THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3122, 21 January 1914, Page 68

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquiw.

Tuesday, January 20. The members of the “Within the Law” Company, which is due here to-mor-row, will shortly go in for gentle exerc.se, and will establish something- of a record in a jumping feat. After touring the South' Island, which includes visits to Gore, Invercargill, Oamaru, Timaru, and Ashburton, they will jump from tho latter place to Auckland! Following tho Auckland season a tour of the sub towns in tho North Island, will tage place, and there is also some talk of a. visit to tho West Coast.

Mr Barrington Waters, the courteous manager of the King's Theatre (BrennanFuller vaudeville) in this city, is under orders for transfer to Wellington, where ho will have charge of His Majesty’s. Mr Waters anticipates leaving in the course of next week. His successor is Mr Crome, well known in connection, with the Belle Crome Company of vocalists and instrumentalists.

The friends of Mr Leo D’Chateau —and he has many in New Zealand —will be delighted to learn that he has been appointed to a seat on the directorate of Edward Branscombo (fstd.), the firm responsible for those refreshing and clever companies called The Dandies, of which there are a charming variety—reds, pink, blue, green, etc. By the way, the new English company which has recently arrived in Australia threatens to make all others of its kind sit up and take notice in tho matter of cleverness and refinement.

Fred Graham, the well-known comedian, from whom I was pleased to receive word tho other day, is playing the leading comedy role—Major Domo of Prtijoo Max—in a new musical comedy, “The Little Oafe,” at tho New Amsterdam Theatre,- New York. This is being presented by the big two, Klaw and Erlanger. Miss Hazel Dawn, the American musical comedy favourite, is also in tho cast playing Gaby Gaufrette, “Queen of the Night Restaurant,” which sounds interesting, Paul Du fault, the great tenor, whom we heard here with Mme. Nordica, is coming to us shortly at the head of his own company. Mr Dufault opened his starring tour in Melbourne a few weeks ago with great success. Where, before, his programme had perforce to ,b© submitted for revision to a prima donna, the Dufault programme now is of unlimited delight, as the tenor is permitted to sing as many love songs as ho desires and as his audiences insist. In Bendigo recently, Mr Dufault had the unusual experience of being swept from tho stage by a mob of fair admirers. Tho popular tenor bad concluded his programme with his thrilling rendering of “Invictus.” and, in response to the inevitable encore, sang the dainty “Slylvelin.” Not satisfied even then, “Dring to mo only with thine eyes” was given, and yet another love song added, and then the tenor remained obdurate, bowing repeatedly, but refusing- to yield another note. The enthusiastic crowd of women surrounded the platform, and, when it was evident that Mr Dufault would absolutely sing no more, crowded on to it, fairly submerging him in feminine enthusiasm. One fair damsel is even reported to have carried a pair of scissors and snipped a souvenir from the tenor’s silvery locks. A dozen maidens escorted Mr Dufault to his hotel and serenaded him with one of his own songs, “Answer,” but the tenor is reported to have locked his door and refused to come out. “Within the Law” will serve to introduce to Dunedin theatre-goers the gifted young

American actress, Miss Muriel Starr, who comes heralded with the most glowing press criticisms as an artist of the very front rank. Miss Starr is a disciple evidently of the modern American school, never seeking to “tear a passion to tatters,” but gets her effects by those quiet, intense, natural methods made familiar to us by Miss Margaret Anglin and Miss Katharine GreyMiss Starr has youth qn her side she is only 24, —and is described as ' having a handsome stage presence and possessing in full measure personal charm and magnetism. One enthusiastic Australian critic described her as “a blend of Ethel Irving, Margaret Anglin, and Katharine Grey, and finer actress than any of the three.” This is high praise indeed, and makes one keen to see an artist so bountifully equipped. Miss Starr, moreover, has had a long stage experience. She was only six when she made her first appearance as the child the old American comedy-drama, “ Shore Acres.” Since that time she has played a big round of characters, ranging from farce to tragedy. The Royal Banzai Family of Japanese equilibrists are due for a reappearance in Dunedin shortly, and it goes wituout saying that a great welcome will be accorded to them. Since tlieir visit here in September last they have toured the length and breadth of Australasia, and in every case their wonderfully clever performance has elicited the unstinted admiration of all who have witnessed their act.

