OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 919, 17 October 1907, Page 16

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS A striking turn at the Opera House this week is that presented by’ Morris and Wilson, a clever acrobatic comedy double. They present a sketch entitled “The Burglars,” into which they introduce no end of fun. Their real success, however, lies in their ability as acrobats, and nothing so clever has been seen in Auckland for a long time. Both artists are stars, and the originality of their act makes it doubly attractive. They simply bounce about* the stage like india-rubber balls,

or human spinning wheels, and are possessed of an agility that might almost be described as marvellous. Morris and Wilson are sure of a successful tour, of the Fuller circuit. It is only occasionally that Mr. John Fuller now makes his appearance before the footlights, but the popular tenor is this week heard in a couple of charming solos. “O Summer Night” and “Tell Her I Love Her So,” are both musical gems, as sung by the old favourite, and elicit imperative encores. “Fun in the Kitchen” is the clever musical sketch provided by the Quealys. From beginning to end, it keeps the audience in a continued ripple of merriment. The sketch is chock full of piquant humour, real burlesque, and musical comedy. “Fun in a Kitchen” is one of the best things fhe Quealys have yet given us, and would stand repeating. A new-comer to the Opera House is Miss Maud Florence, a charming young artist of many qualifications. She sings rather well, dances cleverly, is something of’ an impersonator, and a' really smart acrobaf. “What I Saw at the Pantomime” is an original conception very well pourtrayed. Delavale and Gilbert’s “Lesson in Boxing” is not very

funny,’, and. •; .certainly not ; instructive. Likewise their jokes are sadly date, and more or less hackneyed. They score, however, in. their parody singing. Opera House patrohs never grow <’* tired of Mr. Harry Linden, and' his, comic songs are always emphatically encored. The “Bo’sun” is a real chip of the old block. The Rose Sisfers continue to pirouette as gracefully as ever, and go through intricate evolutions/ with their usual charrij' of manner. Armstrong and Verne present a- budget/of whimsical comicalities, and conclude a ‘ mirthprovoking sketch with a pantomimic satire. The bioscope pictures are usually interesting and instructive, • but ;“A Father’s Vengeance” is altogether beyond the pale. It is as sordid a story as was ever told in a “penny-dreadful,” and should be consigned to the “back number” shelf- with- all haste Next .Saturday evening Stewart, Stirling and Dunbar, musical sketch artists, make their first appearance. Zemphy, a. lightning blindfold artist, will also make his first bow to an Auckland audience.

Mrs. Kendal, the actress, delights in collecting miniature toys, of which she has an immense variety.

Florence Kahn, the distinguished American actress, whose talent is said to be of a remarkable order, is visiting England A few months ago Miss Kahn went touring with Mme. Nasimoff, the famous Russian actress, and achieved a triumph in more than one Ibsen play. Her most notable achievement was her Hi’.da in “The Master Builder.” ♦ * * * A London paper reports that* Mr. Percy Bates, the Sydney tenor, has been appointed to the position of tenor at St. Mark’s Church, St. John’s Wood, succeeding another Australian singer, Mr. Thorold Waters, who vacated the post?. ♦.* « • Billy McClain’s sextette, which includes Madame Cordelia, is appearing at the Camberwell ’ "Palace (England). “Their songs, dances, and eccentricities,” remarks a theatrical scribe, “are quite bewildering in their variety.” The Willoughby and Ward tour of the South Island is in the nature of a triumph. All along the line this brilliant company has been attracting enormous audiences; indeed in many towns hundreds were refused admission

shortly' after the opening, of the doors. The, talented; company will make their appearance - in’.. Auckland on (November) 4, when a particularly warm welcome is assured. - . ...." e ' ■■ •' '■ ,«r. •• . /’ ‘ f’Mrs. .J G. B. ’Lejyis ~ is amongst the atest arivals in London from Melbourne. This clever, actress and manager (says the “British-Australasian”), whose name is a household .word in Australia, ;has rejoined her son,’ Mr. George Lewis, and has furnished a. flat in West Kensington, Where she intends recruiting, herself after her long and arduous duties as a dramatic instructor in Melbourne. • * * * Coincident wi-h the revival of “The Christian” at the Lyceum Theatre, London, is the arrival of Miss Ola Humphrey, one of the most successful interpreters of Glory Quayle, the chief character in Mr. Caine’s play in the United States, and quite recently in Australia (remarks the London, “Pelican”). Miss Humphrey, who is of Franco-American paren-age, has also made her mark in “The Squaw Man,” “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,” and similar parts. She is over here on a holiday, this being her first visit to England.

, As an instance of the immense cost of staging melodramas by Mr. Bland Holt, it may be mentioned that the machinery in the great motor-train race scene, as shown in “The Great Rescue,” ran into £6OO, while, in addition, 1200 yards of canvas was used, all of which had to be prepared and treated by the scenic artists. The total cost of the effective scene must have been close upon £lOOO —and it is worth every penny of it. * * * * A rather amusing, and up till how unchronicled item, took place at Melbourne Theatre Royal a week or two ago. During one of Mr. Holt’s productions the hero and heroine escaped from somewhere—place doesn’t matter —and the conic servant stood at the drawing-room window and shouted—“ They’re off! They’re off!” As he repeated the sentence for the second time, a stentorian voice screamed from the “gods,” “What’s in front?” Melbourne Gaiety will change hands on the 19th inst., when Mr. James Brennan, of Sydney National Amphitheatre fame, will take over the theatre, and, with J. C. Ba n and Harry Brennan as general manager and business manager respectively, inaugurate a new era of vaudeville there. His opening company will include Qlga Pennington, Carlton, and Sutton, Arthur Toucher, Vivie Kee--1 ng, Goldie Collins, Raleigh and May, Sam Gale and ‘Little Sadie, Vera Kearns, The Lyttons, Joe Rox, La Petite Laurie, M’Kisson and Kearns, . Craydon and Barton, Midget Jackson; Coleman Sisters, a ballet, chorus, arid ifull orchestra, under direction of. Mr.- j. P. Knowles. Moving pictures iwll also be shown on he Miorama. I ■ ' £■: ,’Z * ... • « •• ’ ? . . If ever the State dr \the municipality spends money on London drama I hope 'that-a great .part of it.-Mil be devoted to . seeing that 'British dramatic art.', is j worthily represented during the season, / when the greatest number of strangers 1 present in the capital (says i the dra - matic critic of the “Westminister Gaze: te”)i ' • . ' ' “ s /‘ ■■ * ■'t bo our young leaning man is going' ’ ••to . w.eda nofl p.rp,fessidnaj, eh ?’’ - “ Not exactly. I hear that the prominent ybuiig ' society woman who will soon bear his name has been divorced twice, lost her jewels once, been reported engaged to four different titles, owns a French bulldog, and is devoted to a simple home life and"he'r ■‘books- ....

We regret .to announce, the death of Miss- Alice . Edgar, which took place in Johannesburg, S.A., on July 25, from an affect ion of .the he’art (says the 1 ‘ ‘ Era’ ’) The .-deceased actress . went out with Messrs. B. Und F. .. Wheeler’s - Musical Comedy C'pnipany : to South Africa m 1901, and ’ subsequently toured Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania with the Australian Opera Company. She returned to Africa about a year la.er, when she retired from the .stage and settled down. Miss<>< Edgar, whose prhyate name was Mrs. J. Thofp'e, .was the. eldest daughter of the latp Richard .Edgar, at .'one time iri I circles in this country. ? ; '*) ■ ■ .#■; '* - Concerning 1 the “Detroit Free Press” says.:—“There was a memorable revival of ’Rip Van Winkle’ at the Detroit' Opera House. Mr. Thomas Jefferson played the name part, and he had for support, in the character of Gretchen, Miss Maggie Moore. The latter has been for many years in Australia and Europe, but she is still gratefully remembered by many American playgoers as a typical comedienne, and one of the most versatile' players of her time. She., is a well-preserved woman—plump, fair, agile, humorous, and ‘comfortable.’ The old twinkle lingers in her eye and the old roguish pucker of her lips remains. Her voice, which she was wont to use effectively in opera, holds to the clearness and resonance of the voice of youth, and her elocution is of the kind that carries every syllable distinctly to the auditor ”

Ferry, the “human frog,’’ when showing at t ; he Orpheum, 'Frisco, was billed big, whi’e his act was t t ed “In the Dismal Swamp.’’ George Mar owe nas completed arrangements wi-h Edw n Geach for the presentation of “A Modern Adventuress, for which a new company will be formed to tour Australia. No farce manufactured of ate years less deserves the name than “Mr. Hopknson.” The- subtle philosophy of the piece, the veiled satire, he delicate innuendo which points so straightly to the more or less amiable weaknesses of the “smart set” as distinguished from the nouveau riche, are brought out with great wealth. A notably strong character n the cast is that played by Mr. Gerald Wykeham. who. as the Duke of Braceborough, is exact y the nonchalant aristocrat whose cynicism i.; hardly noticeable under the veneer of exquisite manner Miss Palotta, as the duchess, who knows nothing bu. ennui, except in the company of a gent'eman not her husband, manages to be superb y parvenu. And Mr. Hugh Ward is something more than a parvenu. H s “Hopkinson” is a creation to be proud of, for it is impossible that Mr. Ward has seen the originator of the part. There is in “Mr. Hopkinson,” apart’ from its extreme hilarity, much to be learn , for the author touches wth delightful ingenuity on he laches of society and skims no 'ess de ightfully over the large field of satire ready to hand in the striving of the humbly-born to emulate the abandon of the ruling snobs. All this was fu’iy recognised by the very large audience wh ch chuckled at “Mr. Hopkinson in the Opera House last nigh:” (says an exchange).

Mr. Anderson stages a Chris mas pantomime at the King’s lhea.re, Wonderland City, early in December. * * * * “The Mikado” in Ita ian at Rome i ; th? afest musical attracion in the papal city ' * < * H -if- W r Mr. ’Musgrove, it is said, will have another “grand” opera Co. touring Austra :a two years hence English an’ it please you. On his own, people say. The French biograph operators have formed a union for the protection of the r interests. » * * “My husband,"’ said the conceited .ady, “is a Shakespearian actor.” “Indeed, does he appear in Hamlet?” asked the friend. “No indeed,” replied the actor's w fe, “he only plajs in the arger cities.” When Harry Rickards complained, tha: novel-ies were scarce in Grea. Britain, the “Performer” advised him to seek them among the many clever artists then resting. . * * * * It is stated that after the W loughby Ward Co. disbands in January nex., Mr. Ward will make a trip Home, but will re.urn to Australia afterwards in a managerial capacity. * * * * Mr. Leslie Harr's, the mono’ogist and socie y entertainer, has returned to England. * * « * When the mail left’ London Chares Cartwright was hard at work conducting the reh(/a,r,sals for h’s Dickens’ repertoire tour.

Mr. Fred. Graham and Miss Nellie Dent have reeived a templing offer from t'he well-known composer, Mr Alfred Hi 1, to play their original pans, and for the first-named to re-produce Mr. Hill’s opera, “The Moorish Maid,” in Dunedin, in December next. Their farahead bookings, however, Mr. Graham states, do not permit of acceptance. * * * * At Newcastle, N.S.W., Dix and Baker added to a s.rong bill Albert and Topsy Casey, duettists and dancers, who made an excel’en. impression. A new series of moving pictures projected by the Kinodrome were a we'come addit on. Antonio’s dogs and monkeys are still a leading feature. Business is reported to be very good. * * * * Mrs. Tom Fitzgera d’s Circus has been p.av.ng in . h Sydney suburbs to good business, and i; now doing the Western ir.e. She has cabled for a cage of e ght iions to strengthen the show for its Christmas season in Sydney. * * * * First Thespian “While I was on, my boy, they were gued to .heir seats.” Se-ond Thespian: “Poor wretches.” The desire of many of our young men, and more especial y of our young women, to ‘ go on the stage"’ amounts almost to a mania.—London “Era.” The short play, like the short story, is spurned in England. Sixty thousand words is he least, that a novel st, if he wish h’s books to be read, must devote to h’s every theme ; and three long acts is an irreducible minimum for the p'aywright who wishes h’s p ays to be seen. Ard this in an age notorious for its t est’essness, j s lack of concentration !— Max Beerbohm.

