MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 7, 9 January 1915, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.") THE "SHOWS. GRAND OPERA HOUSE. Julius Knight, in season. Wiilonghby's Dramatic Company, 18tb January. "The Court Cards," Btb March. J. C. Williamson,. 28th January. HIS MAJESTY'S. Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville. THE KING"S THEATRE. Pictures nightly. STAR THEATRE. Pictures nightly. NEW THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. EMPRESS THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACS. Continuous Pictures. BRITANNIA THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. OPERA HOUSE. Continuous Pictures. The Bert Bailey Dramatic Company has teen disbanded temporarily on account of the depression caused by the war. The New Zealand tour of "Within the Law," under Dramas Ltd., is to commence iv InvercargiU at the end of the month. Arthur Hnnter, who has been with Williamson companies for over fifteen years, died in Australia recently from consumption. He was here playing small parts with. "The Merry Widow" Company in 1909. Cyril Mackay, as the leading support to Miss Muriel Starr, has been a success in "The Chorus Lady," in whkh he played the villain. Mackay was seen to advantage years ago when he sopported another American actress, Miss Katherine Grey. Two Australians scored well in the Williamson production of "The Girl on the Film." They were Miss Dorothy Brunton, a charming actress with a bright career before her, and Miss Marie Eaton, known in New Zealand in pantomime. , / Three players well known to New Zealand are appearing in America in «The Little Cafe" : Fred H. Graham, of Graham and Dent; Colin. Campbell, advance agent of "The Merrymakers," and later with Williamson's in "Our Miss Gibbs" ; and Tom. Graves, comedian in "The Gay Gordons." Following are the dates for the principal towns in the New Zealand tour of the Willonghby pantomime, "Babes in the Wood" :— lnvercargill, 51et March ! and Ist April ; Dunedin, Easter Saturday to 10th Aprij ; Christchurch, 12th to |l7tb April; Wellington, 19th to 27th April; Auckland, 10th May to 22nd May. The tour closes at Palmerston i North on 2nd June, and the company will then return to Australia, opening in Melbourne. The Gilbert and Sullivan opera season here will commence on the 28th inst. I with "The Gondoliers." Then will follow "The Yeomen of the Guard,"* "The [Mikado," "H-M.S. Pinafore/ "Pirates [of Penzance," and "loJanthe. * George Willoughby's Dramatic Company, headed by Mr. George Cross and Miss Vera Remee, will commence an eight nights' season at the Grand Opera House on the 18th. inst. The first piece to be presented will be "The Ever Open Door," in which the company has met with much success in Sydney and Melbourne. It is declared to T» &' play with a purpose, with an mcommon and , original' story, and atartling in its dar- J ing*- ?# One would have thought that all that was humanly possible had been written about the immortal ' It's a tone, long -way to Tipperary,' " theErapcdnts out, " but every day brings this famous song more laurels. Yet, -who -would have i dared to have prophesied even a- few 1 months ago that it would nave been j sung before the King and Queen at the Albert Hall, and its chorus song by such knights of harmony as Sir Frederick Bridge, Sir Frederio Cowan, Sir Henry J. Wood, among an andience of 9000 people? ' Tipperary' is sweeping through the whole of America on an irresistible wave of popularity." Mr. Owen M. Prichard (Auckland), who is well known throughout New [Zealand as J. Llewellyn (Bell dome i Bellringers) appeared at the Middlesex Theatre, DTury Lane, early in November, in a single act under the name of "Hogh Muswin." His last appearance in the Dominion was at the Auckland Opera House in a. doable act entitled "The Merry Ostlers" with Alf. Wilson. Since Arriving in England there has been a mutual dissolution of partnership, and he intends to try his luck on his own account. Another New Zealand artist, Mr. Borneo Gardiner (Welington), has made, a name for himself in London and the provinces as a whistler and mimic of birds. That fine old melodrama, "The Silver King," is billed for the fourth attraction of the Juliua Knight Company at the Grand Opera House this evening. li is one of the most popular dramas ever staged, the main reason of its traccess being the genuine note that is struck} by the dramatist from rise of first to fall of final curtain. It is the strain of conviction running through the play that holds. Mr. Knight i» said to be particularly fine as Denver. On Tuesday "Monsieur Beaucaire" will be presented. "Monsieur Beaucaire" is generally recognised as being one of Julius Knight's greatest characterisations, and Miss Irene Browne is said to be a£ hei very best as Lady Cariyle. For over two years Fred Niblo haj been playing continuously, and he find* as G. P. Huntley used to remark )r "Kitty Green," that acting cuts intc hie nights. "I have a great deal ol sympathy with the man who takes : 'busman's holiday," Mr. Niblo says ii an interview in a Sydney paper. "Some times I feel that I would like to sit oui in front in a theatre, and watch some one act. The only shows I have seei for years are those I am in myself, ant I cannot strictly be said to «cc those being part of them. Anyway, I can' see myself as others see me. Perhap it's just as well Pm spared that. I might make me conceited ! Then, again it mightn't ! An actor sees less of thea trical performances than any other mai interested in them," he went on. "Th only bit of a production I've seen in i long-time was the final rehearsal of "Th Girl y on the Film," after a performanc of "Broadway Jones." I jnst got info the last act, heard a few eongs, and sai a dance, and witnessed the gathering tc gether of the threads of the story tha I didn't know anything about. That' been the sum of my theatre-going for tw yers, except one occasional vaudevill matinee. Now, how is a man to advanc in hie profession if he doesn't see wha the others are doing ! The only way i to stop work, and do a round of th theatres. When I finish my contrac during the coming year, however, I ha\> a twelve-month tour of the South Sea and the East mapped out. So it look as if I won't be able to see what th young actors are showing audiences fc .quite a while. Maybe I shall see a fe' native dramas in Japan. There's n knowing what I may pick up there." It is doubtful whether there 13 a chi] in Now Zealand at the present time £ well known as little Cecil Haines, wl has temporarily forsaken the country < her birth to play in " Seven Littlo Au tralians"- in Sydney. When Beuunoi

Smith was preparing his production of the Ethel Turner children's play, which i began its career of afternoon perform- : ances at the Palace Theatre on Boxing ' Day, says Sydney Sun, he knew his chief I difficulty would be in finding a suitable I Suds, for Suds is an irrepressible young- | ster with a- good deal to say and do that is of importance in " Seven Little Australians." A New Zealand friend who was interested read the script of the play, and decided unanimously, " Cecil Haines was born to play that part," and he waxed so enthusiastic that Mr. Smith cabled the manager of one of his enterprises then touring New Zealand to locate the little lady. But in the meantime Suds had been farewelled by her New Zealand friends at a big benefit performance, and had sailed for Australia. Two days after the first cable Cecil Haineß had the part of Suds to study, and three days after she knew it right through, and four days later the tiny New Zealander had a contract at a salary that would make many an actor envious. Among the floral tributes Cecil received on Saturday was a huge offering from Stids' friends m Wellington. Davenports Models, a vaudeville act which has been described as sensational, i will appear at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday. The turn comprises a series of artistic poses, whereby three graceful and shapely kdies represent famous pieces of " statuary. The mounting, lighting, and stage presentation of this act is said to be notably effective* and the whole performance one of singular beauty. The Fuller-Brennan management will also present another strong feature animal act at His Majesty's Theatre shortly. This time the animal performers are Napoleon the Great, the ape comedian, and Little Hip, a, baby elephant. Napoleon is an ape with an understanding that is said to be little short of human. Hip's list of achievements include, playing on a mouth organ, drinking out of a bottle, and performing on roller skates.