DRAMA OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18457, 21 July 1923, Page 8 (Supplement)

DRAMA OF THE DAY.

THEATRICAL NOTES.

" The Lilac Domino" -was revived by J. C Williamson's new musical comedy company at Her Majesty's, Sydney, on July 7.

Sir Benjamin Fuller is expected in New Zealand in August, en route for America and Europe, in search of fresh attractions.

" Woman to Woman," with Gertrude Elliott in the lead, caught the public fancy at the Criterion, Sydney, and big business has been done.

Irene Vanhrugh •■'id Dion Boueriault cprn their Australian, tour in Melbourne on Augu.-f 4 The pi-or!u~tv-jo selectee is " His H<".-• •in Order."

Gladys Cojper, the well-known English actress, has had her decree for divorce made ;.l solute. The petitioner was formerly ihe wife of Captain H. J. Buckmas l.er.

Odiva's performing seals havo been paying a return visit to Fullers Theatre, Sydney, and proved a wonderful draw. Daisy Jerome' was on the 5.v.t... programme.

An addition to their chain Ci tropical theatrf in Queensland is to be made by Messrs Birch, Carroll and Coyle, who intend to build at Mackay as soon as a site has be.m secured.

Graham MoflUt, of " Bunty" fame, with his wife, daughter and three others in the cast, was presenting his own , sketch, Till the Bells , Ring," in the English provinces last month.

Victor Prince, the well-known comedian, is in Sydney and at latest advices it was understood be was to commence rehearsals in" " The Beggars Opera," one of J. C. Williamson's new offerings.

Th& season of the Sunshine Players in Punedi.o. concludes to-night. Mr. Walter George plans a tour of the smaller centres. The contract with Fullers, which is terminating, has lasted five ye,ar3. -• •

Wish Wynne, English character artist, why is so well known in Auckland, was at thin Palladium, London, last month, where she presented three new " Cockney" studies in addition to several old favourites.

Edgar Beynon, the -well-known Christchurch boy entertainer, who has jus?. ;:onipl</jd an 18 months' tour of Australia ruder the 3. and J. Fuller management, hrs accepted an engagement with Musgrove's Tivoli Theatre;., to tour Australia and South Africa.

" Tangerine." Mr. Hugh J. Ward's latest musics! offering, has now got into its stride at the . New Princess Theatre, Melbourne. On' two recent Saturday nights only the supper gallery was available, the rest of tho house having been booked in advance.

. Moon an" Morris, the comedians and dancers, were, it is said, offered a fine engagement by Hugh J. Ward, to oppear in the Melbourne production of Rockets," but they could not accept owing to having been booked for the Unity Theatre, Perth

Nicola, the American magician, is still having a triumphant tour of Java, where he is playing under the direction of Australasian " Films, Ltd. His advertising matter is printed; in all the languages of the country, and embraces almost every kind of courier one could possibly imagine.

Having made the moat of " The Little Farm in Surrey," Maud Fane declared in Melbourne the other day that her return to Australia is likely. In fact, if she can prevail on her husband to abandon his post in the Royal Navy, and find his feet on an Australian deck, she will be out egain in 18 months hence.

The three American legitimate productions sponsored by Charles B. Cochran are all wonderful successes, according to London papers just to hand. The plays are " Partners Again," " So This is London ?" and "Anna Christie." It is quite possible that two of these pieces will be seen in Australia and New Zealand next year.

Among the attractions booked by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for Australia and New Zealand, is " Hassan," a poetic play byJames Elroy Flicker. The piece is now enjoying a successful run in England. Flicker died some eight years ago, and for some time before recognition came his way he lived on the verge of starvation. " Hassan" is said to be one of the prettiest plays of its kind ever staged.

Stanley Lupino, one of the- most successful of the famous English pantomimic family, hj,s been tumbling and throwing himself about for years and years and years. He had often referred to the fact that !he was fortunate in meeting nothing more serious than a few abrasions now and again. Last month, in England Lupino broke an elbow. While running across his well-kept lawn he slipped and fall down! When. tho last mail left Stanley was having an enforced holiday.

Gladys Moncrieff. despite rumours to the contrary som? time ago, has signed a further contract with J. C. Williamson, Ltd. The musical comedy artist will receive £120 per week, which is an increase of £20 on her' last figure, thus bringing her into - additional limelight as- the artist ■who has received tho biggest salary of any woman who has appeared in comic opera ■in Australia. The firm has the option of entering into another contract ■with the singer at the expiration of the present one.

Miss Nellie-Bromley's five weeks' season at the Ilohart Theatre Royal closed amidst enthusiasm. Business was splendid, and the takings of the last week in excess of any of its predecessors. The farewell play was " Sunday," with the old Theatre Royal packed. When the final curtain fell there were calls for Miss iiramley, who was almost bidden by the bouquets handed across the footlights It was a rare tribute. Mr. W. F. Russell, when the excitement was toned down, made a speech of thanks from the stage on behalf of h » wife and himself, and ■aid that they would revisit, Tasmania, probably early m 1924.

Recently a request was made to various I ft* 1 . 0 . Pr ?™ le ™ ? Austral by Mr. Allan idlue, the Shakespearean actor-manager that, some concession in travelling facilities should be made to him, on the ground that he- was the only Australian producer of Shakespeare's plays. At the meeting of the Victorian State Cabinet recently an intimation was received from the .sew South Vales' Ministry that it had considered the request, and so far as it was concerned could not accede to it. The Victorian Cabinet came to a similar determination, and m accordance with an arrangement previously made decided to inform South. Australia of its decision. The Auckland Amateur Operatic Society will produce this year an original musical play with Tutankhamun as the central figure. Though the hook is from the pen of the author of " Bill Storey." " The Boshy," and "The Bulgarian Bug," the play aims at being much moie than a humorous extravaganza. The main theme is said to be handled seriously, not to say reverently, and it is said the piece has strong historic and dramatic effect with the lighter element supplied by subordinate characters. The music is described as bright and effective, the original lyrics having been composed by a well-known New Zealand musician. It is proposed to produce the play at His Majesty's Theatre about the end of September. \ I!