STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 68

STAGE GOSSIP.

Leslie Harris is at the Empire, Glasgow. Madame Carreno has scored successfully in Chicago. Carter the Great Magician is at present in Christchurch. Madame Amy Sherwin has left Sydney en route for London. Wirth's Circus give a matinee performance this (Wedln-esday) afternoon. Mr and Mts Hugh Ward will probably leave Australia for America in March. Miss Elbert Orton, formerly of the Julius Knight Company, has left for America. Mir Williamson has arranged with an American company to visit Australia in June. Ernest Leicester 'is now doing dramatic recitations at Bickards's Sydney Tivoli. The "Earl and 1 the Girl" has just concluded a tour of nearly three years in. America. Madame Clara Butt gives her third conoert in the Garrison Hall on .Wednesday. There will be a matinee of West's Pictures at His. Majesty's this (Wednesday) afternoon. Fred Leslie, the clever eccentric dancer, is with Mr J". C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company. It is reported that Mr Walter Baker will be leading man in Messrs Musgrove and Wren's Dramatic Company. It seems quite probable that Mr George Titheradge -will anpear with Miss Margaret Anglin in Australia. Mr Gil Hoskins is now managing th« Christchurch Opera House, during the absence of Mr Fuller. It i 3 said that Hugh Ward and Grace Palotta will take a musical comedy company to India in November. Miss Jennie Opie, after a lengthy stay in America, h*s been re-engaged for the Royal Comic Opera Company. Miss Margaret Parker and Co. are due to open in Australia under Mr RiQkards's management on February 8. Mrs Bland Holt, who has had a severe attack of typhoid fever, is making satisfactory progress towards recovery. Fred Graham and Miss Nellie Dent arrived I in Auckland by the Zelandia. They have no vacant dates till March, 1910. Mrs Patrick Campbell is playing "The | Second Mrs Tanqueray" in America with her I son and daughter in the cast. Mons. Rougal, the animal trainer, is on 'his way out from the East with ft dozen tigers and some baby elephants. Miss Tottie Bennett, a member of J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company, arrived in London by the Orontes. A national Japanese theatre is to be established in Tokio, towards which the Mikado lias contributed a sum of £100,000. ' Harry Gray, "The Australian Nugget," Bijou Russell, and Brinn (the cannon-act man) are at the Palace, Blackpool. Mr J. Larkin, Mr Rickarda's private secretary, is seriously ill in a. private hospital in. Sydney with gastritis and kindred complaints. Messrs Meynell and Gunn's English. Comic Opera Company opens) at the Royal, Melbourne, on April 18, -with "Miss Hook of Holland." Including suburban and provincial theatres, over 100 pantomimes were being got ready in Great Britain during the early part of December. "The Ticket-of-Leave Woman" is the title of a dramatic sketch which Mr Walter Bentley is now successfully doing in the London music halls. The "Leslie Brothers," who have been touring England! and America fox the last seven, years, are now the principal feature at the Alhambra, Paris. "The Babes in the Wood" heads the English pantomimes, bo far as the number of productions is concerned. "Aladdin" cornea second; "Cinderella," third. Allan Haptttoa will direct the \adian ft&A

China tour of the Hugh J. Waid LonVn Comedy Company, opening tlie new Opcia Hcuse, Calcutta, next Boxing Night. Henrietta Crossman is considering an offer made by Mr J. C. Williamson to tour Australia in a, repertoire of hei more successful plays, including "As You Like It." On the conclusion of their tour of tho Dominion, ending at Inveicargill on May 31, Pollard's Juvenile Opera Company leave for Tasmania, the Australian States to follow. Madame Dolores was last month in Berlin A leading critic refers to her as magnificent, and says he knows of no singer who interpiets the old chansons with such charm and delicacy. Signor Carlo Dani, the tenor who touied the Dominion with Mis? Amy Castles, is one of the artists engaged by Mr Henry Russell to 'tour America, With the San Carlo Opera Company. Daniel Frawley, who was out here with "Secret Service," "Arizona," and other pieces, is staging a sketch called: "The Girl Behind the Gun" at the, Wigwam Theatre, San Francisco. An American journal states that Harry