MIMES ANB MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1922, Page 13

MIMES ANB MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.").

THI SHOWS.

Grand Opera House—"Babes in the Wood'" sf*son opens to-night. Vice-Kegals," 14th June. • rown Hall—Roslna Buckman, to-night, and 4th and Bth' June. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. The King's Theatre-Picture* Artcraffc Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Picturei. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre-Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Picture*, Princess Theatre—Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre-r.Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Picture*.

Toscha Seidel, the great violinist, who is creating a musical sensation.in Australia, will give three recitals in Wellington in July.

Edgeley and Dawe ("Keep Your Eye On My Umbrella!") and the DickDorothjr Trio are forming, a company of twenty-two performers to tour the Dominion. Mr. Claude Haigh is making the necessary arrangements. The company will be here in August.

_ "Charlie" Chaplin, the well-known cinema actor, will probably be compelled to see his mother expelled from the United States as an undesirable alien. Mrs. Chaplin! who has been living in California for more than a yew, was admitted to America on a bond offered by her son, who testified that his income was more than £200,000 a year. Mrs. Chaplin was shell-shocked 'during the air raids on England, and she is now mifiering mentally. The United States law does not permit the admission of aliens who are mentally unsound, but Chaplin is employing a large legal force in an effort to induce the authorities to lift the barrier in the case of his mother. The brilliant "Vice-Regals," which appeared here last winter under the direction of Mr. G. P. (Pat) Hanna, is returning once more to the Dominion, commencing their second annual four in the Grand Opera House on Wednesday, the 14th. With .them this time travels ' the incomparable comedian, Claude Dampier, who is held in affectionate regard by all playgoers, with memories for tl>e laughter he created here seven or eight years ago with the famous "Red Dandies." Mr. Hanna seems to have the trick of surrounding . himself with clever people, and on this occasion, it is said, he has made- no errors. If the reputation that has preceded it, arid which has more than been confirmed by box office receipts the world over, can be taken as a criterion, then the evolution of the musical play has surely developed nothing finer than "Tha Maid of the Mountains," a triumph, of vocal, spectacular, and legendary combination.' This latest musical comedy is one that has broken many records in ■England, America; and Australia. It is nearly five years since it was tried out in Manchester at the Prince's Theatre preparatory to opening at Daly's in London. The two chief musical parts on that occasion were taken by Mies Jo*Collins and Mr. Thorpe Bates in- the characters of Teresa' and Beppo respec- j tively. It is not too much to say that vocally and histrionically these parts as .played by Miss-- Gladys Moncrieff and Mr. Robert Chisholm in Australia compare more than favourably with the originals. As for the staging, it is superb. There has been nothing <juite like it in previous musical productions, and "it must be added to Mr. Oscar Asche's triumphs, as a master of spectacular effect. Already "The Maid" has captured Auckland,: and her advent. here is being awaited with interestN ■ While visiting New. York recently, Nicola, the: famous magician, was introduced to ir. George Cohan, the weH-known' theatrical manager. Mr. Cohan wae complimenting Nicola onhis wonderful transformations, andi in a vein of levity remarked that he w.ould be a, wonder indeed if he could! make his sudden changes at any time, instead of'only on the stage.. The two men parted, and Mr." Cohan returned to his theatre, and was standing in the lobby conversing with friends, when a. policeman stepped-up and tapped Miv Cohan on the shoulder. He said, -^'You' are un-dei- aiTest." Mr. Cohan inquired, "What for?" and the policeman answered, "For peddling shoe strings without a license," and called, attention .to a, bundle of shoe laces hanging over the "prisoners's" aim. Then: .the policeman laughed, and Mr. Cohan looked puzzled.. In am instant wig and helmet had b«en removed, and, instead of a. regular police officer, Nicola stood before him. He had taken the theatre owner literally at his word,, and demonstrated that his work was not confined entirely to the stage. Nicola, with. a. strong supporting company, will,' under the direction of J. O Williamson, Ltd., commence a tour of the Dominion in Auckland this month, and, according ,to the Australian press, Nicola will bring a car-load of entirely new mysteries.

While theatres are struggling to make ends meet,' Sir Harry. Lauder is enjoying an exceptional farewell season at the Pavilion, prior to a three years' tour of Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Indift, under the management of E. J. and Dan Can-oil. £>ir Harry Lauder declares that his previous trip to Australasia was an unalloyed joy, because the audiences there were the most receptive in the world. • •'