The Stage

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 675, 12 February 1903, Page 10

The Stage

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Bookings. Opera House, Auckland : January 24 to February 14—Miss Fitzmaurioe Gill’s Co. March 2 and s—Madam5 —Madam Melba Concert March 16 to April 4—Hawtrey Comedy Co. April 11 to May 23—Anderson’s Dramatic Company May 25 to June 13—Pollard Opera Company June 14 to 26—Geo. Musgrove’s “ Sweet Nell ” Company June 27 to July 10—Harry Rickards Co. ‘ His Majesty’s Theatbe, Auckland January 24 to February 14, 1903—Frank Thornton Comedy Company _ . February 16 to March 7—J. C. Williamson’s Sherlock Holmes ” Company March 16 to April 4 -Hawtrey Comedy Company. AdtU 13 to May 12 —Anderson’s Dramatic Comnany Opeba 'House, Wellington February 23—Madame Melba February 24 to March 14—Frank Thornton Co. March 19 to April 9 —Miss Fitzmaurioe Gill’s Company Anril 11 to'May 2—J. C. Williamson Co. toy 4 to 30— Hawtrey Comedy Company June 1 to 13—Rickards’ Company June 17 to July 3—Musgrove, Company Theatbe Royal. Chbistchubch January 26 to February 7—Anderson’s Dramatic Co. February 19 to March 7 - Hawtrey Comedy Company. February 20—Madame Melba April i w to 25 —Mias Fitzmaurioe Gill’s Company April 27 to May 9—Musgrove Company Princess Theatbe, Dunedin ' .Twrmary 24 to February 14—Hawtrey Comedy Co Fefe 14 to March 13 -Anderson’s Dramatic Company April 11 to 25—Musgrove Company May 4 to 14 —Miss Fitzmaurioe Gill’s Company Opeba House, Wanganui. February 9 and 10—J C. Williamson Feb 26 and 27—Miss Fitzmaurioe Gill’s Company March Races—McMahon’s Company April 11 to 18—Hawtrey Company June 6 to 10—Musgrove Company June 18 to 20—Rickards’ Company Opeba House, Haweba. February 18 and 19—Majeroni Company February 23 and 24 —Miss Fitzmaurioe Gill’s Company June 22 —Rickards’ No. 4 Company Din’s Gaiety Co. nightly Jat the City Hall, Auckland, and Theatbe Royal, Wellington. Mr Oscar Asche, the clever Australian actor, has been recalled to London from America by Mr Beerbohm Tree. His place in .the American production of Iris ” has been taken by a Mr Edwin Stevens. . , « * * ♦ Mr G. H. Barnes has arrived in New Zealand to arrange for Madame Melba’s concerts. This up-to-date advance agent will probably be in Auckland about the end of next week. The diva’s tour will Commence at Dunedin on the 18th inst., Christchurch 20th, Wellington 23rd, and Auckland 2nd and sth.

' An exchange gives news of Mr Howard Chambers, an Auckland boy, who was a member of Mr Harry Rickards’ Company for some years, and who is at present in America. He has been engaged as basso with the Bostonian Opera Company (one of the oldest established companies in the States), and is at present on tour with De Koven’s “ Rob Roy ” and “ Maid Marian,” in both of which the young New Zealand basso plays the role of Will Scarlett. The Westminster A-bbey Coronation Choir intends visiting New Zealand shortly. The company consists of four boy sopranos, Madaime Marie Hooton (contralto), Mr Percy Coward (male alto), Mr E. Branscom and Mr George Pownall (tenors), Mr Albert Archdeacon and Mr Herbert Hilton (basses), and M ( r Dudley Caulton (a humorous musical sketch artist). For the past five months the company has been touring Canada and the United States with the greatest success. The manager, Mr F. G. Robson, is on his way from San Francisco, and expects to be in Auckland about February 17th. The entire party will start from the same port on March 12th. * * * * Mr Gus. Neville, after fulfilling the dates with the Neville-Oswald Company, joined Miss Fitzmaurice Gill’s Dramatic Company for the tour, and is taking a prominent part in the dramas being played at the Opera House. * The Black Family of Musicians have just finished a very satisfactory tour of the West Coast. The family consists of six members (all accomplished musicians) as follows Mr J. Black (Scotch comique), Miss N. V. Black (contralto, pianisie, mandoliniste, and trick violiniste), Miss Elsie (fiautiste and danseuse), Miss Doris violiniste and vocalist), Master Bertie (cornetist, dancer, etc.), and Mrs Black (pianiste). They intend touring the North Islland and will shortly be in Auckland. Mr J. A. MacDonald is in advance. In “ Zaza,” Miss Nellie Stewart has as big a chance as in “ Sweet Nell of Old Drury,” and like the lady in the Marchioness of Headfort’s song, should get right th?re, as the heroine of the 1 French play. The character is a complex one, and during .the four acts, into which the play is divided, strikes many motes. iThe story of. “ Zaza ” is a human and deeply interesting one, and deals with a poor actress who, cast off by her lover, becomes famous, and in I turn repulses the man who deserts her.— i Melbourne “ Punch.” I * • * • I Mr Leo De Chateau, who is at present stage manager for Miss Fitzmaurice Gill’s Dramatic Company, playing at the Opera House, is an actor who has become popular on the Australasian stage. He has h ad a considerable theatrical experiences. Starting some

