MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.") THE SHOWS. ORAND OPERA HOUSE. J. C. Williamson, "Under Fire," 9th May. HIS MAJESTY'S. Fuller Vaudeville. THR RING'S THEATRE. Pictures nightly. CROWN THEATRE. Pictures nightly. STAR THEATRE. Pictures nightly. NEW THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. EMPRESS THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. SHORTT'S THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE. Continuous neturca. PRITANNIA THEATRE. Continuous Pictures. OPERA HOUSE. Continuous Picture*. Mr. Watkins Mills, the English basso who toured New Zealand in 1904 and 1905, is now a teacher of singing at Winnipeg (Canada), and has charge of the choir of the leading Methodist Church of that city-

Miss Enid Bennet, an Australian girl, who was taken away to America by Mr. and Mrs. Fred Niblo, is making a hit in the New York musical burlesque "Cock of the Walk."

Mr. Maurice Farkoa, for many years a leading actor and singer with Geo. Edwards's London Gaiety Company, died of apoplexy in his rooms in New York on 2Snci March.

The latest recruit to vaudeville from what is known as the " legitimate" stage is Jliss Na-ri Ta.ylor, the clever actress who played Aunt Susie in Graham Moffat's "Bunty Pulls the Strings." Miss Taylor was acquired by Mr. Ben Fuller as a Scotch balladist. It is stated that Maud Allen, the American dancer, who toured New Zealand, lies in a, critical condition in a New York hospital, complications having followed an operation for appendicitis. Commander Arbuthnot, of H.M.S. Arethusa, which was sunk by a mine in the North Sea, is married to Miss Evie Green, the well-known comic opera, star, and sister of Frank Greene, here with Williamson's Opera Company. Miss Irene Brown recently skipped into musical comedy in London. She was filling a minor part in "Who Is He?" at the Haymarket, when Robert Courtneidge coaxed her away for the lead in "My Lady Frayl'e," for which Arthur Wimperis and Max Pemberton constructed lyrics. They called it " Vivien " for the trial provincial tour. Miss Madge Maitland, the star vaudeville comedienne who will open at His Majesty's in the near future, claims she has no hobbies apart from her work. "Looking for new songs, listening for new stories, and designing new gowns keeps me busy," she says, " but if I had a moment or two to spare it would be devoted to the care of animals—dogs in particular."

Died in London, Mrs. Henry Pettitt, professionally known as Annette Read, and for long years before the English public. Among other notable actors she had played with. were G V. Brooke, J. L. Toole, and Smith', the coloured tragedian. Henry, her husband, ran a prolific melodrama mill twenty-fivo years ago and ground out "The World," "Woman's Revenge," "Taken from Life," "Sailor's Knot," "A Million of Money," and a host of others. "Peter D." in the Bulletin: Have seen no, mention of a singularly beautiful performance given by George Titheradge. It was in " Grierson's Way," by H. V. Esmond, produced in '97 at the Haymarket Theatre, London, for a series of matinees. It never attained the dignity of an evening "bill," though heaven alone knows why.' Titheradge played Grierson, supported by. Lena Ash well (very fine), Fred Terry as the, villain (an abominably stagey performance), and the author as a helf-demented player of the violin, a cripple (painfully realistic). It was a strong, thoughtful nlav, with Titheradge at his very best. Says "Loiterer" in the Dunedin Star:—"Dick" Stewart, now South African manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., writes chattily of things theatrical out his way. It is interesting to h.i.rn that Miss Guilford Quin is- playing' the leading female role in " Under Fire," in South Africa. This young actress did some good work in New Zealand with the Herbert Flemming Company, playing, amongst other characters, Carlota in "The Morals of Marcus." Sir.co then she has made a name for herself in Lor don in "The Great Adventuxs.'' One of the outstanding events in this week's dramatic output (writes a correspondent from London to the Auckland Herald) was undoubtedly the production .at three matinees in the Margaret Morns Theatre, Chelsea, when a new one-act play, "Kitty's Catch," by Mrs. Leo Myers,'of Auckland, was first presented to the public. This miniature theatre in the very heart of Chelsea's art circles is^ doing excellent work in giving producers a chance of seeing how a play gets "over the footlights" before they plunge into full. production at a large theatre and all the heavy expense that entails. That Mrs. Myers's play triumphantly jumped the .footlights to the audience is proved by the fact that a well-known actress-producer is securing the London and provincial rights, and will take it on to the music halls as a special sketch. The title role of Kitty was charmingly interpreted by Miss Mary Glynne, who was released by Messrs. Vedrenne and Eadie for5 these matinees. It will be recalled that Mary Glynne was one of the finds of Christmas, 1910, when children's plays, with the stimulus of Barrie's "Peter Pan" and_Maeterlinck's "Blue Bird," reached a. high level, of excellence, and "little" Mary Glynne was acclaimed the flower of that season's children's plays. The Drama League of America, through its numerous centres, has Inaugurated Shakespeare celebrations in varied forms throughout the United States. The president of 'the league, Percival Chubb, is chairman of the National Shakespeare Tercentenary Committee. The New York Centre of the league took the initiative •in organising last spring the Shakespeare Celebration Committee, which arranged a wonderful series of celebrations in New York, culminating in the great community masque in. May._ In addition to this community celebration an unusual number of Shakespeare's plays are to be produced during the spring on the professional stage. Tho New York Board of Education has m every way supported the efforts of the committee. Two forms of education are being promoted. The supplementary—to encourage individual Shakespearean interests in all schools, colleges, and clubs. The English teachers of tlie different schools have formed themselves into a cast to present "Twelfth Night." The second and main feature of the festival is the giving of the Shakespearean masque for five performances. All the leading cities of the United- States will have important celebrations also. Mrs. D. E. F. Easton, president of the San Francisco Centre of the Drama League of America, is planning a festival in commemoration of the Bard of Avon.