MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 5, 5 January 1918, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC

UI "ORPHEUS.")

THE SHOWS.

Grand Opera House: Marie Tempest. His Majesty's.—Vaudevjlle. The King's Theatre.—Pictures continuously. Crown Theatre.—Pictures-nightly. Our Theatre.—Pictures nightly, tfew Theatre.—Continuous Pictures. Empress Theatre.—Continuous Picturei. Shortt's Pictures.—Continuous Pictures. People's. Picture Palace.—Continuous Picturei. Britannia Theatre.—Continuous Pictures. Everybody's Theatre.—Continuous Pictures. Queen's Pictures.—Continuous Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Continuous Pictures.

Says Mr. Lionel Monekton in a London vpaper: "In turning over old programmes in search, of my earliest records of Sir Herbert Tree, I have happened upon what may quite possibly be a unique document, the leaflet announcing the 'Grand Morning Performance'— there were no afternoon matinees in those days—at which the late actormanager made his first professional appearance. This was at the old Globe Theatre on 27th February, 1878, and, as playgoers have already been told, the newcomer, who was 'billed' as Mr. H. Tree- Beerbohm, acted the title part of Boucicault'e drama, 'Grimaldi.' The leaflet states that the pi-oceed3 of the performance were to be devoted 'to the relief of the Turkish sick and wounded,' while the appearance in scenee from 'The School for Scandal' of Miss Herbert, after several years' retirement from the stage, was also announced. Mr. Fred. Ten'y tells me that Miss Herbert iff still alive, and that she resides in Brighton. Seeing that in 1878 she had already been on the retired list for some years, it would be interesting to know the age which this veteran actress has now attained."

The J. C. Williamson, Ltd., New English Musical Comedy Company, which opened its New Zealand tour in Auckland on Boxing Night, is due in Wellington on 19th January. Two of the biggest successes of recent years in Australia "You're in Love," and "Canary Cottage" will be presented with all the splendour that has come to be expected of 'the Williamson management. Mr. John Farrell is manager, Mr. Walsh treasurer, and Mr. Duncan Neven touring manager for the tour. Mr. Harry Burcher, producer of "You're in Love," says that the modem idea of presenting musical comedy is to include sometouch of sensatioji or novelty in the piece. Thus in "You're in Love," there is the sleep-walking song by Miss Maude Fane. The pretty little actress clad in pink silk pyjamas leaves- her cabin in the High Hope and walks along a boom;----which swings over the stalls. "In Boston" says Mr. B.nrcher, "this effect created a great stir. I saw the play there and it put everything else in the-city to bed." It was a rage and the. boom went a long way to. make it so. Harvard students went after slippers, and ono paper remarked that no student was without a pink slipper secured from the foot of the somnambulist and singer. Nearly every musical comedy production Mr.. Burcher saw in America had some big novel effect in it. Indeed it had become a case with managers to say "Give me the effect, and I'll have a libretto knocked together." Miss Connie Ediss, the. big favourite in more respects than one, will be seen here again in "You're in Love."

The J.C.W. children who began, their version of the fh'm's 1916 panto, in Sydney recently don't need any excuse on account "of their youth, says the Bulletin. Perfectly drilled and tutored, they put on "TTie House T,hat Jack Built", in a finished way that challenges critical examination, and their show comes out with honours. It does something better than satisfy the critic who is old enough to grow a stubble-beard. It amuses the youngsters/on the other side of the footlights more, than the; best efforts of adult players could ever do. The programme is an interminable list of girl names. Either the Australian boy wasn't wanted ot else he refused to be leg-raped. But the girls (who range from tall, self-possessed flappers to the nursery staggerer) manage admirably without them. Even the redHused 30D8 of J>ame, Farmer Barleycorn, and Sammy are convincingly played, each Florrie and Phyllis following carefully in the tracks of the comediiin who went before. As for the marching andvdances, the children there are fairly on their own playground, and their work is a delight to watch. Eliminate from, this version'of the House the Dame's song .about gin being mother's ruin (an evident sop for grown-ups with degraded tastes), and a few other cxorescencas. of the Kind, and it will be the panto, to take the kiddies to. Even the special acrobatic act is by two little Australian girls in short frocks. At Bathurst, N.S.W., on Thursday, 27th December, Mr. James Alexander, the "Australian fikmdin," suffered severe injuries as the result of a fall of about 25ft from a tight wire over which he essayed to ride a bicycle. The accident occurred at the sports ground, where, in the presence of a large/^gathering, Blondin had performed several feats. He fell heavily on his back in what was iutended to be the last act of the evening. He was removed to the hospital, where at latest accounts he was reported to be improving. It is stated that the London receipts for a year of the Oscar Asche spectacle "Chu Chin Chow" were over £120,000. A fine total for war time.