AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2461, 27 March 1909, Page 12 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY’S. LOCAL FIXTURES. March 31 to April 3.—Meynell and Gann. ~ Easter Woeli—Maskel.yne arid De~ vrittfc. . . Mist Tittell Bruno appears in Melbourne to-day. The name of the Chinaso conjurer,“Chung Ling Soo,” is said to mean “very good luck.”

Madamo Ada Crossley and party reappeared in Sydney on the 24th inst; and will appear- to-night, and also on the 29tli inst.

The Maggie Moore-Harry Roberts Company opened at Newcastle on Saturday last and received a great reception.

Roy Redgrave, the English actor, well known in Australia, leaves by the Ophir this month to join Wm. Anderson. He will make his first appearance in Melbourne about Easter time.

Several of the members of Mr J. C. Williamson’s Company gave a concert in the Plunket Ward of the Dunedin Hospital last week for the benefit of the inmates of the hospital.

Yet another wedding play is announced—“ The Soldier’s Wedding.” It follows, almost as a matter of course, that the Meynell-Gunn firm have secured the Australasian rights.

As showing the extent of the slump in matters theatrical in Australia, it is mentioned that there are no less than

) applicants for employment on the hooks of the Royal Theatre in Melbourne.

The last two weeks in Sydney are announced of Paul Cinquevalli, who hat been, drawing crowded houses nightly. The great juggler commences a tour of New Zealand under Mr Rickards’ management early in April, supported by a strong company.

During the past few weeks Mr J. C. Williamson has .received several offers of plays based on Major du Maurier’s success, “An Englishman’s Home,” but adapted t-o local conditions. The offers have been declined, as it- is considered they infringe the copyright law.

Miss Betty Ohls, the clever little lady who was here with the Merrymakers, and has since joined Mr Williamson’s Comic Opera Company, has had to undergo an operation for appendicitis in Sydney. She is now progressing favorably.

“Dick” Stewart, who has been South as business manager of the Tit-toll Brune Company, has gone on with the rest of the company to Australia. He will, however, return to New Zealand at Easter time, as business manager of the Royal Comic Opera Company, which will commence a New 'Zealand tour at Wellington.

It is said Miss Tittell Brune sail! from Australia for London in May. She will probably hid farewell to Melbourne at the, same time that Miss Nellie Stewart will be there. It will be interesting to watch which draws the biggest houses. A private cablegram received in Wellington states that Miss Ola Humphreys, of Mr J. C. Williamson’s St?-' Dramatic Company, which has concluded a tour of the Domini' 11 ) 16 to play the leading part in “A 1 Ell §- lishman’s Home,” which piec' has been creating such a sensation England, and is to be produced tralia under the aegis of tlle J - c - ll ' liamson firm. Harry Shine tell? diverting story of his ‘ 'absolutely’ ’ appearance in Australia. Win* 1 he arrived, under engagement to/ - illiamson, The Gondoliers ” 10r which he had been secured wa / produced, so that he had f '’ “spell” for a little while in Melbor lie - While waiting, a benefit was ,ot up for Fred B. Netbe, who for Harry St. Marr at Theatre Royal. Teddy Royce, George Walton> Edward Sass, and lots of othef well-known people volunteered their services, and Harry Shine was permitted to appear. . The programme was to conclude with a burlesque melodrama—“ The Rosebud of Stinging Nettle Farm,” in 0110 scene. At the last, moment the gentleman who was cast for the aged parent revolted and refused to play, so Harry was pressed into service. He knew nothing of what he was to do, but was told to weep, and say “Ma che-ild.” He proceeded so to do at every available opportunity. His defect in preparation was not noticed because .no one else had nny idea of their part either, and compromised by walking on and off, giving the mystified audience little bits out of every piece they had ever played in. Half way through Fred Neebo, who was to play the heroine, arrived in a dress suit and a joyful frame of mind. His joy, however, disappeared when-iie saw the dimensions of the house. ’All he would do in the interests of high art was to slip a skirt on over his dress suit. A 6 the latter tiras his only refused emphatic i : k k ' MM

ally to faint or fall down or do any of tho things a self-respecting heroine should do, despite the strenuous efforts of the others to awaken him to a sense of his responsibilities. “What tile audience thought of it all,” said Mr Shino, “I never loarnt, and as most of the company had been refreshing themselves pretty freely during tho proceedings they didn’t know much about it either when the curtain finally came down. But it was a great evening.” 'J i , •; . .■ • MISS BEATRICE HOLLOWAY. The possessor of a frank, "open, charm- * ing countenance, Miss Beatrice Hollowav, who appears at His Majesty’s Theatre next week, impresses one with her earnestness and a serious view of life. It is not so long ago that this young lady, who comes of famous theatrical stock, was playing child parts; now v she is leading lady to Meynell and Gunn’s Company. Her parents .were impressed with the fact that education was an important factor in their child’s life, and with this object in view did not wholly confine her to the stage when a child; indeed, she appeared before the footlights but spasmodically.. Her first appearance in a child’s part, however, showed she had talent,-but she has gone on improving until she now occupies a high position in our theatrical life. There is one outstanding part in : her brief career which she always looks upon with the greatest pleasure. That is as' Cissie Denver to Mr. G. H. Titheradge’s Wilfred Denver in “The Silver King” during that actor’s previous visit to Australia. Mr. Titheradge presented her with a photograph bearing the words “To Beatrice Holloway. The best Cissie Denver I ever had.” Mis* Holloway has also-played Lynda, tho . blind child, in “Power and the Glory,” \ Dick in “Two Little Vagabonds” (one of her best parts), Eileen O’Connor in “The Colleen Bawn,” and other Irish pieces; Nellie -Standisli in “Shadows of a Great City,” and Joe in “Bleak House.” Five years ago she commenced her stage career in earnest, she says. On one occasion a charity performance was to be given in Newcastle. She was not in the cast, but her mother was, as Cynisca in “Pygmalion and Galatea.” Her mother took ill on the morning of the production, and Miss Holloway immediately took up the study of the role, and played it successfully that night. Miss Essie Jenyns was the Galatea on that occasion. In referring .to her rise on the stage, Miss Holloway said she supposes she has been fortunate, but she had great assistence from her parents, with whom she always appeared until she joined Meynell and Gunn. Her mother, Miss Alice Door- -v wvn, is still with her. Miss Holloway is passionately fond of home life.