THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 959, 23 July 1908, Page 16

THE STAGE

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

THE H. R. ROBERTS COMPANY. “ The Prince Chap” enjoyed a run of seven nights at His Majesty’s. It is a dainty play, an old story with a new setting, admirably told, one of those charming pieces, in fact, in which someone has written, its comedy is the sunshine which dries the tears of pathos. Mr. H. R. Roberts left nothing whatever to be desire! in the role of William Peyton, the sculp tor, and his scenes with the two children in Acts 1 and 2 would be indeed difficult to improve upon. Mr. Roberts must be warmly congratulated on a great artistic success. Little Vera Haggett was a sweet little mite, the Claudia of Act 1., who won everybody’s heart, while Beryl Yates proved a very winsome little lassie as the Claudia of Act 11. Miss Justim'a Waybe was perhaps hardly so satisfactory as the grown up Claudia of Act 111., the impersonation being somewhat lifeless. Miss Mary Keogh provided a constant ripple of laughter whenever rhe was on the stage, and was fully entitled to the rounds of applause she received every evening. Miss Florence Redfern gave a convincing study as Mrs Harrington, but Miss Vera Remee was not so satisfactory. Mr Frank Lamb proved amusing enough as Marcus Runion. Mr Greenaway did well as the Earl of Henningford, and the other mem bers of the Company all helped to keep the fun going. Altogether “The Prince Chap” proved a very pleasing play which will remain a green spot in the memory for many a long day to come. Last night (but too late for review in this issue), H. A. Jones’ comedy “The Case of Rebellious Susan,” was staged, Mr Roberts appearing as Sir Richard Kato. K.C., and this will be repeated to-night and to-morrow, when the season ends. The Company leave for Gisborne on Saturday.

“ HUMPTY-DUMPTY.”

For pantomime purposes Mr. Hickory Wood in “Humpty Dumpty” has brought to life again that ill-fated hero of nursery rhymes from the awful smash that baffled all the kings horses and all the king’s men, and has carried on the story a stage or two further. He has written a book funnier than anything he has ever done before in order to tell the story of how “Humpty Dumpty”, transformed by fairy power into a mischievous boy, spends a bequest of six

wishes, and the consequent upheaval caused by him in the Court of King Solium, the monarch who never laughs.

Mr. J. C. Williamson’s pantomime extravaganza, “ Humpty Dumpty,” will be staged for the first time in N.Z. at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday July 27th. The company includes all the old favourites of “Mother Goose” fame and is augmented by the inclusion of several people who are described as “ pantomime specialists.” These comprise Mr. Bert. Gilbert who played the part of King Solium in the English production of'“ Humpty Dumpty”: Mr. J. L. Cherry as “Humpty Dumpty” and a clever impersonator in Miss Olga Grey. The old favourites include Messrs. Harry Shine, Victor Toydall, Queen and Le Brun, Misses Mahelli Morgan, Nance Maker, Irene Dillon and Beatrice English.

OPERA HOUSE.

FULLER’S ENTERTAINERS. Good audiences continue to be the rule each night at the Opera House, where Messrs Fuller’s exce lent entertainment still holds sway. The Swifts (Wilton, Dorothy and Amy) are presenting their emotional playlet entitled “Convict 99,” which, is portrayed by these worthy artists in a most talented manner. Miss Dorothy Swift is also heard in song and dance items, with which she makes a very popular impression. Armon Bros, are meeting with considerable success in their musical act, their playing of the cornet, violin, banjo and other instruments producing a most harmonious effect. Miss Julia Longman is heard in a couple of illustrated ballads, her rendering of “I love a Lassie” being favourably received. Vaude and Varna appear in

