THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Tjlsqvisi.

TUESDAY, May 30. A unique wedding card, fashioned like an boomerang, "With the compli'menls of Dr and Mrs Francis Muecko" (nee Miss Ada Crossley), to hand by the latest mail. "Mr "W. S. Persy is always in character. He is probably the best actor we have had Km the comic opera stage since Elton's day. His peppery High Commissioner, Sir iPeter Loftus, was an admirable piece of

work." — Sydney Mail, in its report of "The Cir.galee."

The cable this morning announces tlie death of M. Leon Caron, musician, and for ir-any years conductor of Williamson's opera companies. M. Caron came acioss to New Zealand with the Gilbert and Sullivan Revival Opera Company, at present playing in His Majesty's Theatre. He was in ill-hea-lth on the tour, but pluckily stuck to his seat in the orchestra., and up to the termination of the Gisborne season, a w-esk or two ago, conducted the operas. The old fire, however, was gore, and he was able to wield the baton but feebly. M. Caron. had so completely broken down in health that he had Io give up his work, and but a fortnight ago left Wellington on his return to Sydney. The leavetaking with the company on that memorable day was a decidedly impressive one, and as lv* shook the hand of Mr Henry ißracy, with whom lie had' so long been intimately connected •with Williamson's operas, eyes gushed with tears at the thought which arose unbidden in ihe minds of the two old friends that it waa the last "GoocJ-bye." Poor Caron's last words, when saying srood-bye to the company in Wellington : "I hope the 'boys and girls' will show that attention to the new conductor that they have always exhibited during my association with the opera company." The cabled news of M. Caron's death readied Mr Henry Bracey on his arrival with the opera company in Dunedin en Monday evening.

The sketch, "Matrimonial Bliss," at present being produced by Mr Fred Graham and Miss Nellie- Dent at the Alhambra, is one of ' the best the clever comedian has given us from his facile pen. Mr Graham is also responsible for two other smart sketches^ — "A Pair of Doves" and "A Lucky Catch." He is building up a splendid repertoire for New Zealand.

Mr Henry Bracy, general manager of Williamson's Opera Company, at present in Dunedin, leaves for the North at the week end to catch the Moeraki for Sydney, where he rejoins the Royal Comica prior to taking them out to Western Australia.

A letter at this office for Mr Valentine Vousden. Will the gentleman please forward his address?

Fame ! The best chrysanthemum «?ver exhibited in Dunedin, and the championship winner at the recent show, is named "Miss Maud Jeffries."

Ben Fuller states that he would have given Little Tioh £2GO per week to tour the Fuller circuit, had it been possible to arrange matters.

"The youngest theatrical manager" — John Fuller, jun., to wit — contemplates anothor visit 'to Australia shortly ia search of \audeville talent for th& circuit.

Playgoers in this city arc in for a treat with the excellent bill of theatrical faro arranged for them by the Gilbert and Sullivan Regertoire Co. The programme has been mapped out as follows : — Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, May 31 and June 1 and 2, "The Mikado"; Saturday and Monday, June 3 and 5, "Pirates of Pcizance"; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 6, 7, and 8, "lolanthe" ; Fr'day and Saturday, June 9 and 10, "Yeomen of the Guard" ; Monday and Tuesday, June 12 and 13, "H.M.S. Pinafore."

Mr Williamson's Dramatic Company, headed by the popular actress, Miss Titt^ll Brune, -commences a three weeks' season at the Wellington Opera House on Wednesday, June 11-. The repertoire includes "Theodora," "Camille," "L'Aiglon," "Sunday," "Romeo and Juliet," and other plays. Mis 9 Brune is supported by Mr Gaston Mervale (the Tigellimis of the original production of "The Sign of the Cross," in Australasia), M,r Arlrur Greenaway, Mr J. B. Atholwood, Mr Roy Redgrave, and Miss Mabel Lane.

