STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 69

STAGE GOSSIP.

Miss Norah Kerin has gone on the vaudeville stage in England.. Howard Vernon,, who has been on a trip to London,' shortly, takes a company to India.' r Miss May Yohe is 'about to start on a tour of the •world with a. fine vaudeville company.- '■' :: Sarah Bernhardt will receive from th© Coliseum, London, £IOOO weekly during coming : September'- and October. .George Marlow.-has a new company at present rehearsing Bret Harte's play, "The Luck of Roaring Camp." The uniforms .and dresses for "The Prints and the Beggar. Maid' were all specially made in London. "The Prince and the Beggar Maid" was played before her Majesty the Queen, by command, on July 14, ISOB. _ ■. Charles MacMahon has arranged to tour New Zealand with the bioscope film, " For the Term cf < His Natural Life." Mr Hugh r Ward's company continues to do a capital business at Sydney Palace in "A Bachelor's- Honeymoon." Van. Biene, the actor-musician, is producing " The Master Musioiar '' in America. He is appearing on the Keith circuit. Hardeen, the " handcuff king," who is now performing in America,, is a brother of the famous Houdini. The New York Opera House is inaugurating a system of wireless telephones. The music can be heard over a distance of 85 miles. When " Alice in Wonderland"' is revived' at the Court Theatre, London, the part of the Rod King will be played by the late Dan Lsno's son. Nat Clifford, the popular Dam© in "Babes in the Wood," is bent on remaining in Australia. He has already started buying property near Melbourne. After the finish of "The Lion and the Mouse" at the Sydney Theatre Royal Bernard Shaw's comedy "Arms and the Man" will be staged. "Arms and the Man," one of G. B. Shaw's comedies, was to be produced in Sydney last week by the Julius Knight-Katherin© Grey Company. ■ "The Wedding Ring 5 ' bids fair to outrival the popularity of "Married to the Wrong Man," and George Marlow feels on good terms with himself in having two such wonderful drawing cards in his repertoire. Miss Maud Jeffries (Mrs James Osborne) is to appear as Galatea in a production in Sydnev of Gilbert's comedj " Pygmalion and Galatea." to be given in aid of Liady Dudley's district bush nursing scheme. Miss Tittell Brune is reported to have made a great success in Miss Vialet Vanburgh's part in " The Woman in the Case." According to accounts the role is a very arduous one. The Clarke and Meynell Comic Opera Company will make their last appearances in Australia at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, in " Sergeant Brue" on the completion of the Sydney .season. William Anderson's famous dramatic organisation reopens at the King's Theatre. Melbourne, in three weeks' time with Walter Howard's great London success, "The Prince and the Beggar Maid." "Married to the Wrong Man" will open at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland 1 , on Easter Saturday. During the company's season there "The Wedding Ring" will also be presented. M. Edmond Rostand, the E'renoh dramatist, has realised £26,000 for the rights to ■publish in serial form his farmyard play "Ohanteeler" before its production on the staare. Eight months is a long run—a very long run—for a dramatic piece on Broadway, but that is the record achieved by "The Qlimax," which, at the end of October, was still filling \ Webar'e Theatre in New York. Madame Melba's business manager has written cancelling Melba's West Australian tour, and stating that she will visit Western Australia first on her return to Australia in two years' time*. '. Mr Beaumont Read, who was well known in- musical circles, died ' on - January 5 at Unley Park. Adelaide, aged over 70. Since his retirement as a singer in 1908 Mr Read has appeared little in public life. Mr Oscar Asche a.ud Miss Lilv Bravtoji h.a.v.e received an offer from a New York syndicate for a tour of Amerioa. This oa«inot take place during the present, year, how- ; ever, owing to prior arrangements. | Harry Lauder is said to be the highest I

