THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2771, 24 April 1907, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND M USICAL NOTES.

Bt Pasqcix.

TUESDAY, April 23, 1907. Two of Mr J. C. Williamson's leading ladies — Miss Tittell Bruno and Miss Elberc Orton. tho one in Melbourne and the other in Sydney — have plunged earnestly into the controversy now raging in the Australian press on tho burning question, "Cau an Actress be a Christian V" Miss Brune> letter in the Melbourne dailies created widespread comment, revealing as it did the oai nest feeling of a woman who sincerely felt all she said on the, subject of the moral standing- of her profession ; while Mias Elbort Orton. interviewed in Svdncy, made out an excellent ease for considering tho actress as an oidinary human King instead of as in a class apart and shunned. Tho St. Clan- Comodv Company, well known to Dunedin and the su .-rounding district, aro to play "Jane" on M<i\ 15 at His Majesty's Theatre. The proceeds of the entertainment arc to go to the Hockcn Collection Fund, and a strong committee is making preparatory arrangements to ensure. a full house. The same play was staged kust Nci!- by the company at St. Joseph's Hall under somewhat inadequate conditions, but the reports dealing with tho presentation on that occasion point to the fact i hat tKc- public will have a dramatic performance on the 15th of a very high sitanda»d.

-\li-j^lay Eeatty, tho c\-Pol!ard artist, is malting iapid ttric'c, in her profession in England. When the rrail left Miss Boatty was appearing at tho Palace Theatre, Birmingham, after a successful pantomime at Dublin Gaiety. On the strength of the. latter engagement Mr Arthur Collins offered her the part of principal girl in tho next Drurv Lano annual. Mr F. W. Wyndham. who manages theatres in Edinburgh a.^d Glasgow, al-o made her an offtv lor the next panto, season, arid, lastly, Mr George Edwordes wishes to engage Mi=s Beatty for M;:>s Evic Givene's part in the autumn tour o! "The Ladv^ Dandies," now at Daly's. The voting Xew Zcalandor ha^, t hero fore, eveiy reason to be satisfied with her debut in England. Aii Allan Hamilton, the well-known thcatncfil managei, is expected in Dunedin next month in connection with a strong vaudeville company, which is due to conimei.ee a season in Hi-> Majeslv's on Jun<> 4.

'I ho dramatic company being brought out to tour Austiaha and New Zealand, at the head ot which i-s Miss Maud Hilvavcl, a celebrated English actress is to commence a Dunedin season a* His Majesty's Theatre on November 16.

Tho chairnb of Miss Rhoda Dendron, the bare-foot dancer, and tho talent of Mr Vai Voiioden, the lii^h society entertainer, together with other members of the Fuller Company, have beon hufiieient to attract large audiences to the Alhambra duiing the past week.

The Mit*<?s Amy and Dulcio Murphy, of this city who havo been engaged by Mr J. O. Williamson for one of his opera companies, I'avc as yet not boon advis."J a-5 to which company they are to join. Thoy anticipate leaving Dunedin for .Melbourne some time in June.

Mr Tom Pollard, who had charge of tho entertainments at the recently-closed New Zealand Exhibition, is to take over the management of His Majesty's Theatre, Christchurch, at an early date.

There has been recently quire on uifinx of theatrical talent into Australia. The new arrivals include a number of male and female artists who have come out under engagement to Mr J. C. Williamson and Mr Harry Rickards respectively. Those whose services have been secured by Mr Williamson are Miss Marion Grey, Miss Elbert Orton, Miss Dorothy Sidney, Mr and Mrs Victor (Mi<=s Austen), Mr and Mis Hubert Willis and daughter, Messrs Gordon M'lntosh, RovnoMs Donniston, and Herbert Bentley, while tho'SO under engagement to Mr Harry Rickards arc Mr and Mrs Charle.no and Miss Gracie Grahame.

The well-known E'jghfh acire 1 ;-;. MLs? Maud Hiklyaid, and a first-class dramatic comaa^n--- —'»J\ a repertoire of four or

five pieces, will arrive from England in Australia about the end of July, and after playing a season in Sydney will come on to New Zealand, under the direction of Mr Allan Hamilton, in conjunction with .Messrs Meynell and Gunn. The tour will take about three months, and will open in H.M. Theatre, Auckland, on Monday, 16th September, for three weeks, all the principal towns being afterwards visited. Mr George Buller will represent Mr Hamilton. Mr Allan Hamilton is sending another company to New Zealand in October, the personnel of which is not quite determined upon at present, but most likely it will be first-class vaudeville, and remain two or three months. Mr George Buller inform» us it will be one of the best shows that have been sent from Australia.

