Mimes and Music

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 17

Mimes and Music

(By "Orphsus.")

THE' SHOWS,

Opera House—New Comic Opera Company, season opens. to-night. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. The King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Bhortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures Britannia Theatre—Picture!. Princess Theatre—Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Pictures.

Marie Tempest is back in England, For the first few performances of "Cairo" in Melbourne there were 5000 seats booked. Sir Benjamin and Lady Fuller are leaving Sydney next month on a visit to the East. ■ Fred Maguire, for 4 long time in' Australia with J. C. WiHiam6OD,' Ltd., is'now playing juvenile lead with the South' African Theatres Trust, Ltd. At latest he was at His Majesty's, Johannesburg', in the musical oomedy "Irene." Two important English acts oome to Wellington shortly. Connay and Beecham (who were engaged personally in London by Sir Benjamin Fuller) and Leyland Hodgson. The former are said to give a-n entirely fresh notion of what a really smart patter act is, while the latter is a musioal oomedy favourite of high,rank. Mr. Eric Thome, the comedian," died a few weeks ago in a, nursing home at jjKeneiiigton, after a long illness. Mr. Thorne, who was about sixty years of age, made perhaps hU greatest hit in the oharaoter of the toy-maker ih "La Poupee," which he played for over- eight years without a. break. Originally a baritone singer, • his earliest efforts were under DOyly Carte in the Savoy operas. As a member of the George Edward's touring companies he played the'leading oomedy part in "The Lady Dandies," "The Little . Michus," "The Waltz Dream," . "The Dollar Princess;" and "The Merry Widow." He also toured in Amerioa, France, Holland, Germany, and Belgium. His health grave way a few years ago, and for some time he had not teen able to follow his profession. TachearP

Miss Nellie Dean, who is appearing- in "Bran Pie" with, Lee White andl Clay Smith, and who eings the "Madame Butterfly" solo in. Musical Memories, is 1 the only daughter of Mr. George Dean, the well-known performer. Her mother was for over 12 years a. prominent member of J. C. Williamson's Opera Company, and- was known as Miss Ethel Gwynne. "The Sentimental Bloke," shortly to be seen here under the management of E. J. and Dan Carroll, is the famous poem of C. J. Dennis, translated into play form by the poet himself. It is the love story of the Bloke and Do*een, the latter an humble worker in a pickle "joint," whom the Bloke meets for the first time when she is inspecting some "brummy" jewellery in Paddy's Market. The Bloke is, that struok on' th© girl, that when he is- "knocked down" to her h© cannot say a word. But love works wonders, .and after he has worsted the "Stair 'at .Coot" and other undesirables, and has undergone the ordeal of inspection by Doreen's "Mar," he begins a to see sunshine behind the olouds.. It is a rollicking- comedy with occasional, flashes of farce, illuminated by romance, as it is understood in "Spadger's Lane." The. play has been oapitally produced, by Mr. Bert Bailey, and its enormous success in- Melbourne telle it-a own talie. The New Zealand tour commences at Auckland pn the 22nd February.

Mr. W. *J. Douglas, general manager for Ben. and John Fuller, Ltd.,,'ie also manager of the big new theatrical firm, Hugh 3. Ward Theatrical Proprietors, Ltd., and during' 4 visit to-Ihvercargill last week he gave some interesting details of the venture to the Southland "Times," The Hugh J. Ward Company was a new one, ..he said, which had been formed, with a capital of £500,000. The" governing directors were Sir- Benjamin Fuller, Mr. Hugh j.■■Ward, and' Mr. John Fuller. . Mr. Ward, had .recently returned from, a trip to America and' England, And had succeeded in purchasing twenty-five shows,'embracing musical comedy, faroe-comedy, , comic opera, opera, and drama, all of, which had proved successful in. either of the two countries visited. The first production of the Ward Company was "The' O'Brieri Girl," which was presented in the New Princess Theatre in Melbourne. This theatre had been> entirely remodelled- and refurnished at .a cost of approximately £50,000, and was now one of the finest theatres 'in the world. The reconstruction work was carried out by Mr. H. E. White, a New Zealand architect, under the supervision o^Mr. J. Fuller.- All the decorations and furnishings were made under the supervision of Mr. Ward. The carpets, velvet curtains, and sea.* coverings were made to Special design, and 'were imported from England. Every possible provision had been, mide for the comfort;, of patrons, and the ladies''and gentlemen's cloak rooms _ and the lounges had each distinct _ furnishing schemes. Telephones and writing desks had been' installed in thfe cloak rooms, arid no charges were made' for attendance fees.' Special garage facilities were also provided in and around the theatre, which had become known as "The Theatre Beautiful." One of. the Tesults of the elaborate furnishings had been to bring back to popularity the wearing of everting frocks and dress suits, which had gradually gone out of fashion. "The O'Brien Girl," which contained the best features of several successful English ' and American productions, had been an immediate success.,At present operations were confined .to Melbburito pending the- building of the New St. James Theatre in Sydney. For "this purpose Fullers- had purchased a- girls' high school site' at' a, costi of £1000 per foot. They had purchased , IOOf t of this la^id, §nd the' theatre and office buildings would be twelve stories ,high, and would cost £150,000 to -erect. The offices would extend right along Elizabeth street to King street, and the whole scheme would involve an expenditure of £400,000. Mr. Rock Phillips, the doyen of theatre property masters, is severing his con-, nection with the firiri of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., after-36. years of loyal service' (reports ■' 'Sydney Daily Telegraph.") He is joihing the Hugh Ward-Fuller enter;, prises. Prior to the opening of. Her Majesty's Theatre on the 13th September, 1886, Mr. Phillips worked for the Theatre EoyaJ management. When Her Majesty's Theatre was opened Mr. Phillips joined the forces of the late Mi. George Rignold, since which time he llais been, intimately associated with the favourite Pitt and Market street house. "For 36 years I have been associated with some of the greatest producers the profession has known, amoftg them W. X Morrison, J. Malone, Priestly Morrison, J. King, Wybcrt Stamford, Geo. Musgrove, Julian Mitchell, George Parker, Oscar Atehe,. Harry Burcher, George Dai-rcll, Frank Curtier, M'Kee.. Rankiri, Charles . Hawtrey, George Highland, George Barnum, and W. Bolec. And talking of producers, the .late. George Rigliold- was a . pastmaster of those. He had to wofk out his ideas without most of the mechanical aids: and the floods of electric light that aro available today, yot he could manufacture a spectacle out of nothing that would be regarded at this moment as the last word in theatrical enterprise." Mr. Phillips makes little reference to his own work. Yet some of the most ambitious schemes over attempted on the local stage would have not • been the, successes they were if his ripe experience and knowledge of local colour a.nd conditions had; not prevented an oversea producer committing some glaring blunder in the dressing of his show. That, is to sliy, the atmosphere of the Old World, would havo jarred considerably without ideas of an Australia.! scene, as contrasted with what was sometimes given iii London. "Five times," he says, "I have been offered tempting salaries to join up with English and American interests, but I pieferred to stay hora in congenial company, under the bluo and tranquil ukicc ■of. the fingti country is th« world."