STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 November 1915, Page 11 (Supplement)

STALLS GOSSIP.

MIXfES, MUSIC AND MOVIES. (From New York comes word that Mar dame Blanche Arral, the operatic singer whose top notes caused a sensation in New Zealand some years ago, has gone into the "flesh reduction" business. • » * 4 Mr. Harold Gregson, of Auckland, who heard Paderewski play in San Francisco, in September, says that his playing is more spiritually beautiful than ever, and his power to magnetise large audiences has increased rather than diminished. • * * « ''Kick-in," now being staged in Sydney by J.C.W., Ltd., is described as having sound humanity and a real fund of humor. Imagine the girl when the police commissioner tries to move her and shake lier nerves by telling her that her man "Bennie's in trouble!" "So's Europe," says she in quick reply. • • • • Mr. 'Hugh Ward has cabled from New York to J. C. Williamson, Ltd.:—"Melba had a great welcome at her New York concert on Sunday. Masses of flowers were carried down the aisles by delegations from the Polish National Alliance, representing cities throughout America, headed by Madame Paderewski in recognition of Madame Melba'a efforts in aid of Polish relief." 1 * • • • Paul Burns, who played Abe Potash in ''Potash and Perlmutter" at the Theatre Royal on Thursday, is an actor of remarkable versatility. He is a scene painter, a dancer, a good baritone singer, a writer of plays and vaudeville sketcnes, and is a violinist of no mean ability. "I learnt the business right through," said Mr. Burns, referring to the commencement of his stage career. "On one occasion, when I was tunning my own company, I went ahead as advance agent, stuck up all the bills, managed the show, and acted three parts. Sometimes I conducted the orchestral Yes, I was certainly some "Pooh-Bah* in that show!" * * * * Writing to a friend in New Zealand, Mr. Philip Newhury, who has been in India for some time past, records the fact that Mr. Oliver Farrow, formerly well known in musical circles in Auckland, and. the possessor of a fine baritone voice, was recently shot dead in the course of a quarrel in a boardinghouse in which he happened to he staying in Calcutta. Mr. Farrow, who was a builder by trade, competed most successfully at the competitions held in the Town Hall in IDII. He was here last year on the Fuller vaudeville circuit as) one of a vocal quartet, which also included Mr. Harold Widdop, formerly of Wellington. Both had then adopted stage names. —Dominion. * * * « "Of all the patriots in music, Chopin the most intensely national," says the Monthly Musical Record (London), "and it is pleasant to know that in the retreat from Warsaw the most precious .relic, the great Pole's heart, which was deposited in the Church of the Holy Cross there ) was reverently removed to Moscow." "What did the Russians fear?" asks the editor of the New Yotlc Musical Courier. "That the Germans would eat Chopin's heart? Cbopin was patriotic and intensely national, it is true, but, he was Polish and he hated Russia'cordially as the oppressor of his country. Moscow is in Russia. Why, then, is it pleasant to know that Chopin's heart was removed there?" * * ♦ * Mr. E. S. Willard, whose death was announced this week, made his first appearance at Weymouth in 1860. He remained in the provinces for twelve years, playing at Bradford, Newcastle, Dublin, Liverpool, etc., characters ranging from Charles Surface to Macbeth. In 1881 he went to London and acted in the first performance of "The Lights of London," "The Silver King," "Hoodman Biind," "Junius," "Clito,'' etc., at the 'Princess Theatre, acted 'Jim the Penman" at the Haymarket, and later was manager of the Shaftesbury Theatre m conjunction with Mr. John T.art, producing "The Middleman" and "Judali." In 1894 he appeared at the Comedy Theatre (under his own management) in "The Professor's Love Story," in 1895 he managed the Garrick Theatre, producing "Alabama" and "The Rogue's Comedy." He produced "The Cardinal" in 1903 at St. James' Theatre. * « # » According to latest advices, the Williamson firm is sending two companies to "New Zealand at Christmas. The company due to open in Wellington on or about Boxing Night will be the dramatic company headed by Miss Muriel Stariy last here with the American play, "Within the Law." Since then Miss Starr has endorsed the good impression she made in a round of new parts, notably in "Bought and Paid For," "Madame X," "Under Cover." and "Nobody's Widow." Supporting Miss Starr in a leading capacity is Mr. Charles Miiward. In Auckland on Boxing Day the Royal Comic Opera Company is to inaugurate a tour of New Zealand, playing a repertoire of old favorite operas and musical comedies. One of these, "The Dancing Mistress," is new to New Zealand. Others that may figure in the repertoire are "The Quaker Girl," "Pnul Jones" and "The Old Guard." The company at present includes .Misses Florence Young, Gladys Monchielf, Ethel Badman, Ethel Morrison. Minnie Love, Connie Milne, Alice Bennett and Addie Lcnnard, Messrs 'Phil Smith, Leslie Holland, Claude Banlock, Alfred Andrews, Derek Hudson, Harry Burgess :>nil .lohn Robston. • * * * Mr. C. Haddon Chambers, the pla.vwriter. who is an old Svdneyite, writing from London (September D) to his sister, Miss Agnes Chambers, in Sydney, says:—"l was at a theatre last night, when the Zeppelins came. The last act had commenced, and Sir George Alexander was on the stage with two . other actors. Suddenly the guns began to bark furiously. They set up a tremendous din, and shrapnel fragments began to fall on the roof of the theatre. The people in the gallery for one moment became panicky, arid made for the doors. Sir George stepped to the footlights, and said, quietly: 'Ladies and gentlemen, there is no more cause for alarm in here than out in the streets. Please sit down.' Instantly everybody became quite calm, and the whole house was seated. Then Sir George walked to the side of the stage, where I sat in a box with Lady Alexander. 'Tladdon,' he said, loud enough for the audience to hear. '1 wish you would tell flellensbv (his business manager) I want him.' 'Certainly, old chap.' I said, rising, and I got a better laugh than I have won for many a comedy line. When T returned in a few moments from my mission, the audience were cnlmlv listening to Pinero's dialogue through the booming of the neighboring cannon, and if my hat had been on my head I should have been constrained to take it off to the English men and ' women In that theatre." ,