THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 68

THEATRICAL AN D MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquin. Tuesday, February 4, 1908. The annual conference of the Fuller Firm is to ■- take place in Dunedin this month on the arrival -of- Mi- John Fuller, sen., 'from Auckland. ' On the arrival of Madame Clara Butt and Mr Kennerley Rumford at Christchurch; they were met by a number of musical people, who welcomed them tto Christchurch. Mr Spencer Lorraine, who was a fellow students of music .with Madame Clara Butt, presented her with a handsome bouquet of ro6C6. Good news. New-Zealand friends of Mr and Mrs Bland Holt will be pleased to read the following: — A telegram has been received from Mr Bland Holt regarding the condition "of Mrs Holt and Miss Coppin,, who ape in a, private hospital in Perth suffering from typhoid fever, and concerning whom a good deal of anxiety has been felt. Mrs Holt's condition shows some improvement, and Miss Coppin is now out of danger. A later telegram stated that the medical men were now hopeful of the patients' recovery. Mr George Petersen, representing Wirths' Circus, payed a flying visit to Dunedin last Week in connection with the Big Show, and on Monday was off again to herald the circus combination on its northern tour. Truly the life of a circus advance man is one of activity. It may be interesting to managers and others to know that all bookings for His Majesty's Theatre in this city will be -done through Mr John Fuller, jtin., the resident manager for tfie firm. The following ore the dates of the New Zealand tour of Wirths' Circus, which commenced in Invercargill on "Monday: — Gore, Thursday, February 6; Balclutha, Friday, February 7; Dunedin, Saturday, February 8 till Saturday, 15; Palmerston, .February 17; Oamaru, February 18; Waimate, February 19; Timarti, February 20; Temoka, February 21; .Ashburton, sFebruary 22; Christchurch, February 23. Apparently Dunedin is regarded as the least important of the four centres, in so far us the proposed N.Z. tour of Madame Sarah Bernhardt is <x>ncerned. The great French actress is to play a season of 10 nights in Auckland and Wellington respectively, she nights in Christehurcb, and five nights in Dunedin. Does Dunedin de- ' serve this ? Carter, the American magician, concluded his. highly successful season at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening, and on Monday, together with hie " box of mysteries," departed for Oamaru, Timaru, and Ashburton mystify the residents of those towns. Good business should be the portion of the great magician wherever he goes. « Wirths' Ciaseus and all that pertains thereto arrived at the Bluff by the incoming Melbourne "steamer on Monday. The roar of tho lion and the trump .of the elephant will soon be loud in the land. ' The circus spreads its tent in Dunedin on Saturday, February 8. The -members of the Taylor-Carrinpton Dramatic Company pass through Dunedin en route to the South on Monday next. Mr Armitage has gpne ahead of the show. After a "splendidly successful season of 11 consecutive performances, the MacMabon Pictures have gone on tour, invercargill was visited for three nights, the Municipal Theatre being taxed to its capacity. The following towns will be visited in the , order named :^-Gore 4th and sth, Balclutha 6th, Milton 7th, Oamaru Bth and 10th, Waimate 11th,. Timaru 12th and 13th, Ashburton 14th and 15th. Mr Edward Armitage, the well-known advance agent of the Tavlor-Carrington Co., passed through Dunedin on Friday ' la6t on his way s south. He reports big business all along the. line. A number of new have joined the show recently. George Tarr ' and Miss Alice Herrmann., late of Lynch Family Bellringere, arrived at Christmas, and a few daye ago Miss Dulcie Deamer. Miss Arline Thackeray, recently of the Dunedin Conservatorium of Music, has decided to settle in Christchurch as a teacher of the violin. Mr Barrie Marschel's popular comedy and concert combination are appearing at Naseby Town Hall on February 6 and 7 (race nighte). Mr G. D. Portus, Messrs J. and N. Tait's genial - business manager, who has been in town making arrangements for the season of Madame Clara Butt, dropped down to Invercargill last week to herald the ooming of The Voice in that province. Mr Portus returned to Dunedin on Monday, and leaves shortly on^ his return north. ~ - Mr J. F. MacMahon, representing the well-known firm of theatrical managers, the Messrs