STAGE GOSSIP

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 69

STAGE GOSSIP

Madam-e Blanche Axral is touring South Africa. Miss Florence Baines is arranging a. New Zealand tour. The Pollards have finished their Queensland tour, *nd are at present in Sydney. Helen Dingeon, a former prinia donna, died in New York in August. Her remains were cr-einated. The Knight Company will produce "The Fi«?y 'Lieutenant" for the first time in Australia shortly. Miss Margaret Anglin's hobbies inelucte flower-growing, especialy violets, and eniateur photgraphy. She is fond of angling. Miss Tittell Brune, Mrs Brough, and Mr Kingston »re appearing- in <a, revival of "Dorothy Vernon" at the Theatre Royal, Sydney A new sensation at the London Hippodroms, in « piece styled "The Sands o' Dec/ is a sweeping tidal wave, which engulfs artists and supers alik<» At the termination of the Dunedin season, ■the Burns»-J3^uires pictures will be shown in Tnvercargill. the Bluff, Gore, Milton, and other Southland towns. Miss Irene Ainsl-ey, the young New Zesrland singer, in whom Madame Melba. has taken bo great *n interest, will appear in Sydney on her return from New Zealand. " The Girls of Gcttenberg " w«s revived in London last month for a short season before making a. tour, of the English provinces, and the revival proved a most satisfactory one. In all probability William Anderson's Cup at'-racUcii will bo "The Bank of England." Great preparations for iii production are now being made. Sherlock IJolmes makes fail Te-appenrance in it. "WilL-auT Anderson rends a dramatic company to New Zea'and towards the end of October. -The Squatter's Daughter" will be the star play in ths company's repertoire. ' l The ballets for MM e ssr3 ilsynell and Gu'in'3 Chv.stmas pantomime. " Cinderella." at ti_a TLearie Rcyal. Sydrey, are already 111 rehearsal. Mr Tom Payn© has invented a number of novel dances for it. Fred Sinclair and Gr2cio Whiteford. wellknown in connection with Mr "Johnny" bheridftn'3 Company, are meeting with no little success in their variety sketch, " Getting Even," in the English provinces. Mr Harold Tborky, who was for some time principal baritone with tke Williamson Comic Opera Company, has now ventured into variety work, and is appearing at the isiiepiierd's Bush Empire (London). Miss Amy Castles has definitely decided to reyisit Australia, next year (says a London journal). Sho will leave London in Fobruary for a six months' tour of Australia and .New Zealand under •engagement to Messrs Tait. Mr Gil P. Hoskins, late secretary and, treasurer for the Fuller firm, has left "Wellington, for Western Australia to take over hia new duties in connection with his appointment as manager for Mr Harry Bickard s at Perth. Miss Irene Ainsley, the K-ew Zealand contralto vocalist whom Madame Melba took so much interest in, is a. daughter of Madame Louisa, Ainpley, who sang v. ith much success 111 Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin seme 20 years ago. It is said that Miss Lizette Parkes, of the Beatty-M'lntosh Company, who is 16 years of age, is the youngest actress who has ever played Nichctte in " Camille," and Kitty Chve, a role she takes in the production of " Peg "Wbffin'gtou." It is claimed by, tie management of ih»

