THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 28

THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

PLAYS AND PLAYERS. (By a Correspondent.) The opening of the new St. James Theatre is the big event of this week in Sydney. The theatre is the work of- Mr. Henry White from floor to .ceiling, every detail of the construction, decoration, and furnishings being conceived by him, and most of the materials made in Australia. This will make the one hundred and eighth theatre or public hall that Mr. White has buiit. The interior is gleaming silver wherever the eye may rest, breaking into a delicate wedgwood blue over the proscenium and the facades of the boxes. Wedgwood figures of silver fibro-plaster are mounted in bas relief upon the blue. The carpet and the chiirs are in old English rose, and this throws a rosy glow upon the ceilings of the dress and family circle. A light tracery of blue is also worked into the carpet, which, has been woven in Scotland, though Mr. White designed it here upon the very floor it was to cover. A feature of the theatre is the glass chandelier of prisms and cut glass, which has also been made in Australia. Metallic paint has been used on the walL> and ceilings and this catches the reflections of whatever colours come close to it. The spirit of democracy has been maintained by the Fuller-Ward management in this, their new and greatest venture, and the same carpets and chairs are to be found in the family circle as in the dress circle and stalls. Cloak rooms are also provided on each floor as well as a soda fountain in each vestibule. "No, No, Nanette!" opened the theatre with an entirely new company, except for May Beatty, Elsie Parkes and Oliver MacLennan, and the newcomers were giveu a tremendous welcome. May Beatty and Madge White, the latter one of the principals of " No, No, Nanette," were together some years ago in a London theatre, and they have renewed a friendship based on those old days. May Beatty, who has been enjoying a holiday in Sydney with her little daughter, Bunny Lauri, is looking extremely well, and is very happy to be back in harness. Just now is the season for charity carnivals, galas, and garden fetes, and the services of theatrical stars are solicited whenever possible. Marie Burke shines at this sort of entertainment and sends out circular invitations with tickets attached, promising the takers of the said tickets, " two hours of happiness with mc," when the auspicious occasion comes round. Leon Gordon and the other members of the " White Cargo " company are also in the boom, and a " White Cargo" night is advertised at one of the leading restaurants with prizes for the best representation of a character from the play. Mr. Gordon and Helen Stransky and several others in the cast have promised to be present in their war paint, just as they come from the stage. Tal Ordell, with his own play, " Kangaroo Flat," is still at the Palact! Theatre and holding his own against the dry rot which generally sets in at the theatres immediately prior to Easter. His leading juvenile, J. E. Kowe, was leading man to Gertrude Elliott the last time he was seen in this city, and he has been playing in repertoire in Adelaide for the past year. Tal Ordell is likely to go to London before long to play his original character, Ginger Mick, in " The Sentimental Bloke," for which E. J. Carrall is even now making arrangements for production in England. Probably five or six of the original members will go over for it. Nellie Bramley and her husband, William Russell, will take over their ten years' lease of the Grand Opera House on Easter Saturday, and they intend to open their first season with a musical version of "Uncle Tom's Cabin." ' Nellie Bramley is to play Eliza, and she will have a couple of sentimental songs during the action'of the piece. They are kindly lending the theatre to Nellie Stewart for her charity matinee of "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" on April 22 to raise funds for the Radium Needle Fund for the hospitals. The RussellBramley Company is one of the happiest combinations in Australia, Miss Brainley's cheerful temperament setting the tune for all the other members. Irving's Imperial Midgets arrived by the Sonoma during the week* for the Fuller Circuit. These little people, of whom there are twenty-three, are perfect miniature specimens of mankind and womankind. There are two married couples among them and one baby, which is almost as big as his parents. They are most fashionably attired and the men are very dapper. Melbourne is to be their opening city, with Sydney to follow, and New Zealand later on. Pavlova is having a sensational success in Melbourne, and the season has been extended. This will bring her and her company to Sydney a week sooner than expected, as the Adelaide season has been postponed to allow for the extension. New Zealand will follow on the Sydney season, and the other Australian States will bewisited later on. It was at first intended that Pavlova should go r to Ameripa from here, but she has now changed her plans, and will go to Paris instead. The 17th of Aprjl is to be her opening date here.

Ella Shields has been very ill with bronchitis, and in a hospital in Melbourne, but the latest reports are favourable; Gladys Moncrieff has written to her sister in Sydney that she is to open in London in "Riki' Tiki" on April 10. There was some talk of a three years' engagement, but Gladys was not sure about that. Ponce Kelly will open here in April in "Polly With a Past." . Her leading man, Anthony Holies, played in this piece in South Africa with Ruby Miller about two years ago. and came on to Australia with her at the close of the tour, the idea being that the red-haired Ruby would be able to negotiate for an Australasian tour with the same piece with J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Though the Firm played with the idea for a .short time. Miss Miller's terms were considered too extortionate, and she went on to Los Angeles to play in pictures. Anthony Holies joined Reiiee Kelly's company soon afterwards. He was married '-'.\ England to Dorothy Fane, of the sum? company,- the day before sailing from London. , ...

Leonard Gautier's troupe of dogs, which he calls "The Bricklayers," are performing canine marvels at the Tivoli at present. There are nine of them, and most of their act is conducted-'with-out humans, though M. Gautier and his son are in charge in the wings. M. Gautier speaks to the dogs in French, and the worst of the punishment ever meted out to one or other of them is a slap on the paw, just as one would spank a naughty child. It is a great grief to their owner that the dogs are not allowed out of the theatre for air And exercise, but the law of the land forbids it. The dogs include fox terriers, French poodles, American bulls, and one of Chinese breed. They die. climb, build houses, get drunk, and various other things that humans do, with uncanny sincerity.