THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 819, 16 November 1905, Page 18

THE STAGE

(By

“ Footlight.”)

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS

There was a capital attendance at the Opera House on Saturday evening. The star attraction was Ajax, the contortionist, the flexibility of whose body borders on the marvellous. Will Lochrane, a Scottish comic singer, came in for plenty of applause for his singing of “ The Softest in the Family.” All the old favourites were well received. The Opera House being otherwise engaged, Fullers’ Entertainers have not appeared since TuesdayXevening, but on Saturday a fresh start will be made. Mr. Fuller intends making it the occasion for the introduction of a perfect galaxy of fresh talent. Among the new-comers will be the Wyndhams (Ray and Clara), in ■“Musical Dramalettes;” Bob, Lloyd •comedian and topical vocalist; Gertie McLeod, serio and Scottish dancer; Wallace Ascot, tenor vocalist; and Charles Stanley, male alto. Then we shall have the reappearance of Cissie Whitford, serio, and Ted Stanley, eccentric comedian. A new and original turn will be given by Ajax, who will appear as the human crocodile. Will Lochrane, Malvena Moore, Eileen Murray, and Cecile and Lulu Stephano will also contribute to the programme, which promises to exceed in all-round merit anything Mr. Fuller has yet put on. It is safe to predict a monster house for next Saturday evening.

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. THE NANCE O’NEIL SEASON

Quick changes were the order of the day, or rather night, at His Majesty’s Theatre during the last week of Miss Nance O’Neil’s season. On Wednesday and Thursday “ Marie Antoinette” held the boards, and in it Miss O’Neil was very effective as the persecuted queen. On Friday “ Ingomar” was put on, with Miss O’Neil as Parthenia, and Mr. J ohn Giendining in the title role; and, although the play dragged rather at times, a considerable measure of success was achieved.

Saturday evening was devoted to “ Hedda Gabler,” and to such as admire Ibsen’s work this proved very interesting. The Norwegian dramatist, however, hardly appeals to the multitude, for many of his situations are frankly not understandable.

The concluding night was devoted to the much-talked of “ The F±res of St. John,” and as this play has earned a reputation of a sort it drew a full house. Suderman’s play has been most scathingly condemned by the majority of the critics as a piece which the stage could well have done without. Of it a Melbourne writer said “ That everybody was pleased at the beginning, but as the play went on it was amusing to watch the change in expression ; puzzled interest succeeded the pleasure ; then the puzzled look grew deeper, and was turned to bewilderment, brightened with a few titters and sniggers, and when the curtain fell it fell on an audience in a state of mental fog, compared to which the darknuess of Egypt was the brightest electric light. The play itself was partly responsible for this, but chiefly the players, for it was plain that the majority of them had not the faintest glimmer of a comprehension as to what the whole meant, and, therefore, were <juite unable to lighten the darkness of the amazed audience. The plot—who would be bold enough to unravel it ? The one thing not needful to a symbolist is—plain statement or a story. A play by a symbolist, acted by symbolists to symbolists, would, be adequate, no doubt, and the airy elusiveness and suggestiveness of it all would catch the refined fancy of a specially picked house; but when a not too comprehensible symbolism is attacked by just ordinary mimes, who have not specially prepared themselves for the intellectual feat by prayer and fasting, but just stolidly go through it like big game crashing through a jungle, the effect is as one sees in the present imbroglio.” This seems a bit severe on the members of the company. Miss Nance O’Neil essayed the role of Marie, and got through a somewhat disagreeable part with credit, while all the other members of the company did their utmost in characters more or less suited to them.

On the whole it has to be admitted that the season in Auckland has not been strikingly successful. We have got so in the habit of expecting something superlatively good from Mr. Williamson that when it is just good we are all apt to be a little disappointed. The plays produced were for the most part of the dismal and gloomy order, and something in a brighter strain would no doubt have proved more popular. Was it not the same with the recent Tittell Brune season, where the one bright piece, “ Sunday,” so to speak, “ ran rings round” any of the heavier plays in the matter of attendance? The piece which was the most genuinely populai’ during the season just closed was “Trilby,” and, by the Nance O’Neil Company will be chiefly remembered.

THE MACMAHON DRAMATIC COMPANY.

