THE THEATRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17394, 3 February 1917, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

(By CRITICUS.)

Robert Watkin Mills sent New Ywt's greetings to his many New Zealand f friends from Winnipeg, Canada. This' eminent English oratorio and concert bass singer toured Australasia twice with great success. The second occasion brought him to Sydney in the middle of 1905, with Edith Kirkwood, Gertrude Lonsdale and Harold Wilde, to complete the strong vocal quartet, and Edouard Parlowitz as pianist. Some two years ago Mr Mills in Winnipeg as artist and teacher. Besides his own fine singing, -with touchet of genial humour in buffo music, tha \\ atkin Mills tours left happy memorief behind them, du e to the excellence oi the supporting artists.

George A. Highland, the latest American producer engaged by J C. Williamson,. started work with the '*air and "Warmer" Company from tho Capo, and the new farce • '„n° sti, Sed at tho Criterion Iheatro in Sydney this evening. Iho production of " The pink Lady ' at Her Majesty's will be in tha same hands. Highland i s eminent in his special line of art in New York, both with the late Charles Frohman' and with Klaw and Erlanger. For tha former he directed at the Empire Theatre " Cousin Kate " and " A A\*itness.for the Defence," both with Ethel Barrymore as star, and again the latter drama with Blanche Bates as star; "Trelawney of the Wells" and " Preserving Mr Panmure," both by Pinero, and with special casts, may. also be mentioned. In musical comedy he staged " Oh, Oh Delphine," first for Klaw and Erlanger, and then for Robert Courtneidgo at the Shaftesryurv Theatre, London, where it ran eight) months, and returning to New York he produced "The Little Cafe" and

" Around the Map," big musical pieces. Last June Mr Highland was in Melbourne, prior to visiting the Cape to stage " Fair and \\'arincr."

Lcmis F. Nethersole, whoso first visit to Australia was as manager for ins sister, Oiga Nethersole, and the late Unarles Uutwnght. and his Micoud, after a long interval of years, k.s manager for .Margaret Anghn, is now directing tho Dons Keaue season in " Romance " at tho Lyric Theatre, London. In a letter to a frieud he remarks of

"Romance" ;—"ino pi a y baa been running fourteen months and ia going stronger than ever. In fact, ilia house is packed nightly, and you oan judge tho amount it draws from too circumstance that the Lyric Theatre holds over £320. Miss Keane die. not really need a holiday, but ,it . was thought wiser she should hava a brief vacat.on at the end of the summer, apart from which she has played tier great part for some 400 performances without tiring in any way. 1 should have liked noihmg better than to have induced Miss Kcane to tour Australia with 'Romance,' but the author (ALr Sheldon) controls all foreign rigfita except the English, and in this way fell betore the blandishments ofJ-. 0. Aulliainson, Ltd. However, I think tins brilliant young actress will reach your shores in time, though, in all probability she will first have a great deal to uo here and in her own country. My sister Olga is a voluntary nurse in one of the military hospitals. I know *hat hundreds of her friends in, Australia will Tike to hear of her patriotism in that respect. She is bound for tflanca in three months from now." '

Charles A. Rolfe, the. ricß roiced baritone whose farewell..atrConooraia Hall, m Sydney, took place in April, . 1913, wrote from Canip Borden", Toronto, Ontario, to say that he " is in the only game worth while just now,, and is in 1 command of a machine-gun eection (198th Battalion) awaiting orders to proceed oversea at any momtat " (December I'2). Rolfe left Australia for New York with letters of -warm introduction from David Bispham, at that time in Sydney, and had ■ good offers for musical comedy in New York; but found the roles beyond his range, nor does he advise heavy baritones hue himself, or basses, to attempt jthff American stage, inasmuch as composfers are writing exclusively for the higher voices. For the latter, light baritones and tenors with ability as dancers, there are innumerable openings. Concert work is out of the question tor' any bttt the " world beaters," as the States are flooded with Europe's b&st operatic and concert vocalists. Htiw« ever a few weeks after reaching New York Rolfe was engaged for thirty-five weeks in "The Whip" on tour, first as understudy and then in the role qf Haslam. He was then lucky enough to join Molly Pearson', creator of " Runty ".' in the. States, in a vaude* ville sketch, and applying some tim* later to the British Consul in New York to enlist, was turned down, through rheumatism, due to severe wintry weather. For the sake of, health, Rolfs accepted a chorus vacancy in a star grand opera company leaving for Havana. The change to wanner latitudes completely set him up again, and he heard the great singers, in fifteen operas, Maria Gay, De Cisneros, Zenatello, and Titta Buffo. Returning in August, 1915, the baritone had a part ( in " Moloch," a -war drama rt« the New Amsterdam Theatre, and then stagemanaged "Outcast," and various other pieces on tour. Nine or ten months ago he enlisted as a machine grower at Toronto, and has since organised a fine vocal quartet in the battalion. However, on reaching England, Mr Rolfe hopes to secure a transfer to an Australian unit, as he has four brother? from Cooma with the Anzacs: