THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 860, 30 August 1906, Page 16

THE STAGE

(By

“Footlight.”)

HIS MAJESTY’S.

MR LESLIE HARRIS.

On Saturday las: Mr Leslie Harris, the well-known society entertainer, commenced a short season at His Majesty’s, a large audience attending to judge for themselves whether the good reports which had come to hand prior to Mr Harris’ advent, w'ere true or overcoloured. This, before ali others, is a cardinal pr nciple with Auckland audiences that they do not believe in reputations but prefer to put their own value on the quality of the artists who visit these shores. The question in their minds was “Is Leslie Harr s a really clever entertainer or not,” and before

the curtain had been up for ten minutes it was speedily evident that the “Ayes” had it, for of those to take the other side there were none, and “carried unanimously,” was the unmistakable verdict. Mr Harris is the third enterta'ner to visit us in recent years, the others being the late Mr Mel. B. Spurr, and Mr R. G. Knowles, and it is somewhat difficult to avoid comparisons with these. The latter excelled as a singer of comic songs, whereas Mr Harris gives us humorous songs. Now a humorous song is often comic, but the so-called comic song is rarely humorous. Mr Harr’s is more to be likened to Mr Spurr, but, whereas the latter gave us much genuine pathos with Mr Harris, this vein is rightly subordinated to merriment. He teaches us as t were, the laughter of the piano, and if, as the doctors tel us, laughter is a tonic of more value than much phys'c, then must Mr Harris be considered in the light of a public benefactor, for of a surety, the utmost hilarity prevails while he is on the stage. Commencing with “Old Songs” and “New Books,” a humorous musical sketch, the enterta’ner touched on all sorts of topics from grave to gay. He showed us the humour in little incidents of every day life, here and there breaking off to relate some amusing anecdote which never failed to give rise to a ripple of laughter. First and foremost, however, Mr Harris is a musician, and he is happiest of all when seated at the piano. We have heard nothing better in its way than the possibilities of the “Honeysuckle and the Bee” when treated in the styles of Mendelssohn, Chopin, or Wagner. It was a sly hit at those worthy people who consider that hymn tunes are the only one it is possible to play on Sundays. “The Ladies’ Penny Paper,” which Mr Harris cons'ders the best song of its kind that he has yet written, and which, by the way, was specially “commanded” on three occasions by the King, proved a very humorous and much appreciated item. In a totally different vein was the mus'cal monologue, “Xmas Bells,” another piece of his own composing, in which the bitter lot of the London waifs at Christmas time is pathetically to'd. A few minutes with Albert Chevalier and Mel. B. Spurr showed two characteristic items of these two. The Farmer’s Song, “ ’E Can’t Take a Rise Out of I,” was a very clever bit of work, in the dialect of “Somersetshire,” while, “When I was a Boy at School,” irristably recalled poor Spurr. “How to Compose,” was also well liked, but one of the most appreciated items of the ■evening was the duet with Miss Buckmann, “The Singing Lesson,” which brought forth a storm of applause. Miss Rosina Buckmann, who was in fine voice, rendered several very acceptable items. Among those were “A Summer Night” (Goring Thomas), “The Dewdrop” and the Rose” (Johns), “The Three Green Bonnets” (D’Hardelot), “The Birth of Dawn” (Leoni), “April Morn” (Batten) ,and “Good-bye” (Tosti). The talented vocalist was recalled after every song, in some cases several times. Madame Flora Gilfillan acted as accompanist. These people who appreciate a bright and entertaining evening should certainly pay a visit to His Majesty’s. The season ends to-morrow night. THE WORLD’S PICTURES.

Animated pictures, like the poor, seem to be always with us. But this, does not necessarily imply that the picture shows are poor. In fact, the 'latest picture company, “The World’s Pictures which is to lay before the Auckland public on Saturday night, its first bill-of-

fare, comes with the praise of Southern critics still ringing in the ears of the management. The Press notices this Company has received from our contemporaries is lavish indeed, and if all the good things said are true, then playgoers of this city are in for real enjoyment. The Company show a number of films of places of interest the world over, but the entertainment is not confined to these subects, for there is a large repertoire of dramatic, pantomimic, romantic and comical subjects io draw' upon, including some splendid specimens of coloured animatography. The season commences on Saturday night at His Majesty’s Theatre.

“OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL.”

The Macmahon Dramatic Co., which has just been reorganised and newly augmented in Sydney, left that c ty yesterday for Auckland, where a prolonged New Zea'and tour will be initiated at His Majesty’s Theatre Saturday, September Sth. The organization, which numbers no less than 26 Metropolitan favour-

Res of repute, is said to be the strongest travelling combination in the Southern Hemisphere, whilst the repertoire wili be entirely new to this colony. The piece selected for the opening night is the powerful and splendidly successful London Adelphi drama “Our Guardian Ange ,” the Messrs Macmahon hav ng purchased the sole New Zealand rights from Mr Chas. Holloway. “Our Guardian Angel” will be fo lowed in rapid succession by other equally popular plays, including “The Executioner’s Daughter,” and “The Price of Sin.” The scenery, which has al'> been painted in Sydney, should easily excel anyth'ng of the kind as yet presented here.

THE OPERA HOUSE.

FULLERS’ ENTERTAINERS. The Opera House was well filled in every part on Monday evening, when a programme full of excellent items was provided. Mr Frank Crowther’s Orches-

tra opened proceedings with a specially bright overture “Heyday” that brought the curtain up on the Company, who gave a good opening chorus, “Jovial Blacksmith.” Miss Ivy Gabardi was very successful in her serio and dance item, “My Jersey Lily,” her dancing be ng neat and finished, and her rendering of the song calling for warm applause. Master Norman Mudford quite excelled himself in the song “In the Valley Where the Blue Birds Sing,” the notes coming clear and true, showing that his voice has improved cons'derably in quality. He was heartily applauded and recalled for his efforts. Mr Aubrey Douglas gave a couple of “Coon” items that went wel , his acting of the second song displaying good work, for which he was warmiv applauded. The Four Rosebuds gave a very dainty and picturesque little sketch, “Bridget,” that cal'ed for hearty applause and a recall. The r concerted dancing and singing formed a very pleasing item, which was enhanced by- their dainty costumes. Mr Carl Collier, who remains as great a favourite as ever, was

warm y received by the audience, whom he kept in a continual state of merr ment throughout his turn. There is something about him, some little trick of manner or style, that keeps his work evergreen with Opera House patrons, and makes him a prime favourite. Miss Dorothy L’Estrange proved the power and range of her voice ’n “Il Bacio,” which she sang with much express on, the joyous runs and high notes being well sustained and of rich quality. She was warmly applauded and recalled for her efforts. The first portion of the programme concluded with a series of very clear pictures by the Warwick Bioscope, depicting “Anothers Crime” and “The Opium Smoker’s Dream,” the latter being a c everly worked out series. Part two ushered in bv Mr Frank Crowther’s Orchestra, commenced with Ern Ern’s clever ventriloquial turn, his happy family ot ta'king figures causing great amusement. He throws h's voice in a most uncanny fashion from one figure to the other, and reaches a fine climax in his

newsboy turn. Mr Vai Newton gave a fine rendering of “When the Anvil Rings,” and was warmly applauded for his efforts. He was followed by the Carmos, wffiose wonderful juggling turn called for hearty and spontaneous applause. The feats of these two in the balancing line are extraordinary to a degree ,and display great strength and skid of a high order on the part of both performers. The most astonishing item was that in which the lady performer was carried round on a ladder-like structure decorated with flags. This

contrivance was made to revolve just above where it rested upon her partner’s head, and in this manner the lady was turned dizz Uy on a perfect balance. Their turn is certainly one of the best things we have seen in this line. Miss Ivy Gallardi, who next appeared, won considerable applause for her deft dancing. Monaghan and Sheehan, the musical double, proved themse ves accomplished players on various musical instruments. The Post Horn selection was a capital one, the notes ringing out clear and flawless, whilst the piccolo so'o was a delightful piece of work, the runs and trills being splendidly rendered. The lady performer a so sang very sweetly and was warmly applauded and recalled. Miss Dorothy L’Estrange gave a very happy interpretat.on of several capital.y illustrated songs. The Four Rosebuds who appeared in dainty red costumes, danced and sang through “The Tale of a Stro 1” very charmingly, and were warmly applauded and recal'ed. The ever popular Driscolls fairly charged the air with laughter on their appearance. Crisp, spark.ing gags and patter, went home to the audience in telling shots, causing great hilar ty and frequent burs s of applause. Their “Bioratty graph” fairly convulsed the house. The evening’s entertainment concluded with a series of pictures depicting the football match between New Zealand and Glamorganshire. The pictures were very clear, members of the N.Z. team being easily d scernable, and being wild y hailed by; members of the audience. Mr Frank Crowther’s piano accompaniment to these pictures w’as a very, pleasing item. For Monday evening next, Mr Fuller announces the first appearance of the “Mascotte” Samoan Siva Troupe, who are putting on a novel and graceful turn, which will be enhanced by limerght effects and tropical scenery. The turn will open in darkness, with a reproduction of the celebrated Samoan song A Lament) to be follow'ed with fu 1 lights by the “Siva,” a vocal and gesticulatory combination of an exceedingly qua'nt character. The who e turn will conclude with an extravaganza, in imitation of the cry of the Samoan Plover.

OLYMPIA SKATING RINK.

Business continues brisk at the Olympia Rink, and there is no sign of any falling off in patronage, but rather the reverse. There are three sessions every day, and on Saturday morning there is a ch Idren’s matinee, with free admission, and this is becoming increas ngly popular. The next big event will be the Grand Fancy Dress Carnival, for wffiich special preparations are being made. Mr A. Kohn is giving a gold medal 1 to the lady champion of the R'nk, who will be the one who receives most points in the competition at the Carnival. This is sure to give rise to strong competition, and there should be very large attendances on the evenings in quest on ,viz., September 5 and 6. Mr W. Low, at one time one of the finest athletes this colony possessed, is now on a visit to Auckland in connection with the World’s Pictures. * * * * As far as the United States and Canada are concerned the projected vaudeville trust has been formed, 25 managements from Maine to San Francisco having fallen into line. The trust will control over 100 big music-halls, and obtain their talent through a central bookingoffice.

A CHAT WITH THE DRISCOLLS.

Everybody who patronises the house of John Fuller and Sons knows these clever brothers, and I should like to see the, person who could sit through halt of their turn without being moved to merriment. It is good''to hear ■the laughter that is evoked by their clever sketches. It sweeps across the audience in irresistible waves, and bei.ore one has time to recover, a' iresh hit' starts it going again. They are great favouri.es these merry fun-makers, and would be on half the evening if the audience had its way. As it is they have to answer to many recalls, and the fun lasts even after the fall of the curtain. Thinking that they must have some good stories to relate of their wanderings, I cornered them for a few, and here are one or two little incidents out of their extensive collection. “We made a hit one night quite unexpectedly,” said one of them. “We were piaying in Dunedin on the night in question, and just before we were timed to go on we heard a lot of laughing and barracking in iront. Scenting a possible gag we enquired into the cause of the amusement ,and found that a well-known character had taken a seat right in the front of the house and had on a new panama hat. We saw our opening in a flash and shot on. Have you heard the latest ? said my brother. No I what is it? Why Archie’s got a new Panama!” It set them off all right and it took us a long time to get a hearing, I can tell you.”

“How about your trip to Manila?” I asked, “you must have had a few experiences there?” “Oh, yes! it was a. bit funny; there sometimes. Our adventures began before we reached there, when our steamer ran into the tail end of a typhoon. There were a good number of us on board bound for the Orpheum Theatre, and among others were Madame Lotti, two of the Williams quartette, and the Chrystal Sisters. Madame Lotti, who considered herself too good a sailor to be upset by the heavy rolling of the ship, persisted in drinking very black coffee, so one of 'us remarked to her that she must be a really good sailor.

“Ah yes, Msieu Driscoll, very good,” she said, and just then the boat giving an extra long roll in the seas even Madame was upset. “You are not such a good sailor after all, Madame,” we said. “Oh dear no ,not to-day,” said Madame deprecatingly, and everybody laughed in spite of the weather.

“The audiences at Manila are a pretty mixed lot,” said one of the brothers. “You get Americans, Philipinos and coloured gent.emen of all descriptions. When we first landed we knew very little about American ways, and on our first evening we went as flat as a pancake, couldn’t raise a smile in spite of all we could do. So we went to the manager and asked for our return tickets. He would’nt hear of it, however, and said that things would be all right in a night or two. So we set to work and rewrote pretty well all of our available stock of gags and songs ,and after that we had a great run.

One evening we played at Cavite, just across the bay from Manila, and there was a big crowd of soldiers at the show. We were doing one of our dances mostly on one foot, and the crowd commenced singing out “The o her foot!” “The other foot-” We stuck to the first step for about three recalls, and each time we came on the clamour grew louder. Then at last we changed just as the audience reckoned they had got us beaten and the applause was deafening. They are a funny crowd like that, and if they think you cannot do what they want, they reckon you are no good.

The rainy season is the time there though, and it is no uncommon sight to see the boys going round with refreshments in the body of the hall with their trousers rolled up to the knee. The floor gets fairlv flooded in spite of the barricades that are put up at the doors, and you see people sitting with their feet up on the seats in front. It just comes down in a steady deluge for days, and one has to wear rubber overcoats and rubber boots in order to keep decently dry. ,

You have some lively room-mates in the hotels there, consisting of regular old men cockroaches, and big lizards that make a sort of whistling noise. The cockroaches are demons, being about twice as large as the ordinary species, and they eat holes in your clothing while you sleep. I don’t know what would happen if some of them got inside the mosquito netting that envelopes the bed. I believe the beggars would eat you a’.ive. ”

“Did you have any earthquakes while you were in the Phillipines ?” I asked, knowing that the islands have got a great

reputation for tremors. “There were two that made a lasting impression on us.” “One shake lasted a minute and a-half ,and as it was in-the night-and the lights went out, leaving us in total darkness with the floor seeming to roll under our feet, well ! we thought we were not going to see New Zea and again. Our last adventure in the Phillipines might easily have rung the curtain down on us, and I think we were very lucky to escape as we did. We had left Manila, bound for Australia, and one evening the steamer dropped anchor at a place called Zamboanga, the last port of call for outward bound ships. Thinking there might be something to be seen there we got permission to go ashore, and found the place was full of American soldiers. After wandering about for a while in the darkness, we found that someone was shadowing us, and presently a negro came up and advised us to go on board the ship. After he had been at us two or three times we thought there might be something in it so we cleared, and going on board found an American officer there, who, in answer to our enquiries as to whether the place was safe, took off his helmet and pointed to a bullet hole in it. “I caught that last night,” he drawled, “it’s a wonder you didn t collect one.” Then we went thankfully below.

About the funniest thing of the lot happened in Adelaide. We were strolling along the street after a performance, four of us together, and stood talking opposite some pie stalls at the cornei of a street. Suddenly a man lurched up and hit my brother a bang behind the ear, bowling him over in the road. I was standing a bit to one side of him talking and did not notice what had happened, and my brother getting to his feet was promptly knocked down again. Then the man made a run at him, and myl brother’s feet caught him in the wind and

curled him up on the pavement in front of me. Thinking the man was drunk and had fallen over, I carefully assisted him to his feet, and next minute got a terrible bash in the eye that flattened me out completely. Then the man cleared, and we afterwards learned that he had mistaken us for somebody else. Madame Dolores is drawing splendid houses at the Sydney Town Hall. * * * * The Dunedin Amateurs will shortly produce the ever popular opera “Dorothy. ” * * * * “Erminie” is shortly to be staged by the Christchurch Amateurs. The name conjures up visions of Billy Elton on one of his best roles. * * * * The Steele-Payne Family, who are at present at Ballarat, will make another tour of the colony very shortly. * * * * Mr Harry Rickards’ Vaudeville Company will play a short season at His Majesty’s from October 8 to October 17. * * * * Those who are fond of living pictures will be glad to know that the popular West-Brescians will be here in October 2.) for a long return season. * * * * “Much Ado About Nothing” will be read bv the Auckland Shakespeare Society at the Y.M.C.A. Hal to-morrow evening. « * * * Wirth’s Circus will make a tour of New Zealand before very long.

