THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By P>sqcix. Tuesday, June 21.

Acknowledged with thanks autographed photo of Mr Fred Graham, the clever comedian.

Mr Hankms (Wellington) wires for the address of Pollard's Opera Company. The company will shortly be in Launeeston, where- they commence a season on Friday, June 24.

Departed for Timaiu and Ashburton by tho north express yesterday, Abbott's Musical Comedy Company. A short season of two nights will be played in Timaru. Ashburton will bo visited on "Wednesday, after which the- company w ill probably disband.

Mr Johnny Fxiller, who lias been in Australia for several weeks, leaves Melbourne by the Mocraki on his return to 'iHexv Zealand. On his arrival in Dunedin he will look after the companj's interests at Dunedin Alhambra, Mr Ben Fuller going to Auckland to open the Opera House in that city, of which theatre the enterprising Fullers ha\e secured a five years' lease.

An appreciation of Miss Nellie Wilson as the Maori prophetess in "Tapu" : Miss Nellie Wilson, formerly of the Pollard?, made' an emphatic success as Makutu, a Maori prophetess, her chief triumph being in a cleverly-written trio, "With emotion that is morbidly romantic." in which her Maori assimulation was wcM-nigh perfect. She was good al«o in the solo, "Nobody takes tho chances," and in the scena, "The terrible law of Tapu.''

Among the new artists leaving Melbourne by i'he Victoria next week under engagement to the Messrs Fuller and Sons are Lottie Southwell, serio; Cissie Whitcford, serio ; May Dagmar, serio and dancer ; Professor Parker, the "handcuff king" ; and Harry Cowan, cndiran. With four companies running in each of the principal towns (Auckland Opera House will be opened by the Fullers next month), the general manager has his work cut out engaging talent and despatching such to the ■various centres.

Mr Richard Stewart left' Auckland with the Comic Opeia Company for Sydney, and proceeds to Brisbane with the KnightJeffries Company. Mr Stewart returns to tho colony on the 20th July with "The Marriage of Kitty" Company.

The new Gaiety production was originally called "The Girl from Jay's." Though the title was a good advt., the proprietors of Jay's, a big London drapery shop, objected, bo "Kay's" was substituted. Tho Theatre Royal, Wellington, which has been closed for some tame owing to the action of the corporation authorities in, refusing to renew the license, is to be relioensed as a concert hall, on conditions laid down by the city solicitor and approved by the superintendent of the Fire Brigade. The conditions imposed insist that tho theatre shall be used as a concert hall only, that no song or "turn" shall exceed 30 minutes, that there shall be no Sunday performances, that permanent scenery shall be fixed on the stage, and none stored there, that no other artificial illuminanfc fchall be- used beyond gas and electricity, that ample passage accommodation must be provided, and the exit doois be clearly indicated, doors to open outwards, and hydrants and' hoso to" bo kept on the stage and in the stalls. Mies Millie Clare, the young serio who entered the Dunedin Hospital last week, is making satisfactory progress towards recovery, but it will be some weeks yet before she is able to appear on the stage again. Mr Harry Musgrove, remembered here as having toured New Zealand with the famous Grand Opgra Company, arrived in Duiiedin

by the Warrimoo last week. His business? Well — Harry is as silent as tho gra\e. -Mr Musgrove loaves for tho north by Wednesday's express, returning to Sydney by Saturday's boat from Wellington.

Apropos of that fortune which Fred Graham was freely reported to have come into lately, he informs me that it is all right, but the amount has been greatly exaggerated. "It is enough to keep me all my "life without having to drive a cab." Mr Ben Fuller informs the writer that his firm have secured a long lease of the Auckland Opera House, where they will open with a strong variety company. Tho theatre will still be sub-let to touring companies, arrangements having been made whereby Mr Fuller's company will go on a country tour. On tho disbanding of Abbott'e Musical Comedy Company the majority of the membeid will return whence they came— Sydney. Mr Fred Graham will remain in New Zealand for a brief period fulfilling an engagement with Fuller's Entertainers in Wellington, where he opens on June 25.

A handsome bouquet was handed over the Princess footlights on Saturday evening to Mm Aggie Thorne after her singing of " Vi hon your pride has had a tumble." This young lady, who has come rapidly to the front since her appearance with Musgrove's Comic Opera Company, is one of the most promising artistes in Australasia. _ Miss Thorne will be best remembered in New Zealand for her artistic performance of Pom Pom in " The Fortune Teller."

