STAGE GOSSIP

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 69

STAGE GOSSIP

Mr Walter Bentley and company are at ! present touring Queensland. j Of French opeias the most popular in ! ixermany are "Mignon," "Faust," and "Sam- I son et Dalila." I Mr Allan Hamilton has secured the Sydney Palace for a ten weeks' season commencing .on Boxing Night. During March 37 new plays and musioal ' chows were produced in London, 10 in Paris, ' and 12 iv Berlin. In New York, from May 18. 1908, to Anril 26, 1909, 329 plays of all sorts wexs seen" at the- regular theatres. Mr Ernest Truman's many friends will bo pleased to hear that he has been appointed city organist of Sydney. The Nelson Operatic Society has decided to stage the "Geisha" in October next, and the optra is now in active rehearsal. The entire seating capacity of all of London's theatres is 125,303. The seating capacity of New York's theatres is 129,402. Conan Doyle has had successfully staged a new play entitled " Tha Fires of Fate," which has been well received in London. , Miss Ruby Baxter, here with J. C. Wil- , liamson's "Runaway Girl" Company, is a member of Hugh J. Ward's Comedy Coni.pany in, Melbourne. Mr J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company will make its first appearance in Sydney on Saturday, the 21st inst., in " The King cf Cadonia.'' "Cavalleria Rusticana," is still a Eource of wealth to Mascagni. In Germany alone his

opera had 246 performances last season, ending in August, 1908. To Australian players who long for England Miss Celia Ghiloni says: — "Yes, if you can afford the visit as a trip. If your work means bread and butter, stay where you . are!" ' The latest J. C. Williamson acquisition for Australasia—" The Climax ''—is playing to capacity limit in America, according to the latest newspaper reports from, that vast continent. A post-card from "the musical All Blacks from Denilqtlin (N.S.W.) advises that the company is doing well, and the prospects throughout the extended Australian tour excellent. In the next Williamson pantomime Mr , Harry Phydora will play the dame and Mr Jimmy Campbell will discard the skirts and appear as a male. Mr Fred Leslie will also be in the cast. Ernest Hogan, the coloured comedian, is dead. Ha was a clever actor and composer. He is said to have made £10.000 out of "All Coons Look Alifcs to Mcc " Hs visiLed Dunedin with a ministrel company about 12 years ago. . „ "The Arcadians," which has revived the fallen -fortunes of the London Shaftesbury, has achieved a phenomenal success. It is to be staged here by Clarke. Meynell, and Gunn's new comic opera company, now being formed in London. When "The Hypocrites" has Tun its full measure of public popularity, Mr Hiwpart Be*tty and Messrs Clarke, Meynell, and Gunn's new -English company will stage tne Iwte- Wilson -Barrett's last and most successful play "Lucky Durham." Mr Oeorge WiUoughby is at present terming in London a strong farcical comedy eomoanr to come to Australia, under the S« of Clarke, Meynell and Gunn to produce T "Mr Preedy and the Countess an Misl T^ellie gl Stewart'l Wellington season, which opens next Saturday, will extend , over thirteen nights, during which Sweet Kitty Bellairs" will be staged six nights, " Sweet Nell of Old Drury " four nights, and "As You Like It" three nis hts - „ - In & recent case in England, Mi S^ll, of Moss and Stoll, said the salaries paid to performers by the companies of which he was managing director amounted to £350.000 Tyear. and the salaries of those «?P"»«"« for the vaudeville houses m which they appeared to £147.000 per annum TomTnv Mr Will Jameson, who is piloting Tommy Burns and his company through fcew Zealand, furnishes the remaining dates of the New Zealand tour : -Dunedin August 16 17 Invercarsill, August 19; Auckland August 24 25- Waihi, August 26; Hamilton, Augtut 27; Christchurch, September 1, 2. Mr Spencer Barry, with » record of two genuine successes-"The King of Cadonia and "JHavana" to his oredat during his short star in Australia, under engagement to J. O. Williamson— left for London again on Tuesday last to take up his former position as •URe director of the Empire Theatre Miss Tittell Brane was presented with a genuine work of art, consisting of a lyre bird" upon which rested! a, gold toomerßig, with the word "Coo-ec" picked out in diamonds by her girl admirers, who had their SSurelon a parchment also presented to tbTTctress. Miss Brune leavea shortly for "g SS4T&IOW !"