PADEREWSKI V. HAMBOURG.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 938, 27 February 1908, Page 18

PADEREWSKI V. HAMBOURG.

Hark Hambourg, who is to r visit Australia this year under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait, had many curious experiences during his recen. American tour, one of them illustrating the American’s keen sense of a business proposition. Paderewski was touring the States at the same time and very naturally a large proportion of the musical critics, and music lovers spent much time and many words in discussing the respective merits of . the two virtuees- —more especially as on several occasions their itineraries overlapped and they played within a night or two of each other in the same town —sometimes choosing the same pieces for their programme. The amount of int rest and controversy these inc dents occasioned inspired a New York music hall manager with a bril iant scheme. He offered Hambourg, and presumab’v Paderewski, a big fee if they would appear on the same stage and p 3 ay the same pieces within half an hour of each other—a sort of instrumental duel—in. order that the public might settle once for. a'l the vexed question as to whose rendering was me better one- It is perhaps need ess to add that the offer was not accepted. Nor was another of a different sort, from a financial magnate ’who wanted Hambourg to play at a big social function on New Year’s eve. He tried to tempt him with a fee of yCqoo, but the great pianist couM not accept without sacrificing a very important engagement at the Queen’s Hall. London. Four other offers of each for simi’ar appearances had to be reluctantly decHned for the same reason.

Arrangements are at present being mhde for a tour of New Zealand about the end of the year of Mr L. De Groen’s full Vice-Regal Band of fifty-five performers, accompanied by a first-class concert company.

Harry Lauder, at the close of his five weeks’ New York engagement at /1550 a week, signed an agreement to return in 1908 for a similar season at a week —nearly double the sa’ary previously paid to any variety artist.

Eleven hundred peop’e were on the sa 1 - ary list of Drury Lane theatre during the pantomime season.

Mr John F. Sheridan has secured the Australasian rights of “ The Chorus Girl. ” an American musical comedy deafing with the fortunes of a facetious low comedian, who impersonates an English earl, and “The Gir’ from Venus,” wh-’ch is on similar lines to ‘‘ A Message from Mars.” Both pieces are likely t 0 be staged in the Dominion shortly.

- Miss Julia' Marlowe, • while travelling in Eng and, was taken to task by a doctor for her death scene in “Romeo and Juiet.” It was in a small town, and the doctor, who met her at a reception, began to .e” her of the pleasure her performance had given him. “ I admire your Juliet profoundly,” said he, ‘‘but —pardon me, Miss Marlowe —don’t you know that the. body does not stiffen for at east six hours after death?” “ Now doc.or,” replied Miss Marlowe, in the drawl she reserves for such speeches, “do you think that I’m going to keep my audience waiting for me to stiffen?”

Now that numbers of people _ook to the stage to teach .hem the etiquette of dress and customs, a stage manager’s life is even more anxious than of yore. The study of the clothes of men-servants as they should and should not be, was attended to by Mr Flemming last time he was in England, when he was horrified to discover that his stage butlers erred by wearing low-cut waistcoats instead of the correct high-cut affairs worn by these dignitaries. Af.er a c-?ep study of the subject, Mr Flemming prides himself that his men-servants are dressed as they would be in the houses of the “ upper ten.” His butlers now can never be mistaken for waiters or footmen.

Herr Slapoffski, with the assistance of his talented wife, will establish an operatic school in Sydney. They consider there is p enty of premising ma.erial in Australia to furnish a permanent opera without the necessity of going abroad for principals.

At Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, ‘‘The Dairymaids ” is in full swing, the first week of the Royal Comic Opera Company’s rendering of the merry piece having been marked by consistently crowded houses. ‘‘The Lady Dandies” which is to be the next production, is meanwhile in active rehearsa 1 .

Alfred Sutro’s powerful study of modern temperaments, “John C’ayde’s Honour” w’ll be done fot the first time in Me 1 - bourne at the Princess Theatre, on March 7th.

