IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1151, 2 May 1912, Page 16

IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

Mr Harry Liston is in town making; arrangements for the opening of Marie Baines’ season on Monday night in “Miss Lancashire, Ltd.” Mr Leo. D. Chateau has been engaged by Mr Edward Branscombe to manage “The Dandies” Company, which opens a season in Wellington on May 23. The popular advance agent has not severed his connection with the J. C. Williamson firm, but as the latter have no attractions in New Zealand before June, he will most likely be heralding one of them after that date. - Mr H. B. Irving and the members of his company sailed for London by the Osterley. Mr Irving’said that he had thoroughly enjoyed his visit toAustralia, and Would particularly remember the delightful time he had had in New Zealand—“one of the grandest countries in the world.” * * * » It is gratifying to notice that Madame Kirkby Lunn. will be one of the most prominent figures in thegrand opera season which is just commencing at, Covent Gardens, London. The distinguished contralto, who (under J. and N. Tait’s direction) has been booked for an Australian tour, commencing in August, has been engaged to sing the part of Delilah in another revival of Saint Saen’s famous opera, and it is regarded as probable, that she will once more be heard in “Aida” in the renowned role of Aimiens, which shehas made peculiarly her own.

Mr John Coates, the famous tenor, who is with the Quinlan Opera Company in South Africa, and will soon be seen in Austra ia, has created a furore in South Africa. The critics particularly comment upon the fact that he is one of the truly great tenors who can act as well as sing. His performance in “The Girl of the Golden West” (Puccini’s opera) brought the audience to their feet on the first night in Capetown.

The amalgamation of the two big vaudeville organisations—the Bren-nan-Fuller —i<s at last un fait accompli, and Mr Ben J. Fuller has been appointed managing director of the circuit. Headquarters are in Sydney.

Some new regulations have been introduced since the new arrangements. “All comedians must submit their gags before using” is one of the new rules. Last week a popular comedian slipped in an unauthorised gag. The fine went in donations to St. Vincent’s and the Sydney Hospital.

The Norwoods and Von Arx huge Combined Shows open at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, about the end of May. They have done phenomenal business in Wellington.

No stage presence was ever finer than that of Mme. Eleonora de Cisneros, the world-famous American contralto and mezzo-soprano, whose Australasian concert tour under Portus and Talbot, Ltd., is to begin in June. Mme. de Cisneros is regal in manner, Amazonian in stature, and of great beauty. She is sft B%in in height, and is sa’d to be the bestdressed woman in the world.

Mr. Walter Baker claims to be the only Australian actor who has ever received an offer of £l5OO a year to go abroad. Mr Nat Goodwin, author and play producer, offered him an engagement at this price some time ago to go to New York and London, but he refused it because he said he could do well enough in Australia to please him, and felt that he could do better work on the Australian stage because of the excellent support that can be secured from Australian artists.

No less than fifty blue birds have been brought out front England for the production of “The Blue Bird,” which is having such a good innings in Sydney. The blue bird stands for happiness, in search of which the two children in the play set out.

Armstrong and Verne, the clever sketch artists, who gave a vaudeville turn /out here under engagement to Messrs Fuller, are appearing in a music hall scene in “After Dark,” which is being produced at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, under Mr William Anderson’s direction.

Mrs. S. Montgomery, who occupies the unique position of being the only lady in management in the Dominion, is well known in the theatrical

"Who occupies the unique position of .being the only lady manager in Dominion theatrical circles.

world as Miss Ettie Hargood, the talented vocalist, who for some years toured the Dominion with various companies. Mrs. Montgomery was formerly well known in Wellington musical circles, which city the popular manageress claims as home. Having had a wide experience of catering for the public, the folk of tl|e Northern Wairoa at the various river centres are nightly, - delighted' by- the programmes submitted by' the proprietress of the Royal Standard Pictures. ’

Miss Florence Young enjoys marked popularity with the gallery girls, and is always receiving some token of their devotion on every first night. One admirer, after “The Girl in the Train” performance, presented her with a sovereign. Miss Youngcou’d not hurt the girl’s feeling by returning the money, so is having it mounted as a brooch to be valued amongst her most treasured possessions.

An interesting article appears in “The Musical Standard,” London, by Henry Saint-George, dealing with his Australasian experiences from a musical standpoint. Inter alia he refers to the remarkable way the young Australasian takes to music, and the high standard of taste and performance exhibited by the musical people.