THE GHOST WALK

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 61

THE GHOST WALK

SSina -Osborne was at lastest in London. SiohaHnßsburg is <to jhave .another .music .hall. 33itegeraia f <s Chcus luts -departed from Syd"nea .and jgone -on 'tour. - Miss cNBIHe Stewart- is appearing in "'^Pretty «ggy" *t Auckland. • w*uctevilfe -manager Frarik £!lar& las comTmenped operations in ''Syclrrey. - ' Miss JSffay Uleore IDaprez is Appearing a"t the South London JPalace, London. ■ Sflttk) J! ttcii, -comeaiaai, mtsSte liis farewell -appearance ot "fiyaney QHvdli on May -20. Miss Carris Moor* had 3crt iLxverpool, and mas at cSonihport -when last heard fe)m. .Glee :Srngers are ihie lo :commence m. .^sason 3n Melbourne 'on June *. 3Ges ASa, iEerrax juod. "G-eorge fi. Trfehemag* are iin Jfew ISTori Miss Marie IPempest. Miss IKazxe Lloyd has rrecovesea from hsT -recent olhress, *anS is wgarn appearing at the "** !ail«." "H>h« Eingalee" is 'proving ike "kind of pl»y -that "Ittwy era like— a piece wdth plerfiy of actimi an -it.—^raich.

:HaTry aSickards unit family leave for England by the India. Little Tieh sails by the eamc steamer. The Howard ZBrafherß iave left for America, ibut -will icfrurn *at ihe -end of next year to rejoin Wirths' Circus.

Stephenson's (George) Opera Co. produced «n Saturday >a new extravangaza, "Bill Adams"' 61 Waterloo. "The "Sisters, recently through .New Zealand, are jiow with Wallace's Vaudeville "Company, -touring Victoria. :Mx Ernest Fitts, popularly known here, is with the Gilbert and Sullivan Revival Opera Company j&t His Majesty's. The Leslie Bros, and the Five Delevines ■were in the programme of the Empire Theatre, -on *he 10th April. f?x&Bi IBkiett, *af ter -a long engagement -with ■Rdcksxflsts -companies, has joined Jim "Bain's Claieigr .Entertainers in Hobart.

Sir ,3:. BaJston, .lofce of Tom Opera 4C0., .is ia anenrbex -x>f tibe Gilbert and Sullivan ißevrvalists now showing at Hi 3 Majesty'^s. A irepToduction of Wm. Anderson* leading i»Ery,<fcliss -Ada, Guilfoxd, make® -the illustrated B»agßs in -fibis issue brighter for ler presence. The O'Meers Sistears, the Fiasettis, the Satarabos, " •Hietoricue," and "Olivette" leave Sydney on ffxme 3 <by -the -Omraz for England. 'Kara, "the juggler, who recently underwent »n operation ior appendicitis, was an inmate ■*f a :privale hospital in Sydney when the mail left. Miss isorah Kerin and George W. Ausoa

are starring in the English, provinces with Beerbohni Tree's production of "The Tempest.

The news of Paderewski's recovery from a.n attack of oerebro-spinal meningitis will be received with intense gratitude hy all lovers of •music.

Frea Patey, of the Williamson Dramatic Company, has been very ill with pneumonia, but is now convalescent and back in harness again. • Neva Carr-Glynn, who used to sing with Rickards' s shows, and who afterwards joined "Johnny" Sheridan's company, is m Cape Colony. Our fellow townsman, Herr Benno Schereli, now in London, was recently elected a member of the O.P. Club in succession to the late Phil May.

Miss- Nellie Stewart and the dramatic co. of which she is the "bnght particu-ir.r ' received a, warm welcome on the opening night in Auckland.

' Miss Rose Hamilton is starring in the London suburban Halls in a sketch entitled "Jack," founded on an incident in the life of Jack Sheppard.

