THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3105, 17 September 1913, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquin.

Tuesday, September 16. The first performance of “The RunawayGirl” by the Dunedin Amateur Operatic Society at His Majesty’s on Monday evening was quite a creditable effort. Realising the shortcomings of the piece itself, and the fact that the society had put it on with brief rehearsal, I was agreeably surprised at the whole performance. There were the usual lapses of a first night, but, all things considered, the musical comedy ran wonderfully smooth, and before the season is through a first-rate show will be presented. “The Runaway Girl” lacks the attractive music of comedies of “The Geisha” type, but nevertheless there are one or or two good numbers. Miss Helen Gard’ner, while well served in voice and singing her music well, did not repeat her triumphs of

Mimosa San in “The Geisha,” and scarcely caught the atmosphere; Miss Leila Forbes Williams, on the other hand, was always in the picture, and put an amount of vivacity and abandon into her work that was decidedly refreshing. The Italian sing-

ing girl from the Blackfriars road was d stinctly the hit of the piece. Miss Bathie Stuart extracted all that was in the part of Alice, and sang the quaint number, “The boy guessed right the very first time, - ’ | worthy of the encore that was forthcomi ing. but was unfortunately cut out. The I part of Dorothy Stanley was nicely played by Miss Marjorie Lemon, who also sang ! the introduced number, '‘Soldiers in the park.” Unfortunately, however, in this number the “soldiers” suffered from inadequate rehearsal in the marching evolutions; but this is a. matter than can easily pc 1 remedied. The principal comedy role. Flipper the jockey, played in the original production at His Majesty’s some 11 years ago by Fred Graham, was undertaken by Mr Frank Rlandford, whose dual duties as producer and stage manager prevented him devoting his whole energies to Flipper, a | part which has to be built up with a lot of business to make it go. Still, Mr Blandford did verv well, and I expect to see . Flipper the best-played part in the opera , before the season is through. The Brother i Tamarind of Mr H. L. Glover improved

with the play. " hut vocally it was weak. The juvenile Guy Stanley, played by Norman French, was a fair performance, with praiseworthy attempts to put some breeziness into the character. Abandon is not easily acquired, and certainly not in ho I necessarily brief acquaintance that amateurs . have with the stage. Mr Norman French I nrssed dressing the part properly, and was ' rather out of the picture with the smartly i f rocked English girls. The ballets, trained

bv Miss May Black, were particularly good

; while the costuming and mounting _ were I excellent. The smart up-to-date frocking of j the show girls was a distinctive feature of j production. | The J. C. Williamson management anj nounco the return to Dunedin of that al--1 ways welcome favourite Mr Julius Knight for a brief season of seven nights only, which is to commence at His Majesty’s j Theatre on Wednesday evening iHepternber j 24. with the performance of the now ! famous comedy success. “Milestones,”

i which comes to us with a great reputation j from England. America, and Australia. • The authors of the new play are Messrs Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblauch. ! and it is described as being quite different

in character from any of the previous proJ duetions sent to this country by the firm, it is described as one of the most artistic

: plays of modern times, being quaint in i idea, human in character, and most ini geniously written and constructed. The I dates of the three acts in the new play i are 1860, 1885, and 1912. and the same 1 families, the Rhoads and the Silbeys, oc- ' cupy the attention of the audience throughj out. Some of the folk live on through the | whole 52 years, some pass away, and others are born in the period. It is a story of comedy and sentiment and brilliant chari acterisation. Mr Julius Knight appears in the throe ; acts, first as the youth full of energy and arrogance, then as the middle-aged man, proud, pompous, and prosperous, and in the last act as an almost worn-out grandfather, Mr Knight’s acting the triple role is described as most artistic. Miss Irene Browne is the loading lady of the new combination, and will bo remembered as a very successful member of the H. B. Irving Company. In addition to Miss Browne the importations from England for this tour include Miss Mary Goulden, Miss Grace Noble (formerly of the Brough and Bouc:cault Company), and Mr Martin Lewie (a leading young English juvenile), and among old favourites in the cast will be found Miss Emma Temple, Miss Maggie Knight, I Mies Dorothy Gumming, Mr Arthur Green-

