Music and Drama

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 21, 23 November 1907, Page 30

Music and Drama

MRS. TOM FITZGERALD.

AUSTRALIA’S LADY CIRCUS OWNER.

The widow of the late Tom Fitzgerald is a decidedly interesting personality, and a ehat with her is a pleasant and instructive experience. This was one that fell to the lot of a “Stageland” reporter, when she talked of her present show, which is now touring New South Wales, but more of her experiences in India and elsewhere when her husband was alive, and since. “I am on the railroads now, and shall try and keep to them. My show is altogether too big for road travelling,” the dark-eyed and handsome young widow remarked. “Besides, the discomforts of that method of getting around are too much for me after fourteen years railroading here and in India. We have to engage special trains to move us around, and the show would have to ba greatly reduced to render it possible to take to the roads again. It was the same in India, and I wish to avoid any step that will render it less attractive. “After my husband’s death, in India, I went to Europe to gain experience and obtain talent. I found that the European circuses nowadays are nearly all variety, such turns, to wit, as that of ‘Rhodesia,’ the lady juggler, now appearing at the Sydney Tivoli. You know, of course, that we first brought her out from England several years ago. “I travelled all over the Continent in search of artistes for the show, and often found that I was baulked by Rickards having got on the train of a turn before me and run it down. I can tell you a manager has to get around considerably in this sort of hunt. An instance: I wanted to engage the Lloyds, .who were in the provinces. So I took the train from London at 8 a.m., debarked from the third train of my journey at 7 at night, saw Lloyd at the theatre at 7.45, secured the turn, caught a return train at 9 p.m., and was back in London at 6 next morning. The same night (Friday) I was in Paris, after a turn at the Noveaux Cirque, saw it on the Saturday afternoon, and was at the Cirque de Vere (I think that is the name) in Germany next morning. “I was in Paris on Christmas Eve last, and ate my Christmas dinner at Tunbridge Wells with my brother. Next morning at 8 1 was on the l>oat at Marseilles leaving for Australia. I was at Hamburg when I heard from 'two artiates,’ who mentioned no salary, iu

Lucerne, Switzerland. 1 went off there, only to find that they had moved on to Berne. I followed, and was vis-a-vis with my ‘two artistes.’ They were two performing steers, and the whole turn comprised six horses, 15 flogs, two steers and eight people—a whole family, including grandparents; and all they wanted was £ 100 a week and travelling expenses for the lot! Of course, it was impossible, but I saw the turn, and it is a grand one; 1 think they are called the Nelkies.

“I chased another turn five hours by train from London, but could not see the act or even the actor, who sent me word he was shaving, but would see me next day. He did, and informed me he had got a new partner who would require to be taught the business, but they would come for £l6 a week and practise it up at the expense of Australian audiences. I regretfully declined to do business. They wrote later offering to come for £5 a week. “A team of women acrobats interviewed in London asked for £ 100 a week. I promptly offered £5O, when the spokeswoman (they were foreigners) looked up and calmly asked, ‘And do you provide drinks and cigars’’ “Schuman and Hagenbeck and all managers I met treated me with the utmost courtesy, and placed their own private boxes at my disposal while I was in their cities. Herr Hagenback placed his carriage and servants at the disposal of ‘the widow of my good friend, Tom Fitzgerald,’ as he kindly put it. “What have I got coming? Well, there is a group of six performing lions bought from Hagenbeck. Lacusions, from the Paris Noveaux Cirque, and formerly of Barnum and Bailey’s great American Circus. It is an equestrian aerobatic act. Two ladies and two gentlemen enter seated "in a carriage, with coachman and footmen and buttons, and they go, through a most remarkable acrobatic performance. There is a foot-ball-playing horse from Hamburg, and a number of other acts from everywhere. “Oh, you might say that Wirth Brothers have not bought Mrs. Fitzgerald’s menagerie. And I may warn Australian circus folk not to go to India as Australians. They have no use for such over there on account of our antiblack attitude, and we found it advisable to announce our show over there as an English combination.” J* ■ “Home, Sweet Home” was played to a most enthusiastic audience on its first presentation in Auckland, and from the way in which the house alternately wept and cheered and laughed, there is little doubt that melodrama without inurder (which is what this play is) is likely to prove immensely popular wherever produced. The plot is not one which can be advantageously outlined in cold print; it is essentially one of those stories which needs the glamour of the footlight, and the atmosphere of the theatre, to make its telling convincing; but these granted, and given a cast as good as that got together for the present production, “Home, Sweet Home” most thoroughly will satisfy those theatregoers who like to weep and rejoice over the trials and triumphs of everyday life (as seen through a playwright’s eyes). As indicated, the company is a very capable one, and the staging is capital. On Saturday a matinee of "Little. Lord Fauntleroy” is to be given, and there is little doubt this ever-green favourite will fill the house to overflowing. it West’s Pictures, always popular in New Zealand, commence a 1907 8 season in Auckland at His Majesty’s next Monday. Exact details of the novelties to be submitted arc not yet furnished, but everything will la- of the latest and best, and

