STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 257, 3 November 1906, Page 10

STAGE JOTTINGS.

ENGAGEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Oct. 20-Dee. 1 — West's and the BreseiaDs Dec. 3-15 — Geaeh-TTard-Falotta Co. Dec. 26-.Tan. 15 — Brough-Flpminc Co. Jan. 1(5-24 — Messrs Meyuell and CJuun Jan. 25-Feb. 7 — Mr J. C. Williamson (Royal Comic Opera Co.) Feb. S-March f) — Mr Charles Waldron and Company (Mr J. C. Wiliamson) Slay 32-10 — Messrs Meynell and Gunn Muy 20-oO — Messrs Tait, with. Besses o' the Barn Band April 1 (nve weeks) — Mr William Anderson.

OPERA HOUSE.

October OO and after — Puller's VundeTille Company Thfi departure of the Tittell Brune Company has left a gap in strictly theatrical entertainments that will extend to Dei-ember '■>, when the Geach-Ward-Pulotlii Company makes its appearance. Messrs Fuller's reopening atiraction was full)- nn a level with (heir reputation, and the programme <>f the reason opening on Monday proved varied and entertaining. The dancing of the Bicknclls i-, as ingenious and delightful as ever.

When interviewed by an ""Evening News" representative in Sydney, Mr Rickards said lie haJ been twelve weeks in England. He remained for the first four weeks in London attending two and four music halls nightly in search of talent. After that he made an extended tour, visiting the seaside resorts and provincial towns, lie lias engaged over 70 turns of the cream of the vaudeville profession.

A comedy entitled ''Caught in the Rain," written by Mr Wiiiam Collier, who recently visited Australia, has been accepted by Mr Charles Frohman, and will be performed in London before the close of the year.

Frenzied accusation seriously hurled at the villain by the wrong "gy-r-1' : in a Melbourne suburban bellow-drama. ''Yes, F nm a fallen woman. That is what they call mc. Hut if it, were uot for men like yv>U|. Ifiirold \iontagpie. lurking like banana-skins in the paths of life, there wnnlil be tower women like rue!"' (Thunders of applause). —"The Bulletin. "'

New Zralanders will regret to hear that Miss Mabel Lane lias been lying seriously ill for weeks in a Melbourne private hospital. Fortunately she is now on the road to recovery.

Mr Julius Knight is not letting the grass grow under his feet in London. Mr Williamson has received advice that, in conjunction with Mr Malone, Mr Knight had already set to work upon the formation, of a dramatic company to support him when he takes his place next year once more on the Australian stage. The three chief pieces for which the company is being specially picked are "Raffles." "The ScarlefJ Pimpernel. and '•The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard."

Thp new skit. "Very Grand Opera; or, Burning to Sing," -which Mr George Kdwardes was to produce at the Empire has already enjoyed the greatest possible success in America. It is a merry little trifle composed by Mr (hista.ve Kerker, in which grand opera is very effectively satirised. The action takes place at, an hotel, where a married couple engaged at the Opera House are staying, the prosaic- conversation that ensues between them being carried on through the medium of ambitious music. Presently the duet is converted into a trio by the advent of a page boy, and subsequently into a quartette by the appearance of the hail porter, who, in slow and - impressive recitative announces that the building is on fire. In place of seeking safety by flight, (he four burst into impassioned song, the volume of which is further increased by the arrival of a fireman, hose in hand.

A Chicago paper alludes to the correctness and purity of the English language, as presented by the Australian company, and, referring especially to Miss Nellie Stewart, Marie and Dora RigroVl. and Daisy Jennings, writes of t'leir dii'tion as '"music after the jangleRome tone. , -- uttered in the chaos of coritnierce and the tumult of traffic." '...;> Milo bus roused the matronly sus cppiiliilififs t.f Mrs Ormiston Chant, who, if will be remembered, made her self notorious some years ago in connection with the Empire, says ''The Era." That austere critic, however, has not seen the series of statues for which the artist poses at the London Pavilion, but will probably do so on the invitation of Mr Cruikshank, manager to La Milo. "'The Era" further learns, what was not known in New Zealand, that in private life this lady is Miss Pansy Montague who, as an actress, took part in several productions in Australia, notably in "'Florodora." Miss Montague is one o four daughters of nn army officer, and was born in Australia.

