THE FITZMAURICE GILL COMPANY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 694, 25 June 1903, Page 10

THE FITZMAURICE GILL COMPANY.

Mr Charles Lawrence, of me Fitzmaurice Gill Dramatic Company, wiites from Masterton, on the 16th inst * A few lines to let you know of our movements and arrangements for the future. We played a two weeks’ season in Dunedin to very good business, and then went South to Invercargill, where we did record business for seven nights, on the way

back calling at Gore and Balclutha, where. we put on ‘ The Sign of the Cross.’ We ■ then played a return, season of one week j in Dunedin (Show week), then Timaru and. Ashburton, to crowded houses. We been very successful with our new pieces, which will Doth be seen in Auckland during our coming season, namely, ‘ r Lhe. French Spy ’ and ‘ The Prodigal Par-, son,’ the rights of both these pieces having been purchased by Miss Gill from Mr, Charles Holloway. We are due in Auck-; land on July 4. A rather pleasing inci-| dent occurred on June 12 (Miss Gill’s birthday), when the members of the company presented her with a beautiful solid silver photo frame, suitably inscrib-i ed, showing the good feeling which exists, between Miss Gill and her company. Miss Gill was very touched and gratified at the kind thought that prompted the presenta-! tion of such a and feeling- ; ly thanked the members.”

There are some jaunty theatrical critics on the 'London press. Here is a specimen, 'dealing with Sardou’s drama “'Dante” now being performed by Sir Henry Irving ’ —“ Students of Dante will complain that the French authors have mangled their facts, played Hell and Pommy with the almanac, and saddled the poet with a liaison with a lady whom he did not even know. Sardou has no vision of the wrath of Dantists l before his eyes when he set out to dramatise Gustave Dore's illustrations of 'La Divina Comedia ’—he was writing for a wider and less exacting audience of popular playgoers.”

A report of the farewell concert given to Miss Beatrice Vartha, the young Wellington pianiste by her friends ptevious to her departure for America reached me i just too late for last issue. Miss Vartha,' wbo was greeted with cordial applause,l played with an orchestra of thirty performers, Mozart’s “ Concerto in Di minor,” this being the principal item, of: the programme. The three movements ot' this brilliant concerto were played admir-, ably, the orchestra being, kept well in' hand bv Herr Lehmann, who conducted,; whilst in the exacting piano part Miss: Vartha, who has a decisive method and crisp, delicate touch, manifested great judgment as well as technical skill. In the graceful second movement, the refined theme, described by the piano to a staccato accompaniment for the strings, was well marked, while the heavy presto, the , concluding movement, was given with much energy. Miss Zena Maher sang in excellent voice “ Mia Piccarella,” and was, recalled ; Mr E. J. Hill gave with declamatory effect, the “ Song of Thanks-. giving” (Frances Allitsen) ; Mr F. Twiss, sang tastefully “ A Devout Lover ” ; Mrs' Mueller vocalised Bordese’s “ Vashti,”. and Herr Naujdksi played two flute solos, 1

which were amongst the features of th® concert. One was his own " Fantasia Polka,” and tihe other was a concert piece byPopp. Herr Naujoks secured. a good tone, and played with decision. Miss N. Castle sang a Verdi cavatina, which was obviously beyond her present powers. She has an interesting voice, but the choice of such a piece as this was toO ambitious. “ The Ballad of Splendid Silence,” was recited by Miss Ada Royelle, who was better suited in the encore piece, a vivacious description of a lady’s! vif.it with her new bonnet, as related by herself. Miss Royelle has an excellent style in pieces of the latter kind, and in this achieved a distinct success. . Mr L. Sawtell gave some amusing f-pecimens of mimicry, and was encored. Two orchestral selections completed the programme.

.Mr George Cathro, touring representative of Montgomery’s Entertainers, writes to say that their Tasmanian tour commepced in Hobart on the Bth, where a six nights’ season was to be played. On the termination of the Tasmanian .tour the combination returns to New Zealand.

Willoughby and Geach are at the present in the midst of a phenomenally successful season with their latest success, “ MisF takes Will Happen,” in Adelaide, and are shortly due in the New South Wales provinces, en route to Brisbane, where they open on July 4 —“ the day we celebrate.”

Mr William Anderson’s company, which is at present touring Queensland, has done tremendous business, averaging three figures nightly.

Since the inauguration of the Willough-bv-Geach Company, hardly a day has passed (remarks the “Bulletin") without applications being received from girls and women desirous of going upon the stage. Mothers with talented daughters, ai-Lts with talented nieces, pressmen with te ented lady friends, young girls, old girls, fat girls, thin girls, sad sirls, jolly girls, dark girls, fair girls, solemn g.jls, funny girls, nice girls, and other giius, Government Hous’© girls, and servant g-'iis —all stage-struck, all bitiep by the v.ius of public admiration—besiege manager Geach, week in, week out, for ctiance to go upon the stage. Every new manager is struck this wav. The great unanimous desire of ths great aggregate Girl to go on the stage seems overwhelming.

Mr Harold Ashton, who is piloting the “ Are You a Mason ?” Company through New Zealand, left Auckland on Thursday to arrange for the Southern tour. Mr Ashton is one of the most popular, as he is ope of the ablest theatrical managers, and his face always gets him a welcome. Mr Bert Royle, Mr Williamson’s New Zealand resident representative, “ personally conducts ” the company, and incideptally creates an atmosphere- of geniality all round.

Mr M. Marcus, the “ live ” manager of Mr Harry Rickards’ Company, arrived in Auckland on Saturday. Mr Jameson, who has been doing the advance business, left the service at Stratford, and Mr Marcus had io come on himself.

One of the finest “ turns ” ever witnessed on a New Zealand vaudeville stage is that done by Silvainy and Hill, who were introduced to Wellington playgoers by Mr Harry Rickards last week. They are champion trick cyclists in every sepse of the word, and merited the enthusiastic applause bestowed on their clever performance.