The STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 515, 1 November 1900, Page 9

The STAGE

[By

Paul Pry.

••Pam Prv” will beglad to hear from those •manaßers •f theatrical companies touring New Zealand who desire that the public shall know the movements oN nanies. Any information as to dates, etc., will be acknowUdtred in these columns, as well as any other items of Interest to the theatrical world. All letters should be addressed— *• Paul Pry,” Sportins and dramatic BnviEW. Vulcan lane. Auckland.

A travelling dramatic company, while visiting a certain town in Scotland the Other day, had the misfortune to lose one of its members by death. The dramatic critic of the local newspaper (according to an exchange) attended the first performance, and a long account of it appeared in his paper the next day. It wound up as follows : “ A pathetic interest was lent to the admirable entertainment from the fact that that day one of the company died. The performance will be repeated to-night.”

Many music- overs will regret to learn, says « Carados ” in the London Referee, that Lady Hallo has announced her intention of retiring from the concert platform and devoting herself to teaching the violin at Berlin ; but when it is remembered that Wilma Maria Francesca Neruda first asked an audience to listen to her at Vienna in 1846, at the age of seven, it must be admitted that her desire to withdraw from the eoncert-room is not unnatural. It is, indeed, ■somewhat disturbing to think that she should have to teach after fifty-four years of fiddling and the survival of two husbands I trust her inten tion to teach springs from an artistic desire to impart the purity of her style to others, rather •than from pecuniary considerations ; blit artists are unfortunate folk in guarding the gold they so hardly earn. Miw Fitzmaurice Gill has severed her connection with the Bland Holt Company, and has joined the Nance O’Neil organisation. Miss Gill is studying the Queen in “ La Tosca ” and ■Olivia in “ Twelfth Night.”

The Little Georgia Magnet is going great guns at the Sydney Tivoli, and there —as she did here — she mystifies grey-haired churchwardens, medical men and others, while she fairly bewilders numbers of burly athletes, who leave the stage mortified and astonished. Ben Fuller’s be-efit at the Dunedin Alhambra on Wednesday in last week was a specially ■triumphant affair. There was a tremendous crowd? and the very heartiest of goodwill was •expressed towards the genial Ben.-

Miss Billie Barlow is drawing the crowd at the Melbourne Bijou.

“ The Genial Mrs Goldstein,” a musical comedy which went wonderfully well in England, will shortly be produced in Sydney. Of course the lively John F. Sheridan will play the title r6le.

The Fitzgerald Circus Company has concluded a tremendously successful season in Sydney, and is now bard at work delighting the many at the Melbourne Exhibition Building.

Fuller’s Bijou Company at the Agricultural Hall has been considerably strengthened during the last few weeks, and the new talent has been the means of drawing big crowds. On Monday night several fresh arrivals made their first appearance and met with a very hearty reception. Miss Katie Lynn, a soprano singer, scored a big triumph with “ Killarney ” and “ In Friendship’s Name.” Miss Lynn has a strong soprano and well trained voice, and she sings tastefully and with clear enunciation. Miss Myra James, a serio with clever method and a good voice, sang some, very good . songs, notably a coon ditty “ Yo’ull Get All That’s a-Ooming to You,” Pick a-back,” and “Chicken.” Miss James pleased the public immensely. Mr Dennis Carney, an Irish Comedian, sang some amusing songs, and was encored again and again in “ Stand Wide,” “It went,” “ Mary McGee,” and “ Don’t It Tantalise You.” The latter was an encore song, and it provoked the crowd to enthusiasm. The Tylers—also new —- are very clever and graceful balancers and acrobats. The troupe consists of the father and two sons. Their turn was highly appreciated, and the Tylers are sure to become very popular with Aucklanders. The old favourites, Mr Charles Faning and Miss Georgie.Davoe, keep up their standard of fun, while Messrs Jack Williams, Arthur Hargrave, and Master Freddy help to make the Agricultural Hall the place to spend a happy evening.