MacMahon, returned from his southern tour on Friday last. Mr MaoMahon left again ori Saturday to complete the preliminaries for the visit of their successful living picture enterprise in the northern towns. - Dear " Pasqain." — Since leaving ' Wellington early in the <mrrent months-Janu-ary — we have m^ with great success. On. the Bth inst. twe opened the new theatre at Greytown, when the building was packed. * Tbe - large audience displayed great enthusiasm, -every item on the programme being vociferously encored. Mi» Queenie Burrowes, the monologue entertainer, ,hasw «stablisned. herself - a . .great favourite witH the. New Zealand public, and together with Mr Archie MacCallum, the actor-vocalist, scored a decided success in the new one-act comedy "Dr Adam's Quests," which was staged at Greytowri ; for the first time In New Zealand.. .We

are now working oui way towards Auckland, and after playing a short season there and touring the country for two or three weeks, we intend resting at Rotorua before returning via South Island to fulfil our winter engagements in Australia. Yours truly, The MacCallums. l?almersron North, January 26. Madame Clara Butt and Mr Kennerley Rumford, accompanied by Mr J. Nevin Tait, their private secretary (Mr R._ L. Ibbs), and full concert party, arrived in Dunedin yesterday afternoon by the first express from Christchurch. It being deemed wiser to dispense with the suggested formal reception, . the distinguished singers upon arrival drove quietly to their hotel from -the station. At 9 o'clock last night the Liedertafel serenaded the visiting "stars" at the Grand Hotel. During the week a fitting reception in the form of a garden party is being arranged in honour of- Madame Clara Butt and Mar Rumford by the leading residents of the oiity, including the musical piofession. Mr Hugh Patrick Lloyd, the latest engagement by the Fuller Firm, arrived in Dunedin f ix>m Melbourne by ttie Maheno off Tuesday and passed through to Christchurch, where the king of the cordeelastiqtie is to commence his New Zealand tour. Herr Bernio Scherek, the well-known musician, "who is at present in Dunedin, has decided to take Tip nis residence in Ohristchurcfi. Mr'R. H. Coupland, advance representative for West's Pictures, arrived in Dunedin on Saturday evening to make arrangements for the opening of the season in His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next, 10th inst. West's Pictures are perennial in their freshness* and a^e always in favour. This is because they do not stale or are not allowed to grow old. Mr T. J. West is a manager who does not stand still, but is all the time on the lookout for every fresh improvement in the cinematograpbio world, and when it comes he is sure to secure it. And' in animated" photography there is constant change and continual improvements with which Mr West manages to keep apace. In Australia, as here, his pictures rank as the standard of cinematographic development, and to-day his show is, .so to speak, a household -word in this part of the world. On Monday next he commences at His Majesty's Theatre in this city. This is his third annual toirr of New Zealand, with a repertoire of animated views, which are the latest production of tihis • wonderful and interesting art, an<? which include the best examples to date of what has been achieved in the moving picture line. The Dunedin season will run into about three weeks, and during that time there will be constant changes of programme. For the opening a specially attractive and interesting series "has been arranged, which, in addition to many magnificent soenio displays, will comprise a number of very wonderful and ingenious devices and come remarkable specimens in the much-advanced art of animated colour photography. Mr L. De Groen's splendid orchestra will-per-form appropriate musical accompaniments to the pictures, . as well *as overtures and selections. As now constituted, West's Pictures are said to furnish one _of the most absorbingly interesting and_ diversified _entertainmentß since the application of .cinematography. There are to be matinee performances on Saturdays. The plan is now open at the Dresden. , , The case of CShas. B. Massey (city inspector) v. J. B. Moutrie (manager of ipe, "Brewster's Millions" Company), in ffhich the defendant was oharged with failing to keep the passages clear during a performance at the Theatre Royal, came on for hearing at the Magistrate's