THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES

Br Pusouw.

TUESDAY, February 2i 1908. Mr Howard "Veraoii, the well-known toperatio artist, and his wife, Miss Vibm. Dfi Loitte, passed through Dunedin last waelc ■ en route to tie whet» &«y 4ra*& = ■been giving musical comedy sketches, in- ■ eluding "A Trip -to Cfeina*ow»:" Tlie • tainted couple will probably be seen 'n = Dunedin at an early date. \

The Dunedin Amateur Operatic Societ: arc in negotiation with Mr Howard "Ver non with a view to that gentleman taking ove: the stage management and coaching th< members of the society for its'forthcoinimproduction of "Erminie," rehearsals o which are now in progress. Mr "Walter Monk, the advance repre sentative of "The Blue Moon" Companywill arrive in Dunedin shortly to heralc the coming of ihe Blue Mooners, who art now in Christchurch. Much hae been heart of the combination, and as our own Am; Murphy, turned professional, is one of th< stars of the company, additional zest ii given the Approaching visit. Miss Brightie Smith, late of Bland Holt'i Company, who has had a lengthy run oi two months under the Fuller banner a the Princess, departed for Christchurch or Thursday last. The charming eerio wa< followed later by the loleens, -the cle\ei sharp-shooters and wire-walkers. Last week the vandeville oompany at tht Princess was quite one of the best got to gether in one centre by the v.ell-knowr management, and included such performer* as the sharp-shooting and wire-walkinj loleens, who do a very picturesque act or the silver wire; Eva Lee and her amusinj "pics," and the Musical Cromes. Thii week an equally good programme is beiiy submitted, headed by the «tar attraction Hugh Patrick Lloyd, the lung of the slaci rope, who is billed as "the greatest ant most expensive artist presented since Is Milo." West's Pictures are in the final week oi production, and after Saturday next th< present combination . will be seen no mow for <*o-r>'» time. Frequent changes of j>ro gr» .-nve been given throughout th« ee&iM. i:d with each successive chang< -the iri-tits of the «how have been cm phasieed. The Season definitely closes or Saturday, 29th iust., when the combinatior takes its departure for the North Island where a tour of the small towns will take place. John Fuller, senior, leaves on his trij for England and the Continent next week. He will be accompanied by his wife anc Mies May Fuller. The "tourists" anticipatt being away from' the Dominion about 1( months, during -whichT time -they will travel much in England, America, and the Continent. The party; will take its final departure from Wellington. The' annual conference of the Fuller Firm has brought about a reunion of the several members of the Fuller family, and there were «seembled last week in solemn -conclave John Fuller, sen., Ben .Fuller, genera] manager, and JoTm Ful|i»r, jun. In addition there are Mrs John Fwller, sen., Mrs Ben Puller, and Mrs John Fuller, jun., also Miss May Fuller. Quite a familj gathering. • , - John Fuller, j«n., is "not* -quite s&tiefied with the sign outside the Princess Theatre, and purposes ha.ving.it .altered to a more striking and distinguishing colour. Mr Edwin Geaeh is -sending his "Lured to London" Dramatic Company on a tour of New Zealand, opening in Dunedin at Easter. The -oompany is a , strong combination, of, dramatic' talent, and includes, amongst others, sucli artists a 6 Mies Harrie Ireland, late of Bland Holt's Company, Migs Ethel .Buckley, and Miss Helen Fergus, who was knqwn as "Baby" Ogden, -and no longer "Baoy" Ogden, but a well-developed woman. Aprcjpos,- Miss, Helen Fergus. During "the Tiitell Brune season in Dunedin. the Ameri-can-star, was ope night," in JL'Aiglpn, seized with a sudden illness, and literally -.at a. moment's notice Miss -largos played tHe part from the big dramatic scene in the third act to the finish, and even the manager of -the ©om.pa.-ny was at a loss to detect any alteration in the cast. Other wellknown artiste with the company are Mr Godfrey Pass, Mr J. P. O'Neill, Max Maxwell, and ' Jefferson Tait. Included in the report to be presented at Wednesday's meeting of the 'City Council are recommendations from the General Committee "that, the modified' «uggestions of the building inspector in regard to alterations required mt_ the Alhambra Theatre be approved; that theatre proprietors -be required in future to notify the town clerk of all cinematograph entertainments to be held." The credit of producing the first panto■mine, in England belongs to John Rich. This performance was on. December 26, 1717, at the theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Bidh bethought himself of the comic masques occasionally -performed in Edin"burgh, and he combined with their scenic and mechanical effects the attractions of ihe .pantomime ballet. The result- was "Harlequin Executed," which the Advertisement «f that day described as "A New Italian Mimic Scene, between a Scaramouch, a Harlequin, a Country Farmer, His Wife, •nd Others." With thp compliments of Mr George Tallis, of Melbourne, -comes to band. a copy of the story of tlhe successful pantoEaime now running in Melbourne, "Humpty Dumpty" to with. This interesting souvenir of the panto, has been specially written for the little one*- by Aunie R. Rent-oul, who has oarried- oat her mission faithfullly ■and well. The illustrations are from the pencil of Mies Ida 8. Rentoul, who hae enhanced the work of Miss Annie Rentoul, the author. The souvenir is well printed, and is altogether an entertaining little publication. Dear '"Paßquin," — Am at present playing Southland smalt to splendid business. Have Teoently added Urban. Bioscope to chow, which is proving a big- draw. Pre«ent programme of pictures includes "Short- ' sighted Cyclist," "Modern Palmistry," "Miner's Daughter," "An Atlantio Voyage," "Annette Kellexman"' (lady swirraner), "Policeman's Run, 1 ' "Father's Birthday Cheese," etc. Just finished a record season here (Lumsden) oi three nights. Kind, regards to the Old Reliable— Fred Foißr, . Lumsden, February 20, 1908. Mr J. C Williamson is returning to Aim- ,' tralia on board the new Orient steamer Asturias. His visit to the' oldVworld centres and to the United States ha& been particularly productive of interesting engagements, promising a most attractive time, "theatrical, in Australasia for -a year or two to come. Among other people engaged ' for "Peter Pan" n Mr Cariton, already well on his way out from America to act As stage manager. He comes with the strongest recommendations from Mr J. M. - Bariie and -Mr Charles. IVohmlaan, both standing sponsors lor hie ability to Mr WiHiamson. An o(bitu*ry notice is one trf thoM things ' that -the m«ai it, concerns never soee, but there »r« -exoeptions to the Tttiev *nd Mr Bert <silbeTt m cmc <tf tbem^ It w*o at ' Plyroouti that the, Occident" whick gave him th» ©pportunity of rtntdinu what other people tJionght -of him. H» had gone for a row, .and, j-ftturning Trnnotioed to hw feo*el, trad fallen *»leep. The «h«mbennaid, sent to his room «t th« in- '

y stance of the manager of the company, who ' - missed him at 7 o'clock, found it in darkness, j r and immediately jumped to the conclusion j 3 that he -was drowned — she never thought of r looking on the bed, which was behind the f door. The neves quickly got around, and when Mr Gilbert awoke- at 9 o'clock he was - greeted as ho rushed down to the theatre . by Ihe cries of the evening paper sellers, 1 "Fatal accident to Mr Bert Gilbert." 3 All his «->ssociaies in the theatre had given i him up, but the gloom which overspread f the performance gave place to rejoicing not 9 mixed with consrernation when he made his s appearance supposedly from the dead. Mark Hambourg. who is to revisit Ausa 1 tralia this year under the direction of f Messrs J. and N. rfsait,r fsait, had many ourioue t experiences during his recent American, x tour, one oT them illustrating the Ameri-' s oan's keen sense of a business- proposition, r P-aderewski was touring the States at the same' time, a-nd very naturally a large proi poition of the musical critics and . music - lovers spent much time and many "words 1 in discussing the respective merits of the s two virtuosos — more especially ac on several i occasions their itineraries overlapped and i they played within a night -or two of each I other in the same town— sometimes choos : nR b the same pieces for their programme. 'The I amount of interest end controversy these > incidents occasioned inspired a 'New York t nrasio-hall manager witfh a 'brilliant-scheme. 1 He offered Hambourg, j£hd< presumably *~ Padere-wski, a big fee if they wotdtt appear' on the same stagfe'%,nd play the saane^piecee ' i within half an hour of each others— a sort/ s of instrumental duel — in Jorder that the' 3 public "might settle once for all the vexed ■ question as w"hose Tendering was the - "better one\ It is perhaps" needless to add ' a thai; the offer was not accepted. 