THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3205, 18 August 1915, Page 63

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquin

Tuesday, August 17. A special attraction for country visitors in for the Queen coronation ceremony will be the performances of that gem of all the famous Gilbert and" Sullivan operas, “ The Gondoliers,” to be staged at His Majesty’s Theatre on Friday, August 20, and for the five following nights, in aid of the wounded soldiers. ‘‘The Gondoliers” is the brightest and most sparkling opera ever written by those clever collaborateurs Gilbert and Sullivan. The music of Sullivan has been likened to ‘‘a moorland stream, rippling and leaping over pebbly reaches, pausing anon at the still and restful pools of deeper melody, only again to ripple with sparkling laughter downwards to the sea”;, while Gilbert’s lyrics and Gilbert’s humour are the brightest and_ purest gems from the mine of jewels of this Poet of Paradox. Sullivan once said to Gilbert, after they had agreed to set the scenes in Venice: '“You know how I revel in this glorious atmosphere. The man who fajls to find inspiration in Venice or the Riviera is no artist. He may enjoy being punted about in a gondola, by moonlight, he may be devoted to these charming contadines; but, I repeat, he is no artist if he does not become inspired as you and I must be.” And so w r e have “ The Gondoliers,” which ran for nearly two years at the London Savoy, and brought to the managerial exchequer a fortune. “The Gondoliers ” commends itself, and the object of its presentation—in aid of the wounded soldiers —is the heart interest of all. Mr Walter O. Helsdon, who has been appointed manager of the Princess Theatre (vice Mr John Hamer, who has resigned to enter another sphere of activity), arrived in Dunedin on Saturday night from Christchurch, and on Monday assumed charge at the vaudeville theatre. While regretting the departure of Mr Hamer from his accustomed post, we gladly welcome his successor, who is fully aware of the high standard set by his predecessor. Word has been received by Mr Frank Greene, of the Tivoli Follies, of the death, killed in action in France, of Captain Saker, husband of Miss Winnie Volt, the charming musical comedy artist who visited Dunedin with the Williamson pantomime “Puss in Boots” last year. It may be recalled that Captain Saker -was spending a six months’ furlough touring Now Zealand with his wife in the pantomime company when the war broke out. He decided to immediately rejoin his regiment, the Connaught Rangers, and in Christchurch had made arrangements for his passage. Someone blundered, and the Police Department in Dunedin was advised that a Captain Saker, suspected of being a Gorman reservist, was about to leave the Dominion to rejoin his regiment. On the arrival of the pantomime company at the Dunedin Station Captain Saker was confronted with the astonishing news that he was suspected of being a German army officer about to leave the Dominion to rejoin his regiment. Captain Saker laughed, but when his attention was drawn to an officer in blue in waiting he quickly realised the seriousness of the situation. Fortunately Colonel M'Donald, who wont away in command of the Otago Infantry Battalion with the Main Expeditionary Force, and since invalided home, was immediately able to identify Captain Saker not only as a personal friend, but a British army officer. The nows of Captain Saker’s death in Franco will be regretted by the many friends the genial army officer made in Now Zealand. The New Zealand tour of the Tivoli Follies concludes at His Majesty’s Theatre this (Tuesday) evening, and on Wednesday the members of the gay and fcAivo com-

pany pack up their trunks for their return journey to Australia, which is to be made via Wellington. The management is particularly well satisfied with the New Zealand tour on the whole, though disappointed somewhat with the Dunedin end. It is the intention of Hugh J. MTntosh to send over another vaudeville company this year, and his manager, Mr Crawford, advises me that ho has booked a tour commencing at Auckland in November. The company will open in Dunedin on Boxing Night, the season extending to January 1. Christchurch follows on January 8 to 15. Apparently much is being taken for granted these days. For instance, it is reported in the north that Mr Hugh MTntosh is going to build theatres in _Auckland and Wellington, with the possibility of a new vaudeville theatre in Christchurch, thereby establishing a regujar circuit of Tivoli vaudeville in New Zealand. Dunedin, so it is reported, is to be satisfied with occasional visits of a touring company. Poor Dunedin ! It was ‘ever thus; yet time was —but, as Kipling would have it. that s another story. Now, it is poss blc that Mr Hu orb MTntosh has every intention of building theatres in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch —I know he was lookmg out for sites in the two northern cities, and I understand he has one in Auckland and one in Wellington under consideration. Christchurch is another matter, and Dnn-odin--well, it is Dunedin, and that seems to he enough, seeing that we are to be satisfied with occasional vsits only. But maybe the much-maligned Dunedin wil. have a new theatre, and T rlo know that one of the finest sites in the city is at present under offer to Mr Hugh J. MTntosh. Whether the negotiations which have been opened ur> will come to anything is problematical. With a ncw,_ up-to-date theatre in the centre of the city Dunedin would be a vastly better show town than it is. It is interesting to know that a New Zealand tour has been arranged for “Potash and Perlmutter,” which is riot a tooth-wash and face-powder, but a screaming comedy now running in Australia. The tour opens at Auckland in November ; Wellington will be visited in December; Christchurch. December 7 to January 3; and Dunedