MR JOHN McLINDEN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 906, 18 July 1907, Page 17

MR JOHN McLINDEN.

In our present issue we publish a portrait of Mr John McLinden, the eminent ’cellist. It is seldom one has the opportunity of hearing such a master of that beautiful instrument, the ’cello, and it may safely be said that very few ar-

tists that have visited Australia have come up to the high standard of Mr McLinden’s art. The ’cello used by him is a Straduvarius, one of the very few instruments in existence from the hands of that renowned maker. Lucky is that musician who is the possessor of a Strad. violin or ’cello, for they are in the world of musical art, priceless.

My Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes :—The Rickards Var.ety Co. having departed from this flat city bearng their blushing honours thick upon them, and with a very substantial addition to the managerial banking acount as the result of the Chris.church season, Mr Geach’s “Human Hearts” Co. is just now fill ng the bill at the ancient Royal. Our old friend Geach is a clever showman, and thoroughly understands how to advertise a show; Hence the gorgeous coloured pictorial posters adorning all the walls and hoardings long before the season opened, and the fact that the local playgoing public was standing, so to speak, on the tip-toe of expectation before the Co. arrived in Christchurch at all. When the opening night came a tremendous audience assembled, and Mr Geach smiled seraphicajly as he surveyed the scene from “the front of the house,” and “Human Hearts” is the sort of piece to catch, right on with colonial audiences, who like something stirring, and prefer melodrama (neat) to any other form of entertainment unless it is musical comedy. There is a good deal of love-making in Mr Geach’s latest producton, and, of course, a good deal of villainy. At one time it looks as if the manly hero and the lovely and accomplished heroine would sink beneath “a sea of trouble, ” and that vice would be the victor. But the usual transformation ensues in the last act, in which the bold bad man is. led away, metaphorically speaking, to chains and slavery. Fortune smiles once more oh the persecuted innocents who come before the curtain to bow their acknowledgments in response to the deafening applause of a. delighted house. Mr Ernest Leicester (the hero), Mr Geo. Montford (the villain), Mr G. M. Berkeley (a comic tramp), Mr Dundas Walker (until recently a Christchurch amateur), Miss Valen tine Sidney, Miss Eva Quinn, Miss May Hesford, and Miss Alma Palmer (a child actress), each and all are deserving of honourable mention. “Human Hearts” is very well worth seeing. . . . The “star” turns given by the Rickards Vaudeville Co. are those of the Charlenes (Mr and Mrs), and King and Benton. Mr Charlene is about the smartest juggler who has as yet visited this colony, and Mrs Charlene is a very clever musician. Her zylophone solo is a revelation. Mr King has a very fine voice. Such voices are not often heard on the variety stage. Miss Benton sings and dances delightfully. Some of her songs are—er —well,

you know. For style, go, facial expression and. audacity, this young lady would be hard to match. She is very American, and invariably becomes an immense favourite with her audiences. . . . The Quealeys (Harry and the Missis) have left for the Dunedin Alhambra, after playing, a .long engagement at the Opera , House here. They made a great hit in .Christchurch. Miss Priscilla Verne is back again here, and with Mr Armstrong, is appearing once more in the sketches which; so delighted Opera House audiences when the same artistes were here before. : In spite of recent powerful coun-ter-attractions, Fuller’s has more -than held its own of late, and is now so firmly established in popular favour that no opposition can do it much harm.

Mr Arnold Trowell, the New Zealand Violinist, has given a successful recital at the Bechstein Hall, his performance being favourably noticed by the newspapers. * * * *

Madame Carreno, the pianiste, is a passenger by the Maheno for New Zealand, ater having had a brilliant tour of the Commonwealth.

A popular benefit and farewell concert is to be held at St. George’s Hall on Thursday, July 25th, when Mr and Mrs Sheldon, the native-born vaudeville artists, will bid adieu to New Zealand. A very strong programme has been arranged under Mr Harry Chatwin and committee.

