LONDON GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 10

LONDON GOSSIP.

My London correspondent writes (under date Mav 2) : —“ A great advocate of New Zealand’s curative powers is Mr George Leitch, the well-known comedian, who has just returned to England fully recovered from paralysis, with which he was stricken two years ago, and which prevented him from following his profession. Mr Leitch attributes his complete cure entirely to the hot mineral baths at Rotorua, which were recommended him by Mr Seddon. On his travels Mr Leitch covered, besides New Zealand, also Australia, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and the New Hebrides. Mr Leitch hopes now to follow his profession as of old, being perfectlv strong again. . . . The Lyceum Theatre, Sir Henry Irving’s old home and play-house, was last week put up by public auction. The highest bid was £244.000, but the property was withdrawn, the auctioneer stating that the reserve price had not been reached. Another attempt to sell the theatre will be shortly made. ... Sir Henry Irving has, by-the-bye, scored an immense success this week at the Drury Lane Theatre in his representation of ‘ Dante.’ Both the mounting of the piece and the playing by the whole cast., was superb, Sir Henry, of course, taking the lead by a long way in his impersonation of the poet Dante. I hope next mail to send you further particulars of the play. ... A Beethoven Festival, of great interest to all lovers of this master’s works, takes place at Bonn on the Rhine towards the middle of May, and will last four days. The programme consists of performances by the Joachim quartette, composed by Herr Joachim .as first violin, Karl Halis as second violin, E. Wirth alto, and Robert Haussmann violoncello, so a musical treat is anticipated. The. charge for the seats is only moderate, ordinary seats being charged at 2s and 3s, and the subscription for the five performances being twenty marksi for the best seats. . . . Hengler’s-National Skating Palace, Argyle-street, London, has just concluded its winter season by a magnificent Real Ice Carnival. Some very original costumes were worn, especially by the ladies present, and some magnificent skating was seen, especially the waltzing and step dancing on the ice. An original feature also was an exhibition of the cake walk given by one of the gentlemen dress 1 - ed at a Salvation lassie. The fun lasted until about four o’clock. The. ice was in perfect condition. . . . Signora Duse, the celebrated actress, is seriously ill at San Remo. She was, taken ill whilst playing in ‘ Lautre Danger,’ and had to abandon her performance. She has also had to postpone her tour in! Russia until next season. . . . The charming little play, * Sweet and Twenty ’ has been performed this week at the Royal County Theatre, Kingston on Thames, with great

success. jfiiss Mabel Love, the well-known London favourite, takes the part of Joan Trevelyan, and wins great applause from her audience. Miss Maud Denny, who, it will be remembered, won a lot of admiration when playing with Mr Sheridan’s company in Australia some three years ago, also scored a distinct success both in ' Sweet and Twenty ’ and the curtainraiser preceding it. . . . Mr Potter Davis’ new comedy, ‘ Mrs Gorringe’s Necklace,’ will be produced by Sir Chas. Wynidham at his own theatre about the middle of May. The play is in three acts, and contains a remarkably strong cast, with specially strong parts for Miss Mary Moore and Sir Cllas. Wyndham. . . . Signtor Luigi Arditi, the well-known composer and musical conductor, who conducted the orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, for twenty years, has just passed away at his residence, at Hove, near Brighton. He was born at Crescentina, Piedmont, in 1822, and was educated at the Milan Conservatoire. He was the composer of various operas, cantatas, and songs, and has conducted orchestras in London, Vienna, Madrid, Constantinople, and St. Petersburgh, also in the various States of America.” .