THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXVII, Issue 38, 8 June 1907, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

By Prompter

CODING SHOWS. 10th June to 15th June — Edwin Geach' 8 " Human Hearts " Company. 17th June to 23rd June— Tait Brothers' " Kelly Gang" Bio^rapb. 24th June to lath July— Williamson's Julius Knight Company. 9th July tol2tu July— St. Patrick's Dramatic Society, " Maritana " 16th July to 20th July — Jessie Maclachlan Concert Company. 22nd July to 10th August— Musgrove's Grand Opera Company. 12th August to 24th August— J. C Williamson, leth September to sth October —Allan Hamilton's English Star Company. 7th October to 26th October — Mac Mahon Brothers' Dramitic Company. 4th November to 16th November — Willoughby-WarJ-Ueach Comedy Company.

RECORD business still reigns at the Opera House. The programme is one of good variety. Raleigh and May are two newcomers who appear in a comedy wire act. As is usual in partnerships of this kind, one goes in tor the strenuous part of the business, of which he is a very fair master, while the other adds a touch of variety by playing what Shakespeare (or Bacon) calls "the giddy garden goat." Anyway, the turn is a good one. Beck is still painting pictures wrong side up. Time him, and it ou will find that he does two pictures in 6lightly under five minutes. The Melbourne Meistersingers are back again, and produce a military sketch. They have added new items since they have been away, and their performance is one of exceptional merit. Slade Murray is also making his reappearance and gives several songs with good effect. The Slagpooles are seen at their best in the sketch "The New Waiter. '' This is probably the best comedy team that has ever been seen at Fullers' , and by the time their turn is finished the audience is in a state bordering on hysterics.

Bob Lloyd is responsible for some good comedy work, and Ted Stagpoole's droll antics form quite a feature of the first part. Amy Blackie's ballad singing is always acceptable, and so are the coon and other ditties of Lucy Lavinia. The Lewis Sisters give a song and dance in the first part, and, later on, in company with Doris Baker, they give a triple coon song and dance. Miss Baker also warbles nicely by herself, but dancing is her strong point. Nelly Power is a serio who has found favour in the eyes of the Opera House patrons. Val Newton, enshrouded in mysterious darkness, exercises his melodious voice, while a poetical bioscope gentleman throws appropriate pictures on to the screen. Also, there are new films shown by this same bioscope. * * .•

The enthusiasm shown at rehearsals augurs well for the forthcoming amateur production of " Maritana."^ It is understood that Miss Lizzie Knight, a young lady of great promise, who is understudying Miss Buckmann in the name part, will essay that part on the last night but one of the season. The harp obligato to ' ' The Harp in the Air" will be played by Miss Jennie Hutchison. Those who have been privileged to witness rehearsals describe the forthcoming production as a neAV " Maritana," redolent with the atmosphere of "Carmen," and yet maintaining all the familiar features of " Maritana."

Madame Teresa Carreno, the pianist whom we are to hear shortly, is described by her admirers as comparable only to the great Anton Rubinstein. Rubinstein himself is quoted as having said of" her — ' ' To hear her play tne first movemeat of my D minor (Joncerto is to listen to me."

The Geach - Williamson Dramatic Company, recently organised for the production of the American comedydrama " Human Hearts," and which opened its tour of Australasia in Wei lington three weeks ago, will make its first appearance in Auckland at His Majesty's to-morrow (Friday) for a season that will be limited to eight nights. " Human Hearts" is described as a remarkable admixture of orthodox melodrama with homely sketches of American life, and having much of the kind of atmosphere with which playgoers were made familiar in tie performances of "The Squaw Man," "Arizona," and other woiks of the same school. For so me. years ithas been one of the most popular plays in the American stage world. It wa9 secund by Mr Williamson with a view to pro duction by the "Squaw Man" com. pany. Other circumstances, however, intervened, but the {combination of the forces of Messrs Williamson and Geach, and the securing of arfists from England, has enabled the piece to be launched with conspicuous .success.