When the London Lyceum Theatre was buil. Beazely, tne architect, made a peculiar omission in the p.an, and forgot -he gallery stairs. Th s extraor<._nary oversight was not aiscovered until tne building was finished ; and a temporary wooden staircase had to be put up for the ascent of the gods to O.ympus, and this remained for a number of years. * * * * It is so seldom that New Zealand is offered a theatrical attraction like the Willoughby and Ward Company, and it is safe to predict an overflowing audience for its Auckland season. Of the attraction ’ The New Clown,” which is said .o be the company’s bes. effort, a Sydney exchange states : —“Mr. Hugh J. Ward had to sustain the burden of the farce as Lord Cyril, and he fulfil ed a very strenuous task admirab y. Cyril’s resentment of h s candid fr.end’s criticism was most amusing, and h s quaking fright at the supposed fate of h.s persecutor was a so a bit of farcical comedy that caused the audience to ripple over with merriment. The fun so we 1 commenced in the first act grew fast and furious in the second and third, in wh ch Mr Ward made the most of he comical misiakes cf Cyril in he ro e of down. Miss Grace Palotta as Mary Plat, also put’ plenty of spirit into the role, and in the third act she looked charm ng in her dainty costume as the sar of the arena. She was aso very successful with Mr. Ward in .he duet and dance “Strolling.” Her principal solos were “Mary s a Grand Old Name,” and “Flirting,” which were rendered with a piquancy and archness quite rem niscent of Lady Holyrood. Mr. Ward’s most popuar solos were, “If There Had Been No App e on the Tree,” and topical song humorously localised.

The play “Les Bouffons,” in which Sarah Bernhardt has won so great a success in Paris, has been acquired by Frohman for Maude Adams, and will be presented by him first n America and afterwards in England. * * * » F.orence Baines has engaged Joseph L. Goodman, brother of the popu ar manager of Her Majesty’s Thea.re, Sydney, to manage her country tour. Mr. John Gunn, of Meyne 1 and Gunn, who has been to London on business connected with the firm’s enterprises, returned to Sydney on Friday last. * * * * Seeley and West, comedy team, who appeared here some years ago, and have been re-engaged by Mr. Harry Rickards, wil. open at the Tivoli on.Ocober 19. * * * - When Ju.ius Knight returns to Sydney n December, the opening produc.ion of the season will be “The Scar e. Pimpernell,” which ran for 500 nights in London. •» ’ * * * Mr. Marcus writes me concerning Allan Hamilton’s Drama ic Company, in the powerful domes ic drama in four acts, “Home, Sweet Home,” written by Frank Lnd.o,. and p’ayed by him throughou. Eng and and America during the past seven years with con success:—“lnvercargl 1, October 7. The Editor “Sporting and Dramatic Review,” Auck and. My dear Sir, —Jus. a line to advise you tha. I arrived to-day by he Moeraki from Melbourne to make arangements for the New Zealand season of the above company, wh ch commences in this town on October 21 inst. From here we go to Palmerston North October 28, with Dannervirke, Napier, Hast ngs, Marton, Wanganui, New P ymouth o follow, opening a six nights’ season at Auck and on November 18. In addition to ‘Home, Sweet Heme,’ our repertoire includes ‘A Message from Mats’ (by spec al arrarngement with Mr. Chas. Hawtrey, London), and ‘Li.tie Lord Fauntleroy,” with Baby Watson, who gives a de’ightful interpreta ion of the name part. May I ask you to include the above in the dramatic co'umns of your next issue? Thanking you in anticipat’on.—l remain, with a 1 good wishes, sincerely yours, M. Marcus. ”

The theatre will never be anything more in this country than a mere entertainment until people are in the habit of going to the play a: least once a week, as they do in many contmental cities. —London “Weekly Despatch.” * * * * Mrs. Kendal has said that, in order to become a good actress, one “must have the temper of an angel, the figure of a Greek statue, the face of a goddess, and the sk n of a rhinoceros.” * * *■ * “What started the riot at the performance of ‘Hamlet’ last night?” “M Ham he d the .skuli and said: ‘Alas, poor Yorick! You are not the only deadhead in he house.’ ” 4 • • ♦ It was a. a thea.re in Manchester .The king, aged and infirm,, -was blessed with two sons. He was pacing up and down the stage with a wearied, troubled look, exclaiming aloud ; “On which of these my sons shall I bestow the crown?” Immediately came a voice from the gai-ery : “Why not arf a crown a piece, guv’nor ? ” 4 * * * Mr Percy Grainger, the Australian pianist, received an enthusiastic reception at’ .he Leeds B'estival after playing Grieg’s “Concerto.” * * * * The poor misguided individual who judged last week’s “Dairymaids” Limerick Competition at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, had a worse time than Joe Mivens would have had, even if he had suffered all the punishments allotted to him in the two thousand efforts to finish the following verse: — Joe Kivens, a bold sailor lad, Had a way with the girls that was sad, He proposed to the lot All at once—and he got The ladies were nearly all highly indignant with Joseph for his most reprehensible conduct, and their suggestions ran mostly to condign punishments in which “The Boots of the Dad’ figured prominently. “Cad” was an epithet frequently supplied, and “I’m glad,” finished up all the most severe suggestions sent in. Replies came from all over Victoria, and one man was so anxious to be in at the

death that he wired his line from Beaufort. It was not, however, he that submitted the line: — Away only partially clad — which was awarded the first prize. ♦ * * * As anticipated, the first concert in Sydney of Madame Clara Butt was an immense triumph for the great contralto, who stepped on to the platform to face an audience several hundreds more in number than that which greeted her when she made her debut in Melbourne. Some idea of the insistent demand for seats at her opening concert may be gathered from the fact that Messrs J. and N. Tait found it necessary some days before the concert to throw open extra guinea seats, while the rest of the hall was practically all reserved at half-a-guinea with the exception of a few seats at ss, which were kept open at that price for the sake of keeping faith with the public. The enthusiasm displayed was tremendous —Sydney always shows its appreciation in the most emphatic fashion —and the concert artistically speaking, was of course a complete success. It is unnecessary to go into details of the programme. Madame Clara Butt was singing and already that fact is sufficient to mention to Australians. They want nothing more to assure them of the keen delight and aesthetic enjoyment of those fortunate enough to be present. So confident were Messrs J. and N. Tait of the popularity which Madame

Clara Butt had achieved in the eyes of Melbourne music lovers that they announced her return visit before her first season had finished. In ordinary circumstances an entrepreneur considers that such a step is liable to affect the attendance, the public being naturally inclined to wait for the second visit rather than “hear all they want to” during the first. In Madame Butt’s case, however, nothing like - that happened, and though they knew she would be back among them early next month, they literally rushed her final concerts, the audiences at which were much larger than the opening one. * * « ■ « There is no stopping “The Dairymaids” at present—not that anyone wants to. The vivacious and exhilirating musical play has gathered impetus steadily from the opening performance and now in its fourth week, it goes with a swing and rattle that makes every succeeding representation more enjoyable than the proceeding one. And best sign of all of its vitality, is the fact that audiences from the first have kept at a steady level —a high one be it said —as to numbers; while the different features of the clever play are all gaining in popularity as their record of appearances grows. The great gymnasium scene, the Sea Serpent Dance, Miss Florence Young’s delightful numbers, Miss Fanny Dango’s light and airy dancing, the capital comedy of Messrs Lauri and Leslie, the excellent character sketches contributed by Miss Emma Temple, Miss Connie Milne, and the whole admirable ensemble by the Royal Comic Opera Company are all received most enthusiastically each evening with a sincerity of appreciation which augurs well for the length of the run. On the termination of the Tittell Brune tour in North Queensland. Miss Susie Vaughan was transferred to the Julius Knight Company, in which her most capable acting and her artistic handling of whatever parts she has allotted to her,will certainly be much appreciated by playgoers who have long past awarded Miss Vaughan their suffrages, as an actress of sterling merit. “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” about which so many eager inquiries have been made, has been put into preparation and will be produced, for the first time in Australia, when Mr Julius Knight pays his return visit to Sydney in December next. Playgoers, and particularly the feminine section, have been very keenly anticipating

