THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

_ By Pasquin. TUESDAY, October 3, 1905,

Miss Fitzmaurice Gill is showing with MaoMahon's Dramatic Company in Christchuroh.

Miss Jessie Maclachlan returns to Dunedin next month, passing through to Invercargill, where she gives a farewell -concert.

The King of Entertainers, Thurston the Great, is doing big business in Melbourne under Edwin Geach's management. Edwin seems particularly fortunate in his ventures.

Claude Whaite, business manager for the Brough-Flemming Company, forwards copy of the Theatre, containing some interesting matter and illustrations pertaining to the 8.-3?.' Company.

The Westminster Glee and Concert Party ■will commence the New Zealand tour at Invereargill. The Irish-American actor Andrew Mack, who created a furore in Sydney and Melbourne, states that he will return to Australia late in 1906.-

A letter for Charles Taylor, of the Taylor-Oarrington Company, is still at this office. It will be forwarded immediately on^ receipt of -address. Edwin Geach goes West with Thurston the Great "before corning to New Zealand. Photograph to hand of the principals responsible for the -musical comedy "The Lady Typist," to be produced in Auckland next year. Thanks. From some responsible person conies to hand a circular setting fortli the facilities of her Majesty's" Theatre, Ballarat, which is computed to seat" comfortably 1600. It is intended to give a complimentary "benefit concert to Mrs Tom Pollard and family in the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, on October 9. An exceedingly good programme has been prepared for thp occasion. When Mr Pollard's company was in New Zealand the members were always the first to give their services in cases of distress. Remembering this, no doubt the present appeal will be responded to liberally. Miss Eileen Castles, who was to have joined Mr J. O. Williamson's Repertoire Company very shortly, will not now do so until the end of the year, as her mother is desirous of keeping her with her a little longer before she goes out into the world. "Argus" tells this story: Mr J. O. Williamson is fond of a joke. - Some years ago h© staged a pantomime, in which a live donkey had a prominent part. He advertised for a likely animal, and ultimately singled out a "neddy" which apparently fulfilled requirements. "Is he quiet?" was Mr Williamson's first question to the owner. "Quiet, sir? Yes. W'y, 'c's bin on in ssev'ral productions. An' 'as allus be'avecl 'isself." "Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the manager ; " quite an experienced actor, eh?" "Bless yer, yes, sir," replied the other. "But I might tell yer, sir, that w'enever Mr George Lauri tried to ride 'im, 'c allu3 started ter bray 'is 'ardest." " Ah," remarked the genial James Cassius, "a bit of a critic, too, eh?"

A Melbourne correspondent advises me that he saw Miss Gertie Campion the other day, looking remarkably well after her recent protracted illness. She is full of gratitude to the public of Dunedin for their j-raotical sympathy extended during her stay in South Africa. My correspondent concludes by stating that it was as Julie Bon Bon in "The Gay Parisienne" that Miss Campion made her first appearance in New Zealand, ancl it was the last part she played prior to her illness. The Christchurch Amateur Operatic Company have received permission from Mr J. C. Williamson to give " The Gondoliers" for seven nights, as originally arranged. It will, therefore, be ptayed on October 26 and following nights. Mr Joe Stoyle. erstwhile of Pollard's and several other big opera companies, who recently -stage-managed the successful production of "Rip "Van Winkle" by the Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society, has gone to InvercAi\fill to perform a similar duty for the Southlanders in "Pinafore."

Mr Dick Shortland, a popular member of the recently-disbanded Pollard Opera Company, advises me from Sydney that he has retired from the stage, and intends devoting himself to commercial life in Sydney. The clever and dainty O'Meers Sisters, of wire-walking *ame. who toured New Zealand with Rickards's latest vaudeville company, have arrived in London, and started on a long engagement on the Stoll circuit. There is a prospect of these charming sisters returning to the colonies at some future date.

To show the condition of the London theatres just now, a London paper says that a popular comedian, who commands £60 weekly at Christmastide in pantomime, and in the usual theatrical seasons is generally sure of a handsome engagement, is

this year a member of a travelling "Pierrot" company at a seaside town. It is true that he draws the salary of £10 a vreek, but he has to take his turn in going round with the hat.

