STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2955, 2 November 1910, Page 69

STAGE GOSSIP.

Mr Mid Mrs Bland Holt are to leave Australia shortly on a trip to Europe. The" detective drama, "Nick Carter," has been secured for Australia by Mr Georgo Marlow. Mr Ben Fuller, on cinematograph 'and vaudeville business intent, i 3 paying a brief visit to Sydney just now. Miss Ada Reeve, who has already appeared in Australia, has arranged a tour in London •which includes the Commonwealth. Mr Gerard Coventry has already started on the preparatkns fcr the next Christmas pantomime. Rehearsals will begin early. The mow Clarke and Meynell Opera Company, whose first performance will be "The Chocolate Soldier," has left London for Australia. An English child-act rejs, Cronia Kow, is said to be earning £l2O a week with a doll act in which she has created quite a furore in Berlin. Mrs Langtry is about to m'ako a reappearance on the stage. She was last seen at the Haymarfcet, London, during 100 S, . in "A Fearful Joy." Mr Michael Joseph will renew his acquaintance with the Dominion at an early period in charge of one of Mr William Anderson's dramatic companies. Mr Bardley Turner, who will make his ■appearance here with the Nellie Stewart Company, was in the original production of "The Little" Minister." Miss Brenda Gibson, well known in Australia, has been appearing in Glasgow with Martin Harvey. As Lucie, in "The Only Way," Miss Gibson is described as "sweet and natural." Pantomimes are arranged far ahead, and Mr Meynell, now in London, is I already making his engagements for "Dick Whittington," to be produced at the Melbourne Royal next year Miss Daisy Harcourt, who some years ago was here on the Dix Vaudeville circuit and afterwards was a hit in America., is returning to Sydney in April under engagement to J. Brennan. William Anderson is sending a powerful dramatic company to Maoriland this month. A long tour of the Dominion will be made, and all the new dramas in Anderson's repertoire will be played. Mr Georgo Rigncld was 71 years of ago en October IS. He has for some years resided at his picturesque suburban homo on the chores cf Middle Harbour, Sydney, and but rarely visits the city. "Have you seen my 'Hamlet,' my boy?"— "I am glad to hear you characterise it in that way."—"What do you mean?"—"l am glad to hear you call it your 'Hamlet.' I knew it wasn't Shakespeare's." A cable from London states that Mies Florence Imerson, who has just finished, a remarkably successful season in South Africa, has been engaged by Clarke and Meynell, for lead in musical comedy. Mr Azeola Pearce, of the Nellie Stewart Company, who plays the part of Little Biliie in "Trilby." is a New Zealander, Christchurch being his birthplace. Till recently, a couple of years ago, he was employed in Auckland. Thus Hall Caine: "I venture the opinion that if Clement Scott had been at the Garrick Theatre on Saturday night. Miss Tittell Brune would be by this time the jnost-talked-of woman on the English stage." Miss Ethel Irving, the charming comedy actress, who is coming to Australia next year under engagement to Messrs Clarke and Meynell. will appear in Somerset Mangan's play, "Lady Frederick," and "Dame Nature." One of the principal scenes in Mr William Anderson's coming production at the King's, Melbourne, "By Wireless Telegraphy," a drama founded on the Crippen Case, will show a ship at sea, with the wonderful wireless telegraphy at work, |

j "Paid in, Full," another strong American play, was produced at the Sydney Theatre Royal, with Miss Katherine Grey in the leading part. Mr William Desmond,! the new leading man of the company, made an excellent first impression. Mischa Elmaai, the famous Russian violinist, has decided to; became an English subject when he attains his majority two years ; hence, making his home in London, where I he has just purchased a handsome house I for his father and mother. I The present Prince of Wales made hi 3 j debut as an actor on December 15, 1907, I at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, in a. performance of the pantomime "Dick WhitI tington and His Cat," his Royal Highness playing the part of George, the apprentice. At a recent date the following artists, all favourites in Australia, were on the MossStoll circuit: ---Miles-StavordiaJe Quintette, Peggy Pryde, R. G. Knowles, Dan Crowley, La, Milo, De Wynne brothers, the Haytors, Kitty Wager, Cassie Walmer, and "Teddy" i Ford.

