GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 463, 8 June 1899, Page 9

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

[By

Pahl Pry.]

Mr Bland Holt’s season at the Sydney Royal will extend until the end of August. The Pollards will not play “ The Geisha” until they reach Dunedin, some time towards the end of Angust. “ The Belle of New York” has had a pretty successful run at Her Majesty’s, Sydney, despite all the rumors of a frost. The Alfred Dampier Company have finished a very successful season in South Australia, and have returned to Sydney. Mi«w Ada Ferrar received a benefit at Adelaide recently. The play chosen was “ Under the Red Robe,” and it is said that the complimentary was a big success. of Mr Julius Knight’s departure for the Old Country, Melbourne Punch asks, “What’s going to fill the place of the Knight voice and pink legs in the local female heart. fe’Last night “ The made her re-appearance at the Opera House. She will tread the boards again to-night, and to-morrow retires in favor of “ The French Maid.”

During the performance of “ Djin-Djin” Mr Dan O’Connor sang “ Those Wedding Bells” with skill and dramatic intensity. Mr O’Connor has a very nice baritone voice with plenty of power. The Hoyt Musical Comedy Company were passengers by the Moana on Tuesday. They travelled on to Sydney, where they open under engagement with Messrs Williamson and Musgrove. The Henry Dramatic Company are at present touring the Thames, Waihi, and goldfields districts. They leave for Sydney on the 26th, and will return to this colony on October next, opening at Ashburton during show week. Mr Dan Barry has returned to the Alexandra, Melbourne, and played “ The Sixth Command ment” with much success. Mr Barry was supported by /Miss Lila Byford, Miss Harborough, Miss Bessie Vivian, and Mr J, F. Cathcart. Madame Trebelli arrived by the mail steamer on Tuesday. The accomplished singer is making the New Zealand tour with Mr F. Vert as manager. The first concert will be given at the Choral Hall to-morrow night, when a very attractive prorgamme will be presented. On Tuesday several members of the McAdoo Minstrel Company, now on their way to Sydney, called on me. They will be about a year in Australia, and will then tour New Zealand. Amongst the visitors was Mr Ferry (The Human Frog), a contortionist cf remarkable ability. He promises to astonish the natives with the quaintnees of his “frog turn.”

I regret to have to announce the death of Mr F. T. Harrison, the well-known conductor of Pollard’s Opera Company. Mr Fred. Towle Harrison was a native of Geelong, Victoria, and was a popular man in the musical worlds of Australia and New Zealand. His latest work was to arrange the music of “ Saucy Susie,” Mr Boyle’s version of Burnand’s immortal “ Black Eyed Susan.” I see some one has written to the Auckland morning paper suggesting that a complimentary benefit should be offered Herr Zimmerman, the clever violinist who lost “ his all” through the fire which destroyed his house at North Shore. I should say that local singers and musicians would only be too glad to take part in such an undertaking. I hope the proposal will take solid form and that the result will be of substantial benefit to the popular musician. Two ex-Aucklanders (Mr R. A. Keenan and Miss B. Keenan) are playing leading parts in a production of “ Conn, the Shaughraun,” which will be put on the boards at the Wellington Opera House on the 14th June. Mr Keenan is playing the character of Conn, while Mies Keenan fills the part of Moya Dolan. It will bo remembered that they played in “ The Wearin’ of the Green” on the 17th of March last year, with the Collet Dobson Company, and gave a very successful interpretation of their respective characters. There was a big attendance at the City Hall on Saturday night, when the Gaiety Company presented another entirely new programme. Miss Georgie Devoe scored well in her song, “ The

Honolulu Belle,” and, with Mr Charles Faning, caused great merriment. By himself Mr Faning was immensely mirth provoking in his song, “ Following.” The singer was recalled again and again, and was ever ready to oblige. The Sisters Howard sang “ Fare You Well, Daisy Bell,” and gained much applause, which was repeated when they gave a very clever dance. Mr Tom Edwards received a well-merited encore for his song, “The Gallant Light Brigade,” and was warmly applauded for his funny sayings. Miss Nellie Finley sang “ Susie U” very nicely, the coon song suiting her extremely well. Jalvan (the conjurer) accomplished his dexterous feats to the great delight of the spectators. Mr Walter Rivers was heard to great advantage in “ The Tar’s Farewell” and other songs, and Messrs Carleton and Sutton gave a capital song and dance called “ Sporting,” for which they were deservedly encored. The laughable bit of real fun, “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Five Minutes” was performed by the members of the company to the delectation of the audience, who must have left the City Hall very well pleased with their evening’s amusement. On Monday night Mr Tom Pollard’s sprightly company will play, for the first time in New Zealand, Audran’s famous comic opera, “ La Poupee” (lhe Doll). Written by the composer of the popular “ La Mascotte,” the music of “La Poupee” is very bright and tuneful, and includes several gems of melody. The libretto is exceptionally clever, smart, and sparkling, so it is not to be wondered at that “La Poupee” is one of the most successful comic operas of modern days.