Mr J. C. Williamson has concluded an agreement with Miss Olive Morrell, one of Mr George Edwardes’ most popular principals, who will come out to Australia to take part in the pantomime at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Me.bourne this year. All those who collect' post cards will be already familiar with Miss Morrell’s beautiful face and figure. The lady also bears the distinction of being one of the best dressed women in London.

George Fuller Golden, out here last year, is still in ill health, and was lately given a benefit in New York, realising £lOOO.

In the performance of “La Poupee,” to be given at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, on the 12th of September, in aid of the Foundling Home, just on one hundred children will take part. In addition to the opera, a big dancing scene has been arranged. The children shape well (says “Punch”), and are wonderfully clever. The Aletia of the production is just six years of age, the Lancelot twelve. These young people are singing all the music allot.ed to them without a note being out. * * * * An Australasian tour of “The Little Stranger” commences in Melbourne on October 20. Mr Allan Hamilton will be in charge. * * * * Mr Leslie Harris, the entertainer, is an enthusiastic golfer, and it was not long after his arrival in Auckland before he. found his way out to the links at Cornwall Park.

Mr Chambers was recently asked if he had any advice to would-be dramatists, and the brilliant author of “The Tyranny of Tears” and a dozen other greatly successful plays replied as follows: — “The only way to learn play?writing is

to write plays, and the only chance of getting them accepted is to read them to managers. It’s not a bit of use posting a MS. to a theatre ,because no man approaches a play with the feeling that he is going to read a masterpiece. What I mean is that a manager reads so many plays, mostly bad or indifferent, that it is not surprising if he fails to recognise a good one when he comes across it. Phen, again, in reading his own play, an author can convey to some extent the atmosphere he has tried to create; he can bridge over the gap that yawns between the cold text and the play in action. My advice to authors is, read your plays to managers, and if you don’t read well, practise till you do.” * * * * Wit from the Gallery.—A waggish occupant of the gallery at a house of musical comedy shouted the other night to a pretty but more than somewhat indistinct lady artist, “Don’t be nervous, my dear; it’s only me!” At another theatre where the fare is comedy without the music, one of the “gods” called down to an actor who had just finished making rather a long speech, “Will you say that again, please? I didn’t hear it!” A most disturbing remark of the “speak up” order was that made to a very romantic actor who was making love in absurdly low tones to a lady whose wrongly arranged attitude —she was somewhat inexperienced—obliged him to turn with his back to the audience. “Let’s hear the story, guv’nor—if it ain’t improper!” The funniest reminder to the people on the stage of the lateness of the hour was uttered during a very tearful death scene in a melodrama in the sub-

urbs. A romantic and gallant farm hand had saved the hero at the expense of his own .ife— : and ' was- slowly, too slowly for the hour, dying from the awful effects of the blank, cartridge. His sweetheart .was by his side .tending the crimson stain on his shirt front, and he looked up into her face and said, with long spun out effort, Give us a buss,! lass j Just one buss—for the last !” At which' a cruel, galleryite who was anxiously, consulting' his watch, cried down, “What about my last ’bus?”

Mr Fred Franich, of Auckland, a twelve months pupil of Professor Potter’s, is said to be the most perfect, y developed man now in New Zealand. Some of his measurements are. really remarkable, and are worth recording. Here they are : Height, sft q|in ; weight, last 4ms; neck, 24m; upper arm, iBin; foreatm, ; chest, 48m ; chest expans on, urn; thigh, 2 5 in; calf, i6|in. The muscular development of the arim is wonderful, while the chest expansion is simply enormous. With such powerful muscles ’ is to be expected that Fran, ch can do something big in the weight-lifting line, and such is indeed the case. Forming a bridge from his head and heels he can support a 2oolb bar, bell, and three men on his chest., the total weight being 660 lbs. He is able to I.ft a isewt motor car, and in harness can raise over a ton. A number of other feats, which would make two average men look foolish, are done with the utmost ease. So that Auckland may judge for themse ves, Franich wih give an exhibition at the Federal Hall on September 12, when doctors, athletes, pressmen and others will be inviked to test the genuine nature of the performance. This modern Hercules will shortly go on tour, visiting Whangarei and the Waikato, and will afterwards go South to the Christchurch Exhibition.

