THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 785, 23 March 1905, Page 18

THE STAGE

(By

“Comus.”)

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

THE MACMAHON-DARRELL COMPANY, An exceptionally fine and profitable season draws to a close this week, much to the regret of all lovers of sound and wholesome plays and acting. “ The Mystery of a Hansom Cab,” which was staged during the latter half of last week, exceeded in genuine interest any play of the kind we have had here for a very considerable time. The main incidents in the famous novel were presented with quite remarkable success, the staging, scenery, and general effects coming in for special commendation. On Saturday a new play “ From Scotland Yard,” was presented, abounding in tragic and sensational features. Mr. Darrell played the part of a resourceful Scotland Yard detective with his usual brilliancy, and the part of the heroine was singularly well taken by Miss Lawrence. The whole cast was exceptionally good. To-night the ever-popular “ Sunny South ” is to be revived by special request. The company will appear at Waihi on Tuesday (4 nights), Karangahake (1 night), Paeroa (2 nights), Thames (2 nights), with Gisborne to follow.

“ THE BROKEN MELODY.”

On Monday next the famous Auguste Van Biene will open at His Majesty’s, Auckland, under the management of Mr George Musgrove, in “ The Broken Melody,” which has now been played over 4,000 times. Writing of the Sydney performance the “ Mail ” says :— “ The plot is as follows: Paul Borinski (Mr Van Biene), in reality a proscribed Count, is a poor operatic composer and ’cellist, and, excepting the devoted love of his wife (Miss Lena Burnleigh) and an operatic score which he has vainly offered to managers, is ■destitute. The Duchess de Verviers, who is enamoured of the musician, obtains the production of his opera and consequent fortune and fame, but at the same time entices the wife away from her husband by telling her that her presence will betray him to the Russian secret police. Paul, jubilant at his good fortune, rushes home to inform his wife, and finding her absent begins playing the melody on his ’cello. While doing so his eyes fall on the letter of farewell which his wife has left, and hence the title, ‘ The Broken Melody.’ The outwitting of the Duchess finally unites the lovers as the heart-broken musician is pouring forth his sorrows to

the ’cello in the melody. Mr Van Biene in the first act plays Chopin’s familiar ‘ E Flat Nocturne ’ (Miss Burnleigh at the piano), and in the second, at a reception at the Duchess’s salon in Paris, gives a number of selections, which he will change every evening. On Saturday the cellist performed Schumann’s ‘ Traumerei,’ Hauser’s arrangement of Brahm’s ‘ Hungarian Czardas,’ Squire’s ‘ Dance Maggiore,’ ‘ Home Sweet Home,’ and ‘ Alice where art Thou,’ (the latter as encore) and charmed his hearers. He has deep feeling, a sweet sonorous tone, and skilful technical facility. The enthusiasm aroused was well won. As an actor Mr. Van Biene was earnest and acceptable. Miss Marie Rignold has the strongest of the women parts, that of the Duchess, and looks attractive and acts excellently. Her deep speaking voice resembles that of her sister Dora, who was here with the recent Shakespearian company. Miss Burleigh is gentle and sympathetic as the young wife, and Mr. Henry Ludlow was reserved and dignified as the Russian General Ivanoff. Mr Horace Lingard made a reappearance after an absence of 25 years, in the part of a vulgar theatrical agent, and aroused some laughs in a thankless role (Mr. Lingard and Miss Alice Dunning Lingard were popular here in the old days). The cast further included Messrs. Arthur Bawtree, Ernest Laceby, Arthur Lewis, Arthur Eldred, Mrs. Morton, Misses Ida Chapman and Avis Grahame. Mr. W. R. Coleman is responsible for the pretty sets of scenery, all of which are interiors ; and Mr‘ Percival Goffin is musical director.”

