THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 809, 7 September 1905, Page 18

THE STAGE

(By

“Footlight.”)

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE

WEST’S PICTURES AND THE

BRESCIANS.

A very large house greeted these newcomers at'Tilis Majesty’s oh Monday, and the audibnce was rewarded with a very interesting and . refined- entertainment. •■ The programme opened With some pictures of the King and Queen taken aF some big civic function. Following thes& appeared some really excellent pictures, those taken on the G’rand Canal at’ Venice and ori-the slope of Mount Vesuvius being especially good. Ancient and modern Rome was the subject of another remarkably good set of films, while the stereoscopic effects of Barcelona Park proved simply remarkable. The inarch of the Cameron Highlanders was decidedly good, but the effect would have been heightened if the accompanist had kept time to the tread of the marching feet. '* The studies of bee life, although they have been shown before in Auckland, proved very instructive. The comedy pictures beyond question were highlv amusing, notably those of “ The Burglar and the Girls,” “ The Pursuit of the Baby Stealer,” “ The Trip to the Sun/, a series which takes no less than 14,000 pictures to show, caused roars of laughter as the. tribulations of the excursion- - ists to'Old Sol developed .themselves,. -Thepictures all through were capital, 'there being an alrnost entire absence nf flicker. Perhaps, inost of the audience would have preferred more real pictures of scenes and> places which one cannot hope to visit instead of so many “ faked”, 'pic-' ture^,\ though many’ of the latter are/'; - < >:'*£ /„•• . -- The musical efforts of' the Brescians were greatly appreciated. Miss Domenica Martinengo, whose portrait appears on our front page, gave a very pleasing rendering of “ Prayer/’ ,th^re ; is no power in it is‘B.ingulayly ' and true, and she. was warmly, applauded for It, .and for an other'item,John AnJo.” /-Misjr Antonina- Mar- < tinengo-also did .well with “Il Bacio” ' arid the encore item, “ A Lesson With a . Fan,”: earned rounds of Adelina’s playing of the violin" brought forth quite an outburst of ofhuslasm, and she wasf encored’ three tiriiih?.' ; Her V imitation of the bagpipes was especially * clever. > Miss Sara Hendy was enqpred -- for “Vanity Fair,” giving in-reply an - exceedingly dainty tendering of “Tt’s Just Her Way.” Mr. Rudall Hayward--,, sang acceptably Simon, the Cellarer, ’ and “The Skippers of St. Ives.” Mr. Fred.-Mills caused any amount of hilarity among the audience with his songs, “To Be Continued in Our Next,” . “ Sandy McClusky,” and “ The Parrot,” being?\inost heartily applauded. A new departure was made, in that there was no interval, the entertainment lasting a little over two hours and a-half. Possibly -this is hardly an improvement, as the pleasure of those who remain is somewhat marred from time to time'by those who wish to go out. The entertainment was exceedingly bright and interesting, and bur readers can be conscientiously recommended to pay His Majesty’s a visit.

MR. J. C. WILLIAMSON’S COMPANY.

The season of the Tittell Brune Company came to an end on Saturday, and ,the " members are now on board the Moana bound for Sydney, en route to Brisbane, where they open that fine play “La Tosca.” On Thursday night “ The Second Mrs. Tanqueray” was staged, with Miss Brune in the titleAlthough the presentment was a fine one, it cannot be honestly said to have come up to Mrs. Brough’s great representation of the part. Neither was the support given Miss Brune on a par with that afforded by the Brough and Boucicault Company, for when that organisation was at its best it was unquestionably superior to any we have seen before or since. Miss Brune, while allowing great power in the tragic passages, somehow failed to give any indi-

cation of that side of the character which had won the love of. Aubrey Tanqueray. In the latter role Mr, Redgrave was decidedly good, but this cannot be said of Mr. Albert Gran, who burlesqued the part of Cayley Brummie, and was mostly inaudible.; The Sir George Orrlyed of Mr. Maurice Dudley was possibly the best character study in the piece. Taken altogether Mrs. Tanqueray”. was not a play in which the company was seen to advantage. On Friday “Camille” was put up for one night. It is a play which affords an actress fine scope, and Miss Brune took every advantage of the possibilities. There can be no doubt that she achieved a . great success, judging by the unstinted applause. Mr. Redgrave also did good work in the role of Armand Duval. Saturday was the closing night, when “ Sunday,” by far the most popular of the company’s repertoire, was - revived. There was an immense and enthusiastic house, -Miss Brune being applauded to the echo. Numerous bouquets were presented to her, and then nothing would satisfy the audience but a speech. Thus terminated a most brilliantly successful season.-

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS.