seven years ago with the A If. Woods Company as a “ super,” and by dint of hard work and attention to business has managed to forge his way to the front, and now holds a leading position in the theatrical world. After .two years jn different branches of the profession, under Charles Holloway, Alfred Dampier, George Darrell and others, he toured Australia and New Zealand as stage manager and leading character actor with Walter Beatley, afterwards touring Australia in a like capacity with Geo. Rignold, Charles McMahon and the Woods-Williamson Company, and is now in Auckland stage manager and leading comedian for Miss Fitzmaurice Gill, taking the part of Plumtree in “ Man to Man,” Barney Flannigan in “ Work and Wages,” Tom in “Harbour' Lights.” Among other parts and characters taken by Mr De Chateau during his professional career are notably, Jakes in “ Silver King,” Polonious in “ Hamlet,” and Hans in the “ Bells,” with Walter Bentley, Dr. Ceneri in “Called Back,” Glabrio in “The Sign of the Cross,” Major in “ My Partner,” Pistiol (in “ Henry ' V./” John Stofel in “ Struck Oil,” the name part in “ Golden Giant ” and “ Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” with Miss Maggie Moore, besides a number of leading parts with different Australian managers. Mr De Chateau is very popular with the members of the company as well as with Auckland theatregoers, who testify their appreciation of his work by the rounds of applause accorded him each evening. This clever and promising actor is quite a young man, being only twenty-eight years of age, and should have a good theatrical career before him, being Australian born. Colonials will watch his advancement with interest. x

Walter Monk, the advance agent for Miss Fitzmaurice Gill’s Dramatic Company, has left for the South to arrange for the New Zealand tour. The following dates have already been, booked :— New Plymouth, February 17th, 18th and 19th ; Stratford, 20th and 21st ; Hawera, 23rd and 28th ; Wanganui, 26th and 2 7 th ; Feilding, February 28th and March Ist ■ Palmerston North, Mar)h 3rd, 4th and sth ; Masterton, 6th, 7th and 9th ; Dannev,rke, 10th and 11th . Hastings, 12th and 13th ; Napier, 14th, 16th and 17th ; Wellington, March 19th to April 9th ; Christchurch, April 11th to 25th ; Ashburton, April 27th and 28th ; Timaru, April 29th and 30th . Oamaru, May Ist and 2nd ; Dunedir.. May 4th to 14th. Our Wellington correspondent writes under date of February sth:—Dix’s Gaiety Company are booming along in good style at the Royal, and the acrobatic balancing of the Schenk Bros, being a brilliant turn. The head-balancing of this clever pair is without an eq ’al in the colonies, and they, fairly convulse their admirers nightly. Miss Ethel Clifford comes back to us with improvement in her sweet voice, and her excellent ballads are sung in good style. Rose Devella also hits the popular taste with some well chosen serio-comic efforts. The last nights are announced of John Kearns, Vera Kearns, and Ida Rosslyn, and a reappearance of Fred Rivenhall. Miss Emmie Smith is also in popular demand with her coon songs, which she knows how to sing.—Williamson’s Dramatic

Company are in their last nights at the Opera House, and Mr J. C Williamson’s banking account should? be considerably swollen at the conclusion of the New Zealand tour. “If I.were King,” is, like its predecessor, drawing in the shekels in double quick time. Mr Cuyler Hastings is an actor that one could never tire oi listening to, and a large amount of the success depends on the capable pourtrayal of the various characters he assumes. There is also a very strong company supporting him. . . . Mr Geo. V. Beck is settled down to work in connection with his pictures of New Zealand scenery for the St. Louis World’s Fair. Mr Beck is, perhaps, the most able man at present in the colonies with regard to managing a show, at Home or abroad. His varied experience in all parts of the States, from call boy to manager, will stand him in good stead in this country, although it is some years since he was connected with a colonial venture. . . Pollard’s Opera Company are to open a two weeks season at the Opera House with “The Toreador” on Friday evening. They come with an excellent list of Press notices from various places, and should have a very prosperous season here.