MIMES AND MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1911, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC.

IBr Oxpjeuub.i THE SHOWS. OPBRA HOUSE. J. C Williamson, 15th April to 6th M»t. Allan Hamilton, Bth to 17th May. J. C. Williamson, 18th May to 7th June George ilarlow, 12th June to Ist July. Clarke and MeyneJl, 6th to 20th July. J. C. Williamson, 17th to 26th August Clarke and Meyriell, 15th to 30th September. J. C. Williamson, sth to 25th October. Clarke and Meynell, 3rd to 16th November J. C. Williamson, Christmas season. THEATRE ItOYAL. Fuller's New Vaudeville Company. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATER. His Majesty's Pictures. * THE KING'S THEATRE. Boyal *nd West's Picture*. ST. THOMAS'S HALL. Star Picture Company. * TOWN HALL. "The Wanderers" (Concert Chamber), 15th April. George MarloVs dramatic company enjoyed an extraordinary run in Auckland. Nightly the house -was filled to overflowing long before the rise of the first curtain, hundreds being turned, away. Instead of decreasing, the crowds seemed to be getting larger at each successive performance. "Nor is such a state of things to be wondered at," says the Auckland "when it is considered what a sensational and striking stage story is being presented in 'The Bad Girl of the Family. 1 The curtain rises punctually at 8 each evening, and though it , do_es not finally fall until 11 o'clock there is not a dull moment, tne huge audiences being on tiptoe of expectancy throughout. So great is the boom being experienced that the management have decided to extend the run of the piece." The company will open in Wellington on Easter Saturday, Mr. B. Levy being already in town forwarding arrangements. The attractive charm of music, mirth, and merriment is strongly evidenced in Mr. George Stephenson combination, '"The Wanderers," who commence a season at the Town Hall on Easter Saturday. The organisation is an aggregation of first-class artiste, who have proved themselves in every way one of the finest musical combinations that' has ever toured Australia. The personnel of the company is exceptionally strong, being composed of singers, dancers, actors, comedians, and instrumentalists, all of the highest ranK in their profession, 'me principals include Miss Phyllis Hopwood Foldi, an artist in monologue. ~ Miss Foldi has specialised very cleverly in the class of work made so popular here, and elsewhere by the late Mcl B. Spur. Her stage appearance is decidedly attractive^ she dresses charmingly, her diction is clear and effective, and under her hands the piano seems a living thing. Her programmes are well selected, and in every case the music to which the precis are set and which she herself has arranged, are tuneful and pretty. The personnel of the other members of the company are: — Mr. George Winstanley, Miss Everil Heggie, Miss Ruby Guess, Miss Madeline Feme, Mr. John Dennis Keenan, and 'Mr. J. Lieth Harvey. The music numbers are arranged and directed by Mr. Herbert Brahms. Messrs. John Fuller and Sons are iortunate in having secured Mr. Baxnold and his world-renowned animal actors. This unique animal combination comprises thirteen dogs (including "Drunken Dan"), seven monkeys, and one cat. They come here with a reputation which is calculated to make it possible to announce that the previous record in vaudeville in this city has oeen beaten. With this specialty added, the show, which will commence a season at the Theatre Boyal at the latter end of April, should be one, of the most attractive kind. Two well-known. English artists — Miss Kate Walfred and Mr.' Herbert Vere— are on their way to Australia, under engagement to George Marlow. Another stage and peerage romance has been consummated. At a registry office in the West End, London, Mrs. Clara Stirling, formerly an American, musical comedy actress, was wedded to the Marquis of Cholmondeley. The bridegroom, by the alliance, loses a legacy of £30,000, which the late LadyMeux bequeathed to him on the condition that he married a society lady. A cable message received by Mr. J. C. Williamson from Madame Melba announces another import-ant engagement for the season ot grand opera — that of Mr. Edmund Burke", the wellknown basso, who went across recently from Canada and America to Covent Garden, where he made a decided hit ac Mephistopheles in "Faust." He will be of material strength in the new company. Another tenor has also been engaged. Mr. AXatheson Lang is once more in London, after his Australian tour. Following the general custom, Tie has (according to the Daily Telegraph) momentarily turned his attention to the variety theatre, having just signed a contract with Mr. Walter Gibbons, by virtue of which he and his wife (Miss Hutin Brjtton) are to. appear at the Palladium in -a new one-act play written by Mr. Sydney Lewis Ransom, author