EDDY GEACH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 965, 3 September 1908, Page 17

EDDY GEACH.

A recent number of “ Fair Play ” has the following to say about Mr Geach, every word of which I should like to endorse: —“ If any man has added to the gaiety of Australasia, that man is the well-known entrepreneur, Mr Edwin Geach. For years his name has been associated with those cheerful sort of plays that leave a pleasant taste in the mouth, when the curtain rings down, and one is always sorry there is not more. The words on a bill, ‘Mr Geach presents ’ is quite sufficient guarantee that the goods will be up to sample, and we should be sadder folks here but for this theatrical manager’s happy ventures. Among some of the successes that have toured Australasia under Mr Geach’s management have been the Willoughby, Ward, Grace Palotta Company, Frank .Thornton in his delightful merrymaking, the Human Hearts Company, ’ the Dramatic Company headed by that charming little actress, Miss Ethel Buckley, and many other companies too numerous to mention. But perhaps of all Mr Geach’s ventures, the one that went direct to the hearts of all Australasia, was the West-Brescian combination, and though that talented company has now disbanded, Mr West is still delighting every capital in the Commonwealth with his pictures, under Mr Geach’s auspices. Of the man himself, it is hard to write. He is too modest to talk of his own achievements, but the highest that can be said of any man can be said of him. He is a good spn, a good brother, and the best friend in the world.

The Russian play “ A, Life’s Revenge.” ,is ; being flayed at Andefr son’s king’s theatre, Melbourne. * / ■ * ♦ 1 * H. R. Roberts and “ The Prince Chap ” are now at the Melbourne Princess Theatre. M|ss Margaret Anglin is now appearing in “ The Thief ” at Her Ma- ' jesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. * "• « The Royal Welsh Male Choir opened at the Sydney Town Hall on September 1. ' * * * * The Miles Stavordale Quintette, re- : cently in Auckland, are now at the Sydney Tivoli. , * ' * * ' * Messrs MacMahon and Carroll took a big cinematograph picture of the Burns-Squires fight on Monday, August 24, and it was shown by the British Bibgraph' "at the Stadium, where the original fight took place, two nights later.. This is up-to-date enterprise indeed. * * * * Mr John Archibald Crain, who toured New Zealand some thirty years ago with Riccardi’s Comic Opera Company, died at Sydney recently at the age of sixty-two years. Mr Crain was a tenore robusto, and belonged to the old school of conscientious singers. He was the original Ralph Rackstraw in “ H.M.S. Pinafore ” in these parts. "* • . * * * In Chicago there is a theatre conducted exclusively for coloured people. The company and all the house attaches are negroes and the plays given are of all kinds, principally those with music as a, feature. * Ss ■" * * What is probably the finest collection of antique jewellery in America is owned by tlie Russian actress, Mdme Nazimova, who has in her possession; some, 'priceless" "specimens from the middle ages, among them a carved old silver ring done by Benvenuto. Cellini, and a . poison ring which formerly belonged to the great family of the Borgias. * - - * * v» . The most popular creature in theatrical circles is “ the ghost,” and the ghost is said “ to walk ” when salaries, are paid. The credit for originating this phrase belongs to a company of English strollng players, who, although their salaries had long been in arrears wererehearsing “Hamlet.” The rehearsal progressed; but when Hamlet, referring to the. ghost, exclaimed, “ Perchance ’twill walk again,” that sordid spirit yelled back again .emphatically:" '“No! I’m damned if the ghost walks any more until our salaries are paid.” * * * * Mr Charles A. Loder, who came from America under engagement to Mr J. C. Williamson to appear as Hans Wagner in “ The . Prince of Pilsen,” has been playing German dialect parts for the last 20 years. Mr George Whitehead, the principal baritone of the company, was a member of one of Mr George Edwards’ gaiety repertoire companies, which also included Miss Florence Young, in South Africa, before the war. * * * * Mr and Mrs Bland Holt, who begin a season at His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday, September 9, arrived by the Mokoia from Sydney on Sunday. They were accompanied by Mr and Mrs Christie Simonsen. The members of the company will arrive by the next boat. * a » « The first recital of Miss Katherine Goodson, the brilliant English pianist, is to take place in the Melbourne Town Hall on September 18th. * * * * In saying good-bye on Saturday night, Mr Thornton, amidst much cheering, expressed his thanks for the cordial manner in which Aucklanders had always received his plays. It was now 22 years since he first visited New Zealand, and his first appearance "was in the character which he had played that evening, viz. “ Rev. Robert Spalding.” Since then he had visited the Dominion five times. He hoped that the public would always remember that he had tried to present the best plays obtainable, and in their recollection of him and his efforts would remember that he had given them of his best up to the end. Much of the credit attributed to him was due to the loyalty of the company which supported him, and, he said farewell to the Auckland footlights with much regret. The orchestra then played “ Auld Lang Syne,” 1 and the audience joined in heartily. * * * • From Mr. George Tallis comes two beautifully illustrated booklets dealing with those two big successes, “ The

Merry Widow ” and “ Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,,”. Both pictures and letterpress are exceptionally well done. / : ■ Writing from Aberdeen, “ La Milo ” sends press cuttings which show that the famous living statue act has proved ‘ a great hit in the Scottish city. * * * ♦ The Royal Artillery Band has concluded its tour of Australia, and has left on its return to England. The agreement w’as for a three months’ : tour with the option of extending it, but the poor patronage, combined with the unfavourable weather in the North and in the country was such that the tour was practically a failure, and no further engagement was entered into (says the . “ Referee ”). This is much to be regretted in the name of the Australians’ love for good music and in the interests of the band and the promoters. ■ * * - * * Mr Clyde Meynell, on behalf of his firm, has secured the Australian rights of “ The Hypocrites,” by Henry Arthur Jones, which created controversy when produced in New York; and “ Lucky Durban,” by the late Wilson Barrett, his last play. Mr Meynell is engaging a special company to produce these plays in Australia. ; ■» * * * “ On Our Selection,” a comedy by Steele Rudd and Beaumont Smith — founded on Steele Rudd’s “ Selection ” stories —is about to be staged for copyright purposes on one' afternoon at the King’s Theatre Melbourne. It ought to be funny enough for anything. * * * * The itinerary of the New Zealand tour of the Meynell and Gunn “ Little Breadwinner ” Company is as follows: —Wellington, September 2 to 22; Palmerston North, 23rd and 24th; Wanganui, 25th and 26th; New Plymouth, 28th; Auckland, 30th to October 16th; Hastings, 19th to 22nd; Napier, 23rd, 24th, 26th; Dannevirke, 27 th and 28th; Masterton, 29th and 30th; Marton, November 8; Feilding, 3rd Christchurch, 6th to 14th; Timaru, 16th; Oamaru, 17th; Invercargill, 19th and 20th; sail for Hobart 23rd; open in Hobart, 27th to December 3; arrive Melbourne, December 5. « • * * Maggie Papakura, who is to visit Australia under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait for the Spring Racing Carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne, is faking with her a company of 1 22 Pbi 1 Dancers. .« ■ » Miss Stella Gastelle, a musical comedy actress, who has been touring as leading lady in “ La Poupee,” was among the passengers on board the Pericles, which arrived in Melbourne the other day. She has come out to Australia for a six months’ contract with Mr George Musgrove. * # * * Miss Amy Castles has decided to revisit Australia next year for a six months’ tour, when New Zealand will also be included. She leaves London in February. ! Madame Blanche Arral, the gifted soprano, who has been touring Australia and New Zealand for the past two years with great success, has returned to London. * * * * Robert Courtneidge is definitely to produce a pantomime in London this Xmas. The subject will be “ Cinderella.” Miss Carrie Moore will return to London to play “ boy ” to Miss Phyllis Dare’s “ Girl.” It is the proud boast of Miss Marion Winchester, now fulfilling an engagement in the London Palace, that the precious stones with which she adorns herself on the stage are worth fully £lOO,OOO. The rope of pearls she wears around her neck is alone said to have been valued at £54,000. An American by birth, her home is in Paris, and is noted for a wonderful collection of miniatures and antiquities. Leon Sametini, the violinist, who comes to Australia with Madame Ada Crossley, was born at Rotterdam in March, 1886, and is a protege of the Queen of Holland, who granted him, at the age of 15, a scholarship and presented him with a violin. He studied under Sevcik, in Prague, until 1903, when he appeared in London, and then toured Holland. In 1906 he put in necessary service in the Dutch army, and then returned to England. Sametini is looked on as one of the most brilliant of the younger generations of fiddlers and his successes have been great.