***.£ £5 Son will be Played on April 28, Du^din on May 28. and Christchurch on June 6. The principal B mallex towns in the Dominion will also be visited. . . . Miss Meredith Meredro, principal boy m "Cinderella," who has appeared in many productions in England America, and the Continent, speaking of the pantomime chorus, says she never heard better singing anywhere. The opinions of visiting theatrical people seems to be unanimous concerning Australian chorus singing, and the talent available in this country In Brisbane -the Julius Knight Company i b holding sway as the principal theatrical attrition? and playgoers in that festive town «c be«W regaled with a fine repertoire by J C Williamson's talented dramatic company.' "The Scarlet Pimpernel' has just finished its career, and "The Sign of the Cross" will go up next for the actual carnival week. . , , . ,1 18; Feilding. August 20; Morton, Augiist 21. Wanganui. August 23. 21: Hawera. Aujuat 25; Eltham, August 27: Inglewood August S; Waitara. August 30; New Plymouth, Aueust 31. September 1. M The cast of "Havana," produced by Mx Williamson in Melbourne recently. **« " follows: -Jack-on ViHier«. Herbert Clayton Hon. Frank Charteriß. Frank Gr^r.e- Mx (a bosun), Bert Gilbert :Con 9UB lo.Mi«Ohve Godwin: Anita. Miss Lottie Sargent, lsabelita Miss Susie Vaugban. Others in uhe S include Arthur Anpleby V.ctoi r Pnnoe, Pat Bathurst, Arthur Liscant, and Miss Ivy SC The Boyal Comic Opera Company-fre B b j to Adelaide, where they oper- a three weeks I season with "The Girls of Gottenberg J They are due to open at Her Maje«tys _ Theatre, Melbourne, on August 21. in ifae ( Duchess of Dantzic." _ | A London paper states that Mr J. W'Uliam on, now in London, wa, to make Trrarieuients with Mr Charles Frobman ior J the special production of What Every , Woman Knows." M Frobman proposes I to send Mr Williamson next Easter a full ! En*iab company. wholly recruited in London to play all the dramas that Mr Frobman , "ill produce in England and America during ! and Edward Carroll have secured a fine central block in Newj castle, and it is their intention to construct 1 immediately a large and well-appointed open-air skating rink, spending upwards of £1500 The management hopes to have everything in readiness for the opening of the rink at the latter end of August. The floor wi be specially prepared, whilst the rink mil also be illuminated with electricity. At Her Majesty's Theatre. Sydney. The Flag Lieutenant" is playing to crowded houses. The piece it^elr popsesfes a nv>st , interesting plot and environment, and ha 9 for its interpretation a most powerful cast, including Mr Thomas Kingston as the hero. , Mr G S. TitheTadfr© as a stately admiral, Miss Ethel Warwick, Miss Dorothy Grimston, Miss Emma Temple, and a long list of other names well-known in Australia for excellent work. On Saturday (July 31) the TSoyal Comic Opera Company opened in Adelaide to_ a warmly appreciative audience Their opening niece was "The. Girls of Gottenberg," and before the session closes they will do "The Dairymaids," *nd very piobably include ft

