MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 9, 10 July 1909, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC.

COMI2SIU EVENTS. OPERA HOUSE. Meynell and Gunn's Opera Company, in Season. ilejnell and Gunn's Dramatic Company, 16th to 2tth July. Ti* «•. Pollard Opera Company, 26th July to 13th August. Xellie Stewart, 16th to 2£th August. J. C. Williamson, 30th August to 12th September. THEATRE ROYAL. Fullers' Pictures, in season. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Royal Picture Syndicate, iii season. TOWN HALL. West's Pictures, in season. "The Belle of Mayfair," to be staged for the fivbt time in Wellington by the Meynell and Gunn Company at the Opera House on Monday evening, is claimed to be the brightest and most superbly dressed of any that the Meynell and Gunn firm has yet presented. The play is really "made" by its music, in which Leslie Stuart (composer of "Floradoi-a") has given full play to his gift of melody, and the "book," by Messrs. Charles Brookfield and Cosmo Hamilton, contains some really bright humour and witty epigrams. The story is that world old one of love, that finds a way through all doors and walls that are set against it. The modern Romeo and Juliet are the Hon. Raymond Finchley and Miss Julia Chaldicott, he the sou of the proud and penniless Earl of Mount Highgato, and she the daughter of the wealthy and vulgar parvenu, Sir John Chaldicott, who is a kind of masculine Malaprop, frequently indulging in retorts such as "The idea of being talked to by one of one's own minerals, waiting to meet her soldier fiasco." Betweeu the two pa-rents there is the bitterest kind of hostility, finding vent in a quarrel scene between the two, which is one of the richest things in. the play. "From first to last," it is stated by a contemporary, "the piece is a stream of gracefully scored music. Stuart's facility in clioral work has resulted in several important numbers, as, .for instance,

the fine finale to the first act, led off by a conversation cleverly concerted, a vigorous climax being developed by the full choir and orchestra. There are many ' pretty and graceful dances, and one with a 'swing' 'effect -was vigorously applauded, but the dance of the evening ttas the burlesque of the "Merry Widow Waltz.' The introduction of the Oibbon Girls, in ruby velvet, their chins superciliously tilted, and generally porl taying the type made famous by Dana Gib'son, was a signal for a warm testimony of public approval." Following Meynell and Gunn's opera company at the Opera House, playgoers will* be entertained next Friday by the same firm's dramatic company, headed by Miss Gladys Harvey and Mr. Harcourt Beatty. The opening production will be Wilson Barrett's "Lucky Durham." The company is an exceptionally strong one, and has met with much success in Sydney and Melbourne. It includes Mr. Frank Rendell, Mr. Gaston Mervale, Mr. James Lindsay, Mr. T. Cannam, Mr. John Deverell, and Misses Emily Fitzroy and. Hilda Meade. Miss Tittell Brune'has received a presentation from the members of the J. C. Williamson Company, in which she starred recently. The gift is a large silver jewel case, on which are engraved the recipient's monogram, good wishes for the future, and the name parts she has played in Austi-alia. Mrs. liarry P. Lyons (wife of the popular manager and agent) died in Mel- | bourne last week at the age of sixtyseven. The deceased lady was once J well knowu on the boards. As a young ' girl she played with the celebrated G. V. Brooke, and later under the management of Wm. Hoskins and John L. Hall, at the old Princess's Theatre. She was a most genial woman, and was highly esteemed in private life. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons were a perfect Darby and Joan through a long married life, and she accompanied her husband upon his managerial tours through the East. 'In (Miss Gladys Harvey, tho leading lady of 'itteyneil and 'Gunn's "Lucky Durham" Company, Wellington playgoers will make tho acquaintance of a beautiful young EnglisUi actress for whom a brilliaat future is predicted. •Immediately upon leaving school, Miss Harvey, who has only been on the stage about six years, joined a musical comedy company, and whilst there was singled out from the crowd by Charles

