THE OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 849, 14 June 1906, Page 16

THE OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS. The Opera House was well filled on Tuesday evening to witness Saturday’s change of programme, which proved an excellent one. Mr. Frank Crowther’s orchestra led off with a bright overture, and the curtain rose on the company, who gave a good opening chorus. Miss Nellie Leslie, who is quite a favourite with Opera House audiences, earned unstinted applause for her coon song, and had to answer to several recalls. Her dancing was very bright and neat. Master Fred. Byron’s voice is certainly •gaining in quality, and at times he sings with considerable power. Should he keep on improving as he is doing

at present, we shall certainly hear more of him. The Rowell Sisters, who dance and sing their way before the footlights in a very attractive manner, were recalled vociferously for their turn. Mr. Ward Lear remains a leading favourite with his comic songs and gags, and is always most warmly received by the audience. One never knows what Ward Lear will be putting on next, and the audiences never tire of his turn. The Scott Brothers gave a very neat turn, which always comes in for appreciation, and their tumbling is cleverly interspersed with their work. Little Syd and Eileen Bernard perform most cleverly on bugles and cornets, displaying a remarkable knowledge of these instruments, which meets with marked approval by the audience. Mr. Jack Hagan sang several comic songs that went well, and earned him considerable applause. The second half of the programme was full of good items, not the least being the remarkable contortion act of Ajax, who appeared as the “ human crocodile.” This performer, who visited Auckland some little time back, gives a very weird exhibition of the art'of the contortionist, and appears to be able to literally tie himself into knots. His “ human crocodile act” is one of his best turns, and was loudly applauded by the audience. Miss Violet Frawley, who makes a first appearance, gave several good serio turns. The two Kranks again delighted the audience with their clever trick cycling, each act being loudly applauded. Their work is excellent throughout, especially the neat tumbling of “ the tramp.” Will Rollow still continues to please and amuse the audience with his comic songs, all of which met with instant approval. Miss Clara Keating came in for vociferous and repeated calls for her song and dance items, the audience being very loth to let her go. Mr. Frank King earned considerable applause for his songs, and had to answer to repeated recalls. The Scott Brothers gave some very good patter work that caused considerable amusement and applause. The evening’s performance concludes with some clever work by Bernard’s troupe of performing dogs, who, led by Whiskey, the smallest and merriest canine of them all, go through .some clever evolutions with the greatest intelligence. Among the artists to open at the Opera House next Saturday are the following:—Barrie Marschel and Irene Carlyon, dramatic sketch artistes; Phyllis Fay, serio and dancer; Pearl Lovell, serio and dancer; and Mr. Lal Logie, who makes a reappearance.

Our old friend Charlie Faning was a star attraction at the Palace, West Hartlepool, when the mail left.

The rehearsals for “The Lady Typist” are going on splendidly, and I am continually hearing enthusiastic criticisms as to the beauty of the music. Indeed, some of the numbers are said to be perfect gems in their way. Madame Wielaert will essay the leading role of Ethel Blythe, so that perfect justice should be done to the part as far as singing goes. Some of the costumes in the second act are said to be veritable dreams of beauty. “The Lady Typist” will be produced at His Majesty’s Theatre on August 13.

An old friend, Mr. Fred Graham, will be in Auckland in a day or two with the “Sinbad” Company. His experience and advice will be invaluable at the rehearsals of “The Lady Typist,” which is to be produced under his direction.

Mr. Alec Verne, the popular manager with Bostock and Wombwell’s Circus and Menagerie, leaves for Sydney on Monday to arrange for the appearance of the show in the “Harbour City.” Seeley and West were at the Empire Palace, Hackney, when the mail left. * * * * Billie Barlow, Will Van Allen, the musical tramp, and Alice Hollander were at latest at the London Tivoli. * * * * Mr. Will Lawrence, advance agent for Mr. William Anderson’s Pantomime Company, is in town making arrangements for the production of “Sinbad the Sailor,” which opens at His Majesty’s on Saturday. * * * * A concert, the first of a series, was given at the Y.M.C.A. Hall on Thursday, the soloists being Miss Tudehope, Mr. anl Mrs. Abel Rowe, Messrs J. W. Ryan and W. Agpinall. The Unique Quartette also contributed some enjoyable items. * * * * Miss Marie Narelle opens her Australian tour at the Sydney Town Hall on Saturday next. * * * * Anderson’s dramatic organisation has been holding the boards at the Theatre Royal here for four nights (writes my Napier cirrespondent), the season having been brought to a close last Monday night. “The Work Girl,” “Thunderbolt,” “Mariners of England” and “The Orphan Heiress” were the productions staged, good audiences being on tap throughout the stay of the company, the excellent all-round acting, beautiful scenery and up-to-date trimmings meeting with the hearty approval of patrons. Mr. F. Hemmingham is in control of the business portion of the company, and his affable manner in the discharge of his many duties, added to his popularity and that of the show he so ablv directs. « * There were no performances at His Majesty’s Theatre, the Opera House and at Bostock and Wombwell’s Circus on Monday evening owing to the death of Mr. Seddon. * * * * The Italian Band with Bostock and Womb well’s Circus is the best we have ever had round with any show of the kind, and their playing has been much appreciated. * * * * My Christchurch correspondent writes: —The weather here, since my last, has been what Mr. Mantalini would call “demnition moist,” and patrons of the “All Black Family” of

