THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 66

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Fasquin,

Tuesday, June 8.

The Plimmer-Hall Company concluded its patriotic season at His Majesty’s on Saturday night, when “The Second Mrs Tanqueray,” with Miss Beatrice Day as Paula, Mr Harry Plimmer as Aubrey Tanqucray, and Mr Winter Hall as Gayle, was presented to a large and enthusiastic audience. The season throughout has been eminently successful, and as a result there will be a substantial addition to the funds for the benefit of the dependents of New Zealand soldiers at the Dardanelles. The PlimmcrHall Company left Dunedin on Monday for Invercargill, whore a two nights’ season will bo played, prior to the company reorganising and touring the email towns of New Zealand With “ A Message from Mars.”

It is interesting to note that the PlimmerHall' Company has paid into the various patriotic funds the sum of £5160 5s 3d, representing the profits of the Dominion tour. As portion of the Dunedin and the Invercargill profits have to bo added before the tour closes, the total sum should come within reach of £32so—an exceedingly handsome donation truly. Messrs Plimmer and Hall and the members of the company generally, who accepted reduced salaries to undertake this patriotic tour, arc deserving of sincere thanks and to bo congratulated on their efforts in assisting so worthy a cause. It is to the credit of the promoters also that they were prepared to take the risk in the event of the tour turning out a financial failure. An interesting ceremony took place on Saturday morning, when two popular members of the Plimmer-Hall Company—Mr Vivian Edwavdcs and Miss Marjorie Soper —were married at the local registry office. The witnesses to the ceremony were Mr and Mrs Harry Plimmer (Miss Eva Shanahan). -The bridal pair are well known in Australasian theatrical circles, and have been members of the. Plimmer-Hall Company since tho opening of the tour.

With the conclusion of the Winter Carnival the season of the Court Garde at the Garrison Hall also terminated on Saturday. The programmes presented during tho week were delightfully entertaining, and as varied as delightful. This bright little company leaves pleasant memories behind it. and should it over return to Dunedin, it may be sure of an enthusiastic reception.

That there is still full measure of appreciation for high-class music in Dunedin ■was evidenced during the week when the three recitals given by the Cherniavsky trio in the Burns _ Flail attracted largo audiences. So satisfied was the management that it decided to give two additional recitals in His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday and Tuesday nights, when the Russian musicians repeated their previous triumphs. The indiscriminate admission of children to picture shows was one of the subjects discussed bv the Otago Branch or the New Zealand Educational Institute on Friday. Otago was asked to co-operate with the Auckland Technical School Teachers’ Association in drawing the attention of the authorities to the facts, and the local branch passed the following resolution, which the institute was requested to endorse :—“ That this association evn r ess dissatisfaction with the censorsmp of films shown at kinematograph theatres in New Zealand to which children are admitted without restriction, and urge that children under 15 years of age bo admitted only to

specially censored performances.” On the motion of Mr Davidson, it was resolved — “ That the meeting' endorse the action _of the association, and approve of the motion passed by it regarding the censorship of kn om a t ogr aph films.” Despite the fact that matters theatrical in New Zealand are not in the best state, attractions continue to ha book for a tour of both islands, and i.he bookings made months ago appear likely to bo fulfilled. There is, for example, the tour of the Williamson ‘•'Cinderella” Pantomime Company, which opens in Wellington to-day (Wednesday), and -for which Mr Johnny Farrell made a big jump from Perth to the Empire City to complete arrangements. The pantomime Ts a month earlier in Now Zealand t:mn usual, and the fact that : t is due in Dunedin in the middle of July reminds one, if sneh were necessary, that the war will then have boon 12 months in progress. It was just shortly after the outbreak of the war that the last Williamson pantomime was in Dunedin, and it may" be remarked for genera! information that we have not had a Williamson company since. The “Glad Eye” Comedy Company, which del’ghtcd Dunedin audiences a few months hack, is returning shortly to play another season of comedy at. His Majesty’s, introducing “ Who’s the Lady?” and “The Chaperone.” Ethel Dane, famous already for her Kiki in “ The Glad Eye ” wins fresh laurels in “ Who’s the Lady?” and “ The Chaperon.” Her Rosamund Gaythorno in the latter piceo is her original London creation. In “Who’s the Lady?” she is Gobette, an actress, with a baby smile and some dress's that take away mere man’s breath. Miss Hamilton, the dressiest figure of “The Glad Eye,” makes only a momentary appearance in “ Who’s the Lady?” but she is a resplendent figure that 6'ts every woman thinking of her dressmaker and every man of the dressmaker’s bills.

