WAS IT A COINCIDENCE?

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 936, 13 February 1908, Page 17

WAS IT A COINCIDENCE?

The singular similarity which many critics discovered between Mr Hubert Henry Davies’s comedy. “ The Mollusc,” now running at the London Criterion Theatre, and Mr C. Haddon Chambers’s “ The Tyranny of Tears,” which ran at the same theatre, under the same management, about nine years ago, has led to a keenly intersting correspondence between the two dramatists mentioned. From the letters, it would appear that Mr Chambers who attended the premiere of ‘ ‘ The Mollusc,” and had been struck by the likeness between the two plays, wrote to Mr Davies, asking for the loan of a copy of his work, in order that he might “ search diligently and honestly in the manuscript for features which make your comedy dissimi’ar to ‘The Tyranny of Tears.’” Mr Davies returned a three-line letter suggest-

ing that Mr Chambers should come and see his pay again, and bring the MSS. of his own play with him, if he wished to. Mr Chambers, in his response, pointed out hat he had not asked for advice, but the loan of Mr Davies’s MSS. Mr Davies thereupon refused this request on the plea that he would be placing himse f in an unworthy position if he acceded to it. Then Mr Chambers admitted that Mr Davies exercised his undoubted rights in refusing to part with his MSS., but expressed his regret that he (Mr Davies) had not volunteered his assistance in what promised to be a profitable inquiry into the unexampled activity of the long arm of coincidence. Mr Chambers proceeded to quote four prominent London critics who had remarked upon the simi arities between the two plays; to outline the story of “ The Mollusc,” which could certainly be described as the scenario of either; and to append a passage from the introductory note to the edition of ‘‘Tyranny of Tears,” published in America, and ask “ in what respect the quoted passage would fail as a description of the theme of ‘ The Moluc.’” Bu: Mr Davies refused to be drawn. He merely replied that, as Mr Chambers had not accused him of plagiarism. he could see no reason for the correspondence which he had started between them. Mr Chambers in a diginified reply said tha Mr Davies’s action was not, perhaps, plagiarism neither was it cricket.

“ Claudian,” a success of the early eighties, is being staged by Julius Knight in Sydney. It has always seemed to the writer that this is the play .upon which Wilson Barrett founded ‘‘The Sign of the Cross.” The resemblance is very great. We shall probably see it here before long.

At the St. Patrick’s Festival at the Albert Hall the special.feature will be “The Birth of the Empire” a great spectacular display in which 250 performers will take part.

It has been definitely decided that “ Peter Pan ” will be produced in Melbourne at Easter, with Tittell Brune in the title role.

Messrs Meynell and Gunn expect great things from the Quaker play that they are now rehearsing, “ The Little Bread winner.” This piece will be given its first Australian trial in Perth, and there are well-based hopes of another “ Fatal Wedding Success.”

The new theatre that, is being built in Melbourne for William Anderson at a cost of is making good headway (writes our representative), and the lessee expects to open it on July 18. When finished, it will be a magnificent structure, and, being centrally situated (in Russel! street, one door from Bourke street), it should become a very popular place of public amusement.

A world’s congress of musicians is 10 be held in Milan in April next to celebrate the century of the Conservatorium of Music. A number of concerts will be given, and papers will be read and discussions held.

Regular visitors to me dress circle at His Majesty’s will have lately missed the doorkeeper who was acted in that capacity for some years. lam sure they will learn with great regret, as I did, that Mr Barrett died on Monday night, after a short il ness. Quite a young man and of a quiet unassuming character, he was popular ■ with all who knew him, and especially with threatre-goers, for his unfailing courtesy to everybody.

