Theatrical Notes

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14274, 13 August 1910, Page 4 (Supplement)

Theatrical Notes

"Act -1.-lUe. AVomun is Lundcd, Act 2.—Tho AVonum makes Reparation. Act 3.—'The- Woman Seeks Retribution. Act i. —Tlio "Woman. Finds Salvation.'' Such is tho synopsis of events published by the author of "It's Always tho [Woman," a. "Tragedy of Love."

Mr "William Anderson is making preparations in .Melbourne, for the production, at tho Kind's Thcat.ro of an original Australian ,<lruina entitled "TJie "Winning Ticket." This piece is said to gfva unequalled opportunities both to tho scenic and the. mechanical staffs. A horse bred in the country, in spite of the machinations of a Hang cf betting men, carries his muster's colors to victory' in tho .Melbourne Cup.

Stories of Madame Calve's kindness to a couplo of street singers are beingretailed in musical circles. A few weeks back tho dramatic soprano gavo a woman singing in the streets iivo shillings, and requested her to call at a certain address. The poor woman called as desired, and was handed a. sovereign. Shortly before she came to Australia .Madame Calve observed a poorlydressed woman singing at a street corner, and offered to take her place. The great artist was soon entertaining the neighbourhood with a song recital, which brought in an abnormal collection.

Nat Gould's sporting drama "The Chance of a Lifetime" has caught on ill Melbourne. The stealing of the Ascot Gold Cup is a prominent feature in the performance. After surmounting ittnuuierabio obstacles, the owner of the nutre Trixio is able to start her in the great race, which she wins. It is 'then found that the valuable gold cup has disappeared. However, this is forthcoming after much investigation find exciting detail, and the scoundrel «if the piece bolts. Mr Anderson's cast is film of the strongest that has played at, the King's Theatre. Great praiso is given to those whose skilful and daring horseniaudiip make the race episode so realistic.

In earlier times—he-fore 1530 the play wsi sthen the thing on Sunday. And on the Sunday alone. "Sunday appears to Ijfwe been the only day upon which plays were performed," noted Air Andrews in "Old Church Lore," "but after 1579 they were acted on other davs as well as on Sundays. It was not the fashion for females'to visit theatres, but at Oxford we find that Queen Elizabeth witnessed a Sunday exhibition. .James, I. at his Comt on a Sunday had plays produced. The Bishop of Lincoln. on Sundav nighf, September L' 7. 10,TI, had performed in his London house the play of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' and for this he was indicted by the Puritans. Masques on a Sunday night at this period were extremely popular."

H. B. Trving is coming' to Australia under engagement to J. C. "Williamson. Mr. Irving, still a man in the prime of life, is one of .the stars on the English stage, carrying on all the best traditions that surround the- name of his father, Sir Henry Irving. Tie has hud himself out deliberately to follow in his father's footsteps, and boldly challenged comparisons in all tho most famous pieces in Sir Henrv's repertoire—"Hamlet," .Matthias 'in "Tho Bells." Dubose in "Tho Lyons Mail," and "Charles I." His wife, whoso stage name is Dorothea Baird, stands almost as high as her husband in the estimation of the public, and they and thencompany have for several years maintained a distinguished place on the English stage. Mr. Lawrence Irving, who had the battle of words with "Alan Dale," the New York dramatic critic, is H. B. Irving's brother.

The "Williamson management has secured Sir Arthur Conan Dovle's new detective play "The Speckled Band" (a description of which wo gave last Saturday), for Australia. Mr Harold Ashton, who accompanied Mr J. C. .Williamson to London, writes: "The new piece holds you deeply interested to the finish. Dr. Rolyat, a retired Anglo-Indian, is the principal part, and his villainy is only shown up within a few minutes of the final curtain bv outold friend Sherlock Holmes. Tho last and most dramatic scene of all conies with the attempt of Dr. Rolyat to get Ins surviving step-daughter to make her fortune over to him. By a pre-arrange-ment .Holmes, at a given signal, confronts Rolyat just as he is about to let the snake (The Speckled Band) do its work The girl escapes, and the doctor perishes through the snake. It is a curiously-riveting productioii.''

Certrudo Gilliam, "tho girl with the brogue" in "The Arcadians" at tlio Criterion Theatre, finds some cause for wonderment at the Australian <drl's devotion to the stage and theatre folk. "Smeo arriving in Australia,'' she said, in tliu course, of a. chat recently, "T have received scores and scores' of letters from "iris, on all sorts of subjects, and some, couched in verv friendly terms, though the writers know iiotliin'" of me. Naturally, a, fair proportion mak,! requests for autogranhs and photographs, and a large number desire information as to hm\ to get on the stage. But there are manv' who offer tsuggestions regarding a good manv things, including rnv dancin" and dresses. One lady wrote: 'Windo you put-up your parasol when, vou are dancing in the racecourse scene Don't you think it foolish to dance will your parasol up?' Another wrote: c '!, y i' U ' nudl 7 lot ™ have a pattern ot that first dross vou wear in 'The Arcadians'.? It is positively a, darling and I want to make one just like it ' ""

At tho Sydney Tivoh recently, Eddie Mi;Lea,n and his sister introduced a new ami sonsationul French plav-dance, which is styled "Le Visiteur " ' In this strong mixture of acting and dauciii" Deeinia McLean took the nart of aii actitss, and Eddie McLean "appeared as an Apache. An actress 'and dancer lu * i I>rastec ' i,: ,K ' r wealthy lover that she does not know tho moaning of fear is surprised in her flab by the entraneo of a, nmrderous-lo'okiiK' Apache. Believing that it is a trick ol her lover to frighten hor, the woman dances for the intruder. "When *he discovers her mistake, tho actress "" is overcome by terror. The Apachethreatens to murder her. Then, subdued .by tho beauty and grace of tho woman, the cut-throat makes his intended victim join him in tho excitinDanso ]) e3 Kaubourgs. J„ the midst of tlio dance tho Apache tries to steal n. diamond necklet from his Jho ehniax i.s reached when the actr-osi snatches the assassin's knife from his belt and plunges tho shining blado into *'» V-V D f? plto ih ° tr^! « ""ling! Lo Visiteur" was warmly applauded?

"Ono would not think there is any scarcity .of money in Auckland,'' said 'Air Ji C. Williamson's manager, when Hie drew the attention,of a, "Star" representative to tho booking for the pantomime "Aladdin" at Messrs Wildman, and Arey's. Tho booking has, indeed, been phenomenal. People intent .upon securing the best seats assembled ■as early as 5 o'clock, and at 8 a.m. thero was an immense, crowd of people, srtretched out in a long queue, four deep, extending from tho booking office through the Arcade into Fort-street Booking kept up steadilv all day and at closing time practically tho whole of the ordinary circle and orchestra, stalls Beats- for tho first six nights had been Bold, while the two matinoo performances were almost as heavily hooked up and .several extra rows of .seats were added from the ordinary stalls. |{ v two o"olock in tho afternoon £.|4o had been taken in booking fees, and before •losing tIM total had M >*.

Inwn £.•(>.->() and £,<)(). Booking con-J liuued steadily, and more extra rows of ;-J alls WTO added tn me-d ih'» demand. I Mr. Williamson has had many ' e,-nr.-l I bookings at Auckland. hut tin." I'cohins i fur "Aladdin" is easily the hast. I