Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1039, 3 February 1910, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

BOOKINGS AT HIS MAJESTY’S. “ Carter the Magician” is booked to appear at His Majesty’s on Monday, February 21st; Harry Rickards’ new Vaudeville Company will hold the boards from March 14 to 24, and on Easter Saturday (March 26) the Marlow Dramatic Company will make its appearance here. Miss Amy Castles is due on April 18th, and will hold the theatre until the 23rd, another of Mr. Williamson’s companies arriving on April 28 and remaining until May 14. Allan Hamilton has the dates between May 16 and 29, Meynell and Gunn from May 30 to June 18, J. C. Williamson from June 20 to July 6, Meynell and Gunn from July 7 to 16, Hugh J. Ward from July 18 to 31, and J. C. Williamson again from - August 1 to August 13, and from September 5 to 24. Other dates are held by the Auckland Boxing Association (September 1 to 3), by Allan Hamilton (from September 26 to October 19), and by Fred. Graham from October 20 to November 4. AVIATION ON THE STAGE. Aviation receives its first recognition in comic opera in “ The Areadans,” to be presented in Melbourne at Easter by Clarke and Meynell’s New Comic Opera Company. The principal comedian —in the person of Mr. William Cromwell —makes his entrance in an airship, from which he is flung on to the island of Arcadia, and finds himself in a new world, in which he is the only commonplace mortal. • ' • * * THE NEW PANTOMIME. The “ Aladdin ’ pantomime has (writes a Melbourne correspondent) undoubtedly caught the taste of the Melbourne playgoing public in an exceptional degree, and though it is now in the fourth week of its run at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the returns show no signs of a falling off. Indeed, it is remarkable with this production that the iweek-night receipts are very little behind the Saturday nights’ takings, which are, as a rule, expected to be much bigger than those of the ordinary nights. Last week two of the week-night performances brought in returns which capped the Saturday night previous. This fact simply

shows that the new J. C. Williamson pantom me is more than holding its own with the previous Xmas successes under the same management. A (.BICHET ENTHUSIAST. Since she came to Australia, Miss Lily Ins, the popular principal boy. in the “ Aladdin” pantomime, has become a cricket enthusiast. She paid her first visit to any cricket match when the South Australians were playing the Victorians, and the former team, at the close of the match in which, of course, they were defeated, made her a present of the ball which played such havoc with their wickets, and on it were inscribed all their signatures. Later on, during the progress of the match between South Australia and New South Wales, Miss Iris eagerly scanned the paper each day for news of the play, and when the final result was made known she was delighted. * * * * MAORI FOI DANCERS IN SYDNEY. Maggie Papakura and her tribe continue to add to the gaiety of stations (the tram and ferry variety) with their bright headgear and native mat outfits, (says the Sydney “Bulletin”). The silk handkerchiefs that tie the heavy hair of the women and girls are of that eye-arresting hue that you see on the rind of the Dutch cheese—magenta, as near as one may name it. The Maoris are giving good performances of poi and other dancesi at Clontarf, and a little Austral-Maori, a recent arrival, was baptised a few Sundays ago with considerable pride and circumstance. *** ‘ * A T.IAEN IED NEW ZEALANDER. Maoruand wiil (says a Sydney paper) get a fine advt. trom its young pianist, Magnus Laing Meason, who went to Europe some years ago to study. Magnus, who was about 7ft. long at the age of 17 and has a wonderful mat of beautiful red hair, is being violently pursued by an amorous, clamorous foreign countess, who followed him from Vienna to London and tried to steal him. His life is made miserable by her affection. As the Irish-American policeman said to Kubelik, when the violinist appealed to him to keep off the girls who were crowding to kiss him: “Young man, you don’t know your luck.” The London Daily Mirror gives a portrait of Mr. de Laing (the name he piays with) getting into his carriage. Presumably the titled villainess is hard on his tracks. “ THE BACHELOR'S HONEYMOON.” Judging from the following, Mr. Hugh J. Ward and his talented company are going the pace in Sydney as strongly as ever:—Tenders will be received by The Bulletin until noon on Tuesday, January 32, 20,375, for—(a) something new to remark about ” A Bachelor’s Honeymoon” (still appearing at Sydney Palace); and (b) supply and delivery of information to The Bulletin dry goods stores as to whether Hugh J. Ward is going to keep the durned piece running for ever; also (c) the repair of one rib broken by the Poetry Editor while laughing (bitterly) at the Kitchener verse ip the “Find The Man” song; likewise (d) the re-erection of the affections of the Beauty Contributor damaged by the Twin on the port side of the “Honeymoon”; and finally (e) the supply and delivery of the address of the girl who sat next to the Religious Editor last night in the stalls and declared that Grace Palotta was a bold hussy in her Grecian costume. Tenders for (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), must be in accordance with plans and specifications to be seen at the Blue Anchor Hotel—the usual 10 per cent, conditions—the drunkest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Personal canvass of any of The Bulletin’s bar ladies will re<»sult in such tenders and bar lady being absolutely disqualified. * * * * “ THE BESSES O’ TH’ BARN.”