away, Mr Leslie Victor, Mr Leonard Willey, Mr Ronald Macleod, and Mr J. Plumpton I Wilson. < The second production of the Julius I Knight season is to be ‘‘Bella Donna,” an j adaptation of Robert Hichen’s novel of the i same name which was the hit of its year j in London. THe heroine of “ Bella Donna” 1 is a notorious beauty who has been cast ; out of London society. She is married to ; a young Englishman, Nigel Armine, and vhc scene then changes to Egypt, where the woman, having become infatuated with a dusky Egyptian millionaire, the pair plot to poison the husband. At this stage Dr Meyer Isaacson (Mr Julius Knight' arrives. The doctor is a close friend of the illtreated young husband, and, detecting the crime, is in time to baffle Bella Donna, who then; bc>.g spurned by the Egyptian lover, Mahmaud Baroudi, walks out into the desert ano the unknown. The third play announced for the Julius Knight season is Bernard Shaw’s famous comedy, “ Man and Superman.” This play is said to rank very high among modern comedies, and is described as the most brilliant and novel that Shaw has vet given the stage, and one that lias raised him immediately to a very high standard as a playwright in England, America, and Germany. It is written of as being a very satirical work, but a most intellectual treat. In ‘‘Bella Donna’ Mr Julius Knight appears as John Tanner, with Miss Irene Browne as Ann Whitfield. Mr R. B. Young, of tin’s city, who has been touring America in the interests of Mr Beaumont Smith, writes advising that he will manage the return tour of “Tiny Town” in Now Zealand. Accidents to musical-hall artiste are, on the whole, rare. Two in one week is file record of Ralph Er Mey, the artistic gymnast recently through the BrennanFullor circuit in New Zealand. Er Mey concludes his act with a particularly daring leap from one side of the stage to the other, winding up by catching with his hands a peculiarly-shaped pedestal. On a recent Tuesday night Er Mey, although he had in no wise misjudged the distance, broke off one of the arms of the pedestal, and was unable to continue. The apparatus was righted, and next evening he had no sooner grasped the pedestal at the end of his flight than the whole thing carried away bodily, tearing up a portion jof the stage in doing so. Luckily lie was not seriously' injured 1 The outstanding feature of the programme to bo presented on Monday next at fhe King’s Theatre will he the amazing act ; of the Royal Banzai Family of Japanese ; entertainers This act is said to he ono of decided merit and novelty, attractively set

off with a lavish display of Japanese l art and pietnresquencss of costume. The case and semblance of unconcern they go throin' l ’ i a series of amazing feats in balancing and i gymnastics suggesting to the onlooker that they are merely little tricks of physical littleness and steadiness of nerve that call for no exceptional qualities. The humorous by-play in their act considerably enhances the porI formanee. They maintain the best traditiona of their land for nimbleness and aerobatic prowess. The feat which forms a. climax to their act is both thrilling and daring. One of the lady members of the troupe throws a little Japanese comedian about with her feet in a wonderfully skilful manner, while, despite his extraordinary gyrations, the little chap turns up with a smile. The scenery typical of the land of the chrysanthemum is an important factor of the act The background, shining cold embroidery worked on velvet and plush, is a triumph of Japanese art. Supporting this act will be a strong company of artists. Several particular favourites will be seen in Dunedip shortly, when the Roval Comic i Opera Company visits us in November. Amongst others Miss Grace Palotta fwho was last in Dunedin tw r o and a-half years

ago with the Ward Comedy Company), Miss Blanche Browne (of Miss "Gibbs fanie), and Miss Olive Godwin, while Miss Jessie Lennon (daughter of the Teddy Lonnen o! the famous London Gaiety Company) and Miss Billie Barlow, although paying their first visit, will quickly make friends across the footlights. Mr Harry Musgrovc, the well-known theatrical manager, who is at present in Dunedin in connection with the Julius Knight season, has hud a long and wide experience in theatrical matters. Most of h.s travellig has been in -connection with theatres, and the most notable features in that direction have been first night performances. Ho saw Nellie Stewart make her big success the first night she appeared in the pantomime at Drury Lane Theatre, London; was associated with Australia’s favourite when she made such a pronounced success at the Majestic Theatre, San Francisco, leaving that city just three days before the memorable earthquake. Other memorable first nights in Mr Musgrove’s experience were when Sarah Bernhardt and the Fred Leslie-Nellio Farren combination opened at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, Mr Musgrovc being business manager of the theatre at the time. Mr Musgrove is also a cricketer of considerable experience, and in 1c96 was manager of the very successful Australian team which visited England and defeated All England at Manchester. Mr Musgrove looks back on that day with great joy. The team also played in America and New Zealand. In addition to being a first-class manager, Mr Musgrovo has also had a successful cricketing record, having played for Australia against England. In his first match against All England he hit up 109, the English team including such noted bowlers as Atwell; Peel, Briggs, Flowers, Barnes, Bates, and Ulyett. A pretty warm lot. Mr Musgrove has many other good points, not the least being his genial manner and kindly spirit.

