THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 783, 9 March 1905, Page 18

THE STAGE

(By

“ Comus.”)

A cable received a lew days ago said : “Messrs Fitz-Gerald, the Australian •circus proprietors, have engaged the Herbert troupe of. aerial gymnasts for an Australian tour, 'they will sail on the 27th instant.’’ * * * * Mr George Matheson will take the Parkina-Foldesy Company as far as Adelaide, and ...will return in time to leave for New Zealand on March 18. He will then take up the running with Mr Williamson’s Repertoire Company. Mr Harold Ashton will pilot the c ncert party in West Australia. It is stated that Sir Henry Irving recently received an oiler of £350 a week to play Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Story of Waterloo” on! the musichall stage.’ It is hardly necessary to add that though the music-hall has swallowed the Lyceum, it will not appropriate the late Lyceum’s great actormanager. “It is time 1 retired !” Sir Henry Irving is reported to have exclaimed, when the preposition was made to him. Mr Frederick Enoch, the writer of the words of the popular ballad, “My Sweetheart when a Boy” and many other favourite songs, was buried last month at Ringmer, Sussex. * * * * For the first time in the history of amusements in Cork “ihe King” was played recently, and loyal Irishmen gave proof of their feeling by the waving of hats and cheering. **• * * r lhe papers will not leave Miss Marie Studholme alone, and are always marrying her to someone or other. The latest published report has been to the effect that she is about to marry Lord Brackley but there is absolutely no truth in the statement, for Miss Studholme and the gallant Warrior-Peer onlv met upon one occasion. As Miss Studholme herself pathetically says, “it really is too bad of the American papers. Here am I trying to get rid of laryngitis, and being nearly successful, when I am suddenly accused of being engaged to be married to a peer, which means that I must make my throat bad again contradicting this report and explaining to everybody that I don’t want congratulations, but only peace and rest.” * ¥ * V A ridiculous amount of publicity is being given in the Press to the newest of the hot gospellers, a Dr. Torrey, who is understood to hail from the United States, and who purposes to reform London. If it be true that this person stated of the Stage, that “its influence is, under the best conditions, ruinous to womanly modesty,” also “1 would rather see my daughter in her coffin than cn the stage,” and, finally, in course of a spirited attack on dancing, “I .was regarded as the best waltzer in my r social set in America,” then quite a lot of people will neither be affected by Dr. Torrey’s arguments nor his language. Dr. Torrey may be all right in his own “Social Set in America.” It is to be regretted that he didn’t see his way to stop in it. —“The Pelican.” Mr Henry Ludlow is now in Melbourne supporting Mr Van Biene in “The Broken Melody.” The last time Mr Ludlow was in Australia he w ; as starring in “Nurse,” “Jim Belmont,” “Nell Gwynne,” and “A Bit of Old Chelsea” with Miss Jennie Maynard’s Company. Since leaving here with that company he has been through South Africa with Mr Van Biene, and has also been with Mr George Alexander at St. James’ Theatre, London, and at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, understudying Mr Ben Webster in* the play, “The Sword of the King.”—“Referee.” * * * * Bettina Girard, the well-known actress, who was seven times married, is dead, cables the New York correspondent of the London “Express.” She was the daughter of the late General Ordway, of the United States Army, and some years ago caused a great sensation by abandoning society, of which she was a leading member, for the stage. « * * * . Mrs Kendal has favoured a Leeds audience with an amusing disquisition on kissing. Here are some of her dicta on the subject : To steal a kiss—Natural. To buy a kiss —Stupid. To kiss otte’s sister—Proper To kiss one’s wife—Obligation. To kiss ugly people—An act of galantry. To kiss an ugly, widow —Shows devotedness. To kiss a blushing young widow— Quite another thing. To kiss your mother-in-law —A sacrifice. To kiss three girls the same day—Extravagar ce.

Mr Clarence Lynden writes from New York to the “Referee”: “There are a number of us ‘Kangaroos’ in and around New York, and., we all se; d hind regards. Harry Roberts is still with Mrs Carter, who opens her New York run to-morrow night, January 11. Mooney and Holbein arc on the Keith circuit, the Lleiotts Boys are at ’ the Eighth Avenue Theatre this wcci-. Billy Busch’ and Dollie De Vere in< Brooklyn ; Martin and Ridgeway overin Philadelphia ; Joe Edmonds and myself here in town ; so you see there is a nice little bunch of us, and I’ am happy to say that we are all doing very nicely.”

It is announced that Miss Olga Beatty 7 Kingston, who was here with the “Are You a Mason ?” and “Sherlock Flolmes” Companies, was married last month in London to a West Australian —Mr Fhil V. Davies. Bessie Doyle’s mother, Mrs Doyle, died suddenly on December 29th, at Prague, Bohemia, where the violinist had taken a ’flat ’ during her appearances at the Winter Concerts. Miss Bessie Doyle, who is now Mrs R. Mitchell, was prostrated by her sad loss, but was making satisfactory progress when the last mail left.

”he Adelaide “Evening Journal,” referring to Mr Alfred Dampier’s farewell at the local Royal, said : “Mr Alfred Dampicr concluded his season at th? Theatre 10. al with ‘Robbery Ender Arms,’ which was played to an almost full house, Nr Lamp rs portrayal of Captain Starlight was heartily applauded, and when th? curtain fell in the last act an imperative dew and was made for the veteran act or-ma wage r. The -whole company were consequently assembl'd on the stage, and Mr Lampier, finding that bowing was not sufficient, came forward and said that he had to thank 1 hose present and the public generally for the strong support given him

through an exceptionally long season. Not he alone, but his whole company, were grateful for the many marks of appreciation accorded during the eight weeks they 7 had been in Adelaide. His season had been a record one in many respects, and he wished all success and the best of all Yrooii for,the new year to his Adelaide friends.” •* # * ♦ Speaking of Miss Celia Ghiloni’s performances with the Repertoire Company 7 revival of Gilbert and Sullivan operas, a Sydney journal says :—“The season revealed Miss Celia Ghiloni as a

bright. and clever actress and singer, who has exceeded the anticipations of those who have seen her work in simple musical comedy: . b he.’honours for c.onr sistently clever and versatile work arehers. Such distinct' characters as Lkdy Jane, Buttercup,‘Ruth, and the Fairy 7 Queen have been admirably 7 ’presented. It is a matter.of opinion which is Hiss Ghiloni’s best character, but for our part we consider her Buttercup among ‘the rosiest, roundest, and reddest, brightest and most conscientious seen :'n Australia.’ ” *.* * • * Mr Charles Warner commences a twelve months’ tour of Australia amf

New Zealand in November, under themanagement of Mr Musgrove. He will open at Melbourne in “Much Ado About Nothing,” and be and his company will appear in a series of Shakesperian revivals, as well as in Mr Warner’s own repertoire of plays, including, of course, “Drink.” It is thirteen years since Mr Warner was last at the Antipodes, where he enjoyed a most successful tour lasting over three years. There were no theatres in Western Australia then, and during his forthcoming visit, Mr Warner will for the first tin e play at Perth and Coolgardie.