MIMES AND MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.")

(Signed)

THE SHOWS. Grand Opera House—J. C. Williamson, Pantomime. 22nd June. Concert Chamber—"Tho Dandies, season closes to-niglit. Totfn Hall—Gertrude Johnson B Concert, 19tb July. Concert Chamber—The Pierrots, 17th July. Mis Majesty's—Vaudeville. Tin Kind's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Picture", Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Picture*. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre —Picture*. Paramount Theatre—PicturM.

Mr. T. CCarroll, formerly of Wellington, whose clever dancing was admired here, writes that he is dancing in "The Bing Boys of Broadway," in Melbourne, and was to appear at a performance when the Prince of Wales intended to be present.

The movie stars Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne will be presented in New York shortly by Oliver Morosco in a stage play, "The Master Thief," from the pen of Edward Rose.

"Chu Chin Chow" had its 1700 th. performance in Her Majesty's, London, a few weeks ago, and it then looked like doubling that record. It is called "the stayer" in theatrical circles.

Theda Bara, the well-known fihn etar, recently appeared on Broadway'in an American drama, "The-Blue Flame." But, according to a New York critic, she was not a success, her voice and acting not realising anticipations. The play had plenty of wicked scenes, and, as Theda Bara excels in these in pictures, it was thought the same art would be prominent in the spoken drama.

Miss Dorothy Vane, who was the bright particular star of one of J.-C.W. "Geisha" companies, has had the misfortune to. lose her husband (Mr. Norman Menzies), who was the . only son of the first proprietor of the well-known hostel at the foot of Lonsdale-street, Melbourne.

Chris Richards, the English "antic" comedian, who played here with the Fullers', was recently in New York Vaudeville! Of his act one of the .critics wrote : Chris Richards, who is running Charlie Chaplin a, close second when it comes to fantastic capering, makes fun of the' preceding act, and then starts dancing and chasing his hat. "The Merchant of Venice," up to the last week in March, had been played by Mr. J. _B. Fagan's company in London for more than 200 nights without a break. It will probably equal the record run of that play at the Lyceum in 1879-80, established by the late Henry Irving. The development of Mr. Hugh J. Ward's scheme, when he goes abroad shortly, to send out to Australia a first-class Shakespearean company, will be'awaited with interest.

■It is interesting to note the number of items which a eostum«-comedy company presents during,a five weeks' season. "The Dandies of 1920," who have just appeared for that period at the Wellington Town Hall Concert Chamber, submitted a total of two hundred and sixty-eight items. In addition there were several dances. The amount of work entailed in preparation of such a repertoire' is very heavy and not easily realised by the general public.

Mr. John Amadio, the eminent flautist, is at present in London. Mr. Amadio was to have toured the Dominion this year as a member of the Cesaroni Concert Party, but, owing to the great demand on all passenger accommodation, was unable to secure a passage in sufficient time to allow him fulfilling the engagement. Mr. John Hopkins, who will conduct the Cesaroni tour, has secured an excellent harpist as a member of the company. Such an attraction should be very popular, as harp solos are always most enjoyable when, played by an artist who fully understands the manipulation of this ancient instrument. Other members, of this company include Miss Vera Carew, a brilliant young Melbourne soprano, and Miss Rosa Walton, the charming exponent of songs at the piano who scored such great success during the season of "The Dandies" in Wellington. '

Thirteen years ago Victor Gourlet broke a tendon in his ankle while dancing in Adelaide. A clever surgeon grafted a wallaby's tendon in its place, with the result that he recovered the use of' his foot again, and can now dance better than he ever could. The little comedian made his re-appearance in Australia, after ten years' absence,. at the Sydney Tivoli a few weeks ago in "Bran Pie."

The Fullers' latest act, known as "Fullers' Nine Wonders," will shortly be presented at His Majesty's. These are a band of youngsters after the style of the Kute Kewpie Kids, but even younger. They are dancers, acrobats, singers, and gymnasts, and everywhere their hurricane speed act has collared all the applause. At the conclusion of his Dunedin season Mr. Allan Wilkie will play several of the smaller towns ©n route to the North, making Palmerston North for show dates. He will sail afterwards for Melbourne, opening there with either "The Rotters" or "The Luck of the Navy." After the Australian tour the company may play South Africa, but, whether or not, Mr. Wilkie will return to New Zealand some time next year with a Shakespearean repertoire. He promises a big production of that fine and little-played tragedy "Julius Caesar." Sir Thomas Beecham, speaking at the .dinner of the Pianoforte Manufacturers', Association in London, • said that/ although brought up .on German pianos, a' few years ago he had come across an English piano, and had used no other since^ He had cast out the foreign devil from his opera house, and had not permitted any institution or concert hall under his control to use any but an English piano. There was no reason why the British pianoforte trade should not lead the world.

Musio lovers will welcome the appearance here at the Town Hall on 19th July of Miss Gertrude Johnson, the young Victorian soprano,, who was last in New Zealand early this year as prima donna in the J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Company. She is touring the Dominion under the direction of Mr. Victor Beck, and under the management of Mr. G. S. Garland. They have decided to reintroduce Miss Johnson on the concert platform, and with her will be Mr. Horace Hunt, the gifted Auckland musician and pianist; and Mr. Charles Russell, the celebrated Australian flautist. Mies Johnson is to be heard in a series of operatic numbers, several with flute obligato,'l as well as in vocal selections coming under the heading of "popular." A magician's- life is sometimes fraught with all that is strange and amusing, and an incident which occurred to Garter the Great during his ■ visit to Manila illustrates this. The chaplain of the famous Bilibid Prison arranged with Garter to give an entertainment for the three thousand or more white and native prisoners, and this small army marched out into the square and squatted on the ground with but only a few guards ; but machine guns were trained on' them from the walls of the prison. Under these conditions Carter presented a. two hours' enr tertainniGiit, during which there was a downpour of rain Although the audience was drenched to the skin they laughed and applauded ev«ry trick and illusion.