Footlight Flashes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XV, Issue VIII, 24 August 1895, Page 219

Footlight Flashes.

By

The Prompter.

4 y 1 "T AR ! Glorious War !’ Mr Frederic Villiers, y y who is just completing his tour of this

colony, can lay claim to more varied experience in the field than any other war correspondent. He was one of the quartet that followed the Russian Army to the gates of Constantinople ; he has done good service in Afghanistan, in Egypt, in the Soudan, in Servia, and in Burmah, being often in the thickest of the fight. Of the four correspondents present at the Battle of Metemneh on the Nile he alone escape dunscathed. J. A. Cameron pf the Standard and St. Leger Herbert of the Morning Post were killed, and Colonel Burleigh of the Daily Telegraph was wounded. The same campaign proved the doom of several other brave members of the journalistic fraternity. Captain Gordon of the Manchester Guardian, Colonel Fred Burnaby of the Morning Post, and Edward O’Donovan of the Daily News, all found their graves amid the sands of the Soudan deserts. Then for six years the war-correspondent’s occupation was gone ; but when the two great Eastern nations flew at each other’s throats, Frederic Villiers was the first to arrive at the scene of operation. Like his predecessors from the time of the Crimean war, he had to face the

inevitable dangers of an active campaign—fire, sword, and pestilence ; but in this Eastern war these dangers were intensified by the fact that the combatants were semi-barbarians, who generally showed no mercy to prisoners, whether foes or neutrals. Once again, however, Mr Villiers had his usual luck, and this week in the Auckland Opera House, as he has in other Opera Houses of the colony, he will relate some of the most striking events in his marvellous career.

OUR illustrations show a group of the principal characters appearing in the recent performance of * Bardell versus Pickwick ’ given by Te Rangitira Society at the Canterbury Rowing Club’s rooms. * Te Rangitira ’ is

the name given to the debating society which is in connexion with the Canterbury Rowing Club. Its members hold weekly meetings, and in addition to debates, original essays, etc., both music and the drama find places on the syllabus. The lady friends of the members are entertained on certain evenings, and on the first ladies* night of the season ‘ Bardell versus Pickwick was given most successfully. Te Rangitira is already a very popular society, and besides keeping members of the club well together in the winter season, provides most enjoyable evenings for the members’ friends.

IT is very satisfactory to note the success achieved by the supplements of music given away with recent issues of the Graphic. As will be readily understood a very considerable expenditure was necessitated in order to present readers of the paper with a well-printed song, dance or march by popular composers. So prompt has been the recognition, however, that the increased outlay has well repaid itself. From all points of the colony I have received letters commending the music given away with the Graphic. ‘ The Cap'ain’s Story ’ and * Sweet Marie ’ appear to have met with the most extended popularity, but a part song published about six weeks ago has also proved almost sensationally popular. This week the musical supplement is a composition by that well-known Jewish composer Mr Arthur M. Cohen, whose pianoforte compositions are deservedly popular. * The School-bell March ’

will enhance both his reputation and popularity, and will doubtless be as popular with our musical subscribers as any of its forerunners.

Mrs Langtry is announced to deliver an address upon * The Stage as an Art.’ She has been made a member of the Actors’ Association, and spoke at the re-opening of the new Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, England. Mrs Langtry was offered a season at Terry's Theatre, London, but has declined it and all other dates offered. She is only filling those booked for her while in America

A writer in London Truth says : ‘The utter collapse of the new school has its best example in the sudden downfall of “ The Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith.” The strange

personality of Mrs Patrick Campbell gave the play a spurious and fictitious life, but clever though it is and well-acted as it was, no one ever really liked Mrs Ebbsmith I have heard her discussed in boxes, stalls, circle, pit, and gallery society, but no one waxed enthusiastic about her. She bored one-half of the theatre ; the other half did not understand her. The instant Mrs Patrick Campbell left the Garrick Theatre the fate of Mrs Ebbsmith was sealed. The public turned their backs on the play and would have none of it. It was not the fault of Miss Olga Nethersole. Everyone wanted au opportunity to cold-shoulder Mrs Ebbsmith, and the chance came with the departure of Mrs Patrick Campbell.

‘ Fine voices run in our family,’ says Tamaguo, the greatest of living male singers, to an interviewer. ‘My father had a magnificent tenor voice, and often have I heard it compared to Rubini’s. One of my brothers has a lovely tenor voice, and the second, whom you know, has the finest imaginable baritone. I spent a deal on their musical education, but the tenor had no taste for the stage, and the baritone suffered so much from stage fright that, after a few useless attempts, he gave it up. Both are in business now —one at Buenos Ayres—and they like it better. I was in business, too, trying various branches of commerce, even travelling as a bagman, but something was pushing me irresistibly toward the theatre. One day I went with my brother to apply to

the reggis of Turin for choristers' posts, and though neither of us knew a note of music, we were put on the list for examination on the merit of our voices. Old Corti, then impressario, heard us later on and said : “ Very well, boys ; study, and in time you may become good enough to be sent as bravi coristi for the great season to London." Little did I dream then what a prosperous career was iu store for me. ’ HERBERT Flemming was a member of Mrs Langtry's company at latest dates. Wonder if the now full-blown Lily regards Herbert with the eyes of another actress who described him as having * a godlike face ?’ Cavour Cigars. Smoke Cavour Cigars. Frossard’s Cavour Cigars, 8 for 1,3. —(Ad. 3.)