Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1055, 26 May 1910, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

THE HAMILTON-MAXWELE CO. The Hamilton-Maxwell Company have had a very successful run thus far at Auckland, and the last nights of the season with the new and thrilling drama “ Revenge” on the boards, promise to draw full attendances of the play-loving public. A somewhat unusual circumstance has to be noted in the membership of the company, Mr. S. A. Fitzgerald, who is responsible for a fine histrionic effort as the dwarf Caliban in “ Woman and Wine," playing side by side with his son, Mr. Lancelot Vane, who takes the part of Bob Tipstone, the jockey, in the same play. Mr. Fitzgerald has attained some fame as a producer of plays, and is responsible, more particularly for the production of the Australian pictures “ Robbery Under Arms,” “ For the Term of His Natural Life,” etc. Miss Dwyn Yaldwyn, another member of the company, is a typical Australian, and is proud of the fact. She is still quite an infant in the profession, but is studious and ambitious. We hope to hear more of her anon. She is still in her teens, but is a magnificent specimen of Australian womanhood. * * * * A “PEESUASIVE PERSONALITY.” David James, the principal comedian of “ The Night of the Party,” has such a “ persuasive personality,” as one of the newspaper writers has aptly described it, that he is well-nigh irresistible. He gets every point by quiet, easy methods that lack nothing of humorous effort, but which have nothing of conventional . staginess about them- David James bids fair to become one of the most popular comedians Melbourne playgoers have ever seen. * . ♦ . • » A ’CUTE PARLOURMAID. A bright little character sketch of a ’cute little parlourmaid is given in “ The Night of the Party” by that popular actress, Amy Willard, who makes Pauline, Mr. Frayne’s parlourmaid at Melton Mansions, one of the liivng realities of the play. Miss Willard is an actress of experience, and does not fall into the error of exaggeration that would be easy to indulge in with such a part. Off the stage, too, Miss Willard has made a lot of friends. ■* * • s WEST’S PICTURES. Mr. Geoffrey Nye’s management of the King’s Theatre in Christchurch is adding greatly to the popularity of the picture shows at that very comfortable house of entertainment. The pictures themselves are always up to date, and practically the earliest shown in the city. On the occasion of the late King’s death Mr. F. Mumford’s “ March Solemn” was performed by the orchestra in very impressive style, and the film depicting King Edward’s visit to Berlin shown at the same time, stirred the feelings of the crowd in attendance to a remarkable degree- Other splendid films shown recently are the cyclist carbineers of Belgium and the sugar plantations of Sunda. ® $ PERCY AND THE GOAT. A good goat story is to hand from Mr. W. S- Percy. The comedian made the acquaintance of the goat some time ago, when he was with a touring company up in Townville. At the time the animal had made itself famous, because of its habit of eating all the circus and theatrical bills which appeared on the hoardings. The goat died eventually from a surfeit of this food. But when Mr. Percy was in Townsville the goat was in excellent health, and as he was appearing in pantomime the comedian thought it would be a very good entrance if he rode on to the stage on the goat’s back. He tried the experiment, but the animal, on reaching the footlights, took stage fright and bolted. So did the people on the stage. Then the quadruped was securely locked up in Mr. Percy’s dressing room, and when it was liberated at the close of the performance It was found that it had taken its revenge by demolishing its captor’s straw hat.

MOVING- ABOUND. Two advance managers, representing the one firm, that of Sir Rupert Clarke; and Clyde Meynell, arriving in Auckland within a day or so of one another, looks like business. The first was Mr. Levy, representing “ The Night of the Party” company, which opens at His Majesty’s on MondayHe had hardly shaken himself free from the dust of the editor’s office ere Mr. Leo. D. Chateau, representing “Pete” and “ The Hypocrites” Company, arrived to supervise' the arrangements for the company’s opening at His Majesty’A on Monday week. —Mr- W. A. Low, late of Pollard’s Opera Co-, writes that he has joined Mr. Hugh J. Ward’s Comedy Company in ’ the capacity of treasurer.—Mr. Charles Albert, the promising young coiiiedian of the Pollard Co-, has, we understand, joined J. C. Williamson’s staff of comedians. ■ — ■ * * « # FEED. GRAHAM’S ENGLISH COMEDY CO. That well-known and popular comedian, Fred- H- Graham, with his specially-organised English Comedy Company, will be visiting New Zealand shortly. He brings with him a repertoire of high-class farcical comedies, notably “ The Brixton Burglary,” which ran for two years at Terry’s Theatre, London, and is now being toured by eight companies in England and America; “The New Divorce,” an established American success; “ The Commercial Traveller,” “ The First Nighters,” a screamingly funny adaptation of a German work, and the well-known farcical success, “ Jane,” which has been revised and brought up to date. In addition to Freddy Graham and his talented wife, Miss Nellie Dent, a well-balanced and highly efficient company has been selected. including three English importations, one notable engagement being that of Mrs. George Lauri, who will be seen in a special comedy partsf » » » HASSAN ON TOUB. Mr. John O’Donnell, manager for Hassan, described as “ the Prince of all Indian conjurers and magicians,” late of Rickards’ Australian circuit, etc., writing ’ from Wellingtin, tells me that they have just concluded six weeks down the South Coast, and that they are now touring the South Island, en route to Dunedin etc. They expect to be touring the North Island in about eight to ten weeks’ time. Associated with the company are Mr. Will Robey, comedian; Miss Nellie Anderson, soprano vocalist; Mr. Percy Shannon, monologue entertainer; MrHerbert Andrews, vocalist; and Mr. John Lemmone, solo pianist.

