OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 816, 26 October 1905, Page 19

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS.

There was a very large audience at the Opera 'House on Monday evening, when Saturday’s usual change of programme was continued. The company opened the ball with the 11 Midshipmite,” which went with a rollicking swing, and then the Valmore Sisters appeared in a new double song and dance item, “ Sousa Girl/’ for which they were applauded and recalled. Mr. Chas. Moody, who always sings a good song, caused much amusement with his “ Good-night, Mr. Green!” Mr. Sam. Wilson finished it up for him by gently assisting him to nis hat. A vociferous recall brought Mr. Moody once more before the footlights, when a. parody on “ The Honeysuckle and the Bee” fairly broke up the house. “ Knick, knock” finally quietened the audience and made way for Miss Malvena Moore, who danced and sang “ Rosie Who.” Mr. Sam Wilson, who next appeared, was as funny as over, and kept the house in roars of laughter with his song of a ship He followed this up with a little ditty about the tram service, and the audience were very loth to let him go. Miss Elsie Brown, who sings coon songs very charmingly, sang “Honey,” for which she received hearty ' applause. Miss Cecile Stephano sang “The Last Muster,” her fine voice being heard to good advantage. Miss Viola Price, whose turn finished off the first half of the programme, was as dainty and graceful as ever in her Scotch dances. . She was vociferously applauded and recalled until the Sword dance was given in fine style, when the curtain was rung down.

The second half commenced with an original burlesque by Bob Scott and Kitty. Beresford, entitled “Rebellion.” This was the cause of much hilarity, and the sketch was concluded with a part song by the two, who appeared in Japanese costumes. The Misses Cecile and Lulu Stephano appeared next in a duet, which they sang very harmoniously, Recalled, they gave a fine rendering of “Whisper and I Shall Hear,” which came in for hearty, applause. Cleopatra, the snake enchantress, who appeared next, gave a most weird exhibition of snake-charming. Attired in orthodox Oriental costume she entered a small wire-netted enclosure, consisting of a low fence some two feet in height. On the fence she next commenced ar racing a fine variety of snakes of different sizes in fantastic array, with which she performed most picturesquely. Big snakes and little snakes of various deadly species coiled and wound themselves around her body and peered into her face in a somewhat startling fashion. '• he exhibition was a splendid one, and proved her possessed of a fine nerve, and exercising full control over her weird-looking pets. To finish up with she introduced three healthy-looking specimens of the Saurian tribe, who squirmed about uncannily under her manipulation. Prince Olrac, the fire king, who followed this unique performance, made a

MISS NANCE O’NEIL.

hearty supper of flames of fire, chewed hot sealing wax with evident gusto, and had a hot time generally Bonita, who is described as a “ Champion Lady Rifle Shot” and child of the plains, fully justified her first title by her deadly precision with either rifle or revolver. Small round discs were shot down with the greatest ease and skill, and the difficult feat of shooting over the head and shoulder by the aid of a diminutive looking-glass no larger than a penny, was performed most successfully. Finally, this clever little shot picked off a row of discs balanced on the head of Carlos, the human target, picked out her name with a rapidly-discharged repeating rifle, and then shot down small discs from the front of the dress circle with the utmost precision. Bonita uses the well and favourably-known Winchester repeating rifles for her shooting, having selected them specially from the company’s works in America. The ammunition used is the U.M.C. 22 short, loaded with black powder. Miss Elsie Brown, who sang another of her coon songs, was the recipient of considerable applause, and recalled sang “ By the Watermelon Vine” very sweetly. The evening’s entertainment concluded with a display of trick cycle riding by the “ Melvas,” whose last week was announced. The riding was very good indeed, the bicycle being handled with the utmost confidence and skill, and the performance was much appreciated and applauded. On Saturday a special Cleopatra matinee is announced, when the same performance will be given as at night. The Black Family of musicians would appear to have run across a streak of bad luck recently. During the recent tour of the Waikato the amount of rain which fell was simply remarkable, and this, of course, affected the financial results. A worse mishap was to follow, for* the other day, when Miss Black was standing in the Arcade, the glass from a broken window fell from above, the result being that the left wrist was so badly cut as to prevent the talented violinist from playing for another six weeks. A tour of the Tauranga district was to have been undertaken, but this has been reluctantly postponed. The Black Family have made themselves very populai' in Auckland, and much sympathy has been expressed for Miss Black in her misfortune. By the way, I don’t know whether I am betraying a professional secret’ when I sav that when the accident occurred some skin-grafting became urgently necessary, and Dr. de Clive Lowe, who performed the operation, took the skin from his own arm. Bravo, doctor! * * * » The pupils of Mrs. Maicomson Boult will give exhibitions of fancy dancing at His Majesty’s Theatre this (Thursday) and Friday evening. Quite a number of dances have been arranged, and the effect of some of them ?s said to be very beautiful. Miss Queenie Boult, whose portrait appears in this issue, will give a gaiety dance, a skirt dance., and -in Eastern snake dance. All the dances, it is