Lander, the great English character actor, could only be engaged for five weeks for the States, as his European contracts cany him along into 1916. Sam Rowley, the well-known Sydney comedian, last seen in Australia with the Gotham Quartet, has made a tremendous hit at Tony Pastor's, New York, with his fine voice, quaint patter, and eccentric whistle. A world's congress of musicians is to be held in Milan in April next to celebrate the wEtury of Ihe Conseiva-torium of Music. A rumber of concerts will be given, and papers will be read and discussions held. At Adelaide Tivoli the All Star Company comprises- — Two Colliers, Two Reggiardo I*,1 *, Florrie Ranger, Marshall Crosby, Charles Moody, Ada Cooke, Stella Ranger, Camille Wallace, Clifford Eskell. Lulu Eugene. The lEiiny friends of Mr Albert G oldie, Mr 3. C. Williamson's press representative, who has been for some weeks ;n; n a private hospital at Darhnghurst, Sydney, will be pleased to learn that he is stpadily recovering. Auguste Wilhelmj. whose death was announced by cablegram from London last week, was born at Usingen, in Germany, in 1845, where his father was a Doctor of Laws, and one of the official ristocracy of the country. Mr John F. Sheridan was too ill to appear •s the Baroness Bounder the other night at Sydney Palace. Happily recovered, he states that it was the first time during 29 years he failed to keep his engagement with an audience. Hans Mohwinkel and Carl Suidemund, late of Mr Gecrse Musgrove's Grand German Opera Company, have returned to Europe. Herr Mohwmkel hopes to return in the near future to give a series of vocal lecitals in Australia. As an instance of tho popularity of Mdme Tetrazzini, the new vocalist in London, it is stated in an English exchange Ohat the seats for a concert at which she was announced to sing, some 2000, were sold out In one hour and a-half. ■> Mr Albert Whelan. who toured the Dominion with the old Pollard Opera Company several ye?rs ago as Ichabod Bronson in the first production of "The Belle of New York," has gone to America to fulfil a vaudeville engagement. It "is stated that Gecrge Musgrove's visit to London is chiefly connected with tho arranging of attractions for the Commonwealth and the Dominion of New Zea'and, under the auspices of Mr John Wren and Afr Mtisgrove. During an action in the Westminster County Court on December 18. when Harry Relph. better known as "Little Tich." was sued for commission, it transpired that, the comedian's snlnry at the Palace, Blackpool, ■was £250 a week. Latest information from Fremantle concerning Mrs Bland Holt and Miss Coppin is to the effect that the former actress is fast regaining her health. Miss Coppin, however, had had a relapse, and was in a serious condition. j Miss Jennia Lee, f "Jo" fame, is again in Australia. The greatest of "Jos" does not intend to act ; she accompanies her daughter. Miss Joan Burnett, who has been engaged by Mr Williamson for a part in the forthcoming production of "Peter Pan." Mt and Mnrs J. C. Williamson and their family (says a London paper of December 19) spent a most delightful time in Chicago, wnere Mr Williamson's relatives reside. Skating and snowballing weie indulged in, the weather being particularly crisp and ■bright. Fifteen years- ago Mr Harry Laudsr, the famous Scotch comedian, was working in a Scotch village as a collier for 35s per week. His late New York engagement was £500 a week, and now he has baen offered JEIOOO a week for a limited Tjgagenient in America next year. Lady Brampton, who died recently at tho age of 81, was known on the -tage as Jane Reynolds for over 40 years prior to her marriage to the late Justice Hawkins, who left her £141,673. She was playing at the London Haymarket under Buckstone in 18S6 ■when she go-t married. The large hat nuisance is still a bone of contention in Parisian theatres, and out of 24 houses 11 have wholly or in part proscribed the hat in stalls and balconies. In the official theatres— the Opera, Opera Comique, and Comedie Francaie — the wearing of hats is absolutely prohibited. Twenty thousand pounds for 100 performances is the figure at which Bernhardt is said to have been engaged by J. C. Williamson for the Australian season next year. The great tragedienne was born in Paris in 1844, and is therefore 64 years old. She ■was married to M. Damala in 1882. A souvenir programme