' .salaried ..performer on the vaudeville stage. He receives about £1 10s for every minute he is regaling his hearers with his inimitable Scotch dialect and witticisms. It is said that the dearest quartet of pantomime people ever seen in Australia are Miss Lillian Lea, Messrs Nat Clifford, Foreman, and Fannan, now appearing in "Babes in the Wood." Their joint salaries amount to over £2OO. Mr Clifford O'Keefe, basso, a brother of Miss Cissie O'Keefe, of Pollards, leaves for Sydney Dn Thursday with a. view to being given a trial in connection with the grand opera' company now being formed under the management of Mr J. C. Williamson. "The Woman in the Case." the Australian Tights of which have been secured by Clarke and Meynell, has passed its 250th performance at the New Theatre, London. It will be staged in Australia by a specially-orga-nised company. Rapley Holmes, the stalwart American who was such a favourite as Big Bill out here with J. C. William's "Squaw Man" Company, is now making a big success as Slim Hooper in "The Hound Up," another Western America drama now touring the States. " A Royal Divorce " is again being played at Sydney Royal, with Mir Julius Knight and Miss Beatrice Day in the principal parts. On this occasion, Mr Sydney Stirling impersonates General Angeran, and Miss Lens the little King of Rome. Ralph J. Herbert claims to be the only full-blooded Eskimo actor on the American stage. Mr Herbert was born in Ellesmere Land, but was educated in New York, where he has lived for the past 2<l years. His tribe name was Appellah, and his fainilv name Eituokshue. Mr Harold Ashton, of the J. C. Williamon management staff, -who has been scouring America for dramatic material for his management, witnessed over 150 renarats theatrical entertainments in the United States. He was present at 'the opening of the Millionaires' Theatre. . •• • George Willoughby, who is bringing out a farcical comedy company from England ■ to appear throughout Australia and New Zealand in "The Night of the-Party," under the management s '6il Clark and Meynell, is shortly due in Melbourne l , where the tour commences in February. At the conclusion of its Melbourne run "Babes in the Wood" panto, will visit Adelaide. Perth follows, after which Kalgoorlie I for Easter and .Fremantle will be visited. I "Babes in the.. Wood" will be the biggest and most expensive pantomime that has ever toured the States,.. . A monument--made fromi a. boulder weighing over nine ton.g has been placed at the foot of Modjeska"; Mountain at " Arden," the former \ California home of the actress. On the face of -'-the monument is a bronze tablet with Modje&ka's name inscribed upon it. The memorial' stands in a beautiful glan. where Modjeska spent much time. . "The Arcadians,"'the London musical play which is still running to immenc.e business, and has taker' playgoers by storm, will be staged here by the Clarke and Meynell New Comic Opera Comoany, now being organised in London. The piece is expected to run for two or three years at the London Shaftesbury Theatre." . Mr Charles'Weriman. general m.anager of the Claike and MiSynell Comic Opera Company, has completed negotiations with the members of the company to extend, their season for a short'time. They wiH appear in the successful London musical play, "Sergeant Brue," at the Theatre Royal, when the Ascbe-Bray4«n,Company ROes to Sydney. Mr Matheson Lang, who appeared in the name-na.rt in ."Pete," at the Lyceum, London, says that that nla yis one of the most powerful in which he had ever appeared. The scene with the partv in the leading role used to bring tears to the eyes of the audience everv night. This play will be staffed _ here by Clarke and Mfeynell's Company. It is by Hall Caine.' ao" There are two .revivals at present holding the boards at the two J. C. "Williamson pantomimel! in Svdney—"The Merrv Widow" *t Her Majesty's, and "The Royal Divorce" at the Theatre Royal, and judging by the size of the audiences who are turning up nightly to witne3s the respective pieces it is difficult, to say which is the more popular—the lyrical or-the dramattic production. In New Zealand the .T. C. Williamson Dramatic Company and the new Comic Opera Company ar playing a sort o<f "family coach" across the' North Island. The musical organisation has' finished in Auckland, and is playing "the smalls'' '-en route to Wellington, and the" dramatic company, after finishing in Wellington, is also visiting "the smalls" on the way to Auckland. The great French detective drama.— "Arsene Lupin"—has "got right there" with playgoers in New York. After an unusually long and prosperous career it was still attracting big audiences up to the close of last year; and so pronounced and unequivocal has been its success that 'Charles Frohman has decided to organise no less than six different companies and send them out in various directions to present the piece. The following dates have been booked for Hackenschmidt's 'tour of the Dominion: G-isborne, January 24, 25; Napier, 27th; Bastings, 28th; Palmerston N.. 29th-31st; Wanganui, Februarv 1 and 2: Hawera. 3rd; Masterton, 4th; Wellington, sth-10th; Christchurch. 12th-16th; Timaru. 17th; Oamaru, 18th; Dunedin, 19th-24th; Invercargill, 25th26th. Since she came to Australia Miss Lily Iris, the popular principal boy in the "Aladdin" pantomime, has become a cricket enthusiast. She paid her first visit to any cricket match when the South Australians werep laying the Victorians; and the former team at the close of the match in which of course they were defeated, made her apresent of the ball which played such havoc with tbii- wickets, and on "it were inscribd all their signatures. Admirers of the work of Mr H. G. Wells will learn with interest that after having fucoessfully resisted the allurements of the footlights all these years he ha &t length succumbed, like o many of his contemporaries, and has written a play the production of whi'rh will be an interesting event this year. Particulars aire not yet available, but we are told that tbe action is located in a region "which has been explored by few besides Mr Wells himself." Where can it be? Oscar Aeche has received a cable from Sir Herbert Tree intimating that in April there will he a Shakespearean Festival Week in London, and inquiring whether Mr Asche. Miss Brayton. and their company would apsar durina 1 the whole of that week at Hie Majesty's Theatre, London, in their repertoire of Shakespeare's plays. Mr Asche was not able to accept .the offer owing to the fact that hie Australian engagement with Sir Rupert Clarke and Clyde Meynell will not be completed until after April next. The "Moldavia" which is now on ,its way out to Australia, having left London at. the beginning of the current month, has on board Mr Alexander Butler a well known and widely experienced London stage manager and -producer. Mr Butler is ui<der engagement to -T. C. Williamson and on ■Mrival in Australia, will go straight to Now Zwilaijd t.T take i" hand the rehearsale of "The Dollar Princes*" with the new ooniic opera cam- . pany, who are to appear in that •oonuTar i

