THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18885, 6 December 1924, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

Actress : Large Fortune.

Two Lancastrians and a Yorkshire woman are among those who benefit under the will of Lotta Crabtree, the American actress of the eighties, who recently died at Boston, and left a fortune of about £800,000. She left a Christmas box to each of he:.- three cousins in England. They will receive about £220 annua and the will stipulates that the money Phall be paid during the Christmas n>Uda A sum of 100,000 dollars (about £20,000) will be invested to provide the regular income from which the Christmas boxes are given. Apart from these and a few other family bequests, however, the actress has left her fortune to disabled soldiers, needy stage people exconvicts and animal-lovers. Half of tiie estate goes to form a trust fund for American soldiers and sailors disabled in .the great war and their dependents. "Lotta," as she was known in the .United States, began collecting her fortune when she was six years of age. She garnered bags of gold dust and nuggets thrown to her by generous diggers ID Californian camps in the days of Roaring Fortv-Nine." Once on tho stage "Lotta' danced and sang to success, and reached the height of her career in Dickensian character sketches—principally Little Nell and the Marchioness. Only once did she venture abroad, and this was to England. She appeared in London, but was not a success. When she retired her savings were comparatively moderate, but she invested them successfully in theatrical enterprises. Plays and Players, Over 2500 school children and their teachers attended a special performance of Rimsky-Korsakov's " The Golden Cockerel" (Coq d'Or), by the- British National Opera Company in the Opera House at Manchester recently. Tho visit was regarded by the educational authorities from a strictly educational standpoint, and the performance- took place within school hours, while special lessons on the story of the opera were given in advance. The cast included Sylvia Nelis and Robert Radford. Hazel Harris who dances with Westley Pierce in "The O'Brien Girl," Hugh J. Ward's Musical Comedy, is a stickler for the simple life. Not because she likes it, but for the reason that a dancer off the boards must "go slow." Early hours are part of her routine, and, as swimming is one of her favourite pastimes, as well as an exercise that keeps her fit,, she will to';e up residence near the water. In a word, she is wedded to her art, and such devotion is reaping in its reward enthusiastic receptions. A- coming attraction within the next few weeks will be St. Leon's Circus, which has been a household word in Australia and New Zealand for upwards of five generations. Its established good name stands to-day, as it did in the long ago, for all that is cleanest and cleverest, brightest and best in the circus world. With new and surprising acts, sensational acrobats, riders, and trapeze experts, really funny clowns, educated blood ■ horses and ponies, and a score of other attractions, the circus is already assured of a hearty welcome. The Orpheus Male Voice Choir, of America, is to compete at the Walsh National Eisteddfod at Pwllheli next year. . This choir, tho majority of the members of which are employed as miners in Wyoming Valley, beat the best choirs of America and Canada at the American Xational Eisteddfod this year. The idea of tho visit originated with Mr. Tom Rees, n Welsh millionaire from New York, who contributed 500 dollars to start the fund of 40,000 dollars (about £8000) which is tho estimated oost of the trip. Over 2000 dollars were subscribed in a few days.

It has alicady been announced by Mr. .T. E. Tait that the famous Italian soprano, Signora Galli-Curci, will give six or eight concerts in New Zealand about the middle of next year. According to tentative arrangements so far completed, the brilliant singer will be in Auckland during the week commencing Thursday, July 2, and pending a settlement of the sctua! dates on which concerts are to be given, an option has been secured over the whole of that week at the Town Hal] on behalf of Messrs. J. and N. Tait. On .July 9, 11 and 14, Galli-Curci is Looked to give concerts at Wellington.

Most comedians have to go abroad before their talent is recognised in their own country. Billy Bovis, who is appearing with the Band Box Revue Company at the Opera House, is a case in point. After playing in sketch work in Australia rears ago, with his charming wife, Flo Darling, Mr. Bovis migrated to America, where ho immediately made good and established himself, after many years, as ono of the principal comedians in American, vaudeville and burlesque shows. He is of the dapper type, and can make a .success of. a song after other comedians have failed with it. A case in point is " I Love Me." Mr. Bovis returned to Australia for a holiday trip, but was immediately persuaded by the Fuller firm to tako up a contract, so ho is now combining pleasure with business.

The New Zealand tour of George Storey, with a brand new revue company, is re'st lting most successfully. George, who is mo of tho most' popular comedians that has visited the Dominion, was received with every demonstration of welcome at the Fuller theatres in Christchurch, and Dunedin, and has recently comemnced a season in Wellington. The company was organised and trained in Adelaide, and played a season in that city before coming ncross to New Zealand. Of the personnel, Mr. Storey himself stands out easily as •the leading figure. His conception of comedy is now well known, and his little mannerisms and methods of work produce as good an effect now as when seen in vaudeville. He receives able support from n brother comedian, Frank Haining. whose work is marked bv freshness and skill. Richard Butler is the juvenile lead of the company, sings and acts with good effect, and is not without a talent for comedy effects. Other prominent members of the cast aro Mabelle Morgan and Duloie Milner. It is probable that Auckland will be the next town to see the George Storey Company. Mamie Watson, the bright, daintv, hazel-eyed " O'Brien Girl " of Hugh J. Ward's Company of comedians, is the ex- • ception that proves the rule, that it takes many years of hard work and study before a girl can hope to see her name" among those listed in the theatre programmes. Mamie Watson, measured against the ago scale of her contemporaries, is but an infant yet. This is the first time she has left England, and her mother, who has been her closest companion throughout her stage career, accompanied her across the world. It is very obvious that it is this priceless quality of grit that is responsible for her rapid rise to prominence. A few years ago she was making • her nj-rne in the British provinces as a dancer. Her partner was Los. Barker. who has also found himself a niche in the hall of fame. For several years these two worked together, evolving and perfecting new steps and to-day the verdict of theatre managers is that as a pair they are worth three times the fees that they .are worth separately and individually. Miss v\ atson quickly won recognition from London managers, and finally became leading lady with Seymour Hicks at the Gaiety :;>:..;:■; just before leaving England. She is a girl of ..,-.rare charm and personality. She will be v ' seen in Auckland in " The* O'Brien Girl," -vv' -K ■:•: ana subsequently in " Little Nellie Kellv** -•mad.. "Tangerine." ' : .-. [ J _