'Nor was - another of a, different sort from a financial 1 magnate, who .wanted Hambourft to play 1 at a biff social function on New Year's Eve. . He tried to tempt him wath a fee of £400, i but the great pianist could not accept without sacrificing a. very important engageJ ment at Hhe Queen's Hall, London. Four > other offers of £200 each for similar ap1 pearanees had to be reluctantly declined 3 for the same reason. Clara Butt is now completinjr a l phenomenally successful tour of New Zea- ■ land with her oustomary round of extra ■ concerts. That extension of season has now become proverbial in the case of the great J contralto ever since she arrived in Australia, with the result that though her ! original agreement vrith Messrs J. and N. ' Tait provided -for 25 -concerts, no leee than I, .75 will have been given before she takes " her departure from these shores on May ♦ s next. Before that » s date, however, she ' will ' » have ,-given a brief farewell season in the 7 Commonwealth, commencing with ooncerts in Sydney from the 14th to the 21st of next 1 month. A run up to Brisbane will follow v • and she will oe in Melbourne on the 31st of 1 -th© jame month. Her deferred trip to Tasmania will oooupy ?ier for the -fiist two 1 or three weeks of April, and Adelaide -and i ■ "West Australia are to be visited on her • homeward way, after a tour which has been • throughout a -veritable triumphant progrees. < ffh? chorus for Meynell and JGunn'siComic ' ( Opera Company ' is going to -eclipse .every- ■ thing' of t the kintl that feae eret gone before, 1 'tis said.. _ But, joking-., apart, says Table Talk, judging "by present indications, it is .■goi:ijt "to -be .-an .«xceptlona?ly fine -chorus, v 1 for it > toasts -many 'beautiful' voices. ' It certainly should be good, i pr in its rankfc . are the majority of the -ohoristers who xc-, oently figured in the German Grand Opera" Company. Hitherto the New York theatre-goer .has had t«J depend upon mere m&i> for directions as to ihe position of 'his seat in a theatre. Now things are changed, if only in- smali degree. The Manhattan Opera Hous'j has started the new fashion, tend is employing a ba-«l of women "ushers," armed wita electric -torches, and resplendent with badge of office. The electric torch In the hands ©f theatre-attendants is .not ■unirnowri in BruTy Lane's programme girls carry them. " Wher lest heard of dainty Ointe lienton, who tcured New Zealand -with the last" Riokards's Company, was appearing .at the Folies Bergeoe, Berlin. From Berlin she was to go to Sweden, then -back to "England for arcther "Belle -of New York" tour, and afterwards she has arranged to -visit St. Petersburg and Moscow. ; 1 Tne Australian Grand Opera Company, Limited, which was formed -to assist in financing Mr Musgi-ove's German Qper* Company' 6 tour in Australia and 'New Zealand, reports that the tour of flic company I did not result in financial soocese. The ) profits of the performances in Melbourne ' and Adelaide wepe absorbed Tjy losses bus- ' tamed in New Zealand, Tasmania, and the [ -fiepond Melbourne season. *Ehe total profit , Ac whole tour amounted to £437. In accordance with the agreement entered into - with Mr Muggrove, ts*e sum of £1906 (being ihe capital of th-e company), lees £400 reserved for expenses, was paid to him on ac- ' count of preliminary expenses, wihich ' amounted to £2703. The balance (£795) absorbed the profit of £497, and left c loss . >df £298 to Mt Musgrove, after th« whole ■of the available capital of the company had been absorbed. The subscribed "capital of j the company was 1154 shares of £2 each. I The unfortunate illness of several mem- , bers of the cast of^ "Huinpty-Dum'pty," in I Melbourne, has given the lesser lights a chance. Mr Victor Loydall -appeared in the place of Mr Pfcydora t*>o nights the other weak, and - Miss Brickson played principal boy (Miss Flo Young's part) with marked success. Miss Mabelle Morgan's part had also to be filled <by an understudy. Berlin's devotion to music is shown in statistic* just published m the Annual Theatrical and Operatic Almanac, it appears that Berlin has open every night in the year lour theatres devoted to grand opera, and three devoted to light opera, and that there axe -eleven halls for high-class concerts, including performances by three important ordhestias. The Almanac further points out that Germany has twice as many j opera companies as nil the other -countries ■conibir-ed-£n«mely, 72, -of which 13 are supported by the Kaiaer and otßfer ruling sovereigns, 42 hy mtaiicipaiities, and 17 by private enterprise. Italy hits nine opera companies, France eight, Austria nine, ftwitzei land five, Russia five, Holland -three, Belgiflm and Spain two each, and Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Portugal one each. J3nck£nd boasts of no permanent opera" organisation, while America is credited with ■only 'six. > - • > The Herbert J^emsmni? :i Come4y Com-.' pany, -'-n^oreanised' Ijy -Wie woljßMßMtnager ' •flniiiTig his visit to"Xondon at- the end, of Mt year, «reto Aookland, whewiJiey opened on Mcnday last. The New- Zealand tour, wibieh will last until Uastw, 'will include all 43m principal ofti#a, temrina-tafig vet Wellington on April 17. Tbe'ooaabination is in [ a, Strong as j& the will be

