THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 817, 2 November 1905, Page 18

THE STAGE

(By “ Footlight.”)

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. “ MAGDA.” CAST OF CHARACTERS. Magda Miss Nance O’Neil Colonel Schwartze... Air. Gaston Mervale Marie Miss Jane Marbury Augusta Mrs. Henry Bracy HeffterdingtMr. John Glendinning Dr. Von Keller Mr. Andrew Robson Gen. Von KlebsMr. Geo. Friend Prof. BeckmanMr. Mario Majeroni Max Mr. Maurice Nodin FranziskaMiss Ricca Allen Theresa Miss Peg Bloodgood An Auckland season, which is to extend to a fortnight, was commenced by Miss Nance O’Neil on Saturday, the opening piece being Suderman’s play, “ Magda.” It is a peculiar play, perhaps the greatest drawback to it being that it has no beginning and no ending. So much is this latter 'the case that after the final curtain was rung down, most of the audience remained seated expecting the story to further develop itself. We are, however, left to conjecture what the future will hold for the various characters, as except for the death of a somewhat tiresome old man, nothing happens in the play itself, and everything is left very much in statu quo. One writer has said that the story of Magda contains a sound moral...the disobedience of parents to their children, for it is a father’s neglect to study his daughter’s wishes, carried to an almost incredible pitch of rebellion against filial requests, which causes all the trouble in the Schwartze household. Colonel Schwartze is ado mestic martinet who constantly plays the tyrant with his adoring women folk. His elder daughter, rebelling against such a narrow life, has been driven from home, and not unnaturally becomes seared in the struggle for life. She returns to the town of her birth a great singer, but most unfortunately for everyone, betrays a desire to see her family, and especially her younger sister Marie again. The Colonel, however, insists on Magda leaving her hotel and staying under his roof, and then demands an explanation as to her past life. On hearing the particulars, he raves, and while in the act of trying to shoot, Magda dies from a paralytic stroke. The Colonel has been praised by some writers for his high moral code, but most people will question whether this is deserved, for contempt should be the right portion for a man who would sacrifice a woman—who with all her faults is still his daughter—by forcing her into a marriage with her old lover, a man who has treated her with heartless cruelty, merely that he, the Colonel, may hold up his head again among his neighbours. To use a slang term much in vogue just now, the ordinary individual will have no time for such a man. His death would no doubt mean a period of future peace, if not happiness, for his household, and therefore no regrets are felt at his sudden ending. Miss Nance O’Neil, of course, essayed the title role, and in it she achieved a considerable measure of success. She makes Magda a somewhat penitent woman, who, having through bititer experience found life to be something of a hollow sham, is irritated by the narrow views of her own people. It is later on she shows her true colours, and in the scene where it is proposed that her child should be taken away from her, the real ability of the actress is disclosed, her passionate denunciation of her betrayer fairly rousing the house. All through the sympathy of the audience was with her, and if in the opinion of some she failed to reach the greatest height, yet the portrayal marks a big advance on anything Miss O’Neil has shown here before. Mr. McKee Rankin having left for America, his part of Colonel Schwartze was taken by Mr. Gaston Mervale, and but little was lost by the change. The impersonation was in many respects an admirable one, although it wanted toning down somewhat. The character has at times an irritating effect on the audience. but this is rather the fault of the author than the actor. Although Mr. Mervale has done better work, as Tigel-

man, for instance, in the “ Sign of the Cross,” yet his Colonel Schwartze left but little to be desired. Mr. John Glendinning did good work in the part of Heffterdingdt, making the character a very manly one, and therefore a refreshing change to the other male characters. Mr. Andrew Robson ; as Dr. Von Keller, was somewhat wooden, and was moreover in constant trouble with his hat and gloves. Glimpses of his former character should have been allowed to peep out, and this would have greatly heightened the effect. Miss Jane Marbury was decidedly good as Marie, the only flaw being a wholly unnecessary amount of screaming at the sight of her sister. Mrs. Henry Bracy was excellent as Augusta, while the other characters were efficiently filled. Last night “Queen Elizabeth” was staged, but too late to allow of any criticism in this issue. It will also be seen to-night and to-morrow, and as it is a fine spectacular play, the title role of which suits Miss O’Neil to perfection, there should be a record of good houses.

MRS. MALCOMSON BOULT S EXHIBITION OF DANCING.