perhaps most important of all there will be. none of the “blood and thunder" pictures, inciting youthful imaginations to crime, recently denounced by the Supreme Court Bench. All is to he innocently amusing or elevating and instructive, as has always previously la*en the ease with the West Picture* shown here.

In George Robey’s (who is due at th® Sydney Tiv. December sth) action against a moneylender,- it was shown that that cqmmedian’s salary averaged £4,000 a year. Seventy or eighty years ago the leading actors and actresses of the day were indeed fortunate if they, netted half that amount. John Kemble, for instance, received £36 a week for acting and managing. Mrs. Jordan’s salary, in the zenith of her popularity, was £3l, and Charles Kemble had only, £2O a week until he became his own manager. Macready in 1822 had £2O, and in 1832, and up to 1837 (barring an interregnum) was paid £3O weekly. In 1839 he had the modesty to demand, and to receive, £25, while Taglioni, “the spirit of air,” would not engage herself on other terms than £ 100 a night. An ingenious model of a coalmine is in course of construction in the aquarium vaults under the main pavilion. Made in 12 sections, it will represent coal mine operations from the opening to the explosion and inundation, the whole being carried out in darkness. Those in search of thrills need not wander long for want of experience. Erected on the roof of the slot machine house is a pole to which is affixed many wire ropes. This is a flying machine, or circular swing, and the sensation caused by a swift and erratic flight through the air must be experienced to be realized. New ideas in shooting galleries and minor side shows there are in plenty. Not the least of the improvements isf the enlargement and relaying of the roller-skating area, while, in addition to the familiar Katzenjammer and Helterskelter, there has also been built a contrivance aytly described as the “In and Out,” patrons of which will enjoy an unaccustomed spasm of exhilaration for. the space of a few seconds. i

' Visitors 'to Sydney for the holidays twill have plenty to. see at the Wonderland Exhibition. The biggest feature ire the new sources of amusement arranged by the ingenious Mr. E. S. Salambo, Mr. Anderson’s manager, is what is called ‘•‘The Rivers of the World,” in which he has used up 150,000 feet of timber. It is intended to provide a half-mile water journey under conditions which will at once awe and delight. The voyager steps into a boat, which glides through a fearsome representation of a dragon’s mouth, and proceeds along a dimly-lit covered-in channel. On the journey, which is a tortuous one, he passes by grottoes cunningly arranged and realistic reproductions of weird and picturesque scenery. The half-mile flume is so made that at different points of the trip fleeting glimpses may be had of Other travellers bound for the exit. Eighty thousand gallons of water per minute will be poured into the flume by means of a centrifugal pump, with which will be operated a large water wheel capable of propelling 12 boats each containing six persons. f JU J*

