MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 25, 29 July 1922, Page 17

MIMES AND MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.")

THE SHOWS.

Opera House—Nell:o Bramley Dramatic Company stl( August. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. , The King's Theatre—Pictur«s. Artcraft Theatre—Picturtß. Our, Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures, Britaania Theatre—Pictures Princess Theatre—Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. . Queen's Theatre—Pictures.. ; Paramount. Theatre—Pictures. •

Benno Moiseiwitseh, the "poet of tho piano," who will return to' Australia early noxt year: under the J. and .N. Tait management, continues to win triumphs in London and Paris, and it is reported in a London paper that "fabulous terms have been offered him for a lengthy European tour." , . ' • .

A feature of the production of; "My Lady's Dress, in which Etnelie Polini is scoring a great, success in Australia, is the incidental music, which gives tho various scenes of the play due emphasis and light and shade. This music was arranged by Mr. Andrew. MacCunn, and contains several catchy melodies that make such a strong appeal to the audience that, while tho process of changing the scenes is in progress, they are whistled andhummed in every part of the theatre. Frequently, incidental musio in drama is trivial. In the caseof "My Lady's Dress" if is quite a feature of tho production, and largely helps in the creation of the "atmosphere"' in the various episodes. On their way from England for the Fuller circuit are the Videos, who will present a novel skating act; Harry Evans and Doddy Hurl, burlesque artists; and Madeline Dormer, comedienne. '■■

Irene \Vanbrugh, with her husband, Dion Boucico-ult, is promised to us later in the year by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. She visited Australia as o very youthful member with J. L. Toole in 1890, playing in "Pawl Pry," "Dot,", "The Serious Family,". "The Don," and "Undo Dick's Darling." She is unquestionably London's leading actress to-day, and A. A. Milno writes many of her plays espeoially for her, including "Belindk," "Mr. Pirn Passes ; By," and "Tht, Truth,-About Blayds." Hor outstanding successes have been mad© in Pinero and Barrie plays, and it is a favourite practice of hora to give three short Bacrie. pieces on the one programme — "Rosalind," "Seven Women," and "The "Twelve-Pound! Look." Irene Vanbrugh is a strenuous worker in the cause of charity for her less fortunate sister actresses, and sets t'fae highest standard of the English 6tage, both in her public and her private life. Six hundred, times in one piece sounds like Oscar Asche in "Ohu Chin Chow." Bnt the ref eronoe is to Doris Duane'(Mrß. Harry Cohen), who recently' celebrated' her 600 th perfonmance in. the Cosmo Hamilton boom play, "Scandal," which J. C. Williamson have recently reorganised to tour the smaller towns of .Australasia,. Miss Duane has played the French maid, Regina and Beatrix in this daring comedy, so that she has pretty well experienced all that "Scandal" offers from an acting point of view. In the new company, which commenced its tour in Sydney suburbs last week, she figures as Beatrix (the impish heroine, portrayed by Maud Hanaford here at the beginning of the current year), and tho critics have been unanimous in ' their praise. But it is not Miss Duano'a-first experienoe in this part, as she played it for three weeks in New York when Franoine Larrimore was in tho grip of the prevalent "flu." Mr. Harry Cohen, who is managing the tour, reports excellent business. ' "The Maid of the Mountains", Company is to return to Wellington, when it will stags the musical comedy ''Oh, Boy!" Mir. ,Cyril Mackay, who has frequently tonred'New Zealand as juvenile lead with J. C. Williamson attractions, has forsaken the footlights, and is now managing clerk to Mr. Paris Nesbit, K.C., of Adelaide. * /

Tho Fullers have organised a now company for-their vaudeville theatres, to ba known as the Jim Gerald Miniature Musical Comedy Company. It is headed by Jim Gerald, and the personnel includes Reg. Hawthorne, Ernest' Crosby, Lance Vane, Essie .Jennings, ' Hilda Shannon, Polly MaoLarenf and Winnie Trevoil. Tho last-named returns to tho stage after' a lengthy absence. , Hugh Buckler, who (with his wife, Tiolet Paget) did good work in Australia . and New Zealand (he appeared hero in "A Fool There Was"), is in the Boccaccio spectacle, "Decameron Nights," which marked the re-opening of the rejuvenated Drury Line Theatre on a 6cale of magnificence.... j All the English papers just received have- published highly commendatory notices about tie appearance of Miss Florence Austral (Florence Fawaz, of Melbourne) in opera as Brunhilde. "Fame in a night," "centre of interest," "the find of the present cycle," "the revelation of the week," "tho only talk of London musical circles," "carried her audience by/, storm/, "electrified the house," are typical expressions made by the various musical critics. Miss Fawaz has since signed a contract with the i National Opera Company for a six months' tour of the Jinglish provinces, commencing- on 11th September. Toscha Seidel mndhis concert company aro touring New Zealand next month. Ada -it i 9 Mr> Frank' Hutohens, A.X.A.M., the young Hawera pianist, whoso work in Australia was very higfily appreciated. A..New Plymduth resident was present at the last concert given by. the two gifted musicians at tho Town Hall, Melbourne, and •he describes the scene following th\s completion of the programme as one he will never forget. They were encored and encored, and, when amidst the applause, they indicated their physical inability to respond again, the audienoa, which crowded every part of the spacious building, roso as one man and oheered and cheered again. Seidel and Hutohens re-appeared and bowed their acknowledgment of the compliment, but that would not do—they wanted to hear them again—and so, when the young musicians obtained their second breathing, they returned and gave ~another item. Even then the audience were not satisfied, but tho musicians vrefe quite done after such a strenuous evening's programme.

What form of theatrical entertainment pays best? A list of wills of well-known managers, actors, etc., .gives the clue. Tho proven wills of the following are: — Barnum, showman and circus proprietor, £1,000,000; Bailey, his partner, £450,351; Stephen Phillips, poet, dramatic author, and formerly actor, £5; DOyly Carte, who gave Gilbert and Sullivan to tho world, died worth £240,817. Sir Edward Moss, of th© Empire musio-hall, and the Moss and Stoll vaudeville circuit, loft £204,814; Sir.. Charles Wyndham, who. dealt chiefly in refined.comedy, but made most of his money By letting out his three theatres to .other managers, left £197,035; Sarah Siddona was a careful woman, her estate after death being worth £35,000; Charles Kean left, a similar amount. George Rignold's estate paid probate on £11,000; George Coppin's on £10,000; Dan Leno, prince of musichall comedians, left £10,000; Guinett, circus proprietor, £32,000; Henry Irving, £20,000; Oscar Wilde, £100; J. C. Williamson, £193,038. Moral: Be a circus proprietor for choice, a universal provider of light opora, or a vaudeville manager as an alternative. Crack jokes for th© multitude, but take warning by the dead—don't be a poet. One. of. the "surprises" 'in store for Sydney playgoers is said to be a revival of the better-class melodrama, with big spectacular scenes, and set pieces reminiscent of Bland Holt. The change is due before the end of the year.