a decidedly amusing sketch, and are highly successful in keeping the audience in a merry mood. Miss Eva Lee and her piccaninnies meet with unbounded popularity with their quaint coon act, the boxing contest between the juveniles sending the house into roars of unrestrained laughter. Mr. Bob Lloyd receives a flattering reception, as the result of amusing the audience with numerous comic songs which he delivers in his accustomed good style. Vernon and Mac perform a series of hand balancing and acrobatic feats of a difficult nature in a neat and graceful manner, and are given a hearty reception. Miss Blanche Carelli is still delighting Opera House audiences with her sweet soprano voice, her rendering of “When we are Together” being a particularly enjoyable item. Miss Nellie Power, the charming soubrette. makes a pleasing hit with several taking songs, which meet with due appreciation. A number of splendid biograph films are shown, and contribute in no small degree to a first rate evening’s entertainment.

THE AUCKLAND SKATING RINK.

The Auckland Skating Rink in Coburg street is not waning in popularity, and still continues to attract laige attendances. Indeed, it seems a case of “ shows may come and shows may go, but wheels go on for ever. ’ Devotees of the fascinating pastime have their requirements fully catered for by the management. The floor is all that could be desired (in fact, a little “ more ” to some of the beginners), and the skates are of an up-to-date order, while the music proves an additional inducement. The weather, being delightfully cool, is just the right sort for skating, so that nothing is wanting to make the Auckland Skating Rink a most pleasant evening rendezvous, and it is not surprising to find it crowded nightly.

GOOD OLD BOBS.

The welcome home ” evening tendered to Mr. H. R. Roberts at His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday was a strong testimony to the esteem in which the New Zealand actor is held by his old friends in Auckland. Nothing could have been more hearty than the applause which greeted Roberts on making his entry in “ The

Prince Chap,” and as it died down, in its stead arose the ringing, “Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!” of the members of the Young Maori Party, occupying the orchestra stalls. Later in the evening Mr. Alex. Smith welcomed Mr. Roberts home on behalf of many old friends, and read a letter from the Mayor, couched in the same strain. Mr. Roberts also received a valuable and ancient tiki from Mr. Kohn, while the Maoris chanted a song of welcome. The recipient, who was obviously much affected by the warmth of the greeting, in a speech of thanks referred to his career in America and England, which had meant much hard work. His sole regret was that his mother was not with him now to see what Auckland thought of her boy. At the close of the performance the whole of the audience rose, and sang “ For he’s a jolly good fellow.” Beyond question, the compliment was well deserved.

ON THE WING.

A little trifle of over 7,000 miles of territory will: be covered during the next fortnight or so, by the four J. C. Williamson companies now touring Australasia. The two longest journeys are to be credited to the “Peter Pan”: and “Brewster’s Millions” Companies. The former which goes to Kalgoorlie at the end of its successful Perth season, journeys from there by rail and steamer direct to Broken Hill —2,500 miles, there it will follow the Kingston company which in its turn is to be shifted round to Brisbane —2,200 miles by train —one of the longest railway journeys possible to take in Australia.' During the last week in the month two other companies will be crossing the Tasman Sea—the Pantomime Company on its way from Newcastle to Auckland —(1,300 miles) where it opens on the 27th instant and the Julius Knight Company returning from the Bluff to Hobart (1,300 miles) for a ten nights’ season in the lattei’ city. Things will therefore be lively in the transportation department—-but it only shows the immense field covered by the J. C. Williamson enterprise.

A CONSTELLATION OF STARS.

The annual garden party in aid of the Actors’ Orphanage. Fund was to have taken place on Regents’ Park on the 30th inst. This was the allstar cast booked to assist, Sir Charles Wyndham, Sir John Hare, Mr. and Mrs. George Alexander, Sir Squire

and Lady Bancroft,.Mr. Arthur Bour- - chier, Miss Irene Vanbrugh, Mr. Cyril Maude, Miss Winifred Emery, Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Willard, Mr and Mrs. George R. Sims, Mr. and Mrs. H. Beerbohm Tree, M. Chas. Hawtrey, Mr. Aubrey Smith, Miss Marie Lohr, Mr. Fred Terry, Miss Julia Neilson, Miss Mary Moore, Misses Zena and Phyllis Dare, Miss Lena Ashwell, Mr. Norman McKinnell, Miss Phyllis Broughton, Mr. Oswald Stoll, Miss Isabel Jay, Miss Gertie Millar, Mrs. Saba Raleigh.

