STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

HIS MAJESTY'S. June 3 to 10—Allen Hamilton Co. "Why Men Love Women." June 12 to 17—Stephenson's Costume Company. July 17 to 22—Auckland Amateur Operatic Society. June 19—Royal tlawailans. July 24 to August s—"Jack and the Beanstalk." August 14th to Sept. 2—"The Arcadians." OPERA HOUSE. Fuller's Vaudeville Entertainment. KING'S THEATRE. Pictures. ROYAL ALBERT HALL, rictures. A new dramatic company is being formed by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., which will be headed by Mr. William Desmond. The repertoire of the new company will include "The Dawn of a To-morrow," "Paid in Full," and "The Silver King." As Wilfred Denver in the latter drama, Mr. William Desmond will have a line opportunity of adding to his reputation as a sterling actor.

Tho new opera, "Baron Trenck," which has been secured for Australia by the Clarke and Meynell management, is described as a genuine comic opera, and although Felix Afbiui'a music constitutes a particularly important feature, the story is intrinsically dramatic. The second act, in particular, is of a strikingly picturesque character, the action taking place at the summer chateau of the Empress Marie Theresa. One of the most stirring features of this scene is the performance of the famous Kolo dance. Here, too, the hero, Baron Trenck, puts himself up to be rallied, the lucky drawer of the winning number having the right to claim him as husband.

For the. accommodation of the Maori troupe which is to appear at the Festival of Empire in London, the authorities of the Festival are building a special theatre on a site adjoining the Australian building, lv this theatre the Maoris will sing their part songs, some in their own tongue and some in English, and the men of the tribe will dance, iwa, the soloist of the party, will sing native as well as English songs. On land adjoining the theatre tho Maoris will have their village of huts, all of which, with their elaborate external and internal carvings and embellishments have been taken from New Zealand.

When Mr. J. C. Williamson was the principal comedian at the California Theatre, San Francisco, a rough gold miner handed him the manuscript of a play. On the voyage across tho Pacific he glanced over it, and saw that, although crudely written, it contained an excellent idea. So he set to work, polished it up, and decided to make it the opening piece of his Australian tour. Under the title of "Struck Oil" it scored an instantaneous success. After a year's run in Australia Mr, Williamson took it to London, when it had another career at tbe Adelphi. Mr. Williamson tried in every possible way to trace the original author of the play in order to reward huiv« Ibut could never get the slightest clue,

Nicola, the illusionist, who is booked for a series of appearances in Australia under J. and N. Tail's direction, is tho inventor of several new feats in Eastern magic. Two of his most popular tricks are his "Throne of Delhi," and "The Shrine of the Sphinx,""showing the extraordinary disappearance of a human body, while his greatest sensation is

"The Levitntion of Princess La Titiu." This act, wherein a young lady floats about in the air without any visible support, and moreover moves about at the direction of the famous magician, is stuted to have mystified the whole M America.

The headliner of Messrs. Linley and Stephenson's "The Wanderers" Company, to open at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next, is Miss Phyllis IlopwoodFoldi. As an original musical n.onologist. pianist, and quaint storey teller, she is said to be in a class by herself. She has a charming personality, which captivates her audience from start to finish of her clever act.

This yenr Signora Eleonora Duse will celebrate her fiftieth birthday. The great Italian actress has informed a Venetian theatrical chronicler that she is devoting her leisure to writing "Memoirs," which will include the theatrical careers of her grandfather, father, and herself. Her grandfather was acting in Milan when Napoleon I. arrived there for the first time, and, by a curious coincidence, her father was also acting in the Lombard city when Napoleon 111. entered to celeIbrate the exrpulsion of the Austrian troops from United Italy.

The Maori troupe are the only representatives of native races who have been permitted to take part in the Festival of Empire The Colonial Office disapproved of the proposal to bring the Maoris into the Festival of Empire, but as the troupe was already on its way to England, and as the New Zealand Government strongly urged that the. Maoris should not be banned, the Colonial Office decided to remain passive in the matter. It has not withdrawn the expre.-sion of its disapproval, but has accepted assurances that the Maoris will be well looked after, and kept rigidly away from London temptations.

Mr. H. B. Irving and his supporting artists are due to reach Fremantle on June 13th. The company numbers a dozen members, and a grand total of fully a score is reached when the wardTobe mistresses, maids and dressers are taken into consideration, as well as Mr. A. Godfrey and Mr. T. Itcynolds, who are already in Sydney attending to the preliminary arrangements.

Samuel llaneo. "the Handcuff Kirn;," was charged by Arthur Cummins, at Sydney last week, with having assaulted him at the Gaiety Theatre. Cummins stated that he was a member of the committee appointed to tie llaneo up on the stage. llaneo said, "'i'ou are not merely buckling mc, you arc knotting mc up. Wait till I get out of this, and I will knock you to Footscray." Instead of the usual two minutes, it took Hanco half an hour to release himself. He immediately attacked witness before the curtain could be lowered, and further knocked him out after it had been dropped. Witness was in the hospital for three days in consequence of tbe injuries he received. Hanco denied the as satllt, but was adjudged guilty, and a fine of 20/, with costs, was imposed.

At the Melbourne Glaeiarium (says the "Bulletin"), the Taits pictured some alleged incidents in the life of Judas Maccabaeus. Judas, according to the film, is a handsome youth who turns a old, stony face to the frank advances of an amorous queen. Obviously the lady dislikes the boy's scorn of her violent passion, and in a moment of pique and bitter disappoinment, reserves him as meat for the executioner. In the last scene poor Judas is duly slain; whereon the queen hurls herself on his stiffening corpse and sheds enough tears to float either a liner or. a loan.