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S NEW ENTERTAINERS. Messrs Fuller are fully maintaining their standard of high-class vaudeville at the Opera House. The bill in its main essentials has been completely changed during the week and the “ star ” attractions are of the first quality. The Reyes Trio of iron-jawed marvels acrobats and trapezists are as clever as anybody wants them to be. They do with their teeth what the average mortal would find pretty difficult to do with the hands, and they do it with a neatness and dispatch rare even in well regulated shows. If there was nothing else on the programme nobody could grudge the money paid at the door. But there is lots more. There is the clever couple of patter comedians, Mr. Leeds and Miss Trixie Le Mar, who sing and dance with the spirit and lightness of fairies, and joke with the grim humour of elves. Also there is Pete

Miller, whose musical feats suggest that he could turn a rag and bone shop into a palace of delight He plays tunes on any unconsidered trifle that he picks up, and plays well. Furthermore there is Hugh Huxham, Katie Maher, James Williams, Lulu Eugene, Les. Wharton, Ted Anderson, Pearl Akar man, Ethel Preston and May Rose. The show is good all round, and well worthy of the generous patronage it receives.

FEDERAL HALL.

ROWLEY’S WAXWORKS. Abomah, the dusky giantess; and Rowley’s famous waxworks and vaudeville company continue to draw large numbers of the populace,\young and old, to the Federal Hall. The programme has been subjected to many changes, and a baby show and singing competition have been amongst the latest attractions. The show is a most interesting one, and is certain to preserve its popularity during its stay in Auckland.

OLYMPIA RINK.

Rinking has evidently been revived in Auckland with a vengeance. Night after night the rink in Coburg • street is thronged with skaters gliding over the well polished surface, to the strains of a first-class band, like so many phantoms. The decorations and conveniences are quite up to-date, and instructors in uniform are in attendance to assist beginners. The manager, Mr. Roy Bosisto, seems never to be at a loss to introduce some new feature of attraction for the patrons that are quite contented to sit and watch their more venturesome brethren endeavouring to master the graceful art of skating. Evidently the principles adopted by the management at first have had the effect that has so long been desired, and great credit is due to the manager for the manner in which the rink is conducted, there being the entire absence of rowdyism. Good order and decorum are enforced. The special attraction this week is a toboggan which will make the most doleful merry, especially when one patron of large proportions endeavours to float over the toboggan (it being so much more difficult than racing around in a motor car). On Thursday night a polo match is to be played, which should be most interesting, and next week an obstacle race is on the boards and is looked forward to by all, and two “colts,” of oil launch fame, are in active training for the race. It is the intention of the management to extend

the rink another 30 feet, making it then the largest rink in New Zealand.

WIRTH’S WILD WEST CIRCUS.

This famous hippodrome and menagerie will begin an Auckland season on Saturday week. The programme this time is exceptionally attractive. Chifalo. the “ demon ” of all daring feats of skill, will give the public an opportunity of witnessing his feat of “ Leaping the Chasm.” Chifalo, in the latest of cycling sensations, mounts his machine at a height near the canopy of the tent, and, at a given signal, dashes down an almost perpendicular incline on to a short plank adjusted below, shooting into the air again high up, and bouncing in perfect safety and with apparent ease, on to a 2ft wide plank, a distance of 42ft, across an open space In addition to this Chifalo goes through his “loop” performance in an enclosure in front of the main tents of the circus. The demon cyclist starts from an incline of about 45deg and lets go the bike. His speed increases as he approaches the great. circle, or loop. As he rushes about a third of the way up this a bolt in the mechanism becomes automatically loosoned, and a section of the cycle swings backward and upward, and joins with the main circle, which it completes just as Chifalo, after whirling round the loop, reaches it. Mr. T. Colquett, who claims to be the champion high and long jumper of the world, does some remarkable feats in the jumping line. He is not only a great high and long jumper, but a trick jumper as well. One of the extraordinary tricks he performs is to jump off a brick (said brick on end) over a chain on to another brick (end also) and over a hurdle 6ft high. Another jump is off a brick over a chain on to another brick over 12 ordinary chairs on to a man’s face and off again without hurting the man, only leavingja black patch of soot, which is previously rubbed on to the soles of his boots to show that he has been on the man’s face. In addition to these Herr Emile Payer exhibits some remarkable feats with trained wild animals, and Mons. Rogoul appears in a similar capacity as of old. The Messrs. Wirth also display their marvellous skill in training horses, and this department will be augmented by the performance of the original Wild West Troupe, under Captain McLoud, who reappear under the Wirth management after an absence of 14 years. The circus promises to make a new record in public popularity.

