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THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Bs Pasqcin.

THE UNDERSTUDY. A little while the favourite of the gods,

Tbeir frantic plaudits every night attesting. Now frozen out — but stay, my wisdom nods, There- is a way of putting it with le3s sting. Thus, should nry pen tbfe dear girl's state

express, Tired of her purple surfeit o e success, She's '" resting!"

Our old friend George Portus, he of the Silver King mien, who is pleasantly remembered, has had a alight twLngc of the Achilles heel which necessitated his stay of several weeks in a private hospital m Dunedin last yei&r. Any number of nurses who ministered to hi well-being hay© made anxious inquiry concerning the onetime interesting pati-ent George Porlus is now business manager of the "Hypocrites" show, and most times these warm evenings his immaculate pereon it> to be eean at His Majesty's. Mr George Barnes, representing the Clarke, Meynell, and Gunn '"Hypocrites" Company at His Majesty's, returned from a. flydn® visit to Invercartjill on Saturday, having set the pcoirffi of the southern capital talking G. H B reported that prospects were good in Invercargill, whither the company repair a.* the conclusion of the Dunedin season next week. Four nights will be the lenig-bh of the season in the south, and the members of the company than take ehlp to Melbourne- en route to Bemdigo.

The next big attraction to ckscend upon us is Pollard's Opera Company, \vhich in at present in Chrisiohurch. It is some considerable time shiCe this talented combination was amongst us, wherofoi- the glad hand is extended with much frenzy The company, has been considerably strengthened since its las' visit to Dunedin, and in addition to the okl faces there is murh new talent Mt Fred Duval, i\ho is again with the company, will be in Dunerlin shortly to make the arrangements for the opening of the season There is a possibility of one of rhe world's 6 bar vocalists making a tour of Australia and New Zealand next yeai under an Australian management. The artiste, who is none obher than the famous Tetrazzini, is certain to be a bis draw in this country. Nothing definite has yet bsen decided

conoerninig the site for the proposed building of a new theatre in the Octagon, and the chances are at present remote of any euoh happening. Another site in George street has been offered, but so far negotiations have not materialised. Apropos of the new theatre question it will not suTpnae me to hear of a proposal to erect a municipal theatre and organ loft m connection with the Town Hall. There is an excellent site ready for such a building, which would do credit to the city. The proposal is not altogether a new one, as it has been in the minds of several responsible people for some time— and it is no secret that when the organ loft is erected one of Dunedin's prominent citizena is prepared 'to present the city watih an organ. ■ A passenger for Melbourne by the TJKmaroa, which sailed from Dun«din on Sunday and the Bluff on Monday, was Mr Geo Barnes, who piloted th& " Cinderella" and Hook of Holland" Oompan- to New "Zealand, and more recently with "The Hypocrites" . Company. George Barnes goes to Australia to run "The Hypocrites" through the Commonwealth States.

The standard! of the "living pictures" at the Princess 6howß no siigri of depreciation, and the scenic and insiamctve film is still one of the bright features of the entertainment. A vofipue has been created in picture shows which goes far to prove the trend of the public mind. For persons who canmot travel it ie a positive delight, and for school children a splendid medium of instruction. And, by the way. I understand the management is prepared to make a liberal concession for schools attending the Saturday afternoon matinees in a body. Private advice from Auckland is to the effect that the "Jack and Jill" pantomime has got Auckland pantomime lovers with both hands. Business is excellent, and the prospects of continuing so are exceptionally bright. The season in Auckland closes on Monday next, when New Plymouth, TVanganui, Palmer&ton North, and Mast-sr-ton (will be visited en route to Wellington. I read two interviews the other day — one wirh "Jack" and the other with "Jill." This is what one said of "Jack": "In private life Miss Gastelle is an accomplished and even daring rider. She is also very fond of motoring, and is an enthusiastic golfer, participating in all three foaims of recreation when the opportunity offers." And tLie of "Jill" :' "Four months asro Mis 6 Betty OhJs was wedded to Captain M'Quade, of Sydney, and at the conclusion of the present pantomime engagement she will proceed with her husIband tc America on a prolonged visit to her parents, whom she has not eeen for five and a-half years." Th© star item on the new programme to be presented by Fuller*' Pictures at the Prijioess Theatre on Thursday evening next will be an adaptation of Sardou's tragedy. "La Tosca," interpreted by Madame Sarah Bernhardt, M. le Bargy. and other noted- Parisian artiste. Messrs Pathe Farerea, the makers of the film, have spared absolutely no expense in the production, the scenery, costumes, and general mounting being particularly good. This series in itsflf should be sufficient to draw crowded houses for the week's run, but the management, true to tradition, also promises a programme of miscellaneous subjects hitherto unexcelled, including two other magnificent art studies, " The Gambler" and "Sister Angela." Scenic subjects showing British Columbia. Turin, and London's busy streets will also be exhibited. The usual matinee will be held on Saturday- afternoon. Mr Johnny Fuller, the young -theatrical manager, arrived on Monday niarht on a " Cook's tour " of the south. John, jun., is looking well, and reports satisfactory business all over the circuit. Asked what the firm infcenele*! *--> «lo in th-e r»«*ar futnMJohnny caid : " W-eJI, we aivs goinp fostart vaudeville at Christmas." T^ 1 itely? •' Y&s definitely. Opening in WeJinsjton. to be followed by Christchurch and Dunedin. This show will be a touring vaudeville show, but we intend to stick reli-ftiout-ly to the picture business." The personnel of Hie company is not yet announced, but it is understood that Armstrong and Verne, who leave England in October, will ho the headlines of the show. Bon Fuller i- at preeent in London, where he will remain until October, returning home via Siberia. He anticipates reaching Xcw Zpalanrt in December. Sonio Auatvalian theatre fires: Levy's Theatre Royal, Syrlnoy, 1840: Prince of Wale?. Theat.e, Sydney, 1860; Theatre Royal, Melbourne, 1872; Prince of Wales Theatre, Sidney, 1372 (rebuilt 1875, and i thereafter known as the Theatre Royal); Victoria Theatie, Sydney, 1830; Theatre Royal, Sydney. 1892; Her Majesty's Thoatio, Sydney, 1902; Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, 1909. Mr Fred Shipman's latest attraction is Bongough, a Canadian caricaturist and entertainer, whose New Zealand tour commences at th* Town Hall, Wellington, on August 27. Bengough is assisted by Miss

