UNKNOWN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 977, 26 November 1908, Page 17

UNKNOWN.

There is a cry abroad to the effect that Australia is not well enough known abroad- —apparently theatrical artists are satisfied to travel out of Australia with that word as a laudatory adjective. And reading names, one asks,who are they—whence irom? One can count on one’s fingers the Southern Cross artists who have scored in England (says Touchstone in Melbourne “Punch”). Who are the others? One lady, Miss Henriquette Maude, who is said to be from New Zealand, is shining in London, describing a trip, with pictures, of a tour of the world on £lO. Also Miss Maude says that she made a name for herself over the death of a jockey in a Melbourne Cup race. Miss Maude declares he was left uncared for whilst his horse was attended to, and that subsequently she toured the “district” reciting an original poem on the subject. Has anyone ever heard of it? Another lady scoring is a Miss Whiteside, at the Oxford. The lady’s items are coon songs, and she states she scored for a long season on the Rickards circuit. Does Fred Aydon or Jack Leete know aught of this?

When Oscar Asche and Lilv Brayton arrive in Australia in May next, to enter upon their tour under the direction of Meynell and Gunn, they will bring with them a company of about 20 leading English artists, the intention being to stage the pieces on the same scale as in London. This plan will be adhered to as regards the staging and mounting also.

Madame Melba’s dates in New Zealand are:—lnvercargill, 13 th April (Theatre); Oamaru, 19th April (Town Hall); Dunedin, 15th to 17th April (Garrison Hall); Timaru, 20th April (Theatre); Christchurch, 22nd and 23rd April (Canterbury Hall) ; Wellington, 25th to 27th April (Town Hall); Masterton, sth May (Town Hall); Napier, 7th May (Theatre Royal) ; Palmerston North, 10th May (Opera House); Wanganui, 12th May (Opera House); New Plymouth, 14th May (Theatre Royal); Auckland, 20th to 22nd May (Choral Hall).

F. H. Pollock, lessee of the Adelaide Theatre Royal, died on the 10th inst. as the result of an apoplectic fit. The deceased, who was 66 years of age, had been a successful lessee, and kept the Royal open practically

all the year round, which was more than his predecessors could do, says the Sydney ‘“Referee’s ” correspondent. The old man was generally very well liked. The members of the “profession ” will miss him in their jokes about his diamonds.

The news that Miss Nellie Stewart will be seen in Australia next Easter will be welcomed. She opens at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, in “ Sweet Nell of Old Drury.” “ Sweet Kitty Bellairs” and “Trilby’ will also be produced by her. A good company is said to have been secured to support her.

Sydney audiences have enthusiastically received the new Australian drama, “ A Miner’s Trust,” which is by J. Smith, of Melbourne. The newspaper critics were unanimous in their pr; ise of the production, which is described as being infinitely superior to most of the impor - sd plays of the same type, while the staging and mounting bestowed upon it by Meynell and Gunn have also come in for considerate praise. In the second act, the shipwreck and rescue is said to be one of the finest hits of realism seen on the Australian stage for years.

Margaret Anglin leaves for. Egypt bv the Mongolia on December 19. on a holiday, before returning to Ame - iea.

Both “ The Scarlet Pimpernel ” and “The Prince of Pilsen ’ have been running “ full powered ” in Melbourne at Her Majesty’s and the Princess’ Theatres respectively (writes Mr Tallis), Cup Week having been responsible for a succession of crowded audiences at both houses, the night of the great race indeed contributing to each an attendance that went very near to a record. Mr Julius Knight and Miss Ola Humphrey have each established for themselves a new popularity with the work they do in the Baroness Orczy’s most exciting and romantic story, while “in another place ” to use a Parliamentary expression, Miss Fanny Dango, Olive Godwin, Alma Barber, Messrs Charles Loder, John Ford, Fred Leslie, Myles Clifton and the rest of the cast interpreting “ Pilson ” have followed that excellent example.

The eighth week of the “ Merry Widow ” run at Her Majesty’s Theatre Sydney, commenced there on Saturday November 14, and still the flowing tide pours in to see the mascotte opera and sit in unanimously favourable judgment upon Miss Betty Ohls, the new Sonia.