OPERA HOUSE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 922, 7 November 1907, Page 16

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS The stock and bullock whip exhibitions g.ven this week at the Opera House by Salt Bush Bill, a powerfully built Australian bushman of close on sixteen stone, are decidedly novel, and enab.e those who are unacquainted with cattle ranch life to form some idea of the skill required in order to properly use the various types of whips with the most advantageous results. Commencing with an ordinary 12ft stock whip Salt Bush Bill makes the Opera House reverberate with a volley of sharp cracks resembling the reports of a number of rifle shots. By way of showing his wonderful discretion in the use of the stockman’s lash an accomplice takes up his position at various distances while the big Australian brings the whip into full play with a resounding crack, the tail curling harmlessly around arms, legs, or whatever part of the body it is intended to encircle. In the same skilfu' manner the great Whip King wie ds whips of all sizes, cutting clean y through spindles held e ther by his own hand or in his mouth. Despite the disadvantage of

haying insufficient room at his disposal he concludes his performance by cracking a monster stock . whip of over 40ft in length. Another attractive turn on Messrs. Fuller’s, programme is that of George Sturm, who spins racquets in the air with marvellous . dexterity. He is also seen in some clever juggling, the act . in which he hangs from a horizontal bar head downwards, at the same time keeping three balls spinning in the air, being a particularly creditable one. Stewart, StirFng and Dunbar appear in an Irish comedy sketch, out of which the audience derive a good deal of merriment. “The Eccentric Cooks” is the title of Morris and Wilson’s humorous sketch, and like the previous turns presented by th s popu’ar acrobatic pair, is extremely funny. Mr. Harry Lnden continues to score heavily with his comic songs, and never fails to arouse much langhter and applause.' Miss Ida Berridge is heard in several new songs, all of which are well received. Stewart (Charles) and Lorraine (Rene) provide the audience with an excellent musical entertainment, anything prettier than which it would be difficult to imagine. Mr. Arthur George, the popu’ar baritone, makes a great hit with “Love Me and the World is Mine,” and thoroughly deserves the reception that follows his singing of It. . Miss. Pearl Livingstone appears in a Dutch song and dance, and is responsible for a good imitation, The bioscope pictures are up to their usual interesting standard, and are well appreciated. Opera House patrons are looking forward to seeing the biograph, film of the Squires-Burns fight for the heavy-weight championship of the world, which is to be shown for the first time in New Zealand on Saturday night. The same evening Gert'e Everett, the charming serio, and Dave Warne, comic vocalist, make their first appearance.

“Mr. Hopkinson is quite indescribable. ” * * * * My Christchurch correspondent writes: —The influenza is still playing havoc in this cty of dust and wind. Every third man you meet looks like a ghost. He has either “just had it,” or is “just going to have it,” and the chemists and the doctors are all reaping a golden harvest. The publicans, too, are busy, whisky and quinine being a very popular remedy for the “flu.”’ Under these sad circumstances theatre-going, - it might be supposed, woujd be neglected. But not so . . . “Mother Goose” is attracting tremendous houses, the advance booking being phenomenal. The piece is as bright and sparkling as champagne, almost as exhilarating. As a spectacle it is remarkable. As a pantomime extravaganza and variety show rolled into one it appeals to all—old, young and middle-aged. The ‘ songs are charming, the scenery gorgeous, the jokes irresistible, and the dancing sublime. Harry Phydora, as Mother Goose, is very, very funny. He reminds me somewhat of Dan Leno Harry Shine, too, as “Jack,” is admirable. Queen and Le Brun as donkeys are deserving of warm praise for their out-of-the-way act ng and “business.” “Whirlwind Dance” of the young McLeans is ‘ a la Darto,” and never fails to bring down the house. The “Toy Ballet” is a great novelty, and the “Hunting Ballet” and the “Floral Ballet” hardly inferior. Victor Loydall, as a comic Scotchman, is inimitable. You should hear him sing “We Parted On the Shore.” Miss B. English (as a fairy) sings “If You On’y Knew,” bew’tchingly. But I could go od filling up columns about “Mother Goose,” and time and space won’t allow. The company end the New Zealand season here and return to the other side. . . . Tomorrow night Meynell and Gunn and Co. open at His Majesty’s'in “A Beautiful . Fiend, ” with Maud Hildyard as th» star. Now, contributing to the capital bill at the Opera House: The Rextons (who give a very novel turn), Post Mason (the. baritone), Dunbar and Blake, Marlow Sisters,’ Dalbeaine (equilibrist) and a heap of others. .*• * ' * ‘ T feel a change in the weather; I must go outside and see what time it is.” —Mr. Hopkinson. Playgoers; of the Thames,. Waihi and Rotorua districts will be pleased to learn that it is the intention. of. the W. lloughby and Ward Company to appear in their centres upon the termination of the Auckland season. *■ * - M. » “If I’ve said' anything I’m sorry for, I’m /glad I sa : d it.” —Mr. Hopkinson. • » ■ * •' * Manager' Edwin ■ Geach, after a prosperous trip through the Dominion, returns to Sydney in the Manuka on Monday next.

