mr K. S. Smvthe. sailed from MjjJfcaurne with her husband for London by tbeTTmic. Mr Smythe believes that Mrs Howie's Maori descent and rich voice will e\o"ite special interest in London musical circles, and that she may divide the honours of iha concert platform with the popular Eurasian mezzo-soprano. Miss Alice Gomez, a native of Cala'ria. Mrs Howie has three brother- at the front in South Africa, and her father. Colonel Porter, goes in command of the seventh New Zealand contingent. Misf Joan Burnett, who has made such a hit in "The Wedding Guest" at the Garrick Theatre if> (says an English evchonge) the daughter of Lee, of "Jo" fame. She is a charming little la-cly. and made her fiis f a»pes""inrp at Drurr Lane in May. 1896. in Sir Augu&tu3 Harn='s revival of "Jo" She has since appeared with great success at' the Havmarket in "The Little Minister," in Miss Sidney Fairbrother's part i She is a clever, bright scion of a clever ' family, and is steadily improving in talent and popular appreciation, and may hone to rival her mother vet in reputation, for Jenny Lee's is world-wide. The comic opeia "Florodora," at Her Majesty's Theatr^ Melbourne, is eclipsing all records. Over 130,000 people 1 have witnessed the production. Looking back over the lone: Hup of memorable successes — "Tambour Major," "Paul Jones," "La Mascotte," "The Mikado." "The Geisha," etc., with which the opera companj- bap b^en assoj ciated during the past 20 veer-., "Florodora" stands out in relief as the mo^t universally nomilar opera vet produced in Australia "Florodora" will be the opening piece of the Pollard season on August 1