THE GHOST WALK

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 57

THE GHOST WALK

(By PASQtriN, Jun.)

Coppm's R^yal Dramatic Company are in the Petone district. Maggie Moore is producing "The Widow from Japan" lound the New South Wa-les piovinces. Frank Barnes is running an Australian melodrama, "Tracked Down, in the Theatre Royal, Brisbane. Willousliby-Geach Company, with "The Wrong Mr Wright," are on a tour of Western Australia. Harry Rickard9'a Compajiy commence a New Zealand tour a.t Auckland City Hall to-night, August 26. Frank Thornton Company, Fitzgerald Bros.' Circus, and "A Chinese Honeymoon" Company are in Brisbane. Violinist Gorardy opens in the Canteibury Hall, Ohristchurch, on September 2, and will givo three concerts. Stated that G M. Musgrove will pay Madame Melba £450 for each peiforinance in the Australian, colonies. Miss Ada Willoughby, the well-known comic opera and variety aHist, was recently married to Mr Reginald Sheldrick. Bland Holt closes his Sydney season on October ii, when the company leturn to Melbourne for the Cup season. "San Toy," which will shortly be produced in New Zealand by Williamson's No. 2 Company, is being played at Sydney Palace. A football match between an. elephant and a mm is one of the attractions promised at a circus performance in Plymouth. Hagan and Co. have been doing "O'Callaghan On His La3t Legs" in the small towns in the Hawke's Bay district.

Jim ftl'Malion is running Major Leneham, of tho Bushvoldt Carbineers, on a lecturing tour round the New South Wales provinces.

Excavations for the foundations of a new railway station at Metz have just brought to light the remains of a Roman theatre 488 ft long-. Eva Gallftidi, Daisy Chard, Tom Edwards, and Jim Manon, one-time of J>ix and FuHor's shows, have accepted a, aix-month3 f engagement for India.

Mark Hamburg leaves London in November next for an extended tour in the United States and Australia. There is also a prospect of his visiting New Zealand. Peggy Pryde, the inimitable, who has finished her long engagement with Mr H. Rickards, leaves for London on the next departure of the Orizaba. Tenor George Lyding takes the place of Tenor Kenmngham in Williamson's Opera Company. Ex-Williamson tenor joiiu Musgrovo "Fortune Teller" Company. Now that the war i« over. Frank do Jong has opened ihe Standard Theatre m Jolxannesbuif?, and has arranged for a scries of companies to viait for tho next two years. The Lion "They're at it again ; same old (.rouble." Ihe Lioness "What is_ it, my dear?" Tho Lion "The monkey's name on tlio circus posters is in larger type than the elephant's." Dan Barry concluded his melo and other drama a.t Melbourne Gaiety lost week with two special benefit performances m aul oftlxe Mifferers by the Mount Kembla disaster." A giancful ending. Hotelkeeper *'My rates for rooms are 10s uu." Actor "But how much for the ' )>rofehh ' ? I am Hamfatter Hamlet, the tragedian." Hotelkeeper "Oh, m that ca=o it will have to be 10a down." William Anderson is 33, but he looks a shade younger. Jib is the youngest theatr.cal ii>ura<»er in Australia. He was born and bitd in Australia, and has never been oat of tho country, except to Tasmania. Mr "Williamson's Dramatic Company will return from their Perth engagement at the end of the present month, and open in Adelaide on August 30 in "Sherlock Holmes," which made quite a sensation in the "West. The principal performers to appear at the Sydney Tivoh Theatre shortly include A 6. Spry, character comedian, the Montrose Troupe, Thomas Xawn and Co., the Wilton Brothers, Harvey Boys, and Sandow. Mr George Musgrove has left London far

Australia, and will be due the beginning of next month. Madame Melba's luggage has been shipped for her tour. The lady's wardrobe consists of something like 28 Saratoga trunks full. A wise departure in connection with theatre piogramruesnias been made in London by Mrs Langtry. The characters are placed on the programme in the order m which they appear on the stage — a splendid innovation for artists, public, and critics. A com?dia.n naa performing at one of the Dublin theatres in a. dirty pair of white duck trousei- A lad in the gallery, observing the state of the actor's net her garments, shouted out — "Och, rnoster, wouldn't your ducks be the better for a swim ?"

The Floren2 Family of Italian acrobats, now appearing m Melbourne, are astonishing exponents of athletic daring and grace. Five male athletes, an Amazonian lady, -and a lively youth compose thr* company,' and plenty of humour is interspersed w:th s "thrills."

Muss Laura Burt, a well-known Lonion actress, is (according to the Stage) considering a most advantageous offer from Mr J. C. Williamson to appor ie Australia. Miss Kate Milner, a clev-er corals opera artist, has already b-?en engaged for Air Williamson's Comic Opera Company.

Tho Broughs' Eastern tour will be the hta\ lost and most expensive organisation that ever went to India and China, cither from England or Australia.' The company will l'umbor 32, and nearly 300 tons scenery and appointments will be carried for a repertoire of 19 comedies.

"Ben Ilur" is having a great run in London. The drama still continues ita prosperous carper at Drury Lane, aixl it is possible that when the term of the arrangement between Messrs Klaw and Erlanger and Mr Arthur Collins is terminated the play may be transferred to the Adeipki.

An enterprising circus manager will shortly introduce something nove' and up-to-date 111 equestrian dramas. He intends to put on "Mazeppa," but in place of the hero being tied to the back of a fiery, untamed steed, he will bf fastened to an automobile, which will bo wound up and let go where it likes.

It will be a matter of regret, but hardly of surprise, to those who have felt the pnlae of Melbourne playgoers that the "Cyrano de Bergerac" ejason at th° Bijou dosed abruptly. The venture wa3 artistically a great aucccesa, financially the opposite, the very excellent work done by Mr Lea and Miss Waldorf deserved better recognition.

From the New York Dramatic News it is learnt that there will be no fewer than four new theatres in New York in the near future. One is called the Majestic ; another the New Amsterdam ; then there is the Belasco Theatre, which Mr Duvid Belasco is altering ; and yet another is one contemplated by Mr Hayiuan, who has just bought tbe piece of property, \aluc> £90,000, on which stands the old Berkley Lyceum.

Jierr Siegfried Wagner, son of the great maestro, ai.d Herr Englebort Humperdinck have long be?n engaged in writing opera 3, each being responsible for his own libretto and taking every precaution to prevent any details becoming known. Meeting recently, they discovered that- each had taken the libretto from the same source— one of Andersen's fairy'taleg, so that there is a po3sibiJity of two new operas with the "same plot.

Tho Enipiess Dowager of China is * great supporter of the stage. Since her return to Pekin (saj-s a London, paper) she has been the loutid of tlie theatres, and. is disappointed at the talent, 90 has sent to Shanghai for Hsiao Clnaotien, the Celestial Sir Henry Irving. If he puccccds in pleasing her Majesty he may be given a peacock's feather, it he fails he will be accorded a public funeral. Actors are appreciated in China.