In connection with the reported erection of en up-to-date theatre in Wellington by the enterprising Fullers, all the information, to be gleaned on the matter is meagre. Questioned on _the subject, a member of the firm states that more unlikely things might happen. Mr Fred Graham, the well-known comedian, terminates his Dunedin season at the Alhambra on Friday evening next, and on the following Saturday (June 3) opens for two weeks with Fuller's Entertainers in the Opera House, Christchurch. This is preparatory to appearing in the leading comedy role in the Birch-Hill comic- opera in Auckland. An arrangement has been come to with tlie Alessrs Fuller and Sons for Mr Graham's services during the run of the opera. At its conolusion Mr Graham, together with Miss Nellie Dent, wjII again appear under the Fuller banner, opening in the Auckland Opeia House.

With a view of purchasing His Majesty's Theatre in 'Wellington, the property of Messrs Fuller and Sons, several offers have lately been made, but the firm is not inclined to part. Only the other day an offer was made for the building for church purposes. Strangely enough, before talren for vaudeville His Majesty's was devoted to church services. • Montjome-ry's Entertainers will probably play a season in Dunedin during winter show week. Arrangements arc being made with that object.

From some responsible person comes to Land a marked copy of the Adelaide Advertiser, ivhich sets forth the merits of t"ue Miss Bill^e Howiard© Dramatic Com-

pany in that popular melodrama. "From Scotland Yard." Mr Harry Norman, an old friend, is stage manager for this com-

pany. Miss Nellie Coleman, sister of the Jate Johnny Coleman, of scare-crow dance fame, is out in South Afric?, doing impersonalions on the lines of the late Dan Leno. There is some talk of a, conjurer namrf Cheesman, who is en route to the colony from tho East, being engaged for the Fuller circuit.

Mr Vantell, the triple-bar performer, finished up his three months' engagement with the Fuller Proprietary on Saturday, and on Sunday departed for Melbourne by the Wimrnera.

The latest booking at His Majesty's Theatre are November 9 to 18 for Meyri€ill and Gunn's Comedy Company. It will be remembered that these two gentlemen were through New Zealand a short time back with the Knight-Jeffries Company. Mr Meynell left Australia, for England recently with a view of securijif an attraction for the colonies. He has, no doubt, secured it. The New Zealand tour commences at Dunedin, and terminates in Christchurch. The much-discussed tattooed man, Paul Delano, who ha-s been on the Fuller circuit in the north, made his first appearance in Dunedin at the Alhambra on Monday evening. . The Royal Comics gave an interesting performance on Saturday last, when they staged "Florodora," with a new cast, in aid of the Royal Comio Opera. Sick Fund. Cast : Dolores, Miss Alexia Bassian ; Angela Gilfain, Miss Evelyn Scott; Tweedispuneh, Mr George Lauii; Frank Abercord, Mr Haigh Jackson; Arthur Donegal, Mr John Doran; Cyrus Gilfain, Mr Fred Leslie; Leandro, Mr Arthur Hunter. Dear Pasquin,— The Taylor-Carrmgton Company has just finished a successful season here, having played to crowded houses each night. The pieces played were "Barnes of New York," "Justice at Last, "My Sweetheart," and "Only a Vagabond." At the close of the season MiTaylor announced that the company would return to the Coast at an early date. I am sure it will be rewarded by the usual crowded houses.— Yours truly, Edie, Princess Theatre, Reefton. Dear Pasquin,— Pleased to inform you I have repeated my success here of three years ago ; have been retained three weeks longer. Sail for England; May 3, where I am booked up to April, 1907; then American season, and return here in January, 1908. Kindly remember us through your most interesting paper to all New Zealanders.— Yours sincerely, Chaelie Fanixg, Capetown. April 7, 1905. It will, of course, be some weeks before Mr Julius- Knight is able again, to resume his place with his company in Sydney. In the meantime his place is being filled by Mr Harry Plimmer, who has, as will be remembered, already appeared in many of Mr Knight s roles, and in "The Sign of the Cross" especially has made Marcus Superbus a very striking«fcharcter. Mr 'Knight's illness is all the more to be regretted in that it comes just on the eve of the production of "His Majesty's Servant," in which romantio costunn di-ama, as Geoffrey Mohun, he would have a ijart as well suited to him as Monsieur Beaucaire.

It was plainly a good managerial move to devote the remainder of Miss Tittejl Brune's season at the Melbourne Princess to a series of short reyivals of her best characters. In no case is this more noticeable than in the present production of "Sunday," which was enthusiastically received on Saturday week, the 13th inst. It was the piece in which Miss Brune made her first Australian appearance, and though in it she uleased all who saw her, she had. not then .established the firm hold on her public' as a tragedienne which she has since achieved. Her ability to deal with the lighter side of life, as exemplified in the character of the foster daughter of four lough diggers, was most heartily recognised by the audience. On the conclusion ©f her Melbourne season, the last two weeks of which will be devoted to "The 'Second Mrs Tanqueray," Miss Brune and her company leave for New Zeala-nd on an extended tour, in the course of which in all probability one or two more roles will be added to her repertoire. There is no question of the success of "The Cingalee"' in Sidney. Since its opening performance crowded and enthusiastic audiences have been the nightly rule, and each of the different principals seems to score a. separate and distinct individual triumph. One of the most gratifying among these triumphs is that of Miss Mai'garet Thomas, whose rendering of the part of Nanoya has been unequivocally described as the hit of the piece. Mr George Lauri makes Ohambhuddy Ramoneofhis funniest creations, and Mr John Doran as a newlight and Mr Claude Bantook as an old favourite have greatly distinguished themselves.

Mr Bert Royle has boolced a tour in New Zealand for Messrs Meynell and Gunn's Comedy Company, to commence at Dunedin early in November, aaad finish in Christohurdh at Ohristmae. Both Messrs Meynell and Gram had a proprietary interest in the reo&nt tour through New Zealand of the Knight-Jeffries Company. Mr Royle is endeavouring to arrange dates for a flying tour through the colony of Mr Andrew Mack, the Irish comedian and vocalist, and his company of players. Mr Mack scored a success in Melbourne in the play "Thomas Mooi-e," built round tlie life of the famous poet and wit. At latest advices the company were playing "The Road to Kiild&re."

Mre Robert Brough, in a letter to a Melbourne friend, writes : ' "Air Brough is making a wonderful recovery. The doctors are delighted with his progress, and assure me that lie will be a lot better than h© has been for a very long time — once he gets stiong again. The lungs are quite healthy and strong ; tlie hemorrhage wae from the small vessels about th© top of the> left lung and the throat. They were all terribly congested, and the great stress of work caused this trouble. But they positively assure m* it will give him great relief. The only thing is to wait patiently till the wound heals, whioh, of course, takes a little time. He has been a good patient, ac usual, but is longing to get back to work, but the doctors will not positively give a date for that."

Dear Pasquin, — At present we. are in the land of earthquakes and broken chimneys. It L« a. 27-mile drive here from Scargill, and! wo came in exactly 2hr oOmin. That is at the. rate of 11 miles an hour. The road is hilly, but tha way those horses spanked over tlie country was worth seeing. This is our record. The next fastest coaching was from Waipukarau to Povangahau, a. distance cf 28 niiks over hilly country —

three ho cure. What a comparison between this and tlis goldfields travelling. Tlier* tlie regulation speed seems to be from five to six miles an hour. On both our visits here we have been singularly unfortunate as regards wealher. Last night it simply poured, but, despite thai, th» people turned out well, and gave» us a good house. This last wpek we visited Leeston, Hornby, Belfast, Kaiapoi, Waikari, and Cheviot, and next week will visit Amberley, Sefton, Woodend, Rangiora, Oust, and Oxford. — Yours truly, Jno. Black. Cheviot, May 21. The cast of principals for the Hill-Birch opera, to be pro<hioed at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland on June 2&, now includes Mr Frett. Grarsm, the well-known comedian, formerly of Mr J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company. Mr Graham's services have been secured by epeoial arrangement with Mr John Fuller. The cast also now includes Mr Arohrfale- Taylor. The title of the new opera has been definitely announced as "A Moorish Maid." Rehearsals are in full swing 1 , and the authors have recured the services of Mrs MaloomsOn Boult in connection wifcli' the general produotion of the work. The wardrobe is in an advanced stage, and the scenery is practically ieady. The pldest English dramatist and_English actor in the-world,- Henry Thornton~Craven, is dead. -Mr-praveiv died l at Brixton on April 12, in hJ9 eighty-eighth year. Mr Graven joined a theatrical company when he was 22 years of age — that was in 1840. This company included Mr Leigh Murray and a Mr Lee Morton, who for years later appeared bsfore the London public as the author of "London Assurance, and was to obtain greater fame under his real naotne of Dion Bouckault. Mr Craven's thirty-third birthday he oeleb rated at" Covent Garden Theatre, where, on February 26, 1851, Macready took hi." farewell of the stage, playing "Macbeth" with a strong cast. The same year, under Copeland's management at the Strand Theatre, Mr Craven produced a burlefcta entitled "The Village Nightingale," and in 1852 undicrtook the stage management of the Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, maiTying, during this engagement, Miss Eliza Nelson, vocalist, and daughter of Sidney Nelson, the composer. The golden wedding- of Mr and Mrs Craven was duly celebrated three years ago. Subsequently he fulfilled an engagement at the Surrey, and in 1854- played a season at Plymouth, where the "stock" work gave him plenty of scope for industry. Mr Harry Plimmer, of Wellington, performed a remarkable feat in connection with his substitution for Mr Julius Knight as Villon "If I Were King" (says Sydney Mail). He received the MS. at 4- p.m. on Monday of last week. It is a long: and trying part, but h& had the first act off before the curtain rose, and all the critical portions of the second act, having 1 only to read the long sp-eeohee in that act. By next night he was "letter perfeot" throughout, and went on improving his performance through the week. On Saturday he gave an excellent interpretation of Rossi in "The Eternal City." He had rather a tendency to "sing-song" " clocutibn in the first speech in the street, but as the more intense dramatic situations arrived continued to enhance the value of his impersonation, and ££red repeatedly. Jessie jVTacLaehla-n, the Scottish prim* donna, asked what was the most exoiting moment of her life : This was the night that stands out clearest of all — the most glorious time of all. Hector Macdonald had, just returned sifter Omdurman, and there was a banquet given in his honour. The guests? Nearly all the ■ greatest names in London were represented. I sanp. Macdonald? Well, square-faced and strong — undoubtedly eLrong- * lam afraid lam not clever about descriptions, but I think he had as black hair as most Highlanders, and pieroing eyes. We talked long in Gaelic, which (with sly humour) is the language of the Garden of Eden.

Sydney Carden writes interestingly to the Referee from. London : -Whilst in Lonaon we had several Axistralian artistes call on us, amongst whom were Messrs Orlando Daley, Alberto, and! the Misses Helen Gibeon, Nina Osborne, eto. We have visited Spry and Austin, Spry and Monti, the Wcotwells, and Willy Gourley and wife. Willy Gourley is doing splendid. Amy Gourley has married a wealthy nephew of Lord Beresford, and retired from the profession. The first week we were in London we were invited behind at the London Pavilion 'by one. of tlie managers to see our Australian friends, Willy Gourley, Albeit Whelan^ and Alma Grey, all showing in the one bill. Hamilton Hill is on a Stoll tour, also his wife, Beanie Gellately, who has a lady partner, and they are known as the Oswald) Sisters. Mrs Hamilton Hill and Miss Florrie Forde alst have a millinery establishment near Brixton. Th» three sisters Marcarte liave a nice home at St. John's. Mr Arthur Collins sent us seats for the Drury Lane pantomime. From a spectacular point of view it was just magnificent. The principal boy was played by a beautiful woman. Tom Wootwell got an enormous salary for a thankless part. After ths first week nearly everybody's songs were taken out. One doesn't seem to see so many pretty chorus girls, like Mr Williameon's Australian comic opera girls. Nobody should go to London without they have plenty of money, or an engagement to go to. Times are bad there, and everybody seems to be booked up for the next two years to come. Writing in Vanity Fair, Mr Lionel Brough tays that he would rather play the Fiist Grave Digger in "Hamlet" than any ether Shakespearean part, "not even excepting that of Touchstone, which I love^. I have some amusing memories of the Grave Diggers' parts. ... I scored over 'Jemmy' Stoyle once at Liverpool. He was Finst Grave Dig-ger, and I a raw young second. From the- first, I may say, I always make the Second Grave Digger a lout, and net a senile old) fool. The First Grave Digger was always trying to chaff xne and upset me. But I had him on toast once. Ho was very keen about his lines, and getting all the humour he could out of thim. He had to say to me, 'Whafc is he that builds stronger than the mason, the shipwright, or ihe carpenter?' I ought to have replied, 'Marry, I jannofc tell," to whioh he responds with the answer. Instead of whiah, to his fury and disgust, I calmly replied. The grave digger, for the ■houses he builds last to the end,' etc., and I went on with my digging, thus cutting out all his fun. "Again, on the ooeasien of a revival of 'Hamlet' at the Lyceum Theatre, I played the part of Second Grave Digger, to the principal comedian's First Grave Digger. The approved and time-honoured business was the discarding of innumerable waistcoats

by the First, whilst the Second gazed in admiration on the senior. The first night the* scene 'went' admirably, and th© First was metaphorically shaking hands with himself when, to hi 3 horror, he turned round and, found that as he was discarding superfluous clothing, I, the ambitious recruit, was adorning myself to my own satisfaction and thai; of the British public with the unconsidered | trifles. Sequel to business : exit Second! Grave Digger, with fortnight's notice in pouch."

Mr Clautfe Whaite, astute representative "in front" for the Brough-Flemming> combination, forwards press excerpts of the company's productions, " The Walls of Jericho " and " Little Mary." In " The Walls of Jericho" (says a WesfValian critic) Mr Alfred Sutro has ostensibly attacked merely a minute section of society — that' very limited portion of th© English aristocracy who live purely for pleasure and selfish gratification, and by their actions proclaim that they have altogether forgotten that there can be no excuse or justification for an exalted social station unless those holding it put duty before selfindulgence and are an aristocracy in reality as well as in name- Mr Sutro's comedy may, however, be regarded not merely aa an exposure of a happily small fraction of highly-placed English society, but also as an object-lesson for all those who to the best of their opportunity set themselves to follow its example.

An "uncomfortable glay" Mr X M. Barrie calls it, but that, again, is one of his little jokes. "Little Mary" is a typical product of Mr Barries fantastic imagination. It has- few of the elements thai; usually go to make a successful play. As we come laughing out of the theatre we wonder (says a. Perth writer) what it is thafe has kept us enthralled for the past two hours — what was it that brought us almost to the verge of tears, and then, before w© had time to think, had convulsed us withi laughter. It has all been a joke. We know that. The author has laughed at us. When we thought he was pathetic, he must have been smiling- behind his hand. But was he? No sooner did we roar with. laughter than we a-gain felt half inclined to weep. The play itself is only the merest trifle. But round it and through it Mr Barrie ha« woven the golden thread of his own imagination, and has made of it a work of art which compels our wonder and admiration.

