THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2527, 20 August 1902, Page 57

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquix

TITE^DAY. August 19

Mr P. R- Dix holds contractb of several members of the World's Entertainers foi a iNew Zealand tour, but no dates have yet been decided upon. Mr Showman, who has an interest in the Princess Theatre. Dunediu, arrived from Melbourne on Wedne=-day last to craisult with Mr P. R. Dix, Mr E.'C Reynolds and Mr Fred Duval about the lighting of the new theatre. Miss May Beatty was attacked with pteurisy last week, and for a few nights did not appear in "A Chinese Honeymoon. " The popular young New Zealander has now recovered. May has been allotted the principal character part in "The Fortune T«Uer." Mr P. R. Dix has booked the Theatie Royal, Timaru, for October 1. 2, c.ad 3, and •will on that occasion open with a strong combination. It is to© New Zealand theatrical manager's intention to play four short seasons annually in Timaru. After short seasons in Brisbane. Melbourne and Tasmania, Frank Thornton, of "Charley's Aunt" fame, with his b*th bun and a little miJk. will visit New Zealaud ; . A jrreen-and-gold-covered souvenir of Tom Pollard's latest success, "Tlte Messenger Boy," oomes to hand, and 13 welcomed mainly because it is a souvenir of a production which wa3 mounted and staged in ©unedin, arid mainly again because in tins city "jHie Messenger Boy" recci 1 . pi\ it? Australasian baptism, the piece never ha\ing previously been produced in Aut-tralasia. The BouveniT is welcome also on account of the numerous half-tones of th& principals of the P.O. Company, and aiso for the list of members who have not been principals- — the Jatter-are not illustrated — and for those who "have been " A record of the "full catt" is a feature of the booklet which w ill I>p of value in yea.ru to come ; also, it will I>e «n excellent reference should any of the present members of the co. got married, or lost — the same thing. The souvenir ha,« no vices to speak of, unless it w, as bpfore •tated, in the long list of names there remain ftoveral unilluatrated who m their day and generation were principals, but as it is purely a "Messenger Boy" produc <tion, that is aooouaitabfle. What I should like "to have and to hold" would bf> an •illustrated booklet with all the pr'iic;pals of the Pollard Co. since them juvenile day* up to time of going to press. Dani made- famous. Prior to his departure for Europe arrangements were made with Signor Dani tc secm-e phonographic records of the most popular items rendered *by him during his recent Australian tour Nearly 100 of the brightest gems have been aoouxed. It is intended to reproduce the

records in large numbers and place them ou the Australian market. We shall have that top C in the barber's shop while having our hair dressed.

Nellie Melba's fame is greater than that of the country in which she lived. During one of her Continental tovtrs an aristocratic Austrian admirer had an interview with the great soprano, and in tho course of conversation she explained that she was Australian boisi, and came from Victoria, one of the Spates of that portion of the British Empire. "Ah, yeea, Madame ; I know ze country Vecktoria. Ze chief city ee-s Melbourne; named after Madame, I presume. 1 '

The effect of the drought was experienced in a peculiar way by a travelling theatrical company (says Sydney Daily Telegraph) in a country town in New South Wales a few weeks ago Bills in letters of rainbow hues, setting forth the supreme talents of the organisation, were plentifully plastered all over the town. "That will fetch 'em," said the gleeful advance representative It did. A few houro later a large number of the picturepque posters had disappeared. There had been no ruin, and the "man ahead was puzzled and vengeful. The disappearance of the bills was attributed naturally to the misohiovo\isn<»3 of the email boy. " 'Taint ' bhoys,' " said the police, "it's cows." "Cows!" shrieked the agent; "what kind of com?" "Just Jivngry ones," was the answer. Even while this discussion went on a cow was detected in flagrante deiicto licking the bills off the wsll to gtfc a meal out of the paste.

Mr Alfred Hill, whose farewell benefit took place on the 16th lost, at the Sydney Town Hall, is a native of Richmond, Melbourne, where he wat> 'born in 1669. but a New Zealander by residence amd adoption He studied at the Leipsio Canservatorium from 1887 till 1891, when k# returned to Nev/ Zealand. Thore he made a study of Maori melodies and nvuMC, which he incorporated in his cantata, "Hmemoa." About five years ago Mr Hill came to reside in Sydney, where lie received tho appointment of conductor of the Sydney Liedertafel. His return to New Zealand is piimarily in search of health. Accord' ig to the Era, a gentleman returning home the other night after a vi^it to a rather frivolous Pplais-Royal farce at one of the London theatres, found that, by some error of the cloakroom attendant, he had come away with someone eUe's hat instead of his own. The gentleman, who i 3 of a dignified and venerable aspect, instituted a sort of Sherlock Holmes inquiry, and at last ti.tced his headgear to tho door of a meat little house in one of the fuhurb*. Entering, he aooa sow the owner of the establishment, who Wus evidently a young curate "I belie-\H, sir." said the loser of the hat, ' you were at the* Theatre laat Saturday." No sooner had he uttered these words than the curate, deadly pale, diopped on the couch, and was on'y restoied to animation by the \ isitor s c\p! inaUon of the object of hii coaning. After the c> change of lists- liiid baen made, ht said to the curate. "May I inquire, 6ir, why you were so mm h m>set when I first addrev*-ed >oo?" "Good heaven.-,!" said the curate, "I thought you had romo from my bi»hop'"

•Juggler "ClunVivalli" is orcatin<? a biggT stir in Sydney tlian he did throughout New Zealand. Maoriluud.?is do not fail ovoi ovo another to see clever juggling, or anything else in the dumb show line. Thej recognise the merit, but do not -gush.

"A CirciK (iirl" did not create any Darticular excitenu.at when produced in jlel bourue, and in tl.a ab>eiu.-e of the baul excitement the (Jirl of the sawdust ring gavi> way on Saturday, August 9, to anotlicr young lady — "TIT.' Runaway Girl' : and in her turn the gnl of the clearing out tf-n-denci*-. decamped to make w?y for "Roibin Hood" ou Satuiday last, August 16. Women an- flighty creatures "No flies hpro l " A well known manager, going through a buck-block town irooiitly, tiilled on the keor^r of the !ooaJ '.lieatre. While bein? = ; iov, n tl.rouirh, the m<-n<iger lookixl up and ',uid, "1 ho theatre -wins all right, hut whero aip the flies''" "Fliee' There arc none, hut they art- very trouble some in ll.** SfUiitiiie-r tim^ '**

'Hie body of l-'itzioy Tcb v. of World.-. Ei.fcertamer- w] o du-d in Autkland i"rtutJy, has bovn emlwilm^d and ecnt away by the ranil f-t^am^r !u»t week to An>eri<*a.

Cl'ief juridcnt in the n(-\\ pluy. "The Wor^t Woninn m I/ondon." produced at Melbourne Theatre Royal, ih the entape of the hrronie from a imruing building Insliding along a tfJc*i'hono wire. It ;n; n iugli tune the heroine made he-r escape in a \<-r< hazirdouf. fab'iion. The telephone wne has phivr-d the fiio ,md mllmiii escape lx»fot». mi it is oj.lv a j)i';i< ti^Ld wire-walker vvlio I'mlJ. get thidU'^K siucPi-fully.

Eloi«e Bridges Erwin. 70 years of .igp. one of the famous oIH tune attrp«->r ... dit'fl at Kunsas City on the night of .Inly 12 at the home of her daughter. Wiuoue Bndgc= Mrs Ei win. or Bridges, as the was known on the stage, played with all the old-time famous slara. «uch as Maoready, Keene, Forest, Booth, and Chailotte C'ushinan Bhe was to the South what Fanp.y Davenport wa« to the !!;-?t. and wa? fainou» in such pnrtf. as Pnnline in "The Lady of Lyons " Lucrctia Borgia, and M<»g: Mernlics in the latter role being =aul to \\n\c equalled the great Cushman She also had tlie distinction of being the oi lgniator of tho phi t of GretcliPn .n .(ovph .Jefferson's production of "Rip Van Winkle." Djaentery caused Mrs Eiwui'h death.

The dramatic company organised by Mr Williamson has started auspiciously w.th a production of "Sherlock Holmes" at Perth.

Mr H. Plimmer appearing as Conan Doyle's famous detective; and the company is now playing "A Still Alarm," which has an American reputation, and a sensation fire station scene, to recommend it. Before "Sherlock Holmes" is presented in Melbourne next month, Mr Ouyler Hastings will arrive from America to present the deteotiv© hero. Mr Hastings succeeded Mr William Gillette in the character in the States, and he was specially engaged by Mr Williamson's Xew York representative for the Australian season. "The Sign of the Cross" appears to have been the mo»t successful of Mr Wilson Bar rett's productions in Durban. The personnel of the company has been somewhat altered Mr T. Wygney Percyval, who was his "heavy" on the fir-t Australian tour, has rejoined him. and of tha Australian support. Mr W. F. Grant. Mr George M'Kenzie, and Miss Annie Cubitt — -if the Misses Latimor be excluded — are the most notable Mr Edward Irwm was the Nero, Mr W. F. Grant the Liieimus, and Miss Alie© Crawford tuo Dacia.

Among thp many eiilogmms that have been received by Miss May Beatty for her performance of Fi Fi 111 "A Chinese Honeymoon," the following from Miss Nellie Stewart and Mr J. C. Williamson will be read v. ith interest: — Miss Nellie Stewart wrote as follows: "The Opera Hotel, King street. Sydney, July ♦. My dear Miss Beatty, — Pardon my not writing you sooner to congratulate you on your very great success. Believe me whe-n I tell you I nni indeed delighted, and have cabled your individual success Home to .Mr Musgrove. You are deserving of all the praise you can pret. for you aie indeed a great worker. So all I can say is that I wish you all the best of luc'v and health.^ A'l else you have achieved, and I proffer my best thanks, also the same on Mr Musgrove's behalf, while believe me always your well-wisher, Neixtk Stewart. P. B—Don't8 — Don't overwork at matinees." Mr J. C. Williamson sent Misa Beatly the following: — "Permit me to congratulate you on your very great and welldeserved success. It is one of the beet female comedy performances I have ever seen " At his town house, Woodstock, Underwood street, Paddington, on July 30, Georgo Rig-" nold sold off his furniture, scenery, wigs, wardrobe, and theatrical properties. Mr Rignold (says the Critic), though not given to betray his personal feelings, has felt Mrs Rignold's death \ery much. So for he has hccii unaLle to dispose of his housf propeity — Woodstock and Brayhrook, the secluded residence which overlooks Middle Harbour — but lie intends to depart from this country for a time at all events, aud will leave these in the hands of his agems for sale.. On July V Lionel Rit;uold sued Mr Frank Curzon, manager of tho Stn*id Theatie. London, to rconrer damage? for wrongful disrpi«sp'. The ooniract was signed on August 23, and under it Mr Rignold agreed to join ''A C^in-pse Honeymoon" at the Strand. Plaintiff was to play the part of Mr Pineapple at a s-Uary of £31 10s per week, to include matinee performances. The play was produced in Octol>er last, and plaintiff contributed to make it successful. so Bucr>©s=ful, in fact, that it was still running 1 . Some conversation occurred botwepn plaintiff and defendant about the "gags" which the former introduced into the piece. In February last there was a quarrel between the parties, Mr Curzon calling Mr Rignold "a dirty cad." and giving order? that plaintiff was not to be allowed to enter (iio theatre again, and In*, place wa* filled by another artor, who, counsel said, used the wimo '"gag>" and "business." Plaintiff was called, and gave evidence bearing out counsel's statoment. Tho jury found for the plaintiff, with £400 damages.

Wtien Mr Charles Holtoway was in London la^t y«»ar h<* t-aw .Sir Hmiiy Irving m "The Courier of Lyons." The Australian actor-niani^er was, naturally enough, tip-mendou-ly impf'-^d with Su Henry and tho general merit of the production, "but for the support Sir Henry had in tho way of acting. 'There was," said Mr Holloway to a recent interviewer, "act an a^lor or an actress on tho stag© that night who could in any department of our calling outrival the b'^st of our Australian artists, nor could tho compaiy compare m any way with the purely Au-trahan company that s-iipported Es^i-e iTiMiyns in the days when I played Touchstone, Dogberry, lago, the GravedigjfLT, etc. On the face of it. perhaps, this looks a somewhat bold assertion, yet I make it fearlessly, and it may be of interest to trace the subsequent career of tho actors who compnsed that Australian Shakespearean company W. J Holloway ha.s since won the firaiid distinction of alternating the chHra-cter of King Lear at tho Lyceum Theatre, London Harry Robots, who joined tho company shortly after I seceded from it. has since proved himself the best all-round netor Au-rraJia has prodmvd. and now holds a leading position in Xc» Yoik '".lai/ie* AtJiolwood l* tlie best character actor in Ay-.tr.\ha to day. and has an c-x oellent position in J. C. Williamson^ Dramatic Company. H. R. Jeweti is a leading man m Ameiica Did: .Stewart has left the btjge. :tnd !■> now one cf .1 C Williamson's bu^ine-s nianagpra Albert Xorman lias for msny ve;n=; h"]d the honouiable position of leading heavy im>;i in Bland Holt's Draniat:r Company. A!fr< d Rolfe (a Ballaratiun) has for a number of yeat« be-fn leading man Wiih Alfred Dampier Arthur E. (li&~nawa\ (anoHicr Ballaj-atiaii) was when lpst [ hoard of him. playing Bu'-ianio in "The Men hum of Venice" at the- great .Sbake»p~aroai< carnival in Manchester, England Harry Ilodsnis, who w.H manager for (i<..r£t> Miln, the iiagedian. has iu«t o'impi' rt<d jit eng.iee nu'nl vritii Wil*ou Barrett, and my v. ife and I -well, ah the Yankee, -ay-, 'We ate still pottering around Fir-t Actor "I ui"lei-tand that you were o,it ti»\ filing with .i new Dies'" 8 roud Actor ' Yr«. tluY- s-o " Firrt Auoi ' l!'d th" piece liave a long iun"'" Second Actoi • 'Xv : but the company 1 ad a long wall