PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7419, 22 April 1911, Page 8

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

BOOKINGS AND PENCXLLINGS. OPERA HOUSE. April 15. May 6.—George Marlow. May 3. 17.—Allan Uuuiiiiozi. . May 18. June 7.—J, C. Williamson. June 12, July I,—William Anderson. Juty 5, 20.—Glarko ami ileyncll. Angus*/ 17. 26. —J. (j . Williamson. Sept. 10. 30.—Clarke mid .Mcyncll, Oct. 5. 25 J. C. Williamson. Nov. 3, 16.—Clarke and MeyncllDcc. 2. 16.—Max Maxwell. Christmas season.—J. C. Williamson. THEATRE lIOYAL. Vaudeville (permanent). HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. Pictures (permanent). TOWN HALL (Concert Chamber). Easter Saturday onwards.—Miss Phyllis Hopwocd-Eoiai ami “The Wanderers. THE NEW THEATRE. Continuous Pictures (permanent). SKATING E-INK. Four Sessions Daily. NOTES. (By “Lorgnette.”) That lIU Majesty's Theatre, Courtenay I/lace, ho-wtd the alicc-t.uny oi a Ju:«e number of picture- lovers is manifested, every evening by the large crowds who patronise Tim Fullers’ cosy picture palace. Tuo poliev of a change of pro"ramme twice a week has evidently loand favour, and the Fullers are to be congratulated upon the varied and uptoimto set of pictures they present in each programme.

“The Bad Girl of the Family/’ which tho Gvoig-i) Marlow Dramatic Company has been presenting to Wellington playgoers at tuo Opciu House since last Saturday, has given ample proof to that already proved statement that a good melodrama moans ’a big bank account. Next; week the company will give a change, and put on “Tno Angel of his Dreams." Judging by the billing matter displayed on the hoardings this play ougnt to make a bolder bid for public luvouv than “Tho Bad Girl" did.

The latest Drury Lane success, “Th© Whip," be presented, to Wellington playgoers by J. 0. W illiamson > at tho Oxxu'a House on -May 18th, contains every element Unit makes for success. It has a strong story, and several sensational scenes, which arc .so realistic that it is said that the audience cannot refrain from excitement and enthusiasm. Sympathy is* a cardinal factor iu the popularity of plays which are designed to appeaT to the multitude, and there is no lack of it in “Tho Whip.” It is necessary also that evil should bo adequately portrayed, but not more than is good for the ultimate happiness of Iho hero and heroine. “Tire ‘Whip" has the estimable reputation of being a play replete with romance and human interest, and entirely devoid of meretricious motive either in inference or suggestion. Very skilfully, have tho -authors combined their leading motives, and each scene is so deftly manipulated that the interest never flags for a moment. The company that Mu* Williamson is sending to in ten-' pret the play is the same as that which appeared iu the piece in both Melbourne and Sydney, and was personally engaged by Jlt Williamson recently in Loudon. Among the members is Mr Ambrose Manning, a comedian who made himself highly popular in the Dominion with the late Wilson Barrett’s company. Messrs Lionel Atwill, Charles Blackall, Charles Graham, and Robert Botto.ra.ley are ail English artists of reputation. Of the ladies, Australian critics speak well. Misses Evelyn Kerry, Winifred Scott, Fyfo Alexander, and Cecilia Wiman have been, selected from the ranks of the best of English actresses. ;

This week’s -programme at tho Theatre Royal has been drawing crowded houses. The programme includes the usual comic sketches, comic songs, etc.

New Zealand playgoers will be treated to a fine dramatic season with the advent of "William Anderson’s new dra-matic-organisation, who inaugurate a season‘at Auckland an May 6th in Walter Howard’s fine romantic drama, “The Prince and the Beggar Maid/’ with Mr Harry Roberts and Miss Beatrice Day in tho leading roles of Prince Olaf and Princess Monica respectively. These two popular artistes will be supported by an exceptionally strong company, including Muss Ethel Bashford, Mist? Florence Richter, /Mr Herbert Leigh and other favourites.

The headliner of Messrs Lin-ley and Stephenson’s “The ‘Wanderers’’ Company, now showing at the Town Hall, is undoubtedly Miss Phyllis HopwoodFolc\j. As an original musical monologue, pianist, and-quaint story-teller, she is in a class by herself. She has a charming personality, which captivates her audience, from atari to finish of her clever act.

The audiences at the Now Theatre during the past week augur well for Messrs Macmahon and Donnelly’s new venture of running a continuous picture show. The programmes submitted are well selected, and include, educational, tragic, adventurous, and comic films.

