MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 14, 16 July 1921, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC

cßy "Orpheus.") THK SHOWS. Grand Opera HouseGilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company, in season. "Chu Chin Chow," 26th July. Wellington Operatic Society, 10th August. English Pierrots, 20tU August. Allan Wilkie, 29th August. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. Tlie King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. ' Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. ' Britannia Theatre—Pictures. ■ Princess Theatre—Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Pictures. "The Maid of the Mountain" concluded its phenomenal season, in Melbourne at the end of its twenty-third week without having played to an empty seat. The Smart Set Diggers will come to New Zealand shortly under engagement to the Fullers. The Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company passed through Wellington this week on its way from a tour of the South Island to Palmerston North and Taihape. The Auckland season will open about the middle of August. Mr. Joe Brennan, the New Zealander, who went to India with Waller's "Look Who!s Here" Company, is in Sydney with the Humphrey Bishop Comedy and Operatic Company. Miss Jennie Hartley, last here with "Sinbad the Sailor," has joined Fullers, and is at present at Newcastle. Miss Blanche Browne, remembered foi" her great success in "Cur Miss Gibbs," has returned to the stage. Several years ago Miss Browne married an Australian squatter, and settled down', but, responding'to overtures by the Wil-liamson-Tait firm, she has consented to take the leading part in a new musical comedy, "The Little Whopper," which is to be produced in Sydney to-night, i J. and N. Tait have not' a monopoly of violinists. Miss Lola Stantone, an American fiddler, has been booked for Fullers' vaudeville circuit, and has arranged to leave San Francisco on 22nd July. Englands' most popular comedian; George Robey, has just signed a contract which will turn him in a trifle of £600 a week for twelve months —more than £30,000 a year! That popular platform entertainer, Mr. Alexander Watson, appears destined to associate his visit to New Zealand with some untoward circumstance. . In 1914 he was in Wellington, when war was declared; in 1918, his subsequent visit, he was in Wellington when the great influenza epidemic abruptly terminated his season at the height of its success; now, owing to tha elimination of vessels on the SydneyWellington service, he has been obliged' to rearrange his tour. The Moemki, by which he had booked his paeaage, has been taken off. But, fortunately', with a slight modification of his Sydney season, Mr. Alexander Watson can catch the Tahiti, and so. save his Wellington dates, beginning 6tlr August, although he will - not, as he intended, be able to visit Nelson and Blenheim. Wilkie Bard, the English comedian now on his way to Australia under engagement to Harry G. Mussgrove, can, according to the management, claim to be the highest paid fun-maker who has visited Australia under a.n actual salary I contract. He will be paid £400 a week. Miss Ada Reeve received' £350 week, I - and Little Tich £150 a. week from the day he teft England until he returned. Tlw cable is not the monopoly of Prime Ministers and the cricketers. George Tully, remembered. In Wellington as "The Man from Toronto," for.nd, waiting for him at San Francisco, on his way horn© from Australia 1, a bulky cable containing his entire part in the musical comedy, ' "Sweet William." Mr. Tully probably has that distinction on his own. Miss May Beatty is playing at Daly's ; in London, in a.gaiety production called ! "Sybil." It is fifteen years since Miss [ Beatty left New Zealand. j No*" only should every city and town subsidise its own repertory theatre (says the Daily Express), but villagers shou'ldbe encouraged to form their own companies of players. Acting teaches a man the value of words, to speak clearly, niuscially, and with, feeling.. It gives, him self-confidence, develops his mentality, and adds to the gaiety of nations. It is expected that Dame Clara Butt, who, with Keunerley Rurafordl, is to tour Australia and New Zealand under the J. and N. Tait direction in two or three months' time, will give from thirty to foilty concerts before she returns to England. Dame Clara Butt is looking forward to her visit to Australasia; of which she has the happiest recollections. Old popular songs, given in the old style, have been a successful feature of "The Peep Show," a London Hippodrome revue. " After the Ball is O'er" is given hi the Charles Godfrey manner, and " Daisy Bell" as sung by Kate Lawrence. Miss Mona Vivian has impersonated Lottie Collins singing "Ta ra-ra Boom-de-ay," ond Maggie Duggan singing "She Wore-a White Camelia," These songs are childish enough in themselves (says an exchange), but they are no poorer than many of the popular songs of to-day, and at least they are free from refrains concerning Tennessee and other localities favoured by the ragtime song-writer. With an unbroken run of over five years at His Majesty'a Theatre, London, Oscar Asche's "Chu Chin Chow " has achieved more than any other stage production in the history of the drama. It is at present being played also by three English provincial companies, as well as by seven touring companies in the United States. It has also Diet with great success in Australia, has just completed a record season in Auckland, and will be seen in Wellington presently. Oscar Asche, it appears, commenced to write "Chu Chin Chow" on a wet Sunday, for the want of something better to do, and more as a joke than.otherwise. He little thought how lucrative a joke it was to prove. With the daring of an actor-manager not unwilling to gamble with hi 3 own money, he presented the piece to London in the most sumptuou3 guise, and with new ideas in the way of production, dressing, counting, and lighting, worked out regardless of outlay. As the run of the play went on he added to it, and kept on adding, until no fewer than five versions or editions had been staged. The fifth is the one which has been playing in London for the last eighteen months, and it is a replica thereof: which is to be staged here. Under, the contract for His Majesty's, London, Lady Tree, the owner, both Mr. Asche and herself retained the right to take off the production if the takings for any period of three weeks fell below a. certain average figure. Although bad weeks were experienced, the receipts have nevor fallen to the level referred to in that particulai clause. As -a matter . of fact, Mr. Asche and Miss Lily Brayton would Ions? ago have welcomed the opportunity of closing the season a.nd ringing down the curtain on the recordbreaker, especially as they .had another play of a sneetncnlar type ready to produre in "Mecca," a sequel to " Clvi Chin Chow." the American rights of which Mr. Asche parted with, and which lias been successfully staged in New 1 York.