There was a fine attendance at the Opera House to welcome the new artists appearing with Fullers’ Entertainers, and, judging by the hearty . applause, everyone was fully astisfied with the good things provided for their delectation. The opening chorus, “At the Seaside,” went with a swing, and then Miss Flo Weston sang “ Dora” pleasingly. George Pagden extracted a good deal of fun from the song, “ Blue, Blue Sea. ' Miss Kitty Stanley made a first appearance, and immediately scored with: the ballad, “ May Be.” Charles Moody raised a laugh for “ Coming In, Going Out.” Little Goldie Collins danced through “ Ma Honolulu Lu“ very prettily. Sam Wilson contributed much to the hilarity of the evening with humorous songs and gags, and the dancing of the Sylvan Sisters was much appreciated. In the second half Cora, Ted, Trevor, and Fred. Alton gave a very clever acrobatic performance, little Cora’s tumbling being very neat. Hearty applause was showered upon them for their difficult feats of skill. “ The Harp That Once Through Tara’s Halls” had ample, justice done to it by Signor Torzillo, the harpist, while Miss Stella Lipman gave

a very pleasing rendering of- “ The Last Farewell.” Avery popular*. turn was that of Leonard Nelson, who made a first appearance. He scored an instantaneous success, among other . being “Girls,” “Meet Me at Sti/Louis,” and “ The Man Behind.” The audience were very loth to' let him. gb. bty.-Frank King gained rounds of applause for “The Jockey’s Sweetheart,” and an original song written.'.by Mr. Be^../-Fuller with words by entitled,--“.New Zealand’s Bonny Boys in Navy Blue.” The Biograph pictures, especially the great “ American’’Train .Robbery,” were excellent, and ,altogether the programme submitted was a long way above the average. .. Next Saturday'there will/appear Elsie Brown, a singer of coon songs; Beatrice English, operatic soprano; and Fred. ‘baritone. '■■■

The Devonport Amateurs 'had 'a very successful evening on Monday, when a one-act comedy, entitled, “My Lady Help,” and selections from “ Florodora,” “ A Trip to Chinatown,” “ The Pirates of Penzance,” “ The Mikado,” and “ The Runaway Girl” were given. There was a very large audience.

There was-a good attendance at the concert tendered to Mr. Percy Denton at the Choral t Hall ori . Monday,, when a good programme was gone through, including Mr.r-Denton’s humorous impersonation of the Premier.

Stewart; ind Sterling, the clever musicians and sketch artists recently showing with Fullers’/ Entertainers, left for Christchurch'--yesterday, where, after playing a season, they go on to Dunedin, and may then visit Tasmania. There is no doubt that these two artists are decidedly clever, and there should be a good future ahead for them.

Miss Tittell Brune got a big send-off on Monday evening, there being an immense crowd on the wharf when the Moana cast off. The departing actress was heartily cheered as the Union liner moved away.

Here’s an excerpt from the “ Referee” : —Mr. J. D. Fitzgerald, now travelling with Fitzgerald Bros" circus through the East, writes to a friend in Sydney from Java and Singapore, stating that business has been booming, and all are well. “ Tom in best of health,” is a line that will reassure many friends; he was ill when he left Sydney.- The

company was booked to leave Singapore on August 4. “China and India next,” wrote “ J.D.”

’/The Musical J ohnstons have returned td New York from London, after an absence of nearly a year and a-half, having made a trip arpnnd the world, travelling over 30,000- miles, visiting Honolulu, the chief Zealand, Australia, C^ion^. Eg. England, and Scotland. ' remain in America until after f which they will return to Europe-to fill dates already contracted for. They are booked until 1907.

Amy Castles was in London early in Jmy. She has been studying with Bouhy since her return from Australia, and her voice has gained considerably m volume. Before leaving Paris she was ■hpproached by the managers of the Al giers, ’ Tunis, Nimes, Geneva, Toulouse, and Toulon opera-houses with a view to engagements. She declined all these offers, as the greater of number of roles; to fill would be Wagnerian ones. On July 6 she sang for Mr. Daniel Meyer, the well-known entrepreneur who piloted M. Paderewski in his early stages. Mr. Meyer advised her to remain in London, where, he says, there is a big future awaiting her—not only as a contralto singer, but in oratorio. He is anxious to engage her for the tour of the English provinces which young Mascha Elman, the Russian boy violinist, is about to make.