Mrs. Malcomson Boult was pe’haps hardly well advised ui taking His Majesty’s Theatre for two nights for the exhibition of fancy dancing by her pupils, as by so doing a financial loss was almost inevitable. A considerable amount of .'trouble had been taken to “ stage” the dancers properly, and the costumes were in most instances "vexy pleasing. The best item was the Floral Torchlight March by all the pupils, but the effect of this was simewhat spoilt by the stage being overcrowded. Miss Queenie Boult gave three dances, the best of which was perhaps the Eastern Dance, but it has to be admitted that as a whole they were somewhat disappointing, this remark especially applying to the Gaiety Dance, while in the Skirt Dance there was far too much effort. Some of the other dances were nicely arranged, but theii* success was marred by one or two of the performers being invariably out of time. During the evening Mrs. Boult gave two readings, “ The Flag of England” and “ The Parting of the Columns,” but she was for the most part too inaudible to enable one to judge whether justice was being done to Kipling’s fine poems. The dances were invented by Mrs. Boult, who hopes to bring them out in London. As they cannot be said to have been extraordinarily successful in Auckland, the prospect for much good to be achieved in the world’s metropolis is not very bright.

OPERA HOUSE

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS. There was a good house at the Opera House on Monday evening to view the usual weekly change of programme. The opening chorus, “ Midshipmite,” was well rendered by the company, and then Mr. Chas. Moody steeped to the front with “ Break It Gtently.” Recalled, he sang “Don’t You Feel Peculiar?” for which he was warmly applauded. The house would not let him go at this, however, and a persistent demand brought him out once more with “ On Top,” and finally “ Knick, Knock” quietened them down. Mr. Moody is a warm favourite with Opera House patrons. Miss Eileen Murray, who next appeared in a serio and dance, went through her performance very well, and was recalled for her dancing. Following her our old friend Sam Wilson started the fun going with a fresh budget of gags and songs. Sam seems to have an inexhaustible store of humour to draw from, and never fails to captivate his audience. He kept the house in roars of laughter throughout his turn. Mr. Fred. Rosevear, who is the possessor of a good voice, sang “ The Skipper,” for which he was warmly applauded and recalled. Sam Wilson took the boards again with some fresh items at this juncture, and started the merriment afresh. Following him Miss Cecile Steph ano sang “ Asleep in the Deep” most pleasingly. Recalled, she sang “ Somebody,” her fine voice rendering the song very well indeed. Miss Elsie Brown, who enjoys much popularity through her coon songs, sang “ What’s the Matter with the Moon Tonight?” The song was well rendered,

although the words were somewhat indistinct. Prince Olrac, who appeared in the first portion of the programme, sang “O, What a Lovely Dream,” and recalled, gave a couple of other songs. He is the possessor of a powerful voice, which would possibly have been heard to bettei' advantage had he sung a trifle more quietly. The first half finished with a burlesque by the company, in which Sam Wilson received all the knocks. The second half of the programme commenced with a “ serio” turn by Miss Malvena Moore, who went through a sand dance very creditably, and received considerable applause. Cleopatra, who next appeared in glittering Eastern garb, performed most weirdly with a large assortment of snakes. She handled these creepy-looking individuals with great skill, allowing them to ;o«l about her body and around her arms. Finally she stood with the whole assortment wreathed about her, making a most striking picture, and bringing forth loud applause from the audience. The snakes having been dispensed with, she next introduced three lively-looking members of the saurian tribe, who were made to show their smiling jaws, and perform sundry evolutions. The pick of the bunch was a healthy-looking baby alligator, who, attired in a pink ribbon, gazed placidly cut at the audience from the top of the wire enclosure. Cleopatra and her pets should on no account be missed. Her performance is a most unique one, and as this is her last week we advise those who have not yet seen her to make a point of doing so before the end of the week. The Stephanos, Cecile and Lulu, next gave a delightful rendering of “ Larboard Watch,” for which they received an emphatic recall. “In the Dusk of the Twilight” was then given, the voices blending very sweetly. Bonita’s fine shooting act followed this item, and was received with hearty applause. This splendid little shot did some most remarkable shooting, shatter ing small white discs with the utmost precision, shooting clay pipes from the hand of Carlos, the human target, and also breaking the bowls of several pipes placed upright on the latter’s head. She also broke a row of discs placed between rhe stems of a line of wine glasses, without injuring the glasses in any way. After shooting with the same precision from the front of the dress circle, she finally shot out her name in white discs with rapidly repeated shots, and also did some clevei' pistol shooting. She is described as the “ Champion Lady Rifle Shot.” and her claim to that title is well justified by her deadly precision with that weapon. Following this splendid turn Miss Viola Price gave a fine exhibition of Scotch dancing. Hex- concluding item, the sword dance, was loudly applauded. Bob Scott and Kitty Beresford, whose last week is announced, gave an original travesty that caused much amusement, and the performance concluded with a farce by Mr. Sam Wilson, entitled “ The Coming Alan,” that sent the house off in high good humour. Several new people are billed to appear shortly at the Opera House, and the Afessr.s. Fuller are sparing no pains to give their patrons plenty of fresh attractions.