' musical play on their return from the- Do- , minion. Mine. Sarah Bernhardt i:. appearing in Paris as Joan of Arc in a play by M. Emile Moreau, who collaborated with Sardou in " Madame Sans Gene." The play puts Joan of Arc before the public in a new •and more human light than has even beer represented before. She is represented as a sort of female Hamlet who strives to put the world right and who fails. In Mi. Moreau's pl>ay Bishop Cauchon is whitewashed, and the Queen of Eaigland, was a princess of France, is made to inter-'

vene for Joan. "How Can I be Ugly?" is the title of an amusing article by Mr F. Corder in the Musical Times for December. Corney Grain, he recalls, used to describe a young" lady at a party who played a. waltz and explained that, the melody was all in octaves, but her hand was so small that she could not reach them; accordingly she played sevenths instead. "This used to make us squirm," comments Mr Corder, "but time has reconciled the human ear to such trifling dissonances." Consequently he despairs nowadays of writing really ugly music. Altogether a most pathetic plaint. The German Empress has started many philanthropic organisations in Berlin, and one of the latest and, moat tvseful is known as the Central Association of German Actresses. The object is to provide actresses with costumes for the stage at the smallest possible expense. The Empress gives all her court >and evening gowns to the institution after she has used them, and she •has induced many wealthy women in Berlin to follow her example. •* Many women who object to giving away their gowns part with them at nominal figures. The Empress is the president of the association, which provides the majority of the costumes seen on the Berlin stas-e.