On Saturday next the Macmahon Dramatic Company return to the boards of Gis Majesty’s. Not, however, as we knew them of yore, but a greatly augmented company, which has been strengthened all round by the inclusion of new

artists. The new leading lady is Miss Marie Wilson, a clever Australian artiste who was formerly lead for Mr. George Lingard. Mr. Wilton Power is also with the company, as well as all the old favourites. The season will be opened with Matt. Wilkinson’s powerful and sensational drama, “ Saturday Night in Lonon.” This play vividly depicts various phases of life in the world’s metropolis, and is produced by arrangement with Mr. William Anderson, who holds the rights for Australia. The staging will be very effective, new scenery having b?en specially painted for the production by Leander Williams and Will Diamond, whi-e the stage management will be in the capable hands of our old friend, Mr. Tom Pollard. It will thus be seen that Messrs. Macmahon have made every effort to give us of their best, and it is safe to forecast a highly successful season.

THE WESTMINSTER GLEE PARTY.

On Tuesday evening a short season of

jesty’s Theatre by Mr. Edward Branscombe’s Westminster Glee and Concert Party. Since their last visit here they have travelled all over the world, and sung in a great number of towns. The boys with the company on this occasion are Masters William Edgley, Arthur Ludlow, G'ordon Travis, and Arthur Bates, and are from the London Training School for Choristers. Although not quite up to the standard of their predecessors, the four’ sing very pleasingly. On Tuesday the company commenced the programme with the chorus “ Furl Up the Flag,” the other items being: “Come, Let Us All a-Maying Go,” “ Now is the Month of Maying,” the anthem “ By Babylon’s Wave,” and “ When Allen-a-Dale went a-Hunting.” Madam Marie Hooker was encored for singing “He Thinks I Do Not Love Him,” and later on did excellently with a charming rendering of the old English ballad, “ The Bailiff’s Daughter.” Mr. Sterndale Bennett makes a very valuable addition to the company, and his exceptionally musical bass voice was worthy of better stuff than “ The Tinker’s Song.” He was twice encored, giving two dain + y I’ttle songs.

and the audience, a very large one, by the way, would willingly have heard more from him. Mr. Edward Brans.ombe delighted his listeners with a very sweet rendering of the old German folk song, “Leonore,” the pleasing effect of this being greatly heightened by the subdued vocal arrangement by the gentlemen of the glee party. Master Edg ey sang “ The Minstrel Boy,” but his voice, although well trained, was rath r lacking in sweetness of tone. The boys’ best contribution was the “ Vocal Waltz,” a really beautiful piece of work. Mr. Percy Coward sang, by request, the old favouri'e, “Sally in Our Al ey,” but hardly d’d himself justice. Mr. Dudley Causton, who might we l ! be described as “the casual comed’an,” created much merriment in his humorous mus’cal sketch in which the var’ous phases of a charity bazaar were amusingly shown. He was especially good in h : s imitation of the concert part of the programme, and be ; ng heartily applauded gave a c’ever dumb copy of a parliamentary candida + e addressing the electors. The performance

The programme will be changed each evening, and good houses should result during the season.

THE FEDERAL HALL.

THE MAGIC KETTLE.

A short season of three nights was played at the Federal Hall by Professor Andrews with his magic kettle. This act has already been described in these columns at length, and is certainly one of the most interesting which has beer put on the stage. The singing of the Cathedral Choristers earned them numerous encores. Alma, the magician, showed some clever and neatly executed, sle .ght-of-hand tricks. Miss Elsie Peer-. ■ less sang very pleasingly. A number of,; moving pictures were shown, some of the , films being capital. The entertainment ? allround was of a very bright character,? and deserved far more support than it ’ received from the Auckland public.

MISS VIOLET MOUNT.

