PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7057, 19 February 1910, Page 10

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

BOOKINGS AND PENCILLINGS.

OPEEA HOUSE. Fob. 21 to Feb. 25.—Black Family. Feb. 26 to March s.—Harry Eickarde. March 7 to .March. 25—Vacant. -March 26 to April 16.—J. 0. Williamson. April 19 to April 27.—Clarko and Moynell. April 28 to May iB—J. C. Williamson. May l'j to Juno 3.—J. 0. Williamson. June 4 to Juno 18.—Allan Hamilton. Juno 20 to July 2. —Vacant. July 4 to July 23.—Clarko and Meynell. July 25 to July 30—Vacant. August 1 to Aueuet 13.— Hugh Ward. Aii£Ußt 15 to August 31—Vacant, bept. Ito Sept. 14.—J. 0. Williamson. Bepf.. 10 to Oct. 6.—Vacant. Oct. 7 to Oct. 26.—J. C. Williamson. Oct. 27 to November s.—Allan Hamilton. Nov. 7 to Nov. 11.—Vacant. Nov. 12 to November 24.—Fred H. Graham. Nov. 25 to Dec. 23.—Vacant. .LMxjember 24. ail weeks' season.—J. O. Williamson. THEATEE BOYAL. Vaudeville (permanent). TOWN HALL. Marob, IT, 18, 19—Besses o' th' Barn Band. l?©b. 19 to 26—I'iek Jubilee Singers.

NOTES.

[JBt " LOBGNETTB."] The Fuller I'rwprieftairy are still night" ly .uackiiiß the 'i'deotre lioyal with, enthutsiaritud patrons who wisJi to see a really clevor vaudeville tihow. Every act. in the bill is of ft hiKh. standard, and fully deserves'the applauno bestowed oil it. i'ho usual change of programme will .bo given on Monday evening.

The Pisk Jubilee Singers open a tour of the .Dominion at pie Town Hail this evening, 'i'ho combination is 6aui to be a very strong one, wiiilsfc the programme' 'to bo'submitted'daring the seven nights' season will contain many of the old toyourite negro melodies, and a host of novelties entirely new to .New Zealand. 'Thei prices aire within the reach of.all.

•'.. Mr Harry Kickards will ,on Monday evening, the 2Uth inst., present his vaif deville company to -Wellington. amuee-" nient lovers. The advent of the combination should .prove .very interesting to the ad-vo-cates of the banjo as a musical' instrument. Mr Franco Piper, who is described as "the Paderaweki of the Baif jo," plavs classical inusio on the instrument with marked success. Then there are the Three Trannell Sisters, who are' said to be move adept than the Klos Sisters; Miss Julia Gifford, a gifted prano; Mir Fred Blueltt, comedian;' Vaudo and Verne, sketch artists; the* Whoelers, trick cyclists; and Bob Fits* simmons. ''

Tho All Blacks open a six nights' wagon at the Opera House on Monday evening During the. f aanily's recent tour of the Commonwealth the coin.bina.tion/ was strengthened considerably, and it IS now said to bo one of.ihe_.best of its kind touring Australasia.

Encouraged by the liberal support ac- 1 corded to their vaudeville circuit the 1 'Messrs 'Fuller, have made: arrangements for .a further supply of artists that will take them well into November next. Ab the popular prices of. admission charged they cannot afford to pay hundreds to "..stare" whoso chief asset is ia.name niade several years ago in. Europe, and l America, ,but still contracts-have beem signed -at ibis figures' for the following attractions:; Deane's Mannikins, an' American act; 'tho CrOttons; -a Parisian! act; Hassan, the Indian Fakir; the Kit. mos, from the London Hippodromo, and Wiso and Milton. , Mr Charles- Fanmg opens in .Dunedin: next week and should prove a big draw. ' -■

To-day Madame Calve is acknowledged] to bo at the height of her fam-e. She is. being offered far more engagements than she can .possibly accept, and is receiving princely sums for each of her appearances. Indeed,- so.greatly-is. eheiin-.re-quest on the Continent and in. America* that Messrs -J. and «N. Tait; of Melbourne, could only prevail upon her to enter upon her forthcoming Australian tour after the most patient .negotiation and ''discussion.' And oven her Australian season will be to abouttwenty appearances, ;as' the songstress«( booked for. dates,, in'. Europe and tile. States for quUd.,two or three years ahoud> already.;

When Miss'Katherine Grey -was leaving the Sydney Royalsafter .making her; first appearance [in in "Thei Lion and tho Mouse," she was met ati the stage ;en trance by- a number ,«E giria apparently fromtße" gallery, M'hoj accompanied the. American actress toher, cab, and asked for favours from thai floral trophies.' The request was _ g:ladlyj complied, with. - "It's so good" of you,'; said one of "the .recipients. "Not at all,'* replied Miss Grey, .and added, "It iaj you who are so".good, and I thank tow very .much, for your kind welcome," . She! then drove off aniid cheering, and'wav--ing of h'andkerchiofs. ; .> --.■• ■> ■ ' I

