Mimes and Music

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 21

Mimes and Music

BY "ORPHEUS1'

THE SHOWS.

Grand Opera lloijsb—liiss lieere's I'upils, to : ' night; and Monday night. JSellle Rmmiey Conipany, gstll ili3 Hajaaty's—^ullef'ef Vaudsville. Tllß Tiyuli^lliisetavu VQudcvilU. !iiug'9 TUentr'B—tiijtmes. AnuratM Tlieatru—lMctureJ. (Jur TUeatro—Biotu'res." fciiipTess TheHt're-^Pictures-ShoFtt'a Theatre—Pictures, titranc) Theiitra—Pictqres Britannia Theatre—Pictures, l'rincess Theatre—l'jctunis. Queen's Theatre—Pictures.

Williamson''s pantomime, f! Aladdin/ opens in Auckland nest Saturday night.

■"fii9 Rise of Hosie O'Reilly'-' is the title of a musical comedy to be produced in Melbourae.sn.qrtly by Hugh J. Ward's company.

Lanco Lister, through iiers last wiUi Leo White and -Clay Sniitii, has a smalj pai't in a "London Galling- a-t theDuka o£ York's Theatre, London, Tlio Wanganui AmateuE Dramatic Society will, stage the musical comedy ''The Gay Parisienne" some time in September.. Theo. Trezise, of Wellington, will act as producer. - ;

Sammy Cope, the original drummer of Linn Smith's band, is now a soloist witli 'tile Spesoial Symphony Orchestra in diiristchurcii. ■ ■.' "

■'-•■Fred Mackay, a dancer, of some note in the J.C.W. Finn's shows, j? to take the place oi Cyril Ritchai-ds.. '\yhQ leaves for a world tour. ■. ' . '

Edgeley and Dawc ("Keep Your %c on My Umbrella "), The pick Dorothy Tina, and >Co!in Crane recently were piuying in Hobart with "Tlie Midr.agkt Frolics." ■..

Jack Halston has returned to Australia from America for '"Lilac Time." Mr! Balston, who was last; in New Zealand .with the Gilbert and Sullivan, Opera Company, will )bo remembered "as ari old I'ollardian Ho has made a hit iri "Lilac Time.'' ' . , " ;

When the last mails left New.York; Lp;iis Bennison, in Wellington last witlj '"ilia Great Lover" and one or two other plays, had a part in "The Bust-i Heap.'' Critics described it as a-thrill: ins; pile- of old hokum.

Ivy Shilling, the Australian dancer, is at present in London, and doing: very well. She contemplates returning to Ariieiica k) fulfil a gopd contract >vhicl| she had to turn down recently owing* tn tlie English engagement overlapping. She will revisit Jfew York early in No^ vomber, and, after the conclusion o{ that .engagement, wifl probably sail for her Jiome land.

Eight plays and tile Ziegfeid; Fellies were withdrawn in one ' night •in New York recently. The plays were "Out-ward.-Bound,"' which had ■ its : share of success, although not so much! as the more rapturous and impiatura. reviewers predicted; "HelL-Bent "•'■" foi Heaven,"; which started its career f,with a special matincs (try-out; .'.'Helena's Boys,". "Man and fche Masses"' (an unqualified bloomer for the;' Theatre Guild), ''The Dust^Heap," "Two Strangers from Nowhere;«... "The Flame, of Love," and " Whitewashed.-J? ■ " ' • .JTesfc Saturday, the capable Humphrey Bishop Company will make its reappearance in Wellington, this time at the Tivoli, where, it will provide the second half of the entertainment. This conipany has had a most successful tour of the Dominion, and return visits are in order for many towns. Edward Elliott is still a very popular member of the company, and this -will introduce another, new song, "I Always Have a Glass 'ijjf Milk Before I Go to Bed." A'number of novelties will be introduced by the company during the season at the Tivoli.

Mr. Berfc Coote, who. has arrived in Auckland from Sydney, is one of the biggest attractions ever handled, by the Fuller firm, and he comes to New Zealand direct from the leading London theatres, after having just concluded a special starring engagement on the Musgroye circuit in Australia. Mr. Coote's opening act is entitled "The Lamb in Wall Street," this being recognised as the only dude act; that ever made a hit in New York. Mr. Coote takes the part of a, yenng English dude buying a partnership in a Wall street business, and the dialogue is inexpressibly humorous. Mr, Coote is assisted in his comedy sketches by Miss Peggy Fishwicke, a young English artist.