In the face of all weather handicaps—and for the last month Sydney weather has been simply vile—“ The Spring Chicken” has mam.ained an unweakened hold upon playgoers of that city, and for the third week the audiences at Her Maj esty’s Theatre were as large and even more enthusiastically in favour of the volatile entertainment than they were at the opening. Everything points to a long and very prosperous career for the musical comedy.

A decidedly chic little artist is Miss Ivy Goodwill, whose photo we reproduce in this issue. As a serio and dancer Miss Goodwill has established herself as a firm favourite with Opera Hoouse patrons, and is assured of a very successful run on the Fuller circuit.

Fred Elton’s Musical Comedy Company has returned from a highly successful trip of the Northern Wairoa, and is now touring the suburbs. The Company appear at Otahuhu to-night, Thursday; Papakura on Friday, Clevedon on Saturday, and Onehunga on Monday. Mr Alfred Burton is advance representative.

At the conclusion of the Auckland season, which is proving so eminently successful, O’Neill’s Buckjumpers will play a flying visit to the Waikato and important towns of the Thames and Waihi districts.

The New Zealand admirers, whose name is legion, of that charming actress Miss May Granville, recently over here, and who did such splendid work with the MacMahon Dramatic Company, will be pleased to hear of her success in Australia. On Miss Granville’s arrival in Sydney, Mr Wm. Anderson at once secured her services for an extended period, and her first appearance at the Criterion Theatre in an important role in the successful Australian drama, “The Squatter’s Daughter,” justified that astute manager’s opinion of Miss Granville’s very pronounced histrionic abilities.

A fire occurred at Wirth Bros’. Circus and Menagerie a couple of weeks ago at Rockhampton (Q.), burning a new canvas tent worth £4OO, which was uninsured. The fire happened about 7 o’clock in the morning, and, lucky for the Wirth Bros., the local fire brigade was soon on the scene and saved the adjoining tents and cages of wild animals, although giving the wild animals the washing of their lives. The elephants caused great excitement, as they became exceedingly frightened, and it was extremely dangerous for the keepers to go near them to undo their leg-chains so that they could be removed to a place of safety. Toby, the largest of the herd, threw her keeper several yards away, fracturing some of his ribs and cutting him severely about the head, necessitating his removal to the hospital. Baby Jumbo, when released, cleared, running over everything in his way, and trampled upon a guaraco or Llama, breaking two of its legs, causing it to be shot afterwards.

The effulgence of “The Blue Moon” at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, has continued steadily at the maximum of brilliancy ever since that dainty musical comedy first began to shine there, and it is very evident that, at all points, the piece has appealed in the most forcible manner to the taste of Melbourne playgoers. Every night the house is crowded, every audience is increasingly enthusiastic, and altogether Mr J. C. Williamson’s new Musical Comedy Company has set sail upon its Australian career with the fair wind of popular appreciation blowing strongly in its favour. And deservedly so, for no single member of the clever combination has failed to make his or her mark, so emphatically indeed that it would be hardly fair to pick out this one or that for special mention. But the numbers that so far have scored th'e greatest success are the already famous crocodile song in which Mr Victor Gouriet and the extremely active ballerinas who assist him, achieve treble and quadruple encores every night. Miss Daisie Wallace’s captivating rendering of “She Didn’t Know,” which is paid the same compliment, and the exceedingly comical duet, “Won’t You Make a Fuss of Me,” with which the same two artists cause roars of laughter and applause. No less successful in their impression are the songs allotted to Miss Amy Murphy, Mr Reginald Kenneth, Mr Myles Clifton and others in the cast. From first to last, “The Blue Moon” goes with a snap and swing altogether refreshing.