Frohrnan, who retained her services for three years.- It was during this engagement that she played Alice Faulkner in "'Sherlock Holmes, " created at ■Manchester, "Mrs. Clayton," in "The Drums of Oude," and played juvenile lead in "•My 'Wife." Henry Arthur Joaios saw ■her one evening;, and immediately secured her for the production of "The Hypocrites," and it was while she was appearing ac Rachel Nev<3 that Beer■bohm Tree and Clyde Meynell witnessed her performance one night, and both remarked her talent. Mr. Meynell finally induced her to come to Australia. Mr. Harold Carr, who piloted the Burns-Johnson fight pictures through South Africa, has returned to Sydney. Mr. CaiT brings back some vivid impressions of the country, as seen through Australian • eyes. He describes the general trend of feeling there as ultra-Brit-ish, outside of which an ever-growing dislike and distrust of the black is the dominant characteristic. Indeed, "white race" grounds formed the reason for a marked hostility to the representation of I the fight pictures in Africa, it being strongly urged that they tended to depreciate the white prestige in exalting the negro as a champion. This view was politely, but very firmly, empliasised by the press throughout the country. Despite this disability, however, the show made a financial success, and Mr. Carr looks forward to an early return to Africa, which he regards as a very fine place to be in. That it is rapidly recovering from the depression which followed the war is, he says, evident. iMiss Emily Fitzroy, a member of 'Meynell and IGunn's Dramatic Company to appear here next Friday, has visited Australia previously, she having been associated with 'Mr. George Rignold some years ago. Lately she was for two years at Wyndham's Theatre, London, where s>he arjpeared in the principal roles in 'The Truth," "The School for Scandal," and other plays. She has also been associated prominently with 'Mrs. Bernard 'Beere. "The Flag-Lieutenant," the new naval comedy by Major W. P. Drury and Leo Trevor, will be produced at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, on 24th July. ±\ly. Thomas Kingston will play the ntime part in a reorganised company, for which Mr J. C. Williamson has engaged Miss Ethel Warwick as leading lady. This I artist's professional career was begun

in 1900, with Mr. Henry Neville, in "The Corsican Brothers," and J=he has .siace supported Sir Charles Wyndham, Mifcs Nance O'Neil (Adelphi Theatre), Mr. F. E. Benson, Mrs. Lewis Waller, and Mr. H. B. Irving (Lyric Theatre, 1906). Miss Warwick has also toured ! South Africa with. William Haviland's Shakesperian CompAny. The new lead- I ing lady is described as a tall, statuesque brunette, and it is ad-ded that she has sat as a model in her girlhood to Whistler, Sir E. Poynter, and Onslow Ford, I the sculptor. The artists with her represent two theatrical families of note. Miss Dorothy Grimston. is a daughter of I Mr. and Mrs. Kendal, of whom the latter (Madge Robertson) is the lister of the dramatic author whose long list of comedies assisted the Bancrofts to fortune. Mr. Lewis Waller, jun., who will also play in the new piece, has already had a great deal of experience in companies headed by his parents t and during one season toured with a company pf his own as "Brigadier Gerard." _ Miss Gladys Harvey, who has greatly impressed Australian critics, was married on the day she landed in Sydney from England. Her husband, Mr. Frank Randell, is also a member of 'Meynell and Gunn's "Lucky 'Durham" Company, which opens in the Opera House on (Friday night. Mr. Rnndell has had considerable stage experience. He toured three or four years with 'Mr. H. B. Irving in many juvenile and other characters, notably as Didier in "The yLyons Mail." Ho played lead in the one-act piece "King Renec's Daughter," with. Miss Dorothea Baird in the namepart, and supported the principals throughout their season this year at the 'Shaftesbury Theatre up to the time he sailed for Australia. Before that Mr. Randell gained experience in a Shakespearian company of which Miss. Madge EVnntosh was the head, which accounted for the presence of the latter at the wedding ceremony in the capacity of "Best Woman," and "Mother" to the bride-elect. "Lucky Durham," the last play written by Wilson Barrett, will be the opening production of Meynell and Gunn's Dramatic Company next Friday. Durham is lucky because, after much hostility has been shown towards his suit, he wins the girl of his heart ; and this play shows how he achieves his victory. Primarily, however, its object is to expound the author's views upon a certain [ social problem. John Durham is an illegitimate son, who comes to London from America a millionaire, to find his I proposal of marriage resented because of the circumstances of his birth. Hence he fulminates against the injustice of the social code. One long scene in the second act is given over to tho discussion of this question in an interview between Durham and James Vallerton, tho father of the girl he wishes to marry. Its general effect, however, may well be summarised in the declaration