Abomah, the Giantess, recently through New Zealand, is now exploiting Australia under her own management.

An important operatic event, in London on July 12 was a matinee at Coveat Garden Theatre, organised by Madame Melba for the benefit of M-dlle. Bauermeister, an operatic singer, who Had been before the public for 40 years. As early as ; eight a.m. people assembled outside the gallery, and by three p.m., when the curtain rose on the first act of Gounod’s “ Romeo et Juliette,” the house presented the appearance of a Melba and Caruso night, save that morning dress worn. Mme. Melba, though suffering from bronchitis, in order to keep faith with the public and to show Jtier regard for Mdlle. Bauermeister, sang not only in “ Romeo et Juliette,” but in the third act of “La Boheme” with Signor Caruso. The proceeds amounted to £l3OO. Among those who presented bouquets was Miss Parkina, the American soprano, who gave a series of con certs in Melbourne last summer.

Miss Eileen Castles, younger sister of Miss Amy and Miss Dolly Castles, will shortly join the Repertoire Opera Company, making the third member of that family to come before the public.

“ The J.P.” the farcical comedy which will be played by the Strand Theatre Comedy Company, the members of which are due to arrive in Australia in time to open at the Princess' Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday, September 9, is described as intensely funny, a worthy successor to the “ Private Secretary” and “ Charley’s Aunt.” It will be played by arrangement with Mr. J. C. Williamson, under the direction of Mr. Clyde Meynell. An Australian favourite, Miss Florence Lloyd, will impersonate one of the fioy parts, in which she excels. Her Lord Clanside in “In Town” is well remembered here. Mr. J. J. Dallas, the leading comedian, was in the Gaiety Company with Edward Terry, Royce, Connie Gilchrist, and Kate Vaughan. Also in the company are Mr. Aubrey Mallalieu, Miss Maud Chetwynd (her first appearonce since her marriage), Miss Florence Redfern, Miss Maud Herrick, Miss Magda Rossmore, Mr. Tom Cannon, and Mr. Gregan McMahon.

Mr. Andrew Mack’s season in Sydney was highly successful, “Jack Shannon” being the first favourite with audiences in the sister city. The season was extended from seven to ten weeks. In Melbourne “ Tom Moore” was most liked by the public. Mr; Mack’s next place of visitation is Brisbane.

The .BLacki.Family of Musicians have been playing a round of the suburbs, where their clever entertainment has been much appreciated. To-night they visit Newmarket, Howick on Friday, Otahuhu on Monday, Mangere on Tuesday, and Devonport on Wednesdav. They are well worth a visit.

My Christchurch correspondent writes; —Considerable disappointment is felt here owing to the advance agent for the M. B. Curtis American Novelty Company receiving a wire from Wellington on Thursday cancelling the company-. Christchurch dates, and leaving it an open question as to when the company would come South. Rumour has it that this show is an unusually good one, and the postponement indefinitely of the Christchurch season is doubtless due to the great success of the season in the windy city. By the way the press complimentary tickets for the company’s performances are of quite a novel description. The one forwarded to me as the representative of the “S. and D. Review,” by R. B. Young, Esq., runs: — “ N..Z. Federation of Butters, 1905season—l9o6. Membership ticket. Not transferable. This certifies that Mr. C. A. Wilkins and lady are entitled to “ Butt In" at all performances of the M. B. Curtis Novelty Company. Billy Goat, president; Nanny Goat, secre tary.” A sketch of a billy goat “ rampant” also appears on the card. Accompanying this curiosity in press passes was a very courteous note from the management. The latter certainly understands how to do the right thing in the right way. . . The fourth “ sixpenny Pop” eventuated at Canterbury Hall on Thursday night. The attendance was rather thin, but the awful weather was probably responsible for this. . I Fuller’s capital entertainment continues to do splendid business. Zeno, the juggler is a success, and Fred. H. Graham and Nellie Dent are immense favourites. 1 understand the management has secured a lot of fresh Australian talent.