A WONDERFUL PERFORMANCE.

In the history of the stage there are many instances of “quick study.” But I think that Pauline Viardot Garcia, the sister of the famous Madame Malibran, and of the late Manuel Garcia, who reached the age of 101, holds the palm. This one-time star of the operatic stage is still living in Paris, and Sir Charles Santley places her high among the great singers of the nineteenth century. Verdi used to tell the story how Viardot Garcia saved “11 Trovatore” in Paris. Alboni, of the gorgeous voice, was to have taken the phrt of Azucena the gipsy at the first production of “Trovatore” in the French capital. On the morning of the anxiouslyawaited performance in 1854 Alboni sent word that she would not be able to play or sing the part. The composer, who was to conduct the new opera, calmed the distracted manager by saying—“Madame Viardot can save us. I’ll ask her to take the part.” Malibran’s sister came to the rescue, althoough she did not know a note of the music when Verdi arrived at her house with the score. In the evening she sang and acted magnificently, aand Azucena divided honours with Leonora during the series of 100 performances. Madame Viardot again sang the part of Azucena when the opera was given in London, 1855, and her singing put the prima donna —Mdle. Jenny. Ney—in the shade. Speaking of the first night in Paris, when the character -of Azucena was practically created,

Verdi said: —“Wonderful, was it not, to learn such a role in less than eight hours, dress it, go on the stage, and sing and act it most artistically? But then you must remember that there is only one Pauline Viardot in all this world.”

Mr. Walter Monk, after piloting the Julius Knight Company through New Zealand on its recent round tour arrived in Auckland last week and tells a moving tale of hairbreadth escapes from snow and floods when in the South. The genial Walter’s buggy experience out in the floods in Otago is worthy of a page in a three volume novel, and it would take a big sum to make him tackle a similar job again. However, “all’s well that ends well” and Mr Monk is now with us again looking none the worse and is busily engaged arranging preliminaries for the “ HumptyDumpty” season.

The Royal Welsh Male Choir has left London on board the Aberdeen liner Pericles to fulfil their Australasian engagement under the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tait. The tour will, in all probability, open in Sydney on September 1, and the middle of that month will see them in Melbourne. A visit to Adelaide and Perth follows.

The Mallinson Song Recitals drew very small audiences to the Choral Hall. This was in a great measure

due to the lack of advertising, the majority of Aucklanders being left in ignorance as to the concerts. A concert company can hardly hope to attract good audiences without the concerts are properly worked up, and it must be confessed that very little was done in this respect. Doubtless the Mallinsons have gone away thinking Aucklanders an inartistic and unappreciative lot, but as a matter of fact the true explanation was “ they didn’t know.”

From Mr. Jas. T. Muir, of Wanganui, comes a budget of press notices of Mr. Charles Saunders, the wellknown tenor, and Miss Clara Robson, contralto, who commence a tour of New Zealand at Christchurch on July 28. Mr. Saunders was the leading tenor at the Handel Festivals from 1903 to 1906, and has sung in all the chief choral societies of the United Kingdom. Miss Robson is also a solo singer at the Royal Albert Hall, Crystal Palace, St. James’s Hall, etc. They will be heard in Auckland later on.

The Melbourne playgoing public have totally forgotten Tony Weller’s wore of wisdom. “ Beware of vidders, Jamivel” said that unlucky speculator in such female companionship, and that advice though coming from a man speaking with authority, is not regarded at all. At any rate “The Merry Widow” has still so many willing slaves that they

suffice to keep the theatre crowded night after night although last Saturday (July 18th) saw the beginning of the tenth week of the run.

