IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1250, 2 April 1914, Page 35

IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

The Five Juggling Normans, a star turn at the' Auckland Opera House, have played the big Orpheum Circ ’it three or four times, their act being featured for four years with the Ringling Brothers Circus. The Normans were the first organisation to introduce juggling while one man stood on another’s shoulders. They claim to be the only troupe presenting these feats, with two or three high stands, without making misses. The friends and admirers of Miss Gwendoline Dorise will be pleased to learn that she has much benefited in health by her trip to New Zealand. Miss Dorise, it will be remembered,

played the leading role in “The Monk and the Woman” some months back, and paid a return visit recently with George Willoughby’s Dramatic Company that played “The Beggar Girl’s Wedding.” Miss Dor.se’s health only l e.mitted her taking a small part, which she marked with characteristic daintiness. She will be cordially welcomed when she comes this way again, whether in big or small parts. Mr. Harold Edie, manager for Miss Maud Allan (writes oar Dunedin correspondent), leaves for Christchurch on Monday, and after spend.ng a couple of days in that c.ty, will journey on to Wellington to meet Miss Ma .d Adan and the Cherniavskys, who arrive on April 8. Tho party wifi come straight through to Dunedin, opening here on Easter Saturday. Mr. Harold Edie has engaged Mr. ‘ B.lly” Low to assist in booming Maud Allan on the New Zealand tour, * * * * The tango craze has caught on tremendously in Auckland, and it is a survival of the earliest for front seats at His Majesty’s. The moral is to book. • » » • A pleasant little informal gathering was held in the luxurious lounge of the Grand Hotel on Monday to discuss Thursday’s street carnival. Miss Grace Palotta entertained those pres-

ent at afternoon tea. She wore a becoming frock of mulberry-coloured charmeuse, and black hat. A novelty will be on view on Saturday at rooms in Queen Street, near Vulcan Lane, when the modern Siamese Twins will be at home to visiters. Daisy and Violet are two pretty English girls who have toured a great many countries. They are accompanied by their grandmother, aunt and governess, and are said to be exceptionally bright, observant little maidens. They are splendid hostesses, and make an hour or so pass most interestingly. They provide a unique object lesson in child life. Mr. Myer Myers is in town making arrangements for their visit. Harry Lauder, the well-known Scottish comedian, arrived in Sydney on Monday by the Sonoma. He was accorded a great ovation on landing, and a procession headed by pipers conducted him to his hotel. Thousands lined the streets to watch the passing of the newcomer. * * * * It is no small item dispensing tea, •cakes, sandwiches and ices to the throngs of tango tea patrons. Bus. John Buchanan, Ltd., is equal to the situation, the arrangements being carried out admirably. ¥ * * * In order to bridge over the long period between the visits of eminent artists from Europe, Messrs. J. and N. Tait, the enterprising entrepreneurs, are giving a series of Saturday popular concerts in the Auditorium, Melbourne. They are on the lines of the Ballad Concerts given with such

great success in Queen’s Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, London. For the hrst concert the directors were fortunate enough to secure the services of Madame Slapoffski, who has just returned from Europe, where she has been appearing with great sue cess in London and the principal musical centres. Other artists engaed for the first concert included Madame Maggie Stirling, Miss Elsie Treweek, ' Mr. Oswald Rippon, Mr. Fred Collier, Herr Louis Hattenbach, Miss Noel Geddes, and Mr. Harold Elvins. * ft $ Miss Estelle Beere, of Wellington, gave a unique dance recital at the Exhibition on Friday and Saturday with her coterie of wonderful little pupils. The bandstand was improvised as a stage, and many h ndred spectators enjoyed the diaiinty exhibition. The dancers were Miss Wyonne Haybittie, Lt le Hazel Hardwicke, Miss Polly McLaren, Miss Thurza Rogers, Miss Eveline Marsh, and Miss Irene Marsh. * « Miss Grace Palotta, as Ko-Ko in “Aladdin,” is the subject of this week’s frontispiece. * $ $ $ Charles A. Wenman, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., producer, who staged the “Forty Thieves” pantomime and other productions, loa/es for London on business for the firm on April 7He will be accompanied by Mrs. Wen-

