FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 159, 29 September 1883, Page 14

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

— R. A. Vernon lias joined tho Polk Company. — Barry Sullivan is on a country tour in England. — J. B. Steele's General 'Dn Lucca ("Jealousy") a fine performance. — Jenny Lee follows the Williamsons at the Royal, Melbourne. — Edwin Booth's health is restored, but his hair is much greyer. — Verdi's Opera Company -were to open at Ballarat on the 24th.. | — Miss Flora Anstead played in Adelaido foxGeorge Coppin's farewell. — Hart's Happy Hours Company are at the | Victoria Hall, Melbourne. I — Among the coming novelties at Abbott's j Opera House is a Juvenile Troupe. — Miss Alice Dunning has a two years engagement at the Madison Square Theatre. — Signorina Majeroni's costumes are the handsomest ever seen on the Melbourne stage. — A troupe of lady Court Minstrels has been performing at Hudson's Theatre, Melbourne. — Mr Shnonson and Miss Leonora Simonscn were to open in concert at New York in August. — Mmo. Anna Bishops the vocalist, is spending the Summer at Eed Hook, Dufcchehs County, B. Y. — The Era speaks in high terms of Miss Genevieve Ward's acting in "Tho Queen's Favourite." — Now that the Langtry is gone the gossips are telling all sorts of stories about poor I'redctie Gebhavd The latest is that he presented his divinity with 10 O'O dol. worth of diamonds, in order to do which he had' to mortgage his income for five years. The Dramatic Neivs (N. V.) adds :— " I do not know anything about the truth or falsehood of this rumour, but it would bo quite in keeping with his general conduct as regards the Lily." Mr Martin Swallow's classical pianforto recital, to come off on the 11th proximo, will excel all former efforts, judging from the excellent programme issued in our advertising columns. Some of the selections enumerated are of the clioiest character, and will doubtless serve to illustrate the skill of this gifted artiste in his recitiils The second part comprises a miscellaneous concert; selection by Mrs Cooper and Messrs Kussol and Jackson, including a grand sceua from Verdi ntid Weber's "Softly sighs the voice of evening," etc. Tli ore will no doubt be a large and fashionable audience on the occasion The Court Minstrels and Hegarty's Hibcrnicon Comedy Company ha,v« been performing to failhouses at Abbott's Opera House during the week. As to the latter, ie is not now to Auckland audiences, thour p h the diorama may have been touched up since it was here before, but an element of freshness is infused into it by the soivra and dialogue of the MiDstrels. In the bills the dialogue is described ns "funny jokes" for which a good many people, especially Scotchmen, ought to feel duly grateful. It shows the forethought und consideration of the man who drew out the advertisement, in preventing any possible misconception. Howover the Minstrels are worth seeing and hearing, and anyone who wants a good hearty laugh might do worse than pay them a visit. There was very nearly being a fiasco with the Italian Opera Company at the Opera House. Melbourne. Signer Verdi, JJ/adame Simouson, and Miss Martina Limonsen are amonir the leading singers. The curtain rose half-an-hour late, when it was seen that there was a very attenuated chorus, and it was subsequently found that nearly twenty of the male members were absent. Inquiries resulted in the statement that the chorus had been ottered three days' pay instead of six days said to be due, the offer being accompanied by an explanation that heavy losses had been made, and that move than three days' pay could not be given. Eventually all the females, and five or six of the male section of the chorus accepted Mr Dunning's offer, and the programme was proceeded with. The chorus was simply spoiled from want of balance, and the effect was most ludicrous. ;jj r Pooloy's season of twolve consecutive Saturday popular concerts was brought to a close, as our readers are aware, on the loth instant, and on Monday next commences a series of competitions for amateur musicmis. The opening night will be for baritones and basses, and as there are no less than ten candidates entered, we expect a keen contest. The audience will be the judges, aud as the entries are much larger in number than was anticipated, Mr Pooley has wisely decided to meet the five pound prize with three, viz., Ist, 2nd, and 3rd, as will be seen on referring to our advertising columns. Each candidate sinus besides the test song, a selection of his own, so that the audience will be enabled to form a good allround opinion of his merits. There will be no monotony in the