THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 61

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Fasquin. Tuesday, December 1. The best news of the week, and particularly good news, is that the J. C. Williamson Co. (Ltd.) has decided to send the Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company to New Zealand after the present Sydney season. This company was organised in England, and after a tour of South Africa came on to Australia, where it is now in its last nights. With such a repertoire as “The Mikado,” “The Gondoliers,” “Yeoman of the Guard,” “Pinafore,” “Pirates of Penzance,” “Trial by Jury,” “lolanthe.” New Zealand opera lovers are in for a treat. We are particularly interested in the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, as this company is likely to be the first of the Williamson attractions to visit Dunedin since the war. It is also interesting to know that in connection with the forthcoming opera tour that the firm will present a new artist from Australia who is regarded as a “discovery.” This is Miss Moncrief, a Queensland girl, whom Madame Melba heard at a concert and straightway went behind the scenes, congratulated her, and gave her a 20 minutes’ lesson. Miss Moncrief is said to have all the qualities which go to make for success on the operatic stage. She will bo heard in important roles on the New Zealand tour of the Gilbert and Sullivan Repertoire Company. Despite the war and rumours of deserted cities, Dunedin is to have its Christmas attraction as usual. It was feared at one time 'that we vrero to be neglected, but with improved conditions elsewhere public confidence has been restored, and managers are extending their operations. Mr Charles Knight, who advanced “The Rosary” through New Zealand, writing from Brisbane, says he will soon bo in Dunedin again, this time ahead of George AVilloughby’s (Ltd.) Dramatic Company. The Ncw r Zealand tour commences at His Majesty’s Theatre, Dunedin, on Boxing Night, with G. R. Sims’s “The Ever Open Door.” Charles Knight goes on to say that he has just finished up with “The Rosary.’ the members of which company, with the exception of Mr Harrington Reynolds, return to America by the Sonoma. Mr Reynolds has arranged to take “The Rosary” on a tour of New South Wales with an Australian company. Welcome the coming, speed the parting guests. There has been a general exodus since last week, all the attractions in for the summer carnival having departed and left the city quiet and deserted, save for the picture shows. Miss Carrie Moore and Fuller’s Vaudeville Company, which had t>een reigning supreme at the Princess, has

