Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1045, 17 March 1910, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

MR. GEO. MASLOW’S ENTERPRISES. Mr. Stanley Grant, general manager of Mr. George Marlow’s enterprises, arrived by the Mahenc from Sydney on Sunday to supervise the arrangements in connection with the forthcoming season of the “Married to the Wrong Man” company at His Majesty’s. BESSES O’ TH’ BARN. Mr. Kerry, junr., the phenomenal euphonium soloist accompanying the Besses o’ th Barn Band, made an immense impression during the band’s recent appearance in Christchurch. The “Christchurch Press” thus refers to his performance: “Mr. Kerry’s euphonium solo revealed possibilities of the instrument which, up to now in solos, have only been vaguely hinted at. The brilliant variations and cadenzas were played witL a facility and clearness of tone that were something to be wondered at. Runs, extending from the upper to the lower notes, were given with as much ease and clarity of tune as a simple melody, and Mr. Kerry's performance stamped him as a soloist of the very highest rank.” *'• • • * MISS MADGE TITHERADGE. A London cable dated March 9th announces the marriage of Miss Madge Titheradge, daughter of Mr. G. S. Titheradge, the well-known actor, to Mr. Charles Quartermaine, a London actor. Mr. Charles Quartermaine, who is 32 years of age, played from 1896 to 1901 with F. R.-Benson’s Shaksperian company. Leaving Mr. Benson, he appeared with Beerbohm Tree as Sebastian in “Twelfth Night” and as Slender in “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” He accompanied Sir Chas. Wyndham to America in 1904, and toured the States with Olga Nethersole in 1905-6, since which time he has had London engagements. Miss Madge Titheradge made her first appearance at the Garrick Theatre in 1902 as the second baby in “The Water Babies,” and has since played continuously in London and the provinces. MELODRAMATIC SUCCESS. In connection with the forthcoming visit of the George Marlow Dramatic Company, it is interesting to note their success in Brisbane. The Sydney “Referee” says:—“One of the most remarkable sights for some time was witnessed on Saturday evening on the occasion of the opening of the season of the George Marlow Dramatic Company. The reports that had preceded the company of the opening production, “ Married to the Wrong Man,” prepared the people of Brisbane for something unusually good in the melodrama line, and, judging by the enthusiasm of the packed house, they were not disappointed. Early in the afternoon people commenced to sit on the gallery stairs and stall entrances, and the doors were opened shortly after 6 o’clock, and a little after 7 o’clock the house was filled only some of the reserved seats being vacant. No late door tickets were sold for any part of the house.” “THE WEDDING RING.” One of the trump cards presented by Mr. George Marlow’s Dramatic Company is “The Wedding Ring” a sensational drama by Mr. B. Landeck. he scenic effects and dressing of the piece .were gorgeous,” says the Brisbane Daily Mail” in a eulogistic nonce, and the scene depicting the London express was very n? Sti x eing a doubt one of the best stage effects seen in Brisbane for some time.” • PETER PAN.” At last New Zealand playgoers are to have the desire of their hearts gratified and at Easter time Barrie’s delightful play “Peter Pan” will begin a short tour of. the Dominion, opening in Wellington on Easter Saturday Mr. J. C. Williamson has taken especial trouble over the arrangement of the cast and after carefully considering th e claims and abilities of several of his young artists, finally selected that very clever girl, Lizette Parkes, for the part of Peter, “the boy who wouldn’t grow up.” Miss Parkes has done brilliant work and she will have a rare opportunity as Peter. Then there will be Mr. Thomas Kingston to play the roles of Hook and Darling, and that talented actor should give a very fine rendering of the dual part. In other respects the cast will be akin to that of the original production and there is every promise of full justice being done to the dainty and exquisite fairy play. Mr. Harold Ashton, who returned a few weeks ago

from his successful tour through America on the firm’s behalf, will have charge of the Company. • * « * A POPULAR SONGSTRESS. Miss Amy Castles, who has just returned from a triumphant tour of Western Australia, speaks in gratified terms of the hospitality shown to her In the Western State. Everywhere lie appeared she was the honoured guest at some fete or other, and, in fact, passed through a round of festivities that will ever remain a delightful recollection. Not only was she publicly welcomed at all the cities that she visited, but was invited to numerous motor trips and drives by representative people; attended a series of garden parties, dinners, and other semi-private functions; and in one case was serenaded at her hotel by a large town band. Moreover, she was just as successful and popular in a professional way as she undoubtedly was in a social sense. Each one pf her concerts was attended by enormous crowds, and hundreds were unable to obtain admission. In Perth, for instance, numbers were always turned away from Her Majesty’s Theatre, where the young songstress gave four brilliant recitals. . ■ • 9 ' * 9 KITCHENER AND “ THE COUNTRY GIRL.” During his brief stay in Christchurch, New Zealand, Lord Kitchener was a visitor to the theatre there to see a performance of “ The Country Girl,” by the new Comic Opera Company. He had, as usual, a rush and scurry visit to that town and after a rather late arrival had to undergo a civic reception and one or two other functions before he could go co the theatre. However, he arrived there at last and the company stopped the performance and massed together on the stage to welcome him. At the close of the performance he thanked Mr. Stewart and asked him to convey his thanks to the company and tell them how much he had enjoyed their performance, with whose work he was most delighted. A LESSON IN ENGLISH. The leading members of J. C. Williamson’s Grand Opera Company, who were passengers by the “Koenigin Luise,” arrived in Sydney last week, looking as if their sea trip had thoroughly agreed with them (says my Sydney correspondent). The only fly In the ointment during their passage out here seems to have been the fact that they were debarred from speaking their native language, for Mario