Included in the Clarke and Meynell "Arcadians" Comic Opera Company, which is shortly to be seen here, are six English show girls of great charm and beauty. These were recruited from the Prince of Wales's, Daly's, and the Gaiety Theatres, London, and concerning them the Sydney "Sun" recently published the following:—"These ladies are not actresses in tiie literal sense. Their duties are purely decorative, being but to loolc pretty and graceful. They constitute that part of the modern drama known as 'show girls,' and those possessed of sufficient beauty of face and figure to aspire to such positions may command larger salaries than star tragedians did sixty years ago. The ClaTke and Meynell show girls in 'The Arcadians' each receives a salary of £500 per year as the price of letting audiences gaze on their 'beauty. Capitalising this sum on the basis of beauty enduring for ten years, and making due provision for sinking fund, bad debts, cab fares, postage, and other incidental expenses, it might be found that the net value of tho faces of the six Clarke and Meynell show girls is no less than £,35,000. Miss Forsyth, one o r the ladies referred to, is a Sydney girl, who went to London years ago, and was for some time principal show girl at the Gaiety Theatre, London."

Clarke and Meynell, in conjunction with Geo. Willoughby, have secured the Australian rights of a mirth making farce called "Bairy -Mine," which is at present running to packed houses at the Criterion Theatre, London, and has held the boards for over a year in New York. In v private letter just received by Geo. Willoughby from Wuedon (Jrossmith, the famous comedian says: —

"'Baby Mine,' is goivg with screams and yells of laughter. It is the most remarkuble farce the English stage lias ever known, and it is sure to rival 'Charley's Aunt.' It is now in its second year in New York, and shows no sign of letting up there. This is the sort of play the critical theatre-goers of Australia will be sure to like." Bearing in mind some other pieces that have come here with similar credentials, one might ask that the word "critical" should be cut out or at least placed between inverted commas.

Mr Hall C'aine has delivered his new play to Mr M. V. Ceveaux, who will produce it in the larger provincial titles in the coming autumn. It is, tho

"Era" reports, a drama of great human interest, with a strong part for the leading actor. The scenes are sot in a Yorkshire villnge nnd in the Iceland seas. The story is of a man who Is branded with the guilt of murder. The action starts a quarter of a century ago and continues till the present day.

With hisses and groans the audience greeted the new drama. There appeared to be not the very least chance of success. The playwright was brokon-heart-ed. He said: "It's hard to find out what the people do want." "It's easy enough in this ensn," said his friend. "They want their money back!"

Upton Sinclair describes his new drama, "The Nature Woman," thus:

"First I displease the conservatives by having Oceana, tl)e heroine, run off with Henry. Then'l displease -the radicals by having hor not tako him, and then, by leaving the wholo problem in the air, I displease everybody." Oceana has been reareji in the South Sea Islands nnd so is unhappy in Boston. "All Bostonians," she says, "wear corsets on thoir iniuds und souls."

"Mr. R. B. Young, who piloted the Scarlet Troubadours through New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa did not return with that clever company to Australia, but made the arrangements for the visit to South Africa of Sousa's Band. At latest Mr. Young was managing Ada Crossley's tour of South Africa, at the conclusion of which he was booked for America to join an important theatrical combination.

While Stetson was manager of the Globe Theatre, in Boston. Sardnu's "Theodora" was being presented there with Miss Lillian Olco'tt in the title role. Expensive lithographs adorned the lobby, and these attracted much attention. Stetson was in his accustomed place in tbe lobby just before the performance, when he was accosted by a prospective patron: "lo this a good play?" be asked. "1 guess so." from Stetson. "I see the posters show a cage with three lions and Theodora about to enter —does she really go in the cage with these man-eating beasts?" asked the inquisitive man. Business had been very bad all the week, nnd the papers had not praised Miss Olcott's portrayal of Theodora, and Stetson was in ill humour. So he replied: "No: but I wish to goodness she would." The Japanese have celebrated the opening of their new national theatre in Tokio. The imperial Theatre, as it is called, has taken over three years to build, and has cost more than t,"H),OO0. It would cost at least .CIOO.OOO in Europe or America. For completeness of appointment and beauty of decoration the Tokio Imperial Theatre is regarded as one of the finest in the world. All the iron doors and screens are controlled by automatic devices, closing them at once in case of fire. In addition, automatic lire sprinklers are installed in convenient places for use at a moment's notice. The seating capacity is about 17CK). The seats are adjustable for sitting in foreign or Japanese fashion. On either side of the stage aud level with it arc two magnificently furnished boxes for the use of the Imperial Family. Behind these are ample lounging rooms, furnished with every convenience his Majesty might I'tMfliiSo. The stage, which is 60ft wide by 33ft deep, has a revolving centre 48ft in diameter. The actors have four dressing rooms on each storey, with baths on each of the three storeys, and on one of the balconies near the stage there is a private box for actors to witness the performance while waiting.

Arabs are introduced into "Cnder Two Flags." which is now being played by Mr. George Marlow's company at the Adelphi Theatre. Sydney. An interesting report is to hand from Tunis of the first appearance on a public stage of two Arabian actresses. Permission had first to be granted, and it was being withdrawn at the last moment for fear of a public scandal ensuing, when influence was brought to bear, and the representation, as advertised, took place. A few Arabian theatres have actresses in their troupes, but they are either Jewesses or Christians. This is said to be the first time in the history of the world that Arabian women have appeared in public. The performance organised by a group of young Arabians lasted well into the night, an orchestra, composed of blind musicians, playing melancholy airs during the entr'actes. The play was entitled "Salah Eddine," and one of the characters is Richard Coeur de Lion. - 'V THE DEADHJEAD.