FLAYS AND PLAYERS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6492, 11 April 1908, Page 11

FLAYS AND PLAYERS

BOOKINGS,

OPERA HORSE. March 29 to April 17.— Flemming Co. April 18 to May 9.—Sheridan Company. May 11 to 20.—E. Geach.. May 23 to June 13—J. C. Williamson. Juno 20 to July 4.—Allan Hamilton. July 16 to 25.—E. Geach. Auirust 14 to 31.—J. O. Williamson September 2 to 22.—Allan Hamilton. October 3 to 30.—Bland Holt. November 25 to December 19.—wests PioDscomber 26 to January 14.—J. 0. Williameon. TOWN HARD. April 18 to May 2.—Catholic Bazaar September 5 and 9.—Mallisou Concert Co. THEATRE ,ROYAL. Puller's Entertainers.—Permanent. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATEE. Royal Pictures.—ln season.

NOTES

(By "LorEnette.”)

The support accorded Mr Herbert Flemming's new English, company, by. Wellington playgoers has been first-class, and the nlavs staged so far have been much appreciated. Mr Flemming s com r pany being a well-balanced one, and parte judiciously allotted high-class interpretations of all pieces staged are given. During the season six plays - will be staged, five of whicn are new to \\ ellingtou. and Mr Flemming is to be complimented on his providing such excel[cut fare. The season closes nest Thursday evening. The programme submitted by the Fuller Proprietary to natrons of the Royal during the past week is one of unusual excellence. 'Eva Leo and her picaninnies nr© undoubted!v the headliners on the bill. It is a first-class turn, which should !■*■> socn by ; li amusement' lovers. 'lh« Harmonious Huxhams are three clever -.-for ?-p who o ‘••• ; hute a hgh-grade ! act. Miss Lavinia Tyeon's illustrated ballads are greatly appreciated. Messrs Jack Willis end James Opie score big in their respective "turns." The other performers on the programme ali good work. The biograpu picturce an an up-to-date selection. 'Tis said a young man, engaged in Melbourne! theatrical management, has just come in for a fortune. Before Mr Allan ’Hamilton's "Home, Sweet Home" Company disbanded, Mr Hprbert Leigh, the manager, was presented with a gold matchbox bv the company and staff. The presentation was made by Mr Robert Inman. Mr George S. Titheradge's admirers m New Zealand, and tuey are many, will be pleased to learn that he has received praise nil round from the London press for Ms performance of the conspicuous part of Colonel Bopzo in "Thn Woman of Kronstadt/' recently produced at the Garrick Theatre. The piece is a. dramatisation of Max Pemberton's novel "Kronstadt." Putting the colonel first, the London “Times" in its notice savs that it likes him, "not only for his own sake as an officer who can also be a gentleman, but also because he is plaved by Mr TiUieradge, an excellent actor, conscientious, quietly incisive, always distinguisned." Mr George Musgrov© was, at latest advices, in London sulicring from influenza. / John Wren, the new partner of Meyncll and Gunn, speaking (says the "Referee") with regard to the firm's intentions for the future, said that for some time past ho had been in communication with William Mollison. one of England's star actors (who has been, -with Ellen Terry, Beerbohm Tree, F. R, Benson, etc.), for nn Australian tour under his own directorship, and now that the new combination has been formed his negotiations will be pushed on to a finish, with tho result, in all probability, that the artist named will visit Australia at a comparatively early date. The Royal Pictures Syndicate continue nightly to pack His Majesty's Theatre. The pictures shown this week are an exceedingly fine set, and include "Wiia Birds at Home, or the feathered World in' their Haunts," “Voyage Across tb« Atlantic," "The Haunted House," “Falls of the Rhine," “Lace Making," "The Shipowner's Daughter," “The Stubborn Moke," and “The international Paperchase." A special feature is the exoeli lent music supplied by a competent orchestra. The usual matinee will be heM this afternoon, at which the usual gift distribution will take place. j Miss Valentine Sydney, who toured the Dominion as leading lady with the “Human Hearts" Company, is in the cast of “Peter Pan," which goes np at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday next. “Humpty-Dumpty' opened his account in Adelaide last Saturday (March and proceeded to £um King Solium's realm upside down m the presence of a packed house. The season closes this evening. After the performance the j