The Harcourt Beatty-Madge M’lntosh Company, at present in New Zealand, opens in Adelaide on 19th September.

Maskelyne and Devant, 'or Maskelyne and Cook, the style by which the company is known a.l over the world, are touring Australia, and are now in Melbourne. Their mystery and magic have for 40 years been a characteristic theatrical feature of London. The programme includes John Nevill Maskelyne’s bewildering tricks and illusions; Mr Barclay Gammon, a fine musical monologuist; Mr Owen Clark, a young London conjuror; and Gintaro, a Japanese balancer and juggler. Twenty six people are included in the company.

Not content with conquering the civilised world, “ The Merry Widow ” has extended the area of her sway into the still uncivilised portions of the earth, and last month the opera was produced at the Victoria Falls, almost in the heart of Africa, and until a few years ago still as Nature made it. It may be necessary to add that the Sonia of the production was not a local “ star,” though certainly a Kaffir widow would have been a novelty.

The results of the Margaret Anglin season to date in Sydney leave not the slightest doubt that in her Australians have recognised one of the greatest emotional actresses it has ever been their privilege to see. Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, has resounded nightly to plaudits the enthusiasm of which is unquestionable —plaudits that burst forth spontaneously at the end of all the thrilling passages and intense situations with which “ The Thief ” abounds. Though her sojourn here has only just started, it is safe to prophesy for Miss Anglin a veritable triumphal tour of Australasia—one that will exceed even the most sanguine anticipations formed of her visit.

There arrived in Melbourne by the Orient steamer a few days ago a troupe of thirteen Arabs under contract to Mr Harry Rickards. The troupe will appear at Melbourne Opera House shortly, and is described as one of acrobatic marvels.

Miss Irene. Ainsley,. the New Zealand singer; has been meeting with marked success at English provincial fixtures. Recent.y Miss Ainsley was at Liverpool, and was the vocalist at a concert given by the Liverpool Symphony Orchestra.

Mr Claude McKay, of the J. C. Williamson staff, arrived from Sydney on Monday, having come over on a flying visit in connection with the firm’s future production in the Dominion.

There was very nearly no Sbnia at Her Majesty’s Theatre one night recently. Miss Carrie Moore had gone a-motoring with . her . sisters one afternoon, and when about a dozen miles from Melbourne the petrol gave out. At half-past seven there was no sign of the lady at the theatre, and the management were getting anxious, but just as all hope had fled the missing lady turned Up: in another car, which had picked up the stranded ones, and whisked them into town lust in time for Miss Moore to dress.

Mrs. Bass, the original upon whose life and troubles Mrs. Alice Hogan Rice founded her novel and Mrs. Flexner her play, is still alive and still living in Louisville, Kentucky, the real habitat of the Cabbage Patch and its collection of odd characters. Miss Ada Dwyer found her there when she journeyed down to that now famous spot to acquire the local colour at first hand. This, by the way, is one of Miss Dwyer’s favourite pastimes, and she never misses an opportunity of studying types and laying the details of some strongly marked character up for further reference. She spent nearly all her time in Brisbane after she had landed from the Vancouver liner, in following a local identity about until she had “ committed her to memory,” so to speak. Miss Dwyer found Mrs. Bass still very much of a philosopher. Indeed, she has to be, for otherwise

she could never put up with the persistent questioning of tourists who have read about her and want to be assured over and over again that she is really Mrs. Wiggs.

Madame Ada Crossley Will introduce to Australians a new song by Frances Allitsen, the composer of “ The Song of Thanksgiving. Apropos of this, a warm letter ? of thanks from that lady—one of the most retiring of women living, and extremely modest of her success as a composer—may be quoted. She wrote: —“ Ido want to send you a few words of very grateful thanks for putting down ‘ There’s a Land ’ for Australia. I always find the people so delightful, so kindly, genial and human, and you, dear friend, are just the happiest sample of them. You have given me great joy in my friendship for you.” Sir Charles Santley, the greatest of all baritones on the British concert platform, is another musician who . has displayed the greatest interest in Madame Crossley’s tour, and he has written an Ave Maria specially for her.

“ The Thief ” will be followed by “ Zira ” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. It was in this powerful emotional study of a woman’s soul that Margaret Anglin made one of the biggest successes of. her. i. triumphal career at the Princess Theatre,'New York, in September, 1905.

CHRISTCHURCH NOTES.

My Christchurch theatrical correspondent writes: —Frank Thornton has just concluded a most successful season here. It seems improbable we shall ever see him again. As a matter of fact, he had retired; but, like so many old pros., an irresistible longing to be once more upon the track took possession of him, and the production of “ When Knights Were Bold ” in London decided him to acquire the Australian rights and revisit this part of the world, in which he is such an immense favourite. “ When Knights Were Bold” is certainly very funny. Mr. Thornton says it is the hardest piece, so far as he is concerned, that he ever played in. He is upon the stage during nearly the whole performance, and as a twentieth century man thrown back into the days “ when knights were bold,” he is delightful A revival of “ Charley’s Aunt ” followed, and the season concluded with a reproduction of the old favourite, “ The Private Secretary,” which has been running now for hard upon a quarter of a century, and bids fair to run for another quarter. The old piece drew two densely packed houses. It would probably have run for a week. This comedy has been one of the best money-makers ever produced. It made the fortune (£100,000) of W. S. Penley, the original Rev. Mr. Spalding, and has also enriched its author, and one or two more.

Mr. Barnes, the well-known theatrical manager, now in Christchurch, seems to think the new City Council by-Jaw, enforcing the numbering throughout of all seats in our places of amusement, may possibly lead to managers of big shows skipping Christchurch altogether.

The Harcourt-Beatty-Madge McIntosh Company is now occupying the Theatre Royal, and “ Her Love Against the World ” is drawing big houses. On Monday and Tuesday “ A Beggar on Horseback ” goes on; on ■ Wednesday, “ Camille ” is to follow (in which Miss Mclntosh appears in the name part—one of her favourite roles), and on Saturday, July 25,

we are promised “ Fedora,” Sardou’s famous play.

The Royal Pictures are as popular as ever, and are filling the huge Coliseum nightly.

“THE RED MILL.”

“The Red Mill,” which was produced st the Sydney Theatre Royal on July 11, made an instantaneous and most emphatically favourable impression upon the crowded audience assembled to greet it (writes Mr. Geo. Tallis). Everything, indeed, connected with it conspired to that happy consummation. It was a new and artistic setting upon which the audience gazed, the Dutch atmosphere was admirably retained throughout, the situation devised with an eye to good comedy and novel effects, and the cast was as brilliant as could be desired. Seldom has such extraordinarily clever dancing as Mr. John Ford’s been seen out here. He seems capable of doing absolutely anything with his legs, and when he added to that a smart, quick style and a knack of making all his points in a comic song, it is no wonder that the house simply rose at him. Mr. Fred Leslie, too, was invaluable as his partner in the congenial occupation of “ doing ” Europe, or, at least, a corner of it; while Mr. Percy Denton and Mr. Chas. Loder were responsible for a couple of neat and finished comedy sketches. Miss Fanny Dango, as a pert and “ fetching ” innkeeper’s daughter, fully shared the honours which fell to the comedy contingent, and Misses Olive Godwin and Alma Barber, Messrs. Ed. Sherras and Geo. Whitehead all had excellent numbers to their credit. In short, the whole production was a brilliant success from first to last.

A FOLK SONG FIND.