"Talking about incoherency of plot,'* said Mr George Lauri to an interviewer, "reminds me of an old story told of an American melodrama called 'The Emigrants.' In certain of the third-class theatres the audience like a dash of singing and dancing with their drama. Well, as they say there, I guess 'The Emigrants* could cough up the record. In one act a. portion of the emigrant train was supposed to be attacked, and the members murdered by Indians. After the massacre a, frantio brother and sister rushed on, and, gazing; round on the. corpses, cried : Father dead, and mother, too! it's enough to

make one praace, Well, we've just time for our little song and dance.

(Let her go, Professor!) I don't think we've quite x-eached that limit yet, but America is a great country, you know." One of the most amusing- incidents that ever occurred in a theatre was when the late Joseph Jefferson was playing Rip Van Winkle in a provincial town. He reached the theatre on this occasion tired out after a long day's fishing. When the curtain rose on the third act it disclosed the white-haired Rip still deep in his 20 years' eleep. Three, four, five, and even 10 minutes elapsed, but no sign of animation from Jefferson. The prompter waited patiently, thinking it some piece of new "business" on the part of the great man. Finally, an impatient voice from the gallery yelled out, "Say, is there goingto be another 10 years of this snooze busi»c€s?" This, and the fact that Jefferson wae now snoring, decided the prompter. He proceeded under the stage, and began, prodding Rip through a- small trap. The much-travelled comedian began to fumble in his pocket for an imaginary railway tioket, and muttered, " Going right through, colleotor," which, needless to say, struck the audience dumb with astonishment. An instant later Jefferson sat up with a loud shriek — the prompter had prompted hint with the sharp end of a property sword.

According to the London. Daily Telegraph many incompetent singers and instrumentalists are being duped by agents into paying- extravagant rates for concerts given at various concert halls in the great metropolis. With a view to informing musical "novices in search of fame of the proper charges that should be levied in connection with recitals, that journal has had inquiries made into the matter. It appears that for the hire of either Bechsfcein Hall or the JEolia.n Hall, advertisements in the- newspapers, printing, attendants, piano, and management fee of concert agent, from £30 to £35 will amply suffice, the smaller amount paying for a recital held in the afternoon. Recitals held in the afternoon either at Steinway Hall or the Salle Erard cost about £20, while for an evening affair an additional £2 would be required. From £70 to £80 should cover everything — save, of course, payment* to other artists engaged — for a recital at Queen's Hall, where the rent for the afternoon is £34 10s and for the evening £36 15s. With regard to the Beehstein Hall, ifc is mentioned that the inclusive charge for the hire of hall, attendants, and piano is 12gs for the afternoon and 14gs for the evening*.

Satements have been made recently to the effect that "Judith," which will be one of the new parts played by Miss Nance Neil during her forthcoming tour under Mr Williamson, is the work of an Australian dramatist, while yet another is to the effect that it is a translation from the Italian. As a matter of fact it is neither. The tragedy was written by a well-known American literary man, Thomas Bailey Aidrich, and is the extension of a long narrative poem on the same subject which is to be found in any edition of his works. Mr M'Keo Rankin some time ago was struck with its dramatic possibilities, and prevailed upon Mr Aldrich to adapt it for stage production. The result (a copy or two o£ which has already reached Australia) is a very fine effort, well sustained and well connected throughout, and the perusal o€ it leaves the impression that Miss Naneei O'Neil has been afforded a very fine opportunities in it for the fullest exercise of her undoubted histrionic talent. _ She and he£ company are already on their way hither, and their opening night is announced for the 17th June at Her Majesty's, bourneIt is. a curious fact that nearly all ths

pieces purchased by Mr .J. C. Williamson •within the . last few months are the work of other than English dramatists. "Verojiiqe" and "Les© P'tite Michous" are French in both libretto and score, <c Leah Kleschna" .is from the pen of a, New York writer (Mr TO. Ttf- S. M'LellandK and "The Freedom of •Suzanne** is adapted from the French — indeea, "Jly Lady Madcap" is the only allißritish piece in the list.