musicians and entertainers, who concluded a short season at the Royal last night, must have had a tough struggle with the elements when making their way to the theatre. If the present downpour continues Christchurch amusement-seekers will need to wear lifebelts under their evening dress. . . . The Caste Comedy Company, a clever combination of Christchurch amateurs, appeared once more in public the other evening at the Theatre Royal, when the amusing playlet, “A Bed of Roses,” was reproduced, and Mr. Wood Jones, well known in the ranks of our local players (he ought to have taken to the boards professionally) again essayed the part of Peter Vellacott, a charac-ter-study which in the capable hands of Mr. Jones never fails to bring down the house. The. little piece was keenly appreciated by the large audience. Carden Wilson, the wellknown mimic, contributes one of the best turns of the evening to Fuller’s Opera House bill just now. Will Stevens is still with us, and other’ Fullerian favourites now appearing at the Opera House are the Gibson Girls, Craydon and Barton, Lal Logie, and a heap more. . . . Mr. West, of “West’s Pictures” fame, has secured the sole right of showing animated pictures at the New Zealand International Exhibition, and is putting up a hall or theatre, 95ft by 40ft, for the purpose. . . . Heaps of “sideshows” coming along for the Exhibition season, including “The Hauntes Swing,” a Temple of Magic and Mystery, West’s Pictures and the Brescians, water chute, toboggan slide, improved switchback railway, shooting gallery, and any amount of others. . . . Williamson’s Comic Opera Company opens here Thursday next.

Messrs. Meynell, Gunn and Barna will shortly form a new farcical comedy company in England, and Mr. Claude Meynell has just left Australia for that purpose on the completion of the Dallas-Lloyd tour in the “J.P.” Mr. H. W. Varna, who originally came out to direct the stage in “The Darling of the Gods” with the Beerbohm Tree Company, has just purchased from Mr. Michael Morton, author, and Mr. Frank Curzon, theatrical lessee, the Australasian rights of “The Little Stranger,” which will form the principal piece in the new repertoire. This farcical comedy has been running at the Criterion Theatre, London, since February 15 last. It has an extraordinary plot, tin which a husband, determined to cure his wife of her weak credence in “illusions,” hires Tom Pennymant, a youth in years, an infant in stature, to impersonates his wife’s baby child, and in that ludicrous form to frighten and astonish her back into common sense again.

Mr. J. M. Barrie has chosen his new play, “Punch,” for a somewhat bitter jibe at theatrical domestic life. “Judy” remarks to Punch, “For the good of the show, I’m willing to pretend that we’re not married.”

Mr. Granville Barker, of the Court Theatre, and Miss Lillah McCarthy, the well-known actress, who recently scored a success as Ann Whitefield in “Man and Superman,” were married very quietly in London last., month by the Registrar in Henrietta-street, Covent Garden. The couple went to Paris for their honeymoon, ,

Mr. William Giurlay (of Sydney) is the author of a new sketch, “A Misscue,” produced for the first time at the Empress, Brixton, just before the London mail left.

In the production of the pantomime “Sinbad the Sailor” two dances are performed by a team of children. They sing nicely and dance even better. In fact, their work is one of the features of the performance.

Le Roy, Talma and Bosco, after a most successful tour of Australia and New Zealand,, arrived, in England on May sth,. and. opened in London on May 7th.

So far the following 35 bands had entered for the New Zealand International Exhibition Band Contest: — Christchurch Garrison Band, Lyttelton Marine Band, Buller Band, Dunedin Citizens’ Band, South Christchurch Brass Bandj Invercargill Municipal Band, South Canterbury Battalion Band, Woolston Brass Band, Derry’s Private Band, Oamaru Citizens’ Band, Ruahine Battalion Band. Nelson Garrison Band, Dannevirke Brass Band, Elite Brass Band, Napier Garrison Band, Timaru Marine Band, Kaikorai Band, Masterton Municipal Band, Karangahape Band, Grey Battalion, Hastings Town Band, Auckland Garrison Band, Mornington Band, Waihi Federal Band, Oamaru Garrison Band, Wellington Garrison Band, Hutt Valley Band, Denniston Band, First Auckland Mounted Rifles’ Band, Dunedin Navals’ Band, Feilding Band, First Auckland Infantry Battalion Band, Taranaki Garrison, Wanganui Garrison.

