THE GHOST WALK

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 68

THE GHOST WALK

Ths marvellous Howards sailed by the Aorangi for Canada. Madame Patti has been decorated in Paris with the Legion of Honour. A letter for Mr Valentine Vousd-en, the society entertainer, at this office. Mr Geo. Musgrove returns to Atickland by the next boat from San Francisco. Miss Nance O'Neil's leading men will be John G-lendenning and Chas. Millward. William Anderson's Dramatic Company departed by .the Wiimnera for Sydney on Saturday. "Everyman," the old morality play, was recently revived at the London Shaftesbury, with success. Stephenson's Musical Comedy Company ;s now showing at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne. How many things there are to latigh at in this world to the chorus girl who has pretty teeth and dimples! The clever American raconteur, George Fuller Golden, is repeating his Maoriland triumphs in Sydney.' Herr Yon Der Mehden, conductor of the band of Fitzgerald's Circus, has left for America novelty hunting. Miss Clara Butt and her husband, Mr Kennerley Rumford, are said to be contemplating a musical tour round the world. Miss Maud Beatty, Mr Winton, Mr W. F. Hawtrey, and Miss Austin are appearing with Rickards's Company at Sydney Tivoli. During the New Zealand lour of, Miss Tittell Brune and company, "La Tosca" and "Merely Mary Ann" will be added to the repertoire. Miss Elsie Beetharn, late of Stephenson'3 Musical Comedy Company, is now a member of John F. Sheridan's company, in Sydney. Miss Nance O'Neill's Australian repertoire includes "Magda," "La Tosca," "Queen Elizabeth," "The Fires of St. John," "Hedda Ga"bbler," and "Judith." The benefit werformance given by Mr J. C. Williamson's Royal Comics in Sydney in aid of the Royal Comic Opera Sick Fund resulted in a sum of £306 being realised. She: "Do you go to the opera much?" He : "Never." — "But I understood your wife to say you were passionately fond of Italian productions?" — "I am. I love macaroni." Mr M. B. Curtis has cabled from America cancelling the dates for Howard Thurston, illusionist and magician, who was to have opened at His Majesty's (Auckland) on July 8. Actor: "Hurry, or we'll miss the train." Actress : "I can't find my diamonds or my purse. Actor : "Oh, well, never mind. ' Actress : "Yes, but the purse had a. sixpence in it." It is reported that the latest musical sensation of America is provided by Mrs Murdoch, a diminutive lady, with a xhin, light voice, who dresses like a child and sings baby songs. Reported that Charles Warner, who will shortly tour Australia, has signed an agreement to appear in vaudeville in America with a condensed version ox his powerful play» "Drink." Mr August Juncker, who took over the baton freni the late Leon Caron with the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, has been permanently appointed to the conductorship of Williamson's orchestra. A Wellington message states that Miss Titell Brune scored a brilliant success at the Opera House on Thursday night in the opening performance of "L'Aiglon." There was an enormous house. A great musical college trust is proposed in America, with a capital of £500,000, and colleges in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. The presidency has b&en offered to Dr Flornce Zeigfeld, of Chicago. A wise of 10 guineas is offered by Mr Mark Hambourg to the British composer under 26 yeaa-s of age who shall write the best pianoforte solo in the form of prelude, nocturne 1 , barcarolle, romance, or scherzino. At the Melbourne Gaiety the iron-jaw marvels, the Reyes trio, are giving their clever turn. Miss Lizzie Kirk, the Steele Sisters, the Jones Brothers, and the rest of Mr F. M. Clark's New Folly Company are still at their posts. The demand for infant piodigies seems to produce a plentiful supply. The latest is Mischa Elman, a Russian Jew, 13 years of age, whose violin playing is said to be of the most astonishing technical and emotional maturity. In the United States legal authority has ruled that the use of so-called "stage money i 3 a breach of the statutes against counterfeit currency, and in all instances where money, either paper or gold, is produced on the stage, real money must be handled. Miss Mabel Lane has been compelled, on the advice of her medical adviser, to abandon her engagement for the New Zealand tour of Mr J. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company. Her place will be taken by Miss Loris Binghani, an artiste new to New Zealand playgoers. The Tamworth News is responsible for th« statement that Mr Alfred Dampier is suffering from paralysis, and that it is doxibtful if he will ever be able to face the footlights again. The news will be received with great regret by the countless friends of the popular actormanager. An interesting anecdote told of the early career of Mr G. B. W. Lewis, the veteran manager, is that when he was performing witM