The visit of Auguste Van Biene, the famous ’cello player, and his London Company in the musical melodrama should not fail to draw Auckland playgoers. Both play and player have longbeen famous, the former having created something like a “long run" in England, being played there over four thousand times, while Van Biene's fame as a cellist has even reached these shores. “The Broken Melody" season is limited to six nights, and the “star" piece will foe followed by a one-act comedy, “1 he First Night,” highly spoken of in Melbourne and Sydney. Mr Pete Hughes is representing- Mr George Musgrove, who directs the tour. * * * * * The popular Steele-Payne Belhingies passed through Auckland last Monda , and appear this week at Taukau, Pukekohe. Waiuku, Papakura, and Otah .-h i. Mr' Steele reports splendid business in the North. Mr R. T. Tregaski, the advance representative, loft last Dlond.:y for Tauranja. • • • • Tn about three months' time a new comic opera is to be produced (says the “Referee’-’). It is quite a local production, the music being by Dlr kurd’e Orchard, conductor of the Sydney J i< dertafel, the lyrics by M. J. Curtis, 8.L., and the book by Messrs J. I. Hunt (“Boondi," of the “Sunday Times’’ and “Referee") and W. -J. Curtis. Miss Minnie Regan, a dictinguished St. Vincent’s College pupil, will play the soprano role, and the members of the ladies' chorus will probably consist of prominent musical academicians from . the same college. Says the latest “British-Australasien": —“Miss Italia Conti, who was at one time a member of Mi- R. Brough’s Company in Australia, is reported to be coming rapidly to the front as an actress. A direct descendant of the well-known Italian-’, house of Conti, the daughter of a distinguished opera singer, and the great niece of Catalani, of the wonderfid voice, Miss Conti seems to have inherited talent that will surely carry her to the highest rung of the ladder of histrionic fan e. On the first night of the production of the “Powers of Darkness,’’ by the Stage Society in London'. Miss May Ilainey, who took the leading part, fainted, and Miss Conti was called to undertal e th” character in the middle of the first scene. She, of course, had to read it, but at the next performance was word perfect, and in her third appearance gave a magnificent rendering of the row of Anisya, a veritable triumph. Since her return to London from Australia. Miss ( enti has played with Mrs Patrick Campbell. Dlr Max Beerbohm. Dlr George Alexander. Dlr Benson, and other well-kn wn ac!o”managers. Mr Van Biene is reported to have re fpsed £21500' for 'the, ’cello upojn which he plays in “The Broken Dlelody."

Mr Tom Fitzgerald has forwarded a copy of the “Times of India," containing a notice of the company's opening at Bombay. Hundreds, it is reported, had to be turned away. * V * lif Dlr Henry Arthur Jones, in a speech made recently in London, suggest! d that the City Fathers should put the site of the Royal Exchange up for sale by auction, and should hand over the proceeds to a committee for the endowment of a national English drama. Dlr Jones also stated that for twenty-five years he had vainly spoken to the English playgoing public on the drama: and had vainly tried to enforce one or two of the plainest, simplest truths, without, so far as he would judge, the least results. Dlr Jones’ latter statements remind us (says the “''Era’'’) of the; cp'ptK've i;n the old JAlhambra version of “I.a Perichole." In the last act there is a- scene in a prison, into which the hero and heroine are cast. They hear someone at work on the wall of the dungeon; and presently a stone gives way and a long-,bearded fellow prison r enters by an aperture. He explains that for thirty years he has been cutting his way through the wall with a small implement, expecting to find himself eventually in the open air; instead o n which, by an error in direction he is bid in a difforelnt cel]. He Ais j however, still sanguine. “It is only another thirty years," he says cheerfully, and- “I have still my little penknife!" * * < * Sir Charles Wyndham and Miss Mary .Moore, after a very successful season in New York, have started on a tour including the principal American and Canadian towns. At the conclusion of the performance in New Dork, Sir Charles in a speech of thanks recalled the circumstances that his beginning of professional life wms made ini America, and said that after eighteen years’ absence he found his friends still loyal. * * ♦ * Dlrs Patrick Campibell has left the hospital .at'- Philadelphia, having quite recovered from the effects of the recent accident to her knee. * * « * A marriage has been arranged between Miss Ada Crossley, the Australian contralto, and Dr. Francis Dluecke, of Adelaide, South Australia. **. * • The marriage has been arranged (says the “Referee"), and will shortly take place, between Dliss Noni Rickards, eldest daughter of Dlr and Dlrs Harry Rickards, of Sydney, and Dlr Edward Dlaas, youngest son of Dlr E. J. Dlaias, formerly of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England, and late of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. The accpiaintance between the young couple is said to have started during a trip which Dlr Rickards, accompanied by his family, was making to England.