It is reported that Mr Eddie Nable, one time of Pollard's Opora Company, and at present with MacMan*on's dramatic combination, severs his connection with drama shortly. Po-:?ibly the popular comedian may enter the i«alms of opera or musical comedy. Owing to Miss Mil's (who was ergaged to play the principal part in the Dunedin Operatic Society's production of "The Geisha" next month) having been called away unexpectedly to New Plymouth, the society had to iook elsewhere for someone to fill the part. It has been fortunate in securing the services of Miss Amy Murphy. This will be the last public appearance as ;-matcurs in Dunedin of Miss Amy and Miss Dulcio Murphy, as they leave for Sydney almost immediately afterwards to start rehearsing under Mr J. C. Williamson's management. Mr Edwin Geach has completed arrangements for a farewell tour of Australasia of Mr Frank Thornton, starting at Sydney about Christmas time. The popular comedian has been fortunate enough to secure a present-day London success, entitled "When Knights Wore Bold," which is at present being played with remarkable^jsuc-ce-s by James Welch at Wyndham'g Theatre.

Mr Chas. Bertram, the famous conjurer, died recently. He was a great favourite with the King and Qucon, belore whom he made no less than 40 appearances. Thy great test of a conjurer is in entertaining children. Some conjurers only frighten them, but Mr Bertram was a great favourite with the royal children, as well as in children's hospitals of England, where he always arave his services readily. He had been intended for a minister, but became first an hotclkeeper and then a conjurer. Mies Maggie Moore thusly : "Mr Roberts has just returned from England after an eight months' tour with the 'Prince Chap.' He looks well, and was delighted with all he saw in the Old Country. As tho 'Prince Ohap' he made a great success. It is a beautiful part and a beautiful play, and I am sure will make a great hit in Australia. He has the Australian rights. Need I say he is looking forward to seeing you all again, and often says, 'Maggie, do sou think they will remember me?' As if Australia e\er turned the cold shoulder to any actor or actress she 0.-ioe took to hor heart! In the world there is not an audience like the Australians. They are not fickle, and no wonder I love them."

Mr Percy Donton, who was the Dr Snifkins in the original "Belle of New York" Company which toured Australia some years ago, is lifting up his admirable tenor voice at the Alhambra Theatre. A Johannesburg correspondent heais that Mr Tom Pollard is taking out a juvoni'e opera company to South Africa, and thinks he should do well if tho show is properly managed. Which it would be, I might add, if Mr Tom Pollard ha, anything to do with it.

Mr Edwin Geneh has made further engagements for "Human Hearts," the play and company from which t>o much is expected. In the artistic sense only, Mr (ieoigc R. Montfoid, who has been secured as "heavy load," is one of the best-looking and bost-dresbed scoundrels on the English melodramatic stage. Other engagements for the t-ca.son are Alma Palmer, the clever little lady who scoietl under Miss Jennie Brcnan'-s 'tutelage in "La Poupee," Messrs A. Lavvton, C. M. Berkeley, Dundas Wallace, Mesdames Guildford, Quinn, Aggie (ircy, and May Hesford. Mr Coleman is painting the =cenery for Uic play, which will be first produced at tho Wellington (X.Z.) Theatre in May. and ai, the Princess's, Melbourne, in August next.

Of Charles Bertram, a well-known coniurcr, who lately died in London, it is to!d that one of his most successful vanishing tricks originated in a trap-door accidentally giving way and letting him through Iho btage The audience took it as pait of iho performance, but the conjurer discovered a considerable shock— and an idea. Once, while doing the well-known goldfiVn trick, two of the fine- gla^s bowls which Mr Bertram had concealed about him were acci dentally broken, and the conjurer vvvj drenched. Most of tho onlookers thought that a laughable turn hfd been purpa*>'y given to the trick, and Mi Bertram v,^ too good a conjurer to indicate by hn manner that there was vo such intention.