Messrs Linley and Stephenson’s oostumo and musical combination will close their Wellington season this evening, after which tho following towns will be visited:— 1 Masterton—April 24th and 25th. Grey town—April 26th. Carterton—April 27th. Damievirko—April 23th and 29th. Palmerston North—May Ist and 2nd. "Waipawa—May 3rd. Hastings—May 4th and sfch. Napier—May 6th. Bth, and 9th. FeUding—May 11th.

“Why Men Love Women,"" which comes heralded as . Walter Howard’s latest and greatest success, is to make its first Wellington appearance at tho Opera Honso on May 7th under tho managerial guidance of Mr Allan Hamilton. The author of “Why Men Love Women" is best remembered by “Tho Midnight Wedding/’ Bat these are only • two of his latere successes, his facile and prolific pen. being, responsible for at least a score of well-known melodramas during the last ten years. “Why Men Love Womem’ is a most abstruse question, and one to which one may give innumerable answers, but the author is said to have put tho -most popular answer into tho mouth of the hero to bo spoken as “tho tag." Tho play is described as a • modern, melodrama of Anglo-Indian life, and deals lucidly with tho military conditions obtaining m India at the present time. Of course this is a side issue, tho real interest -of the* play, which the tftlo indicates, is tho love interest of a man for a woman, What that lady suffers that sho may' prove worthy of that love, the trials and tribulations sho undergoes through lour long acts bear striking testimony to her professions of faithful love, and when villainy has been debased and virtue triumx>hant, and tho young heroine is securely happy in tho strong arms of her 'persecuted lover, tho curtain is rung down, but, says an Australian exchange, the audience feels that it must share in that happiness considering tho trying time it has had intensely following the exciting situations, so the curtain is raised again and again, and everybody is happy.

now company organised by Mr George Willoughby under tho # ClarkeMeyncll management scored decidedly in the -Clyde. Fitch play, “The Woman in. th© Case/' which was produced under all the conditions of an auspicious first night at iho Criterion Theatre. Sydney, at the beginning of the month. The brilliant audience, including the Governoi>Goneral of tho Commonwealth and

the. Countess -of Dudley, was hardly prepared for tho ijresentation under Miperliciaily comedy guise of a play by Clyde Fitch of fo'ucii strong fibre. Still less prepared wore veteran playgoers .for such a- sensational .success as that achieved by Mabel Trevor as the devoted wife. Tho newcomer, tail, slight, and elegant, after walking easily through her opening scene suddenly blazed out at the end or tho first act with a passion that carried the audience completely This little-known actress (says tho Sydney ‘'Morning Herald”) should become fa-

Dfe-srs John Fuller and Sons have secured Dir Ba-ruold and his wonderful troupe of animal actor;-, and the combination will shortly commence a season at tiro Theatre Loyal. The participants are known’ a** JJarnolu's Animal Actors/' comprising dogs, monkeys and a cat. Tiie.se are all ti-ained to perfection in their several parts, and the effect of their cnaraet ei'isation is heightened by tho circumstance that they are ail clothed in human habiliments, and many familiar incidents of street life arc enacted by them. Barnokl and his animals have ~a world-wide reputation.

Deference was made in these notes some time ago as to the probability of seeing Meyneil and Clarke’s Comic Opera Company with a successful comic opera in New Zealand this year. It lias now been definitely decided to dispatch tho comjdote “Arcadian’' Company to New Zealand, commencing in Dunedin on Juno 27th, tho season extending to July Ith. Wellington will he visited on July Gth to July 20th; Christchurch, July 22nd to August 4th; Palmerston North, August 7th to oth; Wanganui, August 10th and 11th; Auckland, August I-ltii to September 2nd. Dir Loo Do Chateau, who is at present acting as touring manager for Allan Hamilton's Dramatic Company, will act in a similar ca*pacity for “Tho Arcadians/’ under the management of Messrs Glarko and Dleynell.

la Dtr Leslie Holmes Mr George Stephenson’s musical costume organisation possess a comedian of-rare merit and ono who is bound to hit the popular taste. His facial contortions are marvellous, his singing quaint, and his story on acfprs very amusing. Tho “Bottle-O ikiiul’’_is another great feature, and is indeed a novelty. Tho beautiful effects obtained from ordinary bottles is astounding. In, Australia the Battle Baud caused roars of laughter ono minute and amazement tho next. .