GRAND OPERA TBIUMPHANT. The recent grand opera season in Sydney has certainly shown that the people there are Movers of high-class music (writes' my correspondent), and each succeeding piece in the repertoire was received with every mark of genuine appreciation. “ Madame Butterfly” alone has a record of 30 performances for the season, and in summing up the whole season a Sydney newspaper remarked that “ the management and the public should mutually congratulate themselves on the splendid success.” Several features contributed to the success of this latest J. C- Williamson venture. To begin with, the operas selected were such as to please the taste of genuine music-lovers. Mr. Alfred Hill, the composer of the Maori musical comedy “ Tapu,” speaking of the Puccini operas, says: “In Puccini’s full score we have the last word in modern music. Melody seems to stream from this composer, and to be expressed in a manner hitherto unknown to my country. You cannot take in the beauties of Puccini at one hearing- One is drawn again and again by the subtle magic of the Italian master’s music.” Then there are the members of the company, all youthful in appearance, and with fine voices, headed by Mdlle. Bel Sorel, who has caused quite a furore in Sydney by the beauty of her singing and the compelling power of her acting, and Miss Amy Castles, who in a trying, heavy role such as Butterfly, in alternation with Mdlle. Sorel, proved such an undoubted success. The other members of the company, including Signorina Maria Pampari, Miss Rosina Buckman, Signor Zerga and Mr. Blaney, have all made most excellent impressions. Then the chorus, composed entirely of fresh, young voices drawn from the ranks of Australian vocalists, leaves nothing to be desired, and the orchestra, which plays such an important part in all the productions under the guidance of Signor Hazon. is a revelation4: * » « “ SWEET NBLL” REVIVED. A five nights’ revival of “ Sweet Nell of Old Drury” brought Miss Nellie Stewart’s Melbourne season to a close at Her Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday evening last (May 19)- The piece, of course, gives both Miss Stewart and Mr. Harcourt Beatty (who once more appeared in his original character) the best of opportunities as Nell Gwynne and King Charles respectively, and, needless to say, they rose to the occasion, while strong support was also given towards the success of the whole production by the remaining members of the present powerful company.

BROUGHT TO A CLOSE. With a special production of “Carmen” with Mdlle. Bel S;orel in l the title role, the Grand Opera Company’s season came to a close at the Sydney Theatre Royal on Friday of last week. A more attractive work could hardly have been selected for the final performance of the company. The opera itself is always popular, but in addition the prima donna role is the one in which Mdlle. Sorel has so specially identified herself, and, needless to say, she added in a large measure to the laurels she has already won in Sydney for the excellence of her singing and acting of the part. . ' # . • 1 > $ • “THE WALTZ DREAM.” The Royal Comic Opera Company, after a long absence, returned to Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday, with the presentation for the first time in that city of “ A Waltz Dream,” the Strauss opera, which with its dreamy, melodious music, has taken the civilised world by storm. The reputation which the piece has gained for the high quality of its music, the strength of its plot, the gorgeousness of its mounting and dressing and the laughter-provoking texture of its comedy, make it a fitting medium for the Royal Comics’ return to Melbourne. It is in three acts, begins with a wedding which has been arranged between the Princess Helena and young Lieutenant Niki, who has been selected as the husband of the princess, because those who sit in high places think that he will not be likely to give any trouble nor interfere in the government of the State of FlausenthurnNiki finds out the real reason of the alliance on the day of the wedding and determines to make a dash for freedom. He accordingly goes off with a friend (being fully convinced in his own mind that the Princess is in the scheme and does not really care for him) to an adjacent garden cafe, where he meets Franzi, the leader of the ladies’ orchestra, with whom he starts a desperate flirtation, which is eventually terminated by the arrival of the Princess, who wins back her husband by the alluring strains of the famous Waltz Song. In the cast of the Melbourne production, besides Miss Florence Young, Miss Fanny Dango, Mr. Andrew Higginson and Mr. Reginald Roberts, thre will be Miss Florence Vio in the part of Fifi, Mr. Langford Kirby as Count Lother, and Mr- Bertie Wright as Prince Joachim, all newcomers to the Southern city-