STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 27, 31 January 1920, Page 18

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Friends of Miss Florence Young, who met with a motor accident in Melbourne the other day, will be glad to hear, that ehe is making good progress after her operation. Miss Muriel Starr, at the conclusion of her present engagement in New Zealand, will return direct to the United States, together with other American members of the company. Mr- Bonno Scherek, who Ims introduced many musical "stars" to the Dominion, and who is well-known in Auckland, is attached to the musical stair of the Williftmeon Grand Opera Company. Under arrangements of J- C. Williamson, Ltd., a new company, to produce "Tilly, of Bloomsbury" in Australia, will leave London on January 26, and is due about the beginning of March. This comedy has had a successful run in London, and new principals have been engaged for the Australian tour, though the names have not yet been received. Intimation has been received by Messrs. J- and X. Tait that John MacCormack will arrive in Sydney in August, to fulfil his singing engagement. Another artist coming under Tait's auspices is M. Benno Moiseiwitsch, the Russian pianist,, and husband of Daisy Kennedy. He is at present in America, and is due in Sydney in May. His name, it is noteworthy, is pronounced moy-say-ee-vitch. James Bain, recently here on the Fuller Circuit, after 20 years away ifrom office life, goes to a N*S.W. Government desk in Davy Halle Department, confidently leaving the family name as far as the theatre is concerned to 17-year-old daughter Verna, who threatens to be Australia's nearest approach to Genee. Bain, who went to school in Ipswich with E. J. Carroll was a real lion-comique in his day, and when he toured with Charles Godfrey the latter ungrudgingly admitted it. Godfrey drew the houses but not the applause. Bain sang seven songs each night, and Godfrey stood in the wings and helped him to change his clothes for each number. One of the old theatrical landmarks of Sydney, the scene of many an historic production, is shortly about to disappear in place of a modern and commodious structure. Messrs. J. C. Williamson, Limited, have decided that the Theatre Eoyal shall be almost entirely rebuilt, and the work will be begun about the middle of April. The plans practically provide for the demolition of the present structure, the scheme ol remodelling being very thorough. I*rovision is being made* for a- considerable increase in the seating capacity of the theatre, and it is estimated that when the work is finished very nearly 2000 people will be able to sit down in comfort. Mr. Ernest Laehmar, the general manager for Chappel's and Co. in Australia and New Zealand, has returned to Melbourne after a five months' trip to England and America. Mr. Lashmar is popular with professional musicians, iind his friends will he glad to know that his trip was of exceptional interest. He heard from Sir Henry J. Wood that Australian musicians are held in great jsteem by him. He mentioned first and foremost the remarkable and sustained popularity of Dame Xellie Melba; the >uperb singing of Miss-Rosina Buckman; the remarkable progress of Mr. William Tames, who is rapidly becoming one of the eading pianists, and who hopes to visit iustralia next year; Miss Elsa Stralia-'s jrilliant einging with the Beceham Opera 20.; and the masterly conducting of Mr. iylmer Buesst. ! A cablegram states that the late Mr. H. B. Irving left a fortune of just over £37,000, which is a fairly- considerable ;um when the risks attendant on theitrieal management are considered. Theitrical managements are not always so solid financially as they seem, and if they niss the whim of the public for a considerable period the treasury quickly shows it. Here are some theatrical fortunes of interest:—James Bailey, circus proprietor, £400,000; D"oyley Carte(producer originally of the Gilbert-Sull-ivan operas in London), £240,817: John U Toole. £70,5)04; Fred. Hengler (circus man), Jl.'iO.Goo: David Belasco. £41,304; Jenny Lind. £4O,fi:iO; Xicolini. £40.100: IVilson Barrett, £30,552: Helen Faucit, £27.977: Edwin Booth, £24,000; Sir Augustus Harris. £23.G77; Corney, £23,G77; Cornev Grain. £15.030; Wm. Terris, £15.257: Fred Leslie, £16.113; >ir Henry Irving. C14,G33; Dan Leno. £10,044: Hon. George Coppin, £10,232. Mrs. Cyril Bell, better known as Mrs. Robert tsrough, has returned to Australia with ncr husband alter nearly five years' absence in London. Mrs. Bell wa 6 for nearly three years at the Royalty Theatre with Vedrenne and Eadie, Who, like most other theatrical managers, once the first paic days ol the war , were over, played to colossal business. Somerset iiaugham's play, v " Caesar's Wife," was one of the outstanding successes. Miss Fay Compton was the leading woman in this play, and Mrs. Bell considers her the cleverest young actress on the English stage. Miss Marie Lohr is now well alloat as an actress-man-ageress, and, after some failures, has been very successful with Kobcrt Hichens' play, "A Voice from the Minaret." "Neither of these plays," said Mrs. Bell, -would do any good in Australia. They are too <[uiet ana too talky—talky for this country. But in "Tilly of Bloomsbury" the J. C. Williamson" firm lias secured a play that is, in my opinion, bound to be a huge success in Sydney. In London it played to colossal business, with Mary Glynn, Arthur Bourchier, Allan Ainsley, and Marie Illington in the leading parts. The play is full of brightness and laughter, and goes with a mighty swing. "'I renewed an old friendship with Dion Boucicault, and played with him and his wife, Irene Vanbrugh, in "Trelawney of the Wells," "The Land of Promise," and that beautiful, but too sad, play of Barrie, "The Old Lady Shows ' Her Medals." Mr. Boucicault looks remarkably well, although he has aged, of course. Miss Vanbrugh acted, as ever, perfectly. She is, I consider, quite the finest actress of her years in London, "Trelawney of the Wells" was played to excellent business. It is wonderful how these old plays last. Did you know that Fred Terry and Julia Neilson are still touring with "The Scarlet Pimpernel." and making lots of money out of it, too? Against the tremendous successes achieved in London of recent years there are certain drawbacks. Kents are so colossal that unless a manager achieves an enormous success Tie is simply working for the landlord."