PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6383, 4 December 1907, Page 4

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

BOOKINGS. OPERA HOUSE. Nov. 22 to 800. 6—Allan Hamilton. l)oc. 7 to 17 -Pollard'* J uveuilo CoUeo. 18 to 2?r—J. C. WUlhuuaon. Bcc. 26 to Jun. 16—J. 0. Williamson. 1908. Jan. 17 to Feb. s—Pollard Opox*a Co. Pub. 6 to 26-J. 0. Williamson. March 28 to April 17— Flamming Co. April 18 to May 9—J. CJ. Williamson. May 11 to 20—E. Oeaoh. May 23 to June 13—J. G. Williamson. Juno 20 to July 4—Allan Hamilton. July 16 to 25—K. Gomoh. August 14 to 31— J. CJ. WiiJiamsou. Said. 2 to 22—Allan Hamilton. •Oct. 3 to JOL-lliand Holt. Nov. 25 to 800. 19—Wcat's Pictures. Bee. 26 to Jau. PI—J. C. Williaintcß* TOWN lIAIiJj. Dec. 23 to Jan. 11—Weal's Pictures. 19C3. Jan. 30 and 24—Madamo Clara Butt. April 18 to May 2—Catholic Bazaar. Sop. 6 and 9—ifalliaon Concert Go. THEATRE ROYAL. Pul 1 car's ,pri rr-iiaers-Peruument. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Ja Season.—Howard Vernon Co. NOTES (By "Lorgnette*") in Fairyland," which ie to no produced at the Opera House next Saturday evening by Pollard's new Juvenile 'Opera Comx>any, has had a very successful run in of the principal towns of the Dominion. Unlike most operas. "Bluebell" boa*Ls of a good atopy, which starts in real life, and then goca into u dream,' returning eventually to real life again. -Bluebell (Minnie Hopping) a littlo ilowov girt'in tlio Strand, Jjoiicion:, and - on Christina* Eve is eudoavouriiig to soil enough flowers to take homo a Christmas box to her littlo sisters, Wlimio and -Mab* (Littlo Alma and Ivy Aido.us), Mr; Joplin, a rich merchant, has taken a great fancy to Blueboll, and is -anxious to befriend her, ho meets her in tho Strand, and gives her a sovereign for a'Christmas box. Bluoboll immediately returns to her garrott in Drury Lano and informs her little sisters of her good luck, but before ] doing so eho also informs “Dickey" (Lily j Thomson, a crossing woo per (wlio is in i love with her), of her good fortune, j Bluebell's sisters insist on her reading i them a fairytale, and in doing so they 1 All fall off to sleep, including Peter, a j ♦cat CBdio Boulfcor). Bluebell dreams that ' Hio ha® to awaken tho sleepy King, who ; has boon asleep for three hundred years ! film starts out on this venture at'the' instigation of tho Fairy Queen (Muv ' Hopping), accompanied by Peter ami two ' school boys, Blib and Blob (Masters ! Nicholson and .Drummond), and after' meeting with all sorts of adventure* 1 with frogs, dwarfs, owls, etc., succeeds in reaching tho King's resting place. She awaken* the King, and restores him to tho throne, which has boon occupied by two usurpers, tho reigning King (Mr Ernest Sohate) and Queen (.Mr Charles Albert). Bluebell eventually wakes up in her garrott and finds that It w morning and ' only a dream. In tho .meantime Mr Joplin discovers her home, and makes hoi* an offer to come •with hor little listers to make hi« house what it has never been before, "home," Tho whole concludes with a beautiful tableau. "Tho Golden City," in which tho Fairy Queen is seen, with all her attendant* grouped around her. Tho music of tho piece Is bright and catchy, <tnd is by that well-known author. Walter Slaughter. Tho dancing and ballets are plentiful, and are exceedingly clever, especially tho Doll Ballot, which takes place iu the

King’s Palace. Tho whole production, which consists of eleven scenes, will be on the same expensive scale which characterises all the Pollard productions.