Miss Violet Mount, so well known te j and remembered by Auckland s music » lovers, is at present in this city. Her’ many friends and adm.rers have decided ■ to give her a farewell concert here on December 1, in the Choral Hall. Taking . the advice of Me;ba and Miss Ada Crossley, Miss Mount is now on her way to , London to study so as to fit herself for' an operatic career. In an interview with . a pressman Miss Mount said: — Since I left your delightful Auckland I have been under constant engagements in Sydney and elsewhere. Signor Hazon has been my teacher all the time—three and a-half years. In Sydney my first engagement was with Signor Carl Dani.- : I toured with him, and he was kind > enough to say that in duet singing he ; preferred my work to that of any other soprano he had appeared with. The Philharmonic Society engaged me at all their concerts, and supported by a chorus of 400 voices and an orchestra of 40 stars, sang the solo work in “ The Creation.” , With Miss Ada Crossley I sang in “ Elijah.” M.’ss Crossley complimented me most kindly on my efforts, and said that she had hardly ever heard the soprano music so well rendered before. With Mr.

atkin Mills I also sang the same work. I was engaged twice by tne Ph.lharmonic in “Lohengrin,” in Gounod’s “Faust,” and “ Paradise and the Peri.” I sang at all the Queensland Liedertafels. Miss Lehmann’s song cycle, “ The Persian Garden,” I sang with the Sydney Quartette, on the first occasion by command before Lord Tennyson, Governor-General of Australia, at Government House. I have sung at the Orchestral Society’s concerts, and at their last, also at the last concert given by the Ph lharmonic The citizens of Sydney gave me a most encouraging “send-off” on September 20 last, at a farewell concert tendered by them to me. The Governor-General and Lady Northcote gave their patronage. W.th Mr. Farley 1 appealed at the Palace Theatre, Sjdney, in “The Bohemian Girl,” on September 6,7, and 8, playing the part of Arline. It was a great success, and we handed over quite a large sum to the Chidren’s Hospital. Then at Government House I sang three times in eight days during the Duke d’Abruzzi’s visit. Lady Northcote has always been charming towards me. The Melba wrote me, and requested me to call upon her. She said she was much pleased with my voice, and advised me to study at Home for the operatic stage. Some people have said that my voice is very like the great Melba’s—that is, in timbre. It is a high soprano, and I frequently sing E in alto. During my residen ein Wellington and Auckland I sang with the operatic and choral societies of each town and with the Orchestral Society of Wellington. Then I also appeared at nearly all the concerts given. St. Patrick’s Roman Cathol’c Church, in Sydney, a church always renowned for its music, had me for two years as ( its soprano. Aren’t you tired? I have been talking all this time and it has been all about myself. Yet, you asked me to te 1 you all I could, and I have done so,” and with a pleasant smile and pretty inclination of her head the gifted young sporano bad me “ Adieu.” We hope Miss Mount’s concert may be a huge sue-

Miss Jessie Maclachlan, the Scottish balladist, leaves for the States on December 8, where she will make a four months’ toar.

Miss Lily Cole, the lady baritone, who has been meeting with much success at the Opera House, left for the South yesterday afternoon.

The summer flower show and children’s exhibition of the Auckland Horticultural Society will be held on Friday and< Saturday next, in the Metropolitan Grounds and Choral Hall. His Excellency the Governor will open the show at three p.m. on Friday, and Lady Plunket will present the silver medals, which she gave to the society, to the successful exhibitor*. On Saturday afternoon, at halfpast three, the Mayoress (Mrs. Arthur Myers) will present the children’s prizes.

Fred Graham is now in Melbourne with Rickards’ Company.

Miss Henrietta Watson, well-known out here, was ill in London with pneumonia when the last mail left.

The Brough-Fleming Company has been playing to good business down South.

“The Great Thurston” is now playing a very successful season at Perth.

Stewart and Sterling, after fine months under the Fuller flag, are now in Brisbane with Holland's Company.

Mr. S. E. .Greviile Smith, who for some time conducted the dramatic columns of this paper, and was subsequently on the staff of the “ Observer,” left Auckland on Monday by the Mokoia, bound for Sydney. Mr. Smith, who is accompanied by his wife, is going to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he has accepted a good appointment.

Mr. Ben Fuller, whose marriage with Miss Lily Thompson took place last week, is now in Wellington, but leaves for Sydney shortly on a “trawling” trip, which, being interpreted, means that he is on the look-out for fresh artists.

Miss Nance O’Neil leaves for America by the mail steamer to-morrow afternoon.

1 am pleased to say that Miss Nellie > Black’s hand is now nearly quite well,| again. The family commence their country tour this month. Their first town to visit is Wade, on November 22 (Agricultural Show night); the Northern Wairoa tour follows, then the Bay of Plenty. Miss Nellie has received no per manent injury to her hand. During the family’s rest in Auckland Mr. Black has coached up his youngest daughter, Miss Doris, to take leading violin in the orchestral selections. This will be the first appearance of this young lady in the North Island. Miss Doris, although only 13 years of age, shows great musical ability for one so young, and Mrs. Black has great confidence in this young lady’s future.