Regarding the new production of “The New Clown,” it is pleasing to note that both Willoughby Ward and Grace Palotta appear actually ‘at their best.” * * * t Those in need of a jof.y good laugh would do well to call in and see “Hoppy” at His Majesty’s Theatre. * * * . * Mr. Hugh Ward’s impersonation of Mr Hopkinson is worth go ng a long way to see. ***'■» A few short pars concerning Miss Carrie Moore selected from various journals :—“Miss Carrie Moore will shortly enter into - a life’s engagement —marriage. ” “Miss Carrie Moore returns to Australia next Easter under Mr. Williamson’s management.” “Miss Carrie Moore is longing to return to her own country. She is suffering from homesickness of an aggravated form.” “Miss. Carrie Moore will play principal boy in Mr. Courtneidge’s coming pantomime.” “Miss Carrie Moore has been booked for a three years’ contract with a leading firm of English entrepreneurs.” * * * * Mr. Allan Hamilton, whose ‘ Home Sweet Home” Company is at present playing to crowded houses in New Zealand has his hands pretty full at present. Besides having two companies in the Dominion he has the sole lesseeship of the Theatre Royal, Hobart, and the Academy of Music, Launceston, for five years, and he will also open at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on Boxing Night, on which occasion the attraction will be Mr. Herbert Fleming and his new English company. “Mother Goose” a big success in Christchurch. Mr.» Harry Rickards’ latest English appe’lat on : “The well-known Australian millionaire impresario.” * * * * Miss Alice Vernon, who died at Perth a little while ago, was a daughter of Howard Vernon. She was at one time on the stage, under the name of Miss Esther Castles, and appeared in Melbourne at the o’d Alexandra, now Her Maietsy’s * * * * It is stated in several exchanges that Miss Maud Hildyard, leading melodramatic lady for Messrs. Meynell and Gunn, receives a salary of per week. If she does— : t would be interesting to work out how much per murder this comes to, for Miss Hildyard has about five or six murders to commit in every play, and high pay for such work is very necessary. Expectation ran high as regards the production of Brewster’s Millions” in Sydney at the Theatre Royal there on Saturday, the 26th October, and the preliminary booking was particularly heavy, nearly a thousand seats being reserved on the box plan before the initial performance. The many points of interest contained in the play had evidently strongly appealed to the expectation of playgoers, and the reception accorded it by the first

night audience indicated that the realisation was quite in keeping with the anticipation. The quick snappy dialogue full of quaint conceits and smart sayings, the succession of amusing contretemps that brought Monty Brewster’s millions back to him, the atmosphere of youth and vitality, all appealed strongly, and wave after wave of thoroughly appreciative merriment passed round the house. To Mr. Thomas Kingston, of course the chief honours of the evening fell. In the title role he proved himself, as was to be expected from his London record, a really first-class light comedian playing the part with quickness, alertness and “go,” bringing out every point in his lines and getting every possible ounce out of his business until the part stood out as a positively brilliant effort. With Mrs. Brough (whose reception was tremendous) Misses Lily Titheradge, Florence Gleeson, Messrs. Gregan McMahon, W. Paulton, Maurice Dudley, J. B. Atholwood and others as favourably known, all in the cast and all contributing finished little character sketches, there is no need to add that the support he received was entirely adequate.

On Saturday evening, November 2, the Musical Comedy Company with Mr. V ctor Couriet again in the cast (which will therefore be precisely as it was in Melbourne) began their season at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. * * # *

A cable ha s been received from Mr. J. C. Williamson, stating that, he has engaged a man for “Humpty-Dumpty” in the next pantomime. He has to be not only a comedian, but also an “artist in trap work,” which promises to be exceedingly heavy for him.