The collecting of folk songs, which he has made his hobby, brings some strange experiences to Percy Grainger, the young Victorian musician, who is to revisit his native land as a member of the Crossley Concert Party, under the J. C. Williamson direction. He was spending a few days in Lincolnshire recently on his favourite diversion, when his search for finds brought him into contact with an old man who turned out to be one of the very few who knew the words of a song that Percy Grainger was most anxious to secure. The old fellow volunteered to write them down for him, and a long hunt for

writing paper proving fruitless, he coolly tore off a long strip of the wallpaper, on the obverse side of which he proceeded to indite with laborious care the verses of the song in question. That MS. has been preserved most carefully ever since, and many are the explanations Percy Grainger has to enter upon as to why he treasures a piece of very florid wall-paper as if it were a precious sketch. What the landlord of the cottage said on the subject of this unwarrantable destruction of his property is not recorded.

“ THE FLAG LIEUTENANT.”

“ The Flag Lieutenant,’ a drama of the navy, by Major W. P. Drury (the “ Kipling of the Marines) and Leo Trevor, has been secured for Australia by J. C. Williamson. It is a play which handles the Navy as “ The Second in Command ” handles the Army, with a strong dramatic interest and much picturesque setting —a battleship “ interior ” and the forequarter deck providing two interesting scenes. Plays about the sea are not so plentiful by any means as they should be, and one can count up easily the dramas that have this environment. “ The Flag Lieutenant” has only just been produced in London by Cyril Maude, and Mr. Williamson last week received a cable stating that it was “ a great success.”

THE CANADIAN KILTIES BAND.

Mr. Shipman, who has just arrived in Sydney, in speaking of the band — a brass and reed combination —says it includes a vocal choir of 20 trained voices, the Clan Johnstone Troupe of natural dancers and pipers, and is headed by two giant drum-majors, each over 7ft. in height—the finest specimens of Scottish manhood in the world.

The Canadian Scottish Band, — they are familiarly known as the "Kilties” —in their original tour of England were booked for six weeks, but their success was so unprecendented that King Edward gave them a second Royal command to celebrate his

63rd birthday at Sandringham. The" tour was then extended to over a year’s duration. Their first Australian concert will be given in the Town Hall, Sydney, on August 15.

Mr. Herbert Flemming’s English Comedy Company will open a season at Adelaide on July 25. The first production will be “ The Mummy and the : Humming Bird.” Though it looks so simple to the audience, the big mill in the first act of “The Red Mill” is really a most complicated piece of machinery —one of the most difficult pieces of stage mechanism ever put on an Australian stage, full of cog wheels and cranks, chains and gears, to make absolutely safe the flight of Con Kidder and Gretchen, swinging to the ground on one of its huge sails. • ■■ B .. ♦ ♦

After a very successful season in Queensland, Meyhell and dramatic company will commence their New Zealand tour at Christchurch on August 7. The opening production will be a play of domestic interest, entitled “ The Little Breadwinner,” which had a long run at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and in England has proved most successful. The namei-part is taken by little Queen Williams, who won fame as a child actress when she appeared as the leader of the Tin Can Band in “ The Fatal Wedding.” The play is one of absorbing interest, strong in characterisation, and of vigorous development. The interest of the plot is maintained to the end, the piece concluding with an exciting climax. A strong company will interpret the play, and includes Mr. C. R. Stanford, Mr. G. P. Carey, Mr. Ernest Leicester, and Miss Beatrice Holloway. During the season, Arthur Shirley’s fine drama, “ The Stepmother,” will be staged. The New Zealand bookings are as follow:—Christchurch, August 6; Invercargill, Aug. 18; Dunedin, Aug. 22; Timaru, Aug. 31; Wellington, September 2; Palmerston North, Sept. 23; Wanganui, Sept. 25; New Plymouth, Sept. 28; Auckland, Sept. 30; followed by short seasons in Napier, Hastings, Dannevirke, Masterton, then Carnival Week in Christchurcn.

Those two close friends, Miss Margaret Anglin and Miss Ada Dyer, ring each other up regularly every Saturday night, so that though one is in Sydney and the other in Melbourne the thread of kinship (represented in this instance by the telephone wire) is not broken.