Comedian George Lauri tells a Sydney -interviewer that "the conditions under jvhieh the actor works and lives are now very -different from, say, the time -when the children in the North of England would yell out, 'Take in the washing, mother,, play actors T>e comin' !' when they saw a company entering a small provincial town. T. don't keep up a -regular correspondence with -royalty or nobility, but I understand »otors • now move in the -very best London society, and are entertained by Icings and queens. What was -my first jpart? £et me see. - 1 think it was an ioe cream, or a lobster. It must have been *n ice cream, because the press maintained a chilling eilence on my first appearance. I .was determined, .however, to get some candid eritir cisni- pn my so 1. persuaded' my cousin, Gharles" Lauri, to -go in -front, .and let me have Mb opinion -on my acting. He came round a'fterworofe fo, iScte -dressing--loom, where J juid ihe -obhsr rihiid-ren were "undressing. I Jnay remark .that my costume ,in Song' -Carr-ot' (the /pantomime in which "T areas _ perf crming) consisted principally of cotton wool, to represent the ice cream at .the top of the glass, and cotton -wool, as yn 3crroTC, "is not quite an ideal • material lor .summer wear, 'Well, how did I get on, Oharlie?' I remarked, when I wae once .more clothed) in jny right clothes. He .looked at. me with withering contempt, and said, "You'd betteaf give it ut>, George, you'll never make ?an actor.' 'Why, what's the matter.?' Tou don't feel your part or act up ±o it in any 'way ; the .perspiration is soiling off your laoe.' Charlie himself •shortly after .joined the company, in .the capacity of an ioe cream, lobster, or pugdog, I forget which, ,and -eventually -became. it is generally agreed, the finest animal actor in- England or America. I've seen many asses on the stages, but I think he -xeas the .greatest donkey I saw. At 3east, I thought so the last time I saw him an pantomime.

"Where did 1 make this celebrated first appearance? At the Grand Opera House, New York. Strange to say, Leon Caron, who is now our musical conductor, was a member -of "the orohe»-tra -there at the time. [A cable announces the death of Leon Caron. — Pasquin j When we afterwards romovea to Niblo's Gardens, Pete Hughes, now manager for Van Biene, was in front. Pete had not long- before fought valorously in the Civil War. No, I was not, born in America, Trat in Xondcn. You needn't mind the year. .H- people know my .age they may think "Tm getting too old to play juvenile jockeys, or boys in buttons, or perhaps say I ought to retire on my enormous savings. My father, John Laurie, for many years ran -a company of pantomimists. composed principally of members of his own family. "Charies Lauri, whom I previously mentioned, -fired, *as you doubtless know, a -year or iwo iaok. Teddy JLauri, now in Australia, is the only survivor besides myself of +he original JLauri family, who have been connected with the stage for generations, more or less. JVJy -early experiences were dn < drama, but my first big success was when I -.aoeompaniedi Marie Tempest jfcom England -to jilay Lurcher in the origanacl .American -production >of "[Dorothy.' a^his, wa±h Hassan, dn The Rosi* of Persia/ is my favourite part, mfter Jack I>oint, in The Yeoman of the Guard."' I remained in the States Sox some years, and I think I -may ,say J know them from A -fa> Z. When I tell -you I toured for ifive and: -a years *h©re with Hoyt's comedy, 'A Bunch of Keys.' 3»ou "may -fhmg I am -not exaggerating. It w" in America Mr WdrGamscn jfirst -saw me, -when I was .playing the Grand aiiqmsitor in 'The <3ondoKers."' He. thought I TTOuJd: £U -his Tbfll, fo I came *o JSfclbourne. «nd opened -with the late Billy «Elton m The •Mfsrry Monarch.' Well, Aexe H am -still, 14 years, laving ployed an -evvary xromic opera or musical comedy That Mr Williamson has since jorociuced."