Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1006, 17 June 1909, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

By

“Footlights.”

MR. HOOK OF HOLLAND. An interesting interview with Mr Edwin Brett, the talented comedian, now playing Mr. Hook in “ Miss Hook of Holland” at the Opera House, Auckland, appears on page 9 of this issue * * A CLEVER STREET ARAB. Miss Ethel Buckley, whose portrait appears as the frontispiece of this week’s “ Review,” plays the part of a London street arab in “ Lured to London,” which the G*each-Marlow combination is to present at the Opera House on Monday evening next. The " Otago Daity Times” of June 1, speaking of the play and the part borne by Miss Buckley in it, said: —Miss Ethel Buckley’s Natty, the London street boy, was a clever impersonation, with much about it that was admirable. Miss Buckley invested the character with all the smart precociousness attributed to the London waif, and was the chief participator in a very thrilling scene, in which old Sterling is rescued from the Regent’s Canal. The scene was a realistic one, and evidently considerable trouble and expense had been gone to in order to make it so. A large tank, probably 20ft long by sft wide, had been let into the stage and filled with water to a depth of several feet, and into this Miss Buckley took a header from an elevated position and swam to the rescue of Sterling, who had been thrown in by Geoffrey and Jake. The scene and that representing the barge on the Regent’s Canal were both exceedingly good. * * * . * THE TIVOLI THEATRE. Messrs. Hayward Bros., whose efforts to provide a first-class living picture entertainment nightly at the Royal Albert Hall have been highly successful, are taking over the Tiyo'i Theatre, Newton, on the 26th ’est. Several improvements for the comfort of patrons are to be made, and as the Messrs. Hayward have always catered splendidly for their patrons, the ‘ Tivoli,” under its new management, should be able to hold its own agamst all-comers. # * * # “AN ODD PEOPLE.” While the powers that be are seeking to legislate us into sobriety—or, I should perhaps say, into an even more temperate condition —the censors of our public amusements seem, so far at least as London is concerned, to give the utmost latitude to the providers of entertainment, says the London correspondent of a Sydney contemporary. Maud Allan, the Canadian girl, who for ten months served to pack the Palace Theatre of Varieties and, incidentally, to produce for the shareholders rich dividends, did so chiefly by means of the “ Salome Dance.” To the highly respectable matron, no less than to the prim young person, this display must have come as an awful shock, not merely by reason of its Biblical significance, but because the dancer was garbed chiefly in chastity. Eminent critics poured out columns of poetic metaphor about the lady, and the highly respectable matron and the prim young person trod on each other

in the melee round the box office for nearly a year. Now comes the strange part of the story, for the municipal bodies of half a dozen of the chief provincial cities have flatly refused to allow the use of their public halls for the accommodation of Miss Allan and her Salome dance. This attitude of the local Councils having been forecasted some months ago, there was a wild rush from the various provincial centres to witness the spectacle in London, and with a little more encouragement the great trunk lines might have been induced to run “ Salome Specials.” Truly, we are an odd people. ? * * * ♦ WHY HE WAS “SHY.” Mr. Horace Bottomley, M.P., whose court troubles ended in his triumphant vindication recently, has printed his “ Life and Times.” In this book he confesses to having lost a considerable sum of money through “backing” two of Mr. W. S. Penley’s ventures, “ New Lamps for Old” and “The Judge,” both of which proved unsuccessful. When the same actor-man-ager again invited him to a luncheon and held out hopes of better luck over " Charley’s Aunt,” he who had been twice bitten was a third time shy. No amount of persuasion could prevail upon Mr. Bottomley to stake the required capital. Now he is sorry for it. That fruitless luncheon has haunted him ever since. Within a twelvemonth some other financier made a clear profit of £28,000 on his investment. A piece of good fortune like “ Charley’s Aunt” —which is still running—does not fall in man’s way twice in a lifetime. » • • * THE SACKVILLE GALLERY. Some choice pictures, chiefly works of eminent English masters, on view at the Sackville Gallery, 62 City Chambers, are well worth al visit. The thought suggests itself that some valuable additions could be made from them to the permanent Auckland Art Gallery, which is singularly deficient in pictures of any teaching value to young students, the celebrated Norwich school, among others, being entirely unrepresented- A specimen or two, as well as a small but beautiful Turner water colour, could be secured at reasonable prices only warranted by the recent depression in the picture market. A delicate interior by Wilkie, full of poetic feeling, also a fragment of a Reubens’ landscape, demand attention. The high quality of the pictures should satisfy the most fastidious critic that they are obviously genuine, as well as secure eager purchasers. This enterprising

