AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2080, 4 January 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

LOCAL FIXTURES. HIS .MAJESTY’S. February 17, 18, and It!—J. C. AVilliainson’s “Blue Moon” Company. March 11 to 14—Brough 1" leining Company. May 11, 12, Id—J. C. 'Williamson. JllllOß, f», 10—J. C. Williamson. August 12, 13, 14—Frank Thornton. On <1 iL that Miss Nellie Stewart will shortly enter upon a long tour of the- Commonwealth in ‘Sweet .Nell of' Old Drury.’ Now Zealand will Cso lie included in tho tour.

.Mr Whitney, an American theatrical manager, is about to conduct m London a. campaign against the lOs seat and compulsory evening dress in tho stal's. Ho has loased the Sha fees bury Theatre, and announces a maximum charge ot 5s and non-eompul-sory w< iring of evening clothes.

Aliss Marie Lloyd has courage. On visiting America lately she adni'V.ed to an i iterviower that on aer lust visit to '■ ho States the critics were not kind, (me of them said Hiat ought to ho at homo scrubbing floors and looking after her grandcliil Iren.

Barnum and Bailey’s “Greatest Show on Earth” was, on October 22, sold for 1:30,000 to tho American showmen Mingling Bros. The Hmglings are enterprising men. Throe are seven of them, and they stan*d out originally on a farm, working i p from a very small beginning, m Id they own several large circuses ai.d travelling shows.

Tho history of ‘A Hair of iSpeolaeles’ is now made public for the first time. Air John Hare wanted something as a stopgap at the Loudon G muck until .Air l'inero had finished a play for him. An appeal was in ole to Air Grundy, who brought forwu’d ‘A Bair of Spectacles.’ What was intended for a stop-gap became a popular and a permanent addition to Air Haro’s repertoire, and it is a fact that ho made a fortune by its production at the Garrick. After it had run a fortnight Mr Grundy wrote a chort letter to the manager inquiring as to what his fees would he! _ Jn the preliminary negotiations nothing had hen said about tho remuneration to lie paid to tho author-adapter, as. Air Haro was so confident that tho piece would be a failure!

A letter from Bio Janerio tells of tho extraordinary sensation uutD'i.-e lias made there, especially in 'bsei.'a plays. On her farewell night the President and his family wont 'u state to tho theatre, escorted |. y a squadron of cavalry and a military hand. Within tho theatre another hand played the Italian National Hymn. The stage was lined with roses, formituj the letters "Salve Duse.” Tho front of the theatre was also decorated in tjie same way v Ah electric lamps. At the end of the performance Duse, still in her stage costume, was led to the front of ’he theatre, where she was mot ly H o President, the State Alinisters, and all tho notabilities of the town. A marble tablet on the peristyle was uncovered, upon which was engraved nn inscription in gold letters in commemoration of Duse’s perfornnrK.es. At the conclusion of this ceremuiy Duse bad to accept a place in H>e tomobile of the Alinister of Fore gn Affairs, which was followed by iwemyfour other automobiles. The smns through which the procession ;axic. were brilliantly illuminated for 'ho occasion. A band of music preceded the line of motor cars and another band awaited Duse at her hotel. Of all Duse’s many triumphs, this was decidedly tho greatest ovation ixtended to the wonderful Italian tress.