The Meynell and Gunn Comedy Com pany open here on December 11.

“Ivy of York” is to be staged at His Majesty’s on December 18 and five following evenings.

The Brough-Fleming Company will be here for Christmas.

Mr. Harold Ashton has gone South to act for the Knight-Jeffries Company, who commence their Christchurch : e.tson next Wednesday.

The Taylor-Carrington Company are now touring in Otago.

The Diamond Duo, who were great favourites here, are booked for a season in Manilla.

Madame Galli Marie, the famous singer, the original “ Carmen” and “ Mignon,” has just died in France, 65 years of age.

Atcording to the “ Stage,” the experiment Mr. Forbes Robertson is making at the Scala in permitting the pit and the gallery to be booked has so far been eminently successful.

Signor Tamagno's body was embalmed and deposited in a coffin, in the lid of which, by the express wish of the famous Italian tenor, a crystal pane was inserted, so as to leave the head and breast exposed to the view of his friends who shall visit the sepulchre. Eloquent tributes were made at the cemetery to the memory of Tomagno, who leaves one daughter, to whom he has bequeathed £320,000.

Miss Decima Moore, the popular actress, who visited Australia some years ago, is to marry Mr. Guggisberg, R.E , who recently returned to London from the Gold Coast. He was director of surveys at the Gold Coast and Ashanti for some years.

After a performance at His Majesty’s Theatre last week, the artists and employees of the theatre were entertained at a banquet, held on the stage, in honour of Mr. Ben Fuller’s marriage to Miss Lily Thompson, of Auckland (says the “ Post.”) Mr. Hoskins, secretary of the Fuller circuit, presided, and, in a neat and effective speech, proposed the toast of “ Mr. and Mrs. Ben Fuller.” Incidentally, Mr. Hoskins referred to the extent of the amusement business of the Fullers, which had an expenditure last year of £32,000, made up as follows: — Salaries, £15,000; travelling expenses, £2500; newspaper advertising, £2000; general expenses, £13,000. Mr. Ben Fuller had, in his capacity of manager of the circuit, endeared himself to the employees, both in front and at the back of the house, and it was pleasing to know that in each of the four Fuller houses a similar function was taking place at that time. He felt certain that no toast would be more heartily honoured than that of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Fuller, to whom he wished health, wealth, and prosperity. Mr. C. Howard, speaking for the employees of both back and front of the house, said that theii- association with the Fuller circuit had been of the itos* cordial nature, and Mr. Ben Fuller was held in the highest esteem and re spect by the employees, from the secretary down to the call boy. Other toasts honoured were : “ The Ladies,” “ The Profession,” and “ The Press. ’ The tables were then cleared fsom the stage, and dancing was indulged in until two a.m., when the proceedings were brought to a termination by the while company singing the National Anthem and “ Auld Lang Syne.”

Richard Strauss, who, it is said, receives £5O, plus royalties, for every song he writes, has to “wait for an inspiration.” “ For months at a time,” he

says, “ I have no desire to compose; then one evening I take up a book of poems, and turning over the leaves carelessly my attention is suddenly caught by a poem, and often before I have really finished reading it the musical thought suggests itself; I seat myself, and in ten minutes the song is finished.”

