THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2686, 6 September 1905, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquist. ; TUESDAY,. September 5. »-The- New Zealand friends of Mr Clarence Vajighan, for many years a mem- ' toer of Pollard's .Opera Company, will regret to learn of his death, which took plaoa in -'Sydney recently, of pneumonia." DeCeased was about 30 "years of age, of a quiet *nd , retiring.- disposition*' respected by all i the 'members •of £h© opera company with i (Which he was connected. ' r - It hag been suggested to the \Yellington i 'Amateui- Operatic Society that the next i production should be "Rip Van Winkle." i JL'he scenery painted by Leader Williams I for the Dunedin Society could, I have no ( doubt, he secured by th© northern body if \ .they had designs on Planquelte'e opera. i

It lias been, freely reported that the Master Magician Thuxsfcan, whom Edwin Geach . is managing in the Commonwealth, was not ■ coming to- New Zealand; but of the truth of this there ' some reason for doubt, as dates are being booked for the' clever en- . tertainer early next year. With the departure for other parts of -Miss-Beatdce English, the talented soprano who hails from Bendigo, where she sang in company with Amy Castles, the Aihambra ■ Theatre loses its star vocalist. No opiov balladist at the theatre has given so uiuoh g«nuir. pleasure as the departed Bendija vccalist. Two -companies; — Stephenson's and -Sheridan's—commence a New Zealarid tour at Duaedin on December 26." ' As both are - playing musical comsdy, and 1 certain to clash with, their productions, one or other should endeavour to alter dates. The Matsa Vaudeville^Co.. which is billed as an "all star" combination, is a new show organised to exploit the country,. The co. k headed by -Professor Walker (direct from America), ■who' is spoken of as "the Emperor of Mystery,-. 4.rt. and Magic," and includes Miss "Lorua De Lena, the Australian.- soprano ; the cleyar jugglers and acro-bats-the Sextans; "Miss Harrie Alexander, - the Australian, soiira.no ; George Warsaw, baritone; Rose Carlton, serio and dancer; Will .dement, coon warbler; and Tom ■Dyer,, comedian. Mr Tom Ford is tounnar manager, and Mr Harold Leslie business manager. _ The Diamond Duo. showing at the temple of vaudeville in Dowliag street, aro .next to the Stewart trio of bellfingers, the bright ' feature of a well-organised show. Eva and Evelyn know something more than the averiage about; stage -Business.' When' sq much is average, - nowadays, this is a. oircumstauoo which should not be lost sight of. In addi-t-ictn to playing the 'mandolin and dancing 1 attraotively, Eva-r-or is it Evelyn.? — possesses -a -contralto voico of good "quality. "TJi-a.'next big attraction to appear at tlxe :Alhanibra, on Saturday, September 9, is -that of Boaita, the champion lady "'rifle shot, ai«r Carlos, the - humsai target, off whose head -the female", "William Tell" performs some wonderful feats of shooting. Ot Bonila-'s performance "Jacques," in, the . Tasnianian Weekly Courier, says :— Booiita. inn wonderful rifle shot, is a charming little JVlpxican girl, who holds her audience spellbovind with Jier remarkably shooting. She 1 never misses the "bull's-eye," and fires her 1 rifle from various positions and distances. Consist&nt with their policy of quick : changes, Fuller's 'Entertainers have yot several- other big attractions for the delao- * tation of patrons of the Aihambra Theatre. ' Billed a s the "Sensation of the Century " is ' • Cleopatra, the serpent enchantress, who ; charms and performs with giant anacondas, ■ \ African pybhons, and boa constrictors. The ■ frpent .enchantress is also "to appear at the ' Ihambra on Saturday, September 9. ] An instance of Mr J. C. Williamson's carefulness and attention to detail is ■ afforded in connection wifh the elaborate : scenery for "The dngalee"— perhaps the j tnGsi artistic gets that have been seen oji the^ Australian stage. In order that the ] original scenery used in the Sydney proAuction might be preserved as fresh as p^s- | . cible for the Melbourne season, h© had tin- i J other touring set painted for the Adelaide j i and West Australian visit, a replica in J every particular of ' the first set. The ' i "Cingalee" turns upon the adven- j rures of Chambuddy Ram, an Anglicised ] Hindu, and xipon the love affairs of Harry i Vereker, an English tea planter, and ( Nanoya, a Ceylon maiden. But, as usual 1 in musical comedies, the plot is of minor i importance, and its chief features are the c abundance of humour supplied by such ' i artists as Messrs George Lauri, W. S. ' ] Percy, Claude Bantoek, and Miss Evelyn < 1 Scott, the melodious lyrics sung by Miss 3 Margaret Thomas, Mr John Doran, iwo * vocalists who have yet to make their Mcl- j "* bourne reputation, and Mi Haigh Jackson, I r and last, but by no means, 'east, "the gor- * gtous character of the two scenes— a tea <• plantation, in Ceylon, and a rajah's palace * by the Lake of Kandy, the Oriental attnos- a pbere and ihe lavish dressing and mounting * generally. t The Knight-Jeffries Company are at pre- ' cent experiencing their usual run of nopu- § larity in Perth, whei'c? they staged "The 9 | Darling of the Gods," oi Monday last, to a a very appreciative audience. From West * Australia they return to Melbourne, opening with "His Majesty's Servant." c 1 The 'eading theatrical manager of Aus- c tralia-, Mr J. O. Williamson, celebrated the v sixtieth anniversary of his birth on Saturday, August 26. Born in Mercer, Pennsyl- £ vania, he went oil to the stage when only £ 16 years old, in the Western Statee of x America. After playing a year in Canada, he spent seven years at Wallack's Theatre, T New York, and for four years was principal comedian at the California Theatre in c San Francisco. It was in. 1875 that Mr Williamsoin first came to Australia, on a j starring tour; then he returned in 1879 to I „ settle. £ More than one member of tfae profes- a sion has made the assertion that a Dunedin theatrical audience is hard to please. In x< fact, some have gone as far as to express y bh>e opinion that the artist or company giving satisfaction to the full will pass tl muster in any part of ihe world. Not that d we are better critics than A §aj,_ pur Alts- h

tialian or American cousins, but wo \ evt coo much for our money. Cherhaii'.'iig 1 borne old papers the other day (writes a correspondent), J came across a programme of i the initial concert 'given in Dunedin by tho I De Muiska Concert Co., on April 26, *1876. , The charges for admission w ill. I believe, ' open the eyes of some of fclie rising genera - J tion. A circle ticket cost 10s. stalls ss, pit 2s 6d. Box, lower tier. £3, tipper tior, £ 2. The old Queen's Theat ro wfi' crowded at thes? prices, and the audience, it i<; believed, considered the attraction fully worth ihe I money paid. Perhaps tho people h?d more \ money in those day.*. Speaking cf De Murska, "What a \oice! It was one of I phenomenal range, beautiful ficxibil'ty and ! quality. In opera scenes this Hungarian nightingale, who was then described as the greateM. living vooalist of her day. and the only legitimate successor of Jenuy Lind, gave evidence of possessing undoubted originality, versatility, and magnetic of delineation. She T\as i'orgivou much for j her voice. Her temperament, her lovo of • a menagerie, her Teutonic pronunciation, in "Comin' thro' the rye." and other slight peculiarities were placed aside by her ad-mir-ers. And yet, after all, this cantatrico j died of a broken heart and in indigent circumstances. This through no fault of her own. Associated with D& Murska were Hosnati the great tenor, whe died in Milan in 1884 ; Susini, the basso from Covent Garden, and who in his younger days was considered to be the coming successor of Lablache. He was run over by a cab in .London in 1884. Giammosa was, the flautist of the 00., and Maestro Strauss Ilia (Jack Hill) was the accompanist. The. season of Mr Andrew Mack in Sydney, which, it will be remembered, was prolonged from seven to ten weeks, has proved every bit as popular as did the Melbourne visit of the young Irish American singing comedian. Curiously enough, "Jack Shannon" was the most successful piece staged there, and so much appreciation did it win that matinee attendances were"' almost, if not quite, as good as the evening performances. In Melbourne it was "Tom Moore" that gained the popular verdict. Mr Mack brings his experience to an end with a visit to Brisbane. Miss Beatrice Holloway is the next unfortunate member of \ the profession to be laid aside with sickness. Miss Holloway vras at latest in an hospital in Melbourne. Still another member of the talented Castles Family will shortly make her appearance cii the Australian stage in the person of 'Miss Eileen Castles, the third sister in a redoubtable trio. She joins the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, to follow, it is hoped, in the- footsteps of Miss Dolly Castles. Miss Eileen Castles has already made a favourable impression on the Melbourne concert platform. In appearance she is remarkably like her eldest and bestkitown sister, Miss Amy Castles. Miss Gertie Campion, her sister, and her mother left for their Melbourne home by the Athenic, which sailed from Capetown on the 21st ult. (writes my Johannesburg correspondent). When Mrs Campion arrived in Johannesburg early in the month, she consulted the best medical advice, and as this ■was to the effect that Miss Gertie could undertake the voyage to Australia without ill consequences, that, given a fine passage, it ■would be more beneficial than otherwise, the departure of mother and daughters was hastened, in order that they might travel in the liner above named, which is considered one of- the most comfortable steamers in the service. _ Miss Campion has had a long and trying time of it here, and her friends are hopeful that the sea air will have the beneficial influence on her health anticipated by the doctor that last examined her. It is the intention of Miss Kitty Campion, the untiring nurse to her sister throughout the most exacting period of her sickness, to seek a professional engagement on reaching Australia. Miss Kitty has all the"' talent of her elder sister, and should soon make her mark on the stage. Tha Sass-Nelson Company, of which Mr Reynolds Dennistan is a member, is now at Blcemfontein. Tho company disbands when it r-eaches East London .iext month. Mr Deruiiston has not yet decided on bis movements. < Mr J. H. Tait, ot Melbourne, who is at present touiing the colony with Herr Hugo Plcsorniann, is the director of Princes Court, Melbourne, where all sorts of side shows of the latest and most unique kind are locat&d. An interview between the Ceremonial and Entertainment and the Side Shows Committees of the Christchurch Exhibition has been arranged, with a view of seeing if any of the novelties ran be brought here during the progress of the Exhibition. Madame* Melba's kindness and thoughtfulness in organising a benefit operatic per- j formance for Mdile. Bauermeister. who has had a stage career of close on half a cen- , tury. was the means of crowding Coveut Garden Theatre with a fashionable audience last month. The King and Queen had taken a box, although tinable to be present. The performance consisted of acts from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" and Puccini's "La Boheme," Madame M-elba being the heroine in each. Caruso, Miss Elizabeth Parkina, Dalmores, etc., were amongst the afternoon's singers, and the veteran contralto herself appeared as the nurse in Gounod's onera. At the close of ' the performance MdTle. Bauermeister had ' to make a speech. Madame Melba heaping floral offerings into -her arms, and holding a bunch of roses above her head, &o that kill tho curtain went down she appeared | the star. Madame Melba always calls Mdlle. i ' Bauermeister her "maecotte/' and has a great admiration and affection for this \ 3inger, who has supported in minor parts ■ almost every "star" who has been before ] the operatic public for many years past. At the Bankruptcy Court (London) re- ! eently, the creditors met under the failure | " of Mrs Cora Urquhart Brown -Potter, the ! '< well-known actress, who recently filed her ■ i petition, describing herself as late of the j : 3avoy Theatre and of Bray Lodge, Maiden- I < head, now of Savoy Court, Strand.— The > i Dhairman reported that it appeared from i 1 the debtor's statements that "her earnings '■ on the stage had been £3000 to £5000 a I pear. On August 1 last she was undoubtedly < solvent, and out of her capital she then pur- i :hased about five acres of land at Maiden- - aead, upon which she built Bray Lodge, ! i x>gether with stables. Subsequently she ' 1 purchased Thamesfield and the Den. She r ?stimated her total outlay on the property 1 it £15,000, and she had mortgaged it to * ;he extent of £13,507. Part of the money so < •aised was required for her production at 1 he Savoy Theatre of "Pagliacci," which * lid not prove a financial success. As to ( he play "Dv Barri," which was also pro- c luced at the Savoy, the d&btor stated that I iev late solicitor w#a concerned sdih the *