left for Invercargill for a three-night season in that city. The 'company then disbands, the artists going their several ways. _ Miss Carrie Moore remains on the circuit, and goes to Christchurch, and thence to Wellington. Mr Crome, manager of th’o Princess, anticipates reopening permanently with vaudeville before Christmas. Meanwhile the High street theatre will be bolted and barred. Our next attraction will be the “HumptyDumpty” pantomime, which Messrs Stephenson and Linley will introduce to a Dunedin audience at His Majesty’s on December 15. The show, which has been highly spoken of in the north, is at present in Christchurch. Mr W. Low is due in town next week to arrange the preliminaries. Prior to opening in Dunedin Invercargill will be visited by the merry pantomimers, who will spend Christmas on the West Coa-st. By the way, Messrs Stephenson and Linley are extending their enterprises. In addition to having the “Humpty-Dumpty” pantomime in New Zealand they will have the Florence Young Comedy Company under their auspices. Arrangements have recently been concluded for a New Zealand tour of Miss Florence Young and company, to commence at Christchurch on Boxing Night, with Dunedin to follow on Now Year’s Day. The company includes Miss Florence Young, Reginald Roberts, Claude Bantock, and Edward Shcrraa, all wellknown members of Williamson’s companies, and “The Climax” is to be the opening comedy. Mr Victor Beck, the well-known touring manager, w'ho holds a unique record in the number of attractions with which he has been associated since 1878, has been engaged by Messrs Stephenson and Linley for their new attraction—the Florence Young Comedy Company. Mr Beck anticipates arriving in Dunedin a week before Christmas to arrange for the company’s appearance here at New Year. Miss Dorothy Gard’ncr, of this city, who went to Australia four or five years ago_ to join one of Branscombe’s Dandies companies, was at latest in Adelaide. Miss Card ner is now one of the oldest Dandies in length ot service, but strangely enough has never visited New Zealand since she joined the profession. -From Harold Ashton, or some equally considerate friend in South Africa, 1 am indebted for a special souvenir programme issued on the occasion of a command performance of “The Lion and the Mouse, ’ given under the distinguished patronage and in the presence of their Excellencies Viscount and Lady Buxton at His Majesty’s Theatre, Johannesburg. More than ordinary interest attaches to this, as the company, which had the honour of giving the command performance, was the London Dramatic Company headed by that splendid actor Stephen Ewart, who will be well remembered for his fine work during the Ethel Irving season in Dunedin. The J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) pantomime “Cinderella,” to be staged at Melbourne Her Majesty’s, will have the strongest cast yet presented in an Australian pantomime. According to present arrangements, it will include the following: —Barry Lupmo as Billy, the page; Minnie Love as the Prince; Leslie Gaze as Uandini; Jack M'Ardle as the Baron; Arthur Stjgant as the Dame ; Dolly Hamer and Gertie Latchford as the two sisters; Dolly Castles as Cinderella ; Celia Gliiloni as the glairy Queen. Maggie Dickinson will he principal dancer. A more popular engagement than that of Dolly Castles as principal girl of the “Cinderella” pantomime it would have been difficult to make. Since the announcement was made J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) have received letters from all over Australia expressing gratification at the appointment of tho young Australian for a role she is so well* qualified to fill. Miss Castles, since she left Australia, has fulfilled many important engagements in England and America. Latterly she has been appearing in comic opera in America, and, as was mentioned last week, recentlyfigured as one of the six actresses declared by popular vote to be tho most favoured by American audiences. This will not be the first pantomime in which Miss Castles has appeared with Barry Lupino. She was principal boy in “ Jack and the Beanstalk ” at Drury Lane, London, in which Mr Lupino was principal comedian. “ Theatrical artists in London at the present time can see right through their pay envelope,” said Minnie Love, the famous English panto, boy. who has come out to play in the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) “Cinderella.” Miss Love has come _ from South Africa, where she was the boy in tho J. C. Williamson pantomime of “ Puss in Boots.” “Two pantomimes for the one firm in two countries —that’s a record, isn’t it?” queried Miss Love. “It sounds good, anyway. Yes, I love being a boy. Tights for mo, every time. They come as boon and a blessing after skirts. I often wonder why the suffragettes, who want so many things, don't demand tho abolition of the skirt! I played my first principal boy part when I was 15. 1 have played seven since then. Now you know how old I am.” Last week the following advertisement appeared in the morning papers in Melbourne: —“Wanted, two giants, for ‘ Cinderella ’ pantomime ; must be over 7ft high, and very docile. Apply, to Charles A. Wenman. Her Majesty’s Theatre.” The advertisement naturally attracted a groat deal of attention ; but tho response was not very large—from the point of view of numbers, at any rate. There seems to he a remarkable scarcity of giants at present. Only three of those that put in an appearance satisfied the requirements of the pantomime producer. One of these towered up to tho height, of oft 2in, and weighed 26 stone; but the salary ho wanted was equally tall, considering tho small portion of the pantomime in which ho figured, so no business was done. A smaller giant of 7ft 4in and another 2in shorter were engaged. The caste for “ r t’he Babes in the Wood.” at tlie Adclphi Theatre, by George Willoughby (Ltd.), is now complete- Miss Daisy Jerome will he principal girl. Miss Dorothv Harris principal hoy, Miss Lola Hunt Will Scarlet, Miss Waldron Marjory Daw. and Miss Elsie Slouck Fairy Queen. Mr Dave Thomas will take the part ol Dame, Messrs Le Blanc and Ted Stanley tho two robbers, Mr Joe Waldron Simple Simon, and Mr H. Waldron the Baron. The hook and music of “ The Babes in the Wood ” has been write.n by Mr Alf. J. Lawrence. Mr Wynnee-Jones will be musi. cal director, and Mr Lester Brown stage manager. The pantomime will lie staged about Christmas. Patea has gone in for municipal pictures, and the first screening took place on the 21st. The council has embarked upon tho picture business in order to find some of

the money for the payment of interest ou the Town Hall.