Hazon, in his determination to make them perfectly familiar with the English tongue ere their opening in Australia, had decreed that they should be fined a shilling every time they reverted to their mother tongue as a medium for expressing their thoughts. Signor Hazon was delighted to welcome them in Sydney and set them to work at once. The Melbourne portion of the chorus had already arrived in Sydney and from now on the complete company will be hard at work until the opening of “Madame Butterfly,” on Easter Saturday. * * * * CALVE PHONO GRAPHED. Madame Emma Calve, the illustrious soprano who will be appearing in Australia in a few week’s time, has been at length, induced to bequeath to posterity phonographic records of her marvellous voice. Speaking recently to an interviewer from “Le Gil Blas” (Paris), she mentioned that two records of her voice had been carefully taken, and are to be preserved for the benefit of future generations. One record has been solemnly interred at Roaez in her native Aveyron, and is not to be exhumed for fifty years. The other, into which she sung with Litvinne, Caruso, and several others, has been buried in the vaults of the Opera House, Paris, and is to remain undisturbed for another century. Calve, by the way, has also arranged with the great inventor, Thomas Edison, to construct an instrument on the lines of the cinephone, which was recently exhibited by Messrs. J. and N. Tait at the Glaeiarium, Melbourne. This instrument, when completed, is to enable people both to see and hear the famous diva in her world-renowned portrayal of Bizet’s “Carmen.” AN ARTIST OF THE FIRST BANK. Evidently Madame Emma Calve still retains her old fascinating ascendancy over the press and public of the world’s greatest city. Recently she made a welcome reappearance in London, and was received with not a whit less of the fervor which greeted her first introduction to London in 1892. The press was exceedingly eulogistic, particularly “The Morning 1 Post” which declared: “ Whatever be the medium she selects, it never fails to establish the fact that Madame Calve is an artist of the first rank. The vitality with which she invested many of the songs of small ambition she placed on her programme served to show how great are her artistic capabilities.” Not less flattering was ‘ The Daily Telegraph ” which remark-

ed: “Her art remains as ever most beautiful, and the voice, too, retains its singular purity and sympathy of timbre.” “ The Daily Chronicle ” among many others, added its testimony in the following graceful terms: “ Her voice is as sweet as it was when she electrified the patrons of opera at Covent Garden.” It is worth nothing that Calve made her London debut about five years after Melba and five years is about the difference in the ages of these respective stars, Calve being the - younger. . . ) - MELBA'S AMERICAN TOUB. Mme. Melba will begin an extensive American concert tour in August, (says the London Stage). The opening concert will be given either in Halifax or Montreal. The tour will occupy about four months, and will comprise from fifty to sixty concerts. Mme. Melba will commence her 21st season at Covent Garden in May. The forthcoming concert tour will be under the sole direction of Frederick Shipman. t * * * Mit. KENNETH HUNTER. The soldier’s uniform sits well on Mr. Kenneth Hunter, who is at present playing juvenile lead in Mr. Geo. Marlow’s Dramatic Company at the Palace Theatre, for he served in the South African War. He is an Englishman by birth, and, on the outbreak of hostilities, with a craving for adventure, he proceeded to the Cape, and there enlisted with De Lisle’s column. He saw service throughout the campaign. Then he joined the theatrical firm of Sass and Nelson in South Africa, and played in costumedrama, drama, and comedy roles, principally in juvenile parts. Among the more prominent pieces were “The Second in Command,” “Lord and Lady Algy,“ and “ Mice and Men.” Then Mr. Edward Branscombe secured him, and he came to Australia about four and a half years ago with this entrepreneur’s Comedy Operetta Company headed by Mr. Haviland Collard. After a. comparatively short tour with this organisation he joined Miss Lilian Meyer’s Dramatic Company, playing lead m all her melodrama pieces for over two years. With this lady he toured the whole of the Commonwealth—backbloeks- and cities. About 20 months ago he became associated with Mr. Edwin Geach’s enterprises, and he has played leads right along. His chief parts with Miss -Meyers were, Armand Duval in “Camille,” Julian Grey in “The New Magdaline,” and Dalroy in “ Caste.” Among the more prominent

roles he played with the Geach-Mar-low combination were Leslie Carrington in “Lured to London,” Sid Armstrong in “A Woman Pays,” Dr. Leslie Fairfax in “The Power of the Cross,” Pietro Donelli in “A Modern Adventuress,” and his present role of Jack Gladwin in “ Married to the Wrong Man.” Mr. Hunter has only been six years on the stage, five of which have been spent in Australia.