was issued at the Wellington Opera House on Saturday night in connection with the farewell performance in that city of Pollard's Juveniles. It contained a photograph of the members of the present company, with all their autographs, and a history of past Pollard companies. The late Signor Alberto Zelman was engaged at Calcutta, about the year 1671, by Mr G. B. W. Lewis, to go to Australia to conduct opera. In .that capacity he led the Oagli and Pompeii combination during 1871, and at the close of his term with that company he joined the Lyster operatic oigamsation. Henry W. Savage, the noted American manager, has given up all his poster advertising, having resolved to go in for newspaper advertising alone. As Savage has a dozen companies on the road, what the outdoor advertising means to printers, lithographers, and other people may be easily understood. An actor who recently was 'taken" while on the stage by a cinematograph was greatlypleased with the result. Talking about it to a prominent dramatic critic, he said : "It vms the most extraordinary experience I ever •went through — actually to see myself acting. ' "Now," replied the critic, "you will understand what we have to put tip with." FA&nk H^rwood', a well-known London descriptive vocalist and omedian, arrives in Sydney on February 29, under engagement to Harry EickarSs. He will be followed by Sylvo, juggler; J. P. Ling, monologue en-

Jchn Higgirs, champion jumper of the woild. Regan and Ryan, Irish comedians.

Mr John F. Sheridan has secured the Australasian rights of "The Chorus Girl," an American musical comedy dealing with the fortunes of a facetious low comedian, who impersonates an English eail, and "The Girl from Venus," which is on similar lines to "A Message from Mars " Both pieces aie likely to be staged m the Dominion shortly ''The Silver Fern" val^e, piib!i a hed by C. Begg and Co , will piobiibiy bs a rage this winter. Composed by Rayir>ond Hope, the popular wnter of "Teach me to forget." etc , it is a dieamy melody in D and beautiful tempo, with big bass solo Original in its vein, it is suie to be appreciated by dance players, and aa a pianoforte niece it is . study. This paper (Melbourne Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News) prognosticated a few weeks back that Miss Nellie Stewart would in the near future leappear in Melbourne and also tour Australia with "Sweet Nell" ard o-tlier pieces in her repertoire. Puither information to hand supports the statement made, the tour being under the direction of one of the new managements La Esmeralda, the Spanish dancer, who is being featured in advanced vaudeville in Amenca, has been clashed as a woman "with the beauty of Otero and grace equal to that of Carmencita." La Esmera'da was premium danseuse of the Theatre Royale in "Madrid, and was ."captured" for an American tour only after a laige bonus had been paid for her release from existing contracts in Europe. Mr J. C Williamson has arranged for the production in Australia of the character comedy, "Mrs Wi?gs of the Cabbage Patch." It will be played by a full American company, which will visit Australia in June next. This comedy is based upon the wellknown novel by Kate Douglas Wlggin. It has had a long and successful run in the United States, and also at Terry's and the Adelphi Theatres in London. As a means of showing the miinher o" peop'e in the Old Country who were of opinion that theTr accomplishments fitted them for the vaudeville profession, it may be told that for a trial matinee ai ranged for December 12 by Mr Oswald Stoll, no fewer than 3700 applications to appear were received. These were sifted out. and 50 of the like'iest selected to show. A suivival of the fittest naturally followed. On the reoornmendaiiori nf a deputation from the Sul urban Theatre Managers' Association, the London Count? Council liVs decided to delete from ail future licenses granted by it the cond'tion of prohibiting smoking in the auditorium of theatres. The suburban managers pleaded the difficulty which they had in competing with musichalls, trnd asked that hey, too, might be allowed to permit smoking while performances were going on. x An interesting sale of music autographs took place in Berlin lecently. Meyerbeer's original orchestral score of "Robert le Diable" was sold for £52. whilst a Schubeit autograph fetched £55 