The Stage.

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 May 1901, Page 642

The Stage.

By Hugh McLeod

THE STAIXTIFOIRID DRAMATIC COl&T>^.JSr^2r.

THE Company, headed by Mr. C. R. but the members of the company showed Stanford, which has been touring that they wer-e capable of higher artistic New Zealand for some months, has work in their really fine interpretation of

loft for Sydney after a most enjoyable trip. From the Bluff to An old an d 1 1 1 c y had fine houses, more especially so in Dunedin and Auckland. Their refer to ire consisted of "A Soldier and a Man," "When London Sleeps," "Shall We yo r g' iv o Her?" and "The Power and the Glory," all of which were produced by special ar-

Mr. Frank Harvey's emotional d r a m a , "Shall We Forgive Her ?" Hardly less successful were they in the railit a r y pr oduction, "A Soldier and a Man." Mr. Charles Holloway himself has not visited New Zealand for some years, but he is personally known to a very large number of people in both islands. Since that time the constant application and keen business ac-

rangement with My. Charles Holloway. The lovers of melodrama were well catered for in the sensational scenes of " When London Sleeps " and " The Power and the Glory,"

umeii, so characteristic of the man, have met with even greater reward than before, and in Sydney and Melbourne the public

look on theatres conducted by him as second to none. He has (recently visited London purchased a number of plays, costumes and other necessary equipments at a cost of some ten thousand pounds. The uniforms he has brought with him from 'Morris, Angel & Sons, London. Among the more noted of the dramas,' of which Mi Hollow ay purchased the Austral-

iau rights, are "The French Spy' and "Death, or Glory, Boys," by E. H i . 1 1 - Mitchelson ; " For the Sake of a W o man," by J. James Hewson,the Liverpoo 1 pantomime writ c r ; "The Milestones of Life" and 'A Woman's Redemption," by Frank Harvey, who is r ecko n c d the richest dramatic author i n England ; "A Mother's

Love," "A Prodi gal Parson," "A Daughter of the Million," "Dangerous Women," " Thou Shalt TSu Kill," '• A Bad Character " (the last-named play was to have its initial performance at Easter last, :at the Grand Theatre, London), and many others.

pany join Mr. Hollowny find open in the Criterion Theatre in May in " The French Spy," which has had a successful run at the Liverpool Theatre. The actor - niannger has secured sketches and models of all the scenery for each

During his visit to Europe, Mr. Holloway visited, in addition to the London theatres, almost every town of notejjiu the provinces of Great Britain is search of novelties for Australia and New' Zealand. This necessitated thousands of miles of travelling by rail, and for weeks he passed his time on the railroad by day and in the theatre by — night. As

he says, ho

saw ho mo vo ry fine performances, bul ho a I k (.) s a w souit) very l);id ones, hut as his object wan new pliiys, lie had to se (! I) oI h kiiidH in or J dor to got \v ha t h o wanted, and Mr. Hollowa y li a k 1) cc n s o lon^; a, time entering for tlio public i n tti e1 oilmrna that h e kno w h exa (5 1 1 y wh a t li o <.loes want. On arrival in Sydney the leading members o* Mr. Stanf ihl'k corn-

play, and also the original scores of music

Miss Bosie Hollo-way, who has pleased her New Zealand audiences so greatly with her winning way, and who is making rapid strides in the profession, is a niece of Mr. Holloway's.

This is Mr C. R. Stanford's first visit to New Zealand, but it will probably not be long before we hear of him again conducting an important organization through this colony. As stage manager for Mr. 0. B. Westmacott, Mr. George Eignold, Mr. J. C. Williamson, and Mr. C. Holloway, Mr. Stanford is better known to Australians

He was at one time lessee of several of the most important theatres in Australia, but retired from the profession four years ago on account of his wife's health, but ■ being desirous of seeing New Zealand joined Mr. Stanford for the tour. For the Auckland season, besides playing parts, he conducted the advance and general arrangements. He hopes to revisit New Zealand with other attractions later on should he decide to again take up his theatrical connection, which commenced under George Rignold in 1887, and led by hard work in first-class companies to a leading position in the profession. We

than as an actor, but New Zealandei's will always associate his name with the characters in which he so much impressed them. To play the villain in any drama, but more particularly in melodrama, is a thankless task, and no higher praise can be given Mr. Stanford than to say that he thoroughly merited in his impersonation of Captain Rodney Haynes and Ferdinand Crayle, the undisguised hisses and groans with which the pit and gallery greeted him. That he is capable of better work was seen in his delineation of Oliver West in " When London Sleeps," and the force and power of his Harold Sinclair in "A Soldier and a Man." Mr. Stanford made many friends in Maoriland, and will receive a hearty welcome when he next revisits us. Mr. C. B. Westmacott came with the company

by special arrangement,

saw bat little of hira here as an actor, but his " Johnny " parts in the two plays in which he appeared were very catchy, and his laugh proved so infectious that he had numerous imitators in the gallery and pit. With them he became an especial favourite, and his appearance in front of the house was always greeted with loud cries of "Bertie."