evening's entertainment, for the programme has been so arranged that the best songs do not follow each other Each one of the audience will be furnished with the names and numbers of the competitors, and directions as to voting. This spirited undertaking of Mr Pooley's deserves the thanfcs of the community, for it ahows a most unselfish desire to give aspirants to fame an opportunity of coming to the front, and, after all, it is only in another torm the manner in which all our "Teat vocalists have become famous. The competition on the Bth October is for sopranos, and the prize will be a splendid silver lever watch and chain in a handsome case which will be on view at Mr Lennox's shop, Queenstreet all next week. The test song for sopranos is an exciting one—" Sing, Sweet Bird," by Ganz. We shall he much mistaken if there is not a good show of competitors, for Auckland, truly, is a " city of song." The "SYaitemata Minstrels gave a "chair •performance" followed by a variety show by the Bros. Mettam and O'Hare in nigger foolishmeuts, on Tuesday evening last, at the Ponsonby Hull. The show was organized with a view to raising funds for the Ponsonby Bowing Club, and a fair house faced the music. The Minstrels gave their services gratuitously nnd carried out their engagement to rights. The strong point of the ballad singing of this talented troupe, lies in the excellent chorus and orchestral effect. In this particular department of their art, without a doubt, " they are the people." Mr D. Ellis (fancy we've heard that voice tacked on to another name somewhere^, was interlocutor- Phil Hanrdceu,. bones; and Charlie Hanncfcen, tambo. The latter's mouth would prevent him ever getting cneap lodgings, or wor?c at a cheese factory, it is limply an annual mouth. When Charlie smiles ! the top of his head falls down on his shoulder blade. D. Ellis's voice made the Hall ring again in the pretty gem he chose • ' while T. Lander's clear tenor was very effecting in the " Golden Stair." The local hits by both Tony and Bones were capital. Phil's little fairy-tale about the Doric and measles, into which he rung all the doctors and half the chemists of the city, was simply grand though I bear it was in-doric-ly the cause of a mau's' death —he died laughing. The after pieces were capitally rendered by the Messrs Mettam Broa. nnd 0 Hare and included some excellent singing and duncin I.1 '. The flying bird-cage tricfc tic/cled the audience immensely Charlie Hanncfcen as the " old man " loofced 83 if a day." A rattling good farce wound up a really good all round show. "Woody car's Electric Circus has been filled to overflowing' every night during the week, the space bein" in fact quite inadequate to afford accommodation for the thousands who have flocked to this admirable combination of versatile talent. The athletic pyramidal statues are a marvel of grace and agility. In the scene act the shipwrecked sailor, Mr T. Shields, is exceedingly clever. The lady contortionist, Miss Eva, far surpasses any competitor in that kind of performance ever seen in Auckland. King and Cousins in the Olympic games on two horses show that in feats of horsemanship the modem equestrians are quite equal to the ancients, and in his exploits as the five horse courier Mr Cousins is simply inimitable. The chair-balancing act by Mr Gus. Gregory is really a wonderful performance The splendid trick p_ony exhibits the most perfect training and a degree of intelligence but little inferior to the human. The feats on the balance trapeze, by Miss Annie Shields, are distinguished for ease, gracefulness, and daring. Madame Zulu, the African monkey performer, is another, interesting ieature.in . this remarkable programme. The nonzontar bar feats; the i two horse hurdle net, the Japanese swinging bamboo,

and the wonderfully sagacious performing" dogs bsPiSr» fessor Silvester's, are all things which must be seen..tc> y be adequately appreciated. The clowns Max- Kiakle*' and Duvalli keep the audience in incessant, merriment between the acts, and the concluding farce sends the 1 audience home in the greatest good humour. Woodyear's Electric Circus is far and away the most replete m all the elements of genuineness, amusement,' athletic skill, and training that has ever visited this pity, batnrday night's performance being the lost of $h& season those who have not pnid the circus a visit should not neglect an opportunity which is not likely to occur again for a long time. The final matinee will "take place* \ at 2 oclocfc to-morrow (Saturday), to which children who are inmates of charitable institutions will beadmittea free. The season positively closes on Saturday