SMOKE Old Judge TOBACCO & CIGARETTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 845, 17 May 1906, Page 18

SMOKE Old Judge TOBACCO & CIGARETTES.

Madame Clara Butt, the famous contralto, has just booked for an Australian and New Zealand tour. The tour will be under the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tait. Since her debut as Ursula in the “Golden Legend” in December, 1892, Miss Clara Butt has had a splendid career, becoming the leading contralto in the world. She was born at Southwick, in Sussex, on February 1, 1873. In her 15th year, thinking that she had a good voice, she asked permission from her parents to enter for one of tfie Roval Academy scholarships, and' this was the commencement of her now famous and brilliant career. She studied in London, and later on in Paris under M. Bouhy, the famous teacher of Amy Castles. Miss Clara Butt is a woman of most commanding presence, her height being no less than 6ft. 3in. In 1900 she was married to the well-known baritone, Mr. R. Kennerley Rumford, who will of course accompany Madame Butt on her Australian and New Zealand tour. Mr. Kennerley Rumford is in his 36th year, and' the coming to this part of the world will be awaited with the greatest of interest, as the fame of Madame Butt is not only well-known in England, but her fame is known all over the world. Madame Butt has a special charm in the singing of childish songs, and she seems to enter into the whole spirit of them. Madame Butt always enjoys the position in London, as being the first concert artist, ami although there are numerous other splendid' astists in London at the present day the name of Madame Butt is sufficient to fill the largest hall in England. Her stage presence is remarkable, and her great height no doubt makes her appearance on the platform most commanding.

“The Fatal Wedding” is reported to be one of the most successful dramatic productions ever seen in the colonies. For weeks at Melbourne (the Melbourne Theatre Royal), and now at Sydney, business has been excellent. Besides the principals, headed by Miss May Congdon and' Mr. Charles Vane, and including Messrs. Herbert Leigh, C. R. Stanford, Tom Cannam, Harry McLennan, Oily Deering and little Maisie Posner, over 40 trained children are included in the company. The children’s scenes, with their delightful and unique songs and d’ances, are features of the production.

Mr. J. C. Williamson had only just completed the reorganisation of his companies’ movements, consequent unon the delay in the departure of the Collier Company from the United States, when news arrived that threatened to once more entirely upset his plans. On the day before they were to sail from Vancouver. Messrs. J. D. Spreckel and Co. cabled from San Francisco that Mr. William Collier and the whole of the 25 players associated with him were safe at Oaklands, a place just on the other side of the bay from the ruined city. As the place is 50 hours distant from Vancouver, it was obviously impossible, if the facts were as. stated, for the people to get on board' the Moana in time, and Mr. J C. Williamson naturally felt extremely anxious and puzzled, seeing that his representatives over there had assured him that all had been satisfactorily arranged regarding their embarkation. He had already set to work to again devise means to meet the emergency, when a cable came to hand from Mr. Reginald Roberts, conveying the welcome intelligence that everybody was safe on board the mail steamer, though the word's “completely exhausted'” added to the cable augured that there had been a terrific rush across country to be in time.

The latest mechanical, lunacy popular in America is a motor-car, driven by a girl, which “loops the loop” in mid-air. There is a long inclined path, down which the car dashes by gravity, striking two steel triggers close to the lowest point. These triggers release springs, which throw up the car as it leaves the track, the force being adjusted to such a nicety that the car turns somersault in the air, landing on another plane inclined upwards. The act is called “The Limit,” and is being shown by Barnum anl Bailey.

We all know actresses and actors are superstitious, and that their superstitions are weird and wonderful. Miss Zena Dare, the famous English burlesque artiste, recently gave her impressions on this question to an English journal. The lady’s confessions are amusing reading. Miss Dare swears by a Zulu bangle, sent to her on the night she heard that she had won a prize presented by a music-publishing house for the most successful rendering of a popular song. Also Miss Dare tells of a star actor who picks lumps out of the scenery on the opening night of a new production, to secure success! At Daly’s Theatre, Geo. Graves, the English comedian, recently made a word-gag referring to an imaginary “Bald, with a tuft on its chest,” which he christened the “Gazeka.” The “Gazeka” has been adopted by part of the profession in London as a mascot. Verily, brainy people have strange beliefs and ways!

The “Daily Graphic” (London) wrote in a recent issue, “There is still no sign of any decline in the remarkable popularity of plotless—and sometimes tuneless —musical comedy. The public taste for this type of play appears to be as fixed as public taste ever is in these matters, however much it may be deplored by patrons of the high drama.” Mr. Clyde Fitch, in the course of some remarks, spoke rather aptly of this in New York lately He said, “People who want to improve the theatre should go to the theatre. The demand creates the supply, but no amount of supply will create a demand'. There will be good plavs and bad plays, according to the audiences attending. The theatre is one of the greatest popular forms of interest and relaxation. The demand causes'' the supply as in everything else.”

Maxim Gorki, who has just been given the cold shoulder in New York for passing off as his wife an actress who was not, has had his latest play, “The Children of the Sun,” produced in Berlin. Like the rest of Gorki’s dramatic work, it seems to be utterly unsuitable for the stage, though dealing with phases of life less repulsive than those hitherto depicted. His power is said to be unquestionable, but Gorki has exhibited the same contempt for the conventions of stagecraft as he has for all others.

A famous combination of male sing*rs is proceeding to Australia, via Japan, and will give a series of concerts, commencing in Melbourne very shortly. It is called the Bohemian Quartette. It was founded by the celebrated composer, Dvorak, and the individual members of the quartette have all studied at the Conservatoire at Prague, some of them being professors. Two members of the quartette are soloists. The party has just completed' an engagement in America under Erlanger, the New York entrepreneur.

A chorus girl of “The Isle of Spice” Company, at present touring America, recently received word' she had inherited £lOO,OOO.