of interest to note, have been invented by Mrs. Boult. During intervals in the dancing Mrs. Boult will give a reading from Kipling’s “ Flag of England” and “Parting of the Columns.” * * * * Mr. Watkin Mills and his English quartette, in conjunction with the Auckland Choral Society and the Liedertafel, will give the oratorio of “ Elijah” at the Choral Hall to-night. Mr. Mills and his party leave for San Francisco by the Sierra on Friday. My Christchurch correspondent writes : —Those who were so fortunate as to attend the opening performance of the Nance O’Neil Company at the Theatre Royal are to be congratulated. Such acting as the star exhibits in “ Magda” is not often witnessed in New Zealand. We . have seen Miss O’Neil in this impersonation before, but her present rendering of the part is far and away superior to her former one, and there can be no question, howevei' critics may have differed in the past, as to the merit of this actress, that she is now one of the greatest artistes the colony has seen. Mr. McKee Rankin is also entitled to the warmest praise for his splending acting as Colonel Schwartz, and the two principals are supported by a company of very fair ability. On Friday night “ Trilby” attracted another fine house, and afforded Miss O’Neil another opportunity of displaying those histrionic powers for which she is becoming famous. Surely Dn Maurier himself could not have desired a better exponent of “ Trilby.” The part has often been “murdered” on the boards of our old Royal, and it has occasionally received fair interpretation at the hands of visiting stars of larger or smaller magnitude. But it has been reserved for Miss O’Neil to show us “ Trilby” as her Creator drew her. As for Mr. Gaston Mervale’s Svengali, this character might also have walked straight out of the book. Of course Mr. Mervale was the original Svengali so far as colonial representations go. His performance of the weird hypnotist is simply masterly. You Aucklanders will soon .have Miss O’Neil and her clever company with you, and should seize every possible opportunity of seeing her act. The local season ends on Wednesday, and there is a change of bill nightly. . . I popped into the Opera House the other night, more especially to see “ Ajax,” otherwise known to fame as “the flexible Marvel.” Flexible he certainly is. He appears to have no more backbone than a jellyfish or some of our prominent politicians. He ties himself into knots, and one’s only fear as one watches him is that he may forget how to “ undo” himself. Seriously speaking, he is about the most remarkable contortionist we have ever

had here. Fred. Rivenhall (who has since departed for the South) was in grand form, and was compelled to respond to the usual number of encores. The Diamond Duo (who have also left us) contributed a very acceptable song anddance, and the Rollos appeared in one of theii- really funny sketches. The lady, by the way, sings very well indeed. Miss Jennie Johnson (an old favourite) is back once more, and sang as charmingly as ever. The Opera House is becoming increasingly popular with amusementseekers. . . Jessie Maclachlan returns on Tuesday to farewell Christchurch. She will only give two concerts. . . On October 26 the Christchurch Amateur Opera Company commences a seven-night season, the attraction this time being “ The Gondoliers.” The dresses have been made expressly for this production, and the orchestra and chorus will be unusually strong. If the company acquits itself as well as it did in “ The Mikado” some time ago, we shall be more than satisfied. . . The Westminster Glee and Concert Party are doing well at Canterbury Hall.