Court, Chnstchuroh, the other day. The case had previously been adjourned in order to allow of the reproduction of the license of the theatre. -Mr Herman produced the license for 1907, which Mr Gaasidy, who appeared for the defendant, contended had nothing to do with the case, as that license had expired. A letter was then read, in which the proprietors of the theatre made application to the City Council for an extension of the licence to February 1, as the new theatre had not been completed. Another letter was produced from the Town Clerk, stating that the By-laws Committee had granted the request. Mr Cassidy thereupon contended that the theatre was unlicensed since 1907, and that the by-law under jvhich the information was laid applied only to licensed buildings. Mr Cbwlishaw (for the inspector) submitted that the council had given a license by letter. The Magistrate (Mr V. G. Day, S.M.) agreed with Mr Cassidy, and dismissed the case. Messrs Wirth Bros.' circus, after a successful Australian tour, -will arrive in Dunedin on Saturday, February 8. Among the new sensations that will be shown for the first time in Australia and just arrived from Hagenbeok's Zoo in Hamburg by the French' mail steamer Nevar, is one that is thus described by Mr George Petereen, Wirth Bros.' representative :— The act consists of six full-grown lions performing together with a number of leopards, bears, and a couple of boar hounds, forming wonderful tableux and a most exciting mixed-up finale. Hagenbeck says it is absolutely the greatest of all his many wild animal turns, of which he supplies nearly all the American circuses, and also the circuses on the Continent. Hagenbeck has the-, largest zoo in the world, and breeds hie own wild animals, as well as buying all the available animals in India and Africa; he supplies nearly all the zoos in the world with animals and birds, and he has a "huge training quarters near Hamburg (Germany). This act we have secured Is the acme of wild animal training, for he makes the- animals perform together feate that would be marvellous for dogs or cat* to perform. is absolutely the greatest turn wo have ever imported. The Howards, Loop-the-loop, Colquett* or any others are not in it with this aot, and a special feature about it is that there is , no occasion for fear by the audience— ;in fact, they forget the performers are wild animals until the finish; then they are made aware of this fact by the exciting, finale: * - - _ " Misfortune has overtaken Miss Nellie Stewart, who ' has a warm #laoe in the 1 hearts of all Melbourne theatre-going ! women (says a lady writer in Melbourne j Purfch). When her prospects during her 1 American tour looked brightest a growth on her shoulder made it imperative that she i should- desist for «. while. She came to Austwdi* to rest, and filled- with; hope set out again to -conquer the Yankees. ,JNow won* oomes Jha* toe growtii has *s**a driven her off we boards, and sh© may i return once more to Victoria. .That huge ; hat which the *om in "Sweet Nell of Old I Drury" caused the trouble. One of the ; gixeßDrting bones rested on and chafed the |

T shoulder. It' caused a lump to rise, anA created a spot which required a heavy dressing of enamel before she could appear in low-necked dresses afterwards. Miss ! Nellie Stewart deserves well at the hands of Mflbournitesy and she is 6ure of a royal welcome, which may temper the disappointment of her breakdown. The second annual banquet of "The Mag-io Circle" was held iv- , London in. December last, when about 150 wizards and magicians sat down to dinner, Mr Maekelyne presiding. After the repast ncmbers of the "inner circle" gave a remarkable exhibition of wizardry — the other wizards sitting round with lynx eyes trying to fathom the mysteries presented. Among the feats were an exposure of spiritualistio "dodges" by Mr William Marriott, appearing and disappearing cards by Mr C. O. Williams, and some clever tricks by Mr Ghas. Verney. Mr Alf. Woods, writing from South Africa _ to his brother in Sydney, cays: — "Salaries are about the same in this country as in Australia. I would far rather have the capable Australian than the capable English actor. The Australian is a far superior artist in every way; can play a variety of lines of business, a thing ,you have to teach the English actor. I have now had three English companies in this oOTintry, and with very few exceptions have had to teach them Tiow to speak and play their parts." Mr 6. Bernard Shaw, whose plays are increasingly popular in London, ie coming j out in a new line,~ and will presently appear as a librettist.