Mr Hugh Ward and "his clever - com- 1 pany produced;;." Vivian's. Papas". at Sydney Palace,: - last Saturday" evening.'. The ipieco • was joriginally .produced 'in' Chicago.'. It then "caught on" at New, York about six-years: ago,; and i-has been' "on the•:roads". ,ever since. . Mr Hughi, Ward premises 'the'"most realistic _flre-i scene over staged ihere:for the principal) situation; The whimsical idea -.hereini is that by the. exercise of a magic wish) on tho part of; Frederick \Walkerf.(Mr Ward) everyone, .who -enters his reception-) room roust sinS»* : ?for.i'(Th i ieh«-puiipo(seiMil. : Walter Whyte (tenor),'Mr : Wm.-B."Beatj' tie (baritone), and other artists have been! specially -engaged. However, there is) an outbreak of fire, during yt-hich agrandl opera scena:-,and"':eTisem:ble is ' cnacted,i even, the spell-bound firemen joining inj the chorus with their hose in their) hands!;

• New York " Variety " of,J*Miuary ,istj in referring to a. vaudeville show at thg Palais-Koyale. Chicago, says:—" Deane's Mannikins' feature act. ' While ."-"tha voioea are bad and Jthe strings in evidanoo .to those in the front>part of the house, t-ho tra-wsty. on. ,'; XTncte Tom's Caton'.Rained favomr.".-It,is a. remarkable .thinjf about American, vaudeville that as soon as one; successful "turn.'* originates, dozens of pirates get",going on tho same jict. : ' J In fact;"-so etronjr has the "•pirate" habiiti become, that, the White Rats; - an- American vaudeville, society, have .taken .the'matter' ' tap" seriously.' The original Deane's Mannikins nio now tourinfr the Fuller circuit aJid -will open at the WelUn(rt<wi^Koyal.-rnest -..Thursday evening. ''; h - STAGE GOSSEP. : -t--.i *-.■-■-* Wirth's Circus was at latest advices tourist;: West Australia. _ > A three years' run in London is predicted for "The Arcadians."-.. / . .- --.: Mr Ivan James is piloting tho. Fisk Jubilee Sincers through, the Dominion. Mr Albert Goldie is still touring Tasmania with bis pantomime, "Dick.-Whit-. tinston'and his Cat", _-_-',-„-;,;•. The Christchurch season of "J. L-. A\ Hliamsoir's New Comio. Opera . Cfimpany will extend "over twelve nicbts. At tho «lose'-of the'run of the. pantomime at Drury Lane. "The Whip 'will be revived, with all the players in..their original parts. ■,■'„' A' - •"Me J. C.' Williamsons Comic Opera Company opens' its Chrfetchurch season on Monday evening with The Kinc of Cadonia,." , ; "I'd sooner appear m a failure that lifted mo a-= an artist than in-e success that didn't.*' - ee.ys Miss , Marie- Tempest in .the "New York American. At the close of the Sydney run of "Sergeant Erue," the Clarke-ileynell

Comic Opera Company will stage the piece at .Melbourne Boyal for a brier season.

Mudaine Sarah Bernhardt nan been enuaged to give performances at Ihc London Coliseum at ji .salary of JJIWW u, week. , TJiis is virtually a .music-hall en(jageoiient.''•; >lr Johnny Giimour, a well-known London vaudeville performer, who has been.engaged by Mir Harry lUckards for a fcix .months' nailed from London last Friday. A special matinee performance of " A Country. - Girl " will !be Given at the Opera Jloiiise this afternoon, when.children will be admitted to all parte of the house at half-price. Wellington season of the Williamson Now Comic Opera Company will be brought to a close this evening with a performance -of the ever-popular musical comedy "A Country Girl." There aro several Jsow Zeftlanders pflayinj,' in. Mr George Harlow's" " three dramatic companies. Amongst them are ilr Horace Nightingale, Mr Ben Lilton, Mr J. B. Goodall, and Misa Nettie Bundle.

During her recent engagement at the Onpheum Theatre, Sipokaae, Mi«* Alice Lloyd broke all - previous records. An extra enow wae commenced one night a-t 11 ip.ni. .to' aocojnaiuofrato applicants for eoafe. ' •

Mr WilUaim Anderson. Staged "The Prince and. the Begsrar-.Maid" at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, last Saturday evening;, with Miss Eugene Dufrgan as tlie' Hog«ar ICa-id. Mr Georgia Crons and Air Boy Redgrave are also,-in the cast. ■'•...,

Mr Osicar Ascho's new part of Count Hannibal is even heavier than Othello, for where the Moor declaimed the French hero docs things. It also nef'dfl a wtrairs mail ,for the (part: The stteZ breast plate worn by Mr Asche, without other accoutrements, alone" weighs SClb. All the members of Mi'' r Gedr£c "Wil- , Joughby's New English. Farcical Comedy Company have" been specially ensued for •their respective parts in '"The Night of itho Party" and "Mr Preedy and the C'onntof*," for every character in both; /plays is a type and muet be. true fo : fife. The Royal. Comics last Saturday pTCr (duced. "The Waltr, Bream" at Her 'Mat fjesty-'e, iKydney. The Strauss opera, with! jits romantic atmosphere and its delicatelly scored and most melodious nmsie,, joug'b.t to suit the Comics as well, if Jiot <oetter, than "The Merry Widow."