of Durham, "In America we ask what a man is, not what his father was," and Vallerton's reply, "In this country we not only ask who his father was, but who his mother, his mother's mother, and his father's father were." However, Durham perseveres, and wins. His odious father, Lord Mountfallon, has planned the marriage of his lawful son to Helen Vallerton, in order to restore the family estates with the girl's money, and when Durham appears on the scene threatens to make known his secret to "Vallerton unless he relinquishes his claim to Helen's hand. Challenged to do so, he hesitates, at which Durham himself promtly tells Vallerton the story. The millionaire's wealth enables him to buy thu estates of the ruined peer, and when he is about to turn Mountfallon and his family out into tho world, his grave, sweet-featured mother intercedes for them, reminding him that the only motive of such an act can be revenge, not justice. Durham accordingly turns away to build a home for himself and his mother elsewhere. Helen, witnessing the t>acrifice, flies to his arms, confessing her love for him as the curtain falls. Mr. Wilson, the scenic artist, who died in Sydney last month, leaves two sons — Carden Wilson, tho well-known mimic, and Frank Hawthorne, an actor now on the London stage. A near relative of the late Mr. Wilson is Fred. Henningham, the well-known advance agent. Miss Ada Reeve left England last month for South Africa. She is to play a nine weeks' season at Johannesburg in the theatre which the opened there three years ago. On the conclusion of her South African trip, she may pay a, short pleasure trip to Australia. Howard Vernon and his wife (Vinia de Loitte) have left for England. Tho visit is in connection with some property belonging to Mrs. Vernon. If a singer is to be judged by the company she keeps, then all the praiao extended to Miss Amy Castles must be well merited. She has sung under Hans Richter, Henry Wood, Frederick Cowan, Edouard Colonne, and Herr Scharrer, and when these names are inentioneu the list of thfc most famous conductors in Great Britain is complete. In Germany Miss Castles also attained the distinction of singing under the batons of that country's leading conductors, and in Dresden the Philharmonic Society presented her with a gold lanrel wreath. Clips. — Edward Lauri and May Bcatty are booked for just on two years on the English vaudeville stage. . . Roy Redgrave has on the stage in England a very clever sister. She talks of an early tour of Australia with new artists. . . Edmund Duggan and Bert Bailey are hard at work on a jiew drama. . . Charles Haw trey is negotiating for a tour of Australia. . . The Corrick Family, after a successful tour of England, are back in Australia — in the West. . . To-night Allan j Doone, an Irish-American actor, opens a season at the Melbourne-Bijou with a play with songs, a la Mack, entitled "Sweet County Kerry." Mr. Doone has a good American reputation. . . R. G. KnowW is in Canada, lecturing. . . Miss^Worence Bains was, by latI est advice, to open a season in 'Frisco. . . "White Australia" cost William j Anderson over £1500. . . Miss Marie j Lohr will be the central figure of a I cornedy — probably by Mr. Somerset Maugham — to be produced shortly at the Comedy Theatre in London. . . Miss Roxy Barton is one of "An Englishman's Home" company touring the English provinces. . . J. C. Williamson's Royal Comics finish the New Zealand tour on the i7th* inst., and then visit Hobart and Launceston, with Adelaide to follow. . . To-night Mr. Walter Bentley will make his reappearance in Sydney in a short season, principally in Shakespeare. He will be supported by local artists. . . Priscilla Verne and Tom Armstrong return to Australia from America in November. , . . Mr. Robert Needham, a New Zealander, is successfully playing the part of the Marquis de St. Brioche in the London production of "The Merry Widow." . . Miss Nellie Stewart says she believes Sydney and Melbourne are now large enough to supply special audiences for a special theatre identified solely with modern light comedy. Miss Stewart opens a New Zealand season at Auckland on 26th July. . . The repertoire of the Oscar Asche-Lily Brayton company will be a magnificent one, including ''The, Taming of the Shrew, "As You Like It," "Othello," "The Merchant .of Venice," "Much Ado About Nothing," in addition to "Count Hannibal," and probably Pinero's "Iris." . . Indian files state Sir Charles Wyndham was to pay a visit to India in the coming cold weather with a select company, including Miss Mary Moore. "No such histrionic treat has been afforded Calcutta since the time of tho Broughs," says a toi-re^nondent to a Calcutta journal t