STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1915, Page 11 (Supplement)

STALLS GOSSIP.

MIMES, MUSIC AND MOVIES. Mr. Baxter Buckley, the talented Wellington pianist and teacher, intends leaving on an extended visit to the Old Country next month.

The projeeted tour of the Dominion "smells" by the Julius Knight Company has for some unforeseen reason been abandoned.

**/ * » Of the many towns Mr. Allen Doone played on his New Zealand tour he states that he registered a slight los 3 in only two of them—Gore and Invercargill. * * ♦ *

Report says that Miss Pearl Smith, a dainty little actress who has often come to New Zealand and recently played in "On Our Selection" in Sydney, waa recently married to Mr. D. Forrest, a prosperous grazier, and nephew of Sir John Forrest.

"The Barrier," Max Beach's Alaskan drama, is being revived under Mr. Beaumonth Smith'B management at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. Mi'. Cyril Mackay is taking the part of iPoleon Doret, a French-Canadian. * * * *

Miss Marie Eaton is said to make a big hit in the supper, scene of "High Jinks" with "Faust in Ragtime," in which she is assisted by Mr. Workman and Mr. Maguire. She also scores well in "Sammy Sang the Marseillaise," in which tiie chorus join. * * * *

An advertisement for 60 supers, with military training preferred, for "Our Boys at the Dardanelles" at the Adelphi, Sydney, elicited a response from 250 men of all ranks, ages and conditions. None elibile to enlist were engaged.

Mr. Bert Royle, representative in New Zealand for J. O. Williamson, Ltd., who recently suffered an attack of 'pneumonia, has left on a health-recruiting visit to the South Sea Islands. H,e will probably be absent from New Zealand for some seven weeks. * * * #

It is said by a Parisian newspaper that Jean Gilbert, composer of "The Girl in the Taxi." has been making £30,000 a year out of his scores. He wrote the music of "The Joy Riders," "Mamselle Tra-la-la," and "The Kinema Star," each of which has achieved a phenomenal success.

The Wellington Musical Union is to perform A. E. Gaul's cantata, "Joan of Arc" and Sir C. V. Stanford's dramatic fancy, "The Revenge" (to Tennvson's words), in tho Wellington Town Hall on October 19. Madame Wielaert, of Auckland, has been engaged to sing the role of the inspired Maid, the other soloists being Mr. Charles Olarkon (bass), Mr. Frank Charlton (baritone) and Mr. W. 11. Green (tenor).

An interesting feature in connection wit'h the forthcoming production of '•Paul Jones" at Her Majesty's,, Melbourne, k the special engagement by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., of Florence Young for the title role. 'Play-goers who saw Miss Young as Paul Jones some,years ago have vivid recollections of her'brilliant performance in a rale in which she achieved one of her greatest successes. The engagement of Miss Young will add to the interest of a production which is being keenly looked forward to hy operalovers.

Dave O'Connor's Opera Company has just entered upon another tour of New Zealand. The repertoire of operas on this occasion include "The Girl in the Taxi," "The Girl in the Train," and "The Orchid." Since visiting the Dominion some 18 months ago the company has toured Australia continuously with much success. Miss Violet Col'linson is the leading soubrette, and Mr. Dave O'Connor plays leading male roles. The company is said to be an exceptionally strong all-round combination, and with such established success as the operas named above, the box office receipts in the Dominion should show good results. * * * «

''High Jinks" became so popular whan staged in New York that the title was tacked on to many articles of popular use, from soap to candies. Last New Year's Eve a festivity entitled "High Jinks," out of compliment to the play, was given at one of the most brilliant Broadway restaurants by a New York millionaire. Every guest had to be made up as a character from the sparkling musical comedy, and nothing but "High Jinke" music was played. The affair was so funny, fast and furious that the New York World the next day referred to it in a headline as '"High Jinks' Outjinked." .** * %

One of the critics in his notice of the play "High Jinks" said that it might have been as aptly called by the title of "High Speed." This was'in reference to the remarkable swiftness of tho action all through, the rapidity of the work done by both the chorus and the principals, and the liveliness of the music, which carries the lot along with it in a hurried rush of melodv. °There are no "waits" or pauses that slow up the pace. It is expres* speed all through. This i 3 a new note in musical comedy—the typical spirit of American hustle; and judging by its success in Sydney this type of production is sure to catch on. "Exhilarating" sums up the effect it has on the audiences.