The members of a theatrical company playing in France struck one night recently, after the first act, on the ground that the management had not paid their salaries. Thoir irritation was smoothed over, but as tho "ghost" had not walked by the end of the second act they struck again — definitely this time. The audience waited with exemplary patience for an hour or so; then their forbearance suddenly gave way, and they took charge of the theatre. Rushing the stage, they tore up the scenery and made a bonfire, which they fed with the properties and furniture. A detachment of troops had to be called out to quell the riot.

Mr R. G. Knowles, the English pattersong performer, has quitted the music halls, and proposes to visit Australia. Now Zealand, and other parts of the world with an entertainment on the lines of those given by George Grossmith and Albert Chevalier. He complains that the people who visit the halls soern to be going back to their primary instincts, to the time when music halls were mere drinking saloons, where everyone was allowed to smoke and fuddle and talk at the top of his voice ■while someone, roared out a comic or sentimental song. " Witty, humorous songs and sayings are lost on present-day musichall audiences," says he. severely. "These things make them think, and they don't want to think— it is too painful— they just v.a,nt to be amused by a rough-and-tumble show."

"His Majesty's Servant." which the Knight- Jeffries Company staged at the. Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday evening, 23rd ult., is a romantic costume drama, the scene of which is laid in the stirring times of Roundhead and Royilist. The action of the piece opens with tho escape of Charles II after the battle of Worcester, and in that escape he is aided by one Geoffrey Mohun, an actor of the King's Company. The plot turns on one of the numerous conspiracies to set Cnarles Stuart on the throne of England once acrain, a conspiracy in which Mr Julius Knight as the hero and Miss Maud Jeffries as Lady Lattice Fairfax play prominent parts, while Miss Florence Hamer plays Damaris, the- evil genius of the lovers. The play is of four acts, and the various incidents are all calculated to keep the interest of the audience very much alive from start to finish. The four weeksj. season at the Prinoess Theatre will also see a revival of " The Darling of the Gods" and the production of anew version of "David Garrick." After the Melbourne season the company go lo Bendigo, Ballarat, and Hobart, and then to New Zealand, where they d'sband at the end of the year. In August, 1906 (the exact date being August ft), Mr Frecl H. Graham, who has become so very popular with New Zealand and Australian audiences, has decided to produce and stage-manage a new musical play entitled "Th& Lady Typist." The production will take place in His Majesty'sTheatre, Auckland. The entire work — libretto, lyrics, and music— is from the psn of a gentleman well known, in theatrical circles, whose norn do plume is " Thos. Humphreys." The author-composer is also, we may state, the designer of both scenery and costumes. Mr Graham himself and other well-known gentlemen — e.g., Mr Chas. Kenningham, Mr iß'ert Roylc, Mr Wynn-Jones, and Mr Geo. Hall— all speak most highly of the play, both as regards the musio and the libretto. The part of Lord Le Cheyne, "a gilded Johnnie." will be played by Mr Fred Graham. Miss Nellie Dent will sustain te caracter of Nellie Goldie, an adventuress. Two ballets occur in the play. The music is bright and tuneful, and, so Mr Geo. Hall says, original, and well orchestrated. The scenery is from the brush of Mr Wm. Diamond.

Dear Pasquin, — Alfred Hill played Palmerston North the compliment of playing "A Moorish Maid" for two nights before the Wellington production, and ' although business was good, it was not the business tho piec© undoubtedly deserved. "A Moorish 3Lud" is the joint work of Mcbsrs Alfred Hill and Toulen Birch, and although the musio is ahead of the libretto, Mr Birch's work has a lot to commend it. Alfred Hill received a great ovation on taking the conductor's chair on ihe opening night, and on the last night (Thursday) there .was a great demonstration, in which Mr Hill and Mr Graham shared. The audience- cheered again and again, then Mr Hill came on to the stage, and cheers again rang out; then -Mr Fred Graham asked the company to give cheers for Palmerston, which were given lustily, and then, "amid more cheers from the audience, the curtain finally fell on "A Moorish Maid" season. Professor Andrews, supported by Geo. Stephen=.on's company, followed on Friday and .Saturday, and business was only fair to medium, partly because, no doubt, Watkin Mills and his quintette played here on the Monday. Watkin Mills and his company got a-n mi-lv-onse reception, and the song cycle, " Th;s Daisy Chain," seemed to take everyone's fancy. They are so pleased at their reception that they pay a return visit oia October 20. — Faithfully yours. Djin Djin, Palmerston North, September 27, 1905.

Much interest is being taken in the concerts to be given by the Westminster Glee and Concert Party in tho Princess Theatre, commencing to-morrow evening (Thursday). The highly favourable impression this accomplished party created by their admirable singing when in these colonies two years ago leads us to anticipate a repetition of tho great musical treat then afforded. Since the party were last here they have returned to London and have been reorganised by Mr Edward Branscombe, and bring with them for this town a new repertoire of madrigals, glees, and part songs. Amongst the boy sopranos (four in number) with the company are Masters Edgley, Ludlow, and Marzicani, who are recognised as three of tlie finest solo boys in England. Madame "Marie Hooton (contralto), Mr Edward Branscombe (tenor), and Mr Percy Coward (whose marvellous alto voice will be remembered) are still members of the party, the humorous element being suplied by Mr Dudley Causton. Mr T. C. Sterndale-Bennett, grandson of the famous Sir "William, is also amongst the vocalists appearing. Dear Pasquin, — Arrived back from Fiji on August 23, after having a most pleasant and profitable time there. Since then we have been doing the suburbs and smalls of Auckland. On Monday last played at the Thames two nights, then Waikino, Waihi, and Katikati. Play Waihi again to-night; and on Monday go to Te Aroha, with. MorrinßYille^,

Rotorua, Cambridge. Hamilton, and King Country to follow. The weather here has been flieadful, raining and blowing every day. As for the roads — well, they are worse than dreadful. You don't know how well oft you arc in the south with your hundreds of miles of beautiful hard metal roads. Five miles an hour up here with four good horses and a small drag, with luggage cut down to the lowest scale, is fast travelling, I can assure you. It took us four hours to drive 18 miles to-day. — Your? truly, Jxo. Black. Waihi, September 23.

Mr Walter Howard, the once-famous "corner man" ot the ilooic and Burgess Christy Minstrels, died recently. He was found lying stricken with paralysis in a dingy back .street in North Woolwich, his only means of subsistence being 2s a week provided by a daughter. As a result of a matinee concert, with donations. £211 2s 6cl was realised, out of which the old minstrel was to be paid 10s psr week as long as the money lasted. Mr Howard, however, did not live long to enjoy uhc smalt income. Miss TiLtoll Bruno was welcomed to Brisbane last week with a big public reception in the Centennial Hall, which became qui+c an important function, most of the society notabilities being there. The social popularity of the young American actress thus demonstrated was confirmed and extended by her completo-euccess in "L'Aiglon," with which she opened her season. When that season comes to an end, as it will do this week. Miss Tittell Brune will epend her well-eavned holiday as the guest of Judge Noel on a Queensland station. Judge Noel, a well-known figure in social and legal circles in Brisbane, is the father of Miss Vivian Noel, a promising young member of Miss Brune's company, who has besn the latter's close companion for many mouths. The holiday will only bo a short one, as Miss Brune opens at Her Majesty's, Sydney, on the 14th of next month in "L'Aiglon," to be followed the next week with "Merely Maiy Ann."

"Veronique," which is now being rehearsed by the Royal Comic Opera Company, is of quite a different stamp from the usual example of musical comedy, possessing a greatly superior class of music, into which the composer (M. Andre Messager) has infused a definite melodious scheme of construction. At the same time the comedy element has been liberally recognised, as will be understood when it is mentioned that the cast, though a small one, finds places fov Messrs George Lauri, Claude Bantock, W. S. Percy, as well as for Misses Clara CliftoD and Evelyn Scott. The name part will of course be taken by Miss Margaret Thomas.

Mr George Lauri is nothing if not up to date, and at present is utilising the opportunity "he had last week of seeing the "Great Thurston" to work up a burlesque of his principal tricks, which promises to be exceedingly funny, more especially as the various disappearing ladies will be represented by Mr Claude Bantock. The reeultant performance will find a place in "The Cingalee" shortly.