Burns-Squires pictures sensation- that the opening nigh.ts it the Opera House, Auckland, the Theatre Royal, Wellington, and the 1 Opera House, Christchurch, established "record attendances in each instance. i - A movement is on foot to erect a memorial I over the grave at Waverley of Mr Adam 1 Cowan, the well-known theatrical manager. Why not, while honouring the dead, do something for the living ? Mrs Cowan may be in need of assistance. John F. Sheridan has finished his NewZealand tour under Williim Ande-rson's direction, and it proved exceptionally successful. An Australian tour will commence in a few weeks. -A new panLomime will be staged at Ballarat at Christmas. Amongst the new artists obtained by Mr j Phillip Wirth for his cirous are the Sydney ! Bros. ; sensational motor cyclists ; Les Grot- , tons, hand balancers and comedy strong { men ; the Gamon Bros.. Spanish acrobats ; j Pastose end Bebe, English clowns ; Otto i and Emil. eccentric German artists. Although •72 years of age, Mr Lionel Brough, the- veteran English actor, is still full of vigour. He has been appearing at certain of the seaside resorts near London in a .little 'triple bill" entertainment which ' he is"" arranging with his old friend, Tcm • Craven. j '" Two Little Sailor Boys" was staged by Meynell and G~\irm ct the Palace Theatre. Sydney, on October 30. The cast included Lilian Meyers. Maud Chetwvnd (who did) so well in musical comedy with the William- ' son companies), " l&iisie Maxwell, Louis© Carbassfe, Conway Wingfield; James Lindsay, and Arthur Cowley'. Mr J. B. Athoiwood, whose work in "The Belle pi Mayfair" as Lord Mount Highgate is one of the features of the piece, 18 not to b e waited in the musical plays. He- is to join the Beatty-M'lntosh Company for the production of " She Stoops to Conquer." in Metbonxn*. In thff theatrical calendar November 25 phould be written in red ink. On November 25, 16-23, Edward Alleyn, the famous Elizabethan actor, died; on November 25, 1871, Henry Irving gave his admirers the first sign of his ability, when in " The Bells " he clearly foreshadowed his success as an actor; on November 25, 1875, Mary Anderson made her debut. Mr FreVJ Duncan, who has been associated with the managerial staff of several of the biggest theatrical concerns round these parts, is filling th-e xesponsfble poeition of treasurer of the Bland Holt Company. Mr Duncan has a double duty to perform whenever Mr Chris. Simonsen gees ahead, so it will be seen that his post is no sinecure. He is as courteous and energetic as of yore. What ■» company which Boasts of producing such ecenic beauties as the Bland Hot Company do has to bear in the matter of expense, so that -every d-etail may bo faithfully adhered to. can be giLheredi from the experience of the latter OTganisa-i tion, which incurred an expenditure of .-610 for additional lighting of the stage Mi«? "The- Gxent Millionaire" made its 1 - first appearance in Wellington. Mr Daniel Frohman says : " The time has come for theatrical managers to make a vigorous -effort to protect themselves against an eiitirely new and quite unexpected element which has entered into their business. Few people realise how great a part the representation of dramas in motion by the camera has taken in 'public entertainment, how enormously it has been developed, and what wonderful possibilities lie in its future." 4 Tfcc numerous friends of Mr Harry Muller, the popular manager of the municipal Opera House in Pahnerston North, will be interested to learn (says the Wellington correspondent of tke Canterbury Times) that he is shortly forsaking the bachelor j-anks. i Mr Muller has such hearty well 7 wishers for ' hig welfare from one «nd of tho Dominion to the other than I am. sure they will all join with me on this occasion in hoping that gc=d hick will follow him and his bride. The London theatres are a fashionable marriage, mart. The last to face the consequences axe Miss Kay, of the "Gay Gordons" Company, who married Mr Ronald M'Andxew, of the rich Glasgow shipbuilding firm of Laird and M'Andrew. Ep.rl Poulett, whose title and estates were claimed some time ago by a London organgrinder, has married Miss Story, a daughter of Fred Story, the dancing comedian, who cama to Australia with one of the early Gaiety companies. "The Gayest Df the Gay" was staged by William Anderson, to an enormous house at ■the- King's Theatre. Everyone acknowledged- it to be the greatest of ell Andereonian productions in mounting, dressing, interpretation < and in writing. Miss Eugenic Duggan achieved a. phenomenal uccess. Her work was exceedingly heavy, as she undertook three characters. The drama is of th« quieter, better c^ass, with a strong and intensely dramalic story. The many scenic studies of Rege Robins were j • magnificent, and the play is lik&ly to have ! a very long run. " The Girl from the Golden West " will i be th e first new play to be produced by the lately-joined .forces of the "Peter Pau" and " Brewster's Millions " Companies. The piece is a picturesque drama with a Californian setting, and the leading part, which , will be taken by Miss Tittell Brune, is one which will give the talented ycung artist ' every opportunity to do fu'l justice to her histrionic powers. At present the ever- i popular " Sunday " is tho attraction at the Sydney Theatre Rovhl There has been a good deal of Salome dancing in London in the present year, consequent upon the craze started by Miss Maud Allan. But over in America they seem to have gone far beyond Britain in this particulai fashion, and one Transatlantic journalist has discovered that over 700 Salome dances have been inflicted upon American audiences in the past six months. After this it is not surprising to read in a. New York paper that " Salome " is fast becoming "as great a brre " as the " Merry Widow " waltz. Hammon and Wyatt. recently in Australia and New Zealand as Sandow Girls, are appearing successfully in Johannesburg at the i Empire Theatre. The Kaufuiann trick cyclists, who were under the Kickards management in Australia, were also at the Empire during Augus/t. Miss Wyatt in ?j letter says: — "There is also a Miss Kitty Gordon, "burlesque actress, on the bill, who. would -drue them crazy if she ever appeared in Australia. I have teen some beautiful and weil-dressed women in my time, but never one to equal her. I only wish Australia could see her." '' I heard many beautiful voices when in Australia," fcaid Madame C.'aia Butt, when interviewed m London after her Australian tour. " I think the climate conducive to ' this Theie is undoubtedly a timbre that is al'o characteristically Australian ; you don't hear it in any but Australian voices. This, along with the enthusiasm and appre- : nation of music, should still further make Australia a place of importance to be reckoned with -in the future voices of the world. Of couree I am going back to Australia! My husband and I can never *forget the welcome extended to us throughout that great island continent and the enthusiasm '■ shown to us." : Tbe mechanics, property hands, and lighfr ■