Messrs. John Fuller and Sons have acquired the remainder of the lease (seven years to run) of the Theatre Royal, Wellington, for £2OOO. Their intention is to occupy it at the end of this month, reserving His Majesty’s (probably to be re-named the “ Athenaeum”) for lotting purposes. Messrs. Fuller now own four New Zealand theatres and lease two. * * * * A Stockton despatch to the San Francisco -“Examiner” says:—“A melodrama not on the bills was enacted in the box office of the Unique Theatre, Sunday afternoon, the heroine being pretty Miss Norma Thornton, who appeared at the Novelty Theatre last week, and the ‘villain’ was Sam Strauss, editor of the ‘ San Joaquin County News,’ a weekly publication. Saturday evening the ‘ News’ appeared with an article in .which the adt of Miss Thornton was ‘roasted.’ Sunday afternoon Miss Thornton snatched the eyeglasses from the nose of Strauss and planted a right-hander on his countenance. She followed it up with other blows in the face and body. When she finished he apologised on his knees.” # A timely protest has been made in print against the greedy and idiotic clamour for encores at concert performances. Good-naturedly complied with by vocalists and musicians, until patience ceases to be a virtue, the openmouthed groundlings demand as a right what should be regarded as a special privilege. It is a taint from the music halls, where every “turn” includes at least two numbers, and the noise of the encore fiends serves to fill the brief interval for a quick change of costume. Said the Armidale “ Chronicle” of 11th inst. :—“A walking crank in the person of Albert Gran, a leading member of J. C. Williamson’s Tittell Brune dramatic organisation, passed through Armidale some days ago, en route from Brisbane to Sydney. Albert was a trifle behind time, and as he has to reach the metropolis by 14th inst., it is probable that he will complete the journey per train.” > « * Mr. John Glendinning, whose portrait appears in this issue, and who is leading man in the Miss Nance O’Neil Company, was born at Whitehaven, Cumberland. Mr. Glendinning began his stage career in 1880 with a stock company of some note at Greenock, Scotland, which at one time included Henry Irving in its ranks, and after a short period he became leading man to Mr. Walter Bent ley. Then, when Mr. F. R. Benson founded his new well-known Shakespear-

ian ompany, he engaged the young actor for lago, Mercutio, and parts of similar calibre, after which he dropped into melodrama- He was with Mr. Bland Holt’s company in “ Taken from Life” and similar pieces, and aftei’ leaving that manager he created J ack Dudley in “Hands Across the Sea” for the first time upon any stage at Manchester (1887),. being cast for the part by the author, Henry Pettitt. In “ The Silver Shield” (Grundy), at Liverpool, Mr. Glendinning was the Tom Potter with Miss Florence Gerrard as leading lady, an actress who visited Sydney after her marriage with Mr. H. E. Abbey. o*l tour he was one of the first to play Wilfred Denver, David Kingsley (“Harbour Lights”), and Ned Drayton (“In the Ranks”), but he then joined the Kendals in comedy. This was in May, 1889, when he appeared as George Desmond in “ A White Lie,” with Mrs. Kendal as Mrs. Desmond, Mr. Kendal having chosen the light comedy part (Molyneaux) of the play. The brief cast included Mr. Arthur Dacre and Miss Minnie Terry, the latter in a child-character. At the end of the London season of that year Mr. Glendinning went wikh the Kendals to America, opening with them at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, and has remained there since, with the exception of a three years’ tour in England (189699) with a company of his own. The adfor’s experiences in the United States have included four years’ engagement under Mr. Charles Frohman, during which he was leading man, with Miss Annie Russell, an actress in treaty with Mr. J. C. Williamson for a tour of Australia. He was the Laird in the first production of “Trilby” on any stage, with Miss Virginia Earned in the namepart, and Mr. Wilton Lackaye as Svengali. When Mr. Beerbohm Tree began to take the piece in hand for London he first visited America, and very closely studied the original company. In 1889

Mr. Glendinning returned to New York as leading man with our one-time visitor, Miss Olga Nethersole in “Sapho,” “Tanqueray,” and “Camille,” and he has also played Armand to the Camile of the famous Clara Morris. Last year Mr. Glendinning was in Jones’ new comedy, “ Joseph Entangled,” as Hardolph Mayn, with Miss Hilda Spong as his wife. The popular Sydney girl of 1894 now draws a very high salary and,, in Mr. Glendinning’s opinion, may fairly be regarded as one of best comedy actresses in America. The actor next took up farcical comedy, appearing at the New York Lyceum in a wonderfully clever piece by Augustus Thomas, enjoying the title of “Mr. Leffingwell’s Boots.” A strong cast included Miss Fay Davis and Miss Margaret Illington (Mrs. Daniel Frohmah). This year, until he caught the midnight train to join Miss O’Neil tor Australia, Mr. Glendinning was in his old part of the Laird. The programme he brings with him shows that it was a “tenth anniversary revival of ‘ Trilby’ with the original cast at the New Amsterdam Theatre, New York.” After the brief tour of New Zealand Mr. Glendmning will join his son Ernest in San Francisco, where that young ailtist is engaged at the Alcazar Theatre. * * * * Miss Tittell Brune evidently made the very best of her recent holiday writes Mr. George Tallis), and according to her letters she absolutely revelled in the Australian bush conditions in which she found herself on Yandilla station in Queensland. “I do so want every moment I can spend in this glorious place,” she wrote to one friend, “it is such a beautiful world up here. I have long rides ovei- the country in the sun glow, and great restful hours of perfect quiet, sometimes swinging under a dear old tree with only the note of a wee bird to break the silence.” And in the same letter she says: “If people could only see me here, embracing the pure air and singing and

laughing for the mere joy of living, perhaps they would then really know me. At first the reaction from the feverish and strenuous career of an emotional actress to the complete change of scene and occupation told on Miss Brune, and she paid the penalty with a few sleepless nights, but later the full benefit of the rest was plainly apparent, and when her holiday was ovei’ Miss Brune went back to her work fresh and invigorated. There was no doubt as to the warmth of the welcome she received when she opened in “L’Aiglon” in Sydney last Saturday. * * * * The Royal Comic Opera indulged themselves one day recently with dreams of wealth beyond the dreams of avarice. A burst waterpipe was the cause of it all, for in the mud and shingle which was carelessly ladled out into the gutter by the men engaged in repairing it, a keen observer noticed some gleams of gold. In less than a minute most of the company were on the spot, feverishly collecting beautiful looking nuggets and having their expectations of a good crushing raised higher and higher by frequent assurances from alleged miners whom they bailed up. that the metal was actually pure gold. Quite a heated discussion arose as to the propriety of taking out miners’ rights and prospecting Exhibi-tion-street forthwith. Mr. George La.uri and Mr. Claude Bantock, with commendable fortitude, called a preliminary meeting of shareholders on the footpath, and had themselves elected to the position of chairman, secretary, and treasurer - with full power to act. Then the property man arrived and announced that he wanted the bucket he mixed his bronze paint in. At that point a promising mining development petered out. “ The Cingalee.” which came to an end at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, last Friday (October 20) holds at least one record, although in actual run it did not eclipse “The Orchid,” “The Country Girl,” “Florodora,” or “Paul Jones.”

But during show week more money was taken for the six nights than for any previous week’s business in the whole of Australasia —a circumstance which at at any rate gives “ The Cingalee” a distinction all its own. To-night (Saturday, October 21) “The Orchid” will be revived for a few nights to be followed by “The Country Girl” for an equally short season.

A dangerous experience befell Miss Florence Young in New York recently, which very nearly settled the question of her returning to Australia. She and a party of friends were out on the Hudson, whtn tht boat capsized. They were all rescued, though, with some difficulty, and the whole of them spent an unpleasant night away from home. They returned to the city by train next morning, little the worse for their experience.

On Saturday, 21st, the Knight-Jef-fries Company entered upon the last six nights of their farewell season at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, after an excellent week’s business with the double bill, “Comedy and Tragedy,” and “David Garrick.” “ The Silver King” was played on Monday and Tuesday,” “ A Royal Divorce” at both performances (afternoon and evening) on Wednesday and Thursday and the last night will be devoted to “ The Lady of Lyons.” In addition, the company will assist Mr. Julius Knight in the representation of “Everyman” at the Melbourne Town Hall on Thursday afternoon and Saturday evening. Short seasons at Bendigo and Hobart intervene before the final New Zealand tour is entered upon.

Mr. J. C. Williamson has recently purchased the Wallace colt Arcturus, which ran at the opening day of the Caulfield Spring Meeting. His ambition is to win the V.R.C. Derby and the Melbourne Cup, and Arcturus will make that effort for him next year.

There will be some little delay in tthe production of “ Utopia, Limited,” by the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, owing to the necessity of waiting for costume designs, etc., to reach here from London.

“ Merely Mary Ann,” which will be the first “new” piece done by Miss Tittell Brune during the season upon which she has just entered at Her Majesty’s, Sydney, exhibits Zangwill in his happiest vein as a blender of laughter and tears. A lodging-house slavey, his heroine, worships a young musical composer, for whom she would do anything he commanded. A good fairy bestows a fortune on her, and she leaves her undesirable surroundings, parting from her Lancelot in a sadness which almost forces her to give up her newly-acquired riches. But later they meet again, and naturally everything turns out “ just right.” » » * *

The engagement is announced (says the “Referee”) of Mr. Claude R. Bantock (of the Royal Comic Opera Company, and youngest son of Dr. Granville Bantock, of London), to Ada May, third daughter of the late Mr. W. H. Cale, formerly of Ballarat.

According to a recently issued report there are within the County of London 354 places of public entertainment, which accomodate 400,000 persons. Of these forty-three only are licensed by the Lord Chamberlain, and the remainder are licensed by the County Counoil.

Mrs. Brown-Potter is repairing her recent losses by touring the seaside towns of England with a small concert company.

One of the latest introduced to the English Music Hall stage from America is Miss Madge Fox, who is appearing at the London Palace. She is billed as the original “ flip-flap” girl, a performance being a special kind of dancing at which she is supposed to be unrivalled, and for which she gets a big salary.