A friend who has just returned to Sydney reports that matters theatrical in that city are deplorable. One firm is understood to bo in liquidation, and other managements are feeling the pinch keenly. Fred Niblo, who cnojys the distinction of being the most popular actor ever seen in Australia, mads his final appearance in Melbourne on Thursday last after being associated with the Williamson firm continuously for three years. He returns with his wife 'Miss Josephine Cohan) to America, where ho will appear under the management of his brother-in-law.

One of the most important attractions of the year will be the J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) production of “Potash* and Perlmutter,” to bo staged at Melbourne Theatre Roya l shortly. . Various members of the original company, from America are being brought out for the Australian production. These include Margaret Binton, ’ Lizzie Wilson, Sam Howard, Paul Burns, and Sam "Licbert.

According to M. Florcnt Hoogstoel, the celebrated violinist who is to tour Australia and New Zealand with the Belgian Band, music is practically dead in Belgium. Since the German occupation recitals, orchestral conceits, and operatic productions, wherein the best of music is performed, have practically ceased in Antwerp and Brussels, and the people have to satisfy their musical hunger on the headachy noises of German military-bands. Many of the best musicians are quite destitute, and have to line up every day for the ration of broad and soup generously provided by outside charity. J. and N. Tait announce that they have engaged the well-known Australian journalist. Louise Mack, for a lecture tour of Australia, commencing next month. Louise Mack, who has boon long resident in England, has been specially secured to reveal to Australians the plight of Belgium under the German occupation. She has been acting as correspondent for English newspapers in Flanders and elsewhere. Her calibre as a correspondent may bo estimated by the fact that she voluntarily remained in Antwerp during the attach by the Germans, and was one of a small number who took refuge in a cellar in the prosperous Antwerp suburb that was severely damaged by the German guns.

Mr W. V/. Crawford, the well-known monologue entertainer, who loft Dunedin to join the “ Charley’s Aunt” Company, has since accepted a position in a commercial honse in Wellington.

With the object of generally Improving the class of kinemaiograph films shown throughout tho Dominion, a co-operative company has been formed, an Auckland paper states. The company is made up of a combination of a number of picture theatres j but there has been no amalgamation of financial interests so far as the proprietorship o'f theatres is concerned. About 40 theatres will exhibit the pictures secured by tho company. John Bunny, famous the world- over as the leading comedian of tho motion-picture screen, died at his home. 1415 Glen wood avenue. Brooklyn, New York, on Monday, 25th Anvil, after a brief illness. The cause of death (says the Moving Picture. World) was Bright’s disease, aggravated by overexertion vmon the recent tour of the motion picture theatres of the country. Tho funeral services were held at the Clubhouse of the Elks Lodge. No. 1, in West Fortv-third street. New York, at 8 o’clock on Wednesday evening, and interment was made on Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery, Brooklyn. The deceased was in his fiftysecond year, and is survived by his widow, a son (John Bunny, iun.), and a brother (George Bunny). His mother is also living. Something of a novelty, in the form of ft Maori opera eommny, will shortly begin n tour in the Waikato (says tho Auckland Star). It eomnrisos 30 people, and will produce a Maori opera entitled “Hinemoa,” written by Mr Percy Flynn, a Rotorua musician. It is stated that half the net proceeds of tho tour will be devoted to the Maori mission church at Rotorua, and the balance donated to the fund to provide for wounded soldiers.

A Melbourne cablegram announces the death of Mr Frank Musgrove, theatrical manager. Tim deccrnd was the younger brother of Messrs George Musgrove and Harry Musgrove. He was in Dunedin early Inst month as manager of the Nellie Stewart Company, and was then quite hale. He wag very popular in the profession.