FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 163, 27 October 1883, Page 14

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

— Maggie Knight has joined "Wyberfc Reeve. | — Frank Towers is at Bundaberg, Queensland. ] — Maceabe is playing to splendid business at 'Prisoo, — The now Alhambra Theatre, London, was opened last Monday, — The Pandora Theatre, London, has been tunned into a post-office, — " Ariel," a burlesque of " The Tempest,'' is being produced at the Gaiety, London. — Thero are to be twenty-nine theatres open in New York by November Ist next;. I — Miss Grcneviovc Ward and Mr "W. H. Vernon are to open in Melbourne in March next. — Ellen Terry is receiving 1500 dollars n-week during her American tour. Tern's gets 600 dollars. — Wilson Barret has re-oponed the Princess, Melbourne, with "The Silver King," which is going \ finely. — Maud Granger, the American actress, is said to wear a dress worth. -WOO dollars in the play of " The Planter's Wife." — Horr liubenstcin has undertaken to write a lyric " stage play," the materials being drawn from the " Song of Solomon." , — -Mr Hollingshoad is going to take his Gaiety Troupe across the bright blue sea, with the clever Nellie Favren at their head. —An .entertainment will be given in the Theatre . Uoyal on the Bth proximo, by the Black Diamond Troupe, in aid of the widow of the late T. J. Wardell. '» — Two dwarfs are to be be married in Louisville, viz., " Major Mike" and fllavy Lail. The Major is forty-two inches in height, while Mary is but thirty- ' two. .>..• ' j — The Globe Theatr.Q, London, is now under ] the HolUogshead management. "' The G-lasa of Fashion " ! is being produced, with Miss Lingard in the principal role,, • ■ „.'•«■ • — A marriage of an actor and actress took place on the stage after the performance in an American theatre. There, was a large audience to witness the event. ■ — In Xenia, 111., America, on September. 7th, the floor of the ball gave way, with over 600 persons. Messrs Wright and Smith, jubilee singers, were playing at the time. — Mary Anderson was refused the right to play " Pygmalion and Galatea " in London by Mr Gilbert, because she had played it in America without his permission. —Mr Milais has finished his portrait of 3hIrving for "presentation to the Garrick Club. It is an excellent likeness, s%bfcly under life size, and presenting the subject in profile. — Mr Mapleson has at last completed arrangements for the lease for fifty years of the new Opera House on the Thames embankment, at a sliding rental from ,£2500 to a maximum of £0000 a year. — Mr Basil Chamberlin, an English gentleman now in Japan, is actively engaged in forming a large selection of sketches of scenery and costumes for the purpose of introducing a drama of Japanese life for the English stage. — Miss Mary Anderson, when appearing as Parthenin, in " Ingomnr," for the first time before a London audience, let her voice at one time sink to a whisper, when someone in the gallery snicl — " Speak louder, Mary !" Miss Anderson, instead of taking offence, immediately responded. Mr and Mrs Labouchere, Miss Genevieve Ward, Mr Barnmn, Mr and Mrs Bronson Howard, and Lady Benedict, wore among those present. — Mr Josh Piekersgill took his benefit on Tuesday evening. MinAame Pooley nm\ Hv Bnrnhajn gave a very choice selection of sovigs during the evening. Especially* praiseworthy were "Home to our Mountains" aud " The Dearh of Nelson." We trust Mr Piekersgill will have in Gisborne better luck than here, for it is perhaps, without exception, the finest diorama ever exhibited iv New Zealand, and the lecture is finely written and well delivered. — Mr Paddy Doran gives a monster variety sbow on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week. The newest comic songs and acorbatic feats will bo given, the solo object, of the performance being to amuse. The Auckland audiences, having lately had such a satiety of sonatas, symphonies, and concerted pieces, will not be sorry to be allowed