The plot is very original, probably the most unique that ever a playwright conceived. A big feature of the production will be the magnificent scenery employed. All the original effects will be used and the opera will be presented to Aucklanders in the same dress, with the same scenery and mounting, used when it was produced at th® Melbourne Princess’, The cast will include all the old well-known favorites, who will be seen in a class of character new to them. “La Poupee” i will be stage-managed by Mr Lawrence, who hag come out from London especially to superintend the production Knowing the capabilities of the “ Popular Pollards,” I have no hesitation in saying that “ La Poupee” will be a success from th® jump, and that it will be a great attraction throughout the colony. i On last Saturday night the Pollards com- ' menced their three-week season with the favorite extravaganza “ Djin-Djin.” Of course there was a big attendance at the Opera House to welcome the popular company, for though “ Djin-Djin” is probably familiar to most Aucklanders it is a piece that may be seen again and again without wearying. Two old friends were missing—Miso Marion Mitchell and Mr Harrison—but all th® other favorites were in their old places, and they received a right royal welcome. The part of Princess Iris (the Daimio’s daughter), formerly in the hands of Miss Mitchell, was ably played by Miss Lily Stephens, whose singing was bright and effective, and whose acting was admirable, all the business with Prince Eucalyptus being accomplished very capably. Miss Maud Beatty (as the Prince) was as good as she always is, and worked very hard throughout the evening. “Rally Round the Flag” was sung with all the old enthusiastic fervour, and was loudly applauded by the audience. Miss May Beatty gave great pleasure in her representation of Dede, her byplay with Tom Wallaby being very amusing and keenly appreciated. Miss Emily Metcalfe was charming as the Fairy Queen (Chrysantheme), and her attendant fairies and the foreign suitors for the hand of the Princess Iris were all handsomely dressed and filled the parts well. Mr Ernest Fitts was in splendid voice, and all his songs were sung with great effect. Djin-Djin is a part that suits him excellently, for it is mostly a singing part, and in singing Mr Fitts excels. Our old friends Tom Wallaby (Percy) and Okiama (Quealey) were as successful as ever. “So and So, and Such and Such” was immensely enjoyed, the “ local color” hitting the public palate to a nicety. Both worked very hard, and made things merry whenever they were on the stage. Mr Alf. Stephens as Gay Jay the Vizier, Mr Geo. Young as the Daimio, Mr Nable as the Great Shogun, and Mr Gleeson as the Arch Astrologer were all effective, while the minor parts were in quite capable hands. The scenery and stage effects, the grouping and the ballets, were all first-class. I suppose the Palace Gardens scene (by Gordon) is one of the most beautiful scenic effects ever seen on the New Zealand stage, and though all the scenery has been in use now for three years everything was bright and fresh as if painted but a week ago. “ Djin-Djin” was repeated on Monday and Tuesday, when big audiences testified to the popularity of the company. On Thursday last Mr Robert Henry staged the stirring Irish drama “ Shamus O’Brien,” and, judging by the hearty reception given to the patriotic play, I am sure the audience was immensely pleased. Mr Henry played the title role with great spirit and energy, and presented a very pleasant portrait of the rebellious, yet true-hearted, Irishman. Miss Billie Howarde, as Mary DonoUghmore, acted with much sympathetic feeling. She was especially good in the scene with. ShadrachCVEinn spy), and in the third act sang “As a Mother Would Cherish Her Baby” with taste and expression. Miss Laura Keene gave a pretty picture of the lively Kate O’Reilly, and Miss Kathleen Raleigh (as Mrs O’Brien, the mother of the rebel, Shamus) was as effective as usual. Mr W. J. Coulter gave a good representation of the priest, Father Malone, while Mr Andrew Hodge (as the English baronet, Sir Reginald Dacre), Mr J. R. Goodall (as Leslie McMorrough), Mr if. Birkett (as Colonel Claveri y), Mr Humphries (as O’Finn, the desperate and villainous informer), and Mr South (as the servant, Larry Mahoney) played their parts skilfully and well. The play went with commendable swing all the evening, and met with due appreciation from the audience. The Henry Dramatic Company brought their Auckland season to a close on Friday night with a representation of a new play entitled “ The Parson’s Oath.” I believe Miss Dora Mostyn and Mr Dan Barry are the joint authors of the drama, which is a well-written play of the sensational order, with “ not too much sensation, but just sensation enough,” as Lal Brough used to say in “ Blu. Beard.” The story of the piece is one of villainy and virtue. Gilbert Westwood (a thief and a Russian spy) betrays a young girl and then throws her off. The blow kills her father, and the parson (John Audley) swears to look after Mabel Verner and bring the evil-doer to justice. Gilbert Westwood is assisted in his nefarious schemes by Katinka Podoeki, but in the end their evil intentions bring them to a just doom, though not before Westwood—in order to obtain English despatches—has murdered Bugler Dick, who turns out to be his own son. Miss Dora Mostyn (as Dick, the bugler) gave a very vivacious interpretation of the part—she played the boy very naturally -and was accorded a hearty reception for her clever work. The Mabel Verner of Mis® Kathleen Raleigh was again an earnest piece of acting, and the Katinka of Miss Laura Keen® showed this young lady in. a new light. ‘The villain (Gilbert Westwood) was in the capable hands of Mr F. Birkett, who makes a good stage villain, although he j“ curses” all and sundry with an energy unequalled since the monks cursed the pilfering little Jackdaw of Rheims. Mr J. R. Goodall gave an excellent representation of a curate of the muscular Christian variety, Mr Hodge was good as blind old Farmer Verner, and Mr bouth (as the Cockney thief, Muggs) was interestingly amusing. The minor parts were played efficiently throughout.