SMOKE Old Judge TOBACCO & CIGARETTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 852, 5 July 1906, Page 18

SMOKE Old Judge TOBACCO & CIGARETTES.

In America “ Shore Acres” is a kind of “East Lynne”; it is an evergreen piece, and the years are capable of withering its perennial freshness. For some fifteen or sixteen years it has been going strong in the land of the Stars and Stripes. The feeling of the play, if not the story, is essentially American. In the States cleanly sentiment is a sure catch, even when it is overdone, and the author who can turn out a picture of the domestic virtues gets his audience every time. Dear old Uncle Nat in “ Shore Acres” is the sort of character that goes straight to the big heart of the American Republic. Uncle Nat has relinquished both Shore Acres Farm and the girl he loved in favour of his younger brother, Martin, who is the very antithisis of the gentle, lovable, self-sacrificing Nat in every particular. Martin favours the twin plans of their neighbour, Mr. Blake, who wants to marry Martin’s daughter, Helen, and to build desirable residences on the shore frontage. Now Martin’s mother and Nat’s is buried on that spot, and Helen loves not Mr. Blake but Sam Warren, a promising young doctor, who has completed his arrangements to go to America in search of a fortune. But Martin has no respect either for his mother’s grave or his daughter’s wishes. So Nat conspires with Sam to elope with Helen on the American-bound ship. When Martin discovers his daughter’s flight, he comes out very strong indeed. This brings us to the great lighthouse scene. The light has been blown out by the wind, and the ship in which Helen is eloping is drifting towards the rocks. Nat wants to relight the lamp; Martin would prevent him, and the struggle that ensues is very thrilling. In the last act Helen and Sam return from America with a real live grandson for Martin, while TTncle Nat has to make shift with a legacy, of a thousand pounds. It is now being produced in London at the Waldorf.

At the conclusion of their Melbourne season, the Ward-Willoughby Comedy Co. will visit Adelaide and Western Australia, and, in October, leave for a tour of New Zealand, returning to Sydney in January next. In addition to “ The Man from Mexico,” they will produce “the New Clown,” in which Mr. Ward will appear as. a‘ young nobleman, who becomes a circus clown, to fall in love with a beauteous “ principal boy,” which part will be taken by Miss Palotta,‘ . The company will also appear in “ Vivian’s Papas,” by the author of “ Are You a Mason?” and

“ The Talk of the Town,” by Mr. Eille Norwood, who was a member of the old Brough-Boucicault Company in Melbourne some years ago.

The California Theatre, which was totally destroyed in the San Francisco earthquake, is the house in which Mr. J. C. Williamson made his great success with “ Struck Oil” 35 years ago. His trip to Australia, which he subsequently made his home, followed immediately.

The next Shakesperean revival at the London Adelphi will be “ Macbeth.” Mr. Oscar Ascne as Macbeth, and Miss Lily Brayton as Lady Elizabeth.

Word comes from London stating that Mr. J. L. Toole, the famous comedian, is sinking. Mr. Toole, who visited Australia in 1890, was born in 1830, so that he is 76 years of age. He took to the stage largely on Charles Dickens’ advice in 1852.

“ Some actors are born great, and some have press representatives,” observed Mr. Oscar Asche at a recent gathering of the profession in London.

“ The theatrical profession in America has contributed ' generously towards the relief of the sufferers by the San Francisco disaster (says an exchange). Mr. Charles Frohman gave the entire receipts of the 200th performance of “ Peter Pan” at the Empire, Miss Maude Adams added 1000 dollars, and every person employed contributed the night’s salary or wages, even the ticket offices and speculators adding their profits. The result was a sum of 3500 dollars, which was promptly forwarded. Other

managers and performers were no less generous. George Cohan sold papers in the streets, paid 1000 dollars for the first copy and turned in over 1441 dollars. Marie Dressier opened a department store in the Gilsey House. Every article was given, and prices ranged from 25 cents to 2500 dollars. Klaw and Erlanger wired a large donation direct Mrs. Herman Oelrichs and other society ladies organised an entertainment that netted 31,500 dollars, the boxes and stalls selling at from 100 dollars to 500 dollars each. David Belasco telegraphed funds and arranged for a joint benefit. James H. Hackett and Mary Mannering gave a Sunday night benefit at the Tremont Theatre, Boston. Manager Lawrence, of the Madison Square, contributed the receipts of three days’ performances. Tony Pastor diverted the proceeds of the annual vaudeville benefit for the Actors’ Fund to the relief of stranded performers. Daniel Frohman, president, concurring. Elsie Janis arranged for a benefit at the Metropolitan Opera House, and Jules Merry’s companies all agreed to give benefits on tour. The English players in America were equally liberal, a special fund being raised under their auspices.”

Paul Cinquevalli, the famous juggler and equilibrist, was born in Poland and educated in Berlin, but is now a naturalised British subject. He states his intention to retire in three years’ time, when he will be fifty years of age, and spend the rest of his days in London.

According to the “New York Dramatic News,” Madame Melba has been engaged by Mr. Oscar Hammerstein for his next grand opera season at the Manhattan Theatre.

The French “revue” is catching on in England, the latest being Mr. Geo. Grossmith’s “Venus,” just produced at the Empire. The plot is reminiscent of “The Tinted Venus,” “Niobe,” and “Pygmalion and Galatea.” A young noble declares that the Gibson girl is more beautiful than the statue of Venus it has been his habit to kiss nightly, upon which Venus is so incensedthat she comes to life, together with her former husband, Vulcan, who lets bygones be bygones, and takes the part of his wife. A lawsuit is started against the-youth ful aristocrat, and after a series of intensely modern scenes of London life, including one in the Tuppenny Tube, Vulcan knocks over the Nelson column in Trafalgar-square, and sends the world back into the stone age. The column falls, the lions gravely rise and trot off the stage, and the noble and his Gibson girl are found dad in skins and grasses doing homage to Venus.