Aly Christchurh correspondent writes. —The rain, it raineth every day. and also every night, which makes playgoing less pleasant than it would otherwise be, and causes an unexampled demand for umbrellas, macintoshes, raincoats and four-wheelers. Nevertheless and notwithstanding, the public rolled up right merrily to see the last performance of the Nance O’Neil Company. “ The Fires of St. John’s” is an interesting piece, but the last act is—er—ahem ! Just “ a little bit near the knuckle,” as Miss Bessie Bellwood, the one-time London musichall star used to say. Nance O’Neil made a great hit here, and would perhaps have done better to leave “ The Fires of St. John’s” unlighted, or unstaged. Still, opinions differ somewhat, and if I haven’t aroused your curiosity by this time anent this particular production, why, then, I am very much mistaken. . . Amateur shows are not much in my line, but I must say the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society is putting on “ The Gondoliers” at the Royal very creditably; in fact, the pro-

duction is equal to professional form. I must say a word for Mr. Sydney Hanker (an old acquaintance), whose Duke of Plaza Toro is really excellent. Air. Hawker's talent is doubtless hereditary, because he is the son of an old “ pro.,” and a true chip of the old block. We are all looking forward to the opening of the Brough-Flemming Company here, whose success with “ Beauty and the Barge” up North fills us with yearnings to see that much-admired production. The season opens very shortly now. . . Jessie Alaclachlan was induced to appear at a local bazaar this week, and so much homage was done to the gifted daughter of Scotia that an old lady evidently hailing from the Emerald Isle and fearful lest it should, so to speak, be left out in the cold, suddenly shouted: “An’ phwat about Ould Oireland?” A very awkward pause ensued, and then the songstress saved the situation by tastefully remarking, with a beaming face, “ Dear old Ireland—l raise my hat to her.” Whereat the old lady subsided, evidently satisfied. The Westminster Choir Boys follow the Nance O’Neil Company at His Alajesty’s. '** * * * The AlacAlahon Dramatic Company have dates from November 18 to December 9 at His Alajesty’s. “ The J.P.” will be seen here on December 11. Good news, this, as a good laugh is certain. The Auckland Shakespeare Society will to-night give its final reading for the season. “ Hamlet” is the play chosen, and some of the other members are to be given a chance other than the regulars. • * * * Aliss Florence Young was a passenger from America by the incoming steamer Sonoma, which arrived on Tuesday. The fine shooting of Bonita has caused quite a wave of enthusiasm at the Opera House, and she and her sister Cleopatra, the snake charmer, are drawing big business. * * * * Fred. Rosevear is the latest addition to the ranks of Fuller’s Entertainers. His singing of “ The Skipper” is nightly applauded. • ♦ » Miss Violet Alount is coming over to Auckland shortly. She is a soprano of no small ability. * * * * It is said that Alfred Hill has completed another opera. * • • • Mr. and Airs. Fred. Graham having completed a thirty weeks’ engagement with John Fuller and Sons, will next appear at the Tivoli, in Sydney. * * ♦ • “ Beauty and the Barge” has been going in great style in AVellington. “ Standing room only” is the usual legend. * * # # The North Island Band Contest takes place at Hawera on January 22 and 216. Among the eleven bands entered is the First Battalion Auckland Rifles. • • • • Aliss Nance O’Neil’s season, which terminates on November 13, will be taken up as follows:—Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, November 1,2 and 3, “ Queen Elizabeth;” Saturday, Alonday, Tuesday, November 4,6, and 7, “Trilby;” Wednesday, .Thursday, November 8 and 9, “ Alarie Antoinette;” Friday, November 10, “ Ingomai';” Saturday, November 11, ‘ ‘Hedda Gabler;” Alonday, November 13, “ Fires of St. John.” Aliss O’Neil and her company then returns to America, where the young artiste has several important starring engagements to fulfil. Miss Florence Young, the operatic prima donna, is on board the Sonoma, which arrived here on Tuesday. Miss A oung is returning under engagement to Air. J. C. AVilliamson, and will probably open in “ Veronique” at Her Alajesty’s, Alelbourne. • • • • Air. Harold Ashton leaves Auckland in a few days for the South, to make arrangements for the tour of the KnightJeffries Company, which opens in Christchurch on November 22. Dunedin. Wellington, and Auckland follow, the season here commencing early in February.

Now that Pollard’s Opera Company has finally disbanded, it is interesting to recall the infant days of the famous combination. The original juvenile cast of 11 H.M.s. Pinafore” included May Pollard (aged eleven) as Josephine, Olive Pollard (aged ten) as Little Buttercup, and three other Pollards. Harry Pollard was chorus master - and J. J. Pollard musical conductor. Mrs. G. W. B. Lewis’ juvenile company has played “ Pinafore” at the Melbourne Academy of Music (now the Bijou Theatre) a couple of years previously, and from her pupils the Pollard’s Company was .recruited.

“ Camille” as an emotional drama has secured as strong a hold on Englishspeaking peoples as it obtained when Dumas first gave it to light in France. Nearly all stars* with emotional capacity desire to appear as Camille, and this ambition, coupled with the public appreciation. leads to frequent production. Yet it is unquestionably an objectionable play. It is picturesque, and it is moving. It plays upon the sentiment of an audience, and sometimes even tears at the heart strings. But all the time the sentiment aroused is false, and the play itself is a complete inverson of all moral feeling. Marie Duplessis, whose life story has inspired plays, books, pictures, and musical settings, was a beautiful and brilliant woman of the half world with the dignity of an aristocrat, and reigning like one over the Bohemian world of intellect and fashion, of which she was a queen. Nevertheless, she is not the type of heroine that we should exalt. So long as the public calls for “ Camille,” however. managers will produce the finelyconstructed play. For Miss Brune’s fir& Sydney appearance in it—she has been playing it on tour—there was a crowded house at Her Majesty’s that was warmly enthusiastic (says the Sydney “ Mail.”) Yet clever as is the portrayal by the gifted American, we would not choose it as representing hei* art at its best. There is lacking the cachet of distinction which is the redeeming point in the character. In this version are some interpolated speeches—one regarding the heroine’s relations to society, and one upon the camelias—which Dumas did not write, and which are unnecessary.

At a meeting of shareholders of the Canterbury Agricultural and Industrial Hall Company, held on October 16, it was resolved to effect extensive improvements in the main hall, according to plans submitted, at a cost of £2OOO (writes “ Prompter” in the Canterbury Times.”) Provision is made for bringing the existing gallery nearer the stage, allowing more space between the seats—which will remove two of the present drawbacks—and providing seating for 350, exclusive of chair room alt the back, permanently grading the main floor, decreasing the “ rake” of the stage, giving a new entrance to the pit from the right-of-way, closing the roof-lights and boardlining the roof. Altogether, accommodation will be provided for 350 in the circle, 200 in the orchestra stalls, 480 in the stalls, and 600 in the pit; an additional 300 odd could be accommodated by the use of the space at the back of the circle. There will be a promenade at the back, and it is expected that the building will be well suited for theatrical performances. Offers have already been received from theatrical managers to lease the improved building. * * * *

Grantham, England, possesses probably the oldest public acrobat in the world. • His name is Henry Johnson, and he has ; almost attained his ninety-ninth year. At the age of 22 Johnson, who is still hale and hearty, joined Mullaba, a Chinese juggler, and he has given exhibitions before William IV., the late Queen t Victoria, and King Edward VII., when he was the Prince of Wales.

Cannot managers do something, in the interests of their - loyal patrons of the stalls and circle, to abate the nuisance caused by late-comers (says the “ Referee”). Really the matter is becoming more and more a serious one, and cannot be ignored much longer. For the best part of half an hour after the first curtain has gone up there is a banging of entrance doors and a squeezing and crushing to admit delinquents to pass to reserved seats in the centre of the row. How to mend the bad habits of these late-comers is not an easy matter to solve. There can obviously be no rule, hard and fast, but a managerial appeal might well be made to the offenders to improve their ways and show better taste. At present the sufferers are those who study the play and the players, who wish to watch the events on the stage from the moment the interest starts, which, of course, is supposed to be immediately on the rise of the curtain; and to some of them some consideration is certainly due. Plays on first nights might well commence a quarter of an

hour earlier than the arranged time. It would allow for little delays, which seem to be inseparable from a first production, and would, moreover, give a better chance to patrons to catch their last trams in comfort.

The Otago “ Witness’ says of Suderman’s “The Fires of St. John,” that it is a study in sexology and the arts of seduction depraved which made one wonder how Miss O’Neil could bring herself to play such a part. There are several opinions concerning the powerful nature of the play—and especially Miss O’Neil’s representation of the girl who seduces her old lover on the eve of his marriage —but there is only one opinion concerning the production of such a play. “ The Fires” is distinctly not the class of drama for a mixed assemblage to hear and witness, and, like a certain class of lecture, should be billed “ for men only.” That seems a sandpaperish sort of suggestion to offer to a company which includes several ladies, but there it is. Pretty strong talk, this.

