PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7319, 24 December 1910, Page 8

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

BOOKINGS ANO DENCXLLINGS. OPJ3KA HOUSE. Oci:. 25. Feb. C. Williamaoa New Comic Opera. Co. Fob. Z. 9.—Clarke and Meynell. Feb. 11. 13.-11.P.D. Co. ti . , Marrh 29. April 12.— Hugh J. Ward Co. april Id. May 6.—J. C. Williamson. May ti, 17.-* Allan Hamilton. May 18. Juno 7.—J. C. Williamson. June 12. .July I.—Ucon'c Marlow. Ju.v 0, 20.—Clarke ami Meynell. Au;-ri*t 17. 25.—J. Wiliiambon. •ioilt. Ij. 30.—Clarke and Meynell 'j'jL 5. 23.—J. C. Williamson. t \ov. Z. 16.—Clarke and Meynell. Ijcc. 2, 16.—Max Maxwell. Car.slmas season—J. C. Williamson. THKATKL MOT AC. Vaudeville {permanent}. lUK MAJESTY'S XUKATEE. Pictures (permanent}. NOTES. "Lorguetto/'i Tlit* J. C. w ijl.amsuu New Comic Opera w.U .jiauguiate whac ]n onuses tu bo mie ui the neat comic Oi>era and musical comedy seasons at the Upera li><n.-'o UP. .Uvniday e\clung, witU tko Couduii, .iiiiei lean, and Australian, suo-eo.-s, ‘ ine Uollar Princess." I’ne pivot oi ibis new mus.eal comedy is tiie can•jeit oi an American nnliumuire, wlio makes it lus boast Unit all Ills servants, down to the lowest positions, are members ot i lie jAiglisii aristocracy, who liave b.en reduced u» the awi'ul cuudiiiou oi working lor a living. The idea bee ms to have been burrowed from Gilbelt’s l.ne, ‘'they are all English nubio’.iK'ii gone wrong/' As evidence of llio power of lbe ulimgidy dollar, wo see John. I'.arl of Qiiorn, empJuycd as tho American millionaire’s groom, ,Sir James Aiaegregvr as footman, and the llano bl S'.micneuge as butler, wiulo tho ouco fasniunubie Freddy Fairfax earns his vrusi in the capacity of private secretary. in the uuuire of liiiugs, Alice Cornier is the l , r*uec.-a of the piece —tho Dollar rrincess. llio topsy-uirvy condition or the millionaire's household does not block oat the element of lovemaking. As if to teach the lesson -that love levels all ranks, tho Fnhcess is captured by die fortunate Freddy, while her cousin Daisy gives her hand and heart to the nobleman giuom. As fur tho millionaire himseh, his feelings may ho bel’lcr imagined than described when he finds that the fascinating foreign counters, with whom he has fallen m love, is a lion-tamer from a Russian circus—a lady who uc one point of the play is regarded as a nihilist in good working order.

Tacked houses has been the rule at the Theatre liuyu.il during the pinst week. The programme suonnlUd is brimful of good things; in tact, troia beginning to •end there is nut a dull moment in the programme. Mr Nat Ciifiurd und Mr Harry fciadlcr give of their best, and uiy ably bached up by the other members ul the combination. Turing the holidays a special bill will bo presented, and i would advise nil who wish to enjoy a, good night s amusement to get along early. Tne early patron catches the seat, that is unless he booim it in advance.

Charles Dickens’ “ Chris mas Carol” will bo given at .the * Opera House on Sunday next (Christmas night) by Mr Lawrence Campbell, tho weli-wnowii elocutionist. Mr Campbell, member of tho "National Association of .Elocutionists, ."New York, was born at Tovier, Kent, England, being .the. eldest son of Captain Edward Marsh, of that town, and was educated ait a private school at Pavorsham. The was a succe&siul student of the Polytechnic School, Regent street, London, and prior to the ernunation of .his connecion with this institution. made a brilliant first appearance as an elocutionist at tho Steinway Hall under .the professional name of Lawrence Camuoell. Miscellaneous rfccitahs will be given a'fc the (Concert Chamber) Town Hall on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday meet. Tho box plan is paw open ac tno Dresden,

An Australian, who has just returned front a trip round the world earned during his travels the right to be considered a judge of “The Dollar Princess/' and the manner in which it should bo interpreted. During his lute tour he has seen the popular musical play over and over again by com panics of varied nationalities and metnods. die saw it in London cn his arrival in the great metropolis —then in Berlin, in Hamburg, and other Buropeaq centres. On his return to London he saw it again, and ere he embarked,at Liverpool for America ho found; a company playing it and ■went once mcie. 1 In New York on his arrival It was being played and he could, not resist the , magnetic power of its dreamy, haunting music, and went to see it for the last time before leaving for Australia. Back again at home he found "the same magnetic attraction" just embai king on its Australian career, and wishing to compare the home production with "The Dollar Princes©" ho had seen in England and foreign parts the enthusiast found himself at the opening performance in Sydney u few weeks ago, only to conclude that the J. C. Williamson production was better than any of the interpretations he had seen abroad.