Miss Florence Young is returning to Australia by the Sonoma, which left San Francisco on Thursday, October 12. In a recent letter, she declares her voice to be much benefited by the rest and change, and she will rejoin Mr. J. C. Williamson’s Opera Company, either the Royal Comic or the Gilbert and Sullivan.

Some years ago, as the result of persistent agitation, several London theatres abolished cloakroom and programme fees. The habit of tipping is so strong, however, that the concession was little valued by the body of the public. Mr. Tree has made His Majesty’s a “no-fee” house, but has lately hinted that, unless the public support his policy by discontinuing tipping, he will go back to the old plan, thereby benefiting the treasury to the extent of about £2OOO a year.

The grave of Robert James Heir, one of the leading actors in the early days in Australia, who died in 1868, is in the Campbelltown Cemetery, on the Bluff Hill, Invercargill, New Zealand. At a meeting of the committee of the Australasian Dramatic and Musical Association, held at the Princess’ Theatre recently, the chairman (Mr. Henry Westley) read a letter which had been received by Miss Nellie Stewart while in New Zealand from the Mayor of Invercargill. In this communication it was pointed out that the wooden memorial erected over Heir’s grave was in a state of decay, but the borough council, while spending money in tidying and improving the cemetery, could not afford means to attend to the graves. The committee considered the matter, with a view of renovating Ihe headstone and fence of the grave.

No song has been sung more frequently throughout the British Empire during the present month than “The Death of Nelson.” Its composer was one John Braham, a Jew, born in London in the year 1774. On some of the programmes of the time the name is spelt Abraham; and that, no doubt, was its original form. Braham was the most eminent tenor singer of his time. He had a marvellous voice, with a compass of 19 notes. He made his name by singing, in opera, principally at Covent Garden and Drury

Lane, and it was his habit to write his own songs. “ The Death of Nelson” originally formed part of a three-act comic opera entitled “The Americans,” produced at the Lyceum Theatre on April 27, 1811. The piece jon the whole was a comparative failure, but of the music “The Times” reported:—“The music of the piece is good, Mr. Braham, the composer, being better acquainted than any man with what Mr. Braham, the singer, can accomplish. The chef-d’ouvre of the evening was a song on the .death of Nelson. . . The burthen, ‘ England expects every man this day to do his duty’ . . . would have insured success and popularity to a much worse composition.” It will come as a shock and a surprise to many to be told that some of the most characteristic bars of this air, that has so strongly appealed to British patriotic sentiment, are “ cribbed” from a French tune. The melody sung to the words, " 'Twas in Trafalgar’s Bay We saw the Frenchmen lay,” is almost identical with the opening phrase of Mehul’s “Chant de depart,” written in 1794. But, not content with helping himself to another man’s tune, Braham did not hesitate to appropriate the first two and last two of the following lines, written in memory of the famous Duke of Cumberland, who died in 1765: — “O’er William’s tomb, with silent grief opprest, Britannia mourns her hero now at rest, Nor tears alone, but praises, too, she gives, Due to the guardian of our laws and lives; Nor shall that laurel ever fade with years. Whose leaves are water’d by a nation’s tears.”

Braham was much respected in his private life. He was an excellent talker, and could tell a good story. He died in 1856.

The London Stage Society, with a membership of nearly 1200, closed its sixth season with a capital fund in hand of some £4OO. Six notable plays were produced with success during the year; and 149 plays, of which 131 were by English writers, and 18 translations of foreign plays, have been submitted to the council during the past season. All of these have been read and considered. * * • • In China there is an association of 30,000 actors, every one of whom knows fifty plays, and is prepared to act any of them at an hour’s notice. Each actor is obliged to study the stage for three years as a supernumerary; then for a year he is taught responsible parts; and then he graduates, and dedicates his life to his profession. The salary of a Chinese leading actor is £450 a year, which is really worth ten times the money when the habits and prices of the Chinese are taken into account. Misfortune has followed persistently in the wake of the Japanese theatrical company: from Tokio, who began touring England a few months ago with “ The Geisha’s Revenge.” The death of the manager in London’ caused a stoppage of funds, and the company arrived in York from South Wales in penurious circumstances. It was subsequently disbanded, and the actors and actresses were dispersed in various parte of the country when the latest mail left.

The Corrick Family of Entertainers have returned to Victoria, and are playing Gippsland prior to a season in Melbourne. After appearing in the capital, Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo will be visited, the company then proceeding to India, via Adelaide and Perth.