j money in those clays. Speaking cf De Murska, "What a \oice! It was on-e of I phenomenal range, beautiful ficxibil'ty and ! quality. In opera scenes this Hungarian nightingale, who was then described as the greateM, living vooalisfc of her day. and the only legitimate successor of Jenuy Lo'nd, gave evidence of possessing undoubted originality, versatility, and magnetic i-iower of delineation. She T\as i'orgivou much, for i her voice. Her temperament, her lovo of • a menagerie, her Teutonic pronunciation. ' in "C'omin' thro' the rye-" *wm3 other slight peculiarities were placed aside by her admirers. And yet, after all, this cantatrico died of a broken heart and in indigent circumstances. This through no fault of her own. Associated with D& Murska were Hosnati the great tenor, whe died in Milan in 1884- ; Sitsini, the basso from Govent Garden, and who in his younger days was considered to be the coming successor of Lablache. He was run over by a cab in .London in 1884. Giammosa was, the • flautist of the 00., and Maestro Strause Ilia (Jack Hill) was the accompanist. The, season of Mr Andrew Mack in Sydney, which, it will be remembered, was prolonged from seven to ten weeks, has proved " every bit as popular as did the Melbourne visit of the young Irish American singing comedian. Curiously enough, "Jack Shannon" was the most successful piece staged there, and so much appreciation did it win that matinee attendances were"' almost, if not quite, as good as the evening performances. In Melbourne it was "Tom Moore" that gained the popular verdict. Mr Mack brings his experience to an end with a visit to Brisbane. Miss Beatrice Holloway is the next unfortunate member of \ the profession to be laid aside with sickness. Miss Holloway v/as at latest in an hospital in Melbourne. Still another 1 member of the talented Castles Family will shortly make her appearance cii the Australian stage in the person of 'Miss Eileen Castles, the third sister in a redoubtable trio. She joins the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, to follow, it is hoped, in the- footsteps of Miss Dolly Castles. Miss Eileen Castles has already made a favourable impression on the Melbourne concert platform. In appearance sb-e is remarkably like her eldest and besttitown sister, Miss Amy Castles. Miss Gertie Campion, her sister, and her mother left for their Melbourne home by the Athenic, which sailed from Capetown on the 21st ult. (writes my Johannesburg correspondent). When Mrs Campion arrived in Johannesburg 1 early in the month, sheconsulted the best medical advice, and as this was to the effect that Miss Gertie could undertake the voyage to Australia without ill consequences, that, given a fine passage, it would be more beneficial than otherwise, the departure of mother and daughters was hastened, in order that they might travel in the liner above named, which is considered one of- the most comfortable steamers in the service. Miss Campion has had a long and trying time of it here, _ and her friends are hopeful that the sea air will have the beneficial influence on her health anticipated by the doctor that last examined her. It is the intention of Miss Kitty Campion, the untiring nurse to her sister throughout the most exacting period of her sickness, to seek a professional engagement on reaching Australia. Miss Kitty has all the"' talent of her elder sister, and should soon make her mark on the stage. The Sass-Nelson Company, of which Mr Reynolds Denniston is a member, is now at Blcemfoniein. Tho company disbands when it reaches East London .l-ext month. Mr Deruiiston has not yet decided on bis movements. Mr J. H. Tait, ot Melbourne, who is at present touiing the colony with Herr Hugo Plcsorniann, is the director of Princes Court, Melbourne, where all sorts of side shows of the latest and most unique kind are locat&d. An interview between the Ceremonial and Entertainment and the Side Shows Committees of the Christchurch Exhibition has been arranged, with a view of eeeing if any of the novelties can be brought here during the progress of the Exhibition. Madame* Melba's kindness and thoiightfulness in organising a benefit operatic per- j fcrmance for Mdlle. Banermeister. who has had a stage career of dose on half a cen- , tury. was the means of crowding Coveut Garden Theatre with a fashionable audience last month. The King- and Queen had taken a box, although unable to be present. The performance consisted of acts from Gounod's "Romeo and Juliet" and Puccini's "La Boheme," Madame Melba being the heroine in each. Caruso, Miss Elizabeth Farkina, Dalmores, etc., were amongst the afternoon's singers, and the veteran contralto herself appeared as the nurse in Gounod's onera. At the close of ' the performance MdTle. Bauermcister had ' to make a speech. Madame Melba heaping floral offerings into -her arms, and holding a bunch of roses above her head, so that till tho curtain went down she appeared | the star. _ Madame Melba always calls Mdlle. i ' Bauermeister her "maecotte/' and has a great admiration and affection for this \ singer, who has supported in minor parts ■ almost every "star" who has been before ] the operatic public for many years past. At the Bankrupt*^ Court (London) recently, the creditors met under the failure | " of Mrs Cora Urquhart Brown -Potter, the J '> well-known actress, who recently filed her i i petition, describing herself as late of the j : Savoy Theatre and of Bray Lodge, Maiden- ! < head, now of Savoy Court, Strand. — The > Chairman reported that it appeared from i 1 the debtor's statements that her earnings '■ on the stage had been £3000 to £5000 a i year. On August 1 last she was undoubtedly < solvent, and out of her capital she then pur- i chased about five acres of land at Maiden- - head, upon which she built Bray Lodge, ! i together with stables. Subsequently she ' 1 purchased Thamesfield and the Den. She r estimated her total outlay on the> property I it £15,000, and she had mortgaged it t-o * the extent of £13,507. Part of the money so <■ raised was required for her production at 1 the Savoy Theatre of "Pagliacci," which * 3id not prove a financial success. As to ( :he play "Dv Barri," which was also pro- < luced at the Savoy, the debtor stated that I iev late solicitor w#a concerned sdilj the a

, production. No statement of affairs was hitd, but the debtor estimated her liabilities at £18,366, of which £2451 were returned a< imsccmcd, and said that there were alsc contingent liabilities amounting to £5000 in connection with the production of "Dv Barri." The assets were estimated to produce £9864, in addition to which the debtor owned shares in certain companies. Apparently her a=ssts were more than sufficient to meet her liabilities, but the Official Receiver understood that property valued by the debtor at £21,750 had recently been put up for auction, and the reserve figure of £^000 was not offered. — The case went into bankruptcy. Mr bcrc Iloyle. representative for Mr J. C. Williamson in New Zealand, has received a letter from Mrs Hughes, wife of the lafe Mr "Pete"' Hughes, stating that she will leave Sydney for America shortly. She states she has not been in a condition to answer the numerous letters of condolence received from New Zealand after her recent bereavement, and asks Mr Royle to express through the press her appreciation of the kind feeling that 1 eompted the many messages she received. The many friends of Miss Gertie Campion will be glad to know that most encouraging news regarding her health has been received privately m Christchurch in the past few daj's. "We are all at homo again once more,"' Miss Campion writes to a friend from Melbourne, •'"'and truly I did not think I ever should get here. . . . I am looking well and gaining in weight." Miss Campion's cough still troubles her to some extent, and she intends to sleep in the open during the warm weather, but it is quite evident from her letter that she is well on towards complete recovery. The clever musical artists, the Stewart Trio, now playing at the Aihambra Theatre, leave for Christchurch n-ext Saturday, and open in that city the same evening. Another first-class lady vocalist- is to appear at the Aihambra Theatre on SaturcUij evening next, Miss Lillian Barrington, a sister of Harry Barrington, the well-known stage manager of the Sydney Tivoli. A