MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15730, 3 October 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. In season to October 3—Lcroy, Talma, and Bosco. October 12 to 20— J. C. Williamson, Ltd., „ " Bunty Pulls the Strings." October 21 to 22—Carlylo Smytho (pencilled). November 5 to 17— C. Williamson, Ltd. December sto 10— C. Williamson, Ltd. (Julius Knight). TOWN HALL. October 5 to 10— Kennedys (Concert Chamber). October B—Bohemian Orchestra (pencilled). October Liedertnfel (pencilled). November Orchestral Society (pencilled).

Mb. Rud Peterson, for many years on tho managerial staff of the firm of John Puller and Sons, and latterly manager of the Queen's Theatre, has been appointed manager of the Alhambra Theatre. Mr. Peterson takes up his new duties on Monday,

John Ralston, whose fine voice is heard to advantage in tho role of the innkeeper in "Gipsy Lore" at- Her Majesty's, Melbourne, lik? many other artists began in the ckireli choir. His stage career commenced when he joined Pollard's Opera Company, playing in such pieces as "The Casino Girl." "Djin Djin," "The Geisha," "The Messenger Boy." Members of the company at tho same time were VV. S. Percy and Charles Albert. His first, chance under the J. C. Williamson management was received when ha vas given a part in Alfred Hill's Maori opera, "Tapu."He has played many roles with success since then.

In "The Yellow Ticket" at Sydney Criterion Theatre. Muriel Starr has achieved a success equal to that she won in "Within the Law" lb would bo difficult to conceive a role better suited to the powers of the brilliant emotional actress than that of the young Jewess who meets with tragic persecution at the hands of the Russian police. Michael Morton's play has taken Sydney audiences by storm. In Syduey, as in America, it has proved a filling successor to "Within the Law."

Fur an actress, Celia Ghiloni, of the "Gipsy Love" company, is remarkably ''commercial," if the statement can he relied on that actresses are generally not good at business matters. Miss Ghiloni U a. shrewd investor in real estate, and quite a number of properties have passed through her hands leaving a substantial profit on her side. With audiences, Miss Ghiloni enjoys remarkable popularity. Personality counts for a great deal on the stage, and Mis? Ghiloni, in this respect, is well blessed, as well as being the possessor of moro than the average attainments as an actress.

Andrew MaeCunn, musical director of the J. C- Williamson, Limited. " Gipsy Lf.ve *' Company, is a brother of Hamish MacCunn, the famous Scottish composer. Mr. MacCunn has made a success as a composer. He has written the music of the Williamson pantomimes for . some years, a* well as composed numerous songs. The Iloua Tango music in " Gipsy Love " was composed by him. Mr. MacGunn's musical compositions bring him substantial royalties.

.Minnie Love, a prominent English pantomime boy. will be principal boy in the J. C. Williamson "Cinderella" pantomime in Melbourne at Christmas. The principal girl will be Katie May, the piquant little artist of the Gilbert and Sullivan Company. As already mentioned, Barry Lupino will be the page. The mechanist's staff at Her Majesty's are still busy cutting traps in the stage for him. J. F. McArdlo. a prominent English comedian, will play the Baron.

Vlasta N'ovotna. the little Russian dancer who supported Genee on her Austialian tour, and who is now associated with Victor Lauschmann in some clever dancing turns in " fHpsy Love " at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, is following with keen interest the progress of the struggle on the Continent, particularly the important part her fellow-countrymen are playing. " Sometimes ' when I am dancing." said Miss Novotna, "I feel all the spirit of my country come into me, and I dance so hard that almost I exhaust myself. II- takes mo right away back to my beloved Moscow. I wish I could help. I love my work. Tho dance to me is the very air I breathe. But everything would I give only to be back there with my people, so that I could do something to help. Though far from my own country, where everybody shoulder to shoulder is standing, it is joyful to me to be with people who are all one with us against the enemy"

Edward A. Paulton, librettist of " Madame Moselle," has a peculiar penchant for collecting razors. Not the modern sort nor up-to-date safeties, but the strange sabre-like variety that shaved the ancients. He ha* several made, of Hint that were used by the Egyptians, and a strange-looking instrument that he is pleased to think once belonged to Socrates. He has also the razor used by Oliver Cromwell; at least, that was the pedigree shown when he unearthed it.

Miss Florence Young and Reginald are going on tour with " The Clsmfx" a drama written by Edward produced in America in 1909It turns oil the love of a doctor* for a young girl whoso ambition is to go on the operatic stag'*- Her throat becomes affected, and the doctor treats it. By spiling it for operate work ha could induce liar to settle down and marry him. If he cured the throat t£>nbje she would go on starving in the high C business. He (low op i or the other, and that's thaplajr. Miss Young played with Roberts in this sbort drama about two years or so ago during a series of matinee performances in Australia. Jimrav Atholwood, playing the father of the girl with the throat, "was also in the cast.

Christie Simonse.us, who was for many years with Bland Holt, has retired from the theatrical business, and is now the licensee of the Hotel Blue Mountain at Lawsnn, New South Wales.

Wilhelm Oanz, whose death was reported from London by cable, played an important part in Melba'a rise to fame. 'I here is especial interest now in a letter which the eminent singer wrote to her old Melbourne singing master, the late Signor Pietro Oecchi, before she went to study under Marches! in Paris :— Burley House, Rellgrave, Leicester, June 27, 1686. My dear Sigma- Cecchi,—lt is more thai, two months since I arrived in London. T have heard all the great singers, including Madame Adelina Patti, who is divine. You will bo pleased to' hear that J have already sung twice, in public, and had the greatest success. Everyone predicts a great .future for me. Hen- (Jan/,, the man who wrote Sing, Sweet Bird,' lias taken a wonderful fancy to me. He declare* that m; voice is more like Patti's than any other voice he has ever heard. Vert, the concert manager, in working hard for me, so I am sure to get on. The first concert 1 sang at I had the best orchestra in Ixmdon to sing to. I sang 'An fors e lui,' from Traviata, end 'Sins, Sweet Bird." Oanz conducted both numbers Your gratcf.:* pupil, Nellie Armstrong" U csico-Dhauaxicw.