GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 478, 21 September 1899, Page 9

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

[By

Paul Pry.]

The Flying Jordans commenced a season at Sydney, on Saturday last, in the Benevolent Society grounds. McAdoo’s Georgia Minstrels, at the conclusion of their Melbourne season, make a tour of Western Australia.

Miss Elizabeth Watson goes to the Old Country at the conclusion of the “ For England” season at the Melbourne Royal. The Payne Family Bellringers are having very good times in South Africa, according to Capetown journals forwarded to me.

Seymour Hicks and F. G. Latham have given the title of “With Flying Colours” to their breezy, stirring drama, produced at the London Adelphi last month. Misa Ada Crossley has been engaged for several of the Royal Choral Society’s concerts next season. The Australian contralto will have a long holiday in Scotland this autumn.

“ Secret Service” has been drawing big houses to Sydney Her Majesty’s, and The Firm’s new “juvenile lead” (Mr Thomas Kingston) has, as Captain Thorne, made a most favarable impression.

The Steele —Payne Bellringers have been having a good time in the country districts. Next week they journey down the east coast, playing at Gisborne, and then on to Napier and the South.

According to London files, Mrs Patrick Campbell and Mr Forbes Robertson were to open their season at the Prince of Wales on Saturday next with Mr C. B. Fernald’s romantic Japanese play, “ The Moonlight Blossom.”

An Australian artist—l won’t mention his name—has been writing to a friend about the London music halls. He calls them poor shows, and thinks the drinking and smoking allowed in the auditorium most objectionable. “ Faust,” at the Melbourne Alexandra, went very well after the first night. So well, indeed, that the management ran the opera for a second week, as it was found that, after all, grand opera was much appreciated by the public. Miss Blanche Ferrar (sister of Miss Ada Ferrar> of “ The Sign of the Cross” Company) has been engaged for the autumn drama at Royal Drury Lane. Miss Blanche Ferrar was highly praised for her work in “ The Manoeuvres of Jane.”

The takings at the Sydney Theatre Royal during the first week of “ The Gay Lord Quex” exceeded even the amount received during the first week of “The Second Mrs Tanqueray,” when Robert Brough first produced Pinero’s sensational drama.

“ Peter Quince” in Melbourne Punch, speaking of Mdlle. Trebelli, says —“ Mdlle. Trebelli comes to us in the fullness of her powers, and her songrecitals are not only a treat to old and young, but have a special educational value to all joung aspirants for musical honors.” “El Capitan” is said to be a very amusing comic opera. It is by J. P. de Sousa, and the London Lyric well packed during the hot weather through July and in the beginning of August. “El Capitan” was to be followed by another musical pl-y called “ Wangs,” which met with a gratifying reception in America. When the lessee of the Lyric (Mr de Wolf-Hopper) gives up possession next month, a comic opera, entitled “ Floradora,” will be produced—the book is by Owen Hall and the music is composed by Leslie Stuart.

At the London Palace of Varieties the biograph shows Dreyfus at Rennes. Very great difficulty was experienced by the cameraman in getting his shapshots, for the prison authorities were quite extra careful. Hundreds flocked to the Palace to get even a glimpse of the “ martyr of the age.” Arthur Shirley and G. R. Sims’ new play, “ In London Town,” is well spoken of by London critics. It is a melodrama in Dagonet’s best style. The plot is woven on an Essex farm and is unravelled through Park Lane, the Serpentine, a workhouse yard, and thence to Soho. Miss Clara Jecks, Miss Ina Goldsmith, Mr Frank Fisher, and Mr Christopher Walker all have congenial parts to play. G. R. Sims has collaborated with Leonard Merrick in the farcical comedy “ His Second Youth,” which has lately been produced with success at the London Vaudeville. In the cast are Misses Ellis Jeffreys, Juliette Neville, Millie Legarde, Florence Wood, and Messrs George Giddens, Fred. Eastman, Frank Atherley, and George Arliss. “ G.R.” has also written the book of musical novelty (the music composed by Clarence Corri), in which Dan Leno cuts high jinks as a private enquiry agent. The Sydney Morning Herald, in its report of the Tivoli Theatre fire, says :— “ When Mr Rickards purchased the Tivoli Hotel and Theatre from the Mutual Life Association, about six months ago, the insurances then existing were taken over and were current at the time of the fire. The total amount on the buildings and fittings of the theatre is £BOOO, which is spread over several companies. The scenery and wardrobes, however, were uninsured. Nearly £3OOO worth of pantomime appointments were lost, including the properties of ‘ Jack, the Giant Killer,” fully twenty sets of ballet costumes (each set averaging sixteen to twenty dresses), and fully twenty-six ‘first part’ dresses. The last lot of