Pullers’ Pictures at His Majesty's Theatre, Courtenay Place, always do •good business.' Unusually strong programmes have been submitted this week, the principal ono being perhaps "Picturesque Sydney." Many other subjects, every one of which is a. gem in its own. particular line, go towards making up a really enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

Tho following tour has been booked for the George Willoughby comedy company:—December 26th and 27th, New Plymouth, “Air Prcedy and tho Countess" end “Night of the Party"; Do comber £Sth, Stratford, “Jones"; December 29th. ilawera, “Jones*’; December 50th and 31st, Wanganui, “Air Preody and tho Countess*'- and “Night of tho Party"; January 2nd and 3rd, Palmerston North, “Air Prcedy and the Countess" and “Night of the Party"; January -Ith, Alartou, “Jones"; January sth, Poilding, .“'Night, of tho Party"; January Cth, .Daunevirke, “Jones"; January 7th, Hastings, “Air Preedy and the Countess"; January 9th and 10th, Napier, “Air Prccdy and the Countess" and “Night of the Party"; January Jlth, Mastertoii, “Jon-cs"; January 13th, Ashburton, “Night of tho Party"; January Pith, Oamarn, “Night of the Party"; January 16th to 21st, Dunedin, “Atr Precdy .and the Countess" and “Jones* 1 ; Jail nary--23rd and 24th, Invercargill, “Night of tho Party" and “Jones*’ 1 ; January 25th, Timaru, “Night of tho Party"; January 26th to February Ist, Christchurch. “Air P reedy and the Countess" and “Jones’*; February 3rd to 9th. “Air Prcedy and tho Countess" ; uml “Jones"; .February 3rd to 9th. “Air Prcedy and the Countess" and “Jones."

In 'referring to the first performance •of “The Dollar Princess" in Sydney the “Henild" says .-Comic-opera composers from the Continent have been showing tho way lately in the department of light entertainment for English theatre-* goers. This development has been all the more noticeable because, since ; the death of Andrian two' or three years after the publication of "La Poupce" (1S07) “homo manufactures" occupied our stage for a short time exclusively. Now. again, there is a recrudescence of tho foreign product, -all remarkable for

refinement and grace, as in tho 9 aR more especially of "The Lady Dandies (Or Hugo Felix), "The Merry Widow (Fran/. Lehar), and "The Waltz Drenm" (Oscar Straus). At Her Majesty s iheal ro on a recent evening a. crowded

house welcomed a beautifully staged production of “The Dollar Princess.” and in this way a fourth composer. Dr Leo Fall, was ’added to the new Viennese group. STAGE GOSSIP. Mr Geoffrey Nye,‘ of West’s Pictures, has returned to Sydney. The Fred 11. Graham comedy com- ! pany play tho AVest Coast during th©[ holiday season. Theatrically speaking, Perth, Western Australia, is just as about as deadens it could be. , , The H.-P.-D. Company has added “ Tho Profligate ” to its already An© repertoire. Maggie Papakura and. her Maori troupo open a season in ( Sydney on Boxing Night. WirfilFs Circus and Menagerie will play a treason at Dunedin curing tho nolxl.ay season. Tho H.P.D. company open an Auckland season on Boxing Night with. “A Message From Mars.’’ The Jolmson-J etiTies fight pictures are to be shown in Dunedin during Christuia.s and New Year week. The Fuller management promise an “out-of-sight” programme for the patrons of tho Royal during the holiday rjeason.

Mr Georgia Wirth, of Wirth’s Circus, has gone to America, in search of novelties for next season’s tour of tho Commonwealth.

Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree intendsrunuing "Henry VIII." right through, the Christmas season at Her Majesty's', Loudon. Mr Georg© Marlow's Dramatic Company opens at the Melbourne Princess on Boxing Night with " The Bad Girl,’ of the Family." Mr H. H. Davies' new play, "A Sin-* glo Man," was produced at the Playhouse, London, by Mr Cyril Maude on Tuesday, November Bth. t ■

Mr Hugh J. Ward and his clever band of comedians open a. farewell season at the Sydney Palace on Boxing Night with, his great success "The Girl from Rector's."

