Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1001, 13 May 1909, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

By

“ Footlights.”

HOW CIS'QUEVALLI JUGGLES. “ Perhaps the hardest thing a juggler must learn to do,” says Paul Cinquevalli, “is to see things without looking at them. For example, when I am balancing a glass on straws on my forehead, and juggling five hats at the same time, I never look at the hats; if I did so for even the hundredth part of a second the glass and straws would collapse, but I know instinctively the position of the hats, and can catch them and juggle with them just as easily as if I were actually looking at them. Continual practice is essential even for the most accomplished juggler. If I were to take a month’s holiday, and not to go through some feats during that period, I should probably have to practice for a year before I could perform in public again. As a matter of fact, I practice every day for three hours at least. It is not the most difficult feats which always arouse the greatest enthusiasm. For instance, balancing a soft hat on its edge on one’s forehead is a feat that I number among the most difficult in the three thousand or so I can perform. Yet I know many people think it is rather an easy thing to do. But just try it. It took me nearly eight months’ practice before I could do it.” * * ♦ ♦ AN ENTHUSIASTIC LAST NIGHT. The final and 131st performance of Messrs. Meynall and Gunn’s pantomime, “ Cinderella,” was the occasion of one of the most enthusiastic demonstrations known theatrically in Melbourne for years. There was much music in the Theatre Royal that night. All the male friends of the company —and every lady in the chorus 'has half a dozen or more —had rolled up to the last night. On one side of the theatre sat what Mr. Brett facetiously dubbed “ the Toorak Choir.” On the other side must have been the Toorak Orchestra. There was a concertina or an accordeon which let out awful howls of agony at most unexpected psychological moments in tihe pantomime. There was a motor-horn which “ honk-honked ” when it shouldn’t. There were conch shells and other instruments of torture. They all made a tornado, a hurricane of sound, through which the pantomime made its way, all laughter and flowers. Then the flowers! At every breathing-space everybody got flowers. The men got cigars and cigarettes. All were “ guyed ” in most comical fashion from the managerial box, which wore a spot light, so that the audience might see what went on in it. It was a night of frolic and good humour —a theatrical carnival night. It is a pity that there are not more of them. ♦ ♦ ♦ * “IT’S TAHM, TAHM, TAHMT.” The merriest scene of all was when Miss Aleredro, who was in the middle of the “ Bombadier Song,” suddenly screamed. She had been gazing at the gods, and Mr. Payne had changed places with the conductor. Miss Meredro glanced down to see how the time of the song was getting on, and to her horror saw an apparition with fierce black moustache and eyebrows and hair beating time —all out of time. Besides, the apparition looked angry, and rat-tapped his stick on the desk to call her to attention. She was only a woman after all, despite her principal boy’s costume, so she screamed, and then looked foolish, for beneath the thatch of black whig and behind the false nose and moustache there gleamed the merry, dancing eyes of Thomas Payne. She at once leant down and went on singing, “ It’s Tahm, Tahm, Tahm, Tahm, Tahmy, Tahmy,” and the audience, recognising him, too, shrieked with laughter, while “ Tahm, Tahm, Tahmy,” turned round and bowed solemnly. ♦ ♦ ♦ * COSTLY SCENERY AND DRESSES. By the Maheno, which arrived from Sydney on Monday, came the costly scenery and wardrobe of Messrs. Meynell and Gu nn ’s pantomime, “ Cinderella,” comprising over 400 tons, and on Tuesday the whole of these “ properties ” were transferred to the Opera House. By the same boat there also arrived half a dozen of the mechanical, property, and electric staff in connection with the production. Tne Opera House stage will present a busy scene during the next ten days and prior to May 24, certain structural alterations being necessary for the mounting of the pantomime.

“THE BRIGHT PARTICULAR STAR.” Miss Amy Castles, in a letter to a Melbourne friend, writes enthusiastically of her experiences in what she calls “ The country where the Shamrock grows ” The young Australian singer made no reference to her singing, but simply enclosed a copy of the “Irish Times” (Dublin) in which it is stated: Miss Castles was naturally the bright particular star of the evening.” * ♦ * ♦ MISS NELLIE STEWART’S GENEROSITY. Miss Nellie Stewart has shown in a most practical manner that she has quite grasped the meaning of the term “ in perpetuity,” for she has forwarded to Mr. H. D. Westley the last £lOO to complete the endowment of the “ Nellie Stewart ” cot at the Children’s Hospital—one of the many kindly acts which are characteristic of “ Our Nellie,” and which endear her to the hearts of Australian playgoers. ♦ ♦ * ♦ A READY-WITTED TRAGEDIAN. A stage anecdote that stands revival pretty well relates that on one occasion when Barry Sullivan, the Irish tragedian, was playing “ Richard III.” and came to the lines, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” a wag in the pit called out, “ And wouldn’t a jackass do as well for you?” “Sure,” answered Sullivan, turning like a flash at the sound of the voice. “ Come around to the stagedoor.” * * ♦ * “AN ENGLISHMAN’S HOME.” “An Englishman’s Home,” which is still drawing large houses in Sydney is certainly exercising a wonderful influence over the trend of thought in Great Britain throughout every stage of society. Recently the Prince of Wales while eulogising the Australian Cadet system, remarked that it would be well if the movement could be introduced into Great Britain and incidentally said that “Then An Englishman’s Home would be safe from invasion-” It further transpires in connection with Du Maurier’s play that a particularly

