AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2139, 14 March 1908, Page 3 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

} LOCAL FIXTURES. HIS MAJESTY’S. March 11—Fleming Company. March 20.—Cook County Ouriolis Coons. May 11, 12, 13—-J. C. Williamson. June 8,9, 10—J. C. Williamson. August 12, 13, 14—Frank Thornton. Local theatre-goers have had a genuine treat this week in the .visit of the Flemming comedy company. It is not a large combination, but every member of tlie east is thoroughly capable iiiul there is a finish about the performance that is not often seen with travelling companies. Tlio repertoire, too, is admirably chosen each of tlie both pieces no far submitted here being a. long wav in advance of the average play one is caked upon to witness nowadays. It is claimed (hat to-nigbl’s selection “The Morals of Marcus” is tlie best of the bunch. Many of those who saw “The Mummy and the Humming Bird” were agreeably surprised al: tlie finished performance given by tlio oxCliristcliureli amateur, Air Winter Hall as Jiulson. Miss Carrie Moore was to be the Prince in Mr Robert Courtneidge’s pantomime “Cinderella,” opening in Birmingham last week, Miss Phyllis Dare was to appear in the title-role, and Mr Dm Roylat as the Baron. Max Schlpytcr, the brilliant Danish violinist, commences his second Australian tour, which Messrs J. and N. Tait are managing for him, at the Melbourne Town Hall on March 11. Mr Edwin Geach's new company, recruited largely from the Bland Holt combination, with Miss llarrio Ireland as first lady, began its season at the Sydney Criterion on a recent Saturday with “Lured tp London.” Audience and critics were apparently well pleased with the programme.

Air Alfred Woods and Miss Aland Williamson have met with so much success in South Alrica that their stay in that country lias been extended for three months. They are returning to Johannesburg for tlie Christmas season, and will produce there a new play by Aliss AVihianison.

The Hollanders, a novel concert company of eight members, who, garbed in the picturesque Dutch costumes, give a most- delightful entertainmenb ol vocal and instrumental selections, have been engaged by Messrs J. and N. Tait for an Australasian four, commencing in Sydney next month.

Mr Hayden Coffin is an American by birth, and hails Irom Maine, i\ew England, U.S.A.. though his father, a well-known surgeon-dentist, lived and practised for over twenty years in South Kensington. Mr Hayden Coffin studied his father’s profession, but his passion for music and tlio 1111usual richness and timbre of bis voice induced him to adopt the stage instead.

Harry Lauder tokl tlio “American First Nigh ter,” who has been making a round of the English theatres, and writing his impressions on them for the New York 'Herald,’ that Air Erlanger offered him £I,OOO a week tor a wliolo year to remain in that State. “You call imagine how hard it was to refuse,” said Lauder, “but, no tear, I’m going back again. The money has not got away from me yet.”

Aid me. Alelba left for London by the Orontes last week. She has promised to return in three years’ time with a complete grand opera company. At the send-off at the .Melbourne University Consorvntorium, organised bv Professor Franklin Pcterson, her 'presence stimulated Premier Bent into a promise to enlarge the institution, and to build for it a “Alelba Hall.”

Aliss Ethel Irving has for some time been known as a leading star in comedy, but her acting in “Lucky Aliss Dean” lias won her many admirers in quite a different direction. For as Acacia Dean she gives a most beautiful and pathetic prei'orniance that strikes the right note of true womanliness throughout. Well done, Aliss Irving!

After singing the role of Othello at the final performance of the Bucharest opera*season, tho tenor, AI. Lunardi, hastened- in costume to catch tlie night express for Budapest, intending to change en route. His luggage miscarried and he had to make the journey in the ALoor’s attire and with blackened visage. A wag, noticing his plight, says the “Gaulois, telegraphed to Budapest that the iSultan of Zanzibar would arrive, and as such the bewildered tenor found himself received at his hotel.

Everybody lias heard of Albert Chevalier, who.' “Knocked ’em in the Old Kent Road.” and whose character studies of Cockney life have brought him fortune and fame. A ct none would suppose that this distinctly London entertainer boasted baptismal names of Hereon Albert Onezime Algartli Britannicus Garflcur Alphonse. His father, Mons. Albert Chevalier, was a Parisian while liis mother was of AVelsh extraction. His love of acting attracted the Kenclals, who gave him a boy’s part to play when ho was ten years old.

This name would not appear attractive on an English play-bill, so the lessee and manager of Jiis Majesty’s Theatre wisely assumed that of Tree. His grandfather, Herr Ernest Bcerbohm, was a large landed proprietor, who at the beginning of the last Century carried on tlie business of a timber merchant oil tlie shores of thq Baltic. Sixty years ago his second soil Julius settled in London, founded a profitable business in tlio grain trade, and to him was born, ill 1853, the subject of this paragraph. Herbert", to avoid conscription, entered his father’s London office, and his favourite pastime was appearing in amateur theatricals. He at length resolved to enter into the professional ranks, and made bis debut at the Globo Theatre in 1878, in the character of Grimaldi.

Mr It. G. Knowles, the music liall comedian, whoso appearance in bis white duck trousers has made so many of us laugh, began life as an errand boy to a firm of drapers in liis native land, Canada, afterwards entering tlie great store of Field, Loiter and Co., oi Chicago, of which the second partner, by tlie way, was the millionaire Mr Leiter, father of Lady Curzon. Afterwards, Mr Knowles took up the dramatic profession, making his first appearance at the Olympic Theatre, Chicago, where he had the regular “stock company training” of those days and played every possible type of part. Later he joined the Haverly Minstrels, who brought him to England, which he liked so much that he remained here and became the shining light of our musichall,stage. 11l private life Mr Knowles is a particularly kind hearted man, with a soft voice and remarkably beautiful blue eyes.

As illustrative of the firm hold “The Scarlet Pimpernel” has taken on the affections of English playgoers, Miss Ola Humphrey's experiences may be quoted. Lvuo'.ving that she had to play Blakonoy in Australia elie was naturally anxious to see the piece, and with Air J. C. Williamson travelled up from London to Manchester for that purpose. Mr Edward Terry and Miss Julia Neilsou had then been on tour some time with the romantic drama, blit even so there was not a seat to be found in the house, and tliev had to be content with a couple of chairs no against the orchestra. In conversation Mr Terry afterwards told them that the same condition of affairs had obtained ever since they left London, whither, he added, they liad decided to return for another “Pimpernel”, revival, though it already had over 600 performances to its credit in the metropolis alone.