Mr. J. C. Williamson. went to America last week, one of his principal objects in doing so being to see the production there of “Peter Pan” with Maude Adams in the title role. He w’ll be back again in London before Christmas, when the play is to be revived there, and will therefore have all its delightful features assimilated before he returns ito . Australia. - ■ _ .

It is stated that Miss Carrie Moore, the well-known actress, is to be married in London in December. * * * •

The “Mother Goose” Company will finish the New Zealand tour at Christchurch on November 14, and will return to Sydney in order to visit Newcastle for three nights on November 20, 21 and 22. Preparations will then be entered upon for the production of “Hump-ty-Dumpty,” the new Christmas attraction.

The Grand Opera Company will arrive in Melbourne this week, re-appear-ing at the Princess’s Theatre for a farewell season of 18 nights. In addition -to two performances each of “The Valkyrie,” ‘Tannhausen,” “Lohengrin,” “Carmen,” “Faust,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” the repertoire will include “Rigoletto,” which Fraulein Stoeller sang

with Caruso in Berlin last year, “The Marriage of Figaro,” and “The Flying Dutchman.” A feature of the season will be the first appearance in Australia of Fraulein Charlotta Bouche, who joined the company during its tour of New Zealand, where she was spending a few months at the Lake District. Fraulein Bouche has sung right through the Wagnerian repertoire at the Royal Opera House, Stuttgart. The Antipodean tour of the company will be terminated in Melbourne, as Sydney will not be visited, the company leaving for Germany during the first week of December. * * * « Miss Millie Everett, now in Wellingon with Fuller’s, is a sister of Miss Daisy Harcourt, who has become a vaudeville star of the first magnitude, with an estab! shed vogue in London, Paris and New York. * * * * Miss Dina Cooper, formerly with Meynell and Gunn kid-drama, now leads in Allan Hamilton’s “Home, Sweet, Home” Company. She now bills herself as Miss Khadyah Cooper. No reason for the change of her name is authoritativelyl given, but Mr. Robert Barr, of the “Otago Witness” (whq is a devout authority), presumes that the lady is in mourning for her aunt.

The permanent headquarters of J. C. Williamson in New Zealand will in future be at Wellington, a ten years’ lease of the Opera House there having just been secured.

The realism of the yachting scene in the third act of ‘Brewster’s Millions” positively took the audience by storm when it was shown there last week, and everybody agreed in describing it as a wonderful effort in stage mechanical effects. The familiar surroundings of the theatre disappeared as one watched it, and in place of the footlights and the proscenium, the spectator actually seemed to be on board ship. The deck rose and fell with the ever increasing “activity,” the horizon dipped below the line of the bulwarks and rose above it, the waves whispered along the sides of the vessel, and the passengers swayed aricf staggered to her lift and roll as though they were well out to sea. Indeed, those who had suffered from seasickness felt keenly for the players, so very real did their experiences appear, and wondered whether any of them were feeling squeamish. Luckily they had by dint of much rehearsal, got over that stage, and gave to the motion as though they had been at sea for weeks. But tales are told that it was not always so, and earlier in the course of preparing the play, when first they had to speak their I’nes on the moving deck, more than one of the cast fell victim to mal-de-mer, and had to keep their more fortunate associates waiting while they recovered from the effects of too much realism.

Mr. Andrew Mack is to visit Melbourne at the end of November for a brief farewe’l visit to the Princess Theatre after his Victorian country tour, which commences at Ballarat on November 11 with Bendigo and Geelong to follow. He will open in Adelaide on December 3.

On Saturday, October 26, Mr. Julius Knight commenced his season at the Adelaide Theatre Royal—and Adelaide was most emphatically pleased to have him once more in their midst, a crowded and most enthusiastic house assembling to bid him welcome. “Raffles,” moreover, in which he opened, gave playgoers an opportunity of judging him ; n a modern role instead of in the heroic costume dramas with which he has heretofore been associated —and very appreciative they were of the change. The company who already have their parts allotted to them, will begin rehearsals on “The Scarlet Pimpernel” while in Adelaide and the scenery and wardrobe, both highly important features of the production, are already well advanced.