A number of amusing pen-slips are collated by Mr. T. P. O’Connor:—Dickens was by no means infallible. He put the new moon in the east in the evening; he came to grief over the Dingley Dell cricket match; he made Tony Weller’s second wife Sam’s mother-in-law; and he described how, in the depth of winter, Mr. Squeers set his unfortunate boys hoeing turnips. Sir Conan Doyle, in one of his best Sherlock Holmes stories, makes a scheming lawyer draw up a will in favour of himself—a proceeding which would make the document invalid. The late John Hollingshead, in “ The Story of Leicester Square,” perpetrated a glorious bull, writing: “ When Lord Mohun was killed he was living in Macclesfield House, Gerard-street, Soho, at the back of Leicester House, a site now occupied by the defunct Pelican Club.” Even Sir Walter Scott made blunders, and in his fine ballad of “ Young Lochinvar” he has this passage: — “ So light to the croup the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle before her he sprung” —which is a feat of horsemanship utterly impossible. Defoe makes Robinson Crusoe fill his pockets with biscuits while in a state of nudity I Shakespeare made ships cast anchor by some seaport of Bohemia. “ Onida,” in “ Signa,” equipped a violin with keys. Rider Haggard, in “ King Solomon’s Mines,” describes an eclipse of the new moon. Mr Harr-. Rickards, who has returned in the Marmora from a talent-seeking tour secured a great “star” turn when he captured Servais Le Roy, Talma, and Bosco, at the London Alhambra (says the Sydney “Mail.”) They created extraordinary enthusiasm when they opened to a crowded house at the Tivoli. They are a company of magicians and illusionists with that perfection of setting and ensemble and the artistic finish that we expect nowadays from Great European variety stars. Talma is an attrac-

tive lady. Bosco a stout comedian, Leroy a slim and agile magician. Then there is Mephisto. They are all magicians, in fact, and deal in the weirdest mystery. Where other performers would be content to evolve a canary or two or a duck or rabbit from apparent nothingness, they evolve whole flocks of ducks and fowls and turkeys, rabbits and geese, till the stage is like the last bit of dry land in a flood. They do weird things with coins ; they appear where you think it is impossible they could be, and dis sapear when you think that you have at last “got them fixed.” It is a remarkable and bewildering display. Mr Rickarda brought various new artists out with him. and others are to follow. They include, according to the entrepreneur, the Jackson family, who were so successful on a previous visit ; Ryder Stone, a great comedian ; Rog Glen, a talented juvenile raconteur ; and A. G. Spry, Post Mason, and Arthur Albert, who open in Sydney. Other attractions to arrive in the near future are the. Gilbert Sisters, song and dance artists : Lotto, Lilo, and Otto, comedy bicycle polo team ; .Ada Cerito, commedienne ; Two Bells and eight English Primroses, a troupe of high-class dancers, who will introduce the latest dancing craze “Danse des jambes en Pair,” now the rage of Paris ; the Sisters Warner, song and dance, duo ; Barnard’s marionettes ; Bert Dansing, comedian and impersonator ; Alice Raymond, and John Kurkamp, refined musical specialty artists : Scottish Meisters, quartet of Scotch comedians and vocalists ; and Tambo, a unique tambourine specialty.

The next attraction from overseas which Mr J. C. Williamson will present to Australasian audiences will be Mr R. G. Knowles, a comedian who has for years been in the foremost rank of vaudeville performer in London. He hab however, deserted that field at any rate for a time, and has struck out “on his own,” in an entirely novel kind of entertainment in which, it may be .mentioned, he is at present making a decided hit in South Africa. He calls his show “Travels that Trouble the Traveller,” a general title which suffices to cover a multitude of humorous stories all based on the funny experiences which greet a tourist in foreign lands. He begins at the beginning, the packing up in his London lodgings, and thence-forward takes his hearers along with him through Europe, Egypt, and else where, to the accompaniment of continual laughter. Incidental to the anecdotes he introduces several songs and also a series of biograph films illustrative of the places visited. Altogether, he has evolved an entertainment that should be decidedly popular. Mr Knowles will begin his Australasian tour somewhere in the early part of next year.

Mr George Lauri sees one of the obstacles to his playing Hamlet already in

a fair way to removal (writes Air George Tallis). He gave out that all he wanted for the realisation of his ideal was an Ophelia and the consent of Air J. C. Williamson. The former has materialised in the person of Aliss Clara Clifton, who the other day modestly admitted that she has for years hankered for an opportunity to appear in Shakespeare. Naturally, with such a reputation as she possesses, such an oportunity seemed very improbable, but the fact that Air. Lauri has seized the skirts of happy chance provided by the benefit in aid of the Distressed Actors’ Fund emboldened her to go and do likewise. All that remains now for the two aspirants In tragedy is to select a scene and to obtain Air Williamson’s sanction.

The Members of the Royal Comic Opera Company who sang at the afternoon

concert in connection with Father Robinson’s bazaar at the Alelbourne Town Hall last week, all volunteered their services without even being asked to do so by the promoters of the function. Such readiness to assist in a good cause has always been one of the most agreeable characteristics of Air. Williamson’s premier Company, as many towns throughout Australasia can bear grateful testimony.

