SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1156, 6 June 1912, Page 18

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES.

' ' WELLINGTON(By “Lorgnette.”) WELLINGTON, June 3. The next important attraction at the Opera House will be Kersand’s American Minstrels, which open a season on July Ist, w’hich will extend until July 9th. It is some years since we’ve had a minstrel show amongst us, and there is being great interest evinced in the coming visit of this attraction. The J. C. Williamson “Everywoman” Company did fine business during its Wellington season. The last three nights were devoted to the production of Haddon Chambers’ roman-

tic comedy, “Passers-by,” a piece which many voted' superior to the morality play, “Everywomam” ? - ' Skating seems to be still a popular form of amusement, judging by. the number of people who patronise the Kilbirhie Rink at every session. Mr Edward Branscombe’s English Costume Comedy Company have firmly established themselves with Wellington’s amusement lovers.. Capacity business has been done at every performance. It is an entertainment that appeals, to all classes of the community. The management have decided on giving an entire change of programme every Monday and Thursday. Mr William McLean, secretary of the Wellington Opera House Company, who intended sailing by the Tahiti for San Francisco on May 24 on a trip which would combine business with pleasure, has had to defer his departure, and will now leave for the land of the wooden ham by the Manuka on June 21. The J. C. Williamson “Everywoman” Company were passengers for Sydney by the Moana last Friday. The programme presented by the Messrs Fuller at the Theatre Royal last week was much above the average. It included several fine turns, the headlines being Wong Toy Sun, a Chinese conjuror, who does some really clever tricks. Others deserving special mention are —The Reese Trio, Miss Nellie Kolle, Mr Tom Lee, La Petite Laurie, Mr Daniel Llewellyn. A number of other performers also helped to amuse the packed audiences that have filled this cosy theatre during the past week. The usual change of programme will be given this evening. The plans for the new Opera House to be erected in Manners Street by the Wellington Opera House Company having been passed by the City Council, have been forwarded to Melbourne to Mr William Pitt (the architect) for revision. It is expected that Mr Pitt will return to Wellington in about a fortnight’s time, when a definite start will be made with the erection of the building. Everything is in readiness to commence building operations, and only the return of the plans is being awaited. Baden-Powell’s lecture at the Town Hall on the 29th was well attended. The various picture shows in both city and suburbs have done exceedingly fine business during the past week. The programmes submitted were first-class. A concert in aid of the National Art Gallery was given in the Town Hall on Saturday evening. There was a very large attendance, who seemed to appreciate the programme submitted. The funds ought to benefit to a good extent. A note which I received from Mr Stanley Grant contained the information that he had booked several tours for George Marlow, Ltd., for the years 1913 and 1914. Mr Richard Stewart, after seeing the “Everywoman” Company safely away on the Moana for Sydney, left for his home in Auckland by the Main Trunk express, where he will spend a thoroughly well-earned three weeks’ holiday. Mr Claude Dampier, who is stage manager of Mi- Edward Branscombe’s

“The D t andies” Company, is.a London man, and commenced his stage career sixteen years ago at Drury Lane Theatre. He has since had' considerable experience as a manager, producer, and stage manager, his' work having been principally connected with musical comedy. As a character comedian, he has visited nearly every town. in the United Kingdom/ and has appeared in most of the principal theatres in London. Mr Dampier made his first appearance in Australia at Adelaide some twelve months ago, as a member of “The Dandies.” With his quiet sense of humour and caricatures of character, he has been constantly referred to as one of the most original comedians that has as yet visited Australasia. Mr J. M. Clark, who acted as judge of elocution at the Christchurch competitions, returned to Wellington the other day. His duties kept him going from morning to night for ten days, but so good was the spirit that prevailed amongst the competitors, and so excellent were the arrangements, that the experience was to him a most delightful one. MUSIC- NOTES. (By “G” String.) The honour of being the most painstaking artiste in English amusement is said to be enjoyed by Miss Margaret Cooper, the brilliant singer at the piano, who has already won an unlimited success in Australia, and who will open a Dominion tour at Wellington on Thursday, July 10th, under the direction of Messrs J. and N. Tait. There is no doubt that the singer is most conscientious (says an Australian critic), never giving her audience a clumsy or imperfect song. If she gets a new ditty that she likes she will practice it for days, varying her interpretation, and, perhaps, even altering the music and adding a few words before she ventures to render it on the concert platform. Particulars of the programme Madame de Cisneros is going to sing during her Australasian tour, under the direction of Portus and Talbot, Ltd., are to hand. Besides famous arias, she is going to make a speciality of Irish songs. Madame de Cisneros is booked for an American tour the moment her engagement with Portus and Talbot is at an end. The Quinlan Grand Opera Company is the costliest enterprise that has ever been brought to Australia and South Africa. To equip the entire company of 160 persons, and bring them out, involved a gross expenditure of £lOO,OOO. Of this sum £16,000 went in steamer fares, and during the nine weeks’ Australian season £30,000 will be paid in salaries.. With good business at the prices decided upon, the management hope to take £50,000, which will most likely induce Mr Quinlan to visit Australia again. During his visit to the Commonwealth Mr Quinlan will make enquiries into the music conditions of Australia and New Zealand with a view to the exploitation of some of the great con- - cert artists on his list, such as Caruso, Kreisler, Schumann-Heink, Mischa Elman, May and Beatrice Harrison, and other stars. On March 14th there died at Liverpool a noted English organist, Dr. Al-

bert Lister Peace, the successor of the eminent W. J. Best, as organist of St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, the highest organ post in Great Britain. Dr. Peace was a native of Huddersfield. During her Australasian tour Madame de Cisneros will be supported by Mr James Leibling, a 'cellist of: reputation, and, Mr Paul Dufault,, an American lyric tenor, who has. sung with her in grand opera. Mr . Dufault has just completed a concert tour of Canada, in which connection (amongst many other notices) the Montreal “Gazette” says:—“Paul Dufault was among friends last night, and though he sang 19 songs the audience was not satisfied. The French-American tenor has the same pleasing voice and beauty of expression that always marked his work. Few concert singers who have visited Montreal have exhibited more perfect diction. Lobeski’s “I Love You” proved one of his best efforts, showing fine powers of interpretation.”