MUSICAL and DRAMATIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16561, 9 June 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

MUSICAL and DRAMATIC

BOOKINGS. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. June 11 to lft-J. C. Williamson's "Daddy Long Legs" Company. June 18 to 26— C Williamson Pantomime. July 18 to 21-J. and N. Tait's " Very Good Eddie " Company. / _ , Sept. 24 to Oct 10—J C. Williamson. Ltd. TOWN HALL, CONCERT CHAMBER. In season—" The Dandies." SING'S THEATRE. NEWTON. In Brandaa-Cremer Dramatic Co. Miss Lilian Tucker, the soprano in " Very Good Eddie," which J, and N. Tait are now staging at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, happens to be a theatrical protege of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cohan. Miss Tucker secured her first engagement in the musical comedy, " The Little Millionaire,' in Chicago, through their assistance, and did so well that she had no difficulty in getting subsequent engagements in "The Quaker Girl," "Her Soldier Boy," and other popular successes. Miss Tucker, however, has also realised her ambition to appear in farce-comedy, and has been well cast in America in such cheerful attractions as " Somebody's Luggage," " Nobody Home," and the latest success recently seen in Australia, " It Pays to Advertise."

J. M. Barrie's " Peter Pan" recently registered its 1880 th London performance. One of the company, Mr. George Shelton, had played in every production.

An eight-reel battle picture, entitled, "Womanhood, the Glory of a Nation," has been issued by the Vitagraph Company, and is being widely used in the United States in the campaign to increase the enlistments in the army and navy, and to advance patriotic movements. The picture originated in the brain of Theodore Roosevelt.

Miss Felice Lyne, the young singer who made a sensational grand opera debut in London some years back, and later visited Australia as a member of the Quinlan Opera Company, has accepted a music hall engagement at the London CoL^eum.

An Australian writer describes as one of the most progressive actor-managers in Australia to-day, Mr. Jack Waller, who, in partnership with Mr. Sydney James, is producing the new revue, " Look Who's Here," at the Tivoli Theatre. It is to him that amusement lovers, are indebted for the introduction of an entirely new form of light entertainment, and music lovers recognise that he has done much in the introduction of good music.

It is stated that an Australian entrepreneur recently sent a cablegram to Mr. George Eobey, the well-known English comedian, and at present one of the moat popular performers in London, asking his terms for a tour of Australasia. Mr. Robey's reply was characteristic " Why this idle curiosity !" he cabled.

In " Reconstructing the Crime," recently produced in London at the Palace Theatre in aid of the War Hospital Supply Depot, J. M. Barrie humorously chronicled the failings and foibles of~the artistes concerned in it. At the end they were hauled up before "Mr. Justice" H. B. Irving for fine or imprisonment, after which Lady Tree put their release up to auction. Current accounts state that the piece lasted an hour and a-half, and that there was hardly 20 minutes' real fun in it— it helped to raise £3000.

The United States National Board of Review in 1916 looked on 9180 reels or parts, as against i'sß3 in 1915, representing 4113 pictures, as against 5472 in 1915.

Produced by Mr. Oscar Asche, at Daly's Theatre, London, " The Maid of the Mountains," a new comic opera, is said to have scored a success. A leading part is in the hands of Miss Jose Collins, a daughter of Lottie Collins. Another daughter, Mis; Lucia Lottie Collins, was in Australia on the Tivoli circuit a few years ago.

The clothes worn by Mr. Stapleton Kent for the role of Gilly in "Turn to the Eight," now playing under the J. and N. Tait direction in Sydney, have had a very interesting history. They were originally the attire of a noted Bowery " crook," and Mi. Kent acquired them tc help him in his realisation of }he character. How Mr. Kent secured them well bears re-telling. One night he was in the Bowery with a party of friends, and while in a saloon the "crook" aforesaid stole Mr. Kent's new straw hat, leaving behind as an -Ineffective substitute his own battered and weather-worn headgear. At the time Mr. Kent had just been engaged to appear in "Turn to the Bight," in Australian, and one of his friends suggested that he should keep the hat for Gilly. Mr. Kent said, "I would, if I could get the rest of the outfit." So negotiations were sot on foot, and the " crook" was induced to part with his raiment for a consideration. The consideration was large, but Mr. Kent was well satisfied with the deal.

1 While in Germany, Zakaree Ermakov, the Russian secret service agent, who recently appared at the Opera House, Auckland, was often mistaken for a man who was subsequently a notorious character. Ermakov was frequently greeted with "Hello, Heinrich, how are you?" This used to puzzle him a great deal, until he was shown the picture of a man who undoubtedly resembled him to a won; derful degree. At was far from being flattered, when told that his " double" was Captain Athns, a much-feared German swordsman, who was condemned to death for the murder of his wife, mother-in-law, and several other relations. He was executed in 1914."

Ada Reeve, who is coming to New Zealand, is described as one of the most finished, magnetic, and alluring comediennes at present on the English vaudeville stage. The tour will commence eithei in the last week in August or early in September, and will be restricted to the centres and two or th/ee of the larger towns.

What is said universally to be the most wonderful motion picture ever yet conceived and executed is being exhibited under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management in Wellington, and will later be screened here. This is D. W. Griffith's "Intolerance." The story deals with the fruits of intolerance to-day, in medieval France, at the time of Christ, and in ancient Babylon. The author attacks great foundations, assails would-be reformers, and holds up to the mirror of understanding the effect of " Intolerance" in various fields.

Barry Lupino, who has recovered from his accident sustained in "Very Good, Eddie," at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, attracts those people who understand the difficulties of modern stage dancing. Mr. Lupino owes his proficiency as a dancer to a Russian instructor, who trained him thoroughly in the five primary steps of the art, and also taught him that poise and lightness which are such features of all his work. Though he is now 75, the old Russion is still stage-managing the Russian Ballet in New York, and is active enough to take part occasionally. Mr. Lupino is a great believer in dancing for health reasons, and is coiducting a dancing class for the younger members of the " Very Good, Eddie" Company, at the King's, Theatre, Melbourne. Mr Rov Rene has made a great success in the " Bunyip " pantomime at the Princess's Theatre, Melbourne, as Moe, the Hebrew Mr. Rene cmues from a Jewish family well known in Melbourne, where he resided for 14 years. He recently married Miss Dot Davis, a member of the company, and later on they will be seen together in a novel specialty act in vaudeville. One of the most expensive opera houses in the world is to be erected at Chicago It is to cost £1,000,000, and a number of millionaires, including one of the Armour firm, are furnishing the capital.