MIMES AMD MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 77, 30 March 1912, Page 11

MIMES AMD MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.") THE SHOWS. OPERA HOUSE. The Great Juusen, Jn season to Och April Gcoi'ge Martoiv, 27th April to 18th May Williamson's "Everywomau" Company, 25th to 2Sth May. Williamson's 'Pantomime, 17th to 30th July. ■WJlliiiinEou'B "Blue Bird" Company, 14th to 27th August. Oscar Asuhe Company, 19th October to 2nd November. Williamson's "Ben Hur" Company, sth Xoveiaber. THEATRE BOYAI. Puller's Vaudeville Company. SKATING RISE. Fuller's Pictures. THE KING'S THEATRE,, Eoyal and "West's Pipiuren. STAR THEATSE. Star Picture Company. THE ifEW " THEATEE. MacMahon and Donnelly's Picturei, SHORTT'S THEATRE. 1 Shortt's Picture*. PAHIS / THEATER Paris Prize Picturce. Mr. Edward- Branccombt, who first visited the Dominion with his Westminster Glee ' Singers, and haa sinco kept up his- connection with New Zealand by visits of the popular "Scarlet Troubadours," , has a further intention of exploiting this country. Mr. Claude Haigh, who at latest wae managing a . tour of tho "Troubadours," writes stat- • ing that Mr. terai^combe's costume j comedy company, "The Dandies.'' is to I pay New Zealand a visit in May. "The Dandies" have been established Bomo time, and their popularity in Australia and Tasmania is said to rival that of "Tha Troubadours." Tho company will open its New Zealand tour in Auckland, Wellington following. Extended seasons v.»ill bo pla-yed in th» principal centres. ! Ono thousand pound 3 sterling is the value fcr_ insurance of each finger 0/ the magician. Jensen, who ia appearing at the Opera House. When in Sydney Jansen elfocted, in the Ocean, AcciduiiG and Guarantee Corporation, Ltd., the final^ insurance of £2000, 0n his hands, making his total insurance up to £10,000, for he already had policies./ for £8000 elsewhere in the world. Total, £1000 a finger. The insurance of, £2000 last effected wan the limit which a company would take on this insurance in ■ Australia, It is tidy enough, each finger being worth £200 on this single insurance alone. Jansen is now m the royal list of insured artists. Paderewski has tho same insurance on his fingers, and his touch on the piano is a £10,000 touch. Melba has the most valuable "partial anatomical insurance" in the world. Her larynx is insured for £30,000. Jansen's policy covers any injury to his, hands while in Australasia, wherever Teceived. Two unusual musical plays purchased by Mr. J. <G. Williamson when abroad are "The Siren," music by Leo Fall, and "Tha Night Birds." The former was the chief success of the last New York season j a"nd the latter, an adaptation of Strauss "Die Fliedermaus," is now one of the reigning London attractions. Mr. Williamson ako secured "Nobody's Widow," "The Woman" (by David Belasco), "Excuse Me," an intensely; funny farcical play carried on in the interior of a sleeping-car, and "Get-Eich-Quick Wallingford." He also saw and purchased "Bella Donna," in which Mrs. Patrick Campbell has mado an. immense success. J. C. Williamson, Ltd.'s, latest production; "The House of lemperly," appears to have been excellently well received in Melbourne, .the piece moving along very well, helped by its setting and costuming, and varied each little while by an interlude of boxing. It is pointed out, by the way, that Sir Arthur Gonan Doyle has by no means stuck slavishly to "Rodney Stone's" story, the book from which it is alleged to have b«en adapted. One or two incidents aro practically all that the two have in common. Mr. Wm. Hawtrey, the well-known actor, whose first appearance in Australia was as the "tramp," in the "Message From Mars," and whose alleged death _ was reported through the press some time ago, is now in America, and doing well' in a. now play specially written for him, entitled, "Dear Old Billy." A letter received from him la6t week in Melbourne by Mr. Len Davis, his business manager when in Australia, states that he is under a five yeare' arrangement with ilr. A. G. Delameter, of the Knickerbocker Theatre, ,New York, one year of which period has expired^ This means that Mr. Hawtrey will complete his tei'm in four yean* from now, and he says he intends visiting Australia then. "Duping vfilme" is the phrase used by mdying-picture men to describe a flourishing illicit trade in counterfeits of the current films'.". "Duped" or duplicate films are made by photographing the entire contents of moving-picture films as the scenes are .projected upon thfe screen. An ordinary moving picture camera is used for the purpose. These copies of films afford a very large margin of profit, because the dishonest producer may avoid the cost of mounting plays ; he avoids paying the salaries of "actors and other studio expenses, and in the case of outdoor ptjduclions or travel pictures he avoids th.e~cost of transportation aoid of delays. West's, Limited, has been registered as a company with v. capital of £150,000, in shares of £1 each, a>id will acquire the Australasian business of West's Pictures.', The. first directors are Messrs. T. J. West, -Edwin Cieach, E. 0. Gee, A. M. Miller, L. J. Smith, and Harry ii. Musgrove. Miss Tittell-Bruno, who now hyphenates her name, has embarked on the sea of independent managarnent, and is producing new 'plays on her own account. Recently at the Theatre Royal, Bournemouth (England), ehe presented a piece anent those "Dwellers in Glass Houses," who, as the proverb says, should pull down tho blinds. The drama, which is by one, W. H. Roberts, was a great success. ' Appearing in "The. House of Temperley" at the Melbourne Theatre Royal is a coloured boxer well known "in "fistic" circles in that city. His colour might aptly be likened to tho "a-ca of spades" — so much so, indeed, that at night bimo he ie almost invisible. One night during the performance, when a rapid change of scene was being made on the darkened stage, one of the scene-shifters collided violc-ntly with the coloured gentleman. The same thing happened two or threo times during tho evening. "Look here," said tho stage hand to the stago manager, ''would you kindly keep a spot-light on this coloured bloke, sir, ac wo can't c-co him in the dark, and wo keep a-bumpin' up against him." Although tho newly-formed Beit ■ Bailey dramatic organisation has imported its loading lady from London, she is not a native of Liitain. Miss Alary Marlowe is an Australian, who. after ihov/iuj, considerable ' promise in her native land, both nn the amateni' fctrgc and afterwards under the J. C. Williumson management, went io London to try her luck. Thai, vas two yeara ago, i-,nd from the Gist, when she appeaved with Stanley CooJ'o at itw Strand Theatre, in " The Ma.n 1-Voie. Mexico " until she •concluded a. stiabon with Mi I .' Derw-tiit Hal! Caiiie (son c" HaJl dine, co^eliit sitid playwright), iv the c<;ui*u 'A which, she played Glory Quayle in -'The Chnstuuli and £ii£ Greesan' in

"The Manxman.*' she was successful. Mr. Guy Ha_-iin;.s. who accompanied Miss Marlowe to Australia as. leading man for^ the same company, has J "starred" both in England, and America in such play* as "The Sqna,\v Man," '" The Coastguard's Daughter,',' "An Actor's Romance," and ''The Gipty. ' The new company is die to make its first appearance at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, to-night, in '"The Squatter's Daughter," "Bonnie Mary," and " Our Selection," a new Australian drama by Messrs). Bailey and Duggan will follow the revival. Before the curtain goes up on " Kismet." the great Oriental spectacle, at Melbourne Theatre Royal next Saturday night, the audieneo will be ma-do acquainted with some remarkable and novel features of this altogether striking production. First of all, they will find that the orchestra has disappeared, being concealed in two of the stage boxes, in i front of which incent,s is burning in old Eastern urns. Over the stage aro hung black tableau curtains, which, being parted, there emerges a story-teller, who takes up ( his pkee on a false ttage, or "apron," which covers the ( fcpace formerly occupied by tho orchestra. The story-teilei relates, before the opening of the play, the story of Hajj, the beg- j gar, who lived iv Baghdad 1001 years ago, and his narrative is continued also between the acts. There come forth from tho curtains, too, a dancer, a snake charmer, and a juggler, who ]aer- j form before the audience, and two veiled women sing, while the band accompanies them with weird and mystic Oriental music from tho boxes, into which the I>erformers disappear. All this has been wonderfully _ well conceived by Mr. Asohe, and imparts to tho play the real Oriental atmosphere, ' transporting the audience * back to "old Baghdad 1001 years aeo." The idea of converting the London tube railway into picture- palaces is the happy inspiration of Mr. George Phillips, of the London firm of Messrs. Keith, Prowse, -and Co. • By his invention the- pictures would not be pro- j jeetod .before tho audience as at a cmeinatigraph theatre, but the passenger would have the experience of being projected through the- scenes portrayed. The scheme is to fix the pictures at intervals in the tunnels, so. that as the train travels at high speed a quick succession appearing upon the screen would invest them with apparent animation. The secret is to devisa a means of deceiving- tho ©ye so that it cannot detect that the picture is fitill when it is projected. Tho promoter is confident that the difficulty will b© overcome, and that in the near future a traveller tired of his paper will be able <to rest his eyes upon a series of apparently ''moving pictures, which will bright-en tube journeys. A new performer has appeared on tho stage of the Melbourne Theatre Royal, presenting a turn which is calculated to bring down the house literally and figuratively, writes the -Melbourne correspondent of Sydney Sun. Unfortunately there was no audience to enjoy the act, for it took place in the afternoon, the performer being a monkey, who, it is understood, is neither a member of the Actors' Union nor the Actors' As.eociation, however well qualified he may be. On the arrival of Mr. J. F. Russall, the stage manager of the AsoheBrayton Company, it was intimated that a monkey was required for Kismet. Tho'description given was that he "must be cheeky, yet of exemplary conduct when required." Various people put in an appearance at the Theatre Royal with monkeys, aud among them a darkcomplexioned gentleman," bearing au unusually large-sized monkey in. his arms. In the background wac a wellworn barrel organ.«6*''l have brought da monk," he said. "It ees a good monk.' 1 Tho monkey grinned amiably, then pulled off the hat of the stage manager, just to get acquainted, as it were, and' an adjournment was made to the stage. The monkey was placed on a table for a moment, when, without any warning beyond a chatter of triumph, it caught hold of a rope" dangling from the "flies," and swung itself aloft. One of the stage hands was, despatched to the "flies" to disengage v the rope, but the agile monkey perceived the 'intention, and swung himself on to one of thci rows of electric lights, or "battens," as they are called, which provide from above the stagethe lighting of the scene. For the next few minutes pandemonium reigned up above. The monkey made a descent- on the electric glebes, as soon as ft found they exploded easily, and the popping as he threw himeelf amongst thc-m resembled the discharge of a miniature battery. Altogether sixty-three globes were smashed before he tired of the sport. The monkey, now' thoroughly warmed up, to his work, climbed to the proscenium top, and then jumping to another batten commenced to dislodge the electric globes and hurl them at a sideboard,- upon which was a quantity of mugs, glasses, and churchwarden pipes used in the play. He spent a couple of hours scampering about in the dusty regions^ above the stage, but ultimately coolly lowered, himself by a rope, anil was captured- in one of the dress uircle boxes, having perpetrated £15 worth, of damage. One of the important musical events of the present seaaon will be the visit of Madame de Cisueros. A letter received from the operatic Etar by Portus and Talbct, Limited, who will direct her tour, states ,tha,t she i.s locking forward with great pleasure to her return to Australia, and the many friends she mado duiing tho visit of the Melba, Opera, Company, will share that pleasure. She is making arrangements to bring someother noted lingers with her, and intends ta include iv her programmes for Australia &oHgs in French, German, Italian, Spauit-h, und English. Special features will be made of Italian music oi the 17th and 18th centuries, samples of the late German, and French tchcols of composition, and Irian folk music. Tho direction of this big concert tour will not by any means complete the activities of Portus and Talbot.th.is season. In addition to their operations in Australia, they will exploit South Africa and South America, and the first move in that direction was made a few days ago, when the American manager of Nicola, the magician, was despatched to South Africa. The tour of Jansen is also to be extended to 'that part of tho world, and perhaps to South America. It is possible that Madame do Cisneros. may tour South Africa and South America under the direction of the new firm. Porj tvs iind Talbofc further announce that the <Kersand Minstrek will shortly arrive in Australia from, the United States This is a famous troupe of 40 members, who bring their own brass band, orchestra, and scenery. It is headed by "Billy" Kersand, and .the entertainments arc of a spectacular nature, a circumstance which, as far as Australia is concorned, is entirely novel in this class of programme. Tyltyl. the woodcutter's son, and Mytyl, lue little sister, who make the quest for happiness in "The Blue Bird," will bo played in the Australian production by Miss Gertie Cremer and Miv?s Vera Spaul!. Miss Gertie Cremcr, d<*«pite tho fact of only being 10. has been five years on the stage. She was enjjsigd by tho late Mr. Harry Riekard-i as a- child entertainer, and afterwards played Small Simon for the J. 0. Williamson management in "Jack and Jill," being given a song and dance. Last ycrr she toured Australia as a 'Var," playing "Little Lo-rd Fauntleicy." Mies Vera Spaull recently tame under notice for her excellent performance of Ciesio Denver at ilia last revival of "The Siher King," at tne Byd nay Theatre lloyal, while slio v/ 113 again EUix-a&sful tie th" Uttlp girl in I "Alias Jimmy Jfclcntiaß. 'i " - -