Miss Nina Osborne is with Miss May Beatty in the cast of the pantomime at . Newcastle-on-Tyne. . . The chorus of Meynell and Gunn’s Comic Opera Company, which opens in Melbourne at Easter, will be mainly made up of the choristers of Musgrove’s Grand Opera Co. ■-■■■■ Mark Hambourg, the famous pianist, has arranged for another tour of the Commonwealth and New Zea’and, : under the management of Messrs J. and N. Tai'. He wi 1 open in Sydney in July, and the tour will last three months. ♦ * ® ® A strange production of “Macbeth” was given in San Francisco recently by the Japanese Students’ Club. According to the dramatic critic of the “Call,” a youth . named Hashiba played Lady Macbeth, and another youth named Katazibara her husband. The part of Duncan being regarded as unimportant, was left out of the cast. At the beginning of each act a chorus came forward to announce in Japanese the argument. Then the act proceeded in English. “ Lady Macbeth ” had a blond wig, tight corsets, and a spotted kinmono, and Macbeth’s castle was decked with painted screen and hakemonos. • « e • On the recommendation of a deputation from the Suburban Theatre Managers’ Association, the London County Council has decided to delete from all future licenses granted by it the condition prohibiting smoking in the auditorium of theatres. The suburban managers pleaded the difficulty which they had in competing with music-halls, and asked that they, too, might be al’owed to permit smoking while performances were going on.

For the farewell Tetrazzini concerts at Covent Garden, big prices were given—ten shillings was cheerfully paid for but poor standing room. Extraordinary demonstrations were made as the new star left the theatre. Men fought to shake hands with her, women to kiss her, and on one or two occasions she was rather roughly hand’ed in the general enthusiasm. Bands of gentlemen and several policemen surrounded her, and fought a way with her to her carriage. Crowds followed to the hotel cheering her.

The “ The Mummy and the Humming Bird ” with which Mr Flemming’s season will open is said to be even better than “ The Walls of Jericho.”

The Hellers, mystic entertainers, are arranging for a tour of New Zealand. The He !ers have a new novelty and mystery show from Europe, which is being presented for the first time in Australia by them.

A wire from Dunedin says that the Musical Cromes opened there on Saturday. The handbells and sleighbells items were recalled twelve times, being one of the greatest successes known there.

Miss Maggie Moore has been touring the United States with a son of the famous actor, Joseph Jefferson. It is said that Miss Moore and Mr Harry Roberts will shortly revisit Australia with a number of new plays. * * * *

Mr Haigh Jackson, for some time baritone with the Comic Opera has been completing his musical studies in London. Mr Jackson has made the interesting discovery that he is a tenor singer, not a baritone.

Mr Rairnund Peckotsch, conductor of the orchestra at the Lyceum Theatre, formerly of Melbourne, composed the music for the various choruses, dances and marches for the pantomime of “ Robinson Crusoe, ” which was to be produced at the Lyceum, London, on December 23.

‘ ‘ The Great Divide ” is being translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish and Henry Miller has begun arrangements for its presentation in Paris, Berlin, Rome and Madrid, in addition to his own appearance in the play in London next spring. All the adaptations are being made by the actor-manager’s eldest son Gilbert H. Miller.

Mr Harry Lyons, is in advance of Carter, the magician. Mr Lyons recently concluded an engagement with the great Master of Mystery, Thurston, for whom he prepared the way all through the East. . Mr Lyons has been in New Zealand with many well-known organisations —notably Messrs Cooper and Bailey’s circus, for whom he was the avant courier. Mr Lyons gave “ Prompter ” of the Canterbury “ Times ” some interesting informat’.on of his experiences in China and India, and he assured him that the companies which he has toured through those parts have made money much easier than can be done in Australasia. The people are more wealthy than Britishers in these parts dream of, and they—even to the poorest—are great pleasure-seekers. Mr Lyons has seen much of the inner life of both countries, and his conclusions lead him to think that the troub’e which is simmering now will break forth—sedition in India and the spread of the power of China. At the conclusion of Mr Carter’s tour of the dominion. Mr Lyons will show him through the East, where, said the veteran, the people will flock in thousands to see that wonderful master of magic. : ■> i - ’

Carter is the best man we have had here since Dante, says the Dunedin Evening “ Star,” and he is a better man than was that ill-fated showman in every cardinal issue of the profession. He is quick as a flash, adroit to cover his work, and • a most accomplished chafferer. In fine, he is an ideal showman, with the right word to enhance his manipulation always, and the wrong word to impair its effect never. Carter, the magician, has a new trick which has puzzled Dunedinites. It is called “ The Astral Hand.” The hand is passed among the audience, who examine it for the mechanism which apparently is not there. They are left to explain to their own minds, each as his wit is fanciful or dull, why the hand answers questions, moves of its own volition and obeys the call of the magician.

Mr Harry Rickards has engaged Chung Ling Soo, the great Chinese magician, for a tour through Australia. Mr Rickards leaves for London again in March to book more artists for Australia.

For the Mrs McKee Rankin (Kitty Blanchard) benefit at the Broadway Theatre, every detail will be in the hands of women. The positions of ushers, programme distributors, ticket-sellers, tickettakers. etc., will all be filled by prominent actresses. It is to be a benefit given by women to one of their own sex. * * .* *

A farewell tour of the West Coast of the South Island is to be undertaken by the Pollard Juvenile Opera Co., then across to Christchurch, down to Dunedin, concluding the New Zealand tour at Invercargill on May 31. A visit to Tasmania follows, then through the States of Australia, and back to New Zealand.

Mr Spencer Barrv. the popular stage manager at the London Empire, who was with Mr J. C. Williamson’s Musical Comedy Company for -six years in Australia, where he also married May Flower, the pretty Australian dancer, left before Christmas for New York, to introduce Mlle Genee to the American public, and then returned at the end of January to London. Adeline Genee has been the “premiere danseuse ” at the Empire for 10 years, and she has gone to Keith and Proctor for three months’ tour in the United States, at a salary of 2oogns a week. She will thus get for 13 weeks’ dancing.

The MacMahon Pictures are now touring the South Island. They are at Timaru to-night and will be at Ashburton on the 14th and 15th. * ♦ * ®

The following are the dates of the New Zealand tour of Wirths’ Circus :—Dunedin, Saturday, February 8, till Saturday 15; Palmerston, February 17; Oamaru,

February 18; Waimate, February, 19; Timaru, February 20; Temuka, February 21 ; Ashburton, February 22 ; Christchurch, February 23.

Herr Benno Scherek, the well-known musician, who is at present in; Dunedin, has decided to take up his residence in Christchurch.

Mr Douglas Hamilton, who takes the part of Isaac of York in Mr Thornton’s “ When Knights were Bold” Company at the Sydney Criterion was an officer in the 33rd West Ridings before he took to the stage. Mr Keppel Stevenson, who is also a member of Mr Thornton’s company, was in his youthful days a sailor, and first visited Sydney about twentythree years ago as an apprentice in the Patriarch, of the White Star Line. He ended his seafaring career as second officer in the Orient Company.

“ The Girls of Gottenberg ” after a highly successful season at Her .Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, gives place this evening (Saturday, February 1), writes Mr George Tallis, to “The Dairymaids” ithe farcical musical play which was the Royal Comic Opera Company’s first siuccess in Melbourne last year. When .that has fulfilled its destiny there will be produced for the first time in Australia the great Daly’s Theatre success—“ The Lady Dandies.” Thus Sydney will have the pleasure of seeing their favourites in three pieces entirely new to that city in the space of one visit. Of “ The Lady Dandies ”

most flattering compliments have ’been paid to the tunefulness and high average quality of its music, while its capacity for fun .making should receive more than adequate treatment at the hands of the strong contingent of comedians now in the company. .

“The Scarlet Pimpernel,” of which Mr Julius Knight and Miss Ola Humphrey and the company supporting them have made such a success at the Theatre .Royal, Sydney, will outlast its musical rival at Her Majesty’s Theatre by one week, its career coming to end on Friday (February 7th). It will be succeeded bv that fine resonant drama “ Claudian,” of which the late Wilson Barrett made such good use during his visits to this country. In the name part Mr Julius Knight should make one of the great successes of his life, while Miss Humphrey will also have fine opportunities for the display of her emotional talent as Almida.

