FOREIGN THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

Kumara Times, Issue 1138, 22 May 1880, Page 4

FOREIGN THEATRICAL GOSSIP.

The omission of the prefix "un " from a telegraphic message to Mrs Scott-Siddons made it "terms suitable" to the Erie (N.T.) Dramatic Company, who had been negotiating with her to play Lady Isabel in " East Lynne. She came to Erie on Feb. 5, prepared to play. When she found that she had been deceived, a heavy pecuniary loss to herself , she claimed lOOOdols. damages. She has placed the claim in the hands of Lawyer S. B. Brainard of Erie, Pa., for collection. A band of thieves having been disoveredformingpart of the supernumeraries at the Theatre des Nations, Paris, some police agents got themselves enrolled in a Bimilar capacity and between the second and third acts arrested the culprits, greatly to the astonishment of the other performers. In February last "Aida" was performed in English for the first time, at her Majesty's Theatre, London, Miss Minnie Hauk appearing in the title rdle. From San Francisco the important news reaches us that Miss Clara Morris, during the performance of " Man and Wife " shed real tears, her grief being caused by the fact that her favourite dog Pansy had the toothache. LaatThusday evening (says an Eugland paper) grave fears were entertained for the safety of the Prince of Wales Theatre, Liverpool. Several ornamental plants standing on the verandah outside the Theatre were set on fire by the gas, and, a strong wind blowing, the flames shot upwards, blazing away for about ten minutes. Most of the windows in front of the Theatre were broken by the heat. Fortunately, the doors of the Theatre had not been opened to the public. The abolition of the pit at the Baymarket does not appear to have had those disastrous consequences with which Mr -Bancroft was so generously threatened. Every night, boards outside the theatre announce the " second circle" as full, and more than this no manager can reasonably desire. At the same time, the loss of the pit is felt in the absence of that applause which affords the best stimulus to the actor. Although the house is full, the audience is an almost silent one. A gentleman of Troy, America, wrote to Mr W. S. Gilbert, asking: " Can you inform me where I can buy a copy of the words and music of Pirates of Penzance, as 1 want to produce it immediately ?" Mr Gilbert was so overwhelmed with indignant astonishment that, for the first and only time in his life, he fainted. A number of sympathising friends hastened to empty the nearest pitcher of ice-water on his head, and the latest account gave hope of a speedy restoration of the talented author to his normal condition. It requires the ceaseless remonstrance of the Board of Aldermen of New York to prevent Mr Gilbert taking the next steamer back to England. Three dusky-hued maidens luxuriating in. the euphonious names of Unolala, Unomdlaza, and Unozendaba, can now be seen at the Westminister Aquarium London. They are advertised as Zulu princesses and daughters of Cetewayo. This, however is not literally veracious of two, who appear to be daughters of Zulu chiefs, and by a curious custom of adoption have become the daughters of the king, The other claims to be Cetewayo's offspring. Their manners are said to be gentle and prepossessing, and their demeanour in marked contrast to the gay and noisy masculine members of Mr Farini's troupe. This gentleman expects to be able, in a few weeks, to introduce a company of Afghans to the Eritish public. The dramatic year of 1879 will be memorable on account of its disastrous history of failures at almost every theatre in the metropolis. The successes may be e ! 81 } y m c , oun i ed on two handß - consist of "The Queen's Shilling," originally produced at the Court on April 19, and subsequently transferred to theSt. James'm 000^?, at the Court (Oct. 16) at the Criterion (Feb. 8) ; and « Betßy, at thejame theatre; " New Babylon," at the* Duke's (Feb. 13) . Drink," at the Princess' (June 2)"Crutch and Toothpick," at the Royalty (April 14); and "Madame Favart," at the Strand (April 12.) Of these plays five arelfrom the French, and two from America. Listen has a good story of a Yankee, in bcotland there is a custom in theatrical bills of announcing the price thus—" nit one shilling'' and then smaller type! admission half-an-hour earlier, one and sixpence.' The early admissions, of course, get the pick of the seats and escape the crowd. Our American friend had not noticed, however, anything but the announcement, "pit, one shilling" and accordingly put down a shilling and demanded a ticket. "No, eighteenFence, replied Sandy. Brother Jonathan hereupon asked the name of the performance, and was told it was a pantomime— The Forty Thieves" "Wall" he replied, "then I guess I shan't pay sixpence more to see the other thirty^nine'" An amusing list of unrehearsed effects has been compiled by Mr Edward Spencer. To these may de added one during the last run of "The Two Orphans," at the Olympic, under the management of Henry £!.«« y ° Ung lady of very Prepossessing appearance was so carried away by the Srt? °j *? e 80en ?' when Mrß Huntly aB Frocbard drags about and illtreats Miss Marion Terry as the blind orphan girl that the young and indignant spectator got up u her place m the stalls and deliberately hurled her opera-glassea at Mrs Huntley's head. Luckily she mw-;ed her mark, but there lay the opera-glasses on the stage. Not knowing SLSS? $ el01 ?S ed > Mr Neville was compelled to advertise for the owner.