In a letter received from England by the last mail regarding Miss Maud Hildyard, the new dramatic “star” who is due at Auckland on September 12 for a tour of the principal cities, a well-known English critic writes to Allan Ham Iton as follows: —“She s undoubtedly the best actress in her particular line in the English speaking world. Her plays, “The Beautiful Fiend” and “The Great Awakening” were written specially for her, and constructed to show her off to the best advantage. She is a powerful, magnetic, melodramatic, almost .ragic actress. Miss Hildyard was the original “Rosy Sky” in “The Darling of the Gods” at His Majesty’s Theatre, London, and is described by the famous actor-manager, Beerbohm Tree, as “one of the finest dramatic actresses in the world.” Miss Hildyard leaves England at once, and opens her Australasian tour at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, July 14, under the management of Meynell and Gunn. The New Zealand tour will be in conjunct on with Allan Hamilton.

“Home, Sweet Home,” the domestic drama which Allan Hamilton will send round New Zealand in October next will

be interpreted by a very strong cast of characters. Mr Geo. V. Carey, Mr Robt. Inman, Little Baby Watson, and several other popular people are already engaged for the production.

Mr George Buller will represent Allan Hamilton during the “Maud Hildyard” and “Home, Sweet Home” tours of New Zealand, while Mr Hamilton devotes his time to his other ventures in Australia.

After their Wellington season, Mr Harry Rickards’ Vaudeville Co. will visit Masterton July 29, 30-, Napier (July 31, August 1 and 2), Hastings (August 3), Palmerston North (sth and 6th), Wanganui (7th and Sth), New Plymouth (9th), and thence to Auckland, where they open at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday, August 12th.

It is claimed that the pictorial printing to be used on the “Home, Sweet Home” tour will be the finest ever seen in this country. Allan Hamilton says it is more suitable for walls of a drawing room than street hoardings.

A cable received a few days ago said that Miss Dolly Castles had been engaged for the principal part in the “ Girls of Gottenburg” at the Gaiety Theatre.

According to the “British-Austra-lasian” Mr. Edward Cranston, the well-known variety artist, has been engaged by Mr. Harry Rickards for a tour of his Australian theatres.

“The Merry Widow” musical comedy is putting the finishing touches to her toilette, and her debut at Daly’s Theatre, London, will not be long delayed. The composer of “Die Lustige Witwe,” Franz Lehar, is little known here, but his work has had remarkable success on the Continent,

the fascinating tunes finding a place in every household in Vienna, where the piece was originally produced. Miss Lily Elsie will appear in the title-role of the new piece, in the cast of which some changes are to be noted. Mr. Robert Evett, and not Mr. Louis Bradfield, is now to appear as the Marquis de Jolly Don; Miss Elizabeth Firth will have the role of the Marsovian Ambassador’s wife, formerly allotted to Miss Maggie May, ■and Miss Nina Sevening has been added to the company.

Mrs. Langtry, having heard from Mr. David Belasco that he will not be able to stage her new American play in New York until Christmas, has decided to undertake a short season in London commencing in September, always providing she can find a play to her liking. To that end she is now spending most of her time reading manuscripts. Thus the rumour that the “Jersey Lily” intended to retire from the stage is obviously incorrect.

“La Milo” has been selected to take the part of Lady Godiva in the Coventry (England) pageant. There were 15 applicants. “La Milo’s” offer to appear free of expense, as the object is charitable, was highly appreciated by the committee of selection. Her costume in the procession will consist of pink fleshings, with a gauze cloak attached to one shoulder. She will wear a long flaxen wig. The hope is universally expressed that for the sake of the modern Lady Godiva the weather will be fine and warm.

A three-act farce, by a new author, saw the light at a matinee given at the Royalty on Friday, June 28, in aid of the Grosvenor Hospital for Women and Children. The piece is “The

Pocket Miss Hercules,” and the author, Mr. J. Storer Cluoston, who has already achieved renown in the literary world with the novels “The Lunatic at Large” and “Count Bunker.” The new piece will be followed by Messrs. Richard Pryce and Frederick Fenn’s popular little play, “Op o’ My Thumb.”