Accord ng to an exchange, Carl Hertz, the popu ar illusionisti, has produced at Keith and Proctor’s Twenty-third-street which has set New York wondering. It is called “The Bridal Chamber,” and is in the Ine of cabinet mysteries. He transforms the interior of a cabin, the walls of which are constructed solely, of draperies, from absolute emptiness to a completely furnished boudoir, with bedstead, mattresses, pillows and linen, and bearing also the sleeping figure of his clever assistant, Mme. Hertz. * * * * The sensational play, “Thunderbolt,” by Mr Ambrose Pratt and Mr A. J. Joseph, will be produced at the Melbourne Theatre Royal by M'r Wm. Anderson’s company on Saturday night, September 1 * * * * Ihe veteran actor, Mr Edmund Holloway, died at his residence, “Chowringhie,” Garden-street, South Yarra (Melbourne), on Saturday evening (says the “Referee”). Mr Holloway was a prominent figure on the stage in the dayp of G. V. Brooke, but until recently was with Mr Alfred Dampier. * t * » Miss Nellie Stewart, writing to a friend, says that her Chicago season has been a great success. Press notices to hand confirm the statement. The local “Examiner” says that the star was treated to an ovation, and that a number of Australians from the local colleges “buried her beneath flowers,” and gave her a reception “as only youth 10,000 miles away from home would have the courage to express.” * * * * Mr Edward Lauri, the comedian, who has just returned to England from Australia, is shortly to appear at the London halls in a pantomime sketch. * * * * In the June number of “Cassell’s Magazine” Mr George Cecil relates the life history and triumph of the most famous tenor of the day. He led an eventful life in his native Naples ti.l he was old enough to take the Italian equivalent for the King’s shilling. It was while staggering beneath the weight of the knapsack in which, according to a French authority, there reposes a Marshal’s baton, that the adolescent Caruso developed the vo ce which was —at no distant date—destined to entrance all civilised Europe and North and South America. For though he had worn the operatic sword and poignard before learning to train the guns of his battery on an imaginary enemy, the young artilleryman had not made h>s mark on the stage. He asked to be entered on his attestation papers as “lyric artist.” Caruso’s blythe comrades dubbed him “Il figlio del Magiore, ” and from being the butt of the battery he became its chief ornament. “Il tenore Caruso,” said the men of war when presenting him to soldiers from other regiments. “Here’s your health and song!” returned h : s listeners.

Among twenty-one passengers who were kil ed in the recent accident to the South-Western boat train, bearing travellers from New York to London, was Jules Keller, the well-known music hall artiste, known as the “Human Enigma.

According to “The Music Hall,” La Milo’s embodiment of the Velasquez Venus and other masterpieces is, without doubt, the talk of the town, , not to say, the Pavilion’s “catch of the season.” T' e subjects gain considerably in effect by the pretty and natural garden envjronni?nt. Art students, who are especially conspicuous among the audience which nightly fill the Pavilion, are loud in their praise of the - beautiful poseuse, whose work they declare to be the most artistic exhibition of the female form divine yet given on the variety stage. Mr Cruickshank continues to afford the innumerable admirers of La Milo’s act with amusement in the way of caricatures of. celebrities shown through a lantern on a cinematograph cloth.

An ambitious production at the Hackney Empire is “The Chauffeur,” a tabloid musical comedy. It is in one scene, an elaborate American bar, thronged with pretty women and smart men. Here arrives a dandy little chauffeur, who, after a vigorous flirtation, recognises in the features of the bar-tender his own brother. A longing for fresh air by one, and a new experience by the other, induces them to change places, with what curious results may easily be imagined. The exchange of chaff between the chaf-feur-barman and the polite idiot of the piece is, without exaggeration, as funny as anything the legitimate stage offers at the moment. Ere the curtain falls the amateur machinist is brought back a wreck by motor accident, the chaffeur just saving him from being arrested by speeding him away. The music is. catchy, and the chorus vivacious and interesting. Mr Danby’s adventures are amazingly funny.