Abbott's Musical Comedy Company returned from Invercargill on Saturday, and the same evening gave a farewell performance in the Princess Theatre. Special prices — 3 Sj 2s, and Is — were charged on this occasion, but the ticket-eellers were not overburdened with work, the attendance being only moderate. The piece chosen for this "special night" was "The Gaiety Girl,' with introduced songs by Fred Graham. The clever comedian sang "Bloomin' Lize," and was billed for another item, "P'raps," made famous by him in " The Belle of New York," but for some reason this song was omitted. Mr J. Ralston, the baritone of Pollard's Opera. Company, was, with Miss Nellie Wil* son, of the same company, engaged by Mr J. C. Williamson to appear with his Royal Comic upera Company in the Maori opera "Tapu."' produced in Auckland last week. A genuine compliment to the two Pollard artiste.

Mr George Musgrove's latest venture at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, is on an unusually vast scale. The "Prince o.f Pilsen"' is being performed by a brand new company imported from America, numbering altogether 115 performers. It is said to be the largest American theatrical "outfit" ever imported into England. The funeral of the late Miss Nellie Farren (Mrs Soutar) took place on May 2 in the presence of a large gathering of friends, relatives, and the general public. The coffin of polished oak bore the inscription: "Mrs Soutar (Nellie Farren). Born A.D. 1848. Died a.d 1904." The coffin was covered with w reath.=. The principal ones were f rom "The gallery girls, with love and regret,' and from "The gallery boye, in loving memory.'" Owing to the large number ot wreaths, it was found necessary to employ a second hearse to carry them. It was on 21st December. 1868, that Nellie Farren went to the Gaiety, which Mr John Hollingshead opened. Toole, Terry, and Kate Vaughan played with her in the seventies; Fred Leslie, Lonnen, and Sylvia. Grey in the eighties. Boys, girls, slaveys, kings, queens, fairies— all formed part of her Gaiety record, and in all she scored remarkable triumphs. Her favourite v/as Jack Shcppard; there was room for both pathos and comedy. " But," she said to a friend at her benefit, " 1 was most fond of ray street arabs song; it was such a favourite that I moved it from one piece to another. '"Sou may strike me with »~ feather ' was another I liked, and the phra«e is still remembered ; and 'The funny little way I've got' and 'A jolly little chap all round,' I loved them all, and the people do not forget them." Sydney shows: "The Marriage of Kitty," Criterion; "The Rose of the Riviera," Lyceum ; " Darling of the Gods," Her Majesty's: Tom Nawn's Vaudeville Company. Palace; "The Price of Peace," Royal ; Rickards's Variety Company, Tivoli.

Stated that ]\Jiss Dolly Castles, who, with' her sister, illiss Amy Castles, is studying singing in Paris, has received from Mr J. C. Williamson an offer to join his Royal Comic Opera Company, and that her advisers are now negotiating with Mr Williamson as to terms.

When Sheridan, the American tragedian, visited Chri^tchurch, New Zealand, some 16 years ago, he opened (says a Tasmanian writer) with a production of " Kirfg Lear." In -the great " oursc " g^ene, he rendered the concluding; line all the more emphatic by tearing off the hood which covered the s>rey hairs of the venerable king, and casting it on the stage as the act drop descended. This hooch when done with each night, was taken by the tragedian's dresser, pinned to the wig. and carefully packed away. On this particular evening, the dresser had forgotten to take the pin out, so when the Kins-, in his frenzy, tore off the brown hood the wig came with it. disclosing tho closely-cropped black hair of the actor beneath. The curtain descended amidst roars of laughter, the dresser, made a bee-line for the nearest exit, and poor Sheridan's remarks were hardly fit for publication.

Mr Claude Whaite (representing Mel. B. Spu-r, the society entertainer, who open&d) in Wellington last evening), wires: — " Snurr •enormous success ; stopped selling tickets at 7.35." DunecMn playgoers can look forward to some pleaFjvnt eveininsr-s when the clever entertainer vi.sits this city.