Two acts of more than unusual magnitude to appear shortly at the King’s Theatre are those of Huntress and Co., the world’s greatest female impersonator and classic dancer, with gorgeous scenic effects, and Henri French, billed as “The Intoxicated Genius on the Wheel.”

From Nairobi (British East Africa), of all strange places in the world, comes a letter from Mr George Cathro, a well-known touring manager. Space is annihilated and time is arrested when I think that it was only the other day that I spoke to Mr Cathro at the Post Office, Dunedin. Now I hear from him from Nairobi, East Africa, where a few years ago lions stalked where the principal streets now stand! The young New Zealand manager, who is touring Yon Arx, the hypnotist and entertainer, recently through these parts, waxes eloquent over Nairobi and the suroundrng country. “I am really fascinated,” he said, “with this romantic country. To think that within just a few miles from here the lion, the leopard, the rhinoceros, the hippopotamus, the zebra, and other large gamp roam almost unmolested over the territory; that in the forests near by the monkeys swing from tree to tree, quit© undisturbed; that wild ostriches,' *in the close vicinity, wander majestically over the plains; and that on "the very borders of the township, and extending for miles and miles out into this vast country, herds of deer of many varieties, and in thousands, graze upon the pastures, and wonderingly gaze upon the trains laden with passengers as they pass quite close to them, must indeed impress anyone with the romantic surroundings. To think that a little over 20 years ago when I was still a schoolboy, British East Africa was thought of as a typical abode of savage tribes, many of them warlike and dangerous to approach; that it was a channel for slave trade; a place of mystery and adventure; the habitat of wild animals, and yet unexplored! And then to see it now, with its capital city—Nairobi—not yet 13 years old, lighted with electricity, equipped with an inexhaustible water supply, with motor cars and motor bicycles rushing hither and thither: with natives drawing Europeans in rickshaws, waiting at dining table and performing ■ all sorts of tasks taught them by the white man; to see the banks, theatres, post office, club, hotels, stores, and Government House, speaks in an unmistakable manner of the wondrous progress and fortitude, and the march of civilisation.” The marriage took place in Melbourne the other day of Mr Charles A. Wenman, the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) producer, with Miss Flossie Dickinson, the bright young Australian who has appeared with success in Clarke and Meynoli and J. G. Williamson productions. Mr Wenman and his wife were the recipients of good wishes and congratulations from members of the profession in all parts of Australia, with whom they are exceedingly popular. Mr Wejrman’s last big production is the “Forty Thieves” pantomime, which is packing Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, and 1 has so far beaten the financial record of all its predecessors in pantomime at Her Majesty’s for the corresponding period.

A feature of interest of tho Paul Dufault season, is tho fact that Miss Pauline Bindley, the Bendigo soprano* will make her first bow to a Dunedin audience at tho opening concert on February 2. In Miss Bindley’s home city all Che loading - citizens have united in making it possible for the gifted young singer to complete her musical education in Europe. Miss Bindley was to have sailed for Europe early in January; but Mr Dufault, hearing the singer, was so delighted with her voice that he persuaded her to defer her departure until May, and to accompany him on his present Australasian. tour.

When “Joseph and His Brethren” is staged at Melbourne Theatre Royal in February next by J. 0. Williamson (Ltd.), that beautiful young actress, Ethel Warwick, will make her reappearance in Australia. Miss Warwick, who since she returned to London has been in management on her own account, will have the role of Zuleika, Potiphar’s wife, in which her beauty and ability as an actress of fascinating personality should be displayed to the best advantage. The part of Joseph will be played by the well-known English dramatic actor, Malcolm Tearle. .

Harry Lauder, the great Scotch comedian, who opens an Australasian tour in Melbourne in a few' weeks’ time, is the proud and responsible-head of a family of one. This one is a tall and sturdy son, who has been studying law at Cambridge, and is said to possess considerable musical ability. In his vacations he accompanies his parents on their vaudeville tour, and is to travel with them on their trip round the world. When the head of the house is on holiday, usually a bare week or fortnight, which he can snatch from pressing vaudeville business, the whole family resides at the Lauder seat, a big picturesque house not far from Glasgow. London critics haye been stired to their depths by the production of “Who’s the Lady?” at the Garrick. This, farce-comedy from the French will be played In Australia by the Louis Meyer-fieaumont Stnith Comedy Company, commencing next August at. Melbourne Princess. The Daily Mail described the piece as “risky,” “sultry,” “naughty,” “impudent,” “unblushing,” and on top of this criticism the Bishop of Kensington sent two trusty henchmen to see and report on the fa «» One fr^ferted:

“It’s very funny, really clever, and humorous. I wouldn’t mind my wife seeing it. In fact, I propose to take her.” The Telegraph (described the piece as “a jolly, rollicking, winking, nudging farce”; but the Express said it was probably the most salacious comedy ever seen in London. Whilst this controversy raged the Garrick booked up rapidly, and when the mail left the very earliest date possible to secure, a seat to see “Who’s the Lady?” was the middle of May next. Beaumont Smith, in conjunction with Louis Meyer, of the London Strand Theatre, will introduce another drama sensation to Australia next June. This Is “Mr Wu,” now doing sensational business in the Big Smoke. Mr Wu is a Europeanised Chinaman of the craftiest description, and something Quite new in dramatic ideas. The Meyer-Smith dramatic organisation will present “Wu” after Rex Beach’s romance “The Barrier” has been produced. a ,V omparcd Genee and Pavola, Maud Allan, the great classical dancer, is distinctly unusual, for she rarely makes use of the effects by which those two artists achieve their successes. Like Isadora Dun can, Lady Stewart Richardson, and similar dancers of the cult, she is chary of employing ordinary scenic effects, rather pinning her faith on the simple pictorial effect of curtains, cleverly arranged and varying in colour according to the mood of the dance she is to depict. Each of her dances is different fn mood and character, and there is no greater contrast than that between the gentle gaiety of her Spring Song dance and the tragic remorse of Salome’s dance before Herod. Maud Allan prides herself on her variety, and during her evening’s entertainment she depicts the whole gamut °f emotion in a wonderful way. Ernest Toy, the well-known Queensland violinist, will be heard here with Paul Du fault. Mr Toy i 6 well known to all New Zealand music-lovere, having toured the ominion w g success some years ago as a boy-prodigy. Since then Mr' Toy has Vl -Tr C< +u Ur ° P - e ’ , anc * kaq won recognition with the musical public and leading musicians of England and the Continent. Mr toy has also toured with manv worldfamous artists. The Melbourne Age describes him as ‘ one of these local products ox whom the most loyal Australian has every right to feel proud.”' His playing is a mastery of style and purity of tone. During the three months’ run of' “Within the Law in Sydney a band of enthusiastic amateurs decided to stage Pinero’s “Mid=”el, and , getting the consent of the Williamson management, prevailed upon Miss Muriel Starr to play the leading part 1th T? s ?- n ? e 'w, at sor <JM study of fashionable English life. The performance was necessarily a matinee one, but an overflowmg audience assembled, attracted mainly by curiosity to see how Miss Starr would fare in the very difficult task she had been set in a character which is said to be of the most complex that Pinero has ever drawn, the result was a complete triumph tor our brilliant American visitor. The press wrote most glowingly of her performance, and a theatre full of the keenest and most critical theatre-goers in Sydney called her before the curtain again and again after every performance! . J-he Dunedin season of “Within the Law” is limited to six nights, and will terminate on luesday, January 27. The company will g °u° n t 0 I l n^. rcar ? ill - P la y in g there on Wednesday and Thursday, January 28 and 29; Gore, Friday, 30th; and Ashburton on Saturday January 31. Then follows the Auckland season, commencing at His Majesty s Theatre on February 4. As an expert in Irish folk song, Mr John M Lormack was asked if he had made any study of the Maori idea of musical expression. He said that he had not, but ho remarked that while in Sydney ho had heard some of Mr Alfred Hffi’s “Maori” music and thought it delightful., “That’s it, ’. ho said, running his fingers over a few bars of “ Wai-ata Poi.” “I th-’nk it’s charming. And the dirges.” he added, aren’t they fine 1” “WITHIN THE LAW.” The outstanding dramatic attraction of £ix?r-?i e - ar '■? V * of J- C. Williamson’s Within th* Law” 'Company, which is duo at His Majesty’s Theatre, Dunedin, this woek._ This latest example of the virile American play met with extraordinary sucCeSS L. n ■ Australia, and during the present IPpnth it attracted very large audiences in Wellington and Christchurch. Simultaneous With its presentation in Australia it was being staged at the Ettlngie Theatre, New York, and at the Haymarket Theatre, London, under the direction of Sir Herbert Tree. Record runs were established at each of those theatres, and when the last English mail left London the play had reached its 250th performance.