THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 533, 7 March 1901, Page 9

THE STAGE

“Paul Pry” will be ghd to near from those manager of theatrical companies touring New Zealand who desire that the public shall kn;w th- movements of th’ o >mjanies. Any information as to dat s, etc., will b acknowledged in these columns, ns well as any other items of Interest to the theitrical world AH letters should be addressed—“ Paul I'ry” spihting and Dramatic "RKVIEW, Vulcan Lane, Auckland. Mr Alec Anderson, who was lately managing Mr Dix’s Dunedin show, writes that he has joined the Hawtrey Comedy Company, now playing “ A Message From Mars ” at the Sydney Palace “ Mara ” has already run for eleven weeks, and. the Sydney season still has five weeks to go At the end of that time the company tours Queensland, thence back to Sydney for t vo months, with Melbourne and Adelaide to follow, and then a trip to New Zealand, t e tiur of this colony commencing in August. The company is a strong one throughout. As “ Punch” prophesied months ago, the style Nellie Stewart set in tu’quoises has become an epidemic, and the people of this town, especially the female portion (says ‘ Mmetta ”) must be fairly sick of the sight of blue beads. In all shapes and siz a s and in varied quantities do they adorn the Me’bourne girls at present. In the chorus at one of the theatres they are spread over the female singers like the measles or small pox, and in one department of a big shop, a lady informs me, she counted no less than eight girls with various designs in cut blue glass and china plastered about them. The pearl craze was nothing to it Pearls aren’t, even when pooX itnitatior s, very aggressive, but blue beads are. " Why Smith Left Home ” was put onfin place of “ Jones ” on Wednesday in last week, and was played for the last time on Monday. There is hardly so much in it as “Jones” but still as a mirth prbvoker it comes a good second The plot is slight in the extreme. Smith has just returned from his honeymoon and finds it impossible to have a day alone with his wife on account of her relations and his own connections, who bear down in strong force upon the newly-wedded couple. ’ There is plenty of trouble for Smith here, but seeing his wife’s maid in a well-known dress, about which there has been a tiff, he kisses her in full view of his wife and some of the relations This makes more trouble, for Julia, the maid, is a designing little creature with plenty of brains in addition to other attractions. She makes Smith pay five hundred dollars for that kiss. Tb’get.rid of his wife’s aunt he takes the cook into his confidence, and providing bad cooking will make the aunt leave he promises the cook a subsidy. With a German count thrown in, .who mistakes Smith’s wife for Smith’s sister, and rapid - ly arid vehemently declares his love, there is abundance of material for rollicking farce. As the demure li:tle maid who cannot understand why the master has not kissed her in the fortnight that has elapsed since she entered his service—it generally happens m two days, she says —Miss Dot Frederick was excellent . Julia is a smart and "wily: c eature, and the clever actress made every point tell. ' 'Her acting was bright and lively throughout. Miss Agnes Knight did very

well ’’ndeed as Mrs Smith, and Miss Inez Ben susan made the most of the part of Mrs General Billedoux. The most work, among the female pirts, falls upon the shoulders of Miss Sallie Booth, who, as Lavina Daley, “cook lady ” to the Smith menage, and secretary to the Cook Ladies’ Union, gave a delightfully humorous representation of an Irish “ cook lady ” with wide-spreading views of women’s rights. She is mistress of the situation whenever occasion requires. She can badly, and she can call a strike throughout all the various amalgamated societies on the slightest provocition The part is one full of humorous possibilities, and Mis* Booth certainly enacts it with splendid effect. The parts of Smith’s sister and his wife’s sister inlaw are small, but they are well played. Mr Charles Arnold is not a long time on the stage in “Smith ” but in the charact r of a foreigner with an imperfect knowledge of English, he creates plenty of fun He mixes his verbs, pronouns and adjectives with such ludicrous results that he makes his audience roar. As Smith, Mr George Willoughby has plenty of hard work, for he is rarely off the stage. Hi* troubles create much laughtrr The Major Duncombe of Mr W. W. Thomas was a capital character studv, and a similar remark applies to Mr Edw n Lestei’s General Billetdoux, who has a passion for the fair sex and a holy fear of his dragon of a wife. Mr F. H. Denton, as Mrs Smith’s brother, Robert Walton, p esented an amusing picture of a rather foolish youth who spent his last cent on the morning of his marriage.

The Hon J. G. Wird was present at the Opera House on Saturday night to see “ Why Smith Left Home,” and was much interested in Lavinia Daly’s views on Trades Unions.

Wirth’s Circus commenced the Auckland season on Saturday, when an enormous attendance gathered in the large tent at Freeman’s Bay. A circus always appeals to Aucklanders, and in view of the splendid show offered by the Wirth Bros, it is not surprising that at every performance—there are two daily—the tent has been packed. The Wirths have travelled far and wide since they were last here, some eight years ago, and they have now a marvellously complete organisation. There are performing lions, tigers, elephants, bears, and bsboons, clever horses, humorous and boxing ponies, artistic riders, excellent athletes, stylish acrobats, and quaint clowns, arid the other numerous attractions which go to inake up a complete circus.. The boxing Javanese ponies, Fitzsimmons and Oobbett, are wonderfully clever. They really box, and at the end of the bout one'is counted out, while the other stands with one foot on the prostrate body of his opponent. Their education has evidently not been neglected, and their intelligence is remarkable. Libra, a slackwire artiste, always receives a cordial greeting for her performance, and so does little Phyllis for her pretty skipping rope turn. Miss Marzitls is a very graceful rider, and is also a skilful juggler. She performs the m st difficult feat* with the utmost precision while on horseback, and moving quickly. In the matter of riding Mrs Edith Wirtl’s five-horse episode is wonderfully well done, and Mr Carl Wirth and Mr J W. Cooke go through some exceptionally smart things in the way of riding and jumping on horses while in full gallop. El Zobedie does some extraordinary hand-bilancing tricks, and Adele goes through a clever acrobatic performance on a rolling ball The amusing antics of the bear Jack provoked much laughter, and Ghumi Sab, the bucking elephant, never lets any of ths boys who try to earn the pound offered by the proprietors remain on his back