Dlr M. V. Gareod, in some amusing “Experiences of Actors," which Dlr Pope Pax has been writing for the “Newcastle (Eng.) Meekly Chronicle," tells an anecdote of his early days, when he was engaged for the heavy lead in “The Pangers of London." In the second act a scene represents a cutting on ihe Great Eastern Railway. Bound and gagged, the hero is placed across the rails, and an express train is “due" to come through tin; tunnel. The villains leave the h'-ro to his fate., but a friend of his chances t.-> i e in the neighbourhood, and pulls him off the rails jiust as the traM l dashes across tie stage. The cc/mpany was at the Prince's Tneatre, Llandudno, and one nil hr. 1 y au oA’ersight, the train was started before the ' < i‘ft.-iend" had performed his time ly office. ’The mistake was no’, discovered until the train was in full view of. the a-udience. To continue its journey meant terrible (stage) death for the hero and plenty of (real) bruises for the actoi. So that obliging train, to “work up" who e “entrance" the entire company had gathered in the “wings," and extn'cd themselves to the utmost in lie way of banging drums, shaking perf.orated cigarboxes filled with dried i-eas, thumping tea trays with bunches of umbrella ribs, and rubbing together chunks of wood covered with sandpaper, calmly hacked into the tunnel again until ihe line was cleared. When it did complete the journey the audience applauded heartily, as if it were part of the play. Some contended that the engine-driver detected a. signal against the train, ami, though ignorant of the cause, of course, obeyed it. Others thought that the driver was “the right sort of man." who had an inhennt interest in the defeat of vice and the triuim h of virtue. *' .1: * Dlr W. T. Lo/ell, out here with the Brough Company, has been playing Horace Bream in “Sweet Lavender," in. New York, with D ; r Edward Terry’s company. It was rather a severe test for an English actor to enact an American in th? States and yet win the praise of the Press, but Dlr Lovell succeeded in this very difficult task (reports an exchange). He carefully avoided using the conventional Yankee drawl, making Bream speak like the. average cultured New Yorker. * * * * The Pollard Opera Company, after a' Perth season, are touring the M'estralian goldfields. ♦ * * * Miss Dlaud Jeffries (Dlrs Nott-Osborne) retires into private life in about twelve months’ time. * * • * The death is announced of Dlr C. B. Stephenson, the original “ Father Torn," an octogenarian actor and playwright.