funny burlesque put on by The Follies, has been prohibited by the censor. Possibly he thinks that the piece is of too grave a calibre to be subjected to ridicule or on the contrary having originally let the pieces slip through his fingers to the production stage, has determined that there shall be no further cause for compla’nt from the Little Englanders. * * * PIRATES AT WORK. Before “An Englishman’s Home ” had been on a fortnight at Wyndham’s Theatre, London, “ pirates ” were active in trying to share in the boom tnat it created by trading on the name and even on the story of Major Du Maurier’s play, and attempting to give unauthorised representations of it. The same thing has happened out here and though the play is barely four weeks’ old in this country, J. C. Williamson has already been compelled to set the law in motion to prevent infringement of copyright in more than one direction. In fact, so keen apparently is the desire on the part of unauthorised persons to profit by the sensation “An Englishman’s Home ” has scored, that special instructions to keep a strict look out have had to be issued to the J. C. Williamson representatives throughout Australia. » * * ♦ CULYER HASTINGS IN AMERICA. Mr. Culyer Hastings, the creator of “ Sherlock Holmes ” for Australia under the J. C. Williamson management some years ago, is now appearing in support of Kathryn Kidder at a New York Theatre in a new production called “ A Woman of Impulse.” MISS TITTELL BRUNE’S DEPARTURE. The announcement of Miss Brune’s projected departure for England and America is (says our Melbourne correspondent) being hailed by a number of aspiring playwrights as an opportunity to have their efforts brought under the notice of old and new world managers. As a consequence Miss Brune is being inundated with manuscripts of the “ Sunday ” type, possibly in the hope that this particular class of production will appeal more strongly to the popular young actress and induce her to use extra persuasion when acting as mediator with the allpowerful managers. Amongs the piles of dramatic literature which found its way into Miss Brune’s hands was “ a most powerful and intense tragedy,” written by a young gentleman who was not too modest to thus describe his own effort. Furthermore, this same

young man offered Miss Brune an engagement for a week when his play was produced in Sydney in June, as he considered that she was just exactly fitted for the leading role. No mention was made of salary, but doubtless the genius considered that in offering Miss Brune a say in the selection of the cast he was conferring upon her an honour that would do in lieu of salary. * * * * WHY HE WAS GRIEVED. According to a recent paragraph in the London “ Tatler,” a Russian gentleman went to see “ The Merry Widow ” in London, and was greatly grieved because “The Swing Song” was not included in the presentation. It seems (writes my Melbourne correspondent) that when the famous opera was given in St. Petersburg one of the numbers given showed a bevy of the prettiest girls, who were swung right out over the auditorium. Could it be, he adds, that one of the most attractive features in “ Mother Goose ” found its way right up north to St. Petersburg, and that the great centre of the world is two years behind Australia in regard to this novelty? * * * * GONE HOME TO BE MARRIED. The members of the Tittell Brune Company met together last week to say good-bye to Mr. Loring Fernie, who is shortly to be married, and who sailed for England with that object in view by last week’s mail steamer. He was presented by his fellow artists with a handsome spirit flask, with “ From the Australian boys of the company. Ain’t we style enough for you?” ‘ascribed thereon. The latter part of the inscription includes some of the last words spoken by Mr. Fernie in his role of Sonora Slim in “ The Girl of the Golden West.” * * * * A GOOD MONEY-MAKER. “ Monsieur Beaucaire,” which has recently been revived by Julius Knight in Adelaide, has proved a great moneygetter in London, where playgoers have paid no less than £lOO,OOO to see it, wh‘le the sum standing to the credit of its first run at the Imperial Theatre was no less than £53,000.

ITS 150TH PERFORANCE. The 150th consecutive performance of “ Jack and Jill ” in Australia will be registered on Saturday, May 8 at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, where the big extravaganza is still “ going for all it is worth ” —and that is a good deal. * * ♦ • A VERSATILE COMPANY. The members of the Neilie Stewart Company improve the shining hours at their disposal by indulging in athletics. Mr. Fred Moyes, who is a member of an English Yeomanry Regiment, has formed a fencing class, and both the ladies and gentlemen of the company are availing tnemselves of the opportunity of learning to handle the foils gracefully and proficiently. Cricket also is in their line, and on Friday last they played a game against the staff of Her Majesty’s Theatre. ★ ♦ ♦ ♦ “THE KING OF CADONIA.” When “The King of Cadonia ” is staged or the first time in Australia by J. C. Williamson, so many first appearances will be included in the cast as to render it almost a new company. The members of the specially engaged English contingent are already on their way out to this country. The Princess will be in the hands of Miss Dorothy Court who until quite recently has been appearing at the Savoy Theatre as prima donna in Gilbert and Sullivan roles during a series of revivals of those popular operas and the success she achieved gives promise of her popularity and success in this part of the world. The comedy part is to be entrusted to Miss Lottie Sargent who though still very young, has had a wide range of experience on the Lyric stage in London and the provinces. Rumour has it that Mr. Frank Greene, another newcomer, is a fresh, breezy young actor after the style of Mr. Andrew Higginson and indeed it was while appearing as Danilo in one of George Edwardes’ companies, that Mr. Greene was engaged for J. C. Williamson by J. A. E. Malone. Mr. Herbert Clayton, who is also to be included in the cast, is already in Australia. Mr. Spencer Barry has been very painstaking in the selection of the chorus, the members of which are possessed of good looks as well as fine voices.