The Auckland Amateurs open their season at the Opera House to-night. I hear that the booking in advance is already very satisfactory, and if things continue in the same way the Amateurs should be rewarded for their enterprise, in producing, in such handsome manner, Gilbert and Sullivan’s superb opera •* The Yeoman of the Guard.”

Mr Fred Sinclair, the clever comedian and impersonator, made his first appearance at the City. Hall last night, Wednesday.

The box plan for “ The Yeoman of the Guard ” season is now open at Messrs Wildman and Lyell’s.

It is highly probable that Miss Nance O’Neill will open her New Zealand tour at Auckland instead of Dunedin It is stated the Company will open here on December 26.

After the conclusion of the Christchurch seasin, the Pollards leave New Zealand for a couple of years They commence a three months’ season at. Sydney, Her Majesty’s, on Boxing Night. The Edith Crane-Tyrone Power Company are at the Dunedin Princess this week. “ Tess of the D’Urbervilles ” was the first production, to be followed to night by “ The Only Way.”

Good houses were experienced on the earliest nights, and a big season is anticipated, for the advance booking has been of a big order. A number of old favourites are now appearing again at the City Hall, and their success has been as great as ever. Miss Ida Roslyn has been well received, while Messrs McKisson and Kearns take the house by storm every evening. Mr Johnny Ewan makes things merry on the cornet, and in the farce proves himself a splendid comedian. Mr Charles Howard is another old friend, and with his fine stage presence and powerful voice creates quite a furore. Mr Harry Leggett introduces good business, and in saying that the others are as clever and amusing as usual it will be understood; that the, whole entertainment is Al. The Williams Sisters appeared on Monday evening. The ability of the little ladies is well-known, as we derived great pleasure from their performance some months back.

That one could be seated comfortably in the Opera House and at the same time be flying through Derbyshire at express speed would appear impossible. But very little stretch of the imagination is required to believe oneself on the front of the very engine from which the Biograph Company’s views are taken, so realistic are they in every particular. The panoramas of English scenery are without doubt the perfection of lantern work, and for these alone the entertainment is well worth a visit Various incidents during the Queen’s visit to Ireland are clearly and beautifully portrayed, in fact it is hard to believe that it is not Her. Majesty herself we see before us receiving a bouquet of flowers from a child at the review in Dublin, so life-like is every movement. Equally wonderful and interesting are “The Visit of Lord Wolsely to Edinburgh,” “ Arrival of Ladysmith Heroes at Windsor,” “ Launch of the Oceanic,” “ Bringing in the Wounded from Spionkop,” and very many others. The war pictures, although good, are not quite so perfect. This is probably due to the fact that the operator would be unable to choose carefully his position, and a certain element of danger from the enemy’s fire would serve to make even the coolest somewhat hurried in his movements. The introduction of each item by a short description thrown on the screen is a pleasing innovation, and the orchestra contributes to the realism of the views, with appropriate music. A few splendid humorous scenes amuse the audience immensely, and all are agreed that nothing of this class has been seen in the colonies to approach in excellence the British Biograph Company’s exhibition.

The Williams Sisters will be another welcome addition to the ranks of Mr Dix’s Company. Their bicycle business is splendid.

The Agricultural Hall has been well patronised during the week, and the excellence of Mr Fuller’s programme is maintained. Messrs Charles Faning, Jack Williams and Will Sylvain make fun for all, while Miss Georgie Devoe is as popular as ever. A fine selection of moving figures is shown by the War-o-graph at the Agricultural Hall, the Chinese scenes being specially appreciated.

Miss Ida Roslyn is as lively as of yore, and sure to fetch the boys.

The Leslies have gone South. They never failed to delight Auckland audiences. May they , have the best of luck down there.

Miss Ada Woodhill was a passenger by the Mariposa for San Francisco. Miss Ethel Hunt, who was here with the Ancelon-Bentley Company a short time agoj was also on board. She goes to the Californian Theatre. Miss Hunt gave evidence that she possessed much cleverness in the parts she played while the Company was in Auckland. She is fired with the laudable ambition to “ get on,” and as she is an energetic little body to boot I do not think she will leave the Land of the Stars and Stripes without rising in her profession. /