THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2857, 16 December 1908, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Br Pasqoix.

TUESDAY, December 15, 1908. Mr Bert Royle, New Zealand reprcsenta- j rive for Mr J. C. Williamson, advices me . from Gisborne that John Ford, the English comedian, will make the trip toi New Zca- , land with "The Red Mill" Company, opening in Dunedin on March 10. i Mr Arthur Stvan, the clever character actor of Bland Holt's company, who met i with an injury in Wellington, i Q slowly recovering, the ligaments of his .injured leg taking their own time to heal. Meantime Mr StyaJi is somefrhiiiißi of a martyr, and is taking the stage with fhe Spartan-liko spirit. I One of the leading attractions during tho j New Year will be the Kingston-Brune t Dramatic Company, which io at present in j Auckland. The Company is a strong one artistically, headed by Mb 3 Tittell Brune , and Mr Thomas Kingston, who are supported by the leading actors and actresses ' of Australia. "The Girl of the Golden ' West" and "Diana of Dobson's" are the principal plays in the repertoire. The Dunedin season commences at the Princess in February. ■ V.'e-t's Pictures are more than holding '

their own at the recently-renovated 1 Alhambrc. and the prospects for the Christmas and Tear seasons are most excellent. The high standard of. kinematography attained on the previous visit of this show is being maintained with.excellent effect. There are- no poor pictures at West's, *nd all the films are up-to-date. To these who cannot afford to travel (and there are many of us) a visit to West's Pictures counts for much. At the conclusion of the Dunedin 'eoason of drama at His Majesty's the Bland Holt Company and all that pertains thereto drop down to Invercargill for a week's season in the southern city. It is only a company of the Bland Holt type and standard with an adequate repertoire which could "have the temerity to remain in Invercargill fora week and play to profitable business.

Ths fullers reopen in the Princess Theaira at Christmas with the World-Wiee Pictures. A number of up-to-date films wilf be shown. The picture show will bo in evidence until February 4, when 'he Tittell Brune-Kingston Company take up the running at the High street theatre.

Mr Ben Fuller is not expected back to the Dominion until after Boxing Day, when the Fuller firm, which is John Fuller, aen.. John Fuller, jun., and Ben, will meet- in conference^ 'in Wellington, and map out their future policy. Apropos, a deal of curiosity exists as to the future intentions of the vaudeville firm. On the bast authority I have it that just as soon as tse box office receipts show a falling off fro*n the various picture shows which the Messrs Fuller aye running, in New Zealand, just so soon will the firm return to vaudeville." Tho date of reopening with vaudeville is' not decided Nipori The future depends' upon the duration of the picture boom. Miss Rosemary Rees, of Gisborne, a young New Zealand actress, who scored something of a success at Home, fas leturned for a brief visit to New Zealand. Miss Rees talks of touring New Zealand with her own company at no distant date.

After an interval of nearly five years, Clement L. Wragge, the -world-famed astronomer and meteorologist, haa decided to visit New Zealand again (writes Victor Beck), and is now en route from Calcutta. India, where his lectures on scientific subjects, including radium, have been received with marked appreciation. ~ Since Professor Wragge's departure from New Zealand he has travelled through many countries; including trips to various outlying and unfrequented places, such as Christmas Island, the scene of th:> iEon wreck to obtain photographs of the total eclipse of the sun ; the South, Sea Islands, through England, Ireland, and Scotland, and many countries of the Continent, including France, where his famous lectures were delivered in the presence of a vast a-fem-blage of scientific men. Professor V. ragge, being a fluent French scholar, was abJ« to impress his hearers in their own lan^ua^e. During his travels he 1.4s considerably added to his collection of ft'!- j stnl which will bo used dining che forthcoming tour. The lateat addition to h«s scientific subjects is radium, which is fully demonstrated at each lecture, -and he will give an opportunity of learning some of the properties of this recent and valuable discove/y. There i> no doubt the forthcoming to'ir of Now Zealand will be looked forward lo with great interest by the public. Many towns which were not visited on the last trip, owing to the profe->w'? *ime being limited, will on this occasion be included in the tour.

There was a large at<-2n i.vice at the funeral of the late Mr Cha. js Ilolkvway, actor-manager, at Melboii.ie on Pec<-jnb»»r 1. The interment took place in the Boroondaia Cemetery, Canon tjutton oAiciating at the graveside. Some lieaal'ful wreaths were sent by members of the tl>r,itrical profession from all .parts of tl c Commonwealth. The chief -invirners w«»re Mr Goorife Hollov/ay (brother),' Mr Alf Hyman, Mr Edgar Haywar'd. and Mr Wm. lawyer (brothers-in-law), and Mr Leo Hvmarf, Mr Arthur Dwyer, and Mr Harold Boy^» (nephews o[ the deceased). Officiating as pail bearers were Mr Wm. Anderson, Mr Julius Grant, Mr Alec. Verne, Mr. Edwin Campbell. Mr Temple Harrison, Mr Herbe *t Movlen, Mr Bert Bailey, and Mr J. H. Nunn."