venture of the eminent London firm is deserving of every encouragement here in the colonies for bringing objects of high art to our doors. * * * » RANDOLPH BEDFORD’S NEW DRAMA. “ White Australia, or the Empty North” (Randolph Bedford’s new drama) is to be produced at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, under the management of William Anderson, on June 19 th. The exceptionally heavy scenery needed has delayed the production, but Mr. Julius Grant is pressing all departments to completion, and all difficulties should be surmounted within two or three weeks. “White Australia” is practically the heaviest production yet attempted at the King’s Theatre, and the resources of the big theatre are responding to all the taxes made on them. » • * ♦ “THE HYPOCRITES.” Rupert Clarke, Meynell and Gunn’s New English company made a great success in Henry Arthur Jones’ masterpiece, “The Hypocrites,” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, on Saturday, June sth. The piece caused quite a sensation, particularly in the third act, where the Rev. Edgar Linnell exposes the hypocrisy of those around him, who would effect his ruin. Miss Gladys Harvey, as the wronged girl, Rachel Neve; Mr. Harcourt Beatty as the courageous curate; and others were conspicuous for some fine acting. The piece ran for over five weeks in Sydney to enormous business. ■ * ft ft AN EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING. The importation of the Oscar AscheLily Brayton company of 26 people is the biggest and most expensive theatrical enterprise ever undertaken in Australia, says a Melbourne correspondent of the “ Review.” The tour, which is under the management of Rupert Clarke, Meynell and Gunn, will commence in Melbourne on July 17. The staging and mounting will be on exactly the same scale as in London. Over 500 tons of scenery is being brought out from England. ft ♦ ♦ ♦ PROUD OP HER SON. Mrs. Asche, a fine, clever old lady who keeps the Imperial Hotel in Sydney (says the Melbourne “ Sporting and Dramatic Review”) sits at night in her cosy dining-room quietly knitting, awaiting the advent of her famous actor-son, Oscar, and his beautiful and clever wife. Mrs. Asche does not even wear the mantle of her son’s reflected glory, but runs her hotel, reads

the papers about her boy’s triumphs, and a smile comes into those keen eyes, so strangely like his. Seeing and studying the mother, in her so different sphere, which yet calls for quite a considerable amount of intelligence, one could not be surprised at anything which the son of such a woman might accomplish. * * * * MELBA DESECRATED. The saddest feature of Empire Day in Sydney was (says the writer of the “ Adam and Eve” notes in the Melbourne “ Sporting and Dramatic News”) the gramophone desecration of Melba. To hear Melba in this inexpensive manner appealed to many women, and a few men. Women, poor dears! are often compelled to sin cheaply. To wander in to Paling’s concert room at 3.30, and hear that divine voice squeaking that nightmare, “Home, Sweet Home!” and that unspeakable and respectably British anthem, “God Save,” was depressing. If Melba ever deserved chastisement in all her brilliant life (and report says that it is possible) she deserved it when she consented to lend her voice to this medium of concealing it Tn “Home, Sweet Home,” the gramophone suggests that the divine one could be pathetic. a ♦ • ft A FROHMAN STORY. Charles Frohmann once organised a company of niggers to play “Othello,” of which he tells a good story. In the scene between the Moor and Desdemona, wherein Othello demands the handkerchief, the actor who was playing the title role confused vociferousness with impressiveness. “ Desdemona,” he cried, “ Give me dat han’kerchief.” But the doomed lady only babbled of Cassio, and her liege shouted again, “ I ast you fo’ de second time to git me dat han’kerchief.” Still the “ fair one” parried the issue, and the lordly Othello, now fully incensed, bellowed, “Woman, for de third an’ las’ time, I tell you to fetch me dat han’kerchief. Away!” As he was just about to speak again, a big-lunged patron in the gallery shouted out, “Fo’ heaven’s sake, nigger, why doan’ yo’ wipe yo’ nose on yo’ sleeve, an’ let the show go on?”

CHARACTERISTICI American journalists are certainly original. Here is how one of them announces the coming to the United States of Mon Fow, a celebrated Chinese operatic tenor; —“A Chinese high-note grabber named Mon Fow has Caruso skint when it comes to a show down on the shout proposition. He will stack up against the American game next year, but may need a jimmy to pry loose the Mazuma. Mon Fow, honourable heathen gentleman, singer of Eiffel Tower notes from Canton (not O), is said to have Caruso, honourable Christian American gentleman from Italy, beaten eight furlongs and several rods in race war for vocal sounds. He is coming to America to demonstrate the superiority of Eastern civilisation over Western barbarism.” ft ft ♦ ft AN INFANT COMEDIAN. The “Western Mail” (Perth, W.A.) publishes the portrait of an infant prodigy—Master Jack Clark, 3% years of age—whom it describes as a remarkable child. He has (the “Mail” states) a large repertoire of comic songs, all of which he has learnt from the phonograph. It is impossible to hear him sing and not be amused. He has lately been receiving tuition from Miss Doris Melville. The lad made a great “ hit” at the “ Carnival of Flowers” held recently in aid of the Children’s Hospital. He is the son of Mr. Charles Clark, bootmaker, of Haystreet, Perth.” * « * * INUNDATED WITH BEGGING LETTERS. Miss Emmeline Orford, when appearing with Meynell and Gunn’s “ Cinderella” pantomime in Melbourne recently, received an intimation from England that a relative had bequeathed her an important share in his fortune of £ll,OOO. Naturally she was inundated with letters from people who wanted to participate in the money—so much so, in fact, that she was compelled to write to the daily papers pointing out that it would be some considerable time, owing to legal difficulties and the fact that the will was to be contested in England, before she would receive one penny of the money.