MARY ANDERSON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 755, 25 August 1904, Page 19

MARY ANDERSON.

DELIGHTS AN EAST END AUDIENCE. “ Let me sing once more at the People's Palace/' said Mme. de Navarro. Last night, said the “ Express ’" in June last, she had her wish, and the same Mary Anderson we used to know twenty years ago sang to 2000 people, so that the poor lads and lassies of the teeming East End may have sweetness and light by the furtherance of the club settlements. She wore no wreath of roses ; only a simple gown of pure white, and her hair just simply done —its own ornament. For her first song she chose a piece with which she used to charm London twenty years ago, “ I am an actor, fiom W. S. Gilbert's “ Comedy and Tragedy.” When the oceans of applause from the 2000 persons who wanted her to sing all night had died away, a silver-haired gentleman in the o-uinea seats crystallised everybody’s feelings by remarking in a voice made audible by enthusiasm : “ Well, really, she’s put back the clock half a lifetime. I feel quite a young again.” Once during the evening she really ceased to be Mary Anderson, that was when she “ read ” the murder scene in “ Macbeth.” She was both characters. She introduced the reading by sitting in a very large chair and quietly telling the audience about her enthusia.-m for Shakespeare—a strikingly new thing for an actress to do. Acting as a “ super/’ Father Bernard Vaughan shifted the chairs and tables on the platform for her, and in his speech he said “ the best talent of the Empire ” had come to the East End to help the work. He referred to Mme. Albani, Mr Santley, and Mr Gervase Elwes, as well as Miss Mary Anderson, in this phrase.

The following good yarn is from Melbourne “Punch” : — A nomadic theatrical company had a novel experience in a Gippsland town recently. The company was in rather a bad way when it struck the township, and only succeeded in securing the hall after giving every article of value it pos- • sessed in pawn to the proprietor. To the vast surprise and delight of the companv the hall was absolutely packed in all parts, and the performance was received with every manifestation of delight. When the curtain fell the company was on, and a man in the front of the stalls invited the company in the name of the audience to an egg supper in the hotel next door. The company had not been over familiar with suppers of any kind lately, and accepted gladly. The supper consisted of hot coffee, beer, bread and butter, and boiled eggs by the hundred, and all had a jolly time. Then the spokesman for the audience explained : “You see, ladies and gentlemen, we

brought these eggs expressly for you, but, to be candid, I must admit that we intended you to have them in their raw state ; in fact, we were going to pelt you off the stage with them. “It’s like this. We’ve had three companies here lately, each one of which robbed us in one way or another, one the printer, another the publican, and the other the owner of the hall, and each of them robbed the audiences that went to see them by giving the most shocking kind of a rotten performance. Then we got tired, and determined that the next cronk theatrical company that came along would have a big audience and a bad time if we had to smother it in eggs. You came. You did the decent thing by providing to pay your way, although it cleaned you out, but the people turned up with a few hundredweights of eggs, and then you gave us a good play, and played it dashed well. That did us in. We put it about that there must be no pelting, and then as the eggs were meant for you we determined you should have them. They were collected, and you have had them, and here's the good health of the company.” The company played there three nights, and went with full pockets and light hearts.

Miss May Chevalier took her farewell of a Melbourne audience on Friday week last, at the last performance of the “ Light That Failed,” when she received a very hearty good-bye, the curtain beingraised. several times, and the usual flowers being handed up in great quantities. Her husband, Mr Hamilton Stewart, was associated in the farewell, and the sendoff to both artists was given with evident sincerity. Mr and Mrs Hamilton Stewart left for London in the China on the Tuesday following.

In Mr L. C. Elson’s “ History of American Music ” it is stated that the first American composer was Mr William Billings, a tanner, of Boston, who was also a poet, as the following verse will testify :> — 0, praise the Lord with one consent, And in this grand design, Let Britain and the colonies Unanimously join ! If his music was as good as his poet; • . Boston may well be proud of him. * * # * Theatregoers will regret to hear (says the Melbourne “ Sporting and Dramatic News ”) of the death of Mr Geo. Leopold, which occurred last week. Mr Leopold, who made his final appearance with the Willoughby-Geach Comedy Company, was a prominent member of the Company, and was one of the most useful actors on the stage. He was a quick study, and had played in almost every description of character.

Apropos of Mr Paderewski’s visit, the following handbill issued at Bristol, when Paganini visited that city in 1831, is worth reading, if onlv to show how insular prejudices have broken down during the last century : —“ Fellow-citizens, do not suffer yourselves to be imposed upon by the payment of charges which are well worthy of the name of extortion; rather suffei' under the imputation of a want of taste than support any of the tribe of foreign music-monsters, who collect the cash of this country, and waft it to their own shores, laughing at the infatuation of John Bull.”

