THE STAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11737, 26 January 1924, Page 13

THE STAGE

i To-night at the Grand Opera House will be given, the final performance of that creepieet and most entertaining of all “Pirate” plays. “Ambrose john’s Adventure,” with Air Lawrence Grossmith as the hold buccaneer, “Captain Applejack.” in England it is regarded as oue of tho best comedies which has bee.i produced during the past ten yoars. While the play is made to create laughter, it also abounds in romance, and it unfolds a love story. There are innumerable laughter-provoking incidents on the deck of the pirate ship, and thrilling scenes of an unusual kind. The J. C; Williamson, Ltd., management have shown fitting enterprise in selecting a particularly fine . company of artists to support Mr -Grossmith. • The leading lady, Miss Diana Wilson, hardly needs any introduction, fat her New Zealand admirers are already numerous, and the memory of her delightful impersonations the last time she visited the Dominion are too fresh to require further comment. Mr Ashton Jaxry, Mr Leslie Victor, Mr Paul Plunlcct, Mr Edmund .Duggan, Mr Charlton Stuart, Mr Winnington Barne-s, Miss Dorothy Seacombe, Miss Winifred Gunn, Miss Mabel Gower. Not in tho annals of the English stag© is there the name of a more illustrious family than that of the Grossmiths. Eive generations of the family have already appeared on the stage, and all have gained international fame. Mr Lawrence ‘Grossmith, by his rare artistry, has ably uphold, tho traditions of his kinsmen. Lawrence Grossmith. who is the life and soul of “Ambrose Applejohn’s Adventure/’ is a great connoisseur of pirate literature. He has quite a special library about pirating and buccaneering days, and it is this hobby that gives him a special zest in playing tho part of Captain Applejohn. He mentions that he had an oxciting experience when he was in New York. Looking over a box of second-hand books he cam© upon a treasure in the shape of a vast volume entitled “Tho History of the Buccaneers.” One Sunday night he started to read this unusual work —Mrs Grossmith was also reading near by—when ho stopped suddenly. He then read to the bottom of the pure, and had come upon. the line,

“One of the most successful and most ruthless of freebooters on the Caribbean Sea at this time was the notorious Apple ” The rest of tho work was over the page, anl he was too excited to look. Eventually Mrs Grossmith turned over the page, and teatf that the name of the pirate was Appleton. Mr Grossmith said, “How disappointing. I did so want him to be Applejack/’ Writes a southern contemporary o?

“The Silver Fox,” the final production of tho present Lawrence Groosmith’s season:—Cosmo Hamilton would seem to have a penchant for writing plays which provoke a storm of criticism. “Scandal,” one of the most uiscussed plays within recent years, was from his pen, and now comes “The Silver Fox,” which is os greatly criticised and bids fair to be just as successful. The description,

