THE THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7587, 22 December 1902, Page 1

THE THEATRE.

THE PLAY AND PLAYERS. (Bv PROMPTER.) Alec Anderson writes from. Greymouth under date Dec. 6: — Just a line to let you know that the Majeronis axe doing splendid business all along. In Mastexton, Wanganui, Hawera and Feilding we played 1 to packed houses. We opened in Nelson last Thursday (Dec. 4), and played three nights to great audiences, and open on Monday next in Westport for three nights, and then play Greymouth for six nights, with Hokitikxi, Kinuara, and Beefton to follow. After the West Coast trip we open in New Plymouth and do all the principal towns of the North Island, including Auckland and Wellington, and will revisit Christchurch eaxly in April. The members of the company are in the best of health and spirits, and: are thoroughly enjoying the tour. Harold Ashton forwards me from Durban a, ferocious-looking photo of." a Zulu chief carrying seasonable greetings. He also writes, that his "mission" to South Africa bids fair to bear substantial fruits, and that many shekels will shortly >be thereby gathered into the WiUiainsoiiiarii treasury. He was simply awaiting an important letter, from J.C.W. before making some definite announcements. • .>> , Michael Joseph -writes, me to state ; that W." Anderson has" taken over the dates booked by Charles Hollo-way for a tour of New Zealajnd. The repertoire will' include " The Mariners of England," " Night Birds of London," "The Favourite" and "The Worst Woman in London." The company will include Harry Pdimmer, H. O. Diver i and other well-known artists. • Williamson's Musical Comedy Company ! has -added. "The Circus Girl" to its list, | and will stage it during the Auckland sea.- \ son. ' ■''„. ■.:•.' Charlie Blake, who will play leads with Miss Fitzmaurice Gill's Company, "has arrived in Wellington to make arrangements for the tour.. Ha .will visit -the West Coast ! first. ' Much excitement was caused at Fitzgerald .Brothers' Circus in Melbourne lie other evening during Herr Page's performance in the lion's cage. Hitherto a mastiff has shared the cage with the lion, and an attachment existed between the two animals ; but on this occasion they wexe separated. When • the cage was " wheeled into the arena the lion showed signs of restlessness, and moved impatiently to and fro. Herr Pagel entered as usual, and: went through the first part of his perfor, mance, exhibiting the lion's claws and teeth amid the accompaniment of . deep bass growls and petulant tosses- of the animal's head. Herr Pagel responded by striking the lion in the face, whereupon the animal, becoming deeply enraged, broke away and backed into a corner. Then followed an exciting ten minutes, both for Herr Pagel and the spectators. The lion made a series of half rushes, which Herr Pagel avoided, until at length, seizrng his opportunity, he, sprang upon the animal's back, gripped its jowl tightly, and proceeded to lift him in bis arms, as usual. The lion kicked and struggled like a cat in the arms of a mischievous chi-Id, and all ' Herr PagePs strength was unavailing -to lift him off , his feet. Driving the lion into. a. corner he made his exit without showing • a trace of excitement,;, although a slip 6n ; the floor of tie cage would have given the' bon an opportunity of proving his strength. Mr. F. W. Duval, says the Dunedin "Star's" Wellington correspondent, is once more in town, the object of his vis jt being to assist Mr P. It. Dix in seeing tie pantomime "Dick Whittingfan" through. Wellington is the only centre which is to have a panto. . The version to be used has been' brought up-to-date by Mr Tom Leonard (at present a member of the Willoughby Comedy Company, who wields, a facile pen), and Mr H. Hawkins, director of Mr Dix's local orchestra, has added musical embellishments. Mr Frank Clark will stage-manage and Madame Clifford will superintend the ballets, the girls for which will be mostly imported from Sydney. Mr N. L. Baird is preparing the scenery, Mr J. D. Stoyle the "properties," and Miss Vasta is chief costumier. The panto. -will open in Wellington at the Theatre Royal on Boxing Night, run a season there, and then be removed to the other centres. Several new people are to take up the characters. Miss Dora Taylor will play the part of; the Fairy Queen, Madame Delterello (of the Casino trio) will be principal "boy" (a very wise choice, by the way), Mr Ernest. Fitts, King Rat; Miss Olive Lenton, Alice Fifczir>airen ; and Messrs Joe Foley, George Bentley, Fred Rivenliall and Joe Cowan principal comedians. The acrobatic features of the performance will be in the hands of the Casinos and Messrs Morris and Wilson. The inevitable transformation scene will be something quite new, for it will be symbolical of the late South African war, in four special pictures ead tableaux, and there will be a harlequinade. , Herbert Ross, who played lead with Hawtrey's Company until May last, writes an interesting letter from New York. He writes :— " Since I left New Zealand I have been so continually on the go that I don't seem to haive had a moment to settle down to write. I was only home two months, enjoying myself at my cottage, when I had an offer to go to New York to play in. Pinerp's 'Iris.' That was too good to refuse. 'The play is a very great hit, and your unworthy friend has made a kind of success, but his 'has been so overshadowed by Oscar Asche— an Australian, by the way, that it amounts to nothing. Let me see, what can I give you of interest? Well, Lord Rosslyn, who plays here under the name of Erskine, is engaged to be married to Miss B. Inrin, some time a, member of Irving's company. They met- for the first time six weeks- ago. here, in a play called 'There's Many a- Slip.' " Let us hope it may nob prove so in their case. There are quite a crowd of English actors here. Mrs Pat Campbell, Martin Harvey, Charles. Hawtrey is touring; Grossmith. and our friend Power, who failed in Melbourne while I was there, has bobbed dp serenely. Mansfield, too, has many English actors with him ; in fact, the native actors are grumbling a<t the invasion. They say there are more native actors of high salary out of work here than ever before. Mrs Pat. seems to bo having trouble with her people. Her leading man, Blain, has left her at short notice, and says she is impossible in the Press; he expressed himself to me in rather, a more emphatic manner. I see very little difference in New York since I was here six years ago. The people are, if anything, a trifle more lawless. A case occurred on Fifth' Avenue the other day. A policeman held up his -hand to stop the traffic to .allow some ladies to cross, and was nearly run over. As I passed' him I said : ' They don't take much notice of you