When the “ Brewster’s Millions ” company finish the New Zealand tour, their next objective will be Tasmania, where they spend the end of February between Hobart and Launceston.

Madame Sarah Bernhardt about whose Australian visit next year, under the direction of J. C. Wi liamson, the cab es told us recently, is making that visit in pursuance of a plan for a farewell tour of the world after a phenomenally successful stage career, full of incident and triumph which has lasted since she made her debut in Paris as Iphiginie at the Comedie Francaise, of which theatre she was nominated “ societaire ”in 1875. Four years later she visited London for the first time, and afterwards America. In 1881 she returned to Paris and having broken with the Comedie Francaise (for which she was compelled to pay damages) assumed the directorship of the Ambigu and then in 1883 bought the Porte St. Martin Theatre and appeared there in numerous new roles. Except for visits to America and London she remained there until 1893 when she became director of the Renaissance Theatre. Five years later she bought the old Theatre des Nations, which she rebuilt and opened as the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt. She is a painter and scu’ptor of considerable ability, has written and produced a play of her own, adapted others and written her recollections which only recently were extensively quoted from in all the leading Australian papers. O’d playgoers will remember the tremendous success of her .Austra’ian season in 1891, when she staged some >of her most celebrated -productions. Advancing years have 'Certainly not impaired either her versatility or her genius, for it is only two or three years -ago that she appeared in London as Ham’et. and the critics considered her interpretation of the great Dane worthy to rank with the ■great creators of the part while a little over a year ago the papers were fu'l of stories about her activities during her American tour. Forced out of the theatres by the act’on pf the Trust, she was compelled to play in a large tent; she practically lived on a train, “hustled” from town to town in the best sty’e of the national character and generally proved that her vigour and perennial youthfulness remained at high pressure. Perhaps the secret of that youthfulness is summed up in her answer to a candid friend who asked her whether she didn’t feel she was growing o d-—•“ I never have t’me to think of it,” was her replv.

Writing on board the R.M.S. Majestic, on Christmas Day, Mr Dudley Clinton sends the following:—“Two years ago to-day I sailed from Sydney with George Musgrove and Nellie Stewart, for America, and now commence my journey back again via London and Suez, under contract to Mr J. C. Williamson. Since the tour of “ Sweet Nell,” I have fulfilled a very long engagement with America’s greatest actress, Mrs Fiske, playing the. Rev. Mathew Phillimore in Langdon Mitchell’s Comedy of Divorce, “ The New York Idea.”

I leave England on January 10th, by the Orient line steamer “ Ophir,” and all being well shall arrive in Australia about the middle of February, 1908. During my brief stay in the Land of the Stars and Stripes, I have traversed the Continent from ’Frisco to New York, professionally, three times. I have played in the Golden Gate City before and after the Earthquake (you will of course have learned that “ Sweet Nell ” Company left that il’-fated city only four days before the calamity). I have visited 35 States of the Union as far South as Florida, have picked cotton in Alabama, have seen Niagara Falls in mid-summer and in the depth of winter, and I have performed in the most northerly city in Canada, viz., Edmonton. I have “ done ” a three months’ season on Boardway with Mrs Fiske and am now completing my voyage round the world. You will see that I have not been idle, and if I may use an Americanism, “ I have been going some,” and during the next .five weeks hope to “ go some more.” I am most anxious to renew .my acquaintance with the Australian and New Zealand audiences whose generous and kind appreciation of my humble work as “ Dr Juttner ” in “ Old Heidelberg,” I have never for one moment forgotten.

George Lauri will not be in the cast of The Ladv Dandies,’'’ which follows “The Dairymaids” at Her Majesty’s, Sydney, and will take a long .rest. The popular comedian has been connected with J. C. Wil'iamson’s companies for over 17 years, with only one break during that period.