company leave for Sydney, where they are due to open on Easter Saturday. Mr Harry Lauder will return to I America next autumn for an eight weeks' tour of a number of nans. His salary ■ will be ,£6OO a week. I Mr Frank Thornton's Comedy Com- j pany, which shortly tours the Dominion, ; did fine business at Broken Hill with | “When Knights Were Bold." The com- j pany is now touring Western Australia. New Zealand is to follow. Hr J. C. Williamson's Musical Coonedy Company play a season at Brisbane before appearing in Sydney. “The Catch of the Season" is to be the first new production to bo added to their repertoire. Sixty-three thousand dollars is paid for amusement licenses by New York managers. The city has seventy thea 1 - tres and forty-seven concert halls. | Montgomery's Entertainers are still successfully touring the country towns oi the North island, ’juie combination is meeting with first-class support where©\er mey show. ; Mr William Anderson is at present on a business visit to \\ esLern Australia. Among the performers to appear at Fullers' Theatre Royal on Easier Salur- ■' day will be Tom Burrows, tho world's champion club-swinger; the % sword swallowers, jugglers, etc.; Dr Rowe, comedy magician; the Vantelles, triplebar performers; Rud Peterson, descriptive vocalist; and Salmon and Chester, sketch artists. Some new biograph pictures will be shown for the first time, a shipment being expected on the 14th. Said that Mr Henry Gee will look after Mr West's interests in Australasia during that gentleman's visit to Engj land. The Julius Knight Dramatic Company left Sydney for Auckland on Wednesday by the Manuka. The opening production will be “The Scarlet Pimpernel." Other plays in the company's repertoire will be “The Prisoner of Zenda," “Monsieur Beaucaire." “A Royal Divorce," and possibly “Claudian" and “The Lady of Lyons." Mr George Dean, who is well-known to New Zealand playgoers, nas signea on , for a further forty-two weeks with Mr j Harry Rickards. Mr Dean will bo a member of Mr Rickards' Company which shortly tours the Dominion. | Winchell Smith, who dramatised j "Brewster's Millions," was himself an i actor, and at one time -u© appeared in j "Secret Service" with William Gillette. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next novel rope-walking competitions will be held at the Theatre Royal by Mr Hugh Lloyd, tho "corde elastique" wonder. A | prize of £2 will be awarded any com- ! petitor (professionals and boys barred) who can negotiate a passage across the rope and back. . A similar competition was held in Sydney last Eastern and caused great amusement. ' Miss Haryie Ireland and Mr Max Maxwell, at present playing leads with Mr Edwin Ge.ach'e No. 1 i/ramatio Company, rejoin Mr Bland Holt at Easter. Miss May Oongdon and Mr Charles Vane, who have visited New Zealand with Meynell ad Gunn's attractions, return to England shortly. La Milo (Miss Pansy Montague) has j insured her life for £IO,OOO. Mr J. W. Winton and M'Ginty return to Australia early in 1009. | Mr George Lauri takes a three months'; holiday before rejoining tiie Royal Comics. The following are the principal attractions in the four centres for the Easter season:— . Wellington—Opera House, John.F. Sheri- ; dan's Co.; Theatre Royal, Fullers' ! Vaudeville Co.; His Majesty's The- ! atre. Royal Pictures. 1 Auckland—His Majesty’s Theatre, Julius Knight Co.; Opera House, Fullers' I Vaudeville Co. j Christchurch Theatre Royal, Pollard Opera Co. ; Opera House, Fullers' ! Vaudeville Co. , Dunedin—His Majesty's .Theatre, - E. Geach's Dramatic Co.; Princess Theatre, Fuller's Vaudeville Co.; Alhambra Theatre, Royal Pictures. In a..recent interview, Mr Albert Chevalier is quoted as saying that the Americans oacred to bu-x.* him a theatre if he would remain there. Love of country conquered the terrible temptation, however, and he returned to England. ; Meynell and Gunn's new Comic Opera j Company will make its first appearance 1 at the Melbourne Uoyai on Easter Saturday with the musical comedy “f. Hook of Holland," -lug piece is safe to have the fascinating quality of simplicity in its action, and its people are just natural. Nothing nappicr has yet been seen' in musical plays than the characterisation in Mr Rubens' play There is the simple, generous, warmhearted old Hook himself, and his dehgntful daughter, iigoa-heartedly . . love with a soldier; luen there ie) the rival lover, three of the. quaintest Dutch j characters imaginable, and plenty of j

pretty tunes and funny unes for eve: body, h nai ueUer elements for a musical play? The big niimuers though wo the choruses, unu Messrs Meynell ana Gunn have selected a ononis oi sixty trained voices, and anticipate that I. • will give a most creditable account of tiicmscivos, and probubty prove uicj. v selves one of the most pleasing parts of the production. Tins company's Easter attraction at Sydney Criterion wui t ‘"The Jewel of Asia. Mr George Tallis was in Sydney a few days ago in ■onference with his partners. Mr J, C. itmiamson and Mr G. liamaciotti. There are, 1517 theatres in Italy. A floating theatre is to be built a' Amsterdam to make a tour of the places on the principal German rivers, tm specialty being grand opera. Mr William Vaughan Moody, author-, of “The Gieat Dnide," ..a* another drama well under way. i c will be enl “The Juggernaut whicn hiius that i will carry some sociological message. Miss Billie Burke is John Drew's sixth leading lady in an his years o experience as a star. The others we* • Miss Maud Adams, Miss Isabel Irving, Miss Ida Conquest, Miss Margaret Dale, and Mass Margaret Illington. Little -Wanda Bedford, the Australian child wonder, mad© her reappearance in Berlin during February. The pres© notices were highly eulogistic, the gifted girx being compared by several critics with Duse, Miss Margaret Anglin's last performance in America.before leaving to fulfil her engagement with Mr j. C. Williamson in Australia and New Zealand, wi t bo a dramatisation of Margaret Deland's no\cf '“The Awakening of Helen Pitch^." Miss Pritzi Schetf, th© gifted American actress, makes it a point to keep in touch with the best literature ■of four countries—England, Germany Franco, and Italy. is now studying Kussian, and has already a good command of Spanish.