man named John Hyland, said to be a nephew of the proprietor of Hyland's Circus, was found dead in his bed at the Albion Hotel, Napier, on. Monday evening. There was a bullet hole in the man's head, and a revolver loaded in all but one chamber was in his left hand. It is supposed to be a case of suicide. As hinted, Mr J. C. Williamson has now finally decided to extend the repertoire of the talented Gilbert and Sullivan Company to take in four more of the less-known, but just as attractive, examples of the work of the famous collaboration. These new pieces will be "Princes Ida,"' "Utopia Limited," "Trial By Jury," and "The Sorcerer," the last-named two will, as usual, constitute a double bill, and rehearsals for both of them have already begun, and they will probably be performed during the forthcoming visife of the company to Adelaide and West Australia. Of "Utopia Limited"' little is known in Australia, but Mi Frank Wilson, the baritone, who was a member of the cast when the opera was produced at the Savoy, speaks in very high terms of praise both of the libretto and score, and, indeed, goes co far as to say that personally he never wishes to have a better part than the one alldtted to him. In all probability the Western trip of the company will be followed by a ceason in Sydney, but arrangements to chat end have not yet been completed. Thirty years ago read.iugs, recitals, and even dramatic performances taken from the works of Charles Dickens were more frequent in Dunedin than now. Programmes of amateur societies, especially, were not considered complete without the inclusion of an item or two chosen from the books of this writer. Well rendered, the portrayals were always appreciated, and often- j times associated with known persons. In j the colonies, as a rule, the present generation meet with few of the type of mankind depicted in the days of Dickens. Still, the class exists In oui larger centres, where likenesses are seen, and opportunities occur, of comparing so-and-so with such-and-such a character. During- the racing carnival weak at Flemmgton, especially on Melbourne Cup clay, an observer may see- a typical Sairy Gamp. a Winkle, a Weller, and even a Buzff z. Many theatre-goers of the early seventies will remember the performance of the Press Amateur Dramatic Club in the trial (scene "Bardell v. Pickwick" (a little altered from Dickens) at the .Princess Theatre. The cast included, amongst others. Messrs Buchanan, Bracken (New Zelaand's poet), _ Perrier, Wilson, Humpries, Cuming, Nichols, and Utting. A host of literary exponents. The writer particularly remembers 1 Wilson, who played Pickwick. Poor "Bob" in those days was not troubled with obesity. In fact, he was not by any means "massive." Upon tha whole, no fault could be found with his rendition of the lines, but it was the dressing of the character ■which called forth a certain amount of adverse criticism from a section of those sitting in the auditorium, and who could not reconcile the appearance of the player with the accustomed portrait of the little portly gentleman. "But it is a sad sorrow to judge of a departed brother. Speaking of amateurs, most of the members of the old Sheridan Diamatic Club, appearing in 1874-5 at the old Dunedin Lunatic Asylum, which was situated on the site where the Boye' High School now stands, will be remembered. The club's repertoire included "Checkmate," "The Area Belle,"' "Slasher and Crasher," "Bombastes Furioso," "The Turkish Bath," etc. On the performing membership list we find the names of the Hon. W. F. O. Carncross, M.L.C. (now proprietor of the Eltham Argus), C. M. Whittington (now proprietor and editor of the Waipawa Mail, Hawk&'s Bay), Charles Umbers (of the Telegraph Department), T. Currie, E. Morris, W. Spence, L. Whittington, J. Nightingale, and J. M'Cubbin. C. M. Whittington generally essayed low comedy parts, and was more than passing clever at such. The entertainments were given principally for the amusement of the patients, and the public were admitted by invitation only. The programme announced that "the performance would commence at 8 o'clock precisely," and it usually did. Whittington ivas a special favourite with the patients. Ihe man who could introduce plenty of eating and drinking into his business was their beau ideal of an actor. Whittingtoa recoglised this fact, and when opportunity came be "fixed 'em up." The applause which ollowed the sham gorge was genuine. Someone, however, got "home" on "Charley" ater on. It was customary for the managenent of the institution to provide a small quantity of the "best bottled" and plenty )f bread and cheese for consumption by the performers. Whittington, on one occaiioa^ rushed o.ff the stags, after the curtain