revival. j£ "The Meiry Widow" in their season's wotk tliere. They go to Melbourne for a long season next, opening at Her Majesty's Theatre in " The Duchess of Dantzic " on August 21 The latest theatrical body to corns into existence is the Theatrical Managers' Association, the object of which is to deal with all matters affecting the interests of theatrical managers. It includes the following- — J. C. Williamson, Clarke, Meynell, and Gunn, 'William Anderson, Hariy Rickards, Brennan, Brand Holt, J. and N Tait West's Pictures, C. Spencer, Hugh Wardi Allan Hamilton. Mr Clyde Msynell is • chairman pro tern., Mr E. J. Tait (J 0. Williamson) honorary treasurer, and Mr Phil Finkelstein (Clarke, Meynoll, and Gunn) I hon. secretary. I At Her Majesty's .Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday night (July 24), playgoers enjoyed a" real naval play in "The Flag lieutenant" — not a melodrama-tic hotch-potch of nautical terms a sailor never uses, and of incidents a sailor never experiences, but a live ] play breathing the spirit of the sea, and <sf -til© men wlio go cl-owrt to tb© gea m King's ships. Of course, it is romantic, but besides that it has a charm all its own of breeziness ard drollity and of truth. It is hardly necessary to say that Mr G. S. Titheradge's welcome back to active work was of the most cordial description. Miss Olive Godwin has joined the "King of Cadonia" Company to play s-nd sing Cousuelo,_the Cuban gu;l heroine of "Havanna" end proprietor- of that inestimable cigaxwrajlpar. Miss Godwin's own wrappers "are as picturesque as the wearer. Her sopranovoice was heard to fine musical effect in such solos as "The Cuban girl" or "Give ni« love."* Oscar Ascha and Lily Brayton* ■will have but a short stay in Australia, as they are due to open in London in "Count Hannibal," -for which <&11 rearrangements have bsjn made. After a short season in Sydney *he company- will return to Melbourne fox another limited season. By special arrangement with Mr J. C. Williamson. Mr Edwin Geach's powerful and specially-selected dramatic company, numbering over 20 artists, will shortly visit New Zealand with "An Englishman's Home." When produced in Sydney at Easier at the Theatre Boyal and subsequently at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, a repetition of the London rush was witnessed, people fighting to secure seats in advance. The London Daily Mail terms "An Englishman's Home" a real, nrousing emotional play, •which, viewed either as a satire or patriotic lesson, stirred the house to genuine fighting enthusiasm. Before making her appearance at Covent Garden, next May, Madame Melba will spend a month at' Nice, Cannes, and Monte Carlo. At the close of the London opera season tho prima. donna ■will in August enter on a four months' concert tour of America, Canada-, and Mexico, opening at Halifax, Nova Scotia, under a- minimum guarantee of 200,000d01. December. 1910, will be devoted to a rest in California, where her concert tour will end. and during the following month she will made her operatic rental in New York, with a superb orcheE-. tra, directed by Mr Landon Ronald, as her sole support. Mr Percy Harrison will star her through the English provinces in March, 1911 The late Mr Wilson Barrett, famous actoxBMmageT. who. wrote "Lucky Durham/ originally produced it at the Shakespeare Theatre, Liverpool, where it met with such install- j taneous success that he cancelled! ail tours, | intending to take the piece to London, where j the Comedy Theatre was engaged for a long period; but the death of Mr Barrett mcerfered with all these plans Mr Clyce Meynell, on his recent visit to England, procured the play for Australia, believing that its qualities, described as sentiment, power and an interesting story would make it popular with atidiences in this part of the world. Its euccess in Australia and New Zealand has fully justified these predelectlO fcL B'the8 'the latest London theatrical news mention is made of two new operas which are 1 kely to take their stand with the successes of the lyric stage. One is « The Coun t of Luxembourg," composed by Franz Lehax the qualitj of whose music has bsen tested in "The Merry Widow," and a book by Dr Willner to wnom, "The Dollar Princess owes its libretto". The second opera is "Snowdrops," also by Dr Willner, with music composed by Gustav *«*«*, ™£ has to his credit -the nuisic of The Belle of New York." As "The Merry Widow and " The Belle of N«w York " may be numbered amongst the biggest successes winch have ever been done iv Australasia, it may j 6"c assumed that tha two new pieces will piove souring oui ef tne ordinary. Hie Count of Luxembourg" was to hare succeeded "The Merry Widow" at Daly s Theatre, but its production has now he*n postponed for a little while in favour of "The Dollar Princes." " Fnowdrops will bs done in London in December. The work of the late Mr John Brunton as j a leading scenic artist in Australia, and hn j qualities as one connected for a Uptime with one of the kindliest and mo-t philanthropic of the professions, were justly extolled at a meeting held recently at tne Theatre Rryal, Sydney when the quesfion of eaiabh-him I a memorial in his honour wo coiimdrrpd , It was resolved to organise a big t.ioatursu . matinee on l«b*lf of the memorial fm.a and this, will accordinaly be hM at th«i Theatre Koyal on the af+amocn of August 12 | The members of the theatrical profession in Sydney will bo asW to a«ish «o the. » varied' programme will be contributed hv all I the companies in the city. Mr Edwin (jeac'i i was the chairman of the meetine. and ♦Ie others present were Mow* ™ ka * "f^' John Gordon (representing J. C WllW 1 1 hamson). J C Lee*e fo- Harry Kickord^, C. Pimonsen. Julian Ashton. Key 1 , Uillhonne Taylor. Rev. V, North A-h. and Messrs K. D. Souter and C B WeitmaMtt | Mr Brunton left a col'oction of about -0 picture* from his own bind, ar-1 these are )o be exhibited shortly at Holt house, Yor* 8 r "m°, Borrowed Plume?." a modern society t>lav. prnduopd for a series of three mat-nees by Mr H W. Vsrra, for Mrs Patrick Campbell ?t the Hick's Thentre. ShaftesburV Avenue, the first v.-epk in July is a case in point of the condition of tho London sage at the present time. The play in question has been written by Mrs Cornwall i= Wo«t. the mother of +he witty diplomat"!. Mr Winston Churchill, who watched <he final rehearsals for mummy, a lady who has no knowledge of drematic writirp. nnd ha° never wiilten for tho staee previously Yet two weeks af+er the first performance tne whole of tTie first " liousc " was «old from floor to ceilincr. and tho next two emits v.-c.l attacked on the box office plan, while before the plane had bpen out a. week h s Majesty King Edward and ppoupe expresFeri a wish to see tho play. end commnndeared a further special rpiformance. The rust was good coTtainlv — Mrs Pat Campbell Miss G«*trucle Kingston. Henry Ainley. Dawaon Mvlward, Miss Winifred Fraser. Stella CampbelL etc^ with minor players— but the point

is, how business may be commanded by a " Society " following, whether the play "is the thing " 01 not when the upper ten favour with their observance. When once a man sets his foot on the first rurjg of the ladder of success he seldom wants fe* assistance to help him to jliinb still higher ,?.s doubtless Mr Frederick Lon^dale is .quite ready to assert. Until he wrote the libretto for " The King of Cadonia " he was practically unknown in London, but as scon as the success of that piece was assured h"is farce " The Early Worm " was accepted, and finally staged by "Weedon Grossmilh. Then came a commission from Mr Cyril Maude to write a new comedy, while an agreement was drawn up with Mr Frank Curzon for a similar effort. " Suppe. Foi Two " (whicb is the titk of the play for Mr Curzon) is just completed, and eventually it will be produced at one of the London theatres. Then, in addition, Mr Lonsdale has been chosen to write the libretto for the next Gaiety piece after " Our Miss Gibbs," and Mt Leslie Stuart is to be the composer. Thest facts should be of interest to Australians who have just, witnessed and thoroughly appreciated a musical comedy owing "its libretto to Mr Lonsdale, and are now enjoying a similar production composed by Mr Stuart. One can readily imagine that when the twe names are allied something extra good should result.