About 40,000 persons witnessed the annual firework carnival of J. Pain and Sons, the Roy°l pyrotechnists, for their

benefit, at the Alexandra Palace. All the chief features of Messrs. Pain’s official displays from the British warships at Brest and 'the French fleet at Portsmouth were reproduced, besides many of their more recent novelties. The display was unique, and was given under ideal conditions of weather. * * * * Mr. and Mrs. Kendal have scored a big success at the St. James’ Theatre with a new play by Ernest Hendrie, entitled “ Dick Hope.” Of it the “ Licensed Victuallers’ Gazette” says it is a simple narration of the highly improbable ; it is told in a direct, appealing way which entirely convinces; the dialogue is concise, without be’rg exactly clever; and 'rhe gloom of the story is relieved by touches of humour of the type which quite ordinary people might be expected to perpetrate, but as the plot is written around ordinary characters, this suffices. Major Richard Hope is a drunkard, the despair of his sister .and of himself. He has been engaged to Marjorie Lyall, but she has rejected him on account of his habits; but his sister be

lieves that Marjorie, by renewing her promise, could save him; and after hearing how the vicar of the parish has rescued a drunken miner, Marjorie thinks hex* duty points to the redemption of the Major by the sacrifice of herself; and accordingly she promises to marry him if he will abstain from intoxicants for one year. This is a very real sacrifice fox - Marjorie to make, for she has ceased to love Dick Hope, and loves John Hemming, the vicar, who returns her love, but does not tell hex* of his passion until after her promise has been renewed by the Major. The Vicar endeavours to dissuade Marjorie from her purpose, but she appeals to his better nature, and, after - a great struggle, victory is with the spiritual man, who even agrees to help the drunken Major to win Marjorie, and gives him a place in his own home where he can be kept out of temptation’s reach. A year, less a day, elapses, during which the Vicar, whose love remains undiminished, realises how useless his own sacrifice and Marjorie’s sacrifice w'Jl be; he sees that the Major, although able to withstand temptation when constantly watched and aided, would fall if left alone, and should he fall Marjorie would be free. There is yet one more day,

and John Hemming, man and lover, conquers John Hemming, vicar, and Major Richard Hope is left alone. During the Vicar’s absence the Majox* learns than the maxi who has helped him througn a year of stern struggling loves Mariorie, and that Marjorie loves him. This knowledge causes the Majox- deep suffering, and he is texnpted to seek solace in the old way, and only by a walk of forty miles does he mastex- his temptation. Marjorie sees him when he returns from nis long tramp, muddy, wet, dishevelled, and trembling with cold and fatigue, and imagining him to be drunk, believes, regretfully, that she has gained her freedom through his fall. About the same time the Vicar returns, torxi by remorse at having left his charge during the time of his greatest peril, and resolves to go to Africa and mission to the benighted heathen, However, this resolution is soon broken, as the Major, aftex - proving that he was not drunk when he came back from his walk, and with resolutions for permanent reformation, releases Marjorie from her promise, and leaves the Vicar and Marjorie betrothed. The

lightex- incidents of the play are provided by John Hexnming’s curate, who piajs a concertina and laughs at the most inopportune moments. The Vicar’s brother and Marjorie’s adopted daughter are boy and girl lovers of a rather conventional type, and an elderly patronising parish ionex- provides considerable .amusement in a well-studied part.

Mr. Harry Rickards has engaged for his Australian theatres, from Miss Dolly Bell, Manchester House, KensingtonCross, the Eight English Primroses, a young and handsome troupe of dancers, who sail for Australia per P. and O. steamer Victoria,

Ixx Germany recently Miss Lo e Fuller, who is engaged at the Wintergaxten in Berlin, narrowly escaped death ixx a xnotor smash. The car was travelling at about 40 miles aix hour whexx it ran off the road, dowxx a bank, and was overturned. Miss Fuller and the ether occupants fell on soft ground, and luckily were not injured.

To the oft-repeated question, “ Why are the theatres less popular than they used to be?” 'a, correspondent in the “ Stage” argues that it is largely due to “ the sort of stuff we get mislaballed as a play”—“ A thing written round some monstrous prop which always fails to work on the Monday night; the ugly old heroine decoyed to the ice springs in the Sahara desert when she might have been comfortably murdered at home;' the steam engine which runs into a submarine in ordex - that the low coxnedy man may rescue the heroine and take her up in a balloon.” This description of the now prevalent “thing” called by courtesy melodrama is no exaggeration. ft ♦ ft *

A novelty of the autumn in London will be the appearance at a West End theatre of Fuji-ko, a pretty little actress from Tokio, in a playlet which she describes as being “ written round the belief held by the peasants of Japan that the spirits of soldxers killed in wax - come back at twilight when the bugle calls.” The piece, which will occupy about 20 minutes, is to be given in the vernacular, and provided with a charming setting of Japanese scenery, painted by a well-known native artist.