the advent of this play which certainly promises to be one of the strongest drawing attractions coming as it does with a record of more than 500 nights in London, and having the additional advantage of Mr Julius Knight in the character of the Baroness Orczy’s romantic hero. * * * * In one respect “Brewster’s Millions” changes its type from pure comedy to spectacular drama, and that is in the great ship scene of the third act. Monty Brewster, the gentleman with the inconvenient money, has taken all his friends on a yachting cruise as one means of getting rid of his wealth and the curtain rises on his steam yacht at anchor in harbour. It gets under weigh and the shore begins to slip by, while as the vessel reaches the open sea, the deck begins to heave and lift under the heavier swell outside. Then a storm begins, the movement of the yacht grows more and more violent, the sky darkens and the wind whistles through the rigging, while the passengers find more and more difficulty in making their way about the deck, until at length the engines break down, and Monty Brewster seizes the chance of offering another steamer the chance of making heavy salvage fees by towing him back to New York. Wellington was no whit behind in the fashion of falling captive to “Mother Goose” that has set in all over Australasia since the flighty old bird began her travels, and the season there has run the usual course of crowded houses and increasing enthusiasm. It commences a fortnight’s season at Dunedin, whence it will start for Invercargill, Timaru, and fin--ally Christchurch, before bringing its wonderful career to a conclusion. The startling announcement was made a few days ago by several Australian newspapers that Mr Bert Gilbert was returning to this country to play in “The Girls of Gottenberg,” and in “Peter Pan,” though how he was to take part in two such dissimilar productions, the runs of which will in all probability overlap, was not explained. As a matter of fact Mr J. C. Williamson has engaged Mr Gilbfert, who has already achieved a solid reputation as a comedian with local playgoers, for the forthcoming Pantomime. In it he will take the same part as was his in the English run of the production, and will, therefore, reap the benefits which a long run and the building up of a part (always a characteristic of pantomime lines) will give him.

The Musical Comedy Company opened their season in Perth before an excellent audience. “The Blue Moon” was most enthusiastically received, and all the indications point to the Westralian visit of the clever combination being a uniformly successful one. * * * * My Napier correspondent writes: — The Fuller Vaudeville Co. played a season of two nights at Napier, on Wednesday and Thursday last, to crowded houses. Cleopatra, the lady snake charmer, handled an array of clinging reptiles as a child plays with a toy. Torturous, anacondas, pythons and boa constrictors were twisted around her body in a moving mass, whlie she concluded her wonderful performance bv playing with two crocodiles that yielded pacifically to her charms. Victor the ventriloquist, lifted the audience out of a creepy feeling, into the realms of vaudeville. This performer was also seen to advantage in some entertaining legerdemain, and concluded with a mystifying cabinet trick. Bonita, a lady rifle shot, is worthy of praise, boring holes in targets from all kinde of positions. Firing from her back, hip, and actually while standing on her head. She concluded a really fine performance by shooting the garment off her assistant. The performing animals, under the direction of Professor and Madame Klaer, furnished an entertaining quarter of an hour. Miss Louie Whitfield rendered some illustrated songs with fine effect. The entertainment was brought to a close with some fine biograph films. Messrs. Fuller intend for the future to pay periodical visits to Napier, and the good results that accrued financially from their late venture demonstrates that they are acting judiciously in the matter. Mr. Alf. Linley filPed the arduous role of manager for the combination, and his courteous, affable style of dealing with patrons, went far to earn popularity for the enterprising proprietors of the company.