Madame Sarah Bernhardt has certainly earned, among her many distinctions, that of champion globe-trotter of the theatrical profession. Like the gentleman with the steam leg in the old-time song, she’s “always on the move.” _ She is now touring the English provinces, and between now and the middle of October she will have crossed South Ame rica. The end of October will see her back in Paris for a season, then she takes “to the road again,” and crosses the Atlantic with the States as her goal Then London again, a Continental season, and “ goodness only knows what else in the future.”

A stupendous price was realised for a play at Sotheby’s, London, last month, when a copy of the fourth quarto of the Poet’s “ King Richard HI.” fetched £1750, thus beating all former records. The treasure, which wa« purchased by Mr. Albert Jackson, and now goes to America, belonged originally to Admiral Sir William Penn, whose son, the Quaker, and founder of Pennsylvania, omitted to include it in his baggage when he sailed for the New World in 1682. The Admiral wrote his name in five places in the copy, clearly showing the great value which he set upon the dramatic account • of Richard’s “ treacherous Plots against his brother Clarence; the Pitiful murther of his innocent Nephews; his tyrannical Usurpation; with the whole course of his detested life and most deserved death.”

Out of eight performances given by Coquelin the elder at Rio de Janeiro racently, four were of “ Cyrano de Bergerac.” The actor’s first week, it is reported, realised £5360.

Mr. Charles Frohman (according to the “ Stage”), has disposed of the American rights of “ The Duke of Killicrankie” to Mr. A. L. Shepherd, who will .star Miss Rose Coghlan in the part played in America by Miss Fanny Brough.

At Palmerston North the Stanford and Howard Company are producing that very fine dramatisation entitled “ A Woman’s Sacrifice” on their opening night (says an exchange). This piece ran for six nights in Wellington to big and appreciative audiences. It is an intensely interesting drama, the comedy parts being excellently interwoven in the piece. The company, on their last night, will produce the sensational nautical comedy drama, entitled, “ Saved from the Sea,” which also ran for six nights in Wellington and is spoken of in complimentary terms by the Wellington papers. This is the first time this combination has toured New Zealand. It includes that popular young Australian actor, Mr. Chas. Stanford, and he is well supported.

Mr. Alfred Dampier’s many friends will be pleased to hear that he has sufficiently recovered in health to be able to leave his home. A few nights ago the popular actor-manager was present at the Sydney Palace.

The Australian contralto, Alice Hollander, who went to England some two or three years ago, is now a star turn at the London Tivoli. “ The charming Australian vocalist” has a 44 weeks’ engagement, and will sing 19 weeks at the Tivoli before going to another hall. Who wouldn’t be a singer on the upper-class variety stage ? The salary is liberal, and the work is light. Miss .Hollander is timed to appear at 9.55 p.m., and the following turn comes on at 10.5. Ten minutes a night—one hour per week. No travelling. No “frequent changes of programme.” The same ballads, including the encore, will do duty for a month at least. The life of a first-class concert artist is full of toil and trouble as compared with that of a variety-hall vocalist of Alice Hollander’s quality.

“ The Cingalee, or Sunny Ceylon,” which has made such a great hit in Australia, is called musical play, and in the compounding of the broth many cooks have had a hand. The dialogue is by J. T. Tanner, the music by Lionel Monckton, the lyrics by Adrian Ross and Percy Greenbank, the additional music, lyrics and dialogue by Paul Rubens—a formidable array to start with. It is conceded (says Melbourne “ Punch”; that the combination has done its work well, and have eliminated all the discomforts which exist in “the real island of real tea-gardens” and making Sunny Ceylon a modern Utopia, an island of love, surrounded by forgetfulness, where everybody exists by and for the sole purpose of taking in one another’s girls and jests. There are white girls and brown girls, and—breathe it not in the Trades Hall in White Australia—the coloured girls are quite able to hold their own against their fair-skinned rivals. Though “ The Cingalee” is a magnificent Eastern spectacle, it still contains a story. Boobhama, a noble of Kandy, is the possessor of a rainbow-hued harem, and has married Nanoya, the heroine, when that diminutive bride had attained the ma-

ture age of four. Nanoya,' however, does not care afterwards to ratify, tht marriage contract, for she has fallen ir love with Harry Vereker, a tea planter.

