MIMES AMD MUSIC.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 94, 20 April 1912, Page 11

MIMES AMD MUSIC.

(By "Orpheus.") / THE SHOWS. Ot'EKA HOUSE. Miss Millie Baiuet, 32nd to 2Gth April. Ueorge Marknv. 27th April to 16th Slay. Williamson's "Eieryrvonisin" Company, 216t May. , Williamson's Pantomime, 17th to 80th July. Williamson's "Blue Bird" Company, nth to 27th August. Oat-ar Asche Company, 10th October to 2nd November, Williamson's "Ben Hur" Company, Bth November. THEATRE KOYAL. ! Fuller* Vuudeville Company. TOWN HALL. Coifcert Chamber. English Pierrots, 10th to 22nd May Udwatd Branscombe'h "The Dandies," 23rd May. i SKATING RINK. Fuller's Picture*. THE KING'S THEATRE, Royal uud West's Picture* STAR TfIEATItB. Btar Plot me Company. THE NEW THEATRE. MacMahoii and DQunelly's Picture*. SHORTT'S THEATRE. • Shortt's " Pictufu*. VAKIB THEATRE. Paris Prize Picture^ Monday night will see a new tenant at the Opera House in Miss Marie Bains, who will present a revival of that laughable comedy "Miss Lancashire, Limited." Those familiar with the comedy when previously played will not doubt avail themselves of the opportunity of spending a couple of hours with the diverting Mary Ellen. Miss Marie Baine's will be- "Mary Ellen, and her performance is said lo equal that of her sister Florence, who played tne character here previously, On Saturday evening next Mr. George Marlow 6 Dramatic Company, fresh from its successes elbewher^, will commence a season of popular drama at the Opera House. The opening attraction is entitled "A girl's Temptation." The piece has the hallmark of London success upon it, aud also the stamp of approval from the centres at the Commonwealth. "A Girl's Temptation" has been described as a drama full of sensational incidents and brilliant dramatic situations, so much so that it is said the attention of the audience is rivited from the rising of the curtain until its final fall. There is finely blended throughout the dramatic situations, however, some comedy, and many newspapers haye -commented upon the bright aspect of th« comedy element in the play. In London the drama ran for over four hundred nights. The quality of the story, combined with the astonshing incidents it unfolds, it is said, explains the interest taken in the play. The principal characters are said to be personally and. individually attractive. In the production every care has been taken in the casting of the piece, and with this- end in view the management has chosen a company of several of the best known artists in Australia, in addition to importing three English artists. Cabling recently from New York to his Melbourne representative, Mr. R. S. Baker, of, the theatrical firm of Dixand Baker, New South Wales, notifies the engagement made by him of several cele.'bnties for a series of lecture tours in. A-iistralia. Amongst these are Franklyn Matthews, the well-known American press mam; Miss Mary Proctor, whu makes a platform specialty of astronomical subjects, .and is the author of various works on popular astronomy ; and Elbert Hubbard, a prominent man in American literature, the founder and leader, of the Roycrof t fraternity of East * 'Aurora, State of New York. Mr. Matthews will bo remembered in Melbourne in connection, with his visit as representative of the New York Sun, with' the American fleet. Miss Proctor < is a daughter of the eminent astronomer, the late Richard Anthony Proctor, and has lectured^ with, great success both in England and throughout the "United States. London's new Gaiety piece, "The Sunshine' Girl" is described eloquently as "a triumph of prettiness," '.It appears from the notices to be- the- class of musical comedy that such a phrase fits — sprightly jingles from the pen of Mr. Paul Rubens, . v, feeble story, and handsome dresses. Mr. Edmund Payne and Mr. George OroEsmith, jun., make much of the comjedianfi' roles — the former as a pedestrian arid strike agitator, Floot by name, the' latter as "Bingo," who personates the heir to £40,000 a year.' Miss Phyllis Dare, Miss Connie Edies, and other well-known people are in the cast. It would be impossible to shower too much praise upon the acting of Miss Gertie Cramer and Miss Vera Spaull ("The Blue Bird Babies"), who play the parts of Tyltyl and Mytyl, and who carry much of the responsibility for the success of this stupendous production on their small shoulders, says a Sydney critic. During the entire six acts they are continually on the stage,' and the successful memorising of the lines which fall to the lot of Gertie Crewer would alone entitle her to the highest commendation. _ But when a thorough and artistic conception of her role, coupled with a dainty naturalness, clear enunciation, and splendid delivery, is added ,to this achievement, Tier performance presents a finished exhibition of dramatic art the charm of which defies