It is ths present intention of Mr J. C. Williamson to make "The Spring Chicken" the Christmas attraction at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. The piece, which has been adapted from the French by Mr George Grossmith, juu., and was only staged in London a few months ago, has been an enormous success since, its opening performance, and promises to rival in length of run the most popular of its predecessors both under Mr George Edwardes's and Mr J. C. Williamson's management.

Mrs Brown-Potter, attired for the occasion in a. gown of sombre black, has been a picturesque figure in the Bankruptcy Court this week (writes a London correspondent). The well-known actress melted into tears m the witness box when asked why she had removed two Shetland ponies which ought to have been sold under the bill of sale. "I was very fond of those two little ponies," she said in a broken voice. Amidst more tears she again protested her ignorance of the "inwardness" of tho sums advanced by her solicitor, Fossick, to keep on her season at tho Savoy. In the course of her evidence 'Mrs Brown-Potter stated that her most successful season was in 1897, when she and Mr Kyrle Bellew played a season in Australia and New Zealand. On that tour she made a profit of about £9000. According to her estimate, her income for some years amounted to about £5000 per annum. An interesting article in the London Daily Express gives some information about long runs. "Veronique" has been played at the Apollo for the 405 th time, "The Catch of the Season" at the "Vaudeville for the 394 th, "Lady Madcap" at the Prince of Wales for the 246 th, "Leah Kleschna" al the New for the 108 th. and "The Walls of Jericho" at the Garrick for the 304 th. A list is given of some famous successes, with the number of their consecutive performances in London: — "Charley's Aunt," 1466; "Our Boys," 1362; "The Private Secretary." over 1000; "A Chinese Honeymoon," over 1000; "Dorothy," 931; "San Toy," over 800; "La Poupee," 778: "The Geisha," 760; "A Country Girl"' over 700; "Sweet Lavender," about 700: "Patience," 700; "The Toreador," 675; "The Mikado." 672; "Our Flat," 645; "A Runaway Girl," 598; "The Gondoliers," 554-; "Niobe," 550; "The Shop Girl," 546; "The Girl from Kay's," over 500; "The Circus Girl," 498: "Quality Street," 459: "The Yeoman of the Guard," 423; "lolauthe," 398; "The Pirates of Penzance," 363. It would be difficult to state how many times "Charley's Aunt" has been ac-teel consecutively by a single company both in and out of London. And much the same thing maybe said about such world-famous successes as "The Sign of the Cross" (which has been seen by millions of people), "The Private Secretary," ''The Mikado," "The Silver King," and "The Lights o' London." The most memorable long run was Sir Henry Irving's epoch-making 200 performances of "Hamkt" at the Lyceum in 1874. By that single achievement Sir Henry Irving gained a name and' reputation for all time. Still more striking are the facts pertaining to the individual achievements of actors. The other day we were tokl that Mi* Fred Powell had played Jagon, m "A Grip of Iron," over 5000 tiroes; also that Mr Martin Harvey had registered his 1000 th performance of Sydney Carton, and Mr Van Biene his 3055 th of the genius in "A Broken Melody." And how many times, one wonders, has Sir Henry Irving played Matthias; Sir Charles Wyndham, David Garrick; Mr Henry Neville, the Ticket-of -Leave Man; Miss Minnie Palmer, My Sweetheart; Mr Chas. Warner, Coupeau in "Drink" ; Mr Edward Terry, Dick Phenyl ; Mr Penley, Charley's Aunt? And how many times* did David James play Perkin Mukllewick; Madame Celeste. Miami ; Jefferson, Rip Van Winkle ; J. K. Emmett, Fritz ; Cnarles Arnold, Hans the Boatman ; Shiel Barry, the Miser in "L-cs Cloches"^ Wjlson Barrett,, .Marcus ,

Superbus and the Silver King; and DioQ; Boucicault. the many Irish characters he created? Tho record in this respect is probably held by Miss Jennie Lee. who recently told an Express representative that she had actod Jo, in "Bleak Hoiuo," nearly 9000 times. She has played the part in 16 London theatres, as- well a» all over America, in every part of Australia, in South Africa, and in India.