THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND MUS ICAL NOTES.

Bt Pasquix. Tuesday, July 10, 1906. Mr Leslie Harris, the London society entertainer, who is assisted by Miss Rosina Buckmanu, the talented New Zealand soprano vocalist, is due to arrive in Dunedin by next week's Melbourne steamer. Tho tour will commence in Dunedin on Tuesday next, 17th. Mr George Buller, the representative, is in town making the necessary arrangements. Mr Garden Wilson, the clever impersonator of well-known actors, who has been a great favourite at the Alhambra, departed last week for Auckland, to join tlie company playing under the Fuller management in that city. Mits Pearl Helmrich has also gone to join the Fuller Company iui Auckland. The recent disaster in San Francisco has upset the arrangements of Mr J. C. Williamson, and the movements of some of his companies have undergone slight alterations. Instead of coming direct to New Zealand from Perth and opening in this city on August 7, the Tittell Brune Company will play a month's season in Sydney. This necessitates the dates for the New Zealand tour being rearranged as follows : — Wellington, sth to 21st September ; Wanganui, 22nd to 24th September; Palmcrston North, 25th and 26th September ; Jiasterton, 27th and 28th September; Napier, 29th September to Ist October ; Gisborne, 3rd to 6th October; Auckland, Bth to 27th October; New Plymouth, 29th October ; Stratford, 30th October ; Hawera, 31st October; Christchurch Carnival, for three weeks ; Dunedin, 24th November to 7th December. Tho Australasian season of the W. Collier Dramatic Company having been curtailed, that company will now only play seasons in Wellington and Auckland prior to returning to America. The time at the disposal cf the company is too short to permit of visits being paid to Christchurch and Dunedin. This is indeed regrettable, but there is no help for it under the circumstances. Dalso tho Great, who is said to be an illusionist of a very high order, is due to commence a season of six nights in the Princess Theatre on July 25. On Saturday next the Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Co. will depart for a brief space, from the realms of comic opera and will bo seen in a specially-arranged musical programme. The Garrison Hall has been secured, and the entire company of principals, chorus, and orchestra will take part in the programme. The cantata "Trial by Jury" will form a portion of the entertainment, and the platform of the hall will be fitted up as a court of justice. The performance will commence with a. miscellaneous melange, in which all the favourite artists will combine to make a very interesting programme, which will, for this occasion, be strengthened by the appearance of Mr Henry Bracy, who has not been heard in Dunedin for some years. Mr j Howard Yernon will, together with Miss i Celia Ghiloni, play th^ir great .scene from "The Mikado," and "Trial by Jury" will be staged with all the necessary equipment for success. At tho termination of the season of comic opera at His Majesty's Theatre on Friday n«xt the members of the Gilbert and Sullivan Co. will pack up their respective Saratoga trunks for Wellington, where a return season of nine nights will be played prior to departing for Sydney. It is reported that the old-time favourite of the Pollard Opera Company, Miss Gertie Campion, who is now at the Cambridge Sanatorium, in the North Island, is recovering from her recent severe illness. A fund is being raised in Auckland for her assistance. The Gilbert And Sullivan Repertoire Co. is in its last; nights at Hia Majesty's Theatre. To-morrow (Wednesday) evening

will see a revival of that favourite opera "The Gondoliers." The opera will be staged for two nights, when will be produced for the last night of the season ''The Yeoman of the Guard."

Mr G. Barnes, representative of the "Fatal Wedd-'ng" Company, has arrived in Dunedin to make the necessary arrangements for the opening of the Dunedin season, which commences in His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday next. July 14. The really wonderful success of "The Fatal Wedding" in New Zealand is not surprising when we learn of the manifold attractions that the play possesses. Besides the strong melodramatic basis and inseparable sensationalism, the play is said to be eudowed -with attributes that must of necessity draw the crowds. The children's scenes play a large and important part in the presentation, whilst one of the principal characters is sustained by a child of hardly 10 years. The delightful and original songs and dances of the "Kids from the Alley," with thsir unique musical company known as tho "Tin Can Band," are said to lend additional attractiveness to this successful drama.

Mr Fred Graham. the well-known comedian, who had thought of going to England and America at the termination of his engagement with William Anderson's Pantomime Co., has altered his plans, and will now reside in New Zealand for an indefinite period. Mr Graham and his wife (Miss NolHe Dent) have been engaged by Messrs Fuller and Sons to appear in Auckland in October next. The latest engagement by the Fuller Proprietary is that of the Musical Gare'eners, who did a- specialty with William Andersen's "Sinbad the Sailor" Company when that bright organisation was in these parts a month or two ago. The Musical Gardeners join the Fuller circuit on July 21. Miss EU'c Moore, who will be remembered in New Zealand as a member of "Tho Runaway Girl" Company, -which included amongsi others dainty Lilian Diggos and Blanche Wallace, is at present in America, where she is touring with a company playing "The Eai-1 and +ho Girl. Air Charles Carter, the New Zealand tenor, who will be remembered as a leading member of Pollard's Opera Company in his more youthful days, apr^ars to be making his name in the English musical world as an artist of exceptional ability. < The Times gives him an admirable notice in reference to his performance at the Crystal Palace with the Moody-Manners Opera Company in Nicolas Gutty's "Grevsteel." Speaking of Mr Carter and Miss Eurigueta. Crichton (who toured New Zealand some years ago with the Musgrove Grand Opera Company), the Time says they showed how admirably fitted they would ho in the chief parls of tho WagWrian tiiologv, and adds:— '"!> seom-s absurd tha-l while the managers of Covent Garden scour Germany for tenors who. when they come, are not fit. to be listened to. so good an artist as Mr Carter should 3ior. ! iive been found out and specially irained for the arduous work." Mr J. C. Williamson has acquired tho Australasian rights in "The Dairymaids." a bripht and merry musical comedy, which saw ike light in London about six or eight weeks ago. The big scene is a gymnasium at the giils' school, and in the London production Mis 3 Carrie Moore made quite a hit as the Sandow girl, exhibiting her muscular development to a crowd of student^.

The thpatrical profession in America has contributed, generously towards the relief of the sufferers by the San Francisco disaster. Mr Charles Frohman gave the entire receipts of the 200 th performance of "Peter Pan" at the Empire, Miss Maude Adams added £200, and every person employed contributed the night's salary or wages, oven the ticket offices and speculators adding their profits. The result was a sum of £700, which was promptly towarded. Other managers and performers were no less generous. Marie Drossier opened a department store in the Gilsey House. Every article w»s given, and prices ranged from 25 cents to £500. Klaw and Erlanger wired a large donation direct. Mrs Herman Oelriehs and other society ladies organised an entertainment that netted over £6000, the boxes and stalls selling at from £20 to £100 each. David Belasco telegraphed funds and arranged for a joint benefit. James H. Hackett and Mary Mannering gave- a Sunday night benefit at the Tremont Theatre, Boston. Manager Lawrence, of the Madison Square, contributed the receipts of three days' performances. Tony Pastor diverted the .proceeds of tho annual vaudeville benefit for the Actors' Fund to the relief of stranded performers, Daniel Frohman (president) concurring. Elsie Janis arranged for a beneßt at the Metropolitan Opera House, and Jules Merry's companies all agreed to give benefits on tour. The English players in America were equally liberal, a, special fund being raised under their auspices.

Alfred Woods, the well-known actor, ami Miss Maud Williamson, who Teocntly went to London, have joined Mr Charles Cartwright's company touring the English provinces. Miss Williamson has secured the English rights for "In the Palace of thp King." It is possible that Mr Woods and Mr Cartwright will join forces for a tour of Australia with a big repertoire of new plays.

Some whereabouts of old-time favourites : Paul Cinquevalii, at London Hippodrome ; May Moore Duprez, at the Palace Theatre. Blackham ; the Frai?ettes, through New Zealand with a recent Kickards's company, at Bradford ; Alma Gray, at London Metropolitan ; Alice Crawford, at the Waldorf, London.

On the last night of the Brough-Flem-tning Company's reason at tlie Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, Air Flemming, in the couiee of a speech before the footlights, said: "In thankinar you I am necebsarily painfully reminded o£ the incalculable losa I have sustained in the death of my late partner, Robert Brough. Dear as he was to you, he was doubly — trebly — dear to us, this side of the curtain. You knew him as the actor — some of you have had the privilege of calling him friend, but we knew him as the man, the great man whose work will always remain as a monument in the theatrical history of Australia; the man whose untiring patience, whose broadmindedness, whose tender affection, rendered him dear to all with whom he came in contact. Ay, and we know that of which you know nothing, and of which the world will never know — his many acts of charity, of secret, boundless charity. And now, la-dies and gentlemen, I have much pleasure in informing you (and I hope the pleasure will be equally yours) that I have decided to carry on the BrouglftTlemnung Company under the same title, just so iop/f as you and the public of the other States support me, And with greater im.^uvc

I have to tell you that your old favourite — she who is enshrined in the hearts of all here present — 'Mrs Brough — will continue to be associated with me; and, further, 10 lell you that I have completed arrangements to recpen in this theatre next November during the gala time, when I shall have the pleasure of presenting to you Miss Beatrice Day in two of the latest London comedy successes." Miss Dma Cooper (niece of Sir Pope Cooper, Queensland's Acting-Governor and Chief Justice) has the honour of playing the heartless adventuress in the forthcoming production of the 44 Fatal Wedding" at His Majesty's. Apart from her acting (says a Sidney contemporary), which is indeed excellent, her frocking alone is worth seeing. They are sufficiently brilliant and gorgeous to make her appear most strikingiv sinful. Her dinner gown is Tangerine panne with medallions of a deeper shate on the skirt. Her coat and skirt of tabac brown cloth in the third act is a triumph of the tailor's art. The coat reaches to the hem of her skirt, and when open displays a handsome white satin linhsi;. Her hat is of sable with an immense bird of paradise plume, and her muff of the same fur. with deep frills of lace. The whole most smart and effective. Miss Margaret Thomas (late of the Royal "Comics), who for the past .fortnight las been the guest of honour at various farewell functions in Sydney, sailed for London b; the Mongolia on Saturday, June 23. She was -given a cordial send-off by he many admirers, whose regret at losing her was tempered with the prospect of having her back with them later on as the wife of Mr Gordon, K.C. Her place in the Royal Comic Opera Company has been taken by Miss Alma Barber, a Melbourne girl, who for some time past has been understudy to Miss Thomas, and has, whenever her chance came, proved herself a valuable acquisition both as regards voice and acting. The Corrick Family of musicians, who ara weil known to New Zealand audiences, have just concluded a wonderfully- successful season of six nights in the Town Hall, Adelaide. Their opening performance was the occasion of the Caledonian Society's annual concert, for which they had been specially engaged, and the audience which assembled was the largest seen in that city for many years. The Corrioks " have established themselves as favourites with the Adela-iue public, and after visiting Broken Hill and Port Piiie, intend Riving a return season, commencing August 4, before they leave for "Western Australia. The composition of Mr J. C. Williamson s new dramatic company, which was to have begun its existence at Her Majesty's Theatre. Melbourne, on July 7. with a