PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7301, 3 December 1910, Page 8

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

BOOKINGS AND PEXCTLLINGS. OPERA HOUSE. Loo. Z onwards.—Fred. (Jralmin Co. Hoc. 23 to Jan 14.—.(10yal Comics. Jan. 3y to Fjh. 2. —J. C. Williamson. to 9.—George Willoughby. May T 7 to Juno 7.—J. C. Williamson. Vugnst 17 to 2T.—J. 0. Williamson. THEATRE IiOTAL. Vaudeville (permanent). HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. IT ‘.iircj (permanent). NOTES. ’

(By “Lorgnette,”) A season of farcical comedy will bo inaugurated at. the Opera Uonso this owning by tin* Fred H. Graham English Goj/mdy (’ompany \ itli tJit* London am! ?sew York success “The Brixtmi Burglary,” The combination got together to interpret Hit* piece has been selected with Hu* greatest care, so that everyone in the 'Ca,s't may be expected to give a finished performance. During the season, which in a. short one. “The Brixtoii Burglary ■’ and “The Lady from Osteiul ” will be produced.

Just a reminder. Those who want value for their money have only to wend U.elr wav to the Town Hall this evening, where a grand concert will bo given by Wellington's best talent in aid of .Mother .uarv .vubert’s Jubilee.

The now programme of moving pic:ures at ilks Majesty’s Theatre, C'ourlomy place, has been drawing crowded nudieuees at each exhibition. The pie‘jures (hi*, week are simply delightful* bang comprised of some of the best subfocts yet submitted to a Wellington audience. A matineo performance will bo given. this afternoon.

Mr .Fred IT. Graham. who makes his mvpiJoantuce in Wellington at- the Opera i'/ouse Hi is evening, Is one of the most popular comedians that has ever visited the Dominion, and is sure of a hearty welcome from his numerous friends. Mr Graham's first appearance in Now Zealand "as with I. C. Williamson’s .Musical Comedy Company, which presented such r-uccessea as “San Toy,’’ “A Runaway Girl.” ami “The Bello of Now York.” Mr Graham has also scored successes in London, (ho English provinces, America, and. the Commonwealth* . '

The J.-C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company will open its Dominion tour at *ho WcllingVon Opera House on Friday evening, the 23rd inst., in “The Dollar Princes*.” This musical _ play has Achieved remarkable popularity in London, where it recently celebrated its anniversary at Day’s Theatre. In commemoration of the event Mr George Edwards had. a most artistic souvenir prepared. containin'' photographs of the principals and others connected in the ■production of the piece.

WrrH/s huge circus and menagerie Apons a Dominion tour at the Bluff on 'Monday evening. The present combination is said to be one of the strongest that the Messrs Wirth has ever brought to New Zealand. The circus proper programme includes quite a host, of new performers, whilst the menagerie, has been restocked by a number* of rare and valuable animals.

Miss Nellie Dent of the, Fred H. Graham Comedy Company, is well known to Wellington playgoers. Sho made her arst appearance in the Drury Logie successes “A Hun of Luck’* and" “The Derby Winner.” She afterwards appeared at the London. Gaiety in “A Dunaway Girl,’’’ “San Toy,” and “The French Maid,” and at the London Vaudeville in "Confusion” and “Turned Up.” Miss Dent since her arrival in has appeared with J. C. Williamson's in opera and comedy, and with Julius Knight in “Resurrection/'’ “Monsieur Beauoaire/* and “The Eternal City.”

The London public simply went' wild •iver “The Dollar Princess” when it was produced in the great metropolis. During the first week of its run, and folSoiving ou the ■ truly magnificent criticisms which appeared after the first night at Daly's Theatre, the libraries and booking offices sold tickets to the rnlue of nearly .iMO.Crt), and every available seat in the theatre was booked for months ahead. "The Dollar Princess” t will b; produced at the Opera House by the J. C.. Williamson New Comic Opera Com jinny, which opens a season on Friday, the 23rd inst.

Large audiences continue to nightly witness Pullers' vaudeville entertainers at tho Theatre Royal. This week’s programme is full of good stuff, every performer giving their best. In fact, from start to finish, there is not a dull moment in the evening’s amusement. Tho pictures shown are also of the very best. I would advise anyone who is anxious for a cheap evening’s entertainment to stroll along to the Royal and they'll get it! ,

Mrs George Lanri will renew acquaintance with Wellington theatregoers at the Opera ltou.se when the Fred IT. Graham Comedy Company open n season in “The Brixtou Burglary.!’ Mrs Lanri is one of the most, versatile comedy actresses on the stage. Her experience embraces star parts in “The Country Pair," with .Neil Burgess at the Union Square -Theatre, New York, and with Sanger and •Edowin, and also John Stetson in long comic .opera seasons throughout America. She is the original exponent of Shrimp in “In Town, 5 ’ Martha, in “Ma Mie Rosette,” Mrs Mel.ouley in "Matsu,"” and Mrs Pyeohasp in “The Dairymaids” with J. C. Williamson's companies.

