AMUSEMENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2646, 30 October 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

AMUSEMENTS.

HIS MAJESTY’S

LOCAL FIXTURES.

Pathe Pictaires.—.Nightly. To-night.-—Hugh Ward Comedy Company. Nov. 15, 16, 17.—Pollard’s Juvenile Opera Company.

Mr Oscar Asche was a big winner over the victory of Hyman in the Epsom Handicap, his win being said to ill? 1 - four figures. Mr Asche and Miss Brayton received twenty-six telegrams expressing /the senders’ „ good wishes for their season in Sydney. Cables from London and other parts of the world came to hand.

Miss Elsie Hall, Australian girl piamste, whose appointment as teacher to Princess Mary of Wales was so much discussed in musical circles, is to play with Bussoni, Portmann, and Careno at Leeds in December, and later on will contemplate a tour to Russia, where it is a aid one of the Grand Duchesses has shown a great interest in her.

Miss Rosina Buckmann scored an emphatic success in the soprano part of ' ‘(Jller the Bowman,” produced by the Sydney Liedertafel at their one hundred and fiftieth concert recently, says an exchange. The music is by Mr Arundel Orchard. A Christchurch musician who was present says “Oiler the Bowman” has a Dr. Elgar style about it, and the i prologue (V male voices is really fine.

Miss Marie Lohr, and Miss Edyth Latimer, two Australians, according to the cables, have achieved great success at the Comedy Theatre, London, in Mr Somerset Maughan’s comedy, “Smith.” These two artists have been some years in England, and appearing with success in leading roles at various London theatres, especially Miss Lohr.

Datos,” whose real name is said to he John Bottle, a Londoner, and who is styled the “marvellous memory man” and human encyclopaedia, has joined Wirth Bros’ circus. He is said to be able to answer any question relating to any event that h&s occurred during the last 2000 years. His manager declares a New York medico has given £2OOO for “Datas” head at his death.

“People who are rude sometimes say to me,” remarked Mr W. S. Percy, “that they wonder how I can plav the fool every night for a living. I asked one of these the other day had he seen me, and he replied that he had been a couple of times to ‘The King of Cadonia,’ and had laughed heartily at the Duke. Now, I argued with" him that he was, on his own showing, a greater fool than I, for I am paid a good salary for my fooling every evening, whereas he pays to see me" If it weren’t for the money I receive I wouldn’t act the fool, and he, as a theatregoer, supplies the wherewithal to' the management to make ft profitable to engage comedians. It is logically cause and effect—he the cause, thp fooling the effect: or, again, it is supply and demand—he is one -who creates the demand, and I rush in with the supply. I think I have made it quite clear that a comedian is not so silly as he looks.”

Miss Stella Gastelle, principal “boy” in “Jack and Jill,” took part in amateur theatricals in her native city (Sunderland) when in her early teens. Her first professional engagement was as one of the principals in “Gentleman Joe” at the Prince of Wales’ Theatre, London, where she also appeared in “The White Silk Dress,” afterwards playing the pritna donna role in “Biarritz,” a musical comedy. When Audran’s famous comic opera “La Ponpee” was put into reheai'sal at the same theatre, Miss Gastelle was cast for a minor part, but the composer after seeing her play, instantly selected her for the part of Alesia when the piece was sent on the provincial tour, and when Mdme. Favier, the London exponent of the part, returned to France,-Miss Gastelle replaced her. It is her favorite impersonation. Her first appearance in pantomime was as principal “boy” in ‘Aladdin” at the Tyne Theatre, Newcastle, and the “Sporting and Dramatic News” wrote of her performance: “‘Aladdin’ never had a more bewitching representative.” From that engagement she went to the Itoyal Court Theatre, Liverpool, as principal girl in “Oberine,” and she made steady advancement in the profession.

Miss Gwladys Edwards, following the advice of Madame Melba, (according to the last mail) has gone to Paris to study with Madame Marchesi, who says that Miss Edwards has a beautiful voice. Miss Eva Balfour (Mrs Lawson Balfour) is a beautiful and talented New Zealander, who has been engaged by Mr Fred Terry for his autumn tour of “Henry of Navarre.” Miss Balfour is to understudy one of the leading roles, and also to appear in a minor part. Miss Balfour is married to Mr Lawson Balfour, the well-known artist, of Christchurch. Miss Zona Trader, of West Maitland, who won a scholarship for the violin at the 11 oval Academy of Music, was awarded a medal at tlie recent distribution of prizes. Miss Ella Caspers, the Sydney contralto, who has just concluded her first term at the Royal Academy, has been praised for her studies. Mr Percy Grainger, the Australian - pianist, has had his time fully occupied since his return froni the tour with Madame Ada Crossley in the Commonwealth. Mr George (EL Clutsam is busy completing a cantata which he has been commissioned to write, and which will he produced at the Queen’s Hall some time next month. Mr Fred Lindsay, tho Australian stockwhip artist, who has just returned from Paris, where he was at the Follies Marigny, Champ Elysees, was to leave London for Montreal last .•month, afterwards /doing California, and returning to the Coliseum and Hippodrome, and to take up numerous other engagements early next year. Mr Lindsay is accompanied on his second American tour by his wife and little daughter, YOUTH AND A,DAY. A musical critic supplies the following:—This is the title of a song by To Eangi Pai, the well-known New Zealand singer; the words are those of R. L. Stevenson. Stevenson’s thoughts have had exceptionally fine treatment by the above composer; it seems only fair to say that it is a case of wedded words and harmony. The chording accompaniment is rich and deep; unique in its style, having quite a. beauty of its own, the marks of expression showing keen sympathy with the writer in his appeal for his joyous -youth and purity of soul. Though Te Rangi Pai has sung some of her melodies on the platform, this is her first publication. o