During his reuent visit to Lisbon KinsManuel of Portugal twice visited thel Ban Carles Theatre, to witness "La. Rwnei jFiamette." His Majesty sent the com-' s>osor the insignia of the Order of Saint Jacques, and further-expressed his great jpdmiration of, lime. Vallandre's sinking. For the New Zealand tour of "Mar(Tied to the Wrong Man" Mr Hilliard Vox will relinquish his .part in "The 'luck of Hearing Camp" in order to iTosnme his. original part of Captain Doering.' Mr Vox, it anight he mention--td, recently arrived from England under ispocial ongagoruent to Mr George Mailow.

There are over ninety people engaged in the Oicar Asohe iprocltiction of "'Count Hannibal" at, the Melbourne •Royal. A fai r proportion of them are. ;not seen at all, .but they make themselves heard... That .is. their, work. .Their cries'of'vengeance, their shrieks of_. , pnin, l ■the tramp of feet, and. the onslaught of ithe mob, aro all oi' their-creation. -. ■ At the close of nis -Sydney season Mr (Hugh J. Ward and his clever compofliy will -visit Adelaide,' Broken Hill and (other centres. .For his Melbourne'6ea- ■ "sonJ .which commences'at the Princess in May, he will have three, new plaj-s to •present, viz., "Vivian's Papa," " Glittering Gloria," and "The Girl from Sector's." " '

_ Mr 'Frank Yorko, thoVovorgreen and irrepressible,' made his' Wellington re-jappeairancef-with'-'tlio 'Fullers the. other' 'evening. Niadleas. to. eay ho received, m. jjreat reception; and' when concluded his "stunts'" the opinion was 'imanimonfe that'Frank is as good',as: *ver. What a tremendous voice he has, sand how ho'brings the'house down when, he. sings,- "Can You Hear Me."'"' Daly's Theatre, ' London, is the' liome tof long (runs, and it is extremely unlike-; Xy the "Dollar Princess" wilt' cease ro draw for another "twelve months. Mr Georgo Edwardes; however,-'to a far-see-ing manager, and when a successor is. required'*"The' Conn t "of '"'liuxemTjourg" will be staged. The play has been a tremendous success Jh Vienna,; and an English adaptation is ;now • being prepared. ~ Messrs;Clarke and Meynell■ will have "ao'fewer 'than five .companies under their control about ithe/middle of ? this; yenr. These will .comprise the iOeca.TrtfAselie Company,' the. Matheson Lang Company, . the - ►Hairry Eoberts" Compaiiy (touring,. New . Zealand 'with— ""Pete,'' ',''■ "The' Passing .<jf''th<s; Third" FlooTr Back," add other plays), the Georgo Willoughoy Company; .arid ,7tho' ;■ JSTow Cemic Opera Company, which is coming out" to produce "The Arcadians."'

.John Euller, ;jun., the muck-travelled of,the Puller firm',"-.paid another flying . visit i ithis 1 treek, ivhere- lie lias hod several serious confabs with Mr A. Bentley, who ia.architect for the.new 'theatre, : and;' : .h'o"is now.;quite ". familiar with .talks of ; " shuts," "• " levels " 'arid' r ' r~ Although lie has been able to : make' valuable sug-gcis-tions, .bom of experienced wants in other places, '-TiePdeclares that' hoi will '■''design the next theatre himglftho_t_'tbe/_Pullers ■erect. ."..!,, '■''.'. ~-.- ■■ """•- ;;' " ;; Arrane;eraenfc : 'a.Te. being-made (says the "Sportinjr and Dramatic News"); by™the (Spielers, and" SfagsineiVij of [ Victori'a.;tc^eJ^er jjftli, ,tlxe Bur;tl{ir6~ahe' PiokpockeEs' '"tJnion, for a. grand epenWmedtheatreinis'ht at.-the-Opera House, Melbpurn.*,* Houdini,.',<m...hi6 .'first' ikte, ,ajid,.'if to pick-up a. fewi points for future ,use. -Also,, .the police, eaifo .manufacturers; and loctsmifhs, are] -endoavouriiiK to bji which to eecurothisriaine slippery Houdin.. :•;;..;'■ '■'?.';;>i■' .-■. ' ?:*'Un'dei»'' I, t:he«rta~e>' Huitann. (an English name Maorised) aa old Now Zealand. favourite will, shortly appear at the Theatre Royal under :!the. •manajremenit :/of the; Pullers,- '.iifteir-* wards touritfij: ..the--Southern houses: of-. Ithe circuit..;.:Macheibnifs.";Av«6 Mario" l . |and"Tostr^" tt oood-Bye,-" although a bit .inf.class, arf.siirf'to lx> heartily 'by; a mixed; audience so Ions? as theji iare well rendered.-'. That they will be; iwoll rendered is not doubted by tho?e: 'who- privileged to heatr 3£isat 'Huitana J 6in(!" them.'