Nora D'Argel (Miss Nora Long), the gifted young New Zealand singer, who will be the prima donna of the next season at Lyon 3, is now staying in Buckinghamshire, where the wonderful gowns she will wear in "La Tosca" are being made by the bead-workers of that county. J. C. Williamson's Dramatic Company . opens its tour of the Dominion at ChristI church playing from Boxing Night to January 7; Dunedin, January 9 to 14; Welling- , ton, January 18 to February 2; playing overi land to Auckland, where they open en February 20 and closa March 11. "Why Men Love Women" has turned out to be one cf the mast popular pioee3 in the repertory of the Allan Hamilton-Max Maxwell Company. The principal parts in the melodrama aire played by Miss Vera Remee, Miss Nellie Strong, Mr Max Maxwell, anjd Mr Richard Bellairs. , "Play up, play up, for the big prizes!" cries the •showman. "Ten, ten, nine—twentynine points. 'Ard lines, sir. If you'd got 'thirty you'd have won a gold watch." Then, turning from the disconsolate aspirant for I the watch to his wife", he concludes: "M'ria, give the- gentleman a bag o' nuts." "The Girl in the Train" is one of the new plays arranged for by Mr J. C. Williamson for Australia. A rather curious incident occurred at a recent performance in London. The "Girl," Miss Phyllis Dare, fainted during the evening, and while her under-shidy was preparing for the part, another actress had to step into the breach. Mr Charles Frohman owns theatres in London and New York, and has, in addition. an interest, in 20 theatres in New York and 1 London, has 40 travelling companies in America, and provides the attractions at 100 houses in different parts of the United States, where he controls 2000 players. In England he has 600 on his salary list. Madame Lydia Yeamans-Titus and her , husband, who were great favourites on their first visit to Australia, reappeai-ed at Melbourne Opera House. Madams YeamansTitus is a mimic of exceptional ability, and. as of old, her imitation of a nervous girl making her first appearance on a public platform simply convulsed the audience. A game of "general post": Mr Forbes Orr, now in charge of the Wellington Royal, ' goes to Christchurch Opera House; Mr Bud j Petersen, of the Christchurch Opera House, j goes to Auckland King's; Mr Walteir -Fuller I takes charge of the Christchurch Coloeeum; whilst another unknown is to be broken ' in -' the Theatre Royal by Mr Ben Fuller. ' M : ss Kitty Campion's benefit concert in Auckland w'js an unqualified success in ' every way. When questioned on the subject of her going to Paris, the young singer ex- ! pressed her appreciation of the reception ',. she received, and added, "Nothing is defi- , nitely settled at present beyond the fact j that lamtogo to Europe very shortly." j Mr Howard Carr. who was at one time conductor of the J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company, is now one of the conductors of the Thomas Beecham Grand Opera Company in connection with its four months' provincial tour in England and Scotland. Mr Hamish M'Cunn, brother of Mr Andrew M'Cunn, is also conducting v.'ith the Beecham Company. Referring to the Hamilton-Plirnmer-Den- j nistou Company's performance of "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," the Taranaki News winds up a very eulogistic criticism: "There is this to say—that these who, were absent last night should see "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" to-night if they would see the finest company of artists that have trod the local board? for years past." Mme. Marie Golombier. the French actress, who- was perhaps best known for her historic quarrel with Mme. Sarah Bernhardt 27 years ago. has died at the >age of 66. Mme. Colombier went to America with Mme. Bernhardt's company, and on returning wrote a book which brought its author a large sum in royalties, three months' imprisonment for libel, and ■* fine of £4O. The first English provincial tour of Mae- i terlinck's fairy play, "The Blue Bird." began ! at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, recently. Seme ! idea of the gigantic undertaking of sending ' i play like "The Blue Bird" on tour may be gathered from the fact ihat the company travels 120 strong, and carries with it many more tens of scenery and properties than any company that has left London for tho past 20 years. Writing frcm London en September 8, Mr 1?. A. Home stated that he was in a private hospital, having suffered badly from, the effects of ptomaine poisoning. He was well on the high, roerl to health at the time of writing, but stated that he would bo umable to accompany tha Eilwccd children to Germany. The children were heard by several critics in who expressed ' high appreciation of tbe'r talents. Some- of the principal attractions to be seen in New Zealand next year under tho i J. C. Williamson managenont wi" include i five companies—the Royal Comics. Kffhorine Grey Dramatic. Musical Corned'', English Dramatic Company, and ihc: Pantomime. Mr Bert Royle has informed me that arrangements are now being mr.de fcr two other attractions in 1911, one of which will probably be the Irving-Baird English. Company. ; Mr Desmond, the new American .actor, new , appearing with Miss Grey at the Theatre Royal, is married to a sister of Miss Nance O'Neill. He reports that after her great succo.ss in the French comedy '"Hie Lily" at the Belasco-Stuyves-ant Theatre. New York, that artist took a holiday in France, sad reopened on September 5 of thi.s yessir for a starring season of five weeks at the same fashionable house in the same piece before entering upon a long lour of the States.