Mr. Alf. Burton, the well-known advance ageixt, is representing Perry and Oswald’s London Picture Company and Austral Singers, who appear at Dargaville on Friday and Saturday, November 3 and 4. This company consists of Miss Dorothy L’Estrange, sporano; Miss Adelaide Seymour, balladist; Messrs. W. Perry, R. J. Oswald, and D. Rossington. The pictures are said to be exceedingly good.

The Cleopatra and Bonita season at the Opera House has proved quite a boom, for both turns are very interesting, the “ creepy” snake act of the formex - and the extraordinary shooting of her youngex - sister being bracketed equal in public favour.

The familiar - tenor song known as “ The Bay of Biscay” was composed 100 years ago by John Davy, a Devonport man and a pupil of Jackson, of Te Deum fame. This song is the only one of the scores he wrote that has survived. He died without a relative to tend him in his last illness, and “ without leaving even sufficient to defray the expenses of his funeral.”

Mr. Watkin Mills and his concert company left fox - America by the Sierra cn Friday last.

Mr. McKee Rankin, the well-known American actor, was a passenger by the Sierra on Friday, bound for the States.

The popular Montgomery Entertainers passed through Auckland this week on their way to the Waikato. Some weeks ago Mr. Montgomery cabled to his Londoxx agents for a large collection of the very latest and most up-to-date novelties in the moving picture line. The order came to hand by the last ’Frisco mail, and many of the subjects are said to be perfect triumphs in high-class cinematography. Most of the films are of great length and varied in character. “ A Trip up Mount Blanc” (in 18 scenes) is considered to be one of the most difficult of biograph achievements. “ The Life of Marie Antoinette,” from queen to scaffold, is a beautiful historical series, and in ordex - to secure the original surroundings, the palace. Petit Trianon at Versailles, was closed for three days -while the photographs were being taken. Those of a sensational nature include “ The Daring American Bank Burglary” and “ Tampering with the Derby Favourite,” while sporting patrons will also be interested in “ The Lxfe of a Racehorse,” from foal to the winning post. Fresh faces as well as old favourites will appear.

“ O, -thou adoring maiden of 18, there is nothing about the average aster r'ovrby of the worship which you iay so ?»eely at his feet. He is such a very ordina; y mail, if you only knew! How. is it that you do not realise how cheap yi.u are making yourself by running after turn in the way you do?”—A well-known actress, in “ Woman” (London). * * * * The Strand Comedy Company will shortly tour New Zealand with “ The J.P.” until the close of the year. Mr. Henry Wilde, who came out under Messrs. Meynell and Gunn’s management with Mr. Dallas and Miss Lloyd, will be in charge throughout the tour. The Strand Company has two other pieces, “ There and Back,” and “ On the Move,” in its repertoire. The latter may probably be staged in Sydney next January, as the artists will then be passing through on .heii’ way to Adelaide and Perth. About that time Mr. Meynell will begin to prepare for the pi eduction of Theodore Kramer’s melodrama, “The Fatal Wedding, ' a piece that has an immense popularity in the l-:nglish provinces. Several new actors will come out from England, and the pie.*e will be staged about Easter time. * * * * Mr. Rickards’ latest importations, “ Crimmins and Gjore,” appeared at the Tivoli on Saturday to a house “ full to the doors” (says the Sydney “Mail.”) The couple comprise an extra tall lady and an extra short man. Each accentuates the difference by make up and “business.” The curtain rises on a pretty beach scene, with the <two, grotesquely clad, gazing pensively out to sea with their backs to the audience, beside a great notice board bearing the legend, “What are the wild waves saying?” The effect was so ludicrous thak the audience was convulsed without even having seen the faces of the comedians. The man, who occasionally stretches himself to his normal height—greater than. the crouched stage height—proved to be a clever “ Dutch” patter artist, and the lady is a good serio-comic and patter performer. The audience couldn’t get enough of them. • • • • “ Merely Mary Ann,” Zangwill’s comedy, which was staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre by Mr. J. C. Williamson on Saturday, with Miss Tittell Brune as the heroine, is a piece concerning Leipsic and music. Lancelot (Mr. Douglas Gerrard), a young English composer and pianist, is a music student in the Saxon city, but cannot earn bread. He sees inferior musicians coining money with rubbishy songs, while his works are too high-class to be appreciated by the public. Mary Ann (Miss Brune) is a servant, who admires and loves him, but coming into an unexpected fortune, is rejected through

Lancelot imagining he would be considered a fortune-hunter in marrying her. However, all ends happily. The little book from which the play is dramatised is charming.