Mr John Fuller, jun., who arrived in Sydney on November 2Uth, by the Nikko Manx, from Japan, iw bringing his ten months’ tour of the world to a close. Ite says Ite has come to the-conclusion,'from what he has seen in his travels, that Australian and New Zealand theatres and theatrical performances will compare favourably with those of any part of the world. To the Australian artist who, having made.a success-in his own country, desires-to repeat- that success iu (/omlon, he points out that a name in Loudon is secured only by years of hard work in minor part*, and oven then tho fact has to be remembered that the audiences of the great metropolis remain very; loyal to their own favourites, 50 than, though a manager may realise that he has superior ability in tho ranks, he must allow it m remain, there, because of the fact that the people want those whom they know. It is the name that attracts, and not always the ability. This, anyway, is Mr Fuller’s verdict. Messrs Bon ami John Fuller return to New Zealand by the Marama this morning.

A production "Camille," with Miss Madge Mclntosh in the title . role, • and Mr Jlarcourt Beatty as Armand, follows "Tim Midnight Wedding” at the Theatre Koval, Melbourne.

Air J. (J. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company will commence its New Zealand tojir at the Opera House on Boxing Night with one of London's latest successes, "The Blue Moon." The company which Air J. C. Williamson has got together to interpret tho piece is said (o be an exceptionally strong one, and includes Mi* I ** Amy Murphy, Miss T)ulcio Murphy, Miss Celia Uhiloni, Miss Daisie Wallace, Miss I*laud Thorne, Air Victor Gouriet, Air Victor Loydall, Mr Myles Clifton. Air Reginald Kenneth, Mr P. Bathurst, Mr Harold Parke*, and Mr E. Nnblo. "Tho Blue Moon" is said to i bo a. merry play with tho romantic and humorous elements blended judiciously to tho accompaniment of much taking melody. As regards The former, the plot centres around tho love idyll of a British officer and a Burmese singing girl, wiio is not really u brown skinned daughter of the Silken East, but an English maiden abducted from her rightful parents by one Moolraj, a renegade Englishman, who deserts' to Burmah, there to build up a nourishing business as a marriage broker and idol maker. It is lie who supplies tho main flow of laughter, with his attempts to pass himself off as a genuine Asiatic, while his chief assistants in this all important function are Private Charlie Taylor and Millicent Lovoy, a lady’s maid, who have a littlo love affair all to themselves. Tho part of Chandra Nil. the littlo Burmese singing girl, will bo played by that talented vocalist. Miss Amy Murphy. Mr Reginald Kenneth plays Jack Qrmsby, tho military hero; Mr Victor Gouriot is expected to be well enough to play Moolraj ; Mr Myles Clifton, .Major Callabono; Miss Daisio Wallace, Millicent Leroy; Mies Celia Ghiloni. Lady Brabasham (the mother of UhVanda); Miss Maud Thome. Evelyn Ormsby; Air Pat Bathurst, Prince Badaliur; and Mr Harold Parkes, Private Charlie Taylor.

According to IBs present plans Mr Tom Nawu ini ends bringing put to Australia .a big vaudeville company of hH own. if ho dees it is to bo hoped he will have better luck than lie had withthe hist venture ho was associated with. Alsu that lie will bring along some “new goods.“ “A 'touch of Nature" and tho other sketches ho staged during libs prosh V 1"* t ' L ' : tau ea l e !y be put on tho

Mr A, lirnlmis, late of tho Wilknigliby \\ nr.l l.oninmy, has lioon nppuintod musical (Urwacr Ot tho Pollard Juvenile Opera Company.

“The Girls of Gottcnlxrs” has settled down fairly into its K ay_ aiu j j oyfn ( sUulo at Hoi Majesty« Theatre, Melbourne, and as the really capital story

gets hold of the successive audience*, deems to go bettor and bettor at each performance until the awing and giuter of tho whole production manes an irresistible appeal. To its -success, ol which chore can bo no manner of doubt, each one of tho company contributes his or uer share. Mr George Laurx by his entirely humorous -conception of tho barber, who takes on the task of impersonating the Kaiser's Special Envoy,_ Miss Florence Young, by her most artictic singing and bright and lively dancing, Miss Fanny Dan go, by her vivacity and daintiness that stay at top level from beginning to end, Air Reginald Roberts by his dash and spirit as Prince Otto, end Misses Clifton. Wilson, Messrs Leslie, Crane, Bantock, Percy and the rest of the cast for the excellent comedy sketches they all supply. In addition, tho chorus—that splendid Koval Comic Opera chorus— are well in evidence from tho rise to the fall of tho curtain, there is some fine solo and concerted dancing, xi quaint German atmosphere induced Jjy the picturesque scenery, and in short, a wholly new environment that makes tho piece ono of the most attractive theatrical productions that have been seen in Melbourne for gome time. Mr AV. A, Low, business * manager of tho company, has been on tour all the week making arrangements for the company's opening next Saturday.