A curious lawsuit has just been tried in Paris, which has resulted in the actress's favour. Jldlle, Roggers had been engaged by M. Leval at the Athenee. and the contract, which contained the customaryclauses, omitted to state that the actress was only to be given leading roles. A dispute arose between the parties because Mdlle. Rogers declined to accompany the troupe to Egypt, and, following upon -that unpleasantness, tho director set about casting the actress for several minor characters. Whereupon she refused to rehearse the parts, and though at the trial the judus declined to award either party the 20.000fr claimedl as breach of agreement, he hold that Mdlle. Roggers, having played lead, was justified! in not submitting to the annoyances soughti to be thrust upon her by -<M. Deval. She was further ad\i»ed in future contracts to see that matters wore not left to a director's discretion, but to

bave more precise stipulations made reepecting he-r position in the cast. Mr G. P. Kuntley, the clever comedian of the new English Gaiety Company appearing in Melbourne, is said to receive £100 per week. My informant says he is worth it. There is at present no prospect of seeing thi3 company which claims so many high-salaried artists in New Zealand. - To hand from some responsible person a budget of press criticisms of the eminent English basso, Mr Watkin Mills, whe is making a tour of Australia and New Zealand. A Toronto paper enthuses thusly : "An audience of over 4000 people, which packed the huge Massey Musio Hall, assembled to near the recital of Mr Watkin Mills, the famous Eng'.ish 'basso. His glorious voice and incomparable style never fail to charm. He stirred .lie British patriotism of the audience in his ' Plymouth Hoe,' and almost brought the people to their feet in the middle of the song by his superb vocal declamation of the words: Take niy drum to England, hang it by the shore, Strike it- when your powder's runnin' low, If the Dons sight' Devon I'll quit the port of HeaVn, An' drum them up the channel, as we drummed them long ago. N.B. — Mr Mills will sing this Jong in his recitals throughout Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and! South Africa." An Australian actor in 'Frisco writes interestingly to Sydney Referee on his impressions of America : There are about 50 theatres, all going with all sorts of shows. I have seen some of tha performances, which were very good. Light comedy English or Australian actors- would be completely out of it here. * They would be absolutely useless — you cannot mistake the twang. Not only do local artists speak through their noses, but some of them through the top 3of their heads. Character . and heavies have a better chance. Irish comedians no possible show. The stageIrishman wears a goatee, and Yankee Shakespeare actors must talk AmericanEnglish, or they don't count. Wilson Forbes is away East with Sherly's Conipanyj Wallace Brownlow, the opera singer, is playing here at the Tivoli. We went to the celebrated CJhutcs and Ferris Wheel. It is a great amusement attraction. We had a chute, Ferris wheel" and a ride around the world. It cost us a sovereign to see all, including an Australian dinner, 2dol (8s). We went to the Grand Opera House. The piece was "La Tosca," and the company Melbourne Ma<>Dowell's. The house, which is about as •big and looks .the same as the Melbourne Opera House, was fairly well filed. We bad good seats, and the audience in front of us were liberally covered' with diamonds — mostly millionaires and the":'r daughters— »' terribly overdressed people. When La Tosca arrived on the scene and opened her mouth till the ond of the act the outside world to me was a blank. I never ?aw such superb acting in all my experience on and off the stage. I have never allowed myself to be carried ay.ay by an actress beforp, but I was this time, for Miss Ethel Fuller had me, body and mind. The byplay, the nice artistic touches, the ignorance of any audience watching her, or ! playing to any particular part of the house ; ' her smile, her laugh, her look just fixed we three Australians tight in our seats. The , scenes between, Soarpia and herself drove • the audience mad. Several men and ■women rose in their seats as if to ru'h the stage, and men in the gallery were ; heard to say: TTou dogl' 'You cow!" ! ' Sou devil! ' Women screamed, and when the curtain went down on the third act | everybody was in tears. I looked up at i my wife's f-aoe — he-r moxitli was wide open, , • and her eyes were standing out like hatpegs. Carrie was crying — so were all in the house. After we got our senses back ' there was suoh a curtain-call I should not wonder if you heard it out in Australia. • The fourth act, where La Tosca kills Scarpia, the audience went mad again. The clothes worn by the people here are different to Australian styles Men's clothes are made skin tight ; women wear anything. ' Everybody wears dead black. We searched in our wardrobe basket and got out the fashion, ironed out the creases, and we are real Yanks now. Actors should not come to this country. The people are too pre- r judiced against "the offshoots of brokendown aiistocracy," as they put it. There ire thousands who never heard of that foreign place, Australia. I wish wo were three carpenters, three masons, or bootblacks : we could get 4dol (16s) per day : but we would have to join the union, lOOdol (£2O). Everything is now union — schoolboys, girh, hutchers^^actors, drivers, tram- ' men, electiic lights. )