MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS.

HIS j MAJESTY'S i THEATRE. ' '* September 27 to October 9—J. C- .Williamson.' October 11 to- 23— J. arid N. Tait. , - November 1 to 20— Dickenson's Co. November 29 to December 4— C. Williamson. December 26 onwards—J. C. "Williamson.

Mas. Herbert Blot, nee Miss Phyllis Mills, formerly- of Auckland, played the solo piano part in a Tschaikowski " Concerto ' at a recent symphony concert given in Wellington by the professional orchestra of that city. Mrs. Bloy made an excellent impression.

An interesting movement, having as its object the formation of an Australia national theatre for the production of Australian plays, was inaugurated recently by the production at Oakleigh, of a fouract repertory play entitled " The Fight," by George Byfield. The production was practically a '* drawing-room" performance. but within its limitations, was strikingly successful.

Although she is over 70 years of age, Madame Patti is doing what she can in the cause of war charity. The famous English prima donna has subscribed largely to war funds organised in Wales, and recently sent her famous fan and shoes to b= sold at a charity auction at the Savoy Hotel.

The death is recorded of Mr. James Jago. of Dunedin. He was closely associated with the musical life of that city for some 30 years, and his name has probably figured on concert programmes in Dunedin more frequently than that of any other resident vocalist. Mr. Jago was a contemporary of Mr. Farouhar Young, Misses Rose and Kitty Blaney, and Mrs. Murphy, mother of Miss Amy Murphy, and was seldom missing from the cast of any amateur opera, oratorio, or cantata given in the musical centre of the South Island. About two years ago Mr. Jago visited the North Island for health reasons, but without deriving any great .benefit. He sang in " The Persian Garden" song cycle with the Royal Wellington Choral Society last year, and made other appearances in Wellington, but was not in his true form.

A new "English comedy-drama of the domestic order is in course of rehearsal bv the Bert Bailey Company at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, entitled " Not Understood." the new play promises to have a powerful dramatic ' appeal, enlivened by comedy of good English variety. Mr. Bailey will be seen in an old man comedy role of a class far removed from any of his recent characterisations.

The.. Belgian String Band, lately appearing at the Auditorium, concluded its Melbourne season and left for London by R.M.S. Omrah.

In Montreal a halfpenny tax is now charged on every ticket for any place ot amusement. The revenue is to benefit hospitals and other charitable institutions.

Mies Dorothy Cumming, who plavs the role of Molly Preston in " The Man* Who Stayed at Home," is looked upon as one of the most promising young actresses the Australian stage has produced. Miss Cummings made her first appearance in New Zealand as Beauty in "Every Woman," and more recently she played the role of Maria Louise in " A Royal Divorce" with the. Julius Knight Company. s

Sir Herbert Tree has signed a contract to present a new condensed version of "Trilby" in theatres controlled by the Moss Empires, Ltd. The tour commenced on July 5. and Sjir Herbert is supported by -a' strong' cast from His Majesty's Theatre, London. *

Mr. Hugh D. Mcintosh, manager of the Tivoli Theatres in Australasia,' has been elected president of the British Empire League in Sydney, in succession to Sir William McMillen.

Though well known >to the dramatic stage of Australasia, Mr. Cyril Mackay is making his first appearance in vaudeville at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney. He has a number of successes to his credit with the J. C. Williamson Company, his last appearance being in " The Man Who Stayed at Home." Mr. Mack ay has been engaged by the Tivoli management to appear in tense dramatic sketches, and the first one to be produced was " After the , Play," which ran for nine months at the London Empire. His support included Mr. Arthur Styan, Mr. Reginald Kenneth, and Miss Olive Wilton. " After the Play" is a vivid little drama of the Grand Guignol type. It only lasts for about 20 minutes. It is the story of a woman whose jewels are stolen, and who is killed after returning to her rooms after the play. Suspicion falls on her lover, who lias- left the apartments just before the crime is committed, and his plight is a parlous one until he is suddenly cleared by an extraordinary bit of evidence that proves him entirely innocent. This .is really the first of the serious dramatic sketch "work that Mr. Mcintosh intends to introduce into his vaudeville theatres.

The late John Bunny, the famous kinema actor, whose face was indeed his fortune, for he was earning between £200 and £300 a week at the time of his death, is not the only "movie" star who has been able to command a three-figure salary. Charlie Chaplin, the funniest film man in the world, who is recognised as even a bigger attraction than Bunny, is paid £300 a week and a percentage of royalties, which brings his income up to not less than £500 a week. Mary Pickford, " Queen of the Movies," earns £400 a week, while Anita Stewart is another kinema actress who commands a three-figure salary. Two of the most successful kinema actors' and film producers in America are Jack Warren Kerrigan and Carlvle Blackwell, both of whom earn the salary of a Prime Minister. Another three-figure kinema actress is Miss Alice Joyce, whose picture in various photo-plays is to be seen all over the world. That there are still fortunes in films is emphasised by the success of Thomas H. Ince, the American kinema prince, whose income has been placed at £15,000 a year, and it may be some encouragement to aspiring photo-play writers to learn that 90 per cent, of the scenarios, ■ save those adapted from stage plays, are the work of men and women who never wrote a spoken play in their lives. One of the most remarkable cases was that of •Ida Damon, who won a £2000 prize in a contest by providing the last situation in "The Million Dollar Mystery." Miss Damon never wrote a line for publication in her life, and at the time she received the cheque for £2000 was stenographer for a piano house.

It is claimed that vaudeville has rarely introduced such a fine musical i'ering ;,*s that featured by Miss Nellie IJla'-t at.d Miss Amy Murphy at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne. For nearly 30 minutes these young artists entertain with instrumental and vocal selections, and the audience is never slow to show appreciUi m of their abilities.

There is a possibility of a big company being formed in Australia for the production of photo-plays. Already many successful dramas have V;n pr'-ducel, but they have been mostly " out-ofdoors" plays. The heavy cost of an u;>-to-date studio has been the stumbling-block for many years past, but according to reports this will not stand in the way of the companv that is spoken of as being interested in the filming of rJianiu in Australia.

The London Musical News has established a fund for the purpose of providing the army and navy with ii.-outh organs; £300 has already beei donated, and 1000 instruments have been supplied.

Extensive additions and improvements to His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, bringing it into line with the best theatres in New Zealand, are contemplated.

Musico-Dramaticus.