“a satirical comedy/’ is about as apt an appellation as could bo given it. It is without doubt one of the greatest satires on modem society that has been presented for many years. Monday and Tuesday next, the two last nights of the J. C. Williamson-Uawrenee GrossmitJh season, will be devoted to special revival proformances of Cosmo Hamilton’s daring play, “The Silver Fox.” Thus a southern critic:—At first sight “satirical comedy” seems to bo a somewh at confounding classification for a play, and what rises readiest to the mind is the query “What can a satirical comedy be?” The aims of satire and comedy are so utterly opposed that a fusion of the two into an artistic form seems to bo almost an impossibility. The aim of comedy is first to divert, and in the classical sense this is done through the kindly treatment of human erring. Satire is a pillory where error, or supposes error, is placed savagely before the pnz.e, with the intention that its record u should be as savage as its exposure. Air Groesmith will repeat his exceptionally fine performance of Edmund Quiltor. At His Majesty’s, Fuller’s are putlmg on a really first-class programme of levue and vaudeville. (lon Moreni and ■his talented company have firmly installed themselves as public favourites, and in “The Bandit” they are responsible for some delightful humour. The company are all well placed, and another special offering of this clever combination will be made on Monday. In the vaudeville section a fine programme is given by Ues Warton in song and palter; Rosina Gordon, the possessor of a sweet-toned mezzo-sprano voice, while Nat Hanley gives a very clever performance at the piano. AYill Hastings, the English comedian, gives an excellent rendering of a number of humorous songs. Fred Blnett again delighted the audience with his quaint singing of quaint songs. The usual matinee will he given this afternoon, and the last presentation of this splendid programme will be made to-night. In consequence of the gratifying success of Lawrence Grossmith, the directors. in response to a preponderance of public solicitations have decided to extend the season, which will now terminate after the perfrormanco on Thursday next. Patrons who have already reserved for Monday next are therefore respectfully requested to select seats for another night, or, if desired, have money returned at the box office. "Ambrose Applejohn’s Adventure” will he staged to-night, and on Monday, and for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday the last three nights of the season, there will be a brilliant revival of Cosmo Hamilton’s remarkable, play, "The Silver Fox,” with Lawrened Grossmith as Edmund Quilter. Wirth’s huge circus and menagerie, including the great elephant herd, now showing on the location, Cable street', is as varied and attractive as ever. Wonderful is tho appeal of the circus, not only to the young, but to tho old. The sawdust ring, the huge cage for the performing lions, the gaily caparisoned horses, the beautiful horse women, the wonderful athletes, the funny clowns, and tho clever balancing and acrobatic turns, are all included in the wonderful programme, well worthy of the name cf Wirths. Tho last matinee will be given this afternoon, and tho final performance of the greatest show on earth will be presented this evening. Long Tack Sam and his amazing Chinamen, who present what is described ns the most astounding entertainment ever presented in Wellington, is appearing at the Paramount Theatre, Courtenay place, for a brief season, which commenced last night, when there was a very large and enthusiastic audience. Those extraordinary Oriental mystifiers, who come direct from the Tivoli Theatre.. Sydney, by arrangement wtih Mr H. G. iiLu.-kinw. appear in an Oriental setting that is seldom seen outside tile rovid palaces of Chino. Their 'performance is one of the most sensational over seen in Wellington. Tho first matinee will be held to-day (Saturday), and there will be a full orchestra at t.lio matinees during the engagement of Long Tack Sam. Mr W. Burton, manager of Hi’s Majesty’s, is at present on a holiday visit to Dunedin and Oamnru. Mr Walter Fuller, general manager for New Zealand. is looking after'the business side of His Majesty’s in tho meantime. Mr Charles E. Bonner, business manager for .7. C. Williamson with . the Grossmith Company, met with a very cordial reception from his many Wei-

lington friends, who had not seen him for 6ome considerable time. Mr H. -Shepherd,' who is assisted with Mr H. G. Musgrove’s productions in Australia, is at present in Wellington supervising the presentation of selected star vaudeville turns —such as Long Tack Sam, at the Paramount—in the Dominion. Long Tack Sam is here—at the Paramount in Courtenay place. He reached Wellington with liis party of ten and a magnificent vardrobe of Oriental costumes. Long Tack Sam is a Chinese who speaks English fluently, has a white wifo and two pretty daughters, and is tho owner of two restaurants in London and an import and export houso in Shanghai. Those, however, are side lines. His real business is behind the footlights, where his acrobatic, juggling, dancing and magic turns have made him famous in London and America. Long Tack Sam explains that his real name is Snm Tack Lon*? —in China it is the custom to run the surname first. But that is by the way. What: is most interesting about the party is that they are tho only company in the world introducing Chinese gymnastics on the stage. Long Tack Sam’s daughters aro the prettiest of China maids. .Tuiet and respectful in demeanour off tho stage as any two well-bred New Zealand school 4firls, they arc nevertheless show women of the front: rank type. A little of this they inherit from both parents. Long Tack himeelf has a flashing smile in igrcotinrr. Tie will be one of tho best droused men in Wellington. His wifo has picn.iuncy and style that will he very noticeable in Willis street. Tho daughters when introduced always curtsey.