Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 996, 8 April 1909, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

THE MEYNELL-GUNN CO. The Meynell-Gunn Co. has been doing excellent business at His Majesty’s Theatre, Gisborne, appearing in “ A Miner’s Trust,” “ Two Little Sailor Boys,” “ The Little Breadwinner,” and “ The Stepmother.” * * * * A CLEVEE COMEDIAN. By all accounts, Mr. Charles Albert, now with the Pollards, is turning out one of the most versatile comedians that has ever toured the colonies. Ho is said to have made the hit of his life as “ Rip ” in “ Rip Van Winkle,” and in this connection an interesting little story is told concerning him. A member of one of the great theatrical firms doing business in Australia, spending an evening at a country theatre, where the Pollards were performing, took special note of young Albert’s work. “ Where did you get him?” he asked, turning to the manager, who was sitting by his side. “ Raised by Pollards, on the soil,” was the curt rejoinder, for Charles Albert is a colonial, bred and born. “ Then with such talent in the country, there is no need to send Home for star comedians,” was the great man’s comment. * * 5b * THE ROYAL COMIC OPERA CO. “Twenty-seven week’s on end!’ Over six months is the record which the Royal Comic Opera Company are completing this week at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, where they opened in September last with “ The Merry

Widow,” their hundred performances of which carried them right through to the New Year. Then came “ Tne Duchess of Dantzic,” with an eight weeks’ season as notable as the first, then a fortnight of ” The Dairymaids ” —the only time devoted to a revival in the whole period—and, finally, for the last three weeks, “ Havana ” went up, and played the season out in really brilliant style. The company is now in New Zealand. 5k * * * A STRONG COMBINATION. It is doubtful whether the Royal Comic Opera Company was ever stronger in personnel than it now is for the New Zealand tour, upon which it enters at Wellington on Easter Saturday. For “ The Merry Widow ” it will have Miss Florence Young as Sonia, the music of which part should receive the fullest justice at her hands, while she has during the recent season in Sydney demonstrated her ability to deal more than effectively with any dramatic demands made upon her. Then two important additions to the company have been made in the persons of Miss Fanny Dango, who returns to her first-love to play Fi-'fi, and Miss Marietta Nash, an excellent comedienne, who is playing Praskovia in “ The Merry Widow,” Clementine in “ The Girls of Gottenberg,” and Miss Pyecr.ase in “ The Dairymaids.” Mr. Victor Gouriet and Mr. W. S. Percy will in turn figure in the principal comedy parts, and, of course, Mr. Andrew Higginson and Mr. Reg. Roberts wi 1 both be very much to the lore. 5k .-k * * THE GEACH COMPANY. Mr. Edwin Geach’s Company is opening at the Wellington Theatre Royal in “ The Woman Pays ” on Saturday next (April 10), with Miss Ethel Buckley, the talented Australian comedienne, as leading lady. “ The Woman

Pays ” is one of those paradoxical plays that seemingly affirms the very principle it undertakes to demonstrate is impossible, and thus one sees on the posters that describe the play the contradictory statements, “ You’ll repent if you marry” and “You’ll repent if you don’t.” “ The Woman Pays ” is said to solve the great human problem, "Is marriage a failure?” “The women,” we are told, “bargains, the roman receives, and the woman pays.” The man does so also—sometimes. That, by the way. The play, described as a sensational scenic melodrama, is, however, full of emotional interest. * sk * * “ THE RED MUili” COMPANY. At the present moment “ The Red Mill” company are enjoying a pleasant little sea trip which will stretch to about 4000 miles before it finishes in Perth in time for them to open at Her Majesty’s Theatre there on Easter Saturday. They left the Bluff on Tuesday, March 23, on the conclusion of a very successful tour in New Zealand, and travelled straight to Adelaide, where a special season of five nights was put in with “ The Belle of New York ” before they caught Saturday’s boat for the West. It is worth remark that “ The Belle ” maintained all its old grip on the public through the Dominion, and vied with both “ The Red Mill ” and “ The Prince of Pilsen ” in point of popularity. * 5k * * MR. BLAND HOLT'S BAD DUCK. Another piece of bad luck is reported to have befallen Mr. Bland Holt. It is stated that he shipped a valuable horse to Sydney from New Zealand, and on being taken off the steamer the horse was handed over to a stranger, who for a two shilling fee agreed to take the animal to Eppstein’s stables in William-street. Neither the stranger nor the horse, it is stated, have been seen since.