rejnescntation of "The Squaw Man," indict oa thai the powerful drama will -be iniurpreted by a particularly strong and wellbalanced cast. The combination will be headed by Mr Cliai-len Waldron, an actor of considerable note in the United States, and ho will have as his leading lady Mus Ola Jane Humphries. Both of them, as well as Miss Irene Outtrhn and about 10 others, arrived in Sydney by tho Sonoma., and travelled straight on to Melbourne to take up tho work of rehearsing and preparation generally. Mr J. C. Williamson has engaged Mrs G. B. W. Lewis, Miss Maud Thornton. Messrs Edwin Lester. Frod Cambourne, Arthur Lissant, and C. M. Derkelv. while the ranks of- the recently disbanded Knight-Jeffries Company will supply such experienced and r>oj,ular actors as Messrs Harry Plimnicr. G. P. Carey, Frank Sterling, George Chaimers, and Leonard Willey. All these, as a > moment's consideration will convince, have established a reputation in their respective lines wh'-n places them high in the Vat of Austis I I players. . A leading Australian rlailv. apropos of the children in the " I'aLal Wedding," remarks tha.t the management are to be roiigratulated on their ffforts and success in training the children of the company. Over 40 are introduced in the third act in ■what is known as the "Tin Can Band." These 1 aro specially cared for by Messrs Meynell and Gun n. Th^y arc son Ito and from tho theatre in c drag speeiallv chairorcd for the purpose. Every morning they have school and music lessons, and two hospital nurses are always in attendance to look ' after their health and welfare. This really careful method of training theatrical thil- ' dren should be a lasting ami good object • le^n to other management". Many m those little or>#3 hail from Victoria, which enhai.ces th*> i^ponsibllity of tra\clling and I taring for thorn. An intereitinti story is told of the penr«is 'of "Th'o Sciua\v Man." which will be th© III I next attraction staged hv Mr J. . C Wili lianisou for the bo-nefit of Australian audi1 ences. Its fust "appearance"' was in iho form of a '•horfc sketch clone at. orio of the monthly gambol? of the Lambs' Club. New York perhaps the most prominent theatri- : eal oiub in the world. At tlwse gambols all the stars in New York at the time are 1 gathered together, and Rive of their best ,to the fjuesta. The sketch mado such a • \ rofound impression upon those experienced nidges That its author (Mr Edwin Milton Royle) was urgtd to expand it into a diania. He wisely took tlva advice, and at the present time his work occupies a position ! at the head of all the biggest theatrical successes in the tfnited States for the past year. while Mr Charles Frohman told a ! London interviewer that he had every confidence In its popularity when it makes its appearance there about, the same time as it; docs in Melbourne. Another point of interest to Australians is the fact that Mr Cecil Ward, who was such a favourite out i here, was in the cast of the original >yew i York production. ' Mr George Musgrove, tho well-known theatrical manager, hsul an experience qxiitc as startling a= that of ino*t people in the San Francisco disaster. He remained in the ciW after the company left for Salt Lake City, in ordei that he might send on tha scenery and' wardrobe of " Mice and Men" and "Pretty Peggy," and get his money transferred. Hence all his luggage was lost in the fire at tho St. Francis Hotel, where he was staying. After the disaster, according to a letter written to an Australian friend by Miss Nellie Stewart, from Denver on May 6, '"he btarLed off and had to walk 15 milee through smoke and falling ashes to get to the ferry, which he had to cross to get a train to com© to us. He had to sit among negroes and Chinamen in ihe train for two nights, without a bite to eat, for he had spent all his loose cash in telegraphing to us, knowing how anxious we would be; but we never received one wire." The letter goes on to 6tate that " when he arrived late at nig^it at the theatre where the company "Sff twaving, he looked like an old man of 70. No on 3 dared speak to him, and when . lie talked injto. the tksite raggei dixi.-