An excellent indication of the way in which “ The Merry Widow ” has captured Great Britain is afforded by the fact that that when the George Edwarde’s Company began a season in G’asgow ’ast December, the whole of the theatre was sold for the entire month to which its stay was limited before the curtain rose on the first performance there.

Rea’ising the special interest which the children take in the annual Xmas Panto-

mime, the J. C. Wi’.iamson management have- this yea.- accentuated the interest of the .it.l? ones in the “ Humpty-Dump-ty ” production by publ shing a book of the pan.cmime told in simple “ fairy story ” rty.e by Miss Annie Rentou and daintily i Lustrated by Miss Ida S. Rentoul. ’ The s.ory deals with “ HumptyDumptv’s ” s.x wishes, and the way in which he dispos s of those wi lies is told with al. the fascination and simplicity which character ses he o d time fairy tales The illustrations —some in b ack and white and some in four colours —add considerably to the attractiveness of the publication as can be we” understood by those who are acquainted with the deightfu.ly artistic work for which. Miss Ida Rentou] has for some time past been responsib’e. Indeed the 1 ttle book reflects the greatest credit on a’.! concerned in its oroduction.

The Julius Knight Company’s revival repertoire is to be strengthened by the inc’.usion of “ The Prisoner of Zenda ” and Anthony Hope’s popu ar romance should receive full justice wi.h Mr Knight in the role of Rudo’ph Ra=sendyll and Miss Ola Humphrey as the Princess Flavia.

A few days ago a very p easant afternoon was spent by the representatives of South Australia and Tasmania in the Australian States Bal’et in “HumptyDumpty.” The ladies were invited by the respective correspondents of the Adelaide “ Critic ” and the Tasmanian “ Courier ” (Mr T. A. Rogers and Miss Gasch) to afternoon tea. , Senator Dobson enlivened the proceedings with a humorous speech on the manifold attractions of Tasmania, and Mr Rogers spoke up for the charms of his particular State and altogether a very pleasant hour or so was spent. Now the ladies who have the honour to represent New South Wales Queensland and West Australia are wondering whether a simi’ar function is I‘keto take place on their behalf.

The great attraction in the Ju’ius Knight repertoire—“ Monsieur Beauca're ” — has just been revived again in London.

Sydney playgoers attended the first night of “ Claudian ” at the Theatre Roya 1 in a number which showed unmistak-’blv th’' in-

terest the revival of the great spectacular drama had aroused, and the eagerness to see Mr Julius Knight in a role to which everybody anticipated he would do the fullest justices (writes Mr George Tallis). Their expectations were amply realised, for Mr Knight’s study of the Byzantine nobleman, suffering under a curse which imposed eternal youthfulness upon Jiim, was a really fine sustained effort which deservedly won the entire approval of a crowded house. Miss Ola Humphrey too was excellent as Aimida, a part that requires a charming presence and a sympathetic touch—both of which attributes she possesses in full measure and the rest of the company were all placed to the best advantage. The scenery with its alternation between the gorgeousness of the Imperial East and the quiet charm of the country side and its most realistic earthquake scene, was a special feature of the production.

At length it is possible to make a definite announcement regarding “ Peter Pan.” that dainty and most whimsical of fairy stories by J. M. Barrie, to the Australian premiere of which playgoers on this side of. the world have been ’ooking forward. That premiere will take, place at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on April 1 Sth . (Easter Saturday) and an additional attraction will mark the occasion in . that it wi’l signalise the return of Miss Tit'ell Brune to the scene of so many former triumphs. Tn anticipation of “the doub’e event ” J. C. Williamson booked the theatre twelve months ago and when Miss Brune left on her holiday trip last year, she was asked to ’ose no chance of seeing the two most. famous exponents of the character —Maud Adams t in theUnited States, and Pauline Chase, in London. Moreover, she had to present herself to Mr Barrie in London, for he makes it a rtde that the actress chosen for “Peter Pan ” should be subject to his approval That weighty interview is over and Miss Brune has had numerous, conversations with Mr Barrie who has given her every helo in connection with the reading of Yhfe part. Miss Brune leaves for Australia in a week or two.