A GREAT MONEY-MAKER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 988, 11 February 1909, Page 18

A GREAT MONEY-MAKER

The last American mail brings some interesting statistics regarding the marvellous success attained by “ The Merry Widow ” in New York and elsewhere. During the twelve months’ run of the Viennese opera in the bustling American city, no less than 700,000 people paid for admission to the New Amsterdam Theatre to hear the famous musical attraction, while the box-office receipts totalled over £160,000, which amount was raised to £200,000 by the sale of music, three million copies of the waltz alone being sold up to the end of last year. Never before in the history of Broadway had the sitting accommodation of the theatre been so taxed, and at every performance, matinees included, for the first twenty-six weeks of its run, over 200 or more people above the usual capacity limit, had to be provided with seats, followed for the rest of the time by a steady “ capacity business-” The weekly returns amounted to £3200, while the attendances for the week averaged about 13,000. Chicago, Boston, and Philadelphia, not to be behindhand in their appreciation of the world-wide musical favourite, expended half a million dollars in admission money. And still there are no less than three companies touring with the piece through America, so that before “ The Widow” is finally set on one side in America it is estimated that the total box office receipts will amount to something like £BOO,OOO.

According to “ Footlights,” one of the most attractive turns on the present Sydney Tivoli programme is supplied by Charlotta, the clever eight-year-old daughter of Charles Fanning. The little lady possesses a naive style, and her dancing is worth going a barefooted pi grimage to see. Her “ business ” is full of originality, and is very humorous. One of her most successful efforts has been the song “ I Want to be a Merry Widow,” and she is making a big hit with “ Santargo Flynn.” Her dressing'in the latter turn is very up to date. We predict a great future for this artist.