"A Knight For A Day” is attj-actiug moat appreciative audiences to the Princess Theatre. 'Melbourne, and it is doubtful if the theatre has over resounded to heartier laughter than is'evoked by the vagaries of the comedians in that moat laughable of musical farces. The climax 1b .reached towards the end of the piece, when the well known railway smash in "■The Whip” is burlesqued-by .Miss Toby Claude and Mr Bert Gilbert. As the ■ locomotive puffs round and vodnd in hot pursuit of the hold, bad man and tho designing woman, the shrieks of laughter that are. heard make one father alarmed that in some individual cases hysterics will eventuate. "A Knight For A Day” will he presented to 'Wellington playgoers during' the coming season of the* J. C. Williamson New Comic Opera Company which opens at the Opera House on Friday" evening the ; 23rd inst.

Mi- Gerald H. K. Souper._ who makes his first appeax-ancc in Wellington at the Opera House this evening ivitli the Fred H. Graham Company, is acknowledged to be one of tlie best English actors that has visited Australasia, His long experience includes George Alexander's parts in. "The Prisoner of Zendn/’ and "Rupert of Hentzan.” He (las also played Marcus Superbns in "The Sigh of the Cross.” for several seasons lie was a member of F. R. Hensdlfs Shakespearian Company, and has also played successful seasons at the Adclnhi and Ilis Majesty's. London, in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream." "Othello,” and "Ah You Like It,” He was a ler/ding member of Mr Ocsar Asche’s Company which has just concluded a fourteen month’s engagement in Australia, under, the direction of Clarke and Meynell.

Mr Bert Gilbert, who will make a welcome reappearance at the AYellingtnii Opera House on the.23rd Inst, with the C. AVilliamson New Comic Opera Company, tells a story of a time when he was stage managing for a provincial company in England. The intelligent super had to be secured,drilled and exploited sometimes in’half an hour, for the evening’s performance. The scene B-;ts the fonim of ancient Rome—and the dozen intelligent supers Hint had been .secured looked anything but represouta-

Hvfi- of the Roman Legions. On© addleputed aspirant in particular raised fho tre of the. stage manager—" You beautiful muddler, I've a good mind to knock your .head against the wall—Do you know that you're an idiot.” “Mnybo I am.” said the embryo Roman, “but I am xuntthing els© besides yer know. lin tl:o champion light weight of this district.” “YouTo all right,” said . OilUrl. “If i had a £ew more intelligent fellows like you—we would give a fine perlurimmcu this evening.” Wbifjnie Blanche Browne continues to be the central figure in the success of i ho f rolicsome “Our Miss Gibbs’’ in Her MajrrivV Theatre. Sydney. The comedy completed the tenth week of a run which lias ui> to the present time been distinguished, bv “ednmßng room only' in all 'parts of the house at each nights performance. II is not surprising that we road of “Our Miss Gibbs’s” fast approach to its second anniversary in the London Gaiety Theatre. As there will bo no Christmas pantomime to interrupt its course, it will probably run well into next y«ar in the Ixmdon house. U is also doing excellent business in New York, while in Berlin it has run for nine and in Vienna for six months.

Miss Kate Gair, the charming young Wcl’iagtoa actress, lea ves Melbourne (says the “Sporting and Dramatic Nows”), by the N.D.L. Ziqjen, on January 3rd lor Germany, where she proposes retiring into private life as the wife of Dr Robert Mchwa/.or, a distinguished scientist, who paid a hurried Visit to Australia a few years ago.

I’athc Frorcs. Australia, advise that they have received a cable from Air Chat-. Bathe, saying that the firm have succeeded in pi educing a nou-infiam-mablc film, capable of sustaining the most severe test. Tor years Win manufacturers have been frying to find an absolutely «at e. non-in flammable film, i’athc Trcred state that in’ four weeks’ time all films turned out by them will bo printed on non-inflammable film, and that from December Ist at any place showing Pathe films there will be absolute security to the public.