wardrobe used in ‘ Arcadia’ was burnt; and the wardrobe mistress had in hand the whole of the silks and satins under preparation for the next ‘ first part.’ A year of Mr Alfred Clint’s work was destroyed, as well as the whole of Mr and Mrs Rickards’ theatrical wardrobe. In fact, the entire stage furniture and plant have been lost, on which no insurance had been effected. The members of Mr Rickards’ company were all more or less heavy losers. Mr and Mrs English, who only arrived in Sydney on Saturday, and bad made their first appearance, lost everything with the exception of two cornets. Mrs English was doubly unfortunate. While playing in Melbourne she had her wardrobe burnt at the house she was staying. A new one was necessitated, and this was destroyed at the Tivoli. Messrs Spry and Austin lost their wardrobe, and scenery, and properties. Messrs G. W. Hunter and Paul Pelham were like sufferers, and lost a large amount of original music never published. This remark applies to all the company, ss the music-room was destroyed. By a pure accident one ballet • et was saved. Generally the ballet girls, on completing their business, take their wardrobe into the mistress’ room, but, having a late turn in the programme the performance before the fire, they happened to leave their dresses in their own room, which luckily escaped fire. Mr G. C. Dean, Mr Charles Cogill, and little Alma Gray also lost their wardrobes and music. Mr Leete (Mr Rickards’ manager), when questioned as to the occurrence, said that he was the last to leave the theatre with the exception of ex-Constable Murphy, who was then laying out the hose, as was customary every night in case of fire. When he arrived on the scene the whole of the back of the theatre was enveloped in flames. Yesterday he reported the matter by cable to Mr Rickards, and arranged with MrF. Skinner for a temporary

lease of the Palace Theatre, pending instructions from Mr Rickards as to what he should do. The company opened at the Palace last night (12th September), and met with a sympathetic reception.”

Mr A. H. Whitehouse has been experiencing splendid business at Opotiki with his kinematographic exhibition. On Saturday he shows at Te Puke, and on Monday he is due at Tauranga. I hear Miss Gertie Campion has returned to Australia. This clever young artiste has been on the temporary-retired list for some past in Wellington, owing to an accident she met with while acting. lam sure Miss Campion’s many admirers will join me in wishing her better luck. “ The Georgia Magnet” has been attracting good houses at every place she has visited. At Waihi, on Tuesday and last night, the people rolled up in goodly nunbers. To-night (Thursday) and to-morrow (Friday) Miss Abbott shows at Hamilton, and on Saturday and Monday sheps at Cambridge.

On Saturday night the City Hall was packed very closely. The occasion was the last appearance of the Keziah Sisters and of Mr Manuel Woodson (“the silver streak of perpetual motion”). The greeting the clever lady acrobats received was most cordial, and Mr Woodson’s reception was not in any way less hearty. On Monday night there was another very big house to welcome the new artists engaged by Mr P. R Dix—the Misses Rose and Mabel Leslie and Mr D. H. Caston. The Leslie Sisters sang some capital songs and exhibited very excellent humor in their sketches, while their dancing was exceptionally clever. Their popularity was at once established, and during their visit to Auckland the City Hall is sure to be well patronised. Mr D. H. Caston, the other new-comer, sang some very taking character songs, and met with a tremendous

reception. For “ She’s Gone” and “ Why Did I Leave My Little Back-room” he was encored again and again, while his dancing gave the audience pleasurable enjoyment. Mr Caston is a decided humorist, and his clever work was appreciated immensely by the multitude of approving listeners The Leslie Brothers, of course, scored as usual with “ Beethoven Strung Up,” while Messrs Karl Browne, Johnny Collins, Miss Miriam Lewis, Mr Shepherd, and Mr Fred Leslie, jun., helped to keep the entertainment up to its high standard of perfection. There is not a dull moment during the evening at the City Hall. Our Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes: —The Sydenham Working Men’s Club Operatic Society put on “ Les Cloches de Corneville” at the Royal this week for four nights, and did good biz. Serpolette (Miss E. Haggie), Gaspard (Mr W. M. Watton), and Gobo (Master T. Sparks) were all good, especially the latter, who seems to be a born artist I'he other members of the cast were only “ fair to medium.” I have to thank Mr Sparks, sen., for sending me (as the Christchurch dramatic correspondent of the Review) a couple of complimentaries. By-the-way, I mustn’t forget to mention that the choruses were surprisingly good. * * To-night (Saturday) the Pollards open at the Royal in “ The Belle of New York,” in which, by-the-way, saucy May Beatty plays leading biz. Alf. Stephens is also in the cast, so his “ rest” is not to prove such a long one as I was given to understand last week. * * * Ben Fuller has struck oil with his Waxworks and Variety Show at the Oddfellows’ Hall. He gives ’em a wonderful sixpence-worth The hall has been crammed nightly since the season started - a week ago. As Ben’s Dunedin show is running at the same time, and also doing splendid biz, he ought to be making his pile fast.