: new, with fine parts both for Mr Flemj mm? and Miss Beatrice Day, whilst the I new artists of the company have already ■won acceptance in Melbourne. Tie New Zealand repertoire will consist of "The Mummy end the Humming Bird,' "Olivia," "The Red Lamp," Murray Carson's new comedy, "Simple Simon," and Locke's new play, "The Morals of 3£areua." After Jeaving New Zealand the Flem<ming-Day Company have engagements to meet in Hobart and Launceston. Me»sr& Meynell and' Gunn have formed a new comic opera company' for a tour of Australia with Paul Reubens' s successful piece, "Miss Hook of Holland," which is now in its second year a,t the Prince o£ Walos's Theatre. The enterprise is being organised <m * very complete scale, with Mr Victor Champion as musical director, Mr C. St. John Denton, who has been accorded a sej>d-off banquet by the theatrical profeseion at the Hotel Cecil, with Mr T. P. O'Connor in the chair, as general manager, and Mr Walter Evewird as manager. In all, about 26 people will sail fromj[<>ndon by the Omrah. Miss Tluth- Lincoin will he the new prJma donna, Miss Alice Russon in second parts, Miss Emnreline Orford -s^ubrette, and a long 1 list of carefully chosen artists will, include Misses Helen Rose, Edith Dento^ ~ Gwendoline Boyce, Amy Pertiss, Messrs -'DaTcy Lane, Arthur Appleby, Edwin Brett, ,Wm. T. Cromwell, Vernoa DaviSson, Horn Payne, and C. N. Weinman. / "The Dairymaids," in Boston, and "M^M Hook of --Holland," in Slew York, are reported to be scoring --big successes. Towards the -end of November of 1506 "The Dairymaids," which was -at that time in the lteight of its sucoess, W«b withdrawn from the Apollo Theatre, London, the , -cessation of the run being due to the fact that several of the principal artists in the piece had to leave London to fulfil pantomime engagements. In vdew of these facts, Mr Robert Courtoeidge lias 'decided to revive "The Dairymaids" shortly after Easter, and for this purpose he is at present .negotiating for a West End theatre. In the revival the part of Peggy will he played by Mi6e Phyllis Dare, while Mr Dan Rolyafc will again be seen as the "simple, honest sailor," Joe Mivens. The cablegram which announced the return of Madame Ada Croasley to Australia on a starring tour next September is confirmed by a letter from the distinguished contralto (dated January 10), expressing lier delight -at the prospect. It see^gs that «s soon as Madame Crbsaley "had signed the contract, under which she sails from Loridon in August,' Mr 7. A. E. Malone (MrJ. C. Williamsonls London agent fund manager of Daly's Theatre) communicated it to the press, with the result that within a fortnight she received nearly two Bcore applications from artists of position for places in ncr concert party. Nothing will be" decided in » hurry, however, as Madame Orossley intends to take the greatest care to form a strong combination. There "have been many Accidental "discoveries" of talent in recent years, hut to rise from obsourity to the fame of Mies Sarah Vrubell; who has made snch a tremeiujous vocal success in "-Aladdin" at the - Adelphi Theatre, London, •ie a paxticularlv bright example. Miss Vxabedl Is of PbEahT extraction. She is- one of 11 ohiLdven.. and was -born in New "Yoxk. She came to England when she was three years old. Her mother keeps « small fancy goodß shop ii the neighbourhood -of Coventry street.. On -the advice of a friend, she obtained the few <shilliags neceesaTy, and entered for * sohplaxsihip presented "by Countess Van Den HeWel at the Xiondon Academy of Mtiaic. Ifc had been practically decided to give the award *o another, when Miss Vrukell arrived late on the scene, sang, and finally won the scholarship. So delighted was the Countess with her new disco-very that from tkat -time onward ihe has played -the part of the fairy god-mother to the «xd. Th* new star a a mezeo-soprano. M. Baderewski, the pianist, met with * .singiular accident at Cincinnati jtecently. He had passed the night in his private railroad -oar, And while he was shaving' in the imornintr a «hunfcii*c engine collided with ' the-oar, and the shock caused him to gash his face .badly.