From far Bombay comes to hand a photograph poet-card -showing our old frienJ Carter, the magician, astonishing the native fakirs by producing a leopard cub from a hat. The Times of India has this appreciation: Bombay has seen a number of clever magicians from time to time, including Thurston, Bertram, and Jesaer lights, but their greatest work wjas tame as compared with that Carter exhibited to a gaping multitude. Australian actors and actresses seem much in. demand in the United States just now, judging by a letter from Will. R. Barne6 (a one-time Melbourne Black and White man. by the way) to J. C. William6os. in which he included* some interesting facts about artisto formerly with that management. At the Metropolitan Opera House,

I for instance, Frances Adler has been en•g&ged. for grand opera, -Fred Rivenhall is in Paul Potter's new musical production, and 1 Stella Tracy has a leading part in "The Soul Kiss." Alma Grey and Daisy Harcourt are both starred as Australians in Keith's big' -vaudeville circuit, Cyril Keightly is Billee Burkes leading man, while Ethel Barrymore has both Charlie Hammond and Orlando Daly in her company. Finally, Nance O'Neil has just been engaged by the Shuberts for a five years' contract. jWhen Mr Bert Gilbert commences to write his autobiography* *ie will b© able to devote one very interesting chapter to his experiences during the past 12 months in the Commonwealth^ and New Zealand— the first be it -hoped of several more years on the the Auetrali&n stage. Beginning last December with a new type of monarch, whose mission it was to make

everybody laugh by copious floods of tears, he pursued that course of action over something like 15,000 miles of road, rail, and water, making hosts of new friends wherever he went. He had in New Zealand occasion to readjust his opinion about the luck that the horseshoe brings. One of them belonging to the off hoof of Mother Goose's high spirited hunter, hit him in the eye; in Auckland, with the result that be spent a considerable time in looking gloomily out of one optic, with the other tightly bandaged. • Duo-ing a recent visit to Naples Caruso entered into the Neapolitan life with all his he&rt. Every afternoon he and his frencfe drove to Poaillipo, where, in a little restaurant, he ate his favourite dish and thought it too good* to be true that he was reallyagain in Naples. At these little luncheons the few fo>tunate persons who happened to drop in — mostly Neapolitans, with occasional .tourists-^ were amazed as Caruso, between the courses and the puffs .of cigarette smoke, sang whatever came into his head, luring the cook from his pots and pans, the padrone from. his office, and all the women folk of the place from their various occupatone. Aiter the applause one day Caruso turned to' a friend, saying: "That is the praise I prize. If I oa» draw tears from the eyes of the man who cooks my macaroni then I am sure I am in voice. ' Women, will weep because it is Caruso who sings, but the cook will only do so if hie heart is really touched."

Won. Anderson's great Christmas attraction at tbe^. King's, Melbourne will be a new and 1 up-to-date version of the evergreen American play, "Uncle Torn'e Cabin." Specal engagements were being made for the production. Cbonhallets', quartets, and choruses, and numerous other incidentals, are being introduced. Eliza's escape across the river will be done on a tremendous scale, and the vision scene will be a revelation in the mechanical art on the stage. Altogether, it will be a gigantio production. W. Anderson's' dramatic organisation being specially augmented for the production.

The strengthening of the National Opera Company by th© accession of such sterling and popular artists as Madame Slapoffeki,. Herr Emil Greder, and, Herr SLapoffeki, a.nd the production of the favourite opera, "Fauet," naturally attracted on immense crowd of theatre-goers to the Criterion,/ Sydney, on November 28, and ihe applause which greeted the efforts of all eoneerjied was hearty and sustained during the evening. Madame Slapoffski'e previous success in the role of Marguerite was repeated; on this occasion, her rendering qf the "Jewel song" and other well-known numbers being greeted with enthusiasm. On November 30, MissJßosina Buckmann took the part of Marguerite with conspicuous success, singing and acting with skill and' judgment, while Mr Edward -Wynn proved; a capable exponent of the title role. Arrangements have been made for the rest of the week, by which the two principal soprano and tenors alternate each night in the parts of Marguerite and "Faust, but Herr Greder retains his important position, as Mephistopheles.