10s. Halvey's orchestral score of "La Juive" realised £151, and a Cbopm valse produced £lio. four mazurkas with the c ame signature bringing £30 A Brahms autograph sold for £85, a Berlioz for £55, and a Beethoven autograph fetched £251, the same, composer's quartet for two violins, alto and violoncello (the last composition, finished by Beethoven) realising £735 10s. A strange production of "Macbeth" was gi\en in San Franc:sco recently by the Japanese Students' Club. According to the d-iamatic critics oi the Call, a youth named Hashiba played Lady Macbeth, and another youth named Katazibara "her husband. The part of Duncan being regarded as unimportant was left -jut of the -east. At the begimiing of each act a chorus came forward to announce in Japanese the argument. Then the act proceeded in English "Lady Macbeth" had 'a, blonde wig, tight coisets, and a spotted kimono, and Macbsth's castle was decked with painted screen and kakaruor.os. Mile. Adeline Genee has left Jhe London Empire, the scene of 10 yeaTS of triumph", to fu'fil a six months' engagement at New York. Her plact as premiere danseu?e at the Empire has been, filled by Miss Topsy Sindien, of the Gaiety. Miss Sinden is the daughter of a distinguished violinist, and has been one the- stage since she was five. Genee took 10 or a dozen dancers- to support her in the "revue " which Klaw and Erlanger decided to put on to introduce her to the American public. For the thre-e months' engagement which she has undertaken, Genee is to receive £150 a weeX. and shou'd the managerial option be exercised and a return visit to American made in the autumn, the salary increases to -£200. The visit of the New Zealand football team, the All Blacks,, as they have been nicknamed in England, to the Leeds Musical Festival caused quite a small sensation. The London Punch waxe very merry on the subject, and announces, inter a.ia, that Sir Edward Elgar is going to commemoiate the event by a set jf variations entitled "Fiom the Southern Cross Bar" ; that Mr J3antock is going to treat symphonically in a tuple cantata the life history of a Canterbury Lamb, into which a sopiano solo, "Maori had a little lamb," is to be introduced with a bleating phrase for the comet ; end that Mr Josef Holbrook. taking Chopin's Black Note Study as his basis, is interweaving with it. "Waltz me round. Willie," "The leather bottel," and "Thou'rt passing hence, my brother"; the title being " The Scrimmage; an Orchestral Foot-ball-ad." Signora Tetrazzini, the "new Patti," whose English debut early in November created «. tremendous stir in musical London, scored another signal triumph at Covent Garden in "Lucia di Lammermoor" Says a London paper: — "Nothing like it has been seen before," was the universal verdict It is a significant fact that the price of the orchestia stalls have been raised to 13s for future peiformances of this opera The mad scene was the moment the house had waited for. It listened with breathless attention. Without any striving after effect, the new prima donna made one almost shiver with the rea ism of the portraituie of the demented gill, and yet the pity of it all was equally forcibly expressed. Then came the great florid caden&a. with the flute Never has such singing, such wonderful vocalisation, been heard in Covent Garden before. The house went frantic with delight. The late Sir Henry Irving, say 3 Miss Ellen Terry, in her "Reminiscences," never hesitated to discard scenery if it did not suit his purpose. There was enough sceneiy rejected; in "Faust." to have furnished three productions, and what was finally used for the famous/ Brocken scene cost next to nothing. Even the best scene-painters sometimes think more of their pictures than of scenic effects. Henry would never accept anything that wa not right "theatrically," as well as pictorially beautiful. His instinct in this was unerring and incomparable. I remember th«t at one scene-rehearsal everyone was fatuously pleased with, the scenery. Henry sat in the stalls talking shout everything but the scenery. It wa* hard to tell whaj he thought. "Well,, arc you ua£si.'t M x*a4 *t last- "Ye?, «".'* "Wz

God' Is that what you think I am going to give the public?" Never shall I forget the astonishment oi stage manager, scenepainter, and stsff! It was never safe to indulge in too much self-satisfaction beforehand with Henry.