Miss Ida Gresham first became known to the public under the management of Mr. Walter Bentley, when her beauty and quiet charm at once made her a universal favourite; nor did she fail to avail herself of the splendid opportunities for progressing in her profession which were afforded by the strict discipline of theatres conducted by Messrs. Brough and Boucicault and Williamson and

One of her greatest successes at this time was her Kato Vouiiimore in H. J. Byron's " Upper Crust," a oharaeter which she played for ovor four hundred and sixty cousecutivo nights. She made her first appearance in Australia at the Bijou, Melbourne, in her father's play, "On the Jury." She thon joined R ; gnold's company, in which she will be best remembered as the original Bess Marks in "The Lights of London" and Gertie Hicket in " The Romany Rye." When Mr. Rignold went to England aho toured with Miss Genevi&vo Ward, playing "seconds" to that lady. In 188(5 who returned to England, and played the lead

Musgroye. It is more than likely that Miss Gresham will be heard of in the near future in larger centres. Miss Roland Watts - Phillips, one of the best known and most popular actresses in Australia, was reared, in an artistic and literary atmosphere, her father, the late WattPhillips, being well known as a litterateur, artist and dramatist. She made her debut in New York under the management of John Coleman, remaining with him for two years. Then followed an engagement with James Chute, of Bristol-, whose theatre was considered a steppingstone to London. Such itproved, for we next hear of Miss Watts-Phillips at The Lyceum with Miss Genevieve Ward, and shortly afterwards at the Folly Theatre, playing the principal comedy part in J. L. Toole's company.

for Sir Augustus Harris in "Human Nature." In 1889 we find her back again in Australia with Mr. Rignold playing in many parts, and always with success. She paid a visit to England in 1895, but pining for the bright Australian skies, returned the same year. The tour throughout New Zealand with the Stanford. Company has

only added another page to tlie alirmly full volume of successes of this clever actress and pleasant little lady. It n»ny be mentioned here that Miss Watts-Phillips had the honour of appearing before our present King (then the Prince of Wales) at Sandringham with Mr. J. L. Toole, playing in " Our Clerks," she taking tlie lute Mrs.

characterizations with the Stanford Company during their season lieu* lihvo been evidently the result of c;i refill study and a desii'e to rise in the

profession

Miss Conroy, who has made the most of the unsavoury parts she has had to play, Miss Towers, who was bright and winsome in all her parts, and little Pearlie Hellmrich,

Keeley's part — one clerk — and Mr. Toole the other clerk.

Mr. George Chalmers, before joining the theatrical pi'ofession, served with distinction in the 21st Lancers, but becoming enamoured both of the stage and his clever and charming wife, known professionally as Miss Kate Towers, took to the boards. His

experiences vary from England to America, and include South Africa, Tndia and China. His clever comedy performance in " When "London Sleeps " was a feature in that production. Mr. J. P. O'Neil, whose work was seen to greatest advantage in "A Soldier and a Man " as the sergeant, will be seen here again before long. His facial

expression is a fortune in itself, and though at times he showed a tendency to overdo his turn, he always went well. Mr. William Taite was born in London, but passed the earlier portion of his life in the city of Auckland. At eighteen years of age he adopted the stage under the management of Mr. Alfred Dampier, and since that time has appeared with all the principal managers in Australia, including Mr. Bland Holt, Mr. George Rignold, and Mr. Charles Holloway. His success has

beeu well deserved, and his

who shows great talent for one sojjyoung, contribute in no small degree to the success of the tour, while Messrs. J. F. Oathcart, Frank Harcourt, Frank Hawthorne, and Edwin Campbell are deserving of more than passing mention. The dressing of the pieces was on a most lavish scale, the scenery being some of the finest ever presented to New Zealand audiences. Especially fine were the scenes in " The Power and the Gloi'y " depicting London as seen from the top of the Monument ; the Transformation Scene in the same play in which a succession of colour tones of brilliant hues were unfolded at each change until the climax was arrived at in the final tableau which disclosed groups of young ladies in h indsome costumes and appropriate positions daintily posed, having in the background a figure representing Britannia, with a soldier and a sailor on either side of her, and a lion at

her feet, the whole illuminated with coloured lights.

had almost forgotten to mention in connection with the struggle scene on the top of the monument, the telling elTeet which whs created by the sudden appearance in a brilliant rift in the .silver-lined clouds of the little girl in the generally-accepted attire of an angel. It is needlo.su to say that this was the most effective of all the many transformations which are produced in this play. The glimpse of a pure little child angel, straight from heaven, after witnessing' a struggle between a man actuated by human passions of the vilest type, and one whom he regarded as a victim, was a fitting finale to such a play. The company return to Sydney with their exchequer substantially increased by the tour, and carry away with them not only New Zealand's coin, but New Zealand's best wishes for their prosperity in the future.