analysis. Miss Vera Spaull, although not so heavily burdened with lines, by her wellconceived acting makes the- hereditary timidity of the Girl stand out in vivid , contrast to the brave little swagger that Miss Creiner given to the Boy. "A new waltz, entitled "A Garden of Memories," by Adrian, Hope, the author of several tuneful compositions, has come to hand. Though not quite up to the standard or some of Mr. Hop-s's previous works, still it is full of swinging melody, and possesses distinction, and bhould quickly grow into public favour. The members of the Hutt Valley Amateur Dramatic Club, who have previously distinguished themselves on the local dramatic .stage, will stage Pinero'e threeact comedy "The School-Mistress" on 25th and 26th April. The comedy has been caste as follows: — The Hon. Vere Queekett, Mr. Chas. Gray ; Rear-Ad-miral Rankling, Mr. Fritz Mothes ; Lieut. Mallory, Mr. 11. Parkinson ; Mi. Saundcrs, Mr Leslie Caverhill ; Reginald. Paulover, • Mr. Harold Jowett ; Otto Bernstein, Mr. G. Kirk; Tyler, Mr. Alf. May ; Golf. Mr. Len Simpson ; Miss Dyott, .'Mie& V. Johnston j Mis., Rankling, Miss Nora Natusch; Peggy Hesslerigg-e, Mies Maud Kingdon ; Dinah, xYliss Dorothy Brooks ; Ermyntrude Johnson, Miss Alice Naughton; Gwendoline Hawkins, Miss Anne Stunt ; Jane Chipman, Miss Amy Packard. The scenery ha* been, painted by Messrs. Foster. Mr.' Bert Bailey, a member of the rocently-fovmed dramatic firm, is| con vinced that the Australian kookaburra i» no jackass, although he is generally called one. ,l?ov the " Squatter* «■ Daughter " a number of the birds aro kept behind the scenes in clo&ely-eovered cag-es, a strong light being thrown on them by suddenly raising blinds. This is done to dccciv* them into fchinkmj,' that it 'is sunrise in order that their laugh may break forth at the right ir.iMnenfc for the play. All went well until the first mafetiee. In the afternoon the darkened cages, were lighted, and th« birds hailed tho dawn ■ vigorously ; but when they were called upon that oigh£ to regoat th.c, figl'&y^najicg gbey,.

absolutely refused ti> do to. Mr. Bailuy put* the rjoho, for ilio bit'db fchu*>; " What's this? Two tsunrites within a few houiß of each, other ! Even a jaoka*>s knows better than that! " Madame Emily Sr.idjiic, whose death was recently announced, confirmed in Australia, when ilia visited that countiv first in 1877, th e reputation she had already gained as an opera bouile actreus at the Philharmonic in Islington, whcie her Drogan, the baker, in the- famous production of " Geuevievc de Brabant,'' by Charles Morton and Charles Head, helped to make thb piece, and, incidentally, to establish the fortunes of the theatre. Sh« .had a long career as a singer at tho Oxford and other halls in London, as Miss Fitzhenry; and Mr. Henry Bracy, now in Sydney, says the Herald, remembers her well in those da,ys X wheu i her mezzo-contralto voice \va» of beautiful quality, and secured fche immediate success of the operatic selections in which she took part. She made her appearance as Madame Soldepe in opera bouffe at the London Lyceum in 1870 in "Le Petit Faust," " Chilpenc,' and other pieces, and 6oon afterward attained her memorable success at tho lerlingtoii Philharmonic. She appeared in "La Fille de Madame Angot" uri the occasion of its liret production in England at the London Oaiety in 1873 ; later bhe toured +he- English, provinces, and then took net own light opera company to America, and Australia. In Sydney she and her company appeared with great success at the old Theatre Royal ; afterwards she visited this city a second time, and was then at the old Garrick. 1n1879 she wrote her "Recollections"; this, work was reissued on the occasion of her benefit at the London Palace in 1906 — a benefit which realised over £800 Madame Soldone contributed weekly letters to Sydney newspaers. Some idea of the costly outlay and arduous training which he, before fhe youthful vocalists who leave Sydney for Europe with & misty impression that they are likely to sing in operatic roles in twelve months may be gained from the latest newa of Miss Linda O'llava. (says Sydney Herald). This young lady's farewell concert here, just before sho was seventeen years of age, took place as long agw as March. 