THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2645, 23 November 1904, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasqtjin. TUESDAY, November 22. A passenger by the Melbourne boat is Mr Jas. Petherick, who wires me from the Bluff: "Arrived to make arrangements for New Zealand tour of Miss Ella Abomah, the Dabomey giantess." The Fisk Jubilee Singers will commence a New Zealand tour in. this city, openug in the Garrison Hall on Boxing Night. Mr J. B. Steele, whose death is announced by cable, will be remembered by old-time theatregoers of Dunedin. He appeared here in the sixties and seventies with bis wife, Adelaide Bowring, and was subsequently associated in partnership with Mr Keogh, the firm being in occupation of the Princess -Theatre when it was burned down. No pantomimes in New Zealand this Christmas. Previous ventures in this direc-

tion have resulted in lose of money.

A fool man who had got past the ticket-taker at Fitzgerald's Circus on Saturday evening made himself particularly obnoxious by his inane remarks during the Japanese wrestling turn. Had Dr Gordon, instead of adopting the "smart repartee" dodge, caught the offender by the top of the jacket, also the bottom thereof, and cast him into the menagerie, he would have earned the blessing of a cirousful of people wanted but a signal to fall on the raucous-voiced person individually and collectively. I am advised that Miss Wilmott Karkeek, late of the Pollard Opera, Co., who, it will , be remembered, got a footing in London almost on arrival^ -with the Bandmann Opera Joo., has returned to the metropolis after, a tour of South. America. While «n route for the south, Mr Ralph Steele, of the well-known Steele-Payn© Family of Bellririgers, called in at this office and reported prosperity -with the. Co. -with which he has been so long connected. Despite the strong opposition, the company has fared sumptuously, '"'bouses" being as | a rule large and enthusiastic. The SteelePaynes purpose touring the southern districts, at the conclusion of which they may possibly play in the centres. Mr Steele has quite recovered from his recent illness, which kept him closely confined to his room for several months, and "is now hale and hearty. Before leaving, Mr Steele left 2gs with the writer for the Gertie Campion Fund, and promises while on his southern tour to further assist by giving a benefit concert. . The matinee hat is causing a big; stir in the theatrical world of Paris at present. In New Zealand the matinee confection, is only a small nuisance, and the wearers have sufficient consideration for those sitting behind to remove the offending headgear. Were it not so, there would be wars .and rumours of wars.

Mel. B. Spun*, whose recent death in. Melbourne is deplored by the London, papers, gave up the law 15 or 18 years ago to become- a musical sketch artist, and at

the Egyptian Hall, where he appeared on and off for nine years, his "Cap and Bella" entertainment, which he gaye 1 dressed in motley at the piano, was exceedingly popular. He frequently told a good story against himself with gusto. "I was performing at an 'At home' once," he said, "and at the conclusion of my sketch the hostess and her five-year-old little girl came up to me. 'Oh, Mr Spurr,' the hostess remarked, 'you must /be tired.' 'Yes, you must be,' agreed

the child ; 'we are.' " The mystery » surrounding the dates booked in New Zealand by Mr Allan Hamilton has been cleared up by an annovincement from the genial representative that they are intended for Mr Robert Brough and his new English Comedy Co., which will visit us with the latest London successes. Mr Brough is now in London busy selecting plays and players for the tour, which will commence in Australia on Easter Saturday next year. Several important engagements have already been made. The company Mr Brough will bring along will be mainly composed of English artists, supplemented by several Australians. The Mayor of Christchurch recently drew the attention of his counoil to the fact that some of the entertainment companies that had obtained leases of places of amusement in Christchuroh had '-'jumped" their prices at Carnival time. It was not right, he said, that people should start out from home under the invpreeson that they would have to pay a certain sum, and find at tbei doors that the price had been raised. People would not stand that find of thing very long, and they would refuse to patronise amusements at -which tEose methods were adopted. A discussion followed on the Mayor's remarks, but no action was taken. Mr Tod Callaway, the popular comedian, is still an inmate of Dunedin Hospital, suffering from a very severe bout of rheumatism. "Another week yet," said the patient quite cheerily to the writer, "thenJl may be able to get about again." ** Mr Arthur Blancharcl, theatrical agent, who "will be remembered as having piloted several shows through New Zealand 1 , was married recently in Chmtohurch to Miss Hettie Andrew^ professionally known, as Mis* Hettie Rosedale. An inoictenfc took place the other evening during the performance of Madame Mar. zella'e birds, at the Canterbury Hall, Chri&tchurch, which showed the trend of publio opinion on fcbe Russo-Japanese war. The bird had to pick out a flag from a niunjjei of flags of all nation^ but before clomjj

so Madame Marzella asked the audience * to say where the cover concealing the flag should be placed on the table. "Where," said madame, "would you like the Russian flag to be placed?" "<Jn the floor," cam© the reply in a stentorian voice, an answer which, was greeted with a storm of cheers. The case of Slapoffski v. Musgrove, which . attracted some considerable interest in theatrical circles last year during its trial in Melbourne before the Chief Justice and a. jury of six, was listed for hearing last week before the Full Court on an appeal {by the defendant, Mr Geo. Musgaove, against the- judgment of the court below. Later in the day it was announced that , a settlement had been arranged, Kit the terms were not disclosed. The plaintiff is, however, out of the jurisdiction, and in order to obtain, her formal consent an adjournment to next month would be re quisite. Rickarcls's Vaudeville Co., with Marzella, ; the Bird Queen, as the star attraction, com- \ mence a Dunedin season at Her Majesty's on Saturday evening. Her act is described in glowing terms by the northern press. The birds have attained a high pitch of perfection, and do a series of clever tricks that related in cold print seem incredible. The ( "Jolly Dutoh Girl," Miss May Moore Duprez, will aleo make a first appearance in Dunedin. This young lady, who is only , 19 years of age, has the reputation of being ' able to- keep hex audience highly amused : with her quaint remarks, whilst her dancing j is marvellously clever and her frocks bewitching to the females eyes. An old favou- j rite in Miss Maud Beatty will make her reappearance, and is sure of a warm welcome. Miss Beatly's costumes are al?o said to be charming confections. "Will "Van Allen (the "Musical Tramp"), Max Rose and his electrical stirprises, Arnold Phil, with the latest in moving pictures, are new comers to this city, and the other numbers are ■made up of old favourites in Ada Delroy, Jim Bell, Maud Faning (who has a splendid dramatic eeena, bought in London for her by Mr Harry Riekards, entitled, "I may be prazy"), Arthur Elliott, Smith Sisters, Maggie Fraser, and Bently and Ford. Owing to the number of arists appearing, encores have to be limited. A successful season should await this talented company. Miss Alice Nixon, the principal dancer of Stephenson's Opera Co., made her debut in pantomime at the Prince of Vaies's Theatre, Birmingham, about seven years ago, since which time ah© has been almost continuously connected with cine or 'another of Mr Edwardes's companies. Miss Nixon \w>s engaged for the dancing part on the artist's model foi* the American tour. During part of the New York season. Miss Nellie Stewart filled the principal part of Adule. On iher return to London Miss Nixon appeared at frh>e Tainniok Theatre. On tour the young actress had good' parts in "The Circus Girl," "The Runaway Girl," and "The Geisha." Apart from her long stay with Mr George Edwardes. this little lady has appeared at Little Red Riding Hood and in a capital part as the Queien. in Tom B. Davis's production of "The< Silver j Slipper." . j Partly through the fir© on the steamer J Dorset, which destroyed much of the ma- j terial Mr Williamson purchased in America some time ago, and the interruption of ne- j : gotiations for the engagement of a special j artist, the idea of presenting a pantomime I i at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, haa I been finally abandoned. This has n&cessi- ; tated an alteration in Mr Williamson's arrangements for the holiday reason (says Sydney Daily Telegraph). The Royal Comio Opera Company will now remain in Melbourn© for the Christmas season instead j of coming to Sydney, as was intended. In { their place a company is to he organised' to appear in Sydney in revivals of some of . the popular Gilbert and Sullivan operas. j The revival of "Patience" and "The Yeo- ' man of the Guard " proved an unexpected •success in Melbourne, and Mr Williamson, believing that the same result awaits him - here, purpose? to repeat the experiment. "Patience" will, thereiore, be the Christmas ' j attraction at Her Majesty's Theatre. "The I Pirates of Penzanoe," "Yeoman of the ; Guard," and probably "H.M.S. Pinafore" ; will also be produced. Playgoers will assuredly welcome the opportunity of again hearing the favourite works of a famous combination of author and composer. The company will include Miss Florence Young, Mr Gharlea Kenningham, Mr Wilson (a new baritone from the .Savoy Theatre), and Mr Howard Vernon. A strong chorus is to be a feature of the new company. A Paris telegram states that the "supers" employed at the various Paris theatres an- , nounoe their intention of appealing direct ] to the publio in a very novel manner if i the managers do not support them in their fight with the middlemen. In each of j the principal theatres- during the coming season the "supers" ■will suddenly strike in the middle of a particular performance, j While the v action of the play is thus suspended, one of their number, acting as spokesman, will step to the footlights and address the audience on the subject of their grievances. The secretary of the newly-formed "Supers" Union anticipates that the effecb will be marvellous. The. men's chief grievance is that the middlemen are paid at the rate of a shilling per man pe-r night, but of this sum only 6dl or 8d goes to the "super" himself. Pantomime is seen in highest perfection, on the Japanese, stage. In one famous play murder is made on a rainy twilight. All is gloomy and still. A woman appears, running. She looks- about her, very fearfully — someone surely follows. She looks behind her, then, with a terrified gesture, runs into a wayside field of tall rice. Soon a man comes, panting. He stops. Where has the- woman gone so quickly? He ■ looks around, then at the ground — there — her footsteps lead to the rice field. He follows. Soon there is a gurgling cry — ■ the ,tops of the rice stalks sway. Then ■all is still ; and wo know there, in the rice field, the woman lies, "with upturned face, pale as white lotus buds, on which twilight rain is softly falling, falling ! It is all i>o true, so real ! One who looks on scarcely breathes while, this scene is played, but when the 1 stage quickly revolves and shows the facade of a little tea house and chattering gels-has, a sigh of relief is made. Complaint is 'sometimes made that the excessive mounting of plays is injurious to art. In New York that idea is regarded as the offspring of a mean and parsimonious mind. The first thing demanded by the New York playgoer is gorgeous decoration. He is proud to know that a manager has spent £15,000 on an historical drama, and £10,000 on a "society" play. It cost £8000 to put a comic opera om the New York stage. "No play," .says the Herald, "can come into New York at a cost for mountk inff of less than £4000. Otherwise ii would

be called shabby." There is nothing shabby in the treatment of the dramatist. "An American playwright has recivecl £20,000 for on© season's royalty, and a foreign writer has been paid an equal sum." Moreover, the present season is "to sec a still further advance in the quality of amusements offered to the people-," meaning, no doubt, the costliness of the stage furniture and the receipts of the lucky foreign writer. The Japanese theatre has several features novel to Europeans. A revolving stage, allowing the scene to be changed immediately, is used, and naturalness ia always given to t-he general effect by means of two walks (one wide enough to admit the jinricksha or other vehicle) leading direct to the stage on either side of the theatre, and extending its whole length. Sometimes these walks are enlivened with flower borders, and here the action of the play sometimes begins. A character will appear — not from the wings, but on one of these walks. He will repeat some lines, which the heroine perhaps, or other character, will answer from the opposite walk, and so, by degrees, they make- their ways, in the most natural manner, to the stage proper. Other features cannot be so recommended, as, for instance, dressers to the chief actors, who flit hurriedly to and fro like black spectres (they always dress themselves in black). These dresse-ys are- supposed to be invisible, and in addition to throwing around the actor, with marvellous dexterity, his required changes of costume — sometimes brocades and stuffs of extreme richness and value— they act as valets— give the hero a cup of tea, a fan, a handkerchief, or if the "situation" is a very dramatic one, holding on to the end of a long stick a taper, which lights up the actor's face. These dramatic imps are called kuromango. We acknowledge with thanks the following additional donations to the Gertie Campion Fund:— Mr Tregaski, £1 Is; Steele-Payne Bellringers, £1 Is.

RICKARDS'S VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. Mr Harry Bickards's Vaudeville Company will inaugurate a. short season at His Majesty's Theatre next Saturday. The combination is claimed to be a powerful organisation of vaudeville artists. The company includes Madame Marzella and her collection of trained birds; Mr Will van Allen, " the musical tramp " ; Miss May Moore Duprez and Miss Maud Beatty. A series of animated pictures will be a feature oi! the programme, which will also be contributed to by Ad<i Delroy, Maud Famng, James Bell, Maggie Eraser, Edward Ford, George Bentley, the Smith Sisters, and others.