STAGE GOSSIP

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 25 August 1909, Page 69

STAGE GOSSIP

The first of Mr Charles Frohman's plays to be- produced by Mr J. C. Williamson m Aussra£»~will be Mr J. M. Barries "What -Every Woman Knows." „,'■«> The xighU of ''The Pjince end the Beggar Maid" and "From Shop Girl to Duchess" h*ve been acquired by Mr William Anderson for- production in Australia.. Mme. Dolores, the sympathetic and sweetvoiced soprano, ie exDeriencing a triumphal ■tour of South Africa. At Johannesburg and ct Kimberley her receptions have been marvellous. . , . After many varied experiences in worldwandering, Madame 'Blanche Arral has at last settled down in -tbfe Metropolitan Opera House, New York,, where she is appearing in cpera. The renovations to HeT Majesty's Theatre, * Sydney, necessitated by the recent fire are proceeding satisfactorily, and this house was to have been reopened with "The King of Cadonia" on Saturday, 21st inst. 'Mr Morris, the great American vaudeviller, has •*» operator following ex-President Boosevelt. in . East Africa with a moving picture machine, and the aims are to be exhibited in London as they arrive. » Mr Bland Holt's oompany will temporarily disband »t the conclusion of the present Sydney season. It is understood inability to secure suitable dates is one of the reasons actuating the popular actor-manager. The record takings at Melbourne theatres ere headed by the Asche-Brayfcon opening night at the Royal. The pTemdere of "Resurrection," at Her. Majesty's, is a close second. Both "houses" went well over £400. Mr Clyde Meynell says he believes the pantomime- Australian? want is not of the kind garish with spectacular extravagance alone, but brimming over with fun and merriment,, with plenty of catohy songs and a dainty love-story -interwoven." •Mr Wm. Anderson hae definitely decided to produce £• pantomime at 1 " the King's Theatre, Melbourne, at Christmas, having purchased- the complete paraphernalia ofone of the "most successful London pantomimes this yearMr Nat. Clifford, the well-known English comedian, who toured Australia under Mr H*xry Rickards's management some three years ago, has been specially engaged for the part of the, "dame" in Mr Anderson's Christmas pantomime. "Beauty is important," say« David Be-1-asco, "but not essential. The most talented •women' of the stage — Rachel, Bernhardt, Clara Morris, Duse>, trad others — were not beautiful, but their genius made the audiense forget the fact." "Th< Bushwoman," an Australian play, •will ■ follow "The Face at the Window" at the King's Theatre, Melbourne. Some excellent Australian scenery from the brush of Mr Rege° Robins will be one of the main features of the production. Tin* fattest mails from America announce th» fact that "The Climax" has made good there, " and has been playing to crowded bouses from the commencement of its Tun. The Australasian rights of the piece are held by Mr J. C. Willianwon. It is greatly to be regretted that the Oscar Asohe-Brayton Company will not be able to visit the Dominion. Their engagements in London necessitate the confining of their appearances to the principal cities of the Australian Commonwealth. .Mies Olive Len ton's Australian harvest ■oena in London is an electrical musical novelty, with elaborate stage . settings dejacting an Australian cornfield in harvest time. Miss L'enton is supported in its presentation by an octet of pretty colonials. It is Announced" in American "journals that Miss Annette ELellerman-, the Australian champion -professional swimmer and diver, -who has been giving exhibitions in Chicago and elsewhere, is engaged to be married to her touring manager, Mr -James Sullivan. • /From tie point of viftw of actual money-

