AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2419, 6 February 1909, Page 9 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY’S. LOCAL FIXTURES. February 10, 11, 12, 13.—Anderson’s Dramatic Coy. »• February 22 to 27.—West’s Pictures. ■ireli 1 and 2.—American and Continental Entertainers. March 4.—Miss Rosemary Rees. With tlhe conclusion of this week 37 days of, the year 1909 will have during which time His Majesty’s Theatre has been occupied on 20 nights. Gisborne has had a <ieast of shows of late and diminished attendance's at recent performances are eloquent evidence that the capac ous • pocket of the docal theatre-goer is at last commencing to feel the strain. On January 1 and 2 the theatre was occupied by a Variety Troupe, followed on the. 4th., sth., and 6th., by the bright and cheerful Scarlet Troubadours. 'Next' iu order, on the 18ih., 1.9 th., and 20th., came the J. C. \\ iJliamson Musical Co., in the “Red Mill” and the “Prince t.f Piisen,” to be. succeeded on the '23rd., 25th.! and 20th., by the wonderful Russian musicians, tho Chorniavskis. Then on the. 27th., 28th., and 29th., came some high-class drama with Tie Humphrey-Kolker-Titheradge Con pany, and on February 1 and 2 came a short season of moving pictures by Cooper’s Opcrar scope. Then for the four nights immediately succeeding, and concluding f to-night, “Miss Lancashire, Limited” / held the boards. And still they come, / for, commencing with next Wedn.es- t day, Anderson’s Dramatic Company j will play a four-night’s ' season of 1 melodrama, simultaneous with the spectacular display, “The Birth of the Empire,” in the Garrison Jiall. Truly a busy programme for Gisborne ■and one well calculated to satisfy local theatre-patrons.

“Miss Lancashire, Limited” lias held undisputed sway at His Majesty’s Theatre for three nights, and this joltly girl will make her final bow to Gisborne to-night. Laughter-making is Miss J* lorenee 'Baines’ specialty, and as “Miss Lancashire” she Is eminently successful in fulfilling her desire, for nightlv tho theatre has resounded with mirth. Miss Baines and her company leave for south to-morrow.

Howard Vernon’s Musical Company is in South Otago with “Saratoga.”

Miss Ro emary llces has accepted an engager’uit :.s leading lady with a dramatic c mbiration under the management of il ■ynell and Gunn. Miss Rees will leave for Australia on March 10.

Miss Susie Vaughan, who lately appeared in G i borne with the Tither-adge-Kolker-Humphrey com biuat:on, lias been recalled to -tor* '% iM vne Julius Knight Company. Miss Beatrice Day is not in the cast.

Prior to leaving for Australia -Miss Rosemary Rees will produce in His Majesty’s Theatre on March 3. three of her own short plays. She 'viii be assisted by several leading local amateurs!

In'the various shows established throughout Australia and New Lealand bv Mr. T. J. West, employment is found for over 100 musicians, amt the yearly outlay for providing m.w to the pictures exceeds £20,000. Over 500 people are constantly employed by the management in all „ departments.

The Anderson Dramatic Co., "ill take possession ol His _ Majesty & Theatre next Wednesday night, when they commence a four-nights’ season. The initial production'will be the Australian drama “The Squatter s Daughter.” followed in succession by “V non London Sleeps.” “The Face at the Window,” and “Thunderbolt.

For tho Christmas Eve production in Manchester of “The Dollar Princess,” one of the new pieces acquired for Australia by the J. C. V iliuunson firm. Mr George Edwardes engaged Miss Hilda Moody, the wellknown singer, and Miss Alice Pollard, an actress who has frequently appeared in Australia.

The grand spectacular display, the Birth of the Empire” will be commenced under the direction of Signor Borzoni, in the Garrison Hall on day evening, and will run for six nights. The performers, of whom there arc 'about 200, have been thoroughly trained by the Signor, and as no expense has been spared m pro viding handsome dresses anil all other accessories, the performances _ should justify the highest anticipations.

Some idea of the magnitude of Wirth Bros', travelling circus, winch will bo shown throughout the Dominion in its entirety, will be gleaned from the following figures taken 'iiom tile manifesto of the Manama, the vessel which carried the combination to Bluff I roin 1 lobcrt: Fifty-seveu saloon, and thirty-nine steerage passengers, nineteen horses, fifteen ponies, four elephants (large.), three elephants (small), three camels, thirteen cages, one cage for giraffe, eight waggons, one gas tank, three dogs in two boxes, one goat, eighty tons gear.

A cable lias been received by Mr J. 0. Williamson from Miss Nellie Stewart, to the effect that she lias secured a/s her leading man in “Sweet Kitty Delilah's,” with which she opens at the Princess’s Theatre, Melbourne, at Easter time, Mr Langliorii .Burton, a prominent young London actor. Mr Burton is at present playing Cyril Maude’s part in “The Flag Lieutenant,” and lie has to his credit a long list of leading parts. Included in those are the title roi.es in “Brigadier Gerard” and “The Duke ef Killiecrankie,” Paul Syivai.no m “Leah Klcshna,” and Ernost jooi; lev in ‘The Admirable Oriehton, while he has done a h.tof'wmkm Pinero and Henry Aitlnu ; )1 ] nieces For several seasons he piayed leadin' o- parts with Edward Terry s repertoire company, and he was also supporting Miss Olga Netliersole. J

Sara Bernhardt has not taken Athens by storm, and lias taken -umbrage.. A Greek writer says of her: La Grande Sarali 3 who gave three representations here, appearing successively- in ‘L’Aiglon/, ‘Tosca,’**and Ira iDamo aux Camellias,” did not meet with the success which she expected, and left our capital in higu dudgeon. The Princes and Princesses were present at each representation, and were prodigal of applause, in their -wish to make up for the want of enthusiasm of the audience. Some of the papers made 'uncomplimentary reference to the distinguished actress’s age as incompatible with the roles she was acting.”

Meynell and Gunn have purchased the Australian rights of Jerome K. Jerome’s new play, “The Passing of the Third Floor Back,” which has been produced at St. James’ Theatre, lam don, with enormous success. It is a comedy-drama, a story of a board-ing-house in which genteel poverty introduces a number of queer characters which, it is said, a Dickens might have created. In the cast of the London production are Forbes Robertson, Gertrude E'Jliot, Alice Crawford, Kate Bishop, and Edward Sass. The piece will be staged in Australia by a new comedy company which Mr. Clydo Meynell has formed in London.