THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 528, 31 January 1901, Page 9

THE STAGE

“Pant Pry” will be glad to near from those manager of theatrical companies touring New Zealand who desire that the public shall know th- movements of the com■aniea. Any information as to datas, etc., will tv acknowledged in these columns, as well as any other items or interest to the theatrical world. All letters should be addressed—“ Paul fry.” Sporting and Dramatic BKVikw, Vulcaa Lane, Auckland.

Mr “Ren Fuller left Dunedin by the Moana for Melbourne to engage new talent for Messrs John Fuller and Sons’ Bijou Companies. Messrs John Fuller and Sons have leased their Alhambra Theatre, Dunedin, to Mr P. B. Dix for twelve months, beginning from February. The Biochronoscope is now doing good business in Northern Wairoa. It is freely admitted that the programme is the most extensive and varied which has toured the district. The Pans Exhibition panorama scenes are certainly very striking, and are much admired. Mr Whitehouse always secures good houses, as his reputation is established. He announces a Waikato tour, with Tauranga and Opotiki to follow. On Saturday night Fisko, the wonderful boy conjuror made his last appearance at Fuller’s Agricultural Hall. The reception accorded this •lever performer was cordial in the extreme.

An amusing comedian and endmin in the person of Mr George Wilkinson makes his first appearance at the Agricultural Hall on Saturday night.

Ferry, the frog-like, ends his Auckland season on Saturday. This wonderfully-built, or trained, individual should draw at the other Dix centres as he has in Auckland.

Mr J. W. Wintbn, who was here with Harry Bickards’ show a couple of years ago, may bring , a company of his own through New Zealand in the sweet bye-and-bye. The Christchurch Kinetnatograph Syndicate is touring the Canterbury district, and meeting with much success.

. : - Among the artists from London to augment J. 0. Williamson’s gaiety production will be Mr Fred H. Graham, who has been retained by Mr George Edwards to come out to Australia. Mr Graham was stage-managing and playing a principal part for some time in “The Bunaway Girl” on tour. Mr Graham first came into London prominence on playing Idle Jack in “Dick Whittingham” at the Grand Theatre,Fulham, London, last Xmas twelvemonths.

Miss AmyOastles has left Madame Marches and is now under the tuition of M. Bouhy. The Bendigo “Adve tiser” thus refers to the matter : —“ On the recent arrival of Mrs Castles in Paris her daughter gave up Marchesi.

Madame’s statement was that the young Bendigo singer had bean' given up by her, as she" had declined, to give anyfurther lessons .to one who wished to 'be a* dramatic soprano against her wishes. Marchesi denied ever having said that the voice Was a magnificent one •. she asserted that Amy’s voice was perfectly tired when first heard by her; it was only a sweet little voice ; she was too small to sing in opera (this much insisted on), and she had no high notes in her voice, it being only mezzo soprano —in fact, madame asserted that the young lady could not sing up to B flat 1 It has been freely asserted' by many professional musicans, and by critics quite as capable of judging voices as Marchesi, that the voice of Miss Castles was a pure dramatic soprano, which would be displayed at its best in opera, so that this judgement of hers was quite wrong. It is also well known in Australia that it is untrue the voice is a small one—it filled the great hall of the Exhibition so that every one of the 14,003 people in the audience heard quite perfectly. As for the statement that she was unable to sing up to B flat, she sang up to D flat at her own concert in Melbourne, and no one found fault with the quality of the note. . . Though Madame Marchesi declined (when she knew it was all over) to give further lessons to Miss Castles, she said nothing about returning to her the balance of the money paid in advance for lessons which are not to be given. Moreover, the lessons already given lasted often only ten minutes instead of the stipulated half hour. Miss Castles has now been placed with M. Bouhy, who has the greatest reputation of any teacher in Paris not excepting Marchesi herself, and he declares the voice to be a magnificent dramatic soprano. He placed her at once in the opera class. Miss Castles was mo red to go to him by some Australian singers, who were forced to leave Marchesi, and who are doing well with him.”

Our Christchurch Dramatic Correspondent writes: Since my last the Stanford Dramatic Company have opened at the., Royal. Their initial production was a gore-stained melodrama, yclept “ The Power and the Glory,” in four acts and several gasps The •cenic effects were really gorgeous, a> d “ London by Night ” fairly brought down|the house. In this scenes the roofs of the. great city were shown, while in the background a train dashed across a viaduct in such a realistic manner that the audience seemed to forget it was “make-believe,” and whooped their delight. That is, the pit whooped. The stalls applauded more soberly, while the aristocratic dress circle smiled its approval and clapped its more or less kid gloved bands languidly. Miss Ida Gresham as “ Lizzie Meduin,” the long-suffering heroine, was very good indeed, and Miss Bose Conroy, as “ Kate Goodluck,” also made a palpable hit. Our old friend, Miss Boland Watts-Phillips, gave a fine character performance as the coffee-stall keeper. Mr C. B Stanford as a swell nobleman acted as to the manner born, and Mr C. B. Westmacott as “Johnny Dyce Morris,” a dude of first water, wassimplyfirst-rate. Thepiece “went with a bang,” all through, and all the principals were honoured with a call before the curtain. “ The Power and the Glory” is a piece with a distinctly Bland Holty flavour, only there is

more fer-lud in it than in any of Bland’s productions. “A Soldier and a Man” was the next production. The season closes February 1, and the management appears to be amassing many shekels. . . . Nance O’Neil opens here on February 4 for a twelve-night season. Her fame has preceded her. and she is sure of bumper houses. . . . There has been a distinct improvement in the Dix Show lately. Whether this is due to the general managerehip of Fred Duval or not I can’t say, but there it is. . . Fuller’s Varieties are still “ all a-blowing and a-growing,” as the poet expresses it. I had a chat with Ben Fuller a day or two since. He was leaving that night for Melbourne in quest of fresh talent. He confided to me that the management is looking for a larger hall than the Oddfellows’ which is not big enough now to accommodate patrons. Money in it ? Bather ! —So there is in Dix’s show. Sacksful.