ft circus in Bologna, in Italy, in 1861, the theatre, was "stuck up"' by banditti in the most «asy and matter-of-fact way. After the robbery the robbers ordered the performance to proceed, and remained to witness it. Harry Rickards made rather a strong admission this week (s£ys Melbourne Dramatic INews) when making his farewell' speeches at Melbourne Opera House. He stated that he found Australian artists superior to the -second and third rate ones he had brought out from England at times, and, therefore, intended in future only to import the strongest star turns. During the run of "The Cingalee" in Sydney Mr W. S. Percy, as the fiery and fussy little Governor, has shown how it is possible to make a small and unimportant part stand out by careful study and clever acting. Given the opportunity, a Punch writer is of the opinion that Mr Percy, who is one of ourselves, would succeed with distinction in a first-class comedy part. "The Sign of the Cross" was revived by the Maud Jeffries Dramatic -Company at Sydney Royal recently. The chief interest of the revival consisted in the fact that excepting for Miss Jeffries as Mercia the cast was practically quite new. Mr Plimmer filled Mr Julius Knight's role of Marcus, and made a very handsome figure in the imposing Roman robes. He played, too, with good effect, marred some- I what by excessive rapidity of utterance. j 'De Wolf Hopper's "Wang" was to play a small American town that "broke the jump" fcctween two larger places. The tall comedian *nd the local manager were having a friendly talk on things in general, when it occurred to the former 'to ask how mach of an orchestra was to be furnished by the house, in addition to -the-- one -carried by the company. "How many pieces have you in your orchestra.?" asked Hopper. ..."Two," replied the man, *'a piano and a- stool." 'The cast of principals in the Birch-Hil' opera, *"The Moorish Maid,", consists, with, two exceptions, of professionals, or ex-profes- ' eionals, and the' intelligent- work of the chorus promises to make their efforts better than average amateurs. Mr Fred H. Graham, who creates the chief comedian, role, is the only non-Aucklander connected with the' show. Consequently, should the opera, win the popularity that is hoped for it, the credit will reflect, upon Aucklanders generally. It was a small theatre in a small town. The piece opened "with a village scene, at the conclusion- of which the scene shifter was puzzled ' how to let down a- front -cloth, as a cottage on the stage obstructed the v descent. But the "leading gentleman" came to the rescue, and, walking boldly on, exclaimed: "It's a -stormy night, and my poor, humble cottage is sadly dilapidated; I must even take it and repair it.'\ Suiting the aeJjonVto the word, he walked off with the offending cottage. "Oh, Mr Binks," said the hostess to an amateur violinist at an evening gathering, "you play^ the violin, do you not?" "Yes, after a fashion, you know," was the modest reply. "How nice," murmured .half the company; "did you bring your violin with you?" "No, I did' not." "How nice," murmured the other half of the company— to themselves. The cast of the coming production of "The Gondoliers" -by the CnTistchurch Amateur Opera Company has now been settled by the committee. The characters will be sustained, as follows :— The Duke of Plaza Toro, Mr H. Hawker j the Duchess of Plaza Toro, Miss Field ; Casilda, Miss' Sharman ; Luiz, Mr Pyke; Don Alhambra del Bolero, Mr G. M. Hall; Giammetta,' Miss Chegwih; Tessa, Mrs *ooßaouvx^ .t»nv _'3I *H 'oraojny '.zysvpg vj Mr, Cropp ; Georgio, Mr Hebden ; Fiaminetta, Miss B. Densem; Giulia, Miss Smith; Marco, Mr G. Eiby ; Guiseppe, Mr J. A. Henderson. - Carl Hertz, who is at present playing an engagement at the Winter Garten, Berlin, has been having an exciting time of it in that city. The Berliner Tageblatt made an attack upon him in reference to his bird-cage trick, and demanded the interference of the police authorities of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The other papers followed suit, and in order to satis-'y the authorities the illusionist invited the entire press of Berlin and the officers of the society named to a special performance with the bird, which, had been marked with the private stamp of the society. The little creature was returned entirely unharmed, and the journalists and members of the society were satisfied that their accusations against Mr Herts were false. He has since received a, certificate from the president, and a complimentary letter, stating that the officials of the S.P.C.A. were satisfied that the bird was not injured in the trick. The controversy has been a huge advertisemont for Mr Hertz, and seats at the Winter Garfen •re reported to be sold out every evening. ,