When the piece opens the girl is missing, and also the great black pearl, whict is a sacred symbol. Naturally the magnificent Boobhama endeavours to regain possession of the girl and the pearl; and he appeals to the British High Commis sioner, Sir Peter Loftus, to assist him But it is not so easy to get the pearl, foi Chambuddy Ram, the Baboo-lawyer, oj “ English barman,” who has been mixec up with the disappearance of the sacrec gem, has presented it to Lady Patries Verne, who lost it at bridge to Peggj Sabine, who sold it to Harry Vereker who gave it to Nanoya, who, like a pa liceman in all countries, is not always t< be found when wanted. It is this “hunt-the-slipper” chase of the blacl pearl which gives great and amusing vitality to the first act of the piece. Jusi before the act terminates Ram contriyei once more to get contraband possessior of the priceless pearl, and Boobhami manages to lay his hands upon his slip pery and unwilling bride, Nanoya.

In the second act Nanoya is impri soned in a balconied room in Boobhama’i palace by the lake—a rake with rea water, and here the indefatigable Ran does pretty much as he likes, a licens< permitted to him because he is a populai hero in consequence of his having re stored the black pearl. In this seem are a number of sentimental episodes balcony scenes a la Romeo and Juliet love scenes in a rickshaw and manj amusing and ingenious ambuscades. Fin ally, Vereker, disguised as an astrolo ger, casts a “ Chamber of Horoscopes’ which completely upsets Boobhama’i matrimonial plans. This nobleman farei very badly as far as recruiting his pris matic harem is concerned. He lose; Nanoya, and does not even secure the economic Peggy Sabine, who falls to th< lot of the irrepressible Ram. As a spec taele “ The Cingalee” is said to be splen did, rich in scenery, dresses and dances In London its success was regarded as phenomenal, and wherever the piece hai been played in Australia the London verdict has been endorsed with an emphatic enthusiasm rivalling that accorded t< “ Florodora.”

Quite unexpectedly Melbourne . playgoers had the pleasure last Saturday night of welcoming Miss Rose Musgrove back to the stage after her long and serious illness (writes Mr. George Tallis). II was not anticipated that she could resume work for some time, but the prospects of a long and popular season proved too alluring, and “ The Cingalee” benefited accordingly by having a winning Peggy Sabine to add to its vivacity. Naturally enough Miss Rose Musgrove re ceived the heartiest of welcomes, and the applause which greeted her first entrance was expressive of both sympathy and ap preciation. • • • •

It is a recognised practice in Londoi theatrical circles to close the majority o the theatres while “ society” is out o town during the hot months of July am August. But some remain open righ through the year, and at the principa among them, it is interesting to note tha pieces soon to be seen out here under Mr J. C. Williamson’s management are re lied upon as attractions. “ Veronique,’ after more than 500 performances, is stil drawing crowded houses, and “ My Ladj Madcap,” which has passed the 250 mark is doing the same. Others that arc doing well are “The Spring Chicken,’ “ The Little Michus,” and “ Leah Kies chna,” while “ Monsieur Beaucaire” am “ The Dictator” were withdrawn only fiv< weeks ago. “ The Dictator,” however is to be revived by Mr. Willie Collier a the beginning of this month, and after i few more performances of it Augustu Thomas’ new farce, “ On the Quiet,” wil be staged. For that also Mr. William son owns the Australasian rights.

Miss Margaret Thomas, whose actin] and singing in “ The Cingalee” has mad so very favourable an impression, had n thought, when she came to Australii with the Parkina-Foldesy Concert Com pany, of ever becoming an ornament t musical comedy. Indeed her whole pre vious life had given no hint that sh would ever be fitted for the work she noi so winsomely does. Born in a little vil lage, set among the hills of Wales, sh spent her early years in an atmospher of stern Puritanism, of which her chie recollections now are church three time a day and the supplementary Sunday school experiences. She spoke nothin; but Welsh until she was ten years old and later, when discriminating critic discovered in her a voice that would we’ repay tuition, she devoted her ambition to becoming a concert singer only. Bn that she was fitted for something mor is evident from the fact that two sud

experienced entrepeneurs as Mr. J. _O. Williamson and Mr. George Edwardes recognised in her the very qualities wanted for the lyric stage. She refused the request of the latter two years ago to play Veronique, but Mr. Wil liamson’s persuasions proved too strong six. months ago, and now curiously enough she is to play the same part in Australia when 11 The Cingalee” finishes its' run, as she had the opportunity of doing in London. * *

