MR CHARLES VERNER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 868, 25 October 1906, Page 17

MR CHARLES VERNER.

Mr Charles Verner, the popular Irish comedian, is now touring the Waikato with a company of his own. Writing from Huntly on Monday he reports that Saturday evening’s house was a record for the district, '“Shamus O’Brien” being staged. “Dublin Assurance” was put on for Monday. Hamilton followed on Tuesday and Wednesday, while subsequent booking read Cambridge, October 25 and 26 ; Rotorua, October 27 and 29 ; Te Aroha, October 30 and 31 ; Paeroa, November 1 ; Waihi, November 2 and 3 ; Karangahake, November 4, with Whangarei and the South to follow, Among the company supporting Mr Verner are Misses Bradley, Gough, Messrs Lambert, R. J. Oswald and Tilton. I understand that the Onehunga Literary Club iitend to repeat at an early date, “She Stoops to Conquer, ’ in which such a success was achieved. I have to acknowledge receipt of an illustrated souvenir of “The Little Stranger,” which we shall shortly see in Auckland. The story of this most advanced baby seems a particularly comical one, and the fun is kept going gaily from start to finish. * * The first matinee of West’s Pictures and the Brescians has been fixed for Saturday afternoon next. * Mr West, the genial proprietor of West’s Pictures, left for Christchurch on Monday. ' * 4c * * On the conclusion of the Auckland season the Williamson Dramatic Company will leave for Christchurch. Mr and Mrs Hamilton Hodges gave a successful concert at their studio on Monday, the chief items being a cycle of songs from Tennyson’s “Maud.” My Christchurch correspondent writes :' —The much-absorbed ‘‘Man From Mexico” made his bow to a Christchurch audience last night • (Friday), and at once established himself in popular favour. The piece is immensely funny, being a cross between a • farce and a musical comedy. It is full of ‘‘catchy” songs, and the music is as exhilarating as “fizz.” The dialogue, too, is very crisp and sparkling, and the house fairly roared all the time. There is no doubt this is a gilt-edged success, and I am indeed, glad to be able to congratulate my old friend Edwin Geach, under whose direction “The Man From Mexico” is produced. The plot of the piece is a minus quantity. It has no plot. But modern audiences are not particular about plots. All they ask is to be amused, and if this production fails to amuse people it must be because they have no bump of humour. Miss Grace Palotta, Messrs Ward and Willoughby, are the three stars, and very lustrous stars they are. 'But the Company fola good one, all throuerh. — .Thp Mahon Company did magnificent business here and as now moved on to fresh triumphs down South. . . Fuller’s capital si ovv continues to attract packed houses « nd the proprietary doesn’t make mo ,e Y in .sacksful .during the Exhibi ion tin e tt wont be their fault. *.* * * The n ew Colonial Theatre in San Francisco’ which was to.have been opened on Se ptember 24, is a steel and brick structure, on M‘Allister_ street, near Market street- It was begun before the, earthqual :e > and although work was delayed for a while, it .. has progressed rapidly o late. ■ The management offers some not’ eities which the public will duly appreciat< ’• There are to be no advertisements in the programme, no advertising curtain, lnd no “candy kids.” Another novelty v he the device for emptying Ihe house ■ expeditiously. By touching an ; electric b utton ’ n the rear of the theatre or in the 1 w ’pg s > all the exits will be thrown o P en » and the whole audience will ‘ beach the ! str eet in 10 seconds. The g ' eat unacted appear to be more happily < iealt with in America than they dre else ''here. From New York comes the news that Mr William A. Brady, during his mtumn season at the Manhattan, will giv e a series of what he terms “authorf matinees.” His plan is to make al fortnightly production of a new play to I b e ‘ played at a matinee. He expresses I a preference for the works of America 111 writers, but does not make native [authorship a condition of production. P e holds out no promise of subsequent “regular” production of plays nrt a y appear to be successful at these matin« es » which are to be regarded mereIv as [opportunities for authors to get a hearing' j nt inding visitors to London will be interd stec l to learn that next year’s show at E >rl’s Court will be “The Balkans Exhjcition,” and the Bulgarian Government intends to let it be seen what their 5 at? can do - Bulgaria is noted for its prod ucts of corn, flax, hemp, and toba-

cco, its wine and silk, and roses from which are /distilled the perfumes of Europe. The Government of Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria have decided to send exhibits which will cover the local agriculture, industries, and fine arts, and also intend to send material for a ; . historical section. In -addition there will be a tourists’ section, and native workers in their picturesque, dress, with a comprehensive display of minerals, all to occupy the extensive Imperial Court and Royal Galleries.

Miss Nellie Stewart’s engagement with Klaw and Erlanger, the well-known American theatrical managers, is for 21 weeks, at £lOO a week. At the termination of this contract Miss Stewart is. to star at an increased salary, with a percentage of the profits. The Philadelphia “Morning Telegraph,” in chronicling this information, states :—“The scramble for the services of Nellie Stewart, the Australian actress, came' to an end yesterday, when Klaw and Erlanger engaged her as the leading woman o' he stock company they will launch in Philadelphia.

Miss Stewart created a mild sensation on the Pacific Coast by her portrayal of the title role in ‘Sweet Nell cf Old Drury.’ Upon her arrival in” the East several managers began negotiations- for. a contract to star her, and David Belasco 1 was reported to have offered her a niche ; n his temple of Thespis. Inasmuch as Klaw and Erlanger are to make no less than ten productions of new plays in Philadelphia, Miss Stewart will have every opportunity of demonstrating her versatility.”

Miss Kate Bishop (Mrs Lohr), who will be remembered out here as leading lady with Mr George Rignold and other managers, found some difficulty (says “Sydney Morning Herald”) in regaining a place on the London stage, where at one time she was such a favourite that she appeared as Lady Teazle for more than too nights at the Vaudeville Theatre. Reappearing in “grande dame” and character parts, Miss Kate B’shop has now made good her footing in London and the provinces, and has al o been fortunate w r ith her daughter, Miss Marie Lohr—the former “Babv Lohr” o r the

Sydney stage. Miss Marie Lohr, who was named after her godmother, the late Mrs Rignold, was very fortunate after leaving school in England to receive an offer from her mother’s old friend, Mr and Mrs Kendal, to join their company as ingenue.

Harry Rickards has reengaged Cruickshank and the Modern Milo for another Australian term, but it is reported that they are not available For a return till about 1909, having dates fixed right up to that time. One New York manager is busy having a play written rcund Milo, and an English syndicate is establishing a Modern Milo Beauty and Culture School, with the Australian beauty as its nominal head. Pavilion Music Hall shares have doubled their value since Milo took on.

Mr J. C. Will'amson’s Cup attraction, “The Spring Chicken,” is announced for Derby night, (3rd November) in Melbourne, and all the energies of the Royal Comic Opera Company are now directed to the final stages of polishng up that

.musical comedy to the state of bri.l ancy always characteristic of their productions (wri.tes Mr George Tallis). The new piece Will entail the appearanbe in some part o'r other of a. long cast, not only of .every member of the company already known, but 'also of two newcomers. One of these is of course Miss Olive Morrell, who arrived from London thi = week, and has already gone into active rehearsal with her part of Dulcie, and he other is Mr Philip Leslie, who, after a successful dramatic career in Australia in light comedy parts, makes his debut under Mr Williamson’s management. Mr Lauri plays the same part as did Mr Edmund Payne in the London production, and the remembrance of how excellent he recreated Meakin (another Teddy Pavne part) in “The Orchid,” augurs a personal triumph for him, while Miss Cla '.'i Cbfton will likewise be perfectly at home in the character originally played b Connie Ediss.

There is no sign yet of any w’aning in popularity of “The Squaw 7 Man,” which is st 11 being played to large and most apprecia ive audiences at Her Majesty’s

Theatre, Sydney. Indeed, everything seems to point to the fact that the stirring drama of ranch life in America will have a longer run there than it had in Melbourne, w'hile there is no doubt that Mr Charles Waldron, Miss Ola Humphrey, and the rest of Mr J. C. Williamson‘s company have earned quite as enviable and as deserved a reputation.