Miss Lilian Digges, of the disbanded Williamson Musical Comedy Company, is in America, doing well with "The Duchess of Dantzic" Company. Tho condition of Mr Robert Brough, who was ta&en ill in Perth three weeks ago, is improving Mr Brougrh was suffering from htimoirhage of the, throat.

Madame Clara Butt and her husband, Mr Kennerley Eumford, contemplate a concert tour of the world. Both are leading English vodalists of long standing. The American actress Miss Tittell Brune, of whom we have .heard so much, will open with Williamson's Dramatic Company at Wellington on the 13th of next .month.

Mr J. G. Williamson has secured the Australasian rights of "Le Petit Michou," a new light opera, with the score by Andre Massager, and most .of the .libretto by M. Vanloo. Herr Yon Der Mehden, the cornettist and ■manager 'ior Fitzgerald Broß., has gone on a tour of America, England, and the Oontinent in search of novelties for next year's tour of the oireu*.

Information has been received in Wellington that the projected colonial tour of Kubelik this year has been abandoned, and the celebrated violinist will not tour New Zealand until next year.

With their southern triumphs full upon them, West's -Pictures and the Bres-cian Orchestra and Singers opened for a season in the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, last evening to a splendid house.

Mr Louis Bradfield is making his appearance at the Palace Music Hall, where, with the assistance of a choTus of girls, he sings his two successful songs, "Four little girls of Ceylon" and "Games."

Mr Frank Graham, the popular English tenor, who practised his profession as a music teacher in Auckland for some time, and who intended settling in Wellington, has decided ■to go instead to Christchurch.

Alberto, a Sydney boy, and a clever conjurer, who played «ngag-enients at most of the vaudeville houses in Australia, and afterwards proceeded to London, is doing well at private "At homes'' -and '"smoke nights." Tha Brough-Flemming Dramatic Company concluded a very successful -season in His Alajesty=s Hheaire, Perth, on Saturday, May 20, ■when "The Walls of Jericho" was repeated. Tie ccjnpany has ?inoe left for Kalgoorlie. According to -latest London files, Mdlle. JLntonia Dolores was received most enthusiasti- | .cally .at the concerts she recently gave in -Sud'a Peeth .antl Graz, .and 1 also in Vienna,Jn which latter city she .held three very successful 'conceris.

Mr A. J. W. Bunz, who left Christchurch two years ago to study Jtnusic in "Vienna, is •jnaking good progress, and has received high praise from' Ms master, the great Leschetitzky, -wx£h whom Paderewski spent the last three yjars of 'his fcourse of study.

It is reported from London that there is a probability ol legislation being enacted by the Imperial Parliament on the question of music piracy. A one^clause measure is likely to be adopted providing for a penalty lor every copy of pirated .music that may be seized. The cult >of Bach is showing signs of revival fn Paris, adhere a Bach Society .has been iormied 'for the exclusive performance -of his -works. It is significant that at the Concert Tsbji© a few "weeks .ago 'his Brandienberg Concerto -was actually encored and repeated.

The 'Cingale©" is doing great business at "Her Majesty's, .'Sydney. The acting and singing of Miss Thomas as Nanoya, and the sucoiesarttl efforts of Miss Rose Musgrove, TSx Irami. and SSt IPercy earn "hearty appreciation. "Miss JMiregrove is leading shortly for I»ondon. "Mr TTulras lias fallen a victim to "typhoid fever, and is at present in b, private ■hospital in Sydn-ey. liatest »accotints say that be is seriously, imt not dangerously, ill. It is tmlikely 'that he will appear again this season Tvifh the Dramatic Com,psmy.

"Mrs Patrick; "Campbell and Madame Sarah "Bera-haxctt :axe io acppeax "together in. s. -series of performances »f "Peilias and "Melisjmd-e," .and 3ttaQame Senfhardt ""-wiLl j)lay 13i« male "part. ' Thwe is no doubt wisQoxn in this. Mrs Campr beYl as a -principal bey scarcely appeals 'to th« amaEirnrtioii.