The actress who attempts co portray Dumas’ classic but unhappy heroine, Camille, throws down the gauntlet to the critics, and cannot avoid challenging comparison with the long list of famous exponents of the part. Much interest was naturally evoked by the intimation that the gifted and popular young American, Miss Tittell Brune, would appear for the first time in this role at Her Majesty’s (says the “ Town and Country Journal”), and a large and attentive audience assembled to witness the piece. Without referring to the great players of the old world, it is impossible to refrain from instituting comparisons with the two actresses who have within recent years played the leading role in Sydney—Nellie Stewart ad Nance O’Neil. While granting Miss Brune every credit for careful and Intelligent study, and for considerable force and freshnbss in her reading of the part, it cannot be denied that she falls short of the high standard set by her predecessors, owing to her tendency to force the note, and by over-emphasis to destroy the effect produced by the studied selfrestraint, which leaves something to the imagination of the onlooker. The attainment of the “ art which conceals art,” however, comes only with maturity and experience of life, and the youth and spontaneity, to which Miss Brune owes so much of her charm, in very truth destroys the tragic atmosphere required for a part which the simplicity and directness of method of more sophisticated artists are so powerful to create. It must, however, be conceded that Miss Brune nlayed with remarkable skill a version differing slightly in non-essentials from those adopted by other actresses, and showed so much promise that those may

be regarded as fortunate who will witness her impersonation of the same role some ten years hence.

At the Sydney Trafalgar celebrations, the great feature was a big concert in the Town Hall. The “ popular” event of the evening was the unfurling of the flags that gave the modern code of Nelson’s famous signal, “ England expects that every man will do his duty,” by Master John Pascoe, .the great-grandson of Nelson’s flag-lieutenant of that name, who executed the Admiral’s order. As the flags slowly floated out across the hall the enthusiasm was great, and the huge audience rose to i:s feet and cheered, the bright-looking little lad coming in for three hearty cheers for himself. This unfurling took place at 9.40, corresponding to 40 minutes past noon in England, or exactly 100 years since Nelson’s memorable signal was made upon the Victory at Cape Trafalgar. Altogether it was an evening of loyalty and enthusiasm. A noticeable feature of the hall’s decoration was the intertwining of the English and French flags.

Samuel Reay, the well-known church organist and composer, died at Newark-on-Trent on July 21, at the age of 83. Mr. Reay claimed to have been the first organist who played Mendelssohn’s wedding march at a nuptial ceremony.

A professional musician asks me <says a writer in “ Musical Opinion”) if I can tell him anything about the well-known song, “ The Blue Bells of Scotland.” If he means the tune, there is no difficulty about that. It was written by Mrs. Jordan, the eminent actress and singer (17*62-1816). She entered the song at Stationer’s Hall in the year 1800, but she was singing it on the stage before that time. In Johnson’s “ Musical Museum,” the work to which Burns contiibuted, there is what appears to be a

parody of Mrs. Jordan’s song. Writing to George Thomson, of Edinburgh, in January, 1802, Haydn says: “I send you with this the favourite air ‘ The Blue Bells of Scoeland,’ and I should like that this little air should be engraved all alone and dedicated in my name as a little complimentary gift to the renowned Mrs. Jordan, whom, without having the honour of knowing, I esteem extremely for her great virtue and reputation.” Mrs. Jordan was in Edinburgh in 1786, “ being (as the theatre bill had it) her first appearance in the kingdom.” * * * * Miss Minnie Tittell Brune, who returned with Mr. Williamson’s Dramatic Company to Her Majesty’s on Saturday night, must have felt highly flattered by •the reception accorded her (says the Sydney “ Mail.”) When she first opened at Melbourne in “ Sunday” on arrival from America, she did not capture her public. It was not till she came here that Sydney playgoers perceived the “ Divine Spark” in her acting, and the furore created was repeated when she went back to Melbourne, and has accompanied her through New Zealand. Now that she was back in what was one of her greatest impersonations, the audience of Saturday was determined to give full manifestation of its appreciation. The hand clapping, culminating in cheers, which greeted her entrance lasted several minutes, and at various stages of the performance there were fresh outbursts of cheering from the crowded house. Yet greatly as we admire “ L’Aiglon,” amj Miss Brune’s interpretation of the titlerole when first producea, we cannot say that we so highly appreciated the latter on Saturday. There seemed to be a stiffness and a staginess, especially about the earlier scenes, which were not apparent before. And there were less of those little touches of nature, in themselves evidences of genuine dramatic genius (such things as the remark, delivered in the simplest and most natural tone in

response to Metternich’s demand as to the whereabouts of the wooden Austrian soldiers —‘‘they have run away”) which sends a thrill through the listener. They have been a characteristic feature of Miss Brune’s previous performances. Perhaps the overwhelming reception was responsible for nervousness and self-con-sciousness. Yet, “ L’Aiglon” is a great play, and Miss Brune’s share in it lias throughout been a triumph.