•begrimed, and haggard from want of food, 4 we all screamed with fright.' " In the course of sun interview in Melbourne, Mr J. C. Williamson, whoso remarks are published in an article in the Argus, by Ruth Beale, said that the majority of applicants for tlie stage lacked the first qualifications necessary for stage. life, and that was especiaUy the case with men. -'The belief," eaid the manager, " is evidently common that, given a few les. sons in elocution, and a, fancy for acting, anyone may become an actor. In reference to the great number of srirls who fail to obta-in engagements in opera, I should like to say that the teachers of singing are largely to blame. Many encourage girls to spend years in training their voices, knowing well, as they pocket their fees, that the girls have no hopa of securing an engagement, foi some reason quite apart from their 6mging, and over which the girl has no contro). Appearance is of vital importance, and a. girl's talent must be remarkable to compensate for lack of beauty in face or figure. When girls with such disqualifications as the«e come before me I try to show them the- hopelessness of their case, and advise them to adopt some other profession. It is a. "kindness to discourage them as much as possible. We hear applicants for opera sing every Tuesday in the theatre, and there is a very extensive 4 weeding out.' Australia certainly presents the greatest opportunities for beginners. The great variety of parts played tends to make Australians versatile. On the long list of successful members of our companies these ladies will be remembered: — Misses Ethel Haydon. Fanny Liddiard, "Violet Varley, Celia- Ghiloni, Dolly Castk-s, Aggie Thorne, Flora Graupner. Florence Young, Hilda Spong, Lena Braseh, Roxy Barton, and Carrie Moore.' ' Mr Alfred Dampier, now in Jjondon, replied, when asked by a representative of the Era whether he saw much change in London : "Scarcely any in the theatres, though, of course, some new ones hay» been built within a comparatively recent period. But tak« the actors — I still see the old faces. There is Henry Neville, looking as sound as ever ; James Fernandez, with whom I had an engagement just before I left for Australia; and my old friend Edward Terry- No; it seems to me that in England the older the actor gets the more popular ho becomes with the public. Even the. manager* appear to prefer the established favourites, so that . the actors who have the good fortune to get into London can stay here." 4 'But in Australia the people like out prominent players?" '"Artists who have made a name in England may be sure of a welcome there. It is a curious thing that although Australia is such a young counti-y and has such a small population, yet everyone goes to the theatre." "I suppose you don't intend to settle down in England?" "Well, I promised to go back to Australia, and would like to keep my word. Still, if anything turne<J up whereby I got an opening in England" for . one of my Australian plays I should bo only too pleased to stop awhile. Although I have takea the trip over here bf my -doctor's orders, all the same, I do not want to rush^away again without having done anything." There was a scene of enthusiasm at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, on Friday, June 22, -when Miss Margaret Thomas, the well-known singer, who is about to be married to Mr A. Gordon. K.C., one of the leading barristers of Sydney, bado farewell to the stage. After tho curtain fell, flowers in great profusion wero handed over the footlights, so liberally, indeed, that Miss Thomas, was literally enclosed in a - framework of floral decoration and whilst Miss Florence Young, by her side, prompted her to come forward and say something in acknowledgment of the enthusiastic applause, Miss Thomas stood m the background in pretty confusion, protesting that she could not dream of undertaking a task so formidable as a speech m public. The audience, highly amused at this contest, became still more demonstrative. Finally Miss Thomas appealed to Mr George Lauri to express her thanks. Ihe well-known comedian seemed unaccountably nervous as he advanced, and m a few words spoke of the regret with which the members o fthe bompany sa L d Good-bye to Miss Thomas, who had captured all their heart., by her charming ways. ,. a °° A -&*>. added Miss Thomas herself and thank you all, very, very much, and so she bowed u-r farewell to the stage, amidsfc ihe unanimous applause of the crowded aiKlieuce and the members of the company. Miss Thomas left for London by the Moldavia, to be married in Cardiganshire, , S Harr/Br^ tTchri^hurch inter-viewer:-S The^ear 1884 I found myse ll at the Savoy Theatre, one of the most ' eventful periods of my professional ca reer, having been specially engaged by Mr Gilbert and Mr Arthur SuUivan (ac he was hen) to create the part of Hilsnon in "Prnce«s Ida." At thm '.ime I was 3* reive oi age, and was the only tenor in London who could look 21 on the Btage. I wasgready impressed with the manner m^hich the 7 Savoy Theatre was managed Very strict discipline preraited, •«nd it was not a theatre where anyone , was called upon or expected fo have an opinion of hiß or her own Tlie members of the company were all ladies and gentle-n-en and pieces in tights woie never played at the Savoy. Though my experience of theatres had been pretty wide, I ! found myself in a strict school. Everything was done under the rigid eye of Mr W. S. Gilbert, who watched the merest; details with the keenest interest, and it was not allowed to question any of Mr Gilbert's directions or to suggest anything, «y«n in the most trivial details. Mr Gilbert was never in the theatre when one of his opera* was being produced for tho first time. He used to go away and walk on the Thames Embankment until the ■verdict of the public on the new piece was pronounced. The Gilbertian discipline and stern stage management may be exemphaecl ; by the following incident:— During the reI heareale and the first few nights of the ! performance of "Princees Ida," I was sup- ' posed to kneel at tho foot of a column; whilst sneaking the words, "Methinks I see her now." Finding, however, that the attitude disarranged the fit of my beautiful garments as Hilarion, I omitted the kneeling posture, and changed it to a •tanding pose on one evening of the representation of the opera. Isext morning, very early, I received a letter from the office to the effect that it had been observed that Mr Bracy had: changed the business as arranged by Mr Gilbert, inasmuch aa ho did not kne*l when speaking the words, but as it did not seem to effect the scene, he wm at liberty to '-e.ontin.ue iq qar.ry out the ijinoyatioOr — '

