AUSTRALIAN HAPPENINGS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1121, 5 October 1911, Page 19

AUSTRALIAN HAPPENINGS.

(From Our Melbourne and Sydney It is not generally known that Madame Melba, on her return to London from Australia, will re-open the Covent Garden season of 1912 at the King’s personal request. » * ST * Signor Ciccolini, of the Melba Grand Opera Co., is progressing with his English. At a recent dinner party, wishing to convey to his hostess that he had had sufficient, he set the table in a roar by solemnly protesting, “Madam, I am stout.” ❖ “The Royal Divorce,” that hardy perennial, which never seems to fail in its appeal to the public, was, when the last mails left England, drawing big crowds to The Lyceum, London, even in the height of the hot weather. This fact is of special interest to Australians in that the part of Josephine was taken by Miss Ethel Warwick, whose association with Mr Julius Knight out here was probably of considerable service to her in the interpretation of the character.

Mr Leslie Gaze, who has established himself a warm favourite as Captain Bumerli in “The Chocolate 'Soldier,” relates that he was in-

debted to the late Willie Edouin, brother of the well-known Australian actress, Mrs G. B. W. Lewis, for his first introduction to a genuine engagement on the stage. SJe sp * . :p. The Princess Henry of Batten-,, burg, who is one of the most consistent playgoers of all the royalties, either resident or visiting, in London, took an early opportunity of seeing “Kismet” at The Garrick Theatre, and so intensely interested and pleased was she with the performance, that when the curtain fell she sent for Oscar Asche and Lily Brayton, and warmly congratulated them on the success of the piece and the way it was presented, prophesying for it a phenomenal and well deserved career. “Kismet,” of course, will be one oif the big cards of the forthcoming Asche-Brayton season in Australia. * . * # * There is no quicker way of making money than writing successful plays, and there is no harder thing than to find just exactly what is going to hit the public taste. Clyde Fitch, the author of “A Woman In The Case,” had plenty of experience both ways, but out of that play alone, he made £70,000 up to his death a year or two ago. * sp » * After a nine months’ absence, the Pantomime Company, looking the picture of health and vitality, invaded Victoria this week on the way through from a successful New Zealand visit, to the final stages of their tour in Adelaide next. week. They spent very little time in Melbourne, but managed in the few hours at their disposal to renew old friendships, and as in the case of the Pantzers, the Doherty Sisters, and others who are finishing, to say good-bye in the approved fashion. The Company generally were keen on making their arrangements for their return to Melbourne to rehearse “Sinbad The Sailor” for next Xmas. “Jack and the Beanstalk” opens in Adelaide on 'Saturday, October 7. Its fortnight there will bring the ten months’ season to a termination. * « * « That excellent Company 1 which, has played “The Whip” through Australasia during the past twelve months, is now very near its disbandment. It opened in Perth last Saturday to one of the biggest houses even in its experience of such conditions, and making way for “The Arcadians” next Friday, October 6, goes up to the Goldfields for a few nights, after which .it will cease to be an organised theatrical attraction.