to e:.joy a good laugh Wo hope be wilfbe blessed with bum per houses. How MrPooley's mind must be relieved in judging that htjis not without opposition. — The celebrated composer, Wngner, while at Naples, having a hoadachc, resolved to have his hair • cut, short. The barber engaged determined to make the bust of bis opportunity, suld every prospective hair ol" Wagner's 'iea.il to his admit ers, getting half the money clown-rLuit, nias ! Madame Wagner insiste'l on npproyviating it. Wlint was to be done ; J Tho hairdresser had to make a clean breast of it to MaOnine, and she suggested the butcher round the corner, having the siviue kind of hair as her husband, might perhaps be prevailed upon to supply the needful h nr. Halt' Naples slept that night with tho hair of the butcher under its pillow. —Mr W\ E. Sheridan, a man. as many know, of eccentric habits, gave a curious example of his peculiarities while here One of the leading actors having borrowed a pair of stage shoes from him, carefully hung them on the wall after the performance, for fear of their being destroyed by rats (which arc very numerous). Sheridan, having those shoes on his brain, strode majestically through the dressing-room, and at last coming across his shoes, he, in terrible aud tragic accents, exclaimed—" What do I sec? He has hung my shoes on the wall. Just think of the arrogance of the !" — Next Monday and Tuesday nights 'the Opera House is to be opened for the benefit of tho Fire Brigade. The piece selected is "'Old Honestj-"— a comedy drama, in two acts, by J. M. Morton, — which will be produced under the direction of Mr Welsh. Miss Amy Charuentier hns been specially engaged for the part of Mar3 r . It may be remembered this youngactress made o very favourable impression on the Aueklaad audiences during' Mr W. E. Sheridan's engagement, and also as old Dame Shera, in " Colleen Bawn." Since then she has been playing at the Thames with great success. The papers specially praise her for her singing 1 powers. With her talent, voice, and pretty face, we hope she will materially assist in making the performance of "Old Honesfcy" a success, and we trust every good citizen will roll up to give a bumper house to the Auckland Fire Brigade. — The Polks arrive by the Tarawera on the 30fch, and will open at Abbott's Opera House on or about the 31st. After the Auckland season, they will visit , Napier, Wellington Chris tchurch, Tiinn.ru, Oaniarn, , Dunedin, Invercargill, and other towns in New Zealand, j under the skilful guidance of Mr S. G-enese, the popular ] business manager aud treasurer. The Australian Press , has unanimously pronounced Mr Polk the bust lending j li^ht and eccentric comedian that has visited these j colonies. Mrs Julia A. Polk is also a very, talented vocalist. The other principal members of the company are— Mrs Edouin Bryer, Miss Lillie Bryer, Miss Lena Ellis, Messrs H. W. Emmett, A. W. Boothnian, Harry Power, B. A. Vernon, and E. C. Calvert. The repertoire is extensive, varied, and quite novel to Auckland playgoers, for whom a treat is in stora. The company has beeiu energetically and skilfully billed and announced in advance by Mr Lachlun McGowan, to whom no small share of its certain future success should be fairly attributed. — Ever since the New Zealand Parliament sat we have heard of " talking donkeys," but never before have we come across " talking dogs." When «ur reporter told ua such an animal was being- exhibited in the town, we looked at him hard, and thought the gentleman was tx'ying to be funny, or had an inventive talent for noveltie3 in his mind's eye greater than we had previously given him credit for. But determining to examine hia veracity more closely, we put on our hat