Mr. J. C. Williamson loses a prominent and popular member of the Royal Comic Opera Company this week in the person of Air. Haigli Jackson, who, after many months of admirable work in the leading' parts, concludes his Australasian visit and returns to London. He will be certainly greatly missed by the public who like a good song admirably sung, but as a matter of fact the latter variety of

musical play, such as “Veronique” and “The Spring Chicken,” contain no parts scored for baritone voices.

The first week’s business at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, has made it practically certain that “Merely Mary Ann” is in for a long and popular run there. The attendance at each performance —notably at the midweek matineemaintained a satisfactorily high level, and at each the enthusiasm displayed was verv marked. As soon as a change becomes necessary, Mr. Williamson intends to supplant it with either “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,” or “La Tosca.” Miss Tittell Brune has so far played neither part in Sydney.

“Veronique,” which was staged for the first time in Australia at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday, November 11th, only terminated its long and popular run in London at the end of last month. Mr George Edwardes produced it there in May of last year, so that it held its place in popular favour for sixteen months, and a total of somewhere about. 500 performances. Its at. traction lies in the dainty melody of its music as mucic as in the humour of its comedian characters, and Mr. Andre Messager. its composer, in consequence, now holds a foremost place in the popularity of London audiences, as he has always done in Paris. The opera is in three acts, and the plot, which has more to do with the scenes than is customary with modern musical comedies, turns on the French method of making' marriages in which son and daughter respectively, dutifully agree with their parent’s choice rather than their own. That filial obedience enables Helene Solanges to masquerade as Veronique, a flower girl, without her fiancee being able to identify her, and in that capacity she wins the affection of a man, who, it must be confessed, had a somewhat too roving eye for a prospective benedict. The published cast of Veronique promises that it will be one of the strongest ever heard in Australia, both as regards its musical and its comedian elements.

The “Gondoliers” was the opera in which the Gilbert and Sullivan Company opened at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, on November 11th, for a season of a few weeks. Later on, “Trial by Jury,” “The Socerer,” and “Princess Ida” will all be done, but the time will, it is feared, be too short to allow of the production of “Utopia Limited.” For the actual holiday attraction at the Melbourne Princess, Mr. Williamson has decided upon “Pinafore.”

Early next month Air. Claude Bantock will enter the bonds of matrimony, and already his comrades in the Royal Comic Opera Company are deliberating as to the most suitable way in which to mark the auspicious occasion.

The Knight - Jeffries Company, which closed its Melbourne season the other day, will not justify that title any longer, since Miss Maud Jeffries (Mrs Onslow) is retiring into private life. After the New Zealand tour Mr Knight and the company will play a season of three or four weeks in Sydney (beginning FebruH.ry), when ‘‘His Majesty’s Servant will be played, and there will be seasons at Brisbane and Adelaide. Then the present intention. is to disband the company about Easter. Mr Knight told the Melbourne audience on the closing night that he proposes to indulge himself in a long holiday. Miss Nellie Stewart, who is playing a farewell season at Melbourne Princess, is to commence an American tour at San Francisco on January 22. She is to go there in the Sierra. A young lady was pounding away at the piano, and the faces of the assembled guests bore traces of acute mental anguish. Suddenly the “music” ceased, and the proud and happy mother of the per-, former approached the guest of evening, a famous professor of music. “And what do you think of my daughter’s execution ?” she inquired, smiling sweetly upon the old' gentleman. Your tochter s vot, madam ?” he cried. “Her execution,” replied the somewhat astonished lady. “ ’Er egsecution ! Madam, I gongradulate you 1 Ven vas ’ee to be? Ven vos ee’ goming off ? Ito be bresend vill efery efford make 1” And he shook his hostess violently by the hand. It is the intention of the London County Council to insist that all lights in the theatres shall be kept brightly lit during performances, on account of increased safety to audiences in case of sudden panic.