A-rrdersbn's ■^parritomime has now .gone Weswards with Alf. Stephens (for so Toaxiy years with tPollards) -as leading comeflimi ■in -alace ol "Pre 3 ".GraShaTn." By the "way (says X!ritic) Elaine EayenßherE contecaicts the rumour "fliat she •will join !Rickards's company in fhe near future.

Mr John Sheridan commences a season &t the Sydney -Criterion -on Jamc 10, -when ihe iritenSß Tiroducing an American -comdc opera -entitled "King Ttodo." "The services of Miss "Maud Amber -and "Mr Winfieia 'Blake, late of £he> Aimwdcan "Trsrvesty Stars, hay* ! been •secured far -the season.

-Mr Carden "Wilson, the clever mimic, and Six Frank -Hawthorne, a. "capable actor -Who has p'layetl with many -companies iShroTigh. New Zealand, arrived from Sydney under engagement to Mr P. R. ©ix. It is the intention of •fhe 'two »rtists to give character sketches of •well-known actors in -successful plays.

Tftr -vteotge "Muagrove has ±itimated to Messrs Hill anS 3irch, of Auckland, his intention -of being 'present to witness the prevmiere 'of 'their -new -opera. ~Sfi.r 'Michael Joseph, .representing T!lr William Anderson, who con--iorminK a. musical comedy, or ope-■r-fttic xtirrfbination, will also T)e present.

The Watkin Mffls •'Concert Party *ray* its -first Australian ■concert at Perth, before an -exoeUenrt Amiisncß. 'The *ba3so himself received -a waini welcome, and proved to be in good voice. Of the newcomers, Miss Gertrude Lonsdale wa-s specially singled out for favour, wind ds said to have a beautiful contralto voice.

My 'Cuyler 'Hastings has reached London, and was -waiting at dttte -of last advices for an opening. "Mias Roxy 'Barton, who .played the leaS in the farcical comsdies under -the Wil-lcughby-Geach management, and Mr Cyril Keigfetley are now with Mi F. U. Benson's Shakespeare ißepertoire Company, touring the •English iprovinces. A "troupe of French -acrobats not 'long since performing in London consisted of an Irishman, an American, an TCnglishxnan, a Greek, and one Frenchman, who was 'born m Algiers !

Mr Owen Hall says that an ii'isiiccessful musical comedy probably means a loss of .+20,000 to those concerned, while a Buccei3£ must be worth £100,000 or more.

Madame Melba, who has returned to England from her recent American tour, states thai in Chicago she received the following letter from an American schoolboy : "Please send along a ticket for your concert tc-mght, for I have heard you on the gramophone, and want to know ii you can really get in all those trills." The boy got two free passes.

George Lauri tells how he struck out for himself: "I had a great weakness for the Dime Museum, where the freaks were exhibited, so I applied to the manager for an engagement as a dwarf. 'Why,' he said, 'you are twice as high as any dwarf I've had here for years.' 'That's just the point,' I rep'.ied: ' I'm the largest dwarf in the -world!' " Remarkable developments have occunvd m connection with the strike of theatrical managers and dramatic autEors- caused by the refusal of the Prefect of Madrid to allow theatrical, performances to be protracted until 1 o'clock in the morning. The Prefect has fixed half-past 12 as the limit of time. Two thousand families of actors and actresses and others are tirus left without means of subsistence.

Ailists showing at Sydney Tivoli: — Max Milian, Mr Nat Travers, Mr Im. F. Hawtrey and Austin, Miss Win, Miss Alice Pierce, Mdile Alice Gucrra, Mr Irving Sayles, Bell and Delroy, Mr Wai Robins, Kearns and Rosslyn, Lynda Davis, Dolly Keldie and Millie Fielder, Miss Hilda Lane, Miss Daisy Sylvester. "Mias Maggie Fraser, the Smith Sisters, Mr Gea Dean, .Mt Lai Logic, Mr tvrnest Wiseman Mias Eva Lee.

Mr J. L. Toole has resolved to erect a memorial stone over the grave in Highgate Cemetery of his old friend and faithful comrade, the late John Billington. Mr Billington's connection with Mr Toole -was when both were ripe in years and experience. In 1882 the Folly Theatre was re-named Toole' s, and Mr Billington was one of the comedian's company there during the concluding years of Mr Toole's appearance on the stage.

The clever and attractive O'Meers Sisters introduced a decided novelty into their marvellous tight-wire performance in Wellington in the shape of a race on a low wire set up on the stage in the form of a square. -Along this wire the performers ran with remarkable speed, and one of them easily distanced an intrepid person who essayed to run against her on a slightly longer course on the boards of the stage.

Palmerston North's fine new Opera House is almost completed, and the contractor (Mr James Trevor) states that the building should bs out of his hands by the end of next month. The completion of this handsome building will give the flourishing centre of the Manawatu district one of the finest theatres (outside the four cities) in the colony. The erection of such a substantial house of entertainment is justified by the number of first-class companies that visit the town.

The marriage of Miss Ada Crossley to Dr Prances Muecke took place at the Marylebone Parish Church on the 11th April. A bridal song was composed specially for the occasion by Mr George Clutsam, and was sung by 12 friends of the "bride. After the -wedding ceremony a reception was held at the Great Central Hotel. Miss Crossley will not re-appear ou the concert platform until the Ist June, when she will sing at the Patti concert at the Koyal Albert Hall.

J. W. Winton a few nights ago made a record for Australia (says Punch), for he made vu l j a list of 3000 performances, given in Sydney and Melbourne. Mr "Winton (and, of course, M'G inty) arrived "in Australia in 1894, and has appeared for nearly eight years. Since his arrival he has -taken a few holidays, of course, and has visited England and America. To the latter country he shortly goes again, but only for a moderately long sojourn, as he has made arrangements to return to Australia, "which he now regards as home. Mr Frank Luwtan, who came to England with "The Belie of New York," was such a success that he has remained. He has (says a London, paper) appeared' at the Stratford Empire. Lawaou is unquestionably t-h* greatest whistler on or off the stage. He is also a fin-e banjoist, clever with the 'bones, handy with a month-organ, anS a most graceful dancer; and last, but T>y no means least, an all-round good fellow. "Whistle," says Mr Lawton, "and you will never have a double chin." Xiawton visited Australia with the firat "Trip to Chinatown" Company.

The late Charles Arnold was of Swiss descent. His wife, Dot Frederic, -was the daughter of Br Morrison, .an American, who practised in Sydney for nrany years. His daughter Edna (says Critic), who -made *n Australian .appearance in" "An Empty Stocking," ■a "tearful little -fore-runner ol" "What Happened "to {Torres," is 14 years old. Arnold made his "first 'hit with Minnie Palmer at the Strand Theatre, London, 'though he had played .through America previously without setting the country on fire. After "his success with "Miss Palmer, 'he sent an order to 'Clay M. Greene for .a play, and Greene wrote 'him "Hans'ih-E "Boatman," and the boatman steered '.him towards v "fortune.

"Mr -Geor,g» Robey contributes an article in -the. first nurabeT of "Ideas" (London), entitl-ed, "Are Music Halls Vulgar?" In this the comedian writes : " Vulgarity on .the music-hall stage is as dead as a mastodon or a dodo." However, Mr Robey, -who recently excited -considerable discussion by 'his views on principal •"boys," has something .to say on the survival of -tights. The "prime minister of mirth" remarks : "Another .old-fashioned institution trf "the jrrosic -hall which, -if scarcely shocks many 'good people is tights. Tights, I may say, in my opinion, are no longer cared for 'by the majority of the people. A girl playing a masculine part looks much more becoming in Knickerbockers."