According to Mr. Nevin Tait, of Messrs. J. and N. Tait, who has just returned from England via South Africa, the Besses o’ th’ Barn band will prove as great a success during its forthcoming reappearance in New Zealand and Australia as it was on its former visit to Australasia. Mr. Tait bases his prediction on the fact that the “ Besses” made such a phenomenal “ hit” in South Africa, and thinks he is justified in accepting their successes as the best of auguries for the result of their tour in this part of the world. Mr. Tait is equally confident on the possibilities of Madame Calve achieving a success in Australia. She cannot fail to appeal to music-loving Australians, Mr. Tait remarked, and will prove to be a revelation not less by

the charm of her personality than by the singular brilliance of both hei’ vocal and dramatic gifts. * * * sj: BRILLIANT SOLO INSTRUMENTALISTS. The Besses o' th’ Barn Band-owes a good deal of its phenomenal success in South Africa to the brilliant work of its solo instrumentalists. While every member of the band is an expert soloist —and some of the most eminent of them are something more —they showed that they were absolute masters of their particular instruments. For instance, the playing of Messrs. G. Pyatt and W. Ryder was declared to be a revelation to all who heard them, while the rich quality of Mr. W. Weedall’s trombone selections was referred to by the newspapers in flattering terms. Greater even that these, however, were the euphonium solo of Mr. Kerry, junr., who re-created in this difficult instrument new beauties and subtleties that hitherto were unsuspected-. Indeed the playing of Mr. Kerry was heard with such astonished delight that many did not hesitate to proclaim him one of the greatest, if not the greatest, euphonium soloist in the world. * * * * “ THE LION AND THE MOUSE." “ The Lion and the Mouse,” which went up at the Sydney Theatre Royal for the first time in Australia on Saturday, January 22, has (says a Sydney correspondent) several points which should tend towards making it a strong success. The piece itself is “ full of grip and go,” to quote from (he London “ Daily Chronicle,” and the Story is one which should hold the interest of the audience from first to last. It treats of the history of an American multi-millionaire —John Burkett Ryder—who has not always been too scrupulous in the means he has employed in accumulating his wealth. He receives a shock when a decision is recorded against him by a certain Judge Rossmore, and retaliates by vowing vengeance on the man who has dared to withstand him. He accordingly sets to work, and to all intents and purposes brings about the ruin of the Judge. But the latter’s daughter, who is engaged to the millionaire’s son, veiling her identity, manages to get into touch with Ryder with the object of clearing her father from the slur so wrongfully cast upon him. She is eventually engaged by Ryder to act as his secretary, and after securing sufficient evidence to clear her father and incriminate the millionaire, she, in an impassioned speech, makes hert self known to the latter and refuses to marry his son. The part is one which

should give Miss Katherine Grey a splendid “ first appearance” chance, while as the millionaire, Mr. Knight may be relied on to get every ounce of •• opportunity” out of the role. * * * A NEW STAGE MANAGER. The Moldavia, which is now on its way out to Australia, having left London at the beginning of the current month,- has on board Mr. Alexander Butler, a well-known and widely-ex-perienced London stage manager and producer. Mr. Butler is under engagement to J. C. Williamson, and on arrival in Australia will go straight to New Zealand to take in hand the rehearsals of “ The Dollar Princess” with the New Comic Opera Company, who are to appear in that popular musical play on their return from the Dominion. ♦ * * * “ THE WALTZ DREAM.” For the next few w'eeks, which will be devoted to revivals of “ The Merry Widow” and “The Girls of Gottenberg” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, the Royal Comic Opera Company will concentrate all their spare time on rehearsals of “ The Waltz Dream,” which they are to do in Sydney ere their present season closes there. The great reputation which this melodious opera by Oscar Strauss has gained in England and on the Continent has preceded it out to this part of the world, and even now expert critics are undecided as to whether to give the palm for the beauty of its music to the famous Lehar opera “The Merry Widow” or its successor, “ The Waltz Dream.” * * * * “ GOT RIGHT THERE.” The great French detective drama, “ Arsene Lupin,” has “ got right there” with playgoers in New York. After an unusually long and prosperous career it was still attracting big audiences up to the close of last year, and so pronounced and unequivocal has been its success that Charles Frohman has decided to organise no less than six different companies and send them out in various directions to present the piece. * * « * BELIEVES IN FRESH AIR. Writes my Melbourne correspondent: —Mr. J. M. Campbell, who dons the robes of the Emperor of Japan every evening in “ Aladdin,” is an advocate of fresh air, and as soon as the performance is over on Saturday nights, he dashes down to the Flin-ders-street station and boards the train to Aspendale, where he spends his Sunday and the best part of Monday enjoying the bracing sea air which distinguishes that resort. Mr. Harry

