DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 993, 16 July 1919, Page 22

DRA MATIC AND MUSICAL

By Footlight.

A MONSTER matinee .is to 'be held in Wellington next Monday at His Majesty's Theatre in aid of the Mothers' Help Division. An unusually strong programme lias been "£ ranged. Amongst those taking part axe several performers irom luUlers' Vaudeville Company, the Dandies and Kennedy .Concert Company Miss Beere's dancing pupils. Mis Hannah's ami Mis s Campbell's dance naeeant ("Midsummer JNignts Dream") and the Charlie's Aunt Club With such a programme and so worthy an object-there should he a bumper house. Mr Frank Charlton, the Wellington baritone, was at latest singing at the Haymarket picture theatre. By tie way one Sydney exchange refers to him a s "the leading tenor of the Dominion." * * * * The next big attraction booked for a New Zealand tour is the J. C. Williamson pantomime, "Goody ±wo Shoes " Present arrangements are for 4e tour to begin at Wellington early next month. Harry Lander and Co. are also due over here some time next month. * * * * .. 'The AUan Wilkie Dramatic Company, will probably make a tour of the Dominion "in the near future.. This company at latest was playing m Sydney, where it was turning on a menu which ranged from "The .School for Scandal" to "The' Midnight Wedding"—fancy both on the on e bill! *■•** * • * * Florence Scapini, a young Christchurch violinist of promise, has reached Niew York,\where she has gone for musical training. She has been accepted as a pupil by P^ 6 * B . o * Auer, the well-known virtuoso. Miss Scapini was a member of Paul Dufault's Concert Party m his last tour through New Zealand. * * * * j)ame Nellie Melba; according to press cables received in Australia, was to the fore at the Peace Concert at the Albert Hall, London. .She appeared on the platform parrying a big Union Jack and sang the first verse of "God Save the King." She mvited the audience to join in, which they did to the number of 10,000. * * * * • The Wellington Amateur Operatic Society have selected "The Mikado" for this year's programme, to be given in October. The final choice was between "The Mikado," and "La Fille du Tambour Major," and the tune ful Gilbert and Sullivan opera , got the verdict. * * * -H- * * Tenor Caruso the other day celebrated his 25th anniversary as a singer— his age by the way is 45. His admirers rallied round him for the occasion and tendered him and Mrs Caruso a complimentary banquet. Amongst the gifts presented to him were a . loving cup and ! a platinum watch set with 78 diamonds and 68 sapphires. * *■ .; * * Muriel Starr has finished the season in Melbourne and opened in Sydney on July sth with "The Silent Witness." Meanwhile Mr M. B. Figman has started a return season in. Melbourne with a new piece styled *"A Tailor-made Man," in which the Wellington actor E. Pirie Bush, ha ? a good part. "A Tailor-made Man," is the- story of a tailor's assistant who gets into the dress suit of a customer, makes his way into society and makes good. His adventures are singularly amusing and his experiences in extricating himself are of the funniest. **#* * « * When the J. /J. Williamson, Ltd. Grand' Opera Qompany is launched shortly the managerial reins will be held by Mr Harry Musgrove, who may be said to have grown up with the business, for he commenced his career as a youth in the office of his uncle (the late William Smrrin Lvster) the grand opera impresario of two generations ago. In 1896 he was appointed manager of the Australian Cricket Eleven with which he toured England and America. He is himself a cricketer of no mean order. In London for some years he acted as manager far , .his brother, the .late George Musgrove.

The famous Barnum and Bailey and Ringling's Circuses have amalgamated and would seem to have a fair sprinkling of artists known m these parts. May Wirth is the best feature of the show and other Australians getting good notices from the New York press are the Tybell Sisters, the Wirth ily and Jackson and McLaren. Others well-known here with the show are Hilary Ltfmg, the Arljeys and Captain Huling and his seals. *** ■ * Wirth's Circus took compassion on the stranded New Zealanders in Sydney and tendered them a benefit at the Hippodrome. %i panned out at over £100 and helped to relieve, cases of temporary distress.