long enough to call the money their own. The tiger act of the trainer Soukie, who enters a cage containing three fine specimens and u akes them obey him, is also highly appreciated. The Auckland season Closes on Saturday, so there is not much time for those who have not yet visited Wirth’s Circus.

The “genial” Jack Lohr left for Sydney by the Zealandia on Monday. He goes to prepare the way for “ Smith ” and “ Jones ” for another tour of Australia. If all goes well he will be back in New Zealand next year with the Arnold Comedy Company, for" it is quite certain tbit New Zealand could do with another round of Mr Arnold’s amusing plays.

J. O. Bain commences a season at the Cddfellows’ Hall, Wanganui, to-morrow night, Friday.

The Charles Arnold Company play “ Hans the Boatman ” at a matinee performance, and in the evening on Saturday. The season finishes on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the company journeys to Waihi, playirg for three nights in a new entertainment hall.

A writer in the latest New York “Dramatic Mirror” says:—“J. W. Winton and his sidepartner, ‘ M’Ginty,’ landed in Des Moines, lowa, a few days ago. Winton found things rather dull around the hotel, so he started a little fuu by using his powers as a ventriloqust. The result was a quarrel between the porter and the clerk, and when they had almost come to blows, Winton stepped up and explained the joke.” Mme. Sarah Bernhardt objects to cheques, and insists that her salary shall be paid her every night in hard cash, a practice which has given her New York manager a considerable amount of trouble. On a recent occasion, after two performances for which she had to be paid 2000 d01.,i noi such sum had. come into the box office, as all the tickets had been sold in advance, and the manager had to send messengers living round tne city to get a series of cheques changed at other theatres. Coquelin’s success, by the way, in the essentially Bernhardt dramas, such as La Tosca, La Dame aux Catnelias and L’Aiglon, has been more than doubtful, and it is most unlikely that he will ever play those parts in Paris

Miss Nellie Stewart met with a magnificent reception on the occasion of the first production of “The Scarlet Feather,” at the Sydney Royal. The popular lady is as attractive, vivacious, and charming as ever. She has but two or three big vocal numbers.. Of these, the interpolated song, “Take Heart,” and “Hey, Nonny, No,” an interpolated number by Franco Leoni, went as well as any, the latter having a swinging refrain sung in the wings by the chorus. Both were enthusiastically encored, and both were finely sung. Miss Stewart, in addition to being in fine vocal form, played with great spirit and charm, and every contribution, especially a laughing chorus sohg in the first act, a military song with chorus in the second act, wherein Miss Stewart manipulated her band major’s baton as if to the manner born, and a duet and dance with Mr Seguin—met with great favour.

The Fitzgeralds are in New Zealand again. Several novelties have been added to this famous circus since the last visit to these Islands.

Mr Fuller has closed down temporarily at the Agricultural Hall, promising to re-visit us at an early date with a new company and a large stock of novelties. He has certainly had no cause to complain at the patronage given by Aucklanders, every performance, and they Lave been well nigh countless, being well attended. Miss Maud Faning, in coon songs and dances, Will Watkins and Jack Williams, with their clever have in especial assisted in keeping things inerry during the last week or two. Patrons of these entertainments will be pleased to give Mr Fuller a hearty welcome on his return. No better evidence could be given of the popularity of Mr Dix’s Gaiety Entertainments than the large audiences assembled every evening, in spite of strong counter attractions. The show goes with a vim that is surprising, not a slow moment being allowed, the orchestra lending splendid aid with lively and well-chosen music. Mr Hawkins, who has conducted for some months, is now to take charge in Dunedin. He has done good wo k here, and was presented with a handsome baton by the Company before his departure. There is such a galaxy of talent now appearing that it is well nigh impossible to particularise, but the Tylers and Leslies certainly seem to hit the people’s taste, as the applause heard in the City Hall of late cannot but satisfy the management. Of the Leslies little need be said, as there are few who have not witnessed the performance of the clever brothers —the Tylers, father and son, can be described in one word, “marvellous.” Their feats are done with the perfection of grace and ease, and one feels sorry when their turn is over. The Gonzales sisters give a clever display of acrobatic and contortion work, their movements showing that finish which can only have been attained by great practice and careful training. Mr Johnny Coleman continues in great form, and has been giving some fine exhibitions of step dancing, as it should be, his original “ Belinda, Susie, May,” giving a fine opportunity for this. We may, after all, be able to see at least some portion of “ The Babes in the Wood.” I understand that in celebrating his two years’ run. at the hall, Mr Dix will bring along his pantomime scenery, etc