For the next few weeks, which will be devoted to revivals of "The Merry Widow" , and "The Girls of Gottenberg" alt Her ; Majesty's Theatre, Sydrney, the Royal Comic Opera Company will Concentrate all their spare tune on rehearsals of " The Waltz Dream,"' which they are to do in Sydney ere their present'season closes there. The great reputation which this melodious opera, by Oscar Strauss has gained in England and on j the- Continent has preceded it out to this part of the world, and evn now expert j critics are undecided as to whether fcp give the palm, for the beauty of its music to the ■ •famous Lehar opera "The Merry Widow" or : to its successor —"The Waltz Dream." j Melbourne can. certainly take the palm for ! fine voices if the experience lately met with ; by Mr Henry Bracy can be taken as a cri- j terion. That gentleman cam© down from ■ Sydney to find voices to complete the ranks , of the chorus for the Grand Opera season under the J. C. Williamson management, and at tih.9. conclusion of the voice trial he expressed himself as 'being astonished at the quality of the voices which were submitted for his. .aproval. ...' The sopranos especially were really excellent, and instead of having any difficulty about finding the number of good voices required he was nonplussed at' the task'of deciding which of the excellent voices to'reject. The party of British dramatic authors thai. is to journey from London to be entertained ■ by Mr Charlies Frohman in America is as j versatile in personnel as it is interesting, j Mr Somerset Maugham and Mr Galsworthy j are, so to/Speak, among the "new chums"; '■ whilst Mr Haddon Chambers's chief claim to ! distinction is that he is the sole j representative. as a playwright of j "claiss," that the Australian colonies have sent to England. Though domi- , ciled inLondon since 1882. Mr. Charn- j bers was! Horn in New South Wales in 1860. j He started life as a boundary rider in that State or colony—hence, perhaps, the genesis of his "Captain Swift." His later work for the theatre has been mainly don© under the tegis of ..Mr; Frohman, but his "Sir Antony" i was produced in London by Mr Curzon a ,

twelvemonth ago. George; Willoughby has selected a strong company;,.-, to produce the famous farcical comedy, "Tne Night of the Party," throughout Australia and New Zealand. The leading comedian will be David James, son of the David James -who became famous by his associations with the principal role in "Our Boys-" for many years. Mr Willoughby will appear in a ©mall part "The Nisrht of She Party," to be staged here by the George Willoughby London Farcical Comedy Company, is by the eminent comedian Weedon Grossmith.> For years it has been making higlish playgoers laugh. As a. matter of fact, iV was first produced at the -Avenue* Theatre, Londlou, about ten years ago, and has been running throughout England ever since. Eight people are being broiight. from London, including David James (the leading comedian), Hugh C. Buckler (leading juvenile), Miss Mab Paul (one of the most beautiful actresses on the London stage). Miss Amv Willard" (who was a member of Miss Nellie Stewart's Company some years ago), Miss Violet Paget (one time leading lady with George-. Gidden's, who was out here some time ago), and others. Many distinguished mien have laboured at the creation of the Japanese lyrical, tragedy, "Madame Butterfly." First of all John Luther Long wrote the book. David Belasco's dramatic instinct sensed a pvay in this and in due course he evolved 1 one. In the drama Puccini saw an opera, and he interested two of his compatriots, L. Mica and G. Giacosa, who collaborated in the preparation of the Italian libretto. Its first production as a musical work was given at La Seal a. Milan, on February 17, 1904. It was a wildfire success. Next Mr 11. E. Elkin set to work upon the Italian libretto to prep-are an English version, and in 1906 the first presentation of the opera, in this language was given at Washington (U.S.A.) on October 15. Again success was registered. It went to New York and staeyd there two season's. In the meantime the MoodyManners Company had secured the English version for Eingland, where it coined money. At the same time the J. C. Williamson management acquired it for Australia, and' it will havo its first representation in bur mother tongue in Sydney -next Elaster. Signor Hazon is at present on his way to fill the conductor's chair, and he will be followed by the singing principals a couple of boats later.