Mr. J. 0. Williamson, after giving the whole subject considerable attention, has at length determined on adding “ Utopia, Limited,” “Princess Ida,” “ The Sorcerer,” and “'Trial by Jury” to the repertoire of the Gilbert and Sullivan Company;—a decision that will be heartily welcomed by all who have had the pleasure of listening to the remarkably clever performance of that organisation. They- will follow the customary plan of playing “The Sorcerer” and “ Trial by Jury” as a double bill, and rehearsals for both pieces have already commenced with a view to producing them during the forthcoming tour of Adelaide and West Australia. Of the other two, most interest centres round “ Utopia, Limited,” the outcome of the later years of the famous collaboration, and. in doing it the company will have the advantage of Mr. Frank Wilson’s experience. He played in the original production at the Savoy Theatre, London, under Mr. W. S. Gilbert’s eye, and he speaks of his own part as one of the best he has been fortunate enough to be cast for, while the whole opera, he says, is brimful of Gilbertian humour and- Sullivan melody. After touring Adelaide and the West Mr. Williamson intends, if possible, to send the company to Sydney, but arrangements in that direction have yet to be completed.

Miss Tittell Brune takes a holiday, and a richly-deserved one, at the end of her Brisbane season, which commences on September 11. With a round of exacting characters to impersonate and a succession of comparatively short runs and consequent quick changes of programme during her recent New Zealand tour, she felt the strain a good deal, and is looking forward to a.brief spell of quiet. And it will only be a brief one, postponing the opening date of the Sydney season from September 30 to October 14. The blank at Her Majesty’s Theatre there will be filled in by the Strand Comedy Company. The new organisation of English artists, headed by Miss Florence Lloyd and Mr. J. J. Dallas, has been engaged by Messrs. Meynell and Gunn for a tour of Australasia, lasting only 20 weeks. They play “ The J.P.” a breezy farce, which is produced by arrangement with Mr. J. C. Williamson.

A brief visit to Kalgoorlie was inaugurated by the Knight-Jeffries Company on Monday, August 26, and on its conclusion they travel back to Melbourne, where they begin a five weeks’ esason on September 23 with “ His Majesty’s Servant.” Thereafter comes a New Zealand tour, and it will most probably be in that part of the world that the company will disband at the end of the year.

“ A Moorish Maid,” the much-taiked-of comic opera, composed by Mr. Alfred Hill and written by Mr. J. Younn Birch, is to be produced at the Wellington Opera House for one week, commencing September 25 next (says the “ New Zealand Mail.”) The young collaborators are now both resident in Wellington, and have been able during the past week or two to remove what they considered to be weak points in their work; so thai we shall see here a revised edition. Seeing that in its original shape the opera drew £lOOO to the box office in Auckland in a week, it should on its forthcoming production prove even more attractive. Mr. Hill has wisely elected to re-engage Madame Lilian Tree (prima donna, Covent Garden Theatre, London) for the principal. role. This distinguished artiste nightly created a furore in Auckland, noticeably in the fine second act in which she has vocal work to do that can only be described as grand opera muisc. As a concession to her gifts the authors have given Madame Tree the solo “ Loverland”—one of the daintiest ballads in the opera—to sing in the first act, and have reconstructed a scene in Act 11. so as to permit of her sustaining the soprano lead in a beautiful quartette of the madrigal type. Mr. Fred. H. Graham (re engaged by kind permission of Messrs. Fuller and Sons) will not ,only stage-manage the Wellington production, but will re-assume his grotesque imper-

sonation of the arch-impostor Gastro. Mr. Graham’s conception of this role has been classed as quite the funniest and most artistic he has been seen in. He kept the Auckland audiences in roars of laughter. Probably his singing of the humorous song, “ Only Myself to Blame,” was his most admirably ludicrous effort, though he put a deal of comedy and imitative skill into the musical sketch in the second act. A new comic song has since been added for the clever comedian, in which he is certain to score heavily.

Mr. J. M. Barrie is the author of the following successes:—“The Professor’s Story,” “ Walker, London,” “ The Admirable Crichton,” “ The Wedding Guest,” “ The Little Minister,” “ Quality Street,” and “ Little Mary.”

According to Australian files the Great Thurston will not tour New Zealand. He is supposed to leave Perth for London at the end of his Australian season.

