STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 111, 10 May 1919, Page 18

STAGE JOTTINGS.

" 1 Minnie Love's engagement with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., terniinad.es in September, and she will probably return to London to fill vaudeville engagements, j Arrangements have been completed for Charlie Chaplin and Mrs. Chaplin to visit N'evv Zealand within tho next twelve months. They will appear at the principal picture theatres under control of the Hay ward Company. In one week at the Lexington, New i York, when Harry Lauder was ou tho I bill, £7200 reached the box-oHiee, representing the takings for six night shows: and a matinee. New York "Clipper" I claims this as a vaudeville record. " I Mr. George Marlow, who retired from j active theatrical management some time ago, is tired of his life of inactivity, and j proposes to visit England in search of j theatrical novelties. He has raced a small string of horses for some time past in Australia, but, in view of his ' departure, his horses will be submitted , to auction at an early date. Mr. Marlow, who will be acompanied to England by his wife I Miss Ethel Buckley), expects ; to get plenty of new plays in London. : He has already received a cabled offer from Italy of an operatic attraction. "With a State guarantee to enaiire its permanency." says "The Theatre, "the Conscrvatorium Orchestra has begun its. new career in Sydney. The elcnu nt.iry | error into which the majority of 'he objectors have fallen show- how little, value their criticisms rcal'y posse--. They profess to assume that the Gov ernmeat is proposing to stolid £11,1100 upon the orchestra. Surc'.v they under stand plain English! The Government is n.it proposing to spend £11.000. li iproposing lo bee.imc a guarantor for thai sum; and in tile circumstances of the present case, thai is something vastly different, for the reason that the receipts from the orchestral con.-oris will re,luce that liability consi.lerat.lv. if tlc-i do no! wipe il out altogether. Alrea iy the orchestra, under the new .•■niilit.-ms. hagiven us lunch excellent iniiric. ' The new musical comedy, "lib! Oil! Delphine." to be produced for tto !'i-t time here by .1. I. Williamson, Ltd., al His Majesty"* Theatre, after "M.i.v time." roir.es with an cv ptionallv good reputation as a high class, melodious play. It has enjoyed great success both in New 1 ork an I England, and was splendidly recc.ved more recenth in Melb oinie. The mil- ■' with which Ivan ( aryll has cmbclli-hcd the piece is. by all accounts, more than ordinarily fascinating, while the hook of I. S. M. McLcnnan is claimed to ne especially .lever and entertaining. As to the cast Mr. Leslie Holland should be quite nt home as the irascible Colonel Pomponctt. Bouchotte should g.ve Mr. Phil Smith a great chance for his unique humour. Mr. Reginald Roberts in a semi-romantic part, with fine numbers, will be seen in a part perfectly adapted to his methods. Miss Gladys Moncriell should make a bewitching Delphine. while Miss Olive Goodwin as S:mone. and -Miss Florence Young as Bimhotiln (the lady of the Persian rugsl lhave both been well treated by author and musical composer. The scenery is I said to be exceptionally elaborate, while the costuming is reputed to be something of a revelation, even for a Williamson production. Mr. Charles Berkley, the popular iivant-roureur of the Williamson Opera Company, tells a good story of how lie. captured Kitchener. The great Meld Marshal visited New Zealand in 1008 (or thereabouts) to advise the Dominion on the subject of. defence, ami his tour, as m'.n'nt be imagined, was mapped out to the minute. Mr. Berkley happened to meet Sir .loscph Ward i then Prune Minister) in Wellington, and loarn-d that he was on his way to meet Lord Kitchener in Christchurch. "The King of Cadonia" happened to be on at the theatre there, so sensing a big advertise ment. the genial Charles suggested that K. of K. might like to "soe the play/ "Not the slightest chance in the world," replied Sir Joseph; "his time is mapped out to the very mhiute." "Nevertheless," says Mr." Berkley, "we made our arrangements, keeping seats (or Ixird Kitchener, his staff, and the Ministers aicompanying him. He was to arrive at the railway station at 7.30, have a brief reception there, and then drive to the club for dinner, on the night tho show opened. Dick Stewart and I were standing outside the theatre, looking rather blue, for though all the best seats were booked, the crowd were at the railway station, and we had small hope of getting them, At a quarter to seven a telegraph boy handed one of us a telegram: "His Excellency Lord Kitchener will ntlend the theatre with his staff but there must be no demonstration.' Who ho! I had kept the boxes for the stall and two seats in the front of the circle end we ijet out to do tlie thing properly. 1. hired fifteen fellows at live shillings each to run down to tlie railway station get among the crowd and shout 'Kitchener will be at the theatre.' i lieu we had to square the orchestra, and they got the tip, so that when a white handkerchief was shook out in the circle they should piny 'The King.' Whal hap pened vvi- th:-: On Ijtird Kitchener's arrival nt the railway station, the Mayor started to deliver what promised to be a lengthy oration. Lord Kitchener politely cut. short his elo(|iienee, said Ihe fewest words po-sible in reply, cut the dinner ami drove to the theatre with his stun" and Ministers. And wasn't there a house! There was hardly standing room inside, and about four thousand people outside. Then I had lo find mil if Lord Kitchener would like any refreshment, and what was hi, brand' of cigarettes, 'lie doesn't drink strong liquor,' 1 was assiited. Must get something soft-soda water or ginger ale.' So we got sooa water and the right brand of cigarettes, and in the interval Lord Kitchener came into the manager's room and had ji cigarette and some soda water. The staJJ. of course, they drank .-oda water, too. What else could they do: Lord Kitchener was delighted with the pel form a nee, and said so. '( have seen several kings in my time' he remarked, 'but I have never seen one I liked more that the King of Cadonia.' He added that he had not been in a theatre for nineteen or twenty years, and he had never enjoyed him-elf so much as Uv had that night. As to there being no dei monstration—well! When the white handkerchief llrw out, and the orchesjtra struck up. and a voice from the .circle cried '.My—Kitchener!' tin* audience rose as one man und cheered—they cheered and the ladies waived their handkerchiefs. It was a stirring night. And Lord Kitchener rose from his seat, and, looking round on the sea of faces, said: ''Thank you; thank you!' in the true Kitchener manner, so that all went j merry as wedding bells,"