So tremendou-. was the demand fo r seats during Easter week of the pantomime in Sydney that, no W« than throe matinees had 1 to be given, and even then hundreds were turned away from every peifoi-nianre. On Easter Monday a long queue vva> in tho streets for hours before 'the doors opened, both for the afternoon and evening perfomiance*. and tl'c ho'J->o vva« pa< k' (l to the doors !on£ before tli-e cm tain ro#. -\- a eon~oquenco the 'oecnd week of '"Molhi r (ioos"" was eahilv a record for Her Majesty's i Theatre. Sydney, sc that stiil another "acalp" has to be added to the collet tion already accumulated by the pioiluction.

Mr J. C. Williamson has secured by rable the Australasian lights in Alfred Sutro's new comedy, '"John (Jlaciycs's Honour," which Mr (ieoigo Alexander produced ah St. James's Theatre. Loin lon. on the Bth March last. Mr Wilham«onV London agent wired him that the piece was most favourably received, and negotiation^ were 'it, once opened for ite po=so«sicn.

One is wont to regard America, as the land of *ho huge theatrical salaries, Wvin£< all other countries in the shade in this respect. But a, very interesting letter from Sydney, sent by Mr Charles Leonaul Fletcher, a variety artist who has travelled the wide world over, proves that the comparatively sparsely-populated Au = tralia is no whit behind the groat continent whore pecuniary reward* to the popular porformrr aro concerned. Ho went direct from London to Sydney. "From th<» \ariety ai life's standpoint," ho writes, "a jump of 42 day •*. oi14,000 niilos, is a record one. It sounds <\ pensive, such a. voiagc and lois of time.

And yet it is not, fbr in order to secure the services of the best English and American entertainers. Mr Rickards, the manager, not only pays all travelling expenses, but the salaries he offers are quite sufficient to make up for every week lost. And I venture to ea-y that his salary list will average more than the heaviest variety shows given in any America." theatre. Mr Rickards's Australian circuit consists of four houses — tho Tivoli in Sydney, the Opera House in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth. His theatres are thoroughly up to date, and are pa/tronised by the best people in Australia. No smoking or drinking 16 allowed."

"Tho Call of the Bush" was heard in the Manhattan Opera. House, New York, recently, when Madame Melba apeared as the unhappy bride of Lammermoor. Some 300 New Yorkers, of Australian birth, arranged to attend the performance Jn a bedy. Mr Daniel O'Connor, of Sydney, took charge of the arrangements, and the "Cooee" call, which has long been a feature of tho Covcnt (Jarden appearances of the Australian diva, was heard in New York for the first time. Madame Melba, in her recent London and New York seasons, is reported to have sung even better than on former occasions, her voice being as clear and as beautiful as ever.

Mr Andrew Mack and his new company, who opened their Australasian tour at Wellington on Easter Saturday, will re.inaiii in New Zealand until the end of June, their repertoire consisting of "Tom Moore," "The Way to Kenmare," "Jack Shannon," and "Arrah-na-Pogue," all proved successes which the island colony has vet to enjoy. They are due to open in Melbourne on th 6th July.

'*The Squaw Man" Company, when they finish their Brisbane visit on tho 16th inst., will embark on a farewell tour of Australia, at the conclusion of which their existence as a combination will come to an end. Mr J. C. Williamson has been able to arrange an Adelaide visit for them, and they will call there to play a week of revivals on their long- trip round to Western Australia, upon which they will be sent after leaving Brisbane. They will return to the East again in June, and on the 9th of that month they will make a welcome reappearance in Melbourne Mr Leslie Harrie, the celebrated little humorist, left for \Vestern Australia (says the Critio) after giving a. performance at Mount Barker, ■where he narrowly escaped being killed. After the "pictures" had been shown the massive sheet and roller were rolled up, and Mr Harris and his grand piano came to the fore. Then suddenly there was a fearful crash, and the whole affair descended, just missing Mr Harris by about two inches ; in fact, he was struck on the shoulder, but as he never lets an opportunity pas Mr Harris referred to it as a plca. a ing» interlude introduced to prevent the performance becoming monotonous. It was, however, an undoubtedly narrow escape. The music-hall trouble in London has been referred to arbitration, and when tho last mail left Mr Aekwith, the arbitrator, was about to begin his inquiry concerning tho questions of wagee and other subjects in dispute. Meanwhile the strike ceased, the managers having agreed to drop all legal proceedings, and to reinstate all performers and employees who wero under contract. This concession will not cover all the people who have been thrown out of work, but the alliance authorities have announced that they are in a position to support all the members affected until work can bo found for them. Further, the Scala Theatre, where a music-hall programme was being given nightly in opposition to the managers, has now been closed. The cost of the strike (the Daily Chromolo states) has been heavy to both sides. It is estimated 1 by the alliance that the salaries forfeited have been : — Artists, over £17,000; musicians, £8000 ; and stage hands, £6000. The re-imbursemont of strikers has cost an additional £15,000, and 1 to this has to bo added the rent of the Scala Theatre, and many incidental expenses. The cost to the alhancc is about £50,000. The managers also must ha.ye suffered seriously by the decreased' attendance at the music-halls.