Miss Florence Oretton of the Fred 11. Graham Company, made ‘her first stage appearance with tlie late Wilson Barrett. She graduated in Hie F. IE Benson Shakespearian school. Notable in Miss Grelton’e experience is her hit as Alice Faulkner in “Sherlock Holmes,” in London, An extensive repertoire includes Miclietlo in “Camille.” Bonita in “Arizona,” Lady Rasseudyll in "The Prisoner of Zemin.” and fine‘dong seasons at Her Majesty'*, London, with Sir H. Beerb.ohm Tree. Miss Grelton has for the past three .years played a round of leading parts with the Oscar Asdic Company.

The J. C. 'Williamson New Comic Opera Company are at present busily rehearsing “The Balkan Princess.” Ih© new piece enjoyed a very popular run in London, and, indeed, ranked among the few successes of the lyric stage last year. The scenes are set in one of those supposititious European sta-. tes, to which “Zeuda” set the fashion. The librettist and.composer comprise Air Fred Lonsdale (who made such a nig 1 success with “The King of Cadonia ), and .Ur Paul .Habeas, to whose neat aptitude for turning out tuneful music Australian playgoers need no introduction. As far as "the cast is concerned, it is one that should eminently suit tho members of the New Comic Opera Co Why not try the piece on the “dog amt give*Mew Zealanders a chance of seeing £ Loudon success before is staged in Australia. It is worth trying, if only to get the company into its “stride.” STAGE GOSSIP. “The Whip” ran for ten weeks at Her Majesty's Theatre. Melbourne. The George Willoughby Comedy Company opens a Dominion tour at Auckland on Monday evening. Mr J. C. Williamson will,, produce “The Whip” at Her Majesty’s, Sydney, on Saturday, the 17th inst. Nearly all the picture shows at Broken Hill are in the open air—Sayers'*, West's, Hayward's, and Lcnard's. Early last mouth Air Cyril Maude was due to produce in London Air Henry Henry Davies' new play “A Single Man.” Air George Marlow s Dramatic Company will open a season at the Alelbourne Princess' with the successful drama “The Bad Girl of the Family” pn pjxing Night. , - . \ Air Gcoige Alarlow's No. 2 Dramatic Company is at present playing a successful season at the Adelaide Royal with the drama “ Nick" Carter, Detective.” . George Marlow's No. 2 Dramatic Company open a Westralian tour at KalgobrIfi*. on the 12th, and at Perth on December 2ith with “ Nick Carter, Detective/' as the principal attraction.

'Tis -said that that clever little comedian W. S. Percy goes to the “big smoke” early next year in the modest guest of fame and fortune, and with a first-class engagement in his pocket to start with. Mr 'William Anderson's Dramatic Company will visit Westralia in March, April, and May of next year. A three week’s season will be played in Perth, and two weeks in Kalgoprlie. Mr Anderson will present twelve entirely new. plays during the tour. ■‘The. Quaker Girl,” the new musical comedy with which Mr George Edwards reopened the London Adelpui, is said to be quite as fantastic, as “The Arcadians.” The first act takes place in a country house and the other two acts in Paris. Miss .Emma Temple made her first appearancp ■■■with J. C. Williamson's “The Whip'' Company at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, last Saturday in the revival of “Harbour Lights.” She plays the part of -Mrs Chudleigh. During a rehearsal of “Salvation Neil” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, Mr William Desmond and Miss Katherine Grey got worked up over the big scene in the second act, to such an extent that the actress was thrown to the floor with such violence as to : a tun her. Miss Olive Godwin—“ Muriel Oliver”‘in “A Knight for a Day”—is a typical Australian bush girl. Miss Godwin, besides being a fine hoiseworaau, can bowl overarm, and bat with the best of her sex—can manage a boat—and shoot, is a: dab at tenuis—aiid is one of few ladies that can handle a cue decently at billiards. . 1 Jinny actors can make successes of good parts, but few can make successes of bad parts. The part of Tom Cooper in "The Shadow : of , a Great City,” is by no means a good one, but, it’s said Mr Hurry Roberts makes it stand out 1 like Hamlet in the great Shakespearian tragedy. “Our Miss Gibbs” is most certainly proving a big winner at Her MajestyV Theatre, Sydney. Week after week slips by, and still the receipts keep up to a most gratifying level, and appreciative playgoers go over and over again to laugh at the fun, to enjoy the songs, to admire the dainty costumes and to revel in the various delightful features of tho popular production. During a performance of “The Brixton Burglary” at Invercargill, a storm broke over the town. So severe and heavy was tho fall of hail on the roof that the voices were quite inaudible to the .audience. After u delay of, a few seconds, Fred Graham brought the house down by remarking “Just fancy, ’alo in a prohibition town." ,