A SERIOUS DOSS. The famous giraffe advertised as the chief attraction of Wirth’s Circus, died on board the Marama while crossing tne Tasman Sea last week. The Wirth Brothers, unfortunately, lost a Polar bear also during the same voyage. ■i- >k 5k * THE AUSTRALASIAN PANTOMIME RECORD. The magnificent run of “ Jack and Jill” aggregating 111 performances at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, came to a conclusion on Friday, March 2 6th, in the presence of a crowded and enthusiastic audience who had evidently assembled to give thanks for the fourteen weeks of genuine enjoyment the company had afforded them. The farewells were of the most cordial description and several minutes at the end of the show were devoted to the heartiest of good-byes culminating in “ Auld Lang Syne ” and a profusion of flowers —not forgetting a floral umbrella for Mr. Bert Gilbert. The Company is now in Sydney. Originally it was thought that it would be possible to use the ordinary means of travelling companies between the two cities, but when it came to measureing up, it was found that at least two specials would be required and the water way was also called into requisition. Some idea of the magnitude of “ Jack and Jill ” may be gauged from the fact that the first instalment, including only the properties, amounted to fifty tons—and that is only about a fifth of the total. The Pantomime opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday, April 3, and judging by the very evident interest shown, it has every chance of equalling the Melbourne run in the sister city. 5k 5k * * STIDD IN POPULAR FAVOUR. The most cordial of welcomes, indicative of the favour in which she is held, greeted Miss Tittell Brune when she re-appeared at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, last Saturday (March 27) in Belasco’s great play, “ The Girl of the Golden West.” In the title role of that picturesque and “ atmospheric ” piece Miss Brune added yet another —and a notable one—to her list of successful impersonations that Melbourne remembers to her credit and her friends were by no means backward ‘n assuring her of that fact. Mr. Thomas Kingston and the rest of the supporting company were shares in the general enthusiasm of the evening. - * 5-: * . JUDIUS KNIGHT’S DOINGS. “The Royal Divorce” brought the Julius Knight season at the Sydney Theatre Royal to a conclusion. The company is now in Adelaide, where it opens on Saturday with the first production there of “ The Duke’s Motto ” and during the three week’s season “ The Breed of the Treshams ” “ The Sign of the Cross ” and “Monsieur Beaucaire” are all to be done. A West Australian tour is promised next 5k 5k > . 5k 5k STARTING WELL TOGETHER. Mr. Frank Randell and Miss Gladys Harvey, two members of Meynell and Gunn’s new dramatic company, who have just arrived from England, were (says “The Referee”) married' in Sydney last week, a few hours after .the ship came into port. HARPING FOR 47 YEARS. Signor Pasquae Torzillo. of Darlinghurst, Sydney, died last Thursday. Signor Torzillo was one of the pioneers of music in Australia, as he has been harp playing since he came here 4 7 years ago. Signor Torzillo leaves a family of six children, all of whom are known in the musical world. THE CELEBRATED BDIND PIANIST. Harry Rickards engaged, during his recent stay in England, the celebrated blind pianist, Mendel, who is spoken of by an English exchange which records the fact as “ one of our leading lights in the musical world.” The words may be ill-chosen in such a connection, but the meaning is conveyed. and that, after all, is the main thing. 5t * « 5k THE ONLY ADTERNATIVE. There is a story told of a famous singer. Gabrielli, who demanded a fee of 1,000 ducats for singing before the Empress Catherine 11. of Russia. “ Far too much,” said the Empress, amazed. “ Why, it is more than I pay my fieldmarshals!” “ Then let your field-mar-sha’s sing for you,” replied Gabrielli.