The announcement that Mr J. C. Williamson has decided to form a musical comedy company, and the knowledge that it will present to Australians a distinctive and most enjoyable class of piece which has not fio far been regularly clone in Australia owing to its not being suitable to the personnel of the Royal Comio Opera Company, has boon most pleasurably received, and the advent of the. organ isation, is already being anticipated with a very con6'dreablc amount of intercut.

The last performance of "Peter Pan" in London <it tho en<l of February was distinguished by an inunon^o amount of enthusiasm, the audience simply refusing to go home until the curtain had boen raised and lowered several timoe and every nwmhir of the cast had been cheered and congratulated over and over again. Indcid, the piece firij.-hed irs third revival stronger than ever in popular apprecia tioo.

"Age cannot wither nor custom stale the infin 'to variety of the true music-lover's devotion to art. Mrs Annis Montague-Tur-ner, famous 25 jears ago in opera circles n-> Annis Montague, is going to live over :igain hor operatic career, oni\ this tiino, <-lie says, she will see its realisation 111 the inopt wonderful baritone voice she has ever hoaid. The old-time opera singer (says an exchange) has adopted a young Hawaiian v,ho.m she hopes soon to introduce to the operatic world. Quietly studying day after day 111 an artistic apartment in the Weldon, at Xo. 205 West One Hundred and First street, Mrs Turner and her adopted son and protege are living with but one idea in their minds — the perfection of the young man's talents. When the 23-year-e!J bantone fiom Honolulu makos his bow to the public it will be as Carlo Sabastione, though when Mrs Turner found him in Hawaii seven years ago he wag known as Lot Sebastian Kaulukou. "I have said absolutely nothing about Lot," said Mrs Turner, "because I was not willing to make it public until he had studied. Now I conbider him a baritone second to none, and I have the verdict of one of tho most famous impresarios in America on his voice.

When _ the last curtain fell on "The Squatter's Daughter' 1 at the. Melbourne Royal, marking the conclusion of the last night of a 12-monthb' season of Mies Eugenic Duggan and the Anderson Dramatic Company in that theatre, a valedictory demonstration of an unusually cordial nature was .made by those present. Th© hoii^o was packed (says Punch), and after a call on tlio curtain failinc^ on the end of the play, when about, a ton of floral matter :» .ill ik'fcigii^ was hane'ej up and distributed" •unonp^t the ladic> of the compan* the orchtstia ro;c to >tc f-§ei aud br^ko into

the melocry of "Auld lang syne." Catching jsn to the words, the company took the, good old song- up. Instantly the audience rose — but few had left the theatre — and also sang. Cheers were given, and demands for speeches made. Julius Grant in response came forward, and on behalf of Mr Anderson thanked the audience for their splendid patronage throughout the year; Btated that "The Squatter s Daughter" was the biggest success Mr Anderson had evei* had, that it had been conclusively proved - that Australian dramas Tiy Australian authors, staged by Australian managers, would pay, and that a long succession of local plays was likely to ensue. Miss Eugenic Duggan was then called for, and said : "I can't make a speech — can only thank you. I love you one and all.*'' My heart is too full to tell you what I think. I am a Melbourne girl, and wherever I may be I shall always think of Melbourne and wish to bo back. You are all my dear, kind friends." Messrs Duggan and Bailey aleo spoke, thanking the management, company, public, and press for the treatment of their play. Speeches were als,o won front George Cross and! Temple Harrison. Tho flowers Miss Duggan received on the lasfc night filled a cab. What eho did with them — well, it was too pretty an act to give* to the glare of publicity, Dut the thought of othore was in a veTy grateful heart, and what happened was the result of the thought of a charming and good woman. A great crowd rolled up to the station to ccc tho company off for Sydney last Thursday. There was more vegetable stuff, much kissing, some crying, and promises a« to ta early return.