"THE FATAL WEDDING."

"Tile Fatal* Wedding," fresh from its triumphs in Melbourne and Sydney, will open at His Majesty's on Saturday next for a season of seven nights only. Tbe popularity of this musical drama has penetrated nearly all parts of Australasia, and its presentation before a Dunedin audience should be- welcomed by an overflowing house. In many cities where the play has been seen critics are of one opinion as regard's ite potent qualities to fascinate the theatregoer. Strong in dramatic situations and- sensational scenes, "Tbe Fatal Wedcfing" is sard to teach a story of intense human interest, which abounds in humo>nT and pathos, eonredy end tragedy, with such a delicate touch that, says one critic, "One almost finds oneself crying and laughing at the same time." The piece is presented in five acts and 12 scenes, two of which call for particular mention: the daring escape across. the Hudson River by moonlight and the interior of Grace Church. New York, where the great denoument occurs. This scene is said to be presented with perfect fidelity. The org.m playing, the melodious voices of the choristers raised in hymns of praise, and ar/ovo- all flic voice of the ekrgyman rendering in fervent tone? the marriage should form a wonderful- spectacle. An added zeet is given to the production by the presence of nearly 40 children, who, as the "Kids from tbe Alley,." -enter with their "Tin Can Band," and indulge in a delightful scene of "dances and songs. The child- element which pervades tbe play finds itself most strongly in evidence in ibe part of Jessie, the little mother, played by Miss Maisie Poser, whose performance is spoken of as a revelation in child study and acting. That able stage manager. Ur C. R. Stanford, will direct the intricate maze of the play, whl'et the presence of a, full orchestra is under the baton of that experienced maestro, Mr Wynne Jones.

LESLIE HARRIS.

Mr Leslie Harris is a cultured musician, ■being; a. very Paderewski at the piano. He also has the advantage, of being a clever character-actor, a past master in the art of facial expression, and is also gifted with a good voice^ which he makes the most of whether Bpeaking or singing; and in relating anecdotes his great gift of dialect assists him admirably. He will be assisted by that favourite New Zealand soprano. Miss Rosina Buckmann, whose beautiful ■voice is a pleasure to listen to. She has not yet appeared in Dunedin, although having appeared frequently in the North Island and also in Chiristchurcb. The ■season is only a short one, and the box plan will be open on Saturday at the Dresden.