.'< ''The building without a window 17 is the way in -which passers-by refer to the new theatre. for. Carroll and Musgrove, now nearnig completion, opposite the Hotel Australia., in Sydney, It rises to the height of the average sixstory building, with a front unpunctured by a single -window, except for the row of shops on the ground level, That is the appearance from Castlereagh street, It is revealed, however, that the real "front is in. Elizabeth street,' The idea is to have the main entrance face thetraffic that will pour from St, James underground station at the top of King street. The windowless front is a topic ■for all studying the details of development in connection with the rebuilding of Sydney (says' a Sydney ' correspondent). The Theatre Royal 'is; almost opposite the'Caslloreagh street front of this new theatre, and just across King street, about 120 yards away, are two vaudeville theatres—tho Tivoli and Fullers', Opposite thero is tho huge hole that one day will be underneath the new Ifuller Theatre that will also, like the other one1 just discussed, front both Elizabeth ami Oastlereagh streets, With pleasurable memories of Miss Nellie Brani^oy'g previous visits, Wellington theatregoers will hear with interest that the talented young actress, supported by a strong company, is due to open a season at trie Grand Opera House on Saturday next, when Mr. Willia^m Russell will present her in "Fair and Warmer," As the lale suggests, this play is 'n farce of the ultra-modern type, and is written esaentinlly for laughter purposes. As light as a feather and as flimsy as, a veil (saya an Australian reviewer) tho author has nevertheless succeeded in threading together a story concerning* the domestic entanglements of two young married couples in a manner that is exceedingly clever and humorous by reason of the many grotesque situations that are created and the smart repartee that is introduced. Miss Bramley is given great scope for her undoubted gifts as a comedienne, and has a role differing entirely from any of her previous characterisations. A fine cast supports the star, including .Messrs. Guy Hastings, Arthur Cornell, .George Bryant (who will also produce the plays), George -Hewlett, William M'Gowan, John Galway, Misses Ethel Bashford. Sylvia M'Kai'1) and others. The company have recently concluded a 14 weeks' season at J. C. Williamson's Theatre Royal. Adelaide, in v lengthy repertoire of dramatic and comedy: successes.

Essie Jennings, who materially assists in the genera] "success of Jim Gerald's Musical Comedy.Company, at the Opera House, Auckland, has been appearing for about sixteen years under "the Fuller management, ■with (he exception of a year in India, She slarled her career as a. ohilc) itopersnnator (says l.hp "Star), and -was known as Australia's Gibson Girl. Shn was the first to don the lichtCtfcLns black velvet robe that Gibson

made famous, and made bucly a striking impression that it was not long before she \yas playing principal boy in pantpuiime. Since thpn Mis 3 Jennings has appeared' in many big extravaganzas, and has dona good work on the vaudeville atape, \yith a fine vpieo and goqd personality, she is \vell equipped for Biusical comedy, '

Miss Renp J fax well, the Australian soprano, made her entree to the Londonconcert platform in April in a programme which was certainly courageous,, since it included songs of all styles, and some of. them among' the greatest of their respective classes. The London correspondent of the Jiielbpurne "Age" says!

"It was no inconsiderahls feat to give, as MJK.s Maxwell gave, in succession, Npn mi. dip, Una Voce, the 'Lobster Jesu, mien Veriangen, of Bach; a pcjiuberi groui) ancl modern English find French songs. And it was a feat that was accomplished by the young singer wii-h niuch succsss, due regard" being had to tha fact that not all these classes of song suited her equally .well. But, at least, they served to prove that Miss Maiwell is ;i greatly improved artist, the charming vpico as full of reusic as before, the style much more assured, and artistic siid emotional iiisiiilit more nia'ture and of finer calibre. There' were many delightful moments in the recital, and. it can scarcely be doubted that Miss Maxweli's beautiful viiice and her capacity to sing are qualities which will lake lier far.':

In Sydney a few days ago Messrs. Sluai't Bios, signed a contract, involve ing a cost of £220,000, in connection wilh Hie St. James's Theatrp, roof garden theatre, and twelve stories, of offices, which will be erected on the site of the old Girls' High School, next to David Jones's new emporium, for Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr. John Fuller. The work has already been commenced, and it is expected that the theatres will be ready for opening by December, 1925. A. feature' of the new St. James's Theatre will bo that the whole of the audience will be closer to the stage than is the case in other theatres. There will be no back stalls or back high galleries usual in old theatres, and the building will have seating accommodation for 1800 patrons in the. lower theatre, and for 1400 in the roof garden theatre. The interior of the theatre will be £52ft wide, by 70ft deep. The stage will have a proscenium opening of 34ft in width,' -while the depth of the stage will be '43ft, and the width of the stage 82ft. The measurements are provided for both theatres.' There will be eight largo staircases in the roof garden theatre as exits, besides four lifts", cap: able of carrying 40 passengers at a, time. It is considered that both theatres may be cleared in two and a, half minutes. When completed these theatres will be leased to the Hugh J. Ward Theatres Proprietary, Ltd. Vaudeville has been described as a child that has never grown tip. It is the same now in its fundamentals as it was in the days of its rattle and milk-bottle. ! 'Of course," asys Jim Gerald, the popular comedian, now appearing at Fullers' House in Auckland, f! in a surface way things have changed, Scenery is grander, programmes more pretentious, salaries are higher, but down at'the bottom the vaudeville of yesterday is the vaudeville of to-day. Things that made an audience laugh years and years ago still make them laugh, and this is' wholly true as well, that .vaudeville's time-hon-cured secrets —known'only on the inside circles—of the way to make an audience laugh, make it cry, and' make it yell with enthusiasm, are still t|ie same as they were fifty and a hundred years ago." -■■-.■■■■

Practically every first-rate music hall star in London has been booked to visit Australia during the year, says Sydney '•Daily Telegraph." Hetty King, the greatest impersonator, AlbertWhelan, Max Darewski, the famous composer, and. Scott and Whaley, who were the originators of most of the " coloured man comedy, are all sailing within thenexfe few months. They are all people getting two hundred or more pounds a week. Max Darewski, who composed the music for the Little Revue, running here for almost two years, is still only twenty-nine, He startled London twenty years ago by composing songs, while still an infant, for Melba and Patti. laderewskl was so excited at the boy's first concert that he rushed on to the stage and said " You're a genius," So Australia is to hear a very interesting musician within a few months:" In conversation he mentioned that he had insured his hands for twenty thousand pounds for the tour .to the Antipodes so he cannet have a very sunny idea of what a, safe place Australia is to live