Rumour says that there is still an obstacle in the” way of the erection of the now theatre in. Russell street, Melbourne, said obstacle being a strip of land which has to l>o nnrehased. Also that there Is a second syndicate in the field with another site. Again, that No. 2 syndicate wouldn't mind purchasing the strip of land required by No. 1 syndicate. If all these reports are correct (says the "Sporting and Dramatic News") the owner of the peioe of land must bo getting some good offers.

Mr Myles Clifton, one of the principal comedians of "The Bluef Moon" Company, was originally a Shakesjperian actor, and was also associated for a considerable time with the Grossmiths. His entrance into muscal comedy was as Sir Bingo Preston iu "San Toy" throughout the English provinces.

Mr George Alexander, on Tuesday, .November 12th, • produced in London "The Thief," the English version of M. Henri Bernstein - ’b play, “Lo Velour/'’ which was prepared for him by Mr Cosmo Gordon Lennox. In addition to Mr Alexander, Miss Irene Vanburgh and Miss Lilian Braithwaite are in the cast. We hoar a lot nowadays about fcho need, for children's play, and too little about the need for playtime for their mothers, "whoso work is never done." That the poor mothers appreciate a little change in their hum-drum lives is proved by Mrs Madge Carr, otherwise "Mrs Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch," who Invited fifteen hundred London Mrs Wiggs's to see her net on Tuesday, October 15th. "Fifteen hundred!" said the manager of the ‘Adelphi Theatre to a pressman, "Why, we had application from fifteen thousand, so I fear the weeding out process mufd have caused some disappointment." Some of the applications which came direct from the poor women were quite pathetic, oim being from a crippled mother who asked for a ticket for her daughter, aged 17, the eldest of seven, who waits on her mother and does all the housework, and had not had a holiday of any kind for four years. The vholo of the theatre, with the exception of the stalls and boxes, was given to the visitors, the proceeds from the sale of the stalls and boxes going towards providing brakes to bring tho women to see the play. All tho company gave their services" free. The play started at two o'clock in tho afternoon, and after the first act- there was an interval of half an hour, during which tea, bread and butter, and cakes were handed round. Mr J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company, which is due to open a season it the Wellington Opera House on Boxing Night, is doing first-class business atj

(Her Majesty'© Theatre, Sydney. "The Blue Mcon” was piuyeU for tae lust time last iTi-aay mgne inc second , prouuction of tiie company, "My Lady Madcap/' was staged cu Saturday evening, Mt Arthur 'Wontner, who visited New Zeaiauu it ii.'iv \furs ago witn iur Julius ivmgnt s Company, is playing Air Matiiesou Lang’s part of John Storm in "The Christian'' at the Lyceum Tneatre, London. Mv Lang ielt tiie cast or “Uie Christian" to play in George Bernard fan's drama, “The Devil's Disciple,” winch was produced at tiie Savoy Theatre, London, on the 14th October. In Master Lertle Nicholson the Pollard Company is said to possess a comedian of .unusually brilliant talent. A New York Vaudeville paper states that R. Cf. Knowles refused an offer of solid time for a. year in the English syndicate halls 4. t a salary ox J&LW a week, in order to play hrs annual Pali engagement in tho States. He opened at the New York on October 7. Knowles will play five months in vaudeville*under K; and E., and will then give ten lectures in Qarnogie Hall,'New York. He recently played the Pavilion, Glasgow, Scotland, ami was offered a return engagement of three weeks next season at A’JUO weekly.