Bland Holt’s latest production in Melbourne is “ A Sailor’s Knot,” a stirring drama, for which at present “ A Hundred Years Ago.” would have been a better title. Describing it, Melbourne “Punch” says: The piece takes us back to the beginning of the last century, when Britain was in the thick of wars and rumours of wars, both on land and sea. Those were the days when George wanted men so badly for his navy that the press-gang ran riot with impunity, and indulged in any quantity of “ bodysnatching” in the city and country. Ihe press-gang plays no unimportant part in “ A Sailor’s Knot,” for Harry Westward is seized upon his wedding day and torn from the arms of his bride at the very door of the church. The incident is rendered still more dramatic by the pressgang being in command of Jack Westward, the groom’s foster-brother, who is made the innocent instrument of the plotting villains who seek to prevent the marriage in order to secure the bride’s French estates. There is a good story of many loves and much villainy running through the piece, and it is rendered uncommon by the dresses of the period, the female characters looking very pretty in their becoming and dainty costumes, and the men quaint, if not becoming, in their iron-bound hats and hideous pigtails. The scenery, too, forms a very striking feature of the piece, and Mr. Brunton has furnished a number of excellent and artistic sets for the production. These include Wapping Old Stairs, Stepney Church, and scenes upon the battleship Dauntless. Further spectacular effect is gained by the introduction of /tableaux illustrative of the British Navy a hundred years ago.

Messrs. Wirth Bros, are back again in Australia, and they claim that they bring an almost completely new combination this time, consisting not merely of circus performers, but of novelties which bear little relation to the associations of sawdust and spangles. Realising fully the thirst which Australia has for new ideas and thrilling sensations, they require strong evidence of special popularity before they will allow their performers to overstay a twelve months’ contract. There are over thirty items on the programme. Chefalo, the daring actor in Kilpatrick’s Death Trap Loop, is, of course, the central (figure. He has come from America with Mr. Kilpatrick to supervise the careful arrangements whicn are absolutely necessary to assure success for this intrepid performance. The St. Leon Family, whose name was familiar to circusgoers many years ago, are a young generation of a family whose presence was once almost an essential in a good Australian circus. The Tolens are a couple of graceful lady performers who are making their first Australian tour. The same may be said of the Grahams, a family troupe whose aerial work is exceptionally good. But the latest arrivals are the Heddle Quartette, who promise some exceptionally interesting feats of novel character. A band of Toreador riders also accompany the show. The

Reyes trio, a clever company, have just been engaged for a novel performance. A new item which will be exceptionally interesting to native Australians is an exhibition of bushmanship feats by Jack Kelly, a brother of Ned and Dan Kelly, the notorious bushrangers. In the animal department may be seen a large collection of new elephants and wild beasts recently imported from Asia, and a superb stud of trained horses.

So much interest was taken in the first production oh any stage of “ Captain Thunderbolt,” the dramatic version by Mr. Ambrose Pratt and Mr. A. S. Joseph, of the famous story of a once wellknown bushranger, that space was at a premium in the Thealtre Royal on Saturday (says the Sydney “Mail.”) It was one of the finest audiences the theatre has ever held. Mr. William Anderson

had gone to great pains and much expense to give the local drama a good send-off. He staged it most elaborately and admirably. Mr. Regie Robins and his assistants provided a wealth of fine bush scenes, and “ local colour” was achieved by a real mail coach and four real coach horses, a “ real” steeplechaser for the sensational leap, “ real” wallaby hopping in the scrub, real cockatoos and kookaburras flitting through +he gums. Particularly fine was the picture of the “bush pub.,” with the mount ti is in the background, and Mr. Robins well deserved the special “ call” he received The drama depicts the outlaw as another Robin Hood, robbing the rich to smoour the poor, and a guardian of virtue in distress. It is a fairly good but rather “ talky” melodrama. Mr. Laurence Dunbar represented Thunderbolt as a stalwart black-bearded figure. Miss

Eugenie Duggan, as *the heroine Maud Mason, met every situation with resource ; Miss Ada Guildford is a picturesque Mrs. “Thunderbolt;” Miss Gecrgie Leighford is an amusing Mrs. McGuire; Miss Ethel Buckley made a particularly cute “ bush telegraph” as young McGuire. Other notable people were Mr. Edmund Duggan, who cleverly impersonated McGuire, the bush publican ; Mr. Bert Bailey, as the ludicrous jackeroo; Mr. Sterling White as the station owner, Mason; and Mr. George Cross as his son. Other characters included; — Geoffrey Marrow, banker and J.P. (Mr. Walter Dalgleish); Trooper Denis O’Malley (Mr. Edwin Campbell); Harold Forbes (Mr. J. L. Laurence); and Morgan (Mr. Temple Harrison). There was an army of supers., and the enthusiasm of the audience was demonstrative all the evening.