The American actress, Miss Ethel Barrymore, is engaged to Captain Harry Graham. Captain Graham, who is the second son of Sir Henry Graham, and is aged 30, was formerly in the Coldstream Guards. For five years he was on the staff of Lord Minto, Governor-General of Canada, and is now Lord Rosabery’s private secretary. The ex-Guard man has a reputation for versifying, having published several volumes of satirical verse, as well as some in lighter vein.

• Jessie MacLachlan, described as “ a bonnie lassie a’ the way frae Scotland,” and possessed of a beautiful voice, will shortly commence a tour of this colony. At Charters Towers recently the local paper reported her welcome there in broad Scotch, giving Jessie’s response thuswise :—“lt’s gran’ to be welcomed

sae heartily by one’s ain countrymen. It just stirs up one’s blood, ye ken. It makes us prood o’ oor country. We try to mak every Scotsman glaid he is a Scotsman, so that in the morn after the concert he can tak off his bonnet and say, ‘ Thank God A’m a Scotsman.’ Oor Jessie laughed verra merrily when she said this, and then added, c Ane guid Scotsman an’ ane guid Scotchwoman are no tae be computed by the ordinary rules o’ arithmetic, ye ken, they coont up more nor twa ony time. ‘ Scotsmen are tae be found everywhere,” remarked anither Hielander. ‘ They are the grandest pioneers in a’ the world,” remarked oor Jessie. Then another Mac said, ‘ I believe you wad find ane at the North Pole. ‘ Aye,’ said Jessie, ‘ an’ with his kilts on, tae.’ ”

Mr. George Erwardes has been unbosoming himself to a “ Daily Mail” representative on the question of large salaries and long runs. As the inventor of the one and the exploiter of the other, Mr. Edwardes’ views cannot fail to be of interest, and playgoers will be surprised to learn that the days of both are over. Runs of two years and upwards for good musical plays like, say, “ The Geisha,” are, he thinks, finished. The long runs are being killed by the increased number of new attractions and other causes. On the subject of inflated salaries, Mr. Edwardes tells us that the principals in his successes have nearly always worked up from small beginnings. When an artist reaches £5O a week with him he considers he has reached his maximum. He considers that if he is worth, or thinks he is worth, £lOO a week he ought to become a manager. Of course, an artist is entitled to what he can get, but Mr. Edwardes has not known more than one instance of a big artist who has benefited by leaving him. He has often had the most extraordinary propositions set before him by artists. It

has been suggested that he should pay from £lOO to £2OO a week to artists with whom he could not make money when he was paying them £5O a week. He has not the slightest doubt that artists, or rathei' a few of them, are largely responsible for the changes that are certain -to affect their profession. Theatrical speculation, according to Mr. Edwardes, is not what it was, and, as he points out, high salaries, high rents, and the excessive charges made by costumiers, all weigh down the producers and render the task of tiding over the dull months a hazardous, in some cases an impossible, enterprise. With regard to America as a field for theatrical enterprise. Mr. Edwardes declares that it is not the place that is has been cracked up to be. and he quotes two recent examples of what money is to be made by such ventures. Two musical plays that were spoken of as two of the greatest successes produced in America were 11 The Girl from Kay’s” and “ The-School Girl.” In the former Mr. Edwardes gave Mr. Charles Frohmann half his interest to manage it in America; he was his partner in the production of tbe latter in England, and so shared the American rights. Well, “The Girl from Kay’s,” which ran from October 24, 1903 (except in the summer of 1904), until Anril Id last, in America, only made about £4OOO. “ The School Girl,” which ran from September last year to April this year, only cleared about £lsoo—sums that are a long way below the earnings of a principal in musical comedy.

James Brown Potter has sailed hastily for England to render financial aid to his former wife, Mrs. Brown-Potter, who is said to have involved herself in difficulties in London (says Melbourne “ Table Talk.”) Last autumn, after waiting eighteen years for the return of his wife, whose rooms in his villa at Tuxedo were long left untouched for her home-coming, Potter finally married again, leading a Virginian beauty, Miss May Handy, to the altar, but this has not effaced in his mind the sentiment of kindly sympathy for Cora Potter, who still bears his name. Of this name he is inordinately proud, and his distress at the idea of its being implicated in a financial scandal such as that by which Cora has been overtaken may also have something to do with his determination to go to her assistance.