If the success of a new play may be measured by the volume of applause with which it is received, then “The Girls of Gottenberg,” which was presented for the first time in Australia at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, Saturday evening (October 26) by the Royal Comic Opera Co., is a big go—a very big go. All through the evening a crowded audience gave vociferous expression to its delight, nearly every number was encored, and the laughter induced by the extraordinary set of episodes consequent upon Max Moddelkopf’s assumption of the role of the Kaiser’s right hand man, was almost continuous. Certainly “The Qirls of Gottenberg” has in it all the features that make for a comedy success as well as a few others all its own which still further enhance its chances. There are gallant soldiers attired in striking blue and red to lend colour to the picture, pretty girls to enhance and beautify it, German students of the gentler sex to swagger in beauteous green and gold uniforms, there is a quaint German market place and an ideal beer garden; there are merry lilts and spirited marches, clever dancing, bright business and lots of fun. There is a novel atmosphere, a capital comedy story and a coherent plot. Over and above all there is the Royal Com e Opera Co. to give all this point and polish, the principals all well fitted with their respective parts, the chorus well trained by Mr. Gerard Coventry, whose stage management in this as in his other productions, bears abundant evidence of his talent. To Mr. George Lauri as the

Extra Special Envoy of the Kaiser falls the lion’s share of the fun, and it goes without saying that he makes the very most of a part in which his fund of humour has full sway, his mock dignity, his authoritative consignment of various functionaries to prison, his translucent love making and his discomfiture in the end, being’ all most admirably done. Miss Florence Young has two excellent solos to which she does the fullest justice, and Mr. Reginald Roberts shines in a spirited song with a spirited backing of girls and hussars. Miss Fanny Dango as Mitzi played with delicacy and finish, captivating her audience with her brightness and liveliness. A very long cast gave opportunities to Miss Clara Clifton, to M ! ss Nellie Wilson as the dashing captain of the Girls’ College, to Messrs W. S. Percy, C. R. Bantock for fetching little comedy sketches to Miss Tilly Woodlock for a really fine bit of dancing, and to Messrs. D. B. O’Connor (a new comer) and Arthur Crane for two tuneful baritone solos. In “The Girls of Gottenberg” could not have been played better, nor received better.

The Sydney season of Madame Clara Butt finished up in the anticipated blaze of triumph with a matinee concert on Thursday of last wees, and ihe early part of this week the great contralto '"•as spent in Brisbane, white two <Ol ceils were given at the Exhibition on the Monday and Wednesday. She returned -a Sydney on Friday, and comes on (o Melbourne on Sunday 'n order to be present at the Cup, an expe/.ence she and Mr Kennerley Rumford set their heart upon enjoying as soon as they had decided to

visit Australia, rightly arguing that no visitor who has the chance of seeing Flemington on the first Tuesday of November should neglect the opportunity During the week, however, Madame Butt will devote one evening to the public enjoyment, and her concert in the Town Hall, which Messrs. J. and N. Tait have arranged for Oaks Night is bound to be one of the b'ggest functions of the Carnival.

The enthusiasm vented upon Madame Butt in Sydney was passively phenomenal,. Her last Saturlay night’s concert (October 19) broke a l previous records. An immense crowd gathft.ed in the Town Hall as early as half-pa t five, and by eight o’clock not only was every seat gone, but every square foot of standing room was occupied. The platio’m was occupied by scores of people, not only sitting but standing in rows round her as she sang. At its conclusion they waited in hundreds outside the Town. Hall to catch a glimpse of their idol, and her carriage had literally to force a path through the cheering handkei chief-wav-ing and flower-throwing enthusi ests.

Socially as well as artistica'ly Madame Clara Butt’s fascinating personality brought all Sydney to her feet, and invitations of all descriptions smp;v poured in on them at their beautif fl .herne in Woollahra. Motor trips on the harbour were a particularly favoured form of enjoyment for her and for her husband, and during last week they were taken to New South Wales’ other great show place—the Blue Mountains—a special train having been placed at their disposal by Mr. Johnson, the principal commissioner; who acted as host. ......

The Besses o’ th’ Barn gave their final concerts in Adelaide this week, and are at the present time on the water en route to Western Australia, where they finish their remarkably successful Australasian tour with visits to Perth and Kalgoorlie, before their departure from the Commonwealth on November 18.