Business has been very brisk at the City Hall during the past week. Ferry has proved a great attraction, and during the remaining nights of his season the attendance should be larger than ever, for there are many people anxious to see the wonderful contortionist who have not been able to visit Dix’s Show. Frank Clark has, as usual, been stirring the risible faculties of the people immensely, and Eileen Boyd, Olive Lenton, Joe Cowan,■ Ida Clarkson, the Linwood Sisters, and the others have been keeping the fun and amusement up to a high level. Joe Cowan’s burlesque “The 3 Mus keet-eers ” has proved a big success. Next Monday the first appearance of the Patterson Brothers, America’s greatest triple bar experts, is announced. Fresh songsand new scenery, with the addition of some smart up-to-date “gags” make Dix’s Show a place to spend a happy evening in. John Fuller’s singing of the patriotic song “ England Will See It Through ” has been compelling the Agricultural Hall audiences to indulge in very enthusiastic applause, and his duet with Miss Lena Young—“Excelsior”—is also a very highly-appreciated item in a programme replete with interest. Will Watkins keeps on finding new comic songs which catch on wonderfully, and Aubrey Douglas is very popular with his capital coon songs. Miss Lottia Lorne and Miss Trixie Le Mar are going very strongly, and every evening have to respond to enthusiastic encores. Last night (Wednesday) Mr George Williamson, endman and comedian, made his first appearance in Auckland. More new talent is coming along to Fuller very shortly, for the fun is fast and furious.

The British Biograph Company’s return visit to Auckland next week is keenly looked forward to. Several new pictures will be shown for the first time in Auckland, among them being the International Yacht Bace between the Shamrock and the Defender, Prince Edward of York with Prince Bertie andJPrinceßß Victoria, a Lifeboat Call and Rescue at Worthing, Trooping the Colours on Her Late Majesty’s Last Birthday, Li Hung Chang, the Torpedo-destroyer “ Viper,” Genera 1 Buller at Aidershot, several scenes from the popular musical comedy “ San Toy,” and the Battleship “ Oudin ” firing a broadside, These

living pictures with many of the old favourites wit be exhibited during the ensuing season. The company can only give five performances, and then the show goes to Dunedin. Mr J. A. Miller, the business manager for the company, ii at present in Auckland making all arrangements. Judging by the success achieved at the last visit the Biograph Company will be pleased with the welcome from Aucklanders.

Last night the Crane-Power Company played “ The Only Way ” to a big house.- This fine play will be repeated to night (Thursday). To- » morrow “Trilby” will be staged, and as the theatre will be closed on Saturday the last night of the season will be on Monday, when Maurice Barrymore’s “ Nadjezda ” will be staged.

That old favourite, W. G. Wills* “ A Royal Divorce,” drew good houses to the Opera House on Monday and Tuesday. This romantic and strongly dramatic historical play always pleases the public, and when acted as it was by the Crane-Power Company, it doubly pleases. Miss Crane created a very favourable and powerful impression as the noble • minded Empress Josephine. Certainly, it was the best piece of acting this talented lady has shewn to Aucklanders so far. The Marie Louise of Miss Wheeler was full of merit, and altogether & highly praiseworthy effort, and as the lively and good-hearted Stephanie Miss Rose Musgrove also did exceedingly well- Mr Tyrone Power, as the scheming De Beaumont, acted with much quiet force. His representation was an excellent one. The Napoleon of Mr Cecil Ward truthfully shows how this young actor has advanced in his profession. His make-up was very faithful, and his acting throughout full of character and really a fine piece of work. As General Augerau Mr Cyril Keightly did well, the Grimaud of Mr Oily Deering was as good as usual, and Mr Lissant made a capital Tallyrand. The tableaux, scenery, staging, and dressing were all admirable.

On Friday and Saturday the Crane-Powe r Company performed “ Tess, of the D’Urbervilles,” a dramatisation of Thomas Hardy’s widely-read story. Without sticking too closely to the book the'playwright has produced a verygood piece of work, save that there is too much low comedy. I suppose Sir John Denbeyfield and his partner Joan must be introduced at length to relieve the monotony of sombreness. But one can have too much of even a gooi . thing, and though Miss Merton and Mr Oily Deering were at times amusing, I think there was rather too much “ fooling.” As Tess, Miss Edith Crane pleased her audience considerably. The part is certainly a hard one, and the clever actress played it excellently. Mies Lilian Wheeler’s Marian was also a capital representation. Mr Tyrone Power, as Alec D’Urberville, showed much force. The dramatist makes him a brute all through, and Mr Power very effectively pour tray ed the character. Mr Cecil Ward was the Angel Clare, but he was not nearly so successful in this part as in D’Artagnan. Mr Keightley’s Jonathan Kail was a piece of good character acting, and generally the other characters were well done. The play, however, is not an attractive one.