Miss Tittell Brune will apparently be called upon to put her enthusiasm for the simple life to the test when she and her company arrive in Christ üburcli for

the season which begins on November 3. Accommodation in that town has all been snapped up, owing, of course, to the rush of visitors for the Exhibition, and Mr Williamson's agents arc experiencing the greatest trouble in finding house room for the members. The easiest May would be to erect tents, and let the company live in them, in preference to living in their dressing rooms at the theatre. Whether Miss Brune and her associates would be willing to thus improve upon the exploit of Sarah Bern--1 hardt. who after all only played in a tent and lived in a train during her recent torn- of the Stales, is a question. Mr. Harry Rickards, who has just returned to Australia, is recovering from an accident which he mot with on the Wednesday before leaving London. While crossing Tottenham Court-road, Mr. Riekards was run into by a cyclist, knocked down, and rendered unconscious. He was severely bruised, and when dragged out narrowly escaped being run over by ji motor omnibus. His nerves were greatly upset. A few days ago. in the course of a meeting of a Roman Catholic literary society, writes my Sydney ew.rre.spondeat, Dean Phelan took it upon himself to roundly denounce ''The Spring Chicken" on the word of W. T. Stead, and to urge every member of Ik's church in .Melbourne to abstain fr >m witnessing the production. It will ho. remembered tliat Mr. Stead, during tlie run of the piece at the Gaiety Theatre, London, last year, 'had spoken in most intemperate language about it, although he had had no opportunity of comparing it with other plays, sis he had never, previous to that year, entered si theatre. Under the circumstances, Mr. J. C. Williamson describes Dean Phelan's condemnation as very unfair, especially as he has neither seen nor read the play himself, and has only the word of a man well known for his extreme, prejudices upon it. In order to satisfy the Deau upon the point. Mr. Williamson intends to invite him to a performance of ''The Spring Chicken," and is even willing to go to the length of a private matinee if the. cleric's principles do not permit his entering a theatre.

J. L. Toole's bequests included £4000 and his house ;it Maida. Vale to Sir Henry Irving. Apparently the will had not been touched since some time before Irving's death.

It is .said that Edmond Rostand, author of "Cyrano de Bergerae" and "L ! - Aiglon," has been at hist convinced of the impossibility of the attractive presentation of his new play ''C'hante.cler,'' in which all the actors have to be disguised as birds.

Mr. Charles McXaughton. who was in Auckland with the Mephe.nson's Company, and is now in London, has made a big "hit , " in -The Belle of Mayfair'* with "Skylnnd," tho pointed and "witty verses of which "go" with great o.clat. *

Mr. !'. A. Herman has finally accepted a, tender for the new Ohristchurch Theatre. Royal, which will lx» l>egun next week, and completed not later than October of next yea.r. The new theatre will have a seating capacity of 1500, and will be. very similar to His Majesty's, Auckland.

Mr. Arthur Ureenaway, interviewed by the "British-Australasian." *aid: "L have travelled about a good deal tinee 1 left Australia, and I can surely say that it 'has done mc a. great amount oi' pood. To see other places, other people, nnd other methods is not necessarily to become, the slave of fresh impressions. One does not undervalue the good in one's own rcmniry 'because, one finds that there, are also good things or even better, elsewhere. '(Jo and see for yourself is a good motto, and a better one than 'Btay at home and rust.' On one point I sum convinced that the Australian, at least. can never adequately realise the many advantages that his country affords him until he has travelled and lea nit to appreciate it by contrast. Incidentally he may find a few things worth picking up en route. And even if lie is too patriotic to do that, ho will see a great many tilings that she can back and. improve upon —if he can!"

1 learn that when Miss Tittell Bvnne gets back to Sydne\- she moans to alter her mode of life, in the interests of peace and quietness. Hitherto she has been so besieged with callers at hotels that she could never secure time to herself, and to escape a. repetition of this she has determined on a novel and attractive plan. She will either lease or buy a, motor launch, fit it up daintily, and every dny after sleeping ashore she will embark thereon and spend the hours of light flitting about the beautiful harbour, far from tbe madding crowd. THE DEADHEAD.