Monty Brewster continues to make strenuous efforts to rid himself of his. inconvenient million to the manifest enjoyment of tho large audiences who as? ©em-ble at the Theatre Loyal, Sydney, to watch him do it—with perhaps a slight feeling of envy that- even a fictional personage should ho so. extremely lucky as to have the joy .of spending recklessly without the. pain of footing the bill—or rather with a materially increased pleasure in* so doing. By the. average man such an experience would, be effusively welcomed, and most people.' who see the play come away with the conviction that if they had Monty's chance they would cheerfully undergo Monty's worries—and more them ii nccefvsiary. fin. -tae sarnie deligntful comedy, the realistic ship scene, ,bnng r ing a brief period of real excitement with it, still rouses the unequivocal approval of the audiences, and the two elements of humour and sensation thus combined, each the best of its kind united to the really excellent way in which the story is interpreted by Mr Thomas Kingston -and his associates, should servo as a strong drawing card for some considerable time yet. '’Brewster's Millions” will be seen in New Zealand for the first time at His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, on Boxing Night.

Mr John F. Sheridan, after a' fairly successful tour of Queensland, is now hard at work in Sydney getting: ready the pantomime he is-to produce in conjunction with Mr William Anderson at the Palace Theatre, ,on Boxing Night., The name of tho pantomime is not known yet, but Mr Sheridan- states that it will be up to high-water mark, and that several first-cla«s -'rfists have been engaged for tho production, ,

Mr George 3?. Carey, the wellknown actor, has recovered from his recent illnees. Mr- 1 Carey had "signed on” for the New Zealand tour of Mr Allan Hamilton's "Home, Sweet Home" Company, but had to .cancel tho engagement. 'Mr Claude H. Whaito, a few days ago, received a letter from Mr Herbert Flemming, in which a number of particulars concerning the new artists of his company and the new plays secured for the tour are given. Mr A. S. Homewood, who has been engaged as lend, has been cm four tours in America with Miss Olga Nethersolo and Mr E. S. Willard, and played Pantaloon and Steve Polio in the tour’ of "Alice-Sit-by-the-Firo" with Miss Ellen Terry in * 19-05. Mr Homewood, who is well known ip the English provinces, has done a vast amount of good Hvork there in Shakespearian and old comedy repertoire companies, His experience of the English stage extends over sixteen years, for his first professional appearance was

i made at Sadler's Wells in 1891, when he i played four small pints in ‘’Tiie King . of lion.” Before - mat he' had a (ooii- ' sidcrablo career in amateur pioductidhs. i>oiii at Ilford, in Jus-sex, lie was educated at Now College Eastbourne, and at jioninoath, and studied elocution with Mr' Alfred NeUon at tho ' Guildhall School.- Miss Joan Blair (Mrs Homewood; will also como to Australia as a member of the company. Miss Blair, who studied for tho theatrical profession at Ben Greet'® Academy, has had a good deal of work in bis reportoir© companies and pastoral plays. Her characters include Lady Babbie in "The Little Minister," played on tour, and she has also.had tho distinction of touring with Miss Ellen Terry, while ©he has paid two visits to America in companies, headed by Mr E. S. Willard, and has appeared in South Africa under the management of Mosers B. and F. 1 Wheeler. Miss Elsie Clemens, who has been engaged for ingenue parts, had three years' experience with Airs Kendal, and several West End engagements, the last of which was in "Raffles/' when Mr Dion Boucicault played the adventurous cracksman. Tho other new members of tho company will be ALiss Alice Daintree, Messrs' Herbert Ainsworth, Percy Marton, and Aubrey Mallalieu, and Aliss Nelli© Mortyne, who was hero with "The AfeSsago From Mars" Company. ‘ Miss Beatrice Day will, as already announced, continue as leading lady, while Miss Guilford Quin, and Messrs Gregan McMahon, Winter Hall,. John F. Fordo, H. W. Varna, and J. H. Paulton, will complete tho company.- Mr Hemming has secured the rights of Air Beerbohin TroeV new play, which the celebrated aetor recently produced in Dublin, "The Beloved Vagabond," a dramatisation of Air Locko’s book, and "Simple Simon," a new play in four acts, by Alurray' Carson and Nora Keith. "Sinvplo Simon" was produced for the first time last month in Manchester by Air Arthur Bourchior. Those pieces, with "Tho Morals of Marcus," and possibly "Tho Barrier," and another new play, will constitute the chief attractions in the company's repertoire. The company, which is due in Melbourne on December 11th, will begin at once with the rehearsals of "Olivia/' Mr Flemming having decided to make that his Christmas production. Mr-Allan Hamilton and Air Claude H. Whaito will bo on. the managerial staff.

M. DcJmond - Rostand, the author of "Cyrano de Bergerac,” was ’operated"on for appendicitis, at Bayonne on October 6th. Mr. Rosland had been on the sick list for some time before the operation was done.

"When Knights-were Bold,” the comedy with -which Mr Frank Thornton opens his Australasian tour at the Sydney Criterion on December 21st, has attracted large audiences in London for the past twelve months, ahd still continues to do so. Ft is also a huge success in New York under Mr Charles Frohmans mnnagemment, whilst there are no fewer than three companies' tour-, ing with it in the English provinces. Mr Thornton considers that in "When ivnights Were Bold", he has secured another ‘‘Charley's Aunt."

Miss Ada Word, the actress evangelist, has our warmest wishes for the.success of her new mission of keeping the sweet young English girl off the stage. Anyone who keeps that sticky young creature off the stage is conferring un it an inestimable boon, and saving the British public a . world of boredom.—" Vanity Fair."

Noting the keen personal interest taken in "Brewster's Millions" by the audiences at the Theatre Loyal, Sydney, the ‘ management offered a J;5. 5s prize l for tho best answer to the question, "What would vou do if yon were Monty Brewster"—that is to say. if an Australian had ,£250,000 to spend under the same; conditions as the New Yorker, how would j he set about it. The suggestions should 1 lie full of interest, and apparently some Sydneyites have set about giving practical demonstrations of sozne.of the meth-j

ods they would employ, judging ..by an incident wlucn occurred in mo last act of tae piece m syandy tne other njgnt, Monty/ having successfully, abolished , his unearned increment, .>*turiih ins - pockets 1 inside out in proof of'Uio poverty. - When lie did so, a sovereign was thrown on'the stage (to help him- to j a bed and’breakfast presumably), and a little later/ when he asks his man iiawles for a sntaJl loan in order that he inay buy a . stamp, a florin and half a sovereign followed .the bigger money over the footlights. Next day the Children's Hospital funds benefited to tho extent of XI 12s <

The capable company now doing "Brewster's Millions" at” the Theatre Royal, Sydney, have already, begun preparatory work on "John Giayde's Honuuv," the new play by jinxed ISuuo, which has been such a success in London and New, York, and which J. C. Williamson scoured some time ago for Australia. It’Meal©- with the problem- of a money king, whose absorbtion ,in business prevents him from noticing, .or trying to stay, the defection of his wife, end in the hands of Airs Robert Brough, Mr Thomas Kingston and the rest of the strong combination gathered together in association with them, should receive entirely satisfactory treatment. It will b© done in all probability before the Company leave Sydney.

Lewis Waller was not nervous when he made his first appearance on the. professional stage in Toole's Theatre, long sinco pulled down; and yet he might well Tiavo been so' for the King, then Prince of v?ales, occuihed the Royal box, and that fact in itself must have been, a, high -trial for-a-young man who was taking Jus-future in his own hands. But Waller , says he considered the presence of his Majesty as a happy omen. One reason for .his-rather unusual confidence was, perhaps, that he had appeared many times previously in amateur productions.

One of tho stories in the Bistori Alemoirs relates to the pleading .in 1861 of the great actress at Aladrid, with ,the Queen of, Spain, and Marshal Narvaez for the life of a young soldier who : had been condemned to , death for a. military .offence. This story, together with .a touching account of tho rescued mail's lifelong, gratitude,’is told at, length, in .The "Memoirs." In them also are recorded, the actress’s impression© on her two. groat world tours. It was on one of them that she visited Australia. Though ©he docs not devote much space to her Australian days, she speaks in glowing terms’ of her experiences here. Sydney she left, "with" much regret after a month-of continuous performances. From Sydney we went/' she says, "to Alelbourne', where I played thirty-four times with the same satisfactory results as at Sydney. * I returned to that place on October 11 (1875) to give my farewell performances.- -The town of xVdelakle happened to-be the laet ptation in that delightful country/'