Some sterling vaudeville acts are booked to appear in New Zealand Under the Brennan-Fuller management during the next few months. Commencing with ScheppV Circus and the Banzai Family, there will follow in quick succession Esmeralda, the famous xylophone queen; the Romas, Herculean athletes; Ford and Monty, English sketch artists; Peg and the Limit, comedy duo; Two Storeys, ragtime specialists; Gladys and Alber, comedy act; Jessie Wilton, singing comedienne; George Rowley, American dancer; Tenka Troupe of Japanese illusionists; Desperado and La Rose, daring aerial act; the Ephraim Carlo Maie Trio, English novelty act; St. George and Day no, musical sketch artists; Director, Marcell, and Bell, American comedy acrobats; Vardanian, artistic female impersonator; the Three Aerial Bonos, American artists; Huntress, a dancer; and Boyne and Forsyth, English-.sketch artists. Most of these are already appearing with success on the Australian circuit, and the others are already on the water from America or England. The Seven Heraldos, sensational Danish acrobats who were in New Zealand some months ago at the Brennan-Fuller theatres, have lost one of the bo vs of the troupe through a sad accident that befell him at rehearsal one morning. In attempting a particularly dangerous feat he fell, breaking his thigh in such a manner that he will never b; able to take part in the act again, and will be crippled for life. It is two and a-half years since Miss Grace Palotta’s last visit to Now Zealand. She has been home to Vienna in the interval and has been resting on the Continent. She has had to meet a great grief in the death of her mother, between whom an ideal attachment existed. “I never thought I could feel the joy of acting again,” said Miss Palotta. 7 ’ to an Auckland interviewer, “but it has come back to me. From Mr Ward a cable I received,” she went on in her delightfully modulated accents, “to take rny old part of Lady Holyrood in ‘Floradora.’ It was 12 years ago I first played it in Australia. Heigho! And then to bo called baek to the same role and ha\ r e to tide over those 12 years! It s a long time, you know,” and the actress sighed and smiled at the same time. '■ But years make no difference to Grace Palotta. They only serve to accentuate her charm. Mr Eardley Turner, for many years with Williamson’s dramatic companies, has joined the Bucklcr-Donniston Company, and is included in the cast of “Fanny’s First Play in Melbourne. The intention of J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) to extend their operations to South Africa, is to be put into practical effect at the end of this year, when the firm’s Gilbert and Sullivan * Opera Company will open in Johannesburg. The principals will bo engaged in London, and leave direct for South Africa, whilst the chorus is being engaged in Melbourne. After the South African season the company will come on to Australia, and a similar procedure will be adopted with the other ventures of the firm. . , In an interview in a London paper with regard to the extension of the enterprise#

of J. C. Williamson (Ltd.), Mr J. A. Malone, the firm’s representative and director in London, said that a number of important attractions were being booked to be sent out to Australia via South Africa, where the Wheeler theatres and business had been acquired. “We have already arranged for most of Mr George Edwardes’s musical plays,” said Mr Malone, “Mr Michael Faraday’s productions, musical and otherwise; the D’Oyley Carte operas, ‘Diplomacy,’ and other productions by Gerald Du Maurier and Frank Curzon, most of Mr Charles Frohman’s ‘ presentations,’ and Louis Parker's Biblical drama, ‘ Joseph and His Brethren,’ to be produced in London by Sir Herbert Tree. We have also arranged that Australia will have a rollicking revue time. To that end we have fixed with Mr Stanley, of the London Opera House, to transplant to Australia that splendid theatre’s highly-suoccssful revue, ‘Come Over Here.’ The pantomime of ‘ The Forty Thieves ’ this Christmas will be one of the most varied in its attractions the firm has ever presented.” An engagement of interest in social as well as theatrical circles is that between Lieutenant Roger Rede, R.N., and Miss E'frida Clement, who was here with the Asohe-Bra-yton Company. The pair met on r P. and 0. steamer when returning Englandwarda. Mr Rede (Table Talk explains) is the eldest son of Mi’s Redo, of Toorak, and of the late*' Colonel Rede, at one time sheriff of Melbourne. He has been stationed in Australian waters on three different occasions since entering the navy, and it was at the end of his third .commission that this pleasant young sailor met his fate. Miss Clement, ’ who was in Australia with the Aschc Company throughout their first visit, was obliged for private reasons to return Home again soon after the company arrived on the second Australian tour. Miss Priscilla Verne, who has returned from America after engaging artists for “The Land of Nod,” stated to a Sydney interviewer; “The Jack of Hearts the principal boy part—will bo played by Ruth Nevin or .Jessie Overman. I have engaged the two of them. Later on it will decided who is to have the part. Ford West, of the well-known team Ball and V cst, was engaged as principal comedian. Ball and West were on the Orphcum-tiine for six years. The other engagements made by me wore: —Madame Jeanette, for the part of the Queen; Birdie Starrett, who will bo the principal dancer; and Maisie Boland, a clever English girl, who will have the pretty, ingenue role cf Bonnie. In England Miss Boland has appeared in pantomime as principal boy. I will take my old part—the Chorus-girl. It is the principal low-comedy role on the women s side. I played it in America for 50 weeks. The artists named will sail fropi America on October 21. Thcv reach Sydney on November 10. We will begin rehearsing as soon as they get here. The opening performance has been fixed for Boxing Night (Dcccmbei E 6). Whilst in America I opened up negotiations for the purchase by Mr Anderson of the Australian rights of the following musical extravaganzas:—“The Vizard ot Oz.’ ‘The Tik-Tok Man of Oz. and ‘Babes in Toyland.’ ”