ing staffs at the Mel-Dourne theatres recently formed a union, under the title of "The Victorian Stage Employees' Association." Sines' then branches have been formed at BallaTat, Bendigo, and Geelong. As a result of negotiations with the managers, a working log has bsen agreed upon. This provides for increases of wages from 3s 4d to 3a lOct per performance for the staff hands,' up to an advance of from £i r to £5 per week for first resident mechanist and! property hands. Liberal overtime allowances are provided for, as well as double pay on Sundays and Good Friday. ■ The tour of the " Mrs Wigg^j of the Cabbage Patch" Company has been considerably altered. The following is a list of the revised bookings: — Auckland, October 19-24; Stratford, October 26; "Wanganui, October 27;33; Palmerston North, Oc.tobar 29-30; Wellington, October 31 to November 9 ; Dunedin, November 11-17; Invercargill, No-* vember 18; Oamaru, November 19: .Tiinaru, Nov-ember 20; Charistchuroh, November 21-30; Masterton, December 2; Dannevirke, December 3; Hastings, December 4; Napier, December 5-7; Gisborae, December 10-11; Hamilton, December V ; Wai'hi, December 15; Paeroa, Decembei 16; Bctorua, December 17; with probably * short ra-lurn' season at His Majesty's T> eatre, Auckland. Temple Harrison, of William Anderson'sDramatic Company*; now appearing at the King's Theatre, was bonr in Melbourne, but went to England when five, years of age. There he was schooled, «nd afterwards re- , turned to Australia, and: studied Stoake- < epearo -under Mis G-r* B. W. Lewis and James Cathcart. He made his first appearance with 'Mrs- .Lewis in' "The Jealous , Wife" et the Melbourne Bijou Theatre. Since, th-en he has ■ plarsd with -Mtggie 1 Moore, Grattan Riggs, George Darrell, j Jeanie Lee, Westmacott, Chas. Hotloway, • etc. He is about the only member of tho present company who was '.with Anderson when he was in partnership with Charles Holloway. The part' ho likes most is Jaikes, in " The Silver King," played with G. Titheradge during iis farewell season at the Melbourne Royal. The shapely Gibson Girls, of musical j comedy, have played havoc amongst young I aristocrats, and simply stormed Belgravia. Amongst those who have latterly married, either a title or » fortune, with a more or , less intellectual youth as an encumbrance, ■are: M 133 Catlrrillc Clifford, maTried t&© eldest Eon of Lord Aberdare; Miss Evai Carrington. was married to Lord de- Clifford; Miss Hilda Harris to ■one- of the Drummonds, of Drummond's Bank; Miss Barbara Deane married Mr Basil Loder; Miss Kathleen Dawn married Mr -Hardinge, , ft ward of the Duke of Portland; Miss i Gates married Baron yon Ditton ; Miss Eva Hilliedon. married the- Marquess de florae; Miss Miary Fairbaira married Mr Smithson, an American millionaire; Mr Peter Kelly, another American millionaire, married' Miss 'M)ay -Kennedy; ■and Miss Christian Humphries also married -an American millionaire, a Mr. Anderson. The latter end of this month will usher in a busy time for" the J. C. "Williamson companies, with the exception of the Royal Comic Opera Company, which has taken up its quarters at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, for an indefhii£& period, apparently. The Margaret Anglin Company bid* farewell to Melbourne, on October 29, ajid opens in Adelaide on (he 31st, ousting therefrom " The Red Mill " .Company, which will travel over to Melbourne and open at the Princess Theatre on the same night. Then the Julius Knight Company, which is at present delighting theatre-goers at''Kalgoorlie, will leave the West and also open in Melbourne on the 31st October at Her Majesty's Theatre. " Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch " is now on the water bound for New Zealand, there to open in Auckland, while the Pantomime Company, having toured New Zealand, will devote the remainder of the " Humpty Dumpty" tour to Tasmania and the Victorian provinces.