THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18641, 23 February 1924, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

Run of "The Beggar's Opera." How are we to account for. the extraordinary longevity of "Tho . Beggars Opera " in its twentieth ; century version asks a jliondon reviewer in 'commenting on the' Conclusion of run of 1463 performances. "The most natural opera in tih'3 world " one of the>oharacters in the! play calls it. But, natural or not—and what .precisely a "-natural opera is I cannot attempt to say—not esen the most sanguine of those asked theii opinion as to the chances oi! jts revival in 1920 predicted for the piece a longer life than a couple of months. Hazhtt, who was for ever extolling the version of the Newgate Pastoral presented in his day, would probably have scoffed •at. the very notion of the opera proving so attractive in the present century as to draw individual enthusiasts dozens of times to the theatre far removed from ordinary -haunts - .of. London playgoers. But, obviously, it takes more than a handful, -of » . eager admirers to keep the 1 box-office , fires . burning by Che stimulus of, . one _ play for three and ft half years, and, as a fact. "The Beggar" cast his spell over all *ortvi and conditions of playgoers. let. how many of them could, if asked, have explained their affection • for the piece beyond saving that they ' found it just "charming" or "fascinating, ' omitting, perhaps, to acknowledge their (possibly conscious) enjoyment of its eighteenth centurv frankness of speech. No <loubt. however, the sheer oddity of the whole thing, its utter remoteness in aimosphere and treatment from the conventional music-play, the quaintness of its Hogarthian setting, and its piquant blend 0' tho- dainty and sordid —ail this helped largely to it# success.

* Plays And Players Mr. Fred McCrea, -under -whose direction Kreisler will tour Australia and New Zealand, was in Auckland last week. Miss Maggie Dickinson and Mr. Sydney Culver were appearing in "The Whirl of Girls" at the Palladium, London, last month. •• Mr. H. R. Roberts, Australian actor, is improving week by week, and it- is anticipated that he will shortly be able to leave Sydney Hospital, at which institution he has. been an inmate for some time. Mr. Hugh J. Ward has acquired the latest "G. M. Cohan musical comedy hit, *' Rosie O'Reilly," which was lately produced on Broadway. " Like its immediate predecessor,. " Little Nellie Kelly," now packing the New Princess Theatre,, Melbourne, ".Rosie - O'Reilly " has been hailed by the press of New York as a triumph. There is no present i intention on the part of J. C. Williamson Ltd., to build a new theatre in Auckland, although a site has purchased. It is intended to lease His Majesty's - for another year at least; at the " end of tv hich time the management will consider the advisability of building an up-to-date theatre on the new site. : ;-

"Sally" the long looked for J. C. Williamson comedy production, with Josie Melville in the main part, and the complete Australian ; company, will be seen here next month. This offering is reported to have broken all Australian records, having been played for nine months and two weeks in Sydney, and ' is at present in Melbourne, where it has seen its 200 th. night. Josie Melville is an Australian girl, only 18 years of age, 'and has scored a remarkable triumph, in " Sally." Prior to appearing" in "Sally," she was J. C. Williamson's star dancer.

Mr. Andrew Higginson's re-appearance In Sydney as ' Damlo in "The Merry > Widow," a part" which he created there • some thirteen years ago, has gratified his old admirers, who are thoroughly convinced that do more fitting exponent of the part could- have been secured in Aus- :, tralia. Higginson's Danilo is the one outstanding success in this tuneful» and amusing musical comedy, says a Sydney ■ writer, even allowing for the presence of Gladys Monepeff, Arthur Stigant, Reginald Pardell; -*nd other prominent performers. ; like old v ;. wine, Danilo, so capably : interpreted by Andrew Higginson improves with age. . "The esteem in which he is held by. Sydney audiences is : evident' as soon as makes his appearance in the' production.

Several well-known theatrical personalities are in New York just now. By a strange coincidence, Frank Greene (husband of Miss-Lottie Sargent and brother of famous Evie Greene) is in the same :show as Miss Ethel Morrison, so, with the : inclusion of Allan Priora, it is quite an Australian trio. Ralph Erroll has just returned from Chicago, where he had been singing, with pan#. opera company. Strella Wilson, his wife, has not sung since ' she , left- Australia.. She 1 is busily engaged looking after her two children. Marian Marcus Clark, Bertha Ballinger and Rubi Trelease (who were in New York with the Joseph Coyne Company), are all living in New York. The latter is in " Sancho Pajjza " with . Otis , Skinner aj, the Hudson Theatre, William Valentine is in a revue in Chicago, and Gwen Burroughs is "on the Toad," as Americans say, with a farcical comedy.

- "My Lady's Dress," which was revived by Miss Emelie Polini-at the King's : Theatre, Melbourne, is one of the many - ■ successful plays written by the : versatile Edward Knc-block. Though Americanborn, he is a naturalised British subject, and is part author with the Bennett of • the famous play Milestones," in which .. Julius Knight and Irene Browne appeared. He was also . responsible for much of the dialogue of " Kismet," -which Oscar Asche ; produced with much spectacular brilliance in Australia and New Zealand. Another play of his, " Paganini," which presented phases in the life of the wonderful violinist, was also a great success. In his time— he is .not yet 40—he has produced over 20 plays, and quite 50 per cent, of them have had long runs and brought him fame and fortune.

In connection with the season of grand opera,.to- ; ie given by J,. C. Williamson, Ltd., in Melbourne at Her Majesty's in March* in* .association: with Dame Nellie Melba, the firm considers itself exceptionally fortunate in" having been able to secure as the stage director for the season Signor Carlo F&rinetti, who for years has been the principal stage director at La Scala, Milan. Signor Farinettij before becoming 1 assjeiated with this world-fam-ous opera house, was attached to many of the principal opera houses in Italy. It was only by courtesy and co-operation of Signor Toscanini, the celebrated director of La Scala, that arrangements were completed by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for SignoV Farinetti to come to Australia. It was recenfly .remarked by-a; writer in a Rome newspaper that " whatever is to be known about grand opera, Farinetti knows it.'.JHe is a Napoleon' of- grand operas."

Mr: Seymour Hicks, 'the famous English actor, who has just commenced his tour of Australia and New Zealand with his own company, has a passion for trout fishing and the dream of his life, he say 3, has been to the streams ,in New Zealand. ■ Just before the war he was negotiating to come out to the Dominions, but the engagement fell through. In Chose days, of course, he was acting with his wife, Miss Ellaline Terriss, who was a very great . favourite. On this occasion. he has as his 'leading lady Miss Barbara Hofle, who has come into prominence in London during -'the. last five years. Mrs. Seymour Hicks for ten months has been confined to her bed, and only recently ; has she, been able to get about. She has, however, accompanied her husband on the tour as has their 19-year-old daughter, Miss Betty Hicks, who recently finished her education in Paris,,