1903. At the end of tho year she renewed her studies in London, with the advantages of a good education and a beautiful contralto voice, under Sir CharJes Santley, and was then placed under Mmc Marchesi in Paris for a considerable period. For about two years Miss O'Hara has since been studying Opera in Rome, and has acquired eleven roles. Miss O'Hara's most important professional engagement has bcena tour of England with Kreksler, the great German violinist. "Monkbarns" in the Bulletin : Tt is difficult to recall any other nominal .Mrs. op the Australian stage but Mrs. Brough. All Misses. Even Bob Brough's mother acted as Mies Romer. How different it used to be. The Sydney and Melbourne boards had scarcely a Miss in the generation before last. The celebrities were such as Mrs. Wal,ler, Mrs. Guerin, Mrs. Hejr, Mrs. Jones, Mrs, Cameron, Mrs. . Arabin, Mrs. Knowlee, Mrs. Avins., Mrs. Phillips, and the like. Not a Miss in the company brought by Coppin i'rom Launceston to Melbpurne m 1845. The ladies were Mrs. Coppin, Mrs. Thomson, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Watson, and Mrs. Hambleton. And when tho Melbourne Royal opened, in 1855, all the ladies' parts in "The School for Scandal" were iaken by Mrs. Poole, Mrs. ' Chester. Mia. Moore, and Mrs. Thorn. Mr. Walter Bentley, who is known in these parts, has been iuduced to make a theatrical tour through New Zealand. The tour has "been made possible* owing to fact that. Mr. Bentley's College of Elocution and Dramatic Art is 'being rebuilt, .and it is to fill in the timo that the college will beclceed that Mr. Bentley has been persuaded to como across to the Dominion. The tragedian will be supported by a full company, with special scenery and costumes, and the repertoire will be taken from the many plays in which Mr. Bentley has been seen in days gone by. ' "Sinbad/ 1 which i<s "hoodoo" in England, according to Mr. P,ip Powell, has been a great financial success in Melbourne. Mr. Pip Powell, who plays a leading part in the Williamson Pantomime, was speaking quite seriously about the "hoodoo." There were. 400 pantomimes staged in Great Britain last year, he eaid, and only <sighteen of them were called "Sinbad." And why? Because the name of Sinbad was hateful to the English theatrical manager ; it was unlucky; it was, in fact, "hoodoo." Sinbad ran for 119 nights in Melbourne, and at the concluding performance the company received, a cordial demonstration by the audience. A scene as disgraceful as it was painful was witnessed at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, on Good Friday evening, when a number of hoodlums of both sexes in the gallery Tovealed themselves in such 'an exhibition of ribaldry — verging at times on blasphemy — as is fortunately not often witnessed. For this outbreak, declares the Australasian, the promoters of the entertainment-^or whatever it may bo termed — were primarily to' blame. The place was out of harmony with the theme — co were most of the audience. The announcement encouraged a belief that "an exact production of the time-honoured and atupendqus drama," 'The Passion Play," would be. given. The gallery expected moving pictures at least,, and when they wero offered rather indistinct and badly lighted slides they let themselves go without Teserve, without reverence, any symptom of self-respect, or regard for the feelings of others — though that probably is about tho last consideration' one might expect. The outbreak, bad. as it was, may serve a useful purpose iv btrengthening the determination of suburban residents to warn off the prompters of seventh-day picture chows, with programmes unsuitable for quiet Sunday ovonings. Theatrical clips : — Mr. L. Hardinge 'has been engaged to Support Mr. Walter Baker in heavy roles. . . . Mr. Claud Rains, to whom the important work of otagc-managing "The Blue Bird" has fallen, was for several years employed in that capacity for Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree. . . . Mr. H. J. Patrick, who plays "King Love " in " Everywoman," and who recently married Miss Meynell, has signed % three years' contract with, his father-in-law's firm. . . . Rehearsals for the forthcoming production of "Ben Hur," at Sydney Theatre Royal, have commenced, and the J. C. Williamson Company has purchased a string of black and white blood horses to be used in the chariot race, which is- a feature, of tho performance. . . . The production of "The Blue Bird " saw the return to the Australian stage of Mies Madge Macintosh, who was a great favourite with the play-going public during her former visit, when she appeared in several plays with Mr. Harcourt Beatty ... Miss Jano Kilton, who was leading lady for Andrew Mack in " Tom Mooro " during his Australian tour in 1907, died at Vancouver on 26th January. . . . "Sinbad the Sailor" ran for 110 performances at Her Ma-jesty's Theatre, Melbourne, breaking the previous best record of a Williamson pantomime. . . . Passeugers on the list of the Makura from Vancouver included Mr. Harry Carson Clarke, an American actor, and wife, who are on a pleasure trip to Australia, and Mr. SI. Steinberg, an American millionaire, interested in theatrical enterEriee. . . . Messrs. Werba and Leuscher aye launched their third " Spring Maid " company in America. This musical play is still one of tho outstanding successes on the American stage. It will be one of the J. C. Williamson attyctioijß in A\tfU - aUa m jUe near future.