Madame Melba recently had an opportunity of hearing Mr. August Siede’s opera “Safia,” and has written her opinion of it as follows: —“I have heard a private performance of Mr. Siede’s opera ‘Safia,’ and-consider it a work of singular melodic beauty and fine dramatic power. The treatment of the plot is original, and this, united to brilliant musicanship, should make it very effective on the stage. It is the first work of its genre produced by an Australian composer, and I sincerely hope it will meet with the success it deserves. — ■Nellie Melba.” A much-heralded _merican comedienne '(?), who recently received the “icy stare ’ from an English audience, gave as a reason for her failure the fact that her Parisian gowns, in which she had hoped to create a furore, failed to arrive in time for the opening performance. When a performer ijepends solely for, success upon* the stunning creafidnS bra/ costumiering genius, then it is time that she vacated the boards and made room for aji artiste of ability. Miss Ellen Terry and her new American husband ha.ve .gone into theatremanagement together ,in London, beginning with a production of “Captain ■Brassbound’s Conversion.” It is proving a very successful partnership. Mr. Bernard Shaw might have written the part of Lady Cecily Waynflete especially for Miss Terry, so perfectly does it afford opportunity for the display of her wit and still remarkably vigorous comic spirit. It is generally acknowledged to be one of the best roles she has ever played in London.' The New American l(Mr. Carew), who represents Captain ■ ißrassbound, is welcomed as an actor of { more than ordinary intellectual gifts. He is going to be^'a.London favourite—on his merits, and not because he is the husband of Miss Terry. : J* J* ■ Kubelik’s tour of Australia and Maoriland. begins at tree end of May, 1908. Thirty-five concerts are to be given. J* » ~ The Leslie Brothers, musical comedions, who will be remembered here as having, appeared with Harry Rickards’ cmHfftmy, are at present the biggest fea--ture’oii"the programme of the Alhambra, Paris. The Leslies have been away train Australia about seven years,« during (which they have appeared in .England and America. They are billed in Paris as “ expert comediens musicians, D’Australie, dans leur exeentrique et originale scene, La Musique Folle.” They arc members of a musical family, their father being William Stoneham, a veteran musician and flautist, whose band was a notable organisation in Melbourne years ago. One of the brothers* sons is Fred Leslie, the clever comedian of Mr. Williamson's company. Mr. .Stoneham himself has something of a unique record. “I am 76 years old,” he says, •‘and am hale and nearly.' 1 am a gTeatl-grandfather, have been married three times, and have seventeen children.”

Standing in a theatre queue a. man was < xaminirg his pi) e, wondering hew to clean it. A prominent pin in a summer hat caught his eye. Hj siftly and dexterously withdrew it, cleaned his pipe, and cleverly replaced it 'without the knowledge of the owner, and without ■wiping the point. J* The “ Mother Goose ” tour of New Zealand finishes at Christchurch this week, when the company will return to Sydney. Quick transhipment will be made to Newcastle for a three-nights’ season, after which a special train will take the company to Melbourne for the commencement of rehearsals of the pantomime “ Humpty Dumpty.” A little tale of a strenuous career (from London “Era”): — “Whimsical Walker is a man of many parts. Twentyfive years ago, at Hengler’s Circus, he was vaulting a double somersault over eight horses. He subsequently purchased for £lOOO, the giant elephant Jumbo, chartered a steamer (which cost another £1000), took him and other “ wild fowl” —including two of the smallest people in the world, viz., the Aztecs, to the other s’de of the pond, spent another £lOOO in advertisements, opened with Tony Pastor in New York, and played to an average of £3OOO nightly. He has also appeared before many of the crowned heads of Europe, including King Alphonso, father of the present King of Spain, Queen Isabella, President Garfield, and King Edward (when he was the Prince of Wales) fifteen times. This is a record of which any artist might be proud; but here is another that we venture to say none can beat: The Whimsical one was engaged in 1904 by Harry Rickards for Australia; the contract read months, but he had scarcely landed before a cablegram arrived from Arthur Collins, saying: “ Return immediately,” consequently he only appeared for five nights and two matinees. He will shortly sail for America again to his old friend, Tony Pastor, with a number of sketches, dramatic and otherwise.”