Mr Harry Rickards has purchased a number of chronophone singing and talking picture machines from Messrs Gaumont and Co., and has also contracted with the same firm for sole rights with the chronophone for Australia for six months, for which privilege he has paid a handsome premium.

Bendigo holds the distinction of being the first Australian town to pass judgment upon “The Virginian,” Mr J. C. Williamson’s new company haying staged the adaptation of Owen Witser’s fascinating novel there on Wednesday last week (writes Mr G. Tallis). The play has naturally had to be somewhat altered for theatrical reproduction, but the work has been so well done that most of

the atmosphere of the book has been retained, while all its more important incidents have been included in what is really a remarkably good play. The action begins with the exploit of the Virginian and Lin McLean at the township dance, where for want of something better to do they alter the outward seeming of the infants of the settlement while their mothers are enjoying themselves in the adjoining room, to the subsequent mystification and pronounced anger of the latter. The second act takes place on Judge Henry’s ranch, while for the third act has been chosen the powerful and pathetic scene where the Virginian in charge of his cowboys, wreaks summary justice on the horse stealers, though for one of them he has a deep and abiding affection. The final scene concerns the last meeting between the Virginian and Trampas ,when the latter p ays the last card of his quarrel with the former, and threatens to shoot on sight if the Virginian does not leave the place before sunset. He himseff is killed instead, and the curtain falls on the Virginian holding in his arms the schoolmistress who had declared she would leave him on the eve of his marriage if he did not shun the meeting, but whose relief at finding him alive, conquers her resolve. Mr Charles Waldren gave a very fine rendering of the hero, his remarkab'y able acting no less than his appearance lending the part an attractiveness, equal, if not seperior to that which it possesses in the book. The whole of the rest of the cast was well taken, and among the characters those of Molly the schoolmistress, Trampas and Steve were excellently done by Miss 010 Humphrew, Mr Hardee Kirkland, and Mr Cyril Mackay. * * * * A succession of very large and enthusiastic audiences have attended the performances of “The Litt e Michus” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbqurne, since the opening night, and Mesenger’s charming comic opera has evidently come into

a thoroughly deserved heritage of popularity. Miss Florence Young has further increased its musical attractiveness by an additional number, “Nymphs and Fawns ,’’first sung here by Madame Melba.

Among the reigning attractions just now in London is “The Dairymaids,” which it will be remembered Mr J. C. Williamson recently secured for Australasia. The piece in which Miss Carrie Moore figures as a Sandow Girl is going so well at the Apollo Theatre that its producers do not anticipate that a successor to it will be required before the end of the year.

Mr Julius Knight at the present time is in Scotland on a visit to his mother, whom he has not seen for many years. While there he will of course prepare his part of King Polizones, which he is to play, in Mr Beerbohm Tree’s production of “The Winter’s Tale” next October.

The Gazeka competitions for prizes of £5 5s and £2 2s instituted by Mr J. C. Williamson, are exciting a good deal of interest in Melbourne anl already a number of quaint drawings of the little animal have been received, some of them displaying remarkable ingenuity. The competitions will shortly be closed, and the judgment announced.

Excellent reports of Mr Spencer Barry, who was so valuable a producer with the Royal Comic Opera Company under Mr J. C. Williamson, have reached here from London. As soon as he landed there he was engaged as stage manager for the Empire Theatre, and so well did he acquit himself that at the end of three months the directors specially complimented him, and added to their assurance of their gratification a more substantial recognition in the shape of a large increase in his salary.

The last week of Miss Tittell Brune’s season of “Dorothy Vernon” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, was on August 25th, and the company leave on their New Zealand trip at the end of this week in time to open at Wellington on the sth September. They will tour this colony until the end of November, andMe J. C. Williamson has so arranged dates that the company will arrive in Christchurch contemporaneously with the opening of the Exhibition at the beginning of November, and they remain there over the great Carnival week. They are due back in Sydney on the Bth December.

The biggest week ever done by one of Mr J. C. Williamson’s companies in Brisbane now stands to the record of the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, who achieved that record during Show week there. The two operas which assisted in its making were “Veronique” and “Princess Ida,” the latter holding the absolute “best” for a single performance. The company are due to open a three weeks season in Sydney next Saturday (September Ist) ,and thereafter depart on a tour of Western Australia.