Mr. W. Arundel Orchard, who has been recommended for appointment as conductor of the New Zealand Exhibition orchestra, is the conductor of the Sydney Leidertafel, which has a very fine orchestra.

Miss Nina Osborne, a popular artiste with colonial audiences, has joined Mr. Geirge Elton’s company for a tour of the English provinces. She will play the leading part in Mr. Elton’s comedy “Other Men’s Business.”

With the death of Mr. James A. Bailey, of the famous firm of Barhum and Bailey, there disappears a showman second only to his illustrious partner. When a member of the firm of Cooper and Bailey in 1877 Mr. Bailey despatched a circus organisation to Australia, which has not since been surpassed. He owed his associaton with Barnum to having lefeated “the father of advertising” at his own game. Barnum having telegraphed to Bailey an offer of £2OOO for one of his elephants, Bailey refused, and used magnified fac-similes of the telegram to boom his own show. On the death of Barnum in 1891 his partner bought out his interests, and eventually floated the show into a company.

An actor has been refused admission to the Y.M.C.A. in America, and it has caused a storm of indignation in the profession, and called forth this challenge from one of the prominent actors, Mr. Henry Dixey:—“l will wager 1000 dollars, depositing the cash with either the editor of the 1 Leader’ or the manager of the Colonial Hdtel in Cleveland, that there isn’t an actor in any penitentiary in the United States. I will wager another 1000 dollars, deposited in cash in the same way, that there isn’t a penitentiary anywhere in this country that doesn’t contain one clergyman.”

Miss Lena Ashwell, for long leading lady to Mr. Beerbohm Tree, has started as a manager in London, and her initial production is a French mediaeval costume play, called “The Bond of Ninon.” Miss Ashwell is probably the greatest emotional actress that England possesses to-day, and as the play is described as a mixture of “The Three Musketeers” and “Camille.” it seems to be just the sort of drama destined for a long run. Mr. Edward Sass, once well known in Australia, was in the cast of “The Bond of Ninon.”

Mr. “Dot” Boucicault has played many parts, and none of them badly. For the first time in his stage career, however, he appears as a lady in J. M. Barrie’s political play, “Josephine,” produced at the Comedy Theatre, London. Mr. Boucicault and the lady he represents are the central figures in the play.

There are probably more capable actors and actresses to-day on the English stage than there ever has been in its history. Good players have increased, indeed, more abundantly than good playwrights.—Mr. Forbes Robertson on “An Actor’s Work” in “London Opinion.”

Ellen Terry’s sense of fun is indomitable. She was once asked by a lady hairdresser for a testimonial for some hairwash. Ellen Terry consented. and the hairdresser’s surprise may be imagined when she received a large portrait of the actress as Marguerite in “Faust.” Of course, in this part she wears a wig with beautiful long plaits. Beneath the nhoto was written—“ Ellen Terry, after one application of Miss ’s hairwash.” —“Rapid Review.”

What Messrs. John Fuller and Sons are to New Zealand and Mr. Harry Rickards to Sydney and Melbourne, Mr. J. C. Bain is to Tasmania. He now has four companies out, and as many of the members are old friends here the list will be found of interest. Here it is : —

Hobart: Denis Carney, George Jones, Ettie Williams, Will Dyson, Maynard Sisters, Malvena Moore, May Wallace, Arthur Phillips, Mark Phillips, The Volteens, Raleigh and May, J. P. Knowles (pianist), Bioscope. Launceston: Sam Gale, Percy Denton, Eya Hughes, Stirling and Stewart, Octavia and Warne, Sylvan Sisters, Minnie Bond, May Dagmar, Con Moreni, W. Tyler, Geo. Fowler (pianist), Bioscope.

Ballarat: Fanny Powers, Ibson Family, Leonard Nelson, Hugo Lear, Coleman Sisters, Les Vane, Chas. Moody, Alma Lyndon, Elsie McLachlan, Olga Pennington, Carl Wallace, W. Knowles, Beryl Lytton, Percy Davies (pianist), Bioscope. Geelong (Bendigo to follow): Delroy and Bell, Zeno and Hall, Stella Ranger, Florrie Ranger, Lulu Eugene, Goldie Collins, Jim Loander, Bob Hall, Ben Menzies, Tom Hedley, Chas. Howard, Rose Sisters, Cissie Bell (pianist), Bioscope.