For the company it is claimed that on its all-round merits it is one of the strongest yet seen in New Zealand. Mr Ernest Leicester, who plays the leading part, that of Tom Logan, an Arkansas rough diamond, the victim of a series of distressful wrongs, was the successor of William Terriss in the exposition of melodrama in London. Miss Valentine Sidney, the leading lady, has played the "lead" in Edward Sass's companies in South Africa. Mr G. R. Montford, who plays the villain, also has behind him a stage career of weight. Other members of the company are Miss Eva Guildford Quin and Mr C. M. Berkely, late of Williamson companies, and little Alma Palmer, an artist of seven summers, has an important child part.

Edward Branscombe, of Westminter Glee Party fame, is due in Melbourne thi^ month with a freshlyorganised Westminster Glee Party and a new combination known as the Scarlet Mysteries.

Miss Amy Murphy, the Dunedin soprano lately engaged for the new Williamson Musical Comedy Company, has been allotted the principal part in "The Blue Moon," which is to open the season in Melbourne.

Allan Hamilton has now established strong vaudeville shows at the Theatre Royal, Hobart, and Academy of Music, Launceston, both of which are now leased by him. It is intended to run vaudeville throughout the winter months, while tho summer months will be devoted to visits from dramatic and musical combinations as hitherto.

The Musgrove management have an effective way of suppressing the late-comer nuisance in connection with their grand opera performances. Three trumpet fanfares are sounded on the balcony of the theatre prior to the opening of the performance, and after the third the doors are closed, and kept closed till the end of the first act. Similarly there are electric bell signals in the intervals between the acts, as warnings of the intended closing of the doors. The fashionable holders of tickets in Auckland will need to be punctual and wary.

"Robin Hood," which the Julius Knight company will play at His Majesty's towards the end of the month, is described as a play of strong action and human passion. In it are such heroes of history as King Richard the Lion Hearted, Prince John the usurper, Fitz Aylwynne, Hugo de Longepee and Friar Tuck, and dominating above them all is Robin Hood, the outlaw, loved by Saxon and feared by Norman, the friend of King Richard and enemy of Prince John. Mr Knight's impersonation of Robin Hood is said to be one of his greatest and most artistic performances, which is saying a great deal when one remembers Beaucaire, Marcus Superbus, Nanoleon, and other great charaoters.

Miss Rosina Buckmann, shortly to apDear in Auckland in " Maritana " is a member of the Andrew BlackPremyslav concert company, now performing in the South.

Madame Clara Butt is expected to reach New Zealand in the course of her concert tour about November next.

Cuyler Hastings was playing at Chicago in March with a vaudeville company — supporting a smart Jewish actress in a comedy sketch entitled "A Dakota Widow."

Miss Marie Hall, the star violinist now in Australia under engagement to the Tait Brothers, is stated to have received for her first trip 1 o the United States and Canada the record fee of £10,000 for sixty concerts — a sum never before given to any musician for a similar amount of instrumental solo work.

Miss Mabel Royle, daughter of Bert Royle, New Zealand manager for J. C. Williamson, was engaged as solo pianist for one of Madame Albani's recent concerts at Brighton, England.

Tom Pollard intends to launch his new juvenile opera company at Christchurch on the 10th August.

Ernest Toy, violinist, comes to Australia and New Zealand some time next year. Playing with Dan Godfrey's band (Lieut. Godfrey is the famous Grenadier band conductor) at Bournemouth Mr Toy was recalled five times. He is a useful Toy.

Harry Linden, now on the Fuller circuit, is the son of Captain Hennah, supervisor of fire prevention appliances in State buildings. H.L. is, therefore, a nephew of the late Mr Seddon.

Lempriere Pringle, the Tasmanian basso, is producing " The Musical Burglar " at the Hippodrome, Hudderslield. The Diece is styled an original whimsical operatic trifle.

For the first performance of the Besses o' th' Barn Band in Sydney Town Hall the building was packed before 7 o'clock, and it is stated that more than 5000 people had to be turned away.