A few evenings ago a sensational accident attended the feat of “leaping the chasm” at Prince’s Court (says the “ Australasian”). Dastro, the cyclist, who carries out the performance, rides a bicycle down an inclined plane 80 feet long. The planking turns up at the end, with the result that, if the rider successfully accomplishes the feat, he rises in the air, describes a beautiful curve, and lands, his machine under him, on an inclined plane 40 feet distant. On this occasion, however, Dastro started badly, and after making the leap the back wheel of the bicycle struck the inclined plane at the wrong angle. Man and machine spun through the air, and were thrown in a heap on the tan track 36 feet away. Dastro was rendered unconscious, but he recovered in a-quarter of an hour, sat u T > and remarked, “That’s nothing —I’ve had far worse spills training in America.”

On the conclusion of their New Zealand trip, the Knight-Jeffries company will play for a short season in Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide, giving, besides some old favourites, “The Darling of the Gods,” “His Majesty’s Servant,” also “Everyman,” which will be new to those cities.

Of the recent production of “Everyman” in Melbourne, the “Australasian” has the following :—“This is the miracle of genius,” said Macaulay, “that things that are not should appear as though they are.” The “Pilgrim’s Progress.” of which this was written, is the high-water mark of allegory. In seeing one of the old morality plays like “Everyman,” one sees how the allegory was developed. Instead of being the forerunner of the Shakespearian drama, which is largely derived from Greek sources, it would seem as if the primitive personification of ideas in “Everyman” became afterwards

the personification of types (in the Pilgrim’s Progress”), and ultimately the personification of characters. The absence of scenery except for a simple draping of tapestry and a pair of tapestry curtains veiling the inner scene, showed the primitive theatre. A celestial prologue gave forth the argument. Everyman is to be summoned by the dread messenger Death to the judgment bar of Heaven. Death, a most impressive figure in green, like G. F. Watt’s celebrated figure in grey, checks Everyman midway in the “primrose path,” and, obeying the summons, he prepares for his end. Friends, riches, comrades, discretion, learning, etc., all forsake him ; good works alone accompanying him to the grave. Mr Julius Knight acted Everyman with impressive reverence. Ho showed his terror of the “Pain the passage hath. That makes fraile fleshe feare the bitter wave,” ' - and sank into his grave at the end after making his peace with Heaven. The other speakers,, who were all well-known members of the company, included Confession, Knowledge, whose expression of “the rapt soul sitting in the eyes” was very fine ; Good Works and “ Goodes,” who rather lookes like fhe original ancestor of “the villain of the piece.” The Town Hall was almost filled. Archbishop Carr and many clergymen of several denominations were present.

Mr Forbes Robertson’s latest London production is a play written in blank verse called “The Conqueror,” by “R. E. Fyffe,” a nom-de-plume which ineffectually conceals the Duchess of Sutherland. The story tells of Morven, Lord of Abivard, surnamed “The Conqueror.” The first act reveals him, in the midst of a career of conquest and devastation, in a castle recently captured ; within this castle he

sees Amoranza, the ten-year-old daughter of his fallen opponent, and this child’s trusting innocence touches some hitherto unknown chord of better nature in “The Conqueror’s” heart. Had he been guided by his usual impulse he would have taken the child’s life, but prompted by new emotions he sends her to his Castle of Abivard, there to be cared for and to await him until eight years have elapsed, when he will return and claim her as his bride. While he is making these plans Amoranza’s nurse appropriately curses him, and luridly prophesies the details of his final end. The years of waiting are passed by Amoranza at the Castle of Abivard, and by The Conqueror in pursuit of further conquests ; no one can prevail against him until, when the eight years have nearly passed, he fails to capture a young knight, Sir Beauvise of Degrevant, who continually eludes him and who finally reaches the Castle of Abivard, where he asks shelter from Amoranza. Now, Amoranza has not seen the Lord of Abivard since she was ten years old ; she just remembers his fegtures and knows he will come to her in disguise, and as this young knight very closely resembles The Conqueror, he is received by Amoranza as the lover she has been awaiting, and when the appointed hour arrives and the real Lord of Abivard comes to claim his bride, he finds that his enemy, Sir Beauvise, has gained in a day the maiden for whom he has waited eight years. The Conqueror throws all his treasures at Amoranza’s feet, reminds her of his promise to claim her ; but it is all too late: Amoranza loves Sir Beauvise,and the difficulty is solved by the self-destruction of Morven, Conqueror of all —except Love. The lighter episodes of the play are provided by a Seneschal and Amoranza’s maid and by the introduction of morris dancers. The play is said to be rather dull. t