of that powerful little drama, ' " The Conspiracy." . The playlet is a costume piece of the period of Charles 11., and calls lor au unusually elaborate production. r The coming of Sousa's Band is heralded by the arrival , in Dunedin of Mr R. L. Mulai-key, who is making a flying trip through New Zealand, paving the way and making the 'path smooth for the world-famous organisation under the conductorship of Sousa, whose personality counts ior much. The band of 60 instrumentalists will give performances in each of the four centres, and Wanganui and Palmerston North. At .present these are the only towns outsidev of Dunedin, Chrktchruch, Wellington, and Auckland that will be visited. The New Zealand tour commences at Dunedin. opening on Ist August. Wirth Bros.' Circus has opened in •bydney with a completely new company engaged by Mr. G. Wirth on hie recent torn-. The company arrived in Sydney by the Zealandia from Vancouver. The new company includes "the Flying Jordans," those aerial wonders who are known, not alone in Australia, but the v.orld over, as occupying the very front rank of their profession, and they return to Sydney with new feats of sensationalism. The Adelia Trio of wire performers is a troupe composed of two ladies and a gentleman. They perform on a tight wire—a silver thread — upon which they execute dangerous and difficult feats. Jumping over (chairs, tables, and a-opes, turning hand-springs ,aore among their specialties. Miss ©uika Meers is proclaimed to be the "finest esquestrienne in ihe world." Kitchen and Foy provide startling feats of strength and daring, while upon aerial bars, and they work in comedy effects of an amusing character. The Scarlet Troubadours, that excellent band of merrymakers, which is juet now completing a tour of South Africa, are to return to New Zealand in July. Mr. Gilbert Fletcher, who was with the combination on its previous tour, and was lately here with Fred. Graham's Comedy Company, will manage the tour. Miss Margaret Co&per, who is to come to Australia shortly, under the J. and Is". Tait management, is one of the favourite entertainers in London drawing rooms. Miss Cooper has many pleasant recollections of her *W«et Enxl

engagements, and recalls an interesting meeting with the King oi Spain. On one occasion, he was present while she was singing the humorous sung, "Waltz Me Round Again, Willie," and was so delighted with it that he requested her to sing it again. On that evening, IMiss Cooper remembers, she gave the ditty no less than four tiroes. Another artist on tour under the Tait management is Miss Mildred Wrighton, who "is to support Mr. Joseph Blascheck on his tour of Australia. For several years she has been on the English concert platiorm, and is described as an accomplished pianist and delightful accompanist, and possesses a charming way of singing a humorous song. When in Sydney lately (says a Melbourne paper), Mr. George Marlow interviewed his old mentor, Mr. George Rignold, with a view to" getting that gentleman to appear again on the boards. Mr. Rignold has now the matter under consideration, and Mr. Marlow says very hopefully that there is every possibility of the great actor appearing again for a short season. Possibly the most telling situation in "Via Wireless," which is to be staged in Dunedin shortly, is the scene where the wireless operator on the big ocean liner Mongolia Has the stage practically to himself, and, presiding at the instrument, repeats in graphic and realistic words, an account of all that is happening to the steam yacht Irvessa, which is lying in a disabled condition some distance from the liner. The message comes through that two boats have left the yacht, and in one of them is the heroine of the play, Lieutenant Somers's sweetheart. The lieutenant himself has remained on board the yacht, with one assistant, to keep in touch with the Mongolia until ,the boats' crews are picked up. When the boats arrive it is found that the heroine has remained behind to stand by the dynamo and keep the current going, to enable the lieutenant to fla-sh the messages along from the yacht. The latter informs the Mongolia's operator that he will not show a light till the boats have safely reached the liner. When they are therefore outboard the Mongolia notifies Somers that it is time for, him to be rescued, and 'this is accomplished just in the flick of time before the yacht falls to pieces. A remarkably fine effect is produced by the big oceaai-going steamer, outlined with light, standing off, and the life-line reaching the yacht just before she finally breaks up and sinks out of sight. The itinerary of the Sheffield choir for its Empire tour is complete. The singer's were to leave Liverpool for Canada on 17th March, giving their first concert in Halifax one week later. The tour of Canada will occupy almost two months, including an incursion of about a fortnight into the United States, where Chicago, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and fc>t. Paul are the principal towns to be visited. Sir Edward Elgar, the composer, is to assist Dr. Coward and Dr. Harriss in conducting the North American -tour. Working always west, the choir will leave Vancouver on 19th May by the, Zealandia, which will be their home for a week before sailing. Afternoon and ' evening concerts will be given at Honolulu on the 26th.. and an afternoon concert at Fiji on sth June, and the vessel will reach Brisbane on 10th June, giving an afternoon and evening concert on that day. Dr. Harriss, meanwhile, having hurried back to London before the end of the Canadian programme, will have conducted at the Crystal Palace at the opening of the Festival of Empire ther» on 12th May, and then rushed straight off for Australia, via Suez. He hopes to meet the choir on its arrival in Brisbane, and thence onward to take turns* with Dr. Coward in conducting. Nine concerts will be given in Sydney— l3th to 20th June — and on the 21st the choir will sail for Auckland. Miss Phyllis Hopwood-Foldi, who is to appear here at Easter with Mr. George Stephenson's "The Wanderers," went to London with, the intention of further developing her playing. Arriving there she quickly placed herself under firstclass teachers. But when only a few weeks in the world's metropolis somo acquaintances casually heard her in musical monologue, an accomplishment she cultivated upon hearing Mel. B. Spun- when he was in Sydney. Her friends at once told her that there was a career for her in London, and a big one, if she further cultivated her gifts in this line. The result was that she abandoned the idea of being a concertpianiste, and commenced giving recitals as a musical monologist. In this way six weeks after her arrival she gave a recital in the Steinway Hall, and with such great success that engagements came fast. According to the London press notices Miss Foldi enjoys the distinction of being the first and only lady musical monologist appearing in public in London. One paper says: — "The accomplished young lady may justly, claim the credit of having introduced to ' the concert and fashionable, drawing-room a^ new form of refined entertainment. Not merely is the the only one of her sex to give recitations at the pianoforte, but so far no elocutionist has anywhere filled out an entire afternoon or evening with keyboard accompaniments to pieces grave and gay." Indeed, all the London papers point out that she is really the first who has given a musical monologue recital there. Miss Foldi spent two years in London, and then went to Paris, where sho repeated her London successes, including recitals at the Lyceum Club and other fashionable circles. She next went to New York, giving many afternoon and evening recitals there. Miss Foldi will return to New York next August in order to fulfil a six months' lucrative engagement. This is Mr. J. C. Williamson's jubiiee year on the stage. Fifty years age he played his first part in the western division of -the United States, and then worked gradually eastward until he 1 reached the famous WaUack's Theatre in New York, from which city (37 years ago) he came, via San Francisco) to Australia. As befits a jubilee year, there is to be a jubilee programme. "T want to make it a notable twelve months in the annals of the Australian stage." Mr. J. C. Williamson said lately "The 'two big things' of the year will be Mr. H. B. Irving and Madame Melba." The London newspapers give favourfeble criticisms of Haddou Chambers's comedy "The Passer-by," produced at Wyndhams Theatre, London. Charles Haddon Chambers is a native of Sydney, N.S.W., and is 51 yeara old. He was in the New South Wales Civil Service for two years, then spent some time in the Bush, and has resided in England since the early eighties. Journalist and author, his works include "The Idler," 'Captain Swift," "The- Honourable Herbert," "The Old Lady," "John a Dreams," "The Tyranny ot Tears," "The^Awakening," and "Golden Silence." He is joint author, also, of "The Fatal Card," '^'Boya Together," and "The Days ot the Duke."— John's Notable Australians. Theatrical Clipe.—Mies Ithel Irving hae selected "Dame Nature" as the opening play of her Australian season. Mr. Stephen Ewart is her leading man. • ■ . Miss Maggie Moore and Mr. H. R. Roberts again played "Struck Oil," at the Theatre Royal Melbourne, recently. . Mr. Duncan Seven, journalist, has been appointed press agent for George Marlow, Ltd. . . Miss Carrie Moore is at present appearing as principal "boy" in pantomime at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham. . . Mr. Arthur Crane, lately baritone with the "Madame Butterfly" Company, has settled in Brisbane an a teacher of einging. a