It is announced {hat Mis« Knthc-rine Grey will apnear in "Salvation No!!" during the dramatic season at Sydney RoyaJ. "Salvation Nell" is by Edward Sheldcn. who at 2J jumped into popularity ;.s an author when this, his first play, was successfully produced at the Hackeit Theatre, New York, under the management of Harriso:i Grey Fiske. on November 17, 190 S. The first of the three acts of the play has the setting of a bar-room, and there ?.re 40 characters. ifrs Fi<ske was the originnl Nell Sanders. The total amount of tho takings at the matinea performance organised by Miss Nellie Stewart, in aid of the Radium Fund o' the Svdjo&v Hosjoit*!- reached the sum of

over £I4OO. Miss Stewart sold tickets and souvenir oranges in the streets of Sydney, and her efforts on "Wattle Blossom Day" at a leading florist's shop benefited the fund to the extent of over £7. At the auction sale of seats four rows of the reserved stalls and the front row of the dress circle realised £lB3, whilst twlo of the private boxes were sold at £25 each. When the last mail left England, Miss Ola Humphrey was playing the psirt of Clementina Fitzhugh in "The Man from Mexico)"— one of Hugh Ward's Australian successes. Our old friend Mr George Giddens was in the London oast as Roderick Majors*. The Stage says: "Miss Ola Humphrey, a handsome and statuesque figure as Clementina, and particularly good in the scene of nervous agitation at the opening of the piece, appeared in a sketch at the Ba v ace some little time back, we think. Her performance of the wife is certainly an attractive one." Mis 3 Tittell Brune has scored a popular triumph in Hall Caine's drama, "The Eternal Question," at the Garrick Theatre, London. The actress has be-ein honoured with extravagant eulogies, and has been boldly proclaimed as a theatrioal genius. Assuredly her success has been, phenomenal, for M<r Hall Caine has emerged from his seclusion to applaud tho lady in judicious terms. With an admirable, if somewhat unnecessary, modesty, he describes her as "one of the two 'greatest emotional actresses of rhy time." This people will accept as a valuable opinion, since Mr Caine is not given to tho vulgar art of exaggeration, or to the second-rate frenzies o.f appreciative passion. "Our Miss Gihbs" has drawn on every section of the community for tribute in admiration. From Governor to shop-girl the g'aiety piece has exercised its spell. When, therefore, a bishop took his feat in a box. at Her Majesty's Theatre during the week there was not so much surprise as might have been imagined. Nevertheless the newspapers eagerly chronicled the fact that an ecclesiastical dignitary had attended a musical comedy. They stated that the Primate of Australia, was the prelate to make liiis move. It, however, turned out. to bti his double, the Bishop of North Queensland (Dr Fiodsham), well known in the northefn Stats for his liberal miuded attitude towards such entertainments.

Eugene Walter's play "Paid in Full," which is now attracting so much attention at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, has the distinction of having ma-do four stars in one night in New York. On the first production it had three practically unknown men in it—that is, unknown to Broadway. These were the impersonators of Captain Williams, Joe Brooks, and "Jimsey" Smith. Ail woke to celebrity, as did also the fctress in the part of Mrs Brcoiks. The play broke away from the "star" system. A play nowadays in New York is written for one star. The management that staged " Paid in Full" found itself embarrassed with four, but as the play drew all New York, this embarrassment was in no way financial. The first impression, as it is the last, of this most original play, "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," is its amazing daring. How any playwright could hope to find a company to portray isuch a complex web of comedy and spirituality ?—that is the compelling question. In the first unfolding of the sordid little boarding-house world, there are certainly unlimited possibilities for future evolution. What a capital . impersonation of the lowest type of respectable cheat does Mrs Brough give as Mrs Sharp, the landlady! How she harries the miserable maid (Miss Lizette Parkes), taunting her with her birth and antecedents in one breath, and in the next suggesting "I think the milk will stand a little more water!" What feline amenities are exchanged between the Painted Lady, the Shrew, and the Snob! Sordid it all is, and terribly true to the worst side of commonplace boF.rding-house life. A unique little "personage is Miss Toby Claude, who appeared in Melbourne for the first time at the Princess Theatre as Tillie Day in "A Knight for a- Day." Her very first appearance, even before she opens her lips to speak, is quits enough to .send an audience into roars of laughter. A diminutive little figure, with a frock w|hich she owns to having put on back to front, &> miniature hat perched jauntily on her head, and a hand-cart in attendance with an enormous pile of luggage, surmounted by a, huge wicker cage in which reposes a fine specimen of a tabby cat —such is the appearance Tillie Day represents when she arrives to take service at the seminary of Mrs Woddburv. And as the farcical comedy 'progresses, the audience very soon discover that Miss Claude's acting is quite up to her appearance in its laughter-evoking propensities. In the leading masculine role Mr Bert Gilbert will appear as Jonathan Joy, supported by the remaining members of the New Comic Opera Company.