A new play by Sir W. S. Gilbert —even a music-hall play—is an event in the theatrical world. A play which, reveals Sir W. S. Gilbert in a new vein obtains an added interest. “The Hooligan," in which Sir James Welch made nis appearance at the London Coliseum on leuruary 27th, is a serious play. It ia more than serious; it is grim. It is a' study of a man’s most intimate thoughts on the morning of his execution. The scene is the condemned cell. The hooligan, after a restless night, is awakened by the warders to a realisation ,of the sux>reme agony that awaits him. The audience is spared nothing. With palsied hands, the prisoner dresses himself in his own clothes, while he babbles hysterically of a nightmare dream — a dream not of the murder, but of a trial in a great court half a mile wide filled with hundreds of jurymen and lawyers and thousands of the public—and one awful figure- of overwhelming size; a judge who is continually’ pronouncing tho dread sentence of"death. Ho makes a J>retcnco of breakfast while he .deplores ius fate. Ho is urged by the warder—who has seen five and thirty men “go through • it” before—to pluck up courage. Ho whines about his past—his lack of opportunities and tho fact that owing to his “youth and imsx-peri-—little Gilbertian touches creep in now and then—his hand slipped, and ho killed his victim instead of merely punishing her. He complains bitterly that enough was not made- of this point in his defence. Tho entrance of the governor and the chaplain sends him. into the very terror of the grave. He cringes tq one m<m; he grovels to the other,; lie flings his arms aroulid the table leg and snaps and snarls at tho warders who try to pull him free. He is the human beast at bay. Then he hears, as in another dream, that his sentence has bean commuted to one of penal eorvE tnde. rt is a living death, but it is life. It takes him some moments of tense emotion to realise that tho bitterness is past. Then ho flings his arms above his head with a cry and crumples up on the floor in a heap-rdead of sudden heart failure. It is a remarkable play, and Mr Welch's study of the hooligan is a revelation tp those who only know him as a comic actor. Tragedy is always very near to comedy; and there were many amongst, the audience who could not imagine that Sir W. S. Gilbert Could # write or that Mr ‘Welch would act in- anything but a humorous piece, but the general reception of tho play was most enthusiastic.

STAGE GOSSIP. Fred Bluett is one of tie iead-liners at the Palace Gardens. Perth, just now. The music and , mechanical effects at the New Theatre, Manners street, are quite up bo date. , Messrs Clarke and Mcynell's "Gay Gordons" Company did excellent business during- its Adelaide season. Miss Florence Vil is playing the part of the big drummer in tho present production of "A Waltz Dream," at tier Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney., Mr ' George Willoughby will shortly open a tour of New South Wales with ‘The Night of the Party.” Mr Claude Webb is touring manager. Miss Mabel Lynne, at present showing at tho Itoyal, is a pen-former that others on -tho vaudeville stage should take pattern from. She is always giving “ new goods." Harry ■ Pickards’ company, at present showing at Adelaide Tivoli, includes Julian Pose, Ida Berridge, Harry Linden, Ted Kalman, Will Dyson, and George Bentley. ‘ The 200th performance of "Our Miss Gibbs" was given at Hor Majesty’s. Sydney, on April 12th. It was celebrated by the presentation of souvenirs containing photographs of all tho principals. A New STorfc reviewer of the drama says that while tho "5.8.0." sign formerly meant “Standing Poom Only,” it now means “Speculators Recognised Only.” Tho Messrs Puller have got a great “turn” at tho Theatre Poyal just now in Harris and Vernon. They aro without doubt a pair of dancers the equal of which has seldom been, seen in these parte. Hal Pord, brother of Reginald Robert 3, will bo one of the light co-medians iu Clarke and Meynell’s pantomime, “Dick Whittington," at Melbourne Poyal next Christmas. Tho Pullers- have engaged Mr Jack Kearns. Mrs Kearns (Ida Poslyn), Miss Vera Kearns (little Vera that used to was), and Dick Kearns for a tour of their circuit. They open at Christchurch on Tuesday. A well-known theatrical artist was tho other evening driven to the Sydney hospital, as it was thought she was suffering ftom_ poison, accidentally taken. Her condition, however, was not serious, and she did not remain in tho institution. Miss Ruby Guest, ol George Stephenson’s "Wanderers” Company, is a bright soubretto. Her _ banjo and mandolin solos aro beautifully readers!. Miss Everil Hcggie is als j another bright comedienne. Both artists are bound to captivate Now Zealand playgoers. Klaw and Erlanger’s production of "Ben Hur" seems to last from season to season in America without tho slightest signs of wear og tear." "Ben Hur" is to bo again presented in Australia bJ. C. ’ Williamson this year, for which reason a companv is now being engaged and a production, built.