Judging by the booking for the open-, ins nights of the J. C. ‘Williamson new:

comic opera season tho management, will have a “hot" time finding seating accommodation, for their patrons.

* Air William Gillette is tho uncle of Wincholl Smith, author of “The Fortune Hunter," 1 “Brewster’s Atillions," and “Love Among the Lions." Air Smith was for a timo an. actor in* Air Gillette’s companyThe 350th performance of “Tho Bad Girl of the Family/’ was registered at tho Aldwych Theatre, London, on S«itnrday, September 2-lth. This is the longest run ever attained by a modern melodrama. Tho Newman trick cyclists, an Australiau team, was the latest advices showing at tho London Alhambra. Amongst* tho many daring tricks they introduces is a novel boxing match, which takesj place on the. wheels. J. C. Williamson’s Dramatic Copipany,, which is headed by Aliss Katherine Grey and Air William Desmond, open a Do-* inrniou tour at Christchurch on BoxingNight. Pepcrtcdre:—“ The Lion and tho.

Mouse,” "The Third Degree,” "Fanl in Full” and "Truth/*

Melbourne is getting quite a dose of Walter Melville, but judging by the big houses at the King’a, it seems to like him* In a month Vs illiam Anderson has staged two Melville dramas:—"Tho Worst Woman in London,” and “Her Second Time on Earth."

Mr Harold Ashton Is expected to arrive in Wellington next week en route for Christchurch, to tako up the management of tho J. V. Williamson Dramatic Company during its tour of tho Dominion. Mr Bert .Uoylo is at present aebag as manager.

William Anderson will in all probability shortly proauco "Tlic King's Highway,” a romantic drama dealing With “Hick Turpin.” Tho play is by Frank Gerald, who has played the principal role many hundreds of times in England, Dick Turpin's famous ride to Fork is introduced. mrs Patrick Campbell will make her next appearance under Mr Charles Frohman's banner, playing the role of the v/ifo in “The Foolish Virgin,” Henry Bataillc's drama, which, uuucr the title "La Virge Folle,” has been running at tho Gyrunaso Theatre, Paris, since January last. Sir John Hare, before he goes to America next year lor his farewell tour, will appear at a limited number of performances in London, in the spring, iu several of his old successes. Tho theatre has not yet been selected, but it will probamy be either the Comedy or tho Globe.

Tae s,,uth performance of "Tho Arcadians” was reg-stered at the Shaftesbury 'Tneatre, Loiuion, on Thursday evening. November 3rd, and the occasion was marked by entirely redressing the piece. Tho new costumes, it is said, have been designed with a view to forming a forecast of tho coming fasnions.

When Harry Lauder landed in Now York on one oi his professional visits ho was asked by a Customs official if ho had anything to declare. “No, only a sang or twa; ye’ll uae charge for them, will ye?” “No,” replied the officer, “but 1 expect you’ll charge us something for singing tlicm.” Miss Carrie Moore has been engaged as principal “boy” in tho pantomime “Aladdin" at tho Theatre Royal, Birmingham. , After that she returns to musical comedy, playing Peggy in “Tho Dairymaids." Then she ■is to go to America to play an engagement under tiro Schubert banner.

Owing to the season being limited to one mouth at tho Criterion Theatre, Sydney, William Anderson decided to produce Walter Howard’s delightful romantic drama, “The Prince and the Bcggarmaid” on Saturday, December 10th.i for the last twelve nights of the season. In this drama AVdliam Anderson’s Dramatic Company gives it absolute finest performance. A bunch of clever children are rehearsing day and night at the King’s Theatre, for the Christmas juvenile pantomime “The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe.” -Mr T. J, Liddiard is producing and Miss Maud Cosham is preparing the ballets. Most of the children are from Mr T. J. Liddiard’s Opera Company which has just returned, from the East. -Performances will bo given every afternoon, commencing Saturday, December Hth.

M. Uiisipoff, the celebrated Russian baritone, who accompanies Mr Lawrence Campbell in his Dominion tour, will make h’-s first appearance at the Opera House on Christmas Night. During tho past few months M. Ossipoff has been giving recitals in the principal cities of the Commonwealth, and in noticing his first appearance im Sydney the “ Bulletin ” says:—“M. Ossipofi, with his fullvoiced baritone, his vigorous and unconventional methods, and his immense l high G’s, ha, 3 excited and enthused all song lovers.”