THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19221, 9 January 1926, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

Boos, Saveloys and Monkey-nuls. There is a theatre in London wher«i those playgoers who regret tho passing of the palmy days when tho " Adelphi drama held sway at many of tho most famous playhouses will still find this one-time popular form of entertainment reigning supremo. This is the Elephant Theatre, Now Kent P.oad, tho only remaining house in London where what the late Mr. G. R. Sims christened the " transpontine drama flourishes as strongly as. ever. Under tho direction of Messrs. Alfred rrnd Sidney Barnard, this theatre has for somo timo past been presenting a stock company in revival's of all the most Samous melodramas of the past. A typical one was that thrilling and dashing romance of Walter Howard—" Her Love Against the World." In the gallery at tho opening performance, an enthusiastic audionco of seveial hundred people, to the accompaniment of monkey-nut cracking and the sucking o ice-cream " cornets," cheered the through its four long acts, applauding the popular members of the company on the occasion of every entrance and exit;; rising to their feet and yelling at the first appearance of Mr. N. Carter Slaughter, the idolised producer and " leading man ; and, finally, booing tho villain and hurling epithets at him in such a loud *one that the commissionaires were compelled to solicit a littlo restraint. In tho intervals these enthusiasts of tho " gods " adjoined to the bar, where they bought saveloys (handed steaming hot across tho counter), ham rolls, popcorns, and more ice-cream cornets. Ono almost expected to find the stowed eels so famous jn former days, but this item had apparently not survived. Altogether it Was a great night, which reached its climax when Air. Carter Slaughter was handed up a bottle of "Elephant" ale and a bouquet, and forced to make a speech. Plays and Players. Damo Clara Butt and Mr. Kennerlv Rumford are expected to arrive all Auckland from Sydney by the Niagara on January 18. They will be accompanied by Mr. E. J. Gravcstock, who will be in charge of tho famous singers during their Now Zealand tour. Vienna lias enthusiastically received Franz Lehar's operetta, "Paganini,' which deals with tho love story of the famous violinist and Napoleon's sister, the Princess of Lucca. _ Lohar considers the operetta liis masterpiece, and his best since '"Tho Merry Widow." New Zealand music-loving people will bo pleased to learn that tho Italian opera singer, Toti dal Monte, will make her tour of New Zealand in June and July. Mr. C. Kingston, concert director for Messrs. J. and N. Tait, who arrived at. Auckland on Monday by tho Maunganui from Sydney to supervise the approaching tour of Dame Clara Butt, states that Toti dal Monte will commence her Australian peason in May. ' All sorts of motor horns, saxophones, sousaphoiKis, and other kinds of phones are tised by Swift and Daly, who appear in Fuller Vaudovillo. They have finger horns attached to their gloves, and horns concealed all over their clothes, and all produce harmony. One of tho best features of of their act is an imitation of a street band, played on an assortment-- of old auto horns which have been collected from the ruins of many dead motor-cars. In fact, they must have purloined their paraphernalia from every make of car. During her "last visit to Sydney, Miss Pauline Frederick had an extra large-size in trunks made by a prominent firm. This trunk was chockful of presents ere she left New Zealand, and the gifts, which included carved enra eggs, kangaroo skins, boomerangs, sk;in belts, lcatnerwork of various kinds, and famous rup, will bo distributed among several of the more porsonal friends of the actress when she returns to California. In all, Miss Frederick takes seventeen full trunks back to tho United States—a number far in excess of that which she brought early last year.

Next month will be a red-letter day for the Fullers. In that month they will throw open to the publio what they consider not only tho most palatial theatre in Australia and New Zealand, but in the world. This vs tho n«iw St. James* Theatre in Sydney, built at a cost of £500,000. The St. James' Theatre is not the first tho Fullers have built. His Majesty's Tbsatre, Wellington, the King's Theatre, Auckland, are others. Then there are many which have been rebuilt and modernised. But it is tho St. James' that tho Fullers are building to perpetuate their memory. When it is opened, it will house the productions of the Hugh J. Ward Theatres Pty., Ltd., with a capital of £500,000, of which Sir Benjamin Fuller and John Fuller are codirectors with Hugh J. Ward. Theatregoers have already had a taste of the quality of this firm's attractions in " Tho O'Brien Girl," " The Faithful Heart," Little Nellie Kelly," and they can look forward to even greater productions in tlio near future. v

Tho world-famous pianist, Backhaus has been engaged by Mr. E. J. Gravestock for an Australian and New Zealand tour this year. Backhaus will give 30 concerts in Sydney, commencing in May, and will visit New Zealand some time in September. He is well known by name to music-lovqrs in the Dominion, and ho has been among the few great pianists for some years past. Such an eminent critic as Ernest Newman recently said of him: "Backhaus, last night, brought other listeners besides myself to think him possibly the greatest of all pianists row before the public." Backhaus has toured England and ' America consistently for the past ten years, and he was associated with Dame Nellie Melba in a joint-star tour of those countries which beat all previous box-office records. For his tour of Australia and New Zealand, ho is having fivo pianos sent from America, three for Australia and two for New Zealand. These pianos are valued at £2500 and will be in charge of a special representative of tho piano company, and an expert tuner who always travels with tho pianist.

Mr. Winiiington Barnes, of tho Guy Bates Post Company, can never complain of having had a dull career, for ne has crowded many types of adventure into his life. His ancestors for generations were connected with the navy, and while he was very young, he became a cadet in the mercantile marine. Later, ho tried various kinds of work on land, and while in South Africa took part in the Jameson Eaid. On the outbreak of the Boer War, Mr. Barnes linked up with the Cape Mounted Rifles, and later on he shouldered his gun for a campaign in Zuluhnd. When the drought in wars set in, Mr. Barnes decided that the stago offered the best inducement for a life of adventure and travel, even if it were only adventure with grease-paint. A small engagement with Sir Frank Benson was the commencement of his stage career, and after a varied experience of Shakespearean and stock plays, lie joined Mr. Arthur Bourcluer's company, and later was associated ' with Miss Olga Nothersole. The Great War then eventuated, and Mr. Barnes''next engagement was that of commander of a tank battalion in France. He has done admirable work v;ith the Guy Bates Post Company, for versatility is one of his Strong points.