Ernest Davidson, an American tightrope walker, while giving a performance at a free fete at Hastings, fell from his rope and was killed instantly. Davidson was billed “ The New Blondin, the American champion of the tight-rope.” He had appeared at the Crystal Palace with great success, and was invited to Hastings to perform in the central cricket grounds. A wire rope nearly a hundred yards long was stretched across the ground at the height of about 60ft. The performer was loudly cheered by hundreds of holiday-makers as he walked deftly forwards and backwards on the swaying rope, balancing himself with a 15ft pole. He then lay on his side and waved his legs in the air. Suddenly he lost his balance, and grasped wildly at

the rope. He failed to catch it, and fell on his face in the middle of the cricket pitch. A panic almost occurred.

Karl Hagenbeck, the famous animal dealer, of Hamburg, is showing two gigantic cross-bred lion-tigers in the Somali Animal Camp at the Crystal Palace. It is proposed eventually to turn loose the harmless animals and to establish a cageless zoo at the Palace.

Matters theatrical were very quiet in London when the last mail left. On the subject the “ Licensed Victuallers Gazette” says that the dog days be upon us, when in the West End of Lon don only the greatly fortunate managers and idiots would dream of keeping their theatres open. Only some eight playhouses, all but three devoted to musical pieces, now brave the holiday slump, but already preparations are being advanced for the autumn campaign. Despite the widespread depression which has distinguished the theatrical season just closed as the most disastrous known in the last quarter of a century, the tendency toward an early re-start is not checked. On August 2 Mr. Mouillot will, give the first performance of “ What the Butler Saw” at Wyndham’s with a strong cast, and Miss Ethel Irving will sustain the principal character in a farcical comedy in three acts, bv Sidney Bowkett, called “ Lucky Miss Deene,” with which the Criterion Theatre will be re-opened,

under Mr. Frank Curzon’s management, on August 3. The cast will also include Miss Kate Bishop, Mr. Holman Clarke, Mr. Arthur Kightley, and Mr. George Elton. In addition to “ Lucky Miss Deene” there will be presented the oneact comedy called “ Time is Money.” For this the management has secured the services of Mr. Charles Hawtrey, who will appear as Charles Grahame, a part in which he has been very successful in America. He will be supported by Miss Dorothy Hammond and Miss Mona Harrison. Both pieces are of the lightest and liveliest description, and it is hoped that success will attend their production.

A little later in the month Mr. Weedon Grossmith will commence his season at the Comedy with his new play, “ The Duffer,” which deals with art life in London ; and on the last Saturday in August Mr. Tom B. Davis will present at the Lyric Theatre Messrs. Harold Ellis, Percy Greenback, Howard Talbot, and Paul Reubens’ musical play, “ The Blue Moon,” the rehearsals of which have already commenced. An important point in its favour is the strength of the cast, which, as already announced, will include Mr. Willie Edouin, Mr. Waltei Passmore, and Mr. Court ice Pounds. Miss Ida Rene, it is now announced, will not in this piece make her long-promised appearance in musical comedy, but other members of the company will be Mr. Harold Thorley, Mr. Fred Allandale, Mr. Scott Craven, Miss Carrie Moore, Miss

Billie Burke, and Miss Rosie Begarnie. The action of the piece takes place in Upper Burma. September will, of course, be a busy one in theatrical circles, and managers are already booking their dates, and, m order to prevent a clashing of premieres, announcing them betimes Mr. Beeibohm Tree has selected Tuesday, September 5, for the re-opening of His Majesty s Theatre with Mr. Cornyns Carr’s dramatisation of “Oliver Twist,” and on the following night Mr. Frederick Harrison will inaugurate his sole management of the Haymarket Theatre with Mr. McLellan’s comedy “On the Love Path.” Later in the month Mr. E. S. Willard may open the Shaftesbury Theatre with a new piece by Mr. Henry Arthur Jones, and Mr. Forbes Robertson will positively commence his season _at the pretty Scala Theatre in a new piece, in which he will appear, supported by his gifted wife, Miss Gertrude Elliott. September has also been chosen for the production at the Apollo Theatre of “ The Gay Lord Vergy,” an English version of Mr. Chas. Brookfield of “Le Sire de Vergy,” a comedy with music which has proved successful in Paris, will be the successor to “ Veronique,” the charming opera, which celebrated its 425th performance on Saturday. Mr. E. Asherberg, who will be responsible for the new production, has engaged the famous french actress, Mdlle. Lavalliere, for the leading female part.