Mr Charles Lawrence, the clever young - Australian actor, who is W' II known in th s© parts, and who has been meeting .with considerable success in America, writing to a Dunedin friend under date D-'s Moines. F.SrA.. furnishes vome interesting particulars concerning his career, and also much of interest ab-ut Australians in America. - Ho writ©?: "After a few weeks' vacation In New York, chiefly snout at the seaside. m r eeeivcd a very good engagement H f -' TefWcr and to-., a well known New .York firm, to play the heavy part (the Earl of. Kerkill) in 'The Squaw M n* at the bert salary I have received up to date, and the best part I have yet attempted. T’ c firm sent 'The Souaw out to Australia, so no doubt you Ffiw the, play. The company is.,rather interesting owing to the feH: that leading man is Harry- Je-welt. an- Austral! „n actor whodiy«d for many years in Dunedin, and will bo remembered there by, many. He has bcenjp America for the beet part of fifteen yetffs. rnd is known ne one of the best leading men over hero, and has ‘bo?n«starred, for some years in. several big productions. We

also have -Mr. Frank Campbell, who woe in tho Australian'and-New Zealand production of. 'TuO bquaw Man J - vvlta Mr VVuldron, ; He played the bnonff. Ho is , cast tor the inuian with us. Another of our caat is xur uaiway Herbert, . an English actor, who j© well known in Nosv Zealand as a member of Frank Thornton s Company, having, played m ‘vh&rley s nunt/ ’The Vixvato Secretary/ and ,*±’ acing the , M-a_ie/ These gentlemen have many friends in New Zealand and never coas© saigmg the praises of t*-.© colonies and the people out there, We opened on August and since, then have travelled a gieal deal, jaad the /good luck to play at Niagara Falls, and hod the opportunity of seeing the wonderful sight. We are moving about a great deal, and dont expect to reach New York until June of-next year. You will be inteies.ed to hear new® of some Australians wno are in tine country, also of people who have bicn in New Zealand. Mr Frank Holloas, who was in New Zealand with tho Cuyier Hastings company, is supporting Amelia. Bingham in a new play called 'Lady Godiva/ and Mr Lumsden Hare is with Ethel Barrymore, under ironman's man.gement. Paul* Scardorv. 'a weli-knowir Australian, has a good position in E. H. Sothern'e Company, and is now in Chicago. Mario Majeroni is appearing at the Empire Theatre, New York, with John Drew in a comedy entitled *Aly Wife. Albert Gran is supporting Mise Virginia Karned in 'Anna Karenira/ a new play at the Herald j Square Theatre, New York. \v. M. Hswtrey • has a .successful .sketch in I vaudeville called ’ Compromised/ which j ha© just been booked for -forty weeks. | Miss Stella Tracey is under engagement 1 to Klaw and E Ganger for thr*e years ’for musical comedy, and is very successful over here.. , Miss Belle D’Arcyi who was in New Zealand With. Frank . Thornton, is appearing at -Cleveland, Ohio, with success/ The; clarence bisters*, arc two of the“ most' successful vaudeville artists who have , come from Australia. They have here,three years now, and ore ahvays booked up and getting big money. They are known as ‘The Australian Nnggtts/ Others in vaudeville are Fred Rivcnhall, Bradley and Barnes, Connie Hamilton, and Kate Howard. There is a Percival Aylmer playing in ‘The Orchid' in Now York. I think was in Pollard's Company at one tjme. Harry Roberts is starring under Leibler and Co/o' management. His wife (Miss Maggie Moore) is appearing in Jefferson's Company in 'Rip Van Winkle/ So you see all the Australians are doing well and holding their own./'—"Otago Witness/'

Sir Charles Wyndham made his re-ap-pearance at the Criterion Theatre, London, in Mr H. H. Davie's comedy, "The Mollusc/' on October 12th. Tho author, whose "Cousin Kate" will be remembered •by Wellington theatregoers, finished the play some time ago

Mistress (who had given her maid a ticket for the theatre) —"Well, how did you like the-performance?" Maid—"Oh, it was splendid, ma'am. You should have heard how a sorvant-girl sauced her missus 1" 1