THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue III, 21 July 1900, Page 105

THE DRAMA.

Among the old ineinherx of the Pollard Company who have sought and won fame in pastures new is Miss Zoe Karkvek. She is now in America, where she has been offered an engagement as “principal Ih>v” in a big burlesque company. The report that Madame Melba is returning to her own Australia is as yet unconfirmed. The plague scare in Sydney has entirely disappeared to judge b> the way folks flock iu shoals to every place of amusement. Miss Amy Vaughan (now Mrs Baxter), well-known in Auckland, is now in the Northern City. Mr Arthur Halm, a young Australian basso, is among the latest attractions at Div's variety show in Auckland. Mr Harry Quealy, of the Pollards, celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday on the second of this mouth. Mr Brough has purchased the Australian and colonial rights (Canada excepted) of “Lady II tint wort h's Experiment” and “A .Man of Forty.” Mr J. C. Williamson ha.s renewed for two years the engagement of Mr Bernard Espinasse as house author. It is reported in London that Mme. Romer, an American prima donna, comes out to Australia as head of Mr George Musgrove’s new company, whose season commences at the Melbourne Princess in September. Mme. Romer is handsome, with a brilliant soprano voice and a bright, taking ma nner. Mr Williamson’s company is producting “Trilby” iu Adelaide just now. A report goes that Miss Nance O'Neil has to take stimulants between the acts when playing “.Magda” and Queen Elizabeth, the nervous strain the parts entail being excessive. Speaking of the lady in the latter role a Melbourne critic says: “She* was a royal figure when she stopped upon thet stage, carrying her proud head magnificently high. Her heavy robes, her haughty pose, the high rules serving as a setting to the red coiffure—all this made a picture which lingered in the mind.” The Steele-Payne Bellringers and Biograph Company, after a successful season in Auckland, are now touring the suburbs. They appeared iu Ihe Choral Hull on Sunday evening. Fuller’s Waxworks and Bijou Variety Company opens its Auckland season on Saturday next in the Agricultural Hall. Miss Maud Hewson, now appearing in opera at - Ballarat, intends to settle down in her native Dunedin soon and teach singing. The Pollards conclude their Dunedin season on Saturday. Just after the show started (says the Christchurch ‘•Press”) at a certain music hall the other evening, a gentleman in khaki arose from one of the cheaper scats and proceeded 1o

step over Hie barrier which kept him out of llie reserved stalls. Instantly an attendant in livery started after him. ‘"Edge a hot. "edge a bit!" eried the official. "Where d'ye s’pose you're goin'?" “Where my toggery entitles me to the front!" roared the embryo Tommy, a~nd as the whole house rose and cheered him. the management didn't think it policy to interfere. Sardou's "Patrie" was nearly ready for produetion when the Theatre Francais was burned in Paris. The scenery was not destroyed, and the costume models were ail saved. Itehearsals of the revived drama have been going on under the aged author's persona 1 supervision. Walter Firth, author of the drama called “The Man of Forty." in which George Alexander is now acting in London, is a son of the popular English painter of “The Derby Day" and “The Ilailroad Station." He has written several other pieces. Rostand, who has now made* another great hit in pla,\ writing, which will increase his fame as well as his fori line, is only 32 years of age. He was born in Marseilles. It is said that likenesses of both Cyrano de Bergerac and the King of Home hung upon the wall of the bedroom he occupied when a child. But this is the time for saying things about Rostand. Queen Victoria fell desperately iu love with the King of Siam, ami because lie broke his promise to marrv her she led a vengeful army of invaders. Iler forces were destroyed in battle, but the King took pity on her ami made her his wife. That is Hnplot of a Siamese drama lately produced at Bankok. Mr Brough told an interviewer that the Suppression of tin - Boxers will not interfere in any way with his thcatrieal arrangements in' Hongkong and Shanghai, where he intends to pla\ early next year. Ho states that the Chinese inhabitants of the English colonies are intensely pro-Brifisl> and will cause no trouble, being, in fact, sensible enough to know when they are well off. Miss May Mitchell, a Sydney piani.sl, has arrived in \ ienna to complete her rnusical education, ami has been aecepted as a pupil by the great master, Lesehel i tsky. Het - ! - Lesehet it sk v was much pleased with her playing 1 nt the entrance examination to his famous school.