AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2366, 5 December 1908, Page 9 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

BIS MAJESTY’S.

LOCAL FIXTURES.

Decomber 10, 11—J. C. Williamson. December 16.— Spencer Morns December 21 to 23—J. C. Williamson December 25, 26, 28.— Austral Um*

scope Company. January 1 and 2. —Variety Troupe

Entertainers. January 4 and s—Branscornbe's bearlet Troubadours. January 18, 19, 20.—J. C. William-

son. January 23.—Edward Branscombe. January 27, 28, 29. —J. C. William-

son. , „ _ . February 1,2, 3.—J. and IS. lait, Welsh Choir. February 10, 11, 12, 13.—Anderson’s Dramatic Coy.

Miss Nellie Stewart has decided to open at Easter at the Princess, .Melbourne, in “Sweet Nell.’” ‘ Trilby will also be part of her repertoire.

Mr Edward Beeves, n monologue entertainer of whom report sneaks highly, intends making a tour of the Dominion early in the new year.

Mr Frank Musgrove, in conjuncsi. ‘oAojSsnj\r ©Sjooq apt uo;i introducing the great violinist Mischa Elman to Australasia at an early date. It is understood that a tour of the Dominion will be arranged.

The east of Hugh Ward’s new comedy company, which is at present in Ceylon, with Australia and New Zealand to follow, includes Mr Hugh Ward, Miss Grace Palotta, Miss Bose Musgrove, Miss Celia Ghiloni and Mr Edward Wykeham.

Miss Guildford Quinn, who so capably undertook Miss Beatrice Day’s parts owing to that lady’s illness, during the visit here of the Herbert Flemming Company, has been engaged by Mr. J. C. Williamson for the Julius Ivnight Company.

Madame Melba, who stands preeminent as the world's greatest soprano, will undertake a tour of the Dominion in April next. Mr. John Leminone has already arrived in New Zealand to make the necessary arrangements.

Miss Nellie Narelle, the popular Irish songstress, is doing excellent business in Western Australia with a small company of her own. In includes a couple of vocalists and a magic-ari, but, strange to say, no moving pictures.

Madame Ada Crossley ha s been for a week or two in West Australia where seasons had been arranged for her in Perth and the Gold Field towns. She is shortly clue East t again, and after a special Christmas Night Concert in Sydney the famous contralto will sail for New Zealand.

The dentil of Herbert Flemming seems to have been hastened by tie failure of “The Morals of Marcus” to attract the Melbourne audiences. Ue depended on the piece to regain some of the thousands he had lost in Sydney. but the frost that greeted the play made it apparent that the season was not to be the lioped-fcr success. He called his company together on Wednesday and explained his situation, and on Friday morning he was dead.

The INlelba record of 20 years’ association with C’oveut Garden will notbe lowered for a century or two (remarks a London writer). No previous prima donna has sung in London for 20 years without missing a single season, and the odds against any future one accomplishing the featmust be overwhelming.

The French Society for the Preventation of Cruelty to Animals has taken action against a kinematograpn company for an act of unprecedented brutality to a horse. In a series of pictures called “The Lover’s Revenge,” a carriage drawn, by a horse was seen to rush over the edge of a cliff an be dashed to pieces. The pictures were not “fake” pictures. An old blind horse, harnessed to a carriage., was driven over the edge a cliff near Boulogne to obtain them.

“Magenta"’ writes in the ‘'New Zealand Times” :—“Ballarat people realisingd what a treasure they possess in Mr. A. Wade, the newly-appointed conductor of the Wanganui Garrison Band, a movement was set on foot by musicians of that city to retain his services; but the awoke too late, and Wanganui has him now. Bv the way. I hear that Mr. James Crichton, the late conductor, is improving in health, and hopes are entertaiued that he may yet be able to rejoin his old band again.” The reference to Mr. James Crichton’s health will be gratifying news to his many friends among bandsmen.

An amusing incident -is told in connection with the celebrated “Kilties’ ” (shortly to visit Gisborne) departure from Canada, and their farewell appearance in Vancouver. In tlio eu.rly morning policemen .and others were astonished to see all the statues in the park and public gardens rigged out in flaring red shawls and kilts. Robert- Burns was decorated with a. gorgeous plaid in addition to the kilt. A little before noon the police, amid the cheers and laughter of a big crowd, removed the superfluous clothing. In the afternoon the “Kilties” paiuded the city. Then it dawned on the citizens that the dressing of the statues in Highland costume wa§ a clever bit of advertising.

Mr. C. M. Berkeley, the touring manager of “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch,” who is at- present in Gisborne, fells a unique experience of the early history of Madame Melba in Australia, when she was singing, unknown to fame, as Mrs. Armstrong. The company* arrived at Orange, Mr. Berkeley being in advance, and opened- to the magnificent- sum of eighteen shillings. Whilst- the company were debating whether a sufficient inducement offered for the future prima donna of the world to sing, a gentleman in the audience offered to give £5 to the Hospital if Mrs. Armstrong would sing “Home, ' SweetHomo.” She consented to do so, and then other offers were made of various sums, with the result that £25 was collected in aid of the funds of the local Hospital,