had been rung t'wn, to a room be!ow the stage, and asked to be supplied with a glass of the "veiy best." and bread and Stilton. A sandwich of delicate make was passed to him. and he bit "largely."' Then he spluttered vigorously. Yellow soap, nicely cut, had been substituted for the real article. Ok l George Ward blamed for ringing the changes. Whittington and Nightingale made their first professional appearances with Adelaide Bowring (Mrs J. B. Steele) at the old Masonic Hall (where the Coffee Palace now stands), about 1875, in the "Rough Diamond," Miss Bowring playing Major, Whittington Lord Plato, and Nightingale Sir William Evergreen. Later on Whittington and Carncroso appeared at the •same hall in "Formosa Settled and Married." The late Mr James Hume (father of Fergus Hume, the author of a "Mystery of a Hansom Cab") was superintendent of Iho Asyluc before referred t-o, and the ?vlis.scs Mary and Bessie Hume will be remembered as appearing as principals with the Carmini Morley Amateur Opera Company in "Trovatore"' and "Maritana" some 20 years or more ago.

A New Zealand tour, in which quick changes of programme are necessary, and much time must be spent in rapid travel from town to town, is obviously an exacting experience upon tho actors and actresses engaged in it. Miss Tittell Brune has afc anyraie found it so, and as the hardest work everywhere fell to her lot, she is feeling the effects of the continued strain. Consequently, after the Brisbane season, w.hich begins on the 11th September/ and lasts for about a fortnight, she will take a short and well-earned holiday. JThis will postpone her Sydney season for about a fortnight, and she will op-en there on the 14-bh October instead of the 30th Sent-emher. the date originallyannounced. "Xi'Aiglon" will most probably^ initiate the season, with "Merely Mary Ann"-" to follow immediately afterwards. The intervening- dates at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney (from September 30 to October 14-), will be filled in "with Messrs Meynell and Gunn's Strand Comedy Company, who have come out to play a- 20 weeks' Australiisian season of "The J.P.," a successful farca which they are producing by arrangement with Mr J. C. Williamson.

The appearance of Miss Rose Mxisgrovo in her original part of Peggy Sabine in "The Cingalee" at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, last Saturday (26th August) ■was wholly unexpected. The last advices as to her health which Mr Williamson received indicated that it would be some time before she would resume work. , But the little lady insisted on making 1 the effort, and her pluck was duly rewarded with a reception in winch sympathy and admiration, -were blended, and by a most appreciative acknowledgment of her work. From the Methodist (Sunday School"io the musical comedy stage is a long step, but in the course of her comparatively brief life Mi?s Margaret Thomas, who has mad© such a decided hit as Nanoya in "The Cingalee," has accomplished it. She is a real Welshwoman — until she was 10 years old she never spoke anything but Welsh, and even now sings songs in that language whenever she has two or three of her compatriots gathered together. She never thought of becoming a personage on the lyric stage, and had determined to^ devote her ambitions to tk concert platform. But when out here witS the Parkina Foldesy Company, Mr Williamsen saw in her an ideal voice and apnearanee for the chief part in "The Cingalee." and she accepted his offer. Curiously enough Mr George Edwardes recognised similar possibilities m her, and asked her to play Veronique. She refvrsed— without a regret, she says herself.— but she is to play the part when the present nm of "The Cingalee" comes to an end, and her ideas as to her future have undergone a changenaturally enough, when her undeniable apiitude for light opera work comes to be considered.