' making "Cinderella," at Sydney Criterion, has beaten every record previously held by suoh popular pieces" as "Struck -Oil," "The Midnight Wedding," and even "The~ Fatal Wedding," the most successful of all plays ever produced by Meynell and Gunn. A Melbourne paper says that M-r Cyril Bell will' "make ' his first appearance on the stage with the Hugh Ward Company in "The Fencing Master." Mrs Robert Brough (Mrs Cyril Uell) was about to sail for England when Mr Hugh Ward induced her to remain for a season in Australia. I/cndon papers refer to the Tivoli proprietor, now in England, as Mr. * Harry | Kickards Leete, and to his daughter. Miss Madge, who itas recently married to Mr F. H. Gibbs" as daughter of Mr Hcrry Rickatds, Leete, the well-known theatrical proprietor of "Westwcod, Margate, and of Australia."' 3Lr Charles Frohman, the greatest" theatrical employer in the world, states that next year is to be one of the best on record for the "legitimate" actor and actress. He is a, great believer in playa of "heart intreitf," and thinks there is a larger audience for them always than for any other class of dramatic entertainment. Here are some" of the recreations of the "Cinderella" r-sntomime principals : — Miss Mercdro, ;jnotoring and social pastimes ; Edwi» Brett, etory- writing; Enimelihe Orford, I travelling. .; "William Cromwell, studying- phil- [ osopliy ; Thorley, athletic exercises; Epsie Perrin,' swimming ; Tom Payne^ visiting; Helene Hoge, collecting rare jewels; Ruth Lia<?oin,.. touring. .Miss Ada .Reeve (with whom Mr William' Anderson is negotiating for a tour of Australia and. New Zealand) always asserts that Tier ivro most severe critics are her own two little girls. Sotneone asked the elder .whether she would like to go on the stage, and her reply was caustic, '"No, thank^you,"she said quietly, "I have no wish to become an actress like mother." " Mr Gerard Coventry, stage manager of so n>.aay» of Mr Williamson's spectacular productions, has returned to Australia from the United States. Mi Coventry said that he was satisfied that Mr Williamson had secured all rhe^aest productions available. He saw a number of pantomimes, which he considered old-fashioned as compared | with those produced by Mr Williamson in Australia. Mr Godfrey Cass, of the Bland Holt Comi pany, who has mode such a, success of the role of Fath&r "Ferratti in "The Bondman," is another actor who, though he embraced i the stage somewhat late in life as a pxofeceion, has done well. Mr Cass was . an accountant in the West Australian Government service at the time he took up the stage seriously, but he always had a predilection for amateur acting. Amongst recent arrivals in London from New Zealand is ,Mi Jehu K. Ngawaka, a chief of the Ngapuh* tribe, in the Bay of Islands district. Mr Ngawaka's grand- . father and great-uncles fought for the British in the first ' Ma^ri war. With a view to travelling and seeing the world Mr Ngawaka has taken to the stage, appearing in full Maori costume, singing Maori and English songs. He is seeking an engagement on the London stage. _ The Theatres and Public Halls Act came into force in Sydney recently It is pro- | vided ; that * owners or lessees of places of entertainment cannot admit ' mote people than there is -seating accommodation provided for, "but stihding room- will.be per- I nutted in those -, parts of the house behind tho line of feats moat remote from -the stage, -and that only - provided the total number allowed I<y the Minister for that p«urticulair area is not exceeded." It is understood that a big theatrical firm in Austialia has cancelled two tours of New Zealand. This is not altogether due to the depression in the , Dominion, but the excessive charges" of the steamship companies has something to do with it. One manager stated that the business done in New Zealand •*■»» never very big, because of the. large expense in transport and the extra wear and tear on- the scenery and wardrobe owing to jhe frequent changes. At Drury Lane, London, Miss Meredro had what she calls a "frightful engagement." You go in at half-past 12 o'clock in the afternoon, and stay in the theatre for 12 hours, your meals being sent in to you. "Yes, going from grand opera to pantomime is a change, and returning to grand opera, you »otice it. The latter requires you to be so much more artistic. But to be a real artist requires all kinds of work. Y«si, I have been an everything but drama. I suppose I can say, I am an artist on my own reckoning. Yes, I have appeared in vaudeville, and also on the concert platform." By the deposition of Abdul Hamid at least one variety artist has been deprived of a comfortable, if somewhat monotonous, livelihood. It appears that many years ago a French Circus clown, who was the owner of a trained pig, attracted the Sultan's atten--tion,* who, in order to" secure his services, adopted the simple method of having- him" arrested- *nd brought to Yildiz Kiosk with his- troupe of one porker. Here he was offered the post -of Intendant at a yearly Ba]ary of 12,000 francs (£430), with lodgings in the palace, his duties consisting of daily perfosm.ances in the harem before the Sultan and his ladies. Another case since reported is that of a sharpshooter who was appearing at a hall in Constantinople. Tbe Sultan gave him a fine position!, feaTing his enemies would use him. Some years ago a melodrama was being .performed in a certain theatre, the leading actor of which was disliked for various reasons by one and all. In the last scene he -«ac supposed to visit the tomb of his ancestors. In the centre of th© stage, upon a -marble pedestal, stood the statue of his father. A heavy drapery covered the figure. "Once again," began the leading man, "to gaze upon these features which in life so often gazed on me with tenderest affection. Father, thy mourning son now comes to pay th-ee adoration. Let me remove the veil which shields the beloved image of a once dear parent." Off went the drapery, and disclosed the father standing on his head! The effect was simply electric. The shouts of laughter whioh followed effectually put an end to the scene, amid the "bravos" of the convulsed audience and the uncontrollable rage of the actor. Mr Edgar Ruthven, whose death is reported by the Melbourne Sporting and Dramatic News as being due to peritonitis, after two operations, was in ill-health on arrival, and wont into a private hospital. The deceased gentleman, who was stage manager for ihe Asche-Brayton Company, wa-s only 24 years of age, and commenced his stage experience as call boy with Beerbohm Tree, with whom he was a great favouritei, and even at that time his knowledge of stage technique was very complete. Mr Tree then advanced him to the position of assistant stage manager, and he next joined Mx Asche in London in a similar capacity, afterwards rising to the position he held at his death. Mr Walter Howard, of "Midnight Wedding" fame, is author of the latest Lyceum