man, who prior to her marriage was well known as Miss Flossie Dickinson. * * JR It is highly probable that Miss Mabel Trevor, who appeared in “The Woman in the Case” in Australia and New Zealand, will be a member of the Beaumont Smith-Louis Meyer Dramatic Company, which will open in Sydney on July 11th with Rex Beach’s great play, “The Barrier.” -I- sjs ’ Seme extent of the scope of the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., organisation is given by the fact that ~one day last week there were gathered together in Melbourne over 800 people under the management of the 'firm. These included the members of the New Comic Opera Company, the “Forty! Thieves” Pantomime Company, the “Joseph and His Brethren” Company, and the “Puss in Boots” Pantomime Company, which goes to South Africa, in addition to the various staffs. Cecil King, stage manager for Sir Herbert Tree at His Majesty’s, London, who has come to Australia to produce “Joseph and His Brethren” for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has a host of stories of the stage, and in the midst of putting some new smallpart people through their facings for the big pageant play, recalled the following“ There was a young, man in Sir Herbert Tree’s production of ‘Joseph and His Brethren’ who "was absolutely eaten up with nervousness. He only had about three lines to speak, but these stuck in his throat during rehearsals, and we wondered whether he would be able to go on at all. However, when the first night, approached he seemed to improve and

I we decided to risk it. The opening ■ performance came, and he stood in i the wings. When his cue was given, his knees' shook so that he couldn't walk. ‘On, on,’ we yelled to him. ‘Quick, there’s your cue.’ But he didn’t move. So with a swift push we sent him on the stage. He tot.ered up to the actor who was playing Joseph, looked him in the face with a blank, sickly expression, and exclaimed in a quivering voice, ‘Please, sir, Sir Herbert wants to see you downstairs. 1 ’ Thein he tottered off. Needless to say, we were absolutely broken up, and that actor finished that evening.” * * ♦ » Elman’s tour of America last year •comprised eighty recitals, given entirely by himself and his accompanist, and created a new record in musical annals for receipts and enthusiasm. Of these eighty recitals, eight were given in New York, six in Boston, live in Philadelphia, seven in Chicago, and six in San Francisco, the remainder being distributed among other American points. For a violinist to give eight recitals in New York City in the space of two months, as Elman did, and at every recital to have the capacity of the auditorium taxed to its utmost, is breaking all precedents. Elman’s American tour this year will take him across the' Continent, from New York to San Francisco, from which point he will sail for Australia, arriving in Sydney early in June. ♦ As soon as the Sydney folk got used to the novelty of the style of . Daisy Jerome in the revue “Come Over Here,” they unanimously declared that the J. C. Williamson management had secured a prize in this hustling comedienne. In both England and America Miss Jerome is a front rank artist. She is known as the “Little American Hustler,” the description arising from the first interview with her which appeared in a London journal. This is how it read: “Though seeming exhausted with her turn, just finished, Daisy let herself go, as it w r ere, and 'rattled on with a speed that broke two pencils and crippled a fountain pen. This is what she said: ‘l’m American—born Harlem City, New York State —related to Jerome K. Jerome —came here four years ago—love the variety stage—dying to do legitimate work—played on short notice Ada Reeve’s part in “Medal and the Maid” —I was the maid, and got a medal (gold) for doing it —worked two pantomimes in England, one at Manchester and one at Sheffield —go to Australia for “Come Over Here” —want to play in Shakespeare—when I get old will settle down and take a farm and milk the cows and tend to usual things therein —have played before the Royal family—plenty of proof of this—here’s the programme—satisfied?— good!—so long—brougham’s waiting —two more halls to do to-night—see you again,’ and she flew.”