anil went as far aa a tent outside tho Market, wheremost surely was an animal who exclaimed, " If o I" and! "No, I won't I" in most distinct tones ■ Among; other marvels ia a " Lemur," an animal of rare combinations.-^ It has a tail like a squirrel, hands like a monkey, fifaUj like a possum, ' and two-edged teeth like a shark, anjraHH adding to its attraction, it has a grunt like a pi?. Mai|pp are the curiosities in this little tent. Amongst ofchefjsf.':*? are the mongoose, the only animal perhaps that can-be-bitten with impunity by snakes. These animals hare? been brought over by Barnuin's great snake charmer, '< who is now in this city, but who is unable to exhibit^allher feats on account of the obstinacy of the Customs, who deny the deadly reptiles' entrance to New Zealand* — On Saturday Mr Pooloy gives the last butone of his competitions at the Theatre Royal, which will be for the best recitation and humorous song. Tlte selections have been submitted to Mr Pooley for his approval, so that we may be sure there will he nothing to offend the most sensitive ear, whilst a mostenjovable evening may be expected. Besides the competitions, Madame Pooley will sing two songs, and Mr Rnlpb Hood, who has kindly offered his services on this occasion, will contribute a pianoforte solo in each partof the programme. During the evening the prizes will be presented hy Madame Pooloy to the young: ladieswho. were successful at last Saturday's competitions,, viz:— Class A—pianists, Miss Delia Lynch. {Miss Keturivh. Campbell, who obtained the largest; number of votes, being disqualified). Class B— Miss Clarice E. Bubazon y and in the contraltos, Miss Peice. Thesa competitions have been admirably carried out by Mr Pooley, and, iv. proof of this, there were no fewer than twenty-eight; items at last Saturday's competitions^ find the conoerb was over at twenty minutes past ten o'clock. -—On Saturday night tho Theatre Royal vmsfairly well attended by an interested audience to witness' Mr Pooley's instrumental and vocal competition concert, which was on a larger scale than any of hisprevious efforts, there being no less thivn thirteen co.mpetitoi%. 'The programme consisted of a n umbel- of pianoforte selections by two classes of performers,. < 'lass A being those over thirteen years of age, and Class B those under. The vocal competition was for contralto voices of any age. The programme was soarranged that after eachtesh piece was given, a selection was rendered by another performer, thus in each part of the programme till the competitors either gave a selection or the test piece. The programme was as follows: (pianoforte test pieces were, for Class A " LeJet D'eau" (Smith), and for Class B. "Juanita"' (Richards) :—" The Messenger of Love Waltz "(D*Alberts). Miss M. Williams ; " Heather Bells" (Rockstro> Miss Clarice E. Brabazon; "Lucia di Lammercnoor '*' (Beyer), Miss M. Neuuiagen ; " Paraphrase air, Louis'*' XIII" (Chwatel), Miss Alice Reynolds; "La Cuprera'*' (Foster), Miss Edith Abbott. The teat piece for Class Awns "Le Jet D'eau (Sydney Smith): "Massa'a on the Cold Ground" (Pape), Miss Keturah Campbell j " Blue Bells of Scotland " (Kphe), Miss Bartley ; " The Ash Grove" fßichcrdsJ, Master L, Neumagen ; "Le* Grouttes D'eau" (Aacherj, Misa Edith Gardiner; "Irish Diamonds No 1" (Pape), Miss Delia Lynch. The test songs for tho singers were : "Kathleen Arodn,'"' " The Blind Girl to her Harp," Mrs "Willows ; " Won'i? you tell me why Robin ? " Miss Gillingham ; " Dreamland," Miss Mat-son; "O, How Delightful," Miss j Peace. The decision rested with the audience, antt ; Miss Clarice E, Brabazon, the youngest of the coinpeti- ; tors, was awarded the prize for pianoforte piece Class-. !B, by 265 votes. Miss Keturah Campbell secuied theprize for Class A., by 132 votes. And Miss Peace was awarded the prize for singing by 228 votes. During the- ! evening, Captain Mahon presented the prizes won in theI former competition .- Miss Lorrig-nn, prize, sopranoI singer, a lady's hunting watch ; Mr Lander, prize tenor-' ' sitii:or, £-1 ; Mr Vowles, second prize for tenor singers, III.' To-morrow (Saturday) the competition will be for' humorous songs and recitations, and as Mr Pooley hast* approve of the selections, an amusing night may be-. 1 anticipated.