Dliss Sarah Hyman, of Mr Williamson’s Royal Comic Opera Company, left for London on Saturday week. She is to marry and settle in England. • * • • Mi W. F. Hawtrey and Dliss Winnie Austin have been appearing at the Palace Cardens, Perth, in a sketch called “His Favourite Pupil." * • * • A “ symbolic interlude," called “ The Dlystery of Time," was recently produced at the Royal Albert Hall Theatre by Miss Morence Farr, who chanted various poems to the music of a psaltery. The character of the Past was played by Dlr Archibald Dl/I.ean. who played Death in “Every Dian;" Dlrs Gwendolen Bishop played the Future, and Dlr Lewis Casson the Present. * * * * “The Enemy of the People," Ibsen’s line drama, is to be played by Dlr Tree and his company at His Majesty’s, Lon* don. Although Ibsen is seldom performed in English theatres, his works are constantly on the boards in Norway and Sweden. At the Poyal Theatre, Christiania, a very wonderful young actress,, named Dlrs Dybwad. has made a brilliant success as Hedda Gabler. She and Dlrs Betty Hennings are at present the leading ladies in Ibsen's dramas. * * * * Mrs 1 .angtry, who was recently sued under her own name of Dlrs De Bathe, for wrongful by an actor of hemown company, won her case. The court was crowded, and the defendant, who had as counsel her brother. Dlr Le Breton,. K.C., was the recipient of much congratulation on her victory. # ❖ -h ¥ A municipal theatre is in contemplation on the site of the old Temple Dlarket. in the lowest quarter of Paris. The most active agent of the scheme is DI. Carre, director of the Opera Comique,. which, like the Grand Opera, is a Statesupported institution. DI. Carre has already begun working among the masses, wh<> are being educated to an appreciation of the lyrical masterpieces. A complete company from the Opera Comique is sent into the working men’s q.uarter, where* it gives performances from its repertoire in the theatres of the quarter. These experiments have been eminently successful. • . - • • * Mr Herbert Flemming, of the new theatrical firm of Brough and Flemming, was a passenger by the Orontes, which reached Fremantle on DI arch 2. He came on to Melbourne to make arrangements for the visit of the company w’hich will open at the Princess’s Theatre in July in the successful comedy “Beauty and The Barge."

“GREAT FRIEND,” AT THE COURT THEATRE.

Mr G. S. Street is widely known as one of the cleverest and most cultured of our light essayists (writes the cr tic of the “L.V. Gazette”), and the comedy from his pen which the Incorporated Stage Society produced this week is quite the style of play which might have been expected (from such aj quarter. It is an essay in the form of a play, having all the charm of a literary essay and little of the virility, the movement and dramatic sense which one looks for in a work written for the theatre. In tone and style it is far in advance of much of the literature of the stage which achieves a largie'r measure of success, but it $s surto fi(nd what a short .distance style goes towards the making of a successful play. Audiences demand a story —a strong, interesting story. It may strain the probabilities, it may be fantastic or even grotesque, but it must be entertaining. Mr Street’s story is hopelessly thin. Sydney Baldwin is a rising young politician. Hie girl he is engaged to adores him. She also bores him with her frank, uncomprehending admiration of his talents. Her great friend, Lady Raffin, understands his temperamental weaknesses, and appreciates his good qualities. She chaffs him, encourages him, and serves as a tonic to him in bis work and ambitions. She doesn’t make love to him, but she disparages his ingenuous fiancee, and allows him to understand that her marriage with Raffin was a mistake. Baldwin’s mother-in-law elect, who shares his admiration for the lady, also disapproves of the friendship, his uncle, the Duke of Surrey, advises him to do the right moral thing—either to marry the girl or bolt with the woman. /Baldwin is a weak, vacillating kind of trman. He declines the Duke’s counsel, and goes with the Raffins to the opera instead. The same night he trips over the Ralffinsf calt on! the' doarstqp of ihe Raffins’ house, breaks his leg, and is carried inside, where he is nursed by his entertaining hostess. Sir William Raffin objects loudly, but lamely, to Baldwin’s protracted visit. He declares that it shows ba,d taste in their guest to break his leg on their doorstep. Her ladyship declares that the bad taste is rather on the part of the cat. The mother-in-law elect is so severe in her remarks upon the accident that Baldwin protests she almost charges him with having trained the cat to accomplish his disaster. Lady Raffin reminds Baldwin that they are great friends, Baldwin assures his fiancee’s mother, father, and brother that he and Lady Raffin are no more than great friends, and the Duke damns their friendship in set terms. The second act resolves itself into an endless conversation upon cats and friendship. It would make delightful reading in essay form, but on