- "He ie r writing "up his comedy, "Arms and the Man," is a musical i play, and the" composer of the imisic , is i Oscar Strauss. "Arms and the Man" is being played in ite- original comedy torm at present, with Miss Lilian M'CSarthv in the cast. Mr Bernard Shaw was also askedto write the libretto for an opera of SaintSaens, but he refused in a characterist'o letter, in which .he said: — "Unfortunately I I have* a prior engagement with Strauss; I which is at present rather hung up, by the I fact that I want to write the music, and he wants to write the libretto, and we both get along very slowly 'for want of practice." Mr Spencer Barry, the popular stage manager at the London Empire, who was with Mr J. O. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company for six years in Australia, where he aleo married May Flower, the pretty Australian dancer, left before Christmas for New York, to introduce Mile. Genee to the American public, and then returns at the end of January to London. Adeline 'Genee has been the "premiere danseuse" at i the Empire for 10 years, and she has gone to 1 Keith and Proclor for a three months' tour in the United -States, at a salary of 200gs a week. She will then get £2730 for 13 weeks' dancing. In the course of an article on "Vaudevilling Around fche World," Charles Leonard Fletcher tenders the following advice to artiste, embodying a suggestion to visit Australia: "If you have not fortified yourself with a sixteen weeks' contract with Harry Hickards, the Antipodean vaudeville magnate, you can, with profit to yourself, spend a month, and even two months, in this beautiful oountry by Riving private entertainments in the cities of JPerth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, and, if you choose, another month in Tasmania and New Zealand. But I would advise cutting out these islands, and when you can tear yourself away from, the hospitable .AusI traliana (and they are, you will find, the best fellows on earth, if you share with them their passion for the raoe-traok and other innocent (?) forms of gambling), take a steamer to the Philippines, a voyage of about a fortnight." Madame Sarah Bernhardt, about whose Australian visit next year under the direction of Mr J. C. Williamson, the cables told us last week, is making that visit in. pursuance of a pjan for a farewell tour of the world, after a phenomenally successful stage career, rail of incident and triumph, which has lasted since she made her debut in Paris a» Iphiginie at She Comedie Francaise, of which theatre trhe was nominated "jocietaire" in 1875. Four years later she visited London for the first time, and afterwards America. In 1881 she returned to Paris and assumed the directorship of the Ambigu, and then, in 1883 bought the Porte St. Martin Theatre, and appeared there in numerous new roles. Except for visits to America, and London she remained there unjil 1893, when she became director of the KenasTheatre. Five years later she bought the old Theatre dcs Nations, which she rebuilt and opened as the Theatre Saran Bernhardt. She is a painter and sculptor of considerable ability, has written, and produced a play of her own, adapted others -and written, her recollections, wbich only recently were extensively quoted from m all the leading Australian papers. . Old 1 playgoers will remember the tremendous success of her Australian season in 1891, when she staged^ Fome of her best celebrated productions. Advancing years hare certainly not impaired either her versatility or her genius, for it » only two or three years ago that she appeared ut London as Hamlet and the critics considered her interpretation of the great Dane worthy to rank with the great creators of the part while a little over a year ago the papers were full of etories about her activities during her American tour. Forced out of the theatres by the action of the Trust she was compelled to play in a large tent, she practically lived on a train, "hustled" from town to town in the best style of the national character, and generally proved that her Tigpr and perennial youthfulness remained at high pressure. Perhaps the secret of that youthfulness is summed up in her anewer to a candid friend who asked her whether «he didn't feel she was growing old? "I never have time to think of it," was her reply.