AN UP-TO-DATE PLAYHOUSE. Mr. William Anderson has secured a long lease of the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle. He is starting immediately to thoroughly renovate the place, and make it one of the most up-to-date play-houses in Australia. Amongst other things he will install electric lights on the stage, and throughout the front of the theatre. * * =r. IK OFF TO LONDON. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson (Eugenie Duggan) leave for London by the Omrah on April 20 th. They will be accompanied by Beaumont-Smith who acts as Mr. Anderson’s Secretary. The return route will be via America. * * * * AT BEAUTY’S SHKINE. There is a “ Cinderella” Club in Melbourne. It is (says “ The Referee”) composed of 16 young men who almost nightly take up their seats in the front stalls at the Royal, and worship at the shrine of the pretty girls in the show. Since the company opened in “ Miss Hook of Holland ” they have been prominent in the front stalls. They know the whole of “ Cinderella ” off by heart——words and music; and when William Cromwell hesitated recently during one of his lines, a dozen lusty voices from the front stalls supplied the missing WordThe club included a prominent artist, a couple of well-known motorists, a rising young solicitor, two young men who come under the comprehensive category of “ men of unlimited money.” and others. * * * * “SWEET KITTY BELLAIBS.’ Miss Nellie Stewart who arrived in Melbourne last week is still in process of being welcomed, for her multitude of friends have not yet done calling upon her and were it not that Miss Stewart is strong minded she would find it difficult indeed to refuse all the tempting invitations to social functions that she is receiving. But “ Sweet Kitty Bellairs ” is her chief — one might almost say—her only concern —just now and all her energies are bent upon getting the famous comedy drama into the best possible condition for Easter Saturday. * * * * A STRIKING COMEDY DRAMA. Like the other Belasco piece “The Girl of the Golden West” now being played at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, “ Sweet Kitty Bellairs ” in ■which Neuie Stewart is to make her eagerly looked for reappearance on the Australian stage, has a very long cast, there being no fewer than 33 speaking parts in the comedy drama. For their interpretation a company has been selected that looks to be ex-

ceptionally even and well balanced. The English contingent of it includes Mr. Claude King, who has done most important work, not only in England but also in India a.id South Africa where his name is associated with all the latest dramatic successes of the century, Mr. Langhorne Burton, a young English actor of great promise as well as performance, Mr. Fred Moyes, a “ character and heavy ” who has impersonted Napoleon in “ The Royal Divorce ” for four years on end, Miss Rosslyn Vayne, an Austrian actress of wide experience and Miss Marjori Chard who brings to her work not only a charming style but also a beautiful presence. Misses Madeline Meredith, Nella Campbell, Harriet Trench, Messrs. Templer Powell, Harry Ashford, Conway Wingfield and a dozen others equally well known on the Australian stage are included in the company. ROYAL COMMAND NIGHTS. There have been no fewer than twelve Command Nights at which the King and Queen have been present during the still unfinished run of “The Merry Widow” at Daly’s Theatre, London. * * * * A GREAT RUSSIAN DRAMA. “ The French Spy ” has replaced “For the Term of His Natural Life” at the King’s theatre on Saturday evening next. It is the most powerful of all R. Hall Mitcheison’s great Russian dramas, and will be gorgeously dressed. The cast will be the strongest Wm. Anderson has ever got together, including.—Miss Eugenie Duggan, Mr. Walter Baker, Miss Frances Ross, Messrs. Edmund Duggan, Bert Bailey, Laurence Dunbar, J. HNunn, Temple Harrison, Max Clifton, and Miss Fanny Arris. The production will be doubly important being Miss Eugenie Duggan’s farewell appearance in Melbourne prior to her departure for London. * * * * A NEW ANDERSON COMPANY. Wm. Anderson opens at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide, on May Ist with a specially organised Dramatic Company. Mr Walter Baker and Miss Frances Ross have been specially engaged to head the company. “ Sailor Jack,” “My Partner,” ” The Gayest of the Gay,” “For the Term of His Natural Life,” and “ The French Spy ” will be played. * * * TSE FLAY OF THE MOMENT. Australian’s are to have “ An Englishman’s Home ” presented to them in a manner worthy of the interest excited by that wonderful play. Not only will it be produced here in the

shortest time on record after its production in London—its premiere is fixed for Easter Saturday at the Sydney Theatre Royal, but before three months are passed it will be played on both sides of the Continent at once and indeed if necessary, a third company will be organised. The first named company already constituted and far on with rehearsals, is an exceptionally strong one, the management having for its organisation drawn freely <upon every company under their direction, so that each part should have the very best exponent possible to procure. Mr. Priestley Morrison who is the stage director will only remain with it until it is in good working order and then he goes away to pick up the Julius Knight Company in Adelaide and rehearse them in the same play for the West Australian and New Zealand visits of that Company. Thus at one time the drama will be on the stage at the same time in Sydney and in Perth with the width of the Continent between them. • * * * RECRUITING AT THE THEATRE. Strong as its influence was from the very first, the present Imperial Defence crisis must, have still further accentuated the excitement that has centred around Wyndham’s Theatre ever since “ An Englishman’s Home ” was produced there. The papers from London by the latest mail were still full of it. Several people in high positions had made the suggestion that it was the duty of the Government to subsidise a dozen companies or more to take it through the length and breadth of the British Isles or to come to some financial arrangement whereby the cheaper parts of the house should be thrown open to the public. Another scheme meeting with excellent results was the stationing of recruiting sergeants outside the doors of the theatre after every performance—a scheme which resulted in a most satisfactory increase in the establishment of their respective regiments. * * * * A HUMAN PUZZLE. One of the greatest puzzles ever offered to se’entists has appeared in America in the person of a young

mechanic named Frank E. Foskett, of Orange, Massachusetts, who, according to New York papers, has mystified a big committee of trained observers with feats of “ physic magic.” Professor P. F. Hall, of Boston, invited to his house Professor James, who holds the chair of Philosophy at Harvard, and a number of medical men and members of the American Society of Psychical Research, to witness an exposition of Foskett’s powers. All of them came away astounded by what they had seen, and stating so far as they could tell science could offer no explanation of the mysteries exhibited. At Professor Hall’s house, in the ring of observers, Foskett sat in the centre of the room before a small table, and performed every feat of a Hindu fakir. He then went through the fire test. First he allowed the flames from matches to curl around his fingers. Then he held both hands over a kerosene lamp until the smoke completely blackened the chimney. The climax was reached when he poured a quart of alcohol into a basin, set it on fire, and bathed his hands in the blazing liquid for ten minutes, also spreading the flaming alcohol over his face and arms- After this performance several physicians examined Foskett, and could not find the slightest trace of a burn or blister. Foskett told them that the flames did not give him the slightest sensation of burning, and that he felt comfortably warm and pleasant —nothing more. Then he performed the greatest wonder of all —namely, that of melting into thin air before them and gradually reassuming the substance of his body again. Those present were simply spellbound with astonishment. One scientist said Foskett was “ absolutely and positively dematerialised. He seemed to dissolve into thin air as we watched him. He was gone forty-one seconds, and then materialised. It was so startling that I was afraid he had lost sight of the test conditions, and we asked him to appear before us again. It seems unbelievable, but it certainly seemed so. We hardly know what to think of it.” According to those present, Foskett seems in a passive state during the tests, and says he thinks of nothing in particular. Those who examined him discredit the hypnotic theory and express the belief that he has some latent “physic force” that has never been studied.

Leading Tragic Man. “ Did you see how I paralysed the audience all over the house!” Stage Manager: “Yes; they knew you weren’t really dead.”