Last Saturday night what is almost a record number of shows opened in Melbourne. “The Little Stranger,” at the Princess’; “The Shopgirl,” at Her Majesty’s ; Leslie Harris, at the Athenaeum ; Bostock and Wombwell’s Show ; Wirths’ Circus; new artists at the Opera House, and Princes Court, with J. F. Sheridan at the Royal, and Glaciarium, made up the list of attractions for the night.

Considerable sensation was caused at the London Pavilion on the 6th September by an accident to La Milo. She had posed as the Venus de Medici with all her accustomed grace and versimilutude to a marble statue, and the curtain was lowered for a few moments in order that

she might appear in another pose as Circe. It had scarcely gone up again when La Milo was seen to sway a little and fall to the ground. The poses are made on a pedes al ibout six feet in height, so thajf thp/fal Was a considerable one. A thrill ran through the large audience when this incident occurred, and almost momentarily the curtain was rung down. It was announced subsequently that La Milo had suddenly fainted. Fortunately she sustained no serious injury, but she was much shaken, and the performance was not, of course, resumed.

Miss Marie Narelle, the “Queen of Irish song,” has been engaged with her company to open the Concert Hall at the Chr stchurch Exhibition.. Miss Narelle is now completing a triumphal tour of he Commomvealth, where her singing of Irish songs has everywhere aroused enthusiasm. M ; ss Narelle’s fame as a ballad-singer is firmly established throughout the English-speaking world. She is accomoanied by Mr Chester Fentress (an American tenor) and Miss Constance B’-ardon LT-t-n- f~paniste).

Fred Curran, an English comedian, leaves London next month under engagement to Harry Rickards. Seeley and West, a musical team popular here, return next year. King and Benson, another English team, have been secured by the Rickards, and are due next month.

Mr J Youlin Birch, who was joint author with Mr Alfred Hill of the opera “A Moorish Maid,” is at present engaged in writing a drama which is to be first submitted to Miss Tittell Brune. Mr Birch already Has a drama under consideration by a leading Australian manag*r - < • . Such eulogistic references were made to Mr Beerbohm Tree’s revival last month of ‘‘The Winter’s Tale” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, that Mr Julius Knight, who is plat ing the part of Polixenes in it, is likely to be so occupied for some time to come. Las: week the Gilbert and Sullivan Company staged “The Little Michus for the first time at Perth, and the telegrams received indicate that individually and collec ively the company made a pronounced success of their interpretation of Messenger’s charming opera. • * * * Some indicafon of the appreciation with which the present revival of “The Belle of New York” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, has been received by the playgoing public, is contained in the fact that its first week was the biggest in respect to box office returns, which the Royal Comic Opera Company has achieved during their present season, and as a matter of fact its business for the six nights was among the best for a similar period at that theatre for the whole of this year. J. Hickory Wood is the author of “Mother Goose,” the pantomime which Mr J. C. Williamson will s age at His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne next Christmas, and the book is one of the best examples of that librettist, who has had more experience in this class of work than any other writer of to-day, his name being always associated with the annual Drury Lane productions. At Mr Williamson’s request he has rewritten parts of the book and brought the whole right up to date for the Australian production. For the “dame” part Mr Williamson has already engaged Harry Fedora, a comedian who stepped into the late Dan Leno’s shoes at Drury Lane, and has proved himself in every way a worthy successor of the latter.

Following upon the “resurrection” of Pinero with “His House in Order,” his greatest rival, Henry Arthur Jones, has also come to his own again with “The Hypocrites,” which Mr Charles Frohman produced in New York last month to a chorus of undisputed praise from press and playgoers. Mr J. C. Williamson has an arrangement with Mr Frohman for first option on all the latter’s pieces, so that it is quite possible that we shall see “The Hypocrites” done under the former’s direction out here—perhaps by the same company who will eventually do “His House in Order.”