Rosina Buckmann and Miss Lilian Delany. and has just completed a highly successful tour of Australia. Dunedin will probably be visited early in September The home-coming of Miss Amy Castle* has been a triumph. Perth, Adelaide, and her native city, Melbourne, have honoured her, starting with a civic welcome in Perth, and being specially received by th« Governor of Western Australia and Lady Strickland. The- young soprano has charmed everyone by her unalloyed delight at being home again. On leaving Australia she was a natural exuberant girl, and now that she has returned the same characteristics appear to be even more pronounced. Aside from her natural delight at being amongst her own people 'again, she is unaffectedly anxious to let them hear a voice that has attained a strength and purity that, in a comparative sense, was only suggested when she sang in Australia seven years ago. The opinion may be ventured, also, that her admirers in this country are none the lees anxious to hear what European critics have classed as one of the three great bel canto voices of the day. » Mr Hugh J. Ward caused a sensation in theatrical circles last week by suddenly withdrawing the Highly successfuKfapiical comedy, "A Bachelor's Honeymoon^" and presenting, an entirely new drama entitled " The Fencing Master," with one of the most remarkable casts ever «een on the Australian stage. Mr Ward has no .faith in the "one star" system, and believes that the smallest parts deserve to be represented by the most capable artists procurable. Anyway he has demonstrated this belief by the engagement of a company which the Melbourne Age saya i« "one of the best as regards all-round merit that lias ever appeared before a Melbourne audience." The list of names is certainly a formidable one, ■ for it includes Mr Hugh J. Ward, Mrs Robert Brough, "Miss Grace Palotta, Miss Rose Muagrove, Miss Celfa Ghiloni, Mr Wernham S. Ryott (a brilliant young English actor who made hia first appearance), Mr A. Eldred (a new London comedian), Mr Reginald Wykeham, Mr W. B. Beattie, Mr H. H. Wallace(formerly a leading comedian in J v C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company), Mr J. W. Rehauscr, and a number of others- well known theatrically.

Geoffrey Nye, of West's Pictures, writing from Sydney, states that he will be in New Zealand shortly with a picture show under Henry Hayward's management. After the tour, Mr Nye anticipates being put in charge of one of -West's Theatres.

Some changes in the movements of three of the J. C. Williamson Companies have been rendered necessary in consequence of the temporary closing of Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, during repairs and renovations. " The Flag Lieutenant " had only just settled down to a fine season when its career was so summarily cut short at that house, and instead of enjoying a long and continuous run there, it will have to change over tc Melbourne, where it will play for th© first fortnight at Her" Majesty's Theatre, from August 14, changing over to the Princess Theatre on the 28th met., in order that the Royal Comic Opera Company (which was originally to have opened in Melbourne on the 21st insfc.) might take up the running at the J. C. Williamson headquarters. In consequence of these alterations the eeason of the new Comic Opera Company will have to be cut short by a week, whkh will have the effect }f their giving Sydney a week longer than was originally mapped out for them. They will appear in Sydney for the first • time on the occasion of the reopening of Her Majesty's Theatre ther« on August 21. The ambitious heights to which _ amateurs aspire in the field of histrionic art is exemplified by a letter which arrived at ths J. C. Williamson Melbourne office the otLer day. The communication came from a remote little town in Gippeland, where the surrounding country is so hilly that very often the only means of transit is by pack horses. The gist of the letter waa an inuiry as to the royalty fee chareeable on an amateur performance of " The Royal Divorce " or " Humpty Dumpty," and a mild request that the scenery and wardrobe of whichever attraction was selected might be loaned for the occasion. Now, considering the extensive nature of the " Humpty Dumpty" appurtenances particularly, one. is almost staggered at the cheerfulness with which these amateurs look forward to the prospect of staging euch a production iff what must, m cony paratively speaking, be a very miniature hall. One can realise that after the superhuman task of carting up the properties; including the big wheel, the desired graodcur of the effect would be considerably minimised by the extreme limitations of the stage. Mr Edward Nable, tLe popular comedian at present appearing in the new J. C Williamson Opera Company, is really art Englishman by birth, but at the same time he may claim to be an Australian actori lor he has had his 23 yeajs of stage experi*

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19090818.2.392

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 68

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,996

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES. Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 68

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