the stage it falls flat. In order to bring the act to an end the Duke is induced to open the ingenue’s eyes to the conduct of Lady Raffin, and advise her to fight for her lover. “That’s it!” cries the girl, striking the conventional attitude indicative of sudden determination, “Fight!” Curtain. The truth is that Lady Raffin interests Baldwin and the girl doesn’t. As a study in character this rather stupid, broad-minded, unsuspicious young lady, is more interesting than the enemies to her peace. Baldwin’s friendship with Lady Raffin is as much a matter of obstinacy as of sentiment, and he appears an idiot to risk his happiness in the love of the girl he is engaged to —if he really loves her. If he doesn’t, there is every prospect of his resuming his connection with his friend’s wife as soon as he is married. And if Lady Raffin is not in love with Baldwin, if she is only anxious for sympathy and feels no more than a platonic regard for him, why the deuce should she go out of her way to compromise the man and estrange him from his girl? That a practised playwright would have got more effect out of the situation is neither here nor there. Mr Street has selected an ordinary, everyday domestic situation, and he has handled it in a manner which does not disguise its ordinary character. His dialogue is enlivened with many sparklinglines, but much of it is so natural that one feels it is almost a waste of time to go to the theatre to hear it. The style is admirable, because Mr Street has rightly eschewed the written word and invented conversation instead —it is not the manner but the matter of his dialogue that conveys the impression that we are listening to mere talk. In order to iron out his complications, Mr Street gives the ingenue another admirer, and this device serves, as well as another, to bring Baldwin back to his allegiance. The piece on the whole is fairly well acted. Mr Dawson Milward, as Baldwin,

doesn’t interest us deeply in the character. Perhaps if it was more interesting he would make financee’s adoration, and his lady friend’s pertinacity, less curious to us, but that would only increase our wonder that he should have engaged himself to the girl impersonated by Miss Dorothy Grimston, or philander with such a syren as Miss Gertrude Kingston makes Lady Raffin. In truth, Lady Raffin’s complex nature, a nature that works mischief without mischievous motives, is one that can be made more plausible in an essay than in an actress. In the more conventional characters, the honest old mother-in-law elect, and her slangy son, Miss Helen Rous and Mr G. M. Graham, were more satisfactory, and Mr George Trollope gave an amusing study of Sir William Raffin. In congratulating the Stage Society upon their efforts and enterprise in the cause of drama, one may also congratulate the society upon their audiences — a more alert, discerning, and responsive body of playgoers does not exist.

Preparation for the early production of “Port Arthur” at the London Coliseum were being pushed forward when the mail left. Mr Bruce Smith’s scenes and panoramas have been completed. The “book,” written by Mr Roland Carse, has been perfected, and Mr Walter Slaughter’s musical contributions have already been rehearsed. The movements of the troopsin their attacks upon the forts will bd shown, and over 200 soldiers will take part in the fighting on the stage. Cavalry, infantry, artillery, and Cossacks will be seen in action, and forts will ( be stormed and captured. As to the. naval side of the spectacle, the revolving stage and its subdivision into three separate tables, which can be moved in either direction, will enable Mr Marshalf Moore to present an extensive view of the harbour and the outer sea ; and gunboats and battleships, the designs of which will

be exact reproductions of the will be shown in action. Even searchlight effects will be secured by the lighting arrangements, which have now been developed for the purpose. Warships will be shown, apparently sailing at full speed, and there will be illustrations of torpedo practice, mines, and other methods of modern warfare. It is intended to present those particular incidents of the siege which have attracted the special attention of the public, including the final assault, and the meeting of the Russian and Japanese generals in. connection with the capitulation. The J. C. Williamson management have booked dates throughout New Zealand for the next six years. Mrs M. B. Spurr wishes to express her deep gratitude to Mr Herbert Flemming for all he has done for her family. The late Mr Spurr’s affairs were left in an unsettled state, and, though he made money out in Australia, there were difficulties in the way of obtaining it. As soon as Mr Flemming came to England and learned the awkward position in which Mrs Spurr and her family were placed, he at once sent temporary help, and has now provided for them for the next ten weeks. They are naturally anxious that such grand generosity should be generally known, and they desire to express their heartfelt acknowledgments through our columns. —London “Era.”