Mr. George Edwardes, the theatrical magnate who lias just crossed the Great Divide, was easily the best-known entrepeneur in Britain. From very small beginnings (a call-boy, if we remember right) he rose to a controlling power in the theatrical world, especially as regards musical comedy, and his name will be ever remembered in connection with the legion of successes achieved at the Gaiety Theatre during the last two decades. Some of these were "The Geisha," "San Toy," "Floradora," "The Toreador!" "The Silver Slipper." "The Schoolgirl" "Duchess of Dantzic," "Three Little Maids," "The Country Girl," "Our Miss Gibbs," and numbers of others of "The Girl" typo. He had a genius in gaii". ing the public taste and catering therelor, and had wonderful organising ability. He was an ideal manager, at once i respected and beloved by his staff, and the innumerable artistes who appeared under the aegis of the Gaiety's banner Both in South Africa and Australasia lie had working connections (the J. C. Williamson Co. co-operating with him under the Southern Cross), and he sent to, and produced, many musical successes at New York, Boston and other 'Murkan cities. Mr. Edwardes was also extensively interested in racing and owned "tveral notable winners

Efforts are being made by an American picture company to induce Sir James Barrio to write a play for films.

Edward S. Borgelt, who originated the idea of singing illustrated songs over thirty years ago, died in St. Louis, America, in July, • » * •

H. Clay Ford, who was manager of Ford's Theatre, in Washington, when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, died on July 22, aged 72 years. * * * «

It is reported that there are 3500 German actors in the fighting line, and that in the scattering of iron crosses three actors have got the first class and 320 the cross of the second class. • * * ft

The rare Amati violin once owned by Ole Bull, the famous Norwegian player, has recently become the property of Florence Hardman, an Americam violinist. It is said to be worth £2OOO.

Misa Oissie O'Keefe, of Ohriatohurch, who was with Pollard's Juvenile Company, and later was in "The Magpies" on the Fuller circuit, was married a week or so ago in Wellington. * * * #

Mr. W. Low, recently touring manager of the "Red Dandies," has joined George Stephenson and Frank Hawthorne's "Fun on tho Bristol" Company, which he has been engaged to pilot through the North Island. \.

Inez Jolivet, who was a noted violinist before she married George Ley Vernon, committed aukude in New Yoric last month. The act was due to grief caused by the death of her husband in the Lusitaaia disaster. ~ ~| <. ~ * * • »

The British Government has decided to pay to the wife of the late Samuel Coleridge Taylor, the famous colored musician, £2OO per annum, to his mother £2O per annum, and to ea«h of his children £4O per annum, until they are twenty-one years of age. * * * *

In addition to making her first appearance in "costume" the other day, Madame Clara Butt has made in London her first appearance in a drama. This was in "Peter Ibbetson," in which the famous contralto went on in a vision 6cene. She spoke four words and sang a few bars of a song. * ♦ * •

Mr. Harold Gregson the well-known Auckland organist and musical adjudicator, made hi 3 first appearance on the grand organ at the Panama-Pacific Exhibition at San Francisco on August IS. He was enthusiastically received by a large audience in the auditorium of Festival Hall. Competent critics speak Mgb.lv of his temperamental powers and great execution. Mr. Gregson was engaged to give a large number of recitals between August and October. * * * «

Miss Kathleen Levi, of Wellington and! Dunedin, has just scored a remarkable' success in having been awarded, at the Royal Academy of Music, London, one of the four silver medals for Which six hundred students competed. She also won a silver medal for pianoforte and a bronze medal for sight-singing. During Tier two years' study this gifted young New Zealander has been fortunate enough to win no fewer than five medals. * * * *

"High Jinks," the musical jollity in three acts to be staged here on Monday, is said to be one of the best plays of the musical kind placed before a New Zealand audience for many a day. It abounds in musical numbers of no ordinary quality. What is described' as one of the best and most popular is the duet "Not Now, but Later," sung by Dorothy Brunton and Paul Plunkett. * * * *

There have been few Improvements in cars evolved by the war. Motor lorries with the driye on both pairs of wheels are common; they are more satisfactory on bad ground. The armored motorcars are fitted with double steering, back <aid front, so that they can retire quickly without turning round. The great wastage.of the army motor cars Is in tyres. If an efficient substitute for the rubber tyre could be found it would reduce the Army's gigantic motoring bUI by about one-half, * * * *

In the Bulletin the following is told by "Norbell u :~The late Dan Barry, always wore black gloves when playing Uncle Tom, to save the bother of dirtying his hands with burnt cork. One night in Bendigo he' whipped out between scenes to swallow an inspiration, and forgot to put his gloves ou when he came back. He was just in time for Little Eva's death, and kneeling reverently at her bedside he raised his hands to heaven in pious grief, whilst all the assembled niggers wailed "Sweet By-an'-Bye." Presently Dan wondered what the house was giggling about, and then ho caught sight of his hands. Quite equal to the occasion, Dan exclaimed: 'Praise de good Lord! A miracle! A miracle! Bress de Lord! Ah'm turnin' white!