Mr Henry G. Parker, manager for Montgomery’s Entertainers, has been an athlete of no mean order. He was one of the organisers of the Bath Road Club, and won the first race of the club (25 miles Hounslow to Reading). He was also captain of the Kildare Bicycle and Tricycle Club (London), a member of the German Gymnasium (King’s Cross), and Podoke Athletic Club ; from each club he still holds trophies won in various contests. As a sergeant in the London Rifles he competed successfully in the Agricultural Hall (Islington) Military Tournament in 1881-5-6.

A telegram from Gisborne, dated Thursday last, states : —“ Gisborne’s new theatre, His Majesty’s, was opened last night. The weather was wet, but there was a record house for Gisborne. Congratulatoi v speeches were made by the Mayor and Mr Mel. B. Spurr, the latter commencing his Gisborne season. Prior to building, the proprietors had an examination made of the principal theatres in other parts of the colony, and it is claimed that their best features have been adopted, and that the theatre is one of the most up-to-date in the colony in proportion to cost. * * * * The wealthiest actor known is William Gillette, who is in receipt from his writings and performances of £BOO per week. He is the original Sherlock Holmes. * * * * An American paper remarks that Tom Browne, who visited Australia with the Chinatown Co., had to whistle for his salary in every company he has appeared with. * * * * Mr Chas. Holloway’s Dramatic Co., under the management of Mr Edwin Geach, opened at Perth (W.A.) on Aug. 6th, with “Two Little Vagabonds.” Mr Cowan, who was here with the Wil-loughby-Geach Co., is business manager.

It is estimated that fully one hundred thousand pounds have been lost by London theatrical managers during the season just finished. It has beer.’ the most disastrous ever remembered, and there have also been many failures.

Mr Harry Norman, many years stage manager for Bland Holt, intends to take out a company of his own shortly.

Mr Williamson’s Dramatic Co. will re-visit New Zealand next year, opening in Auckland at. Easter. The star of the company will be Miss Tittell Brune, supported by Messrs Gaston Mervale and Roy Redgrave.

Pattie Brown, an old favourite in the Colonies, was one of the players in the Actors v. Actresses Cricket Match, held at the London Oval last month in’ aid of the Actors’ Orphanage Funds.

The Melbourne “S. i nd D. News” has the following “An old stage identity passed away last Monday in the person of Miss Julia Merton, who first came into prominence at the Theatre Royal some years ago, in ‘New Babylon/ under Mr Bland Holt’s management. In* the piece mentioned she played a brokendown drunken woman, a female Eccles so to say, and her ‘I was a fine lady once’ will be remembered by most playgoers. She was also very successful during Dampier’s season at the old Alexandra, and later with Messrs Willoughby and Geach. Her last engagement was with Mr .1. C. Williamson, in ‘The Light that Failed,’ in _ which she appeared for the last time on the 28th ult., afterwards going into Dr. Moore’s private hospital, where she remained until her death. She made many friends in and out of the profession, chief amongst whom is Miss Gleeson, now at Her Majesty’s Theatre.” Miss Merton was well-known in New Zealand, and was last here with the Cuyler Hastings Company. * * .V * The following list, compiled by “Pasquin” in the “Witness,” will give an idea of the magnitude of the Fuller Vaudeville Circuit, and where the various artists were placed on Saturday, August 20 : — Dunedin : —The Nawns (3), Aubrey Douglas, Lamoni, Fred Rivenhall, Lynne and Maisie, Barbara Renton, Miller and Webber, Edith Bourke, Chas. Moody, Herr Sonderhoff, Bertotoes (2). Auckland :—Uessems (2), Stagpooles (3), Will Stevens, Tillie Dunbar, Jim Marion, Ida Berridge, Steele Sisters (2), Walter Melrose, Lulu Eugene, Addie Wright. Christchurch :—Harry Pearce, Carmo (2), Tod Calloway, Ivy Nicholls, Harr\ Sadler, Eileen Capel, Trevena .Sisters (2), Dick Davis, Millie Clafe, Jas. Williams, Kate Maher, Alice Fitzsimons. Wellington : —Swifts (3), Victor (2), Parker, May Dagmar, Kitty Lenton', M’Auley Sisters (2), Hettie Rosedale, Alf. King, Dennis Carney, Will Dyson, .Toe Rocks, Arthur Albinson.

The following artists were then travelling between Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin : —Lennon Trio, Maie Marlow, Ohmy, Rose Belmont, Harry Cowan, Cissie Whiteford, Tom Brown. Mr Ben Fuller, as .general manager of the firm, has the supervising of engaging, /avid directing artists’ movements, so. JV/can easily be seen that he is a busv'm'aw.