[success-. "The Prince and the Beggar Maid." In it he has caught the trick of Mr Anthony Hope in his "Prisoner of Za-nda." Six ; I ,ward.has constructed a capital romantic love-story concerning Hildred, Prince of Sylvank and Monica, the young Queen of Illyria, who are betrothed. War bad broken out between the two countries, and, hearing that Hildred is fierce, and savage, -Monica, disguised as a beggar maid, visits^ his camp. The knot, which Mt Howard's" fingers have tied is urn a veiled in the usual -way. "From Shop Girl to Duchess" is from the pen of Charles Darrell, author of "When London Sleeps." It is oast in fervemt melodramatio mould, backed by some novel mechanical illusions, dresses of co-day, and scenes from well-known London resorts- The drama follows in construction along the path taken by "Diana of Dobson's," only with more favourable results as regards the heroine." Pcor New Zealand-—the Tom Tiddler's ground! We did not see Nat Goodwin, nor Wm. OollieT — that was long ago. Margaret Angliu ' was denied us only a few months ago, and we had to put up with a poor . makeshift. ' And ' now we are not to sea Os-fear Asche'and I/ily Braytonr— the strongest dramatic double that has visited Australia for many years. ' Wha-t is the use of the managements agreeing that jSTew Zealand for ita population ia the bast show country in the world when they will not consider their p atoms- in _ the Dominion to the extent of inserting a clause 'in the agreement covering so many ..appearances in New Zealand. Thousands take their theatrical pleasures as they come, but there is a wide circle of intellectual playgoers who like to see the best that is to b^seen within Teason t .._ And. i£ is .reason for a people "so "faithful to the playhouse to ask for this much. It is no concession — it is a right. — Dominion, Wel- ■ Ungton. Mr Harold Thorley, the* fine baritone appearing as Dandini in "Cinderella" pantomime, has travelled a gre&t deal. He was on his first tour in South Afrka in* 1901, during the Boer war, and relates an amusing incident concerning- his visit. •'On© hot September afternoon our train, en route for Kimberley, had to wait an hour or co to allow Colonel Grwbbe's column to pass us. They were in hot pursuit of a rebel commandant who had .hat morning crossed' the railway line. I shall never forget that fine body of men as, watering their horses, and entraining them again, _ they sang and whistled like schoolboys on a holiday, witih no thought that grim death might be waiting for them ahead. After the seven trainloads of raen, horses, and guns had departed we were informed that we were to travel through the night. No passenger train had , done this since the beginning of the war, and •although we agreed that we might get fired upon or blown up we had to go through with it. Just as the guard shouted, 'Eaght away,' an ■ official rar up and said,. 'You needn't worry, you people; you will be quite safe; you are bullet-proof. I have labelled the carriages, "Actors," and when the Boers read ■ that they will keep away as far as possible.' "