Phydora, also a believer in the briny breeze as a tonic and invigorator, resides at St. Kilda, and his opinion of that go-ahead suburb may be heard any night during the progress of the pantomime. * * * * ON THE MURRAY. Mr. Gerard Coventry and Mr. W. R. Coleman have returned to Melbourne from what they describe as a most enjoyable trip to the Murray. Now, it is a well-known fact that the vicinity of the Murray is not characteristic for its coolness during the summer months, and the two J. C. Williamson representatives were there during the very hottest part of the recent hot spell, so ihat one is inclined to wonder how great a pinch of sarcasm seasoned their expressions of enjoyment in connection with their trip. But by the time their experiences were fully related, it was clearly proved that they were quite in earnest about the pleasures of the holiday. It seems that they discovered a natural ice chest in the form of a cold spring which bubbled up in a hole about five feet deep, and here they decided to place all their thirst-slaking liquors. They placed the receptacles carefully in sugar bags and let them doiwn into the water. The necessity of getting them out again at frequent intervals involved their spending most of their day cooling themselves, by outward application only, of course, by stripping off their clothes and diving down into that delightfully refreshing pool of water. * * * * GRAND OPERA ARTISTS. Melbourne can certainly take the palm for fine voices if the experience lately met with by Mr. Henry Bracy can be taken as a criterion. That gentleman came down from Sydney to find voices to complete the ranks of the chorus for the grand opera season under the J. C. Williamson management, and at the conclusion of the voice trial he expressed himself as be I’ng 1 ’ng astonished at the quality of the voices which were submitted for his approval. The sopranos especially were really excellent, and instead of having any difficulty about finding the number of good voices required, he was nonplussed at the task of deciding which of the excellent voices to reject. • • • • AN EXPENSIVE DIVA. Messrs. J. andi N. Tait, who are to direct the forthcoming Australian tour of Madame Emma Calve, desire to correct the ridiculous impression that the great songstress is somewhat past the heyday of her fame. As a matter of truth, Madame Calve is at the very height of her eminence at the present

time —a fact which is proved not only by the growth of her European and American engagements, but also by the increasingly fabulous sums which she is receiving for her appearances. Indeed, so great is the demand for her on the Continent of Europe and in the States, that Messrs. Tait were only enabled to arrange for a season in Australasia, after the most patient negotiations with the singer herself. And even then the diva would only consent to give about twenty concerts, in order that she should not interfere with dates for which she is already booked for two or three years ahead. Each of her concerts in Australasia, it maybe added, will cost about £SOO to produce, so that it will be seen that she will be both a brilliant and an expensive attraction. CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. My Christchurch dramatic correspondent writes:—Since my last, Carter (who now bills himself as “ Carter the Mysterious”) has bobbed up again serenely at the Theatre Royal after an absence of more than a year from Christchurch. A feature of the performance is Mrs. Carter’s thoughtreading, which is certainly very clever. . . . The Opera House continues to attract overflowing audiences, proof positive that vaudeville has lost none of its drawing power in this flattest of cities. The return visit of Miss Priscilla Verne and Mr. Armstrong is proving a trump-card for the management. . . . On the 16th of next month Harry Rickards’ New Variety Co. will open here. Amongst the stars of the combine are ex-champion bruiser, Bob Fitzsimmons, Fred. Bluett (erstwhile of the Fuller circuit), and other favourites. . . The Wide World Pictures at the Colosseum are still earning heaps of money for the fortunate Fullers. A good deal of the success of the show is due to the excellent management, which leaves nothing to be desired. The programmes are well selected, while the comfort and convenience of patrons is studied in every way. . . We are eagerly looking forward to renewing our acquaintance with the Besses o’ th’ Barn,-who reopen here, as I think I told you last: iweek, on February 8. The season is only to cover four nights. . .’ Bookings:—Theatre Royal: February 8 to 19, Wm. Anderson Co.; February 21 to March 5, Williamson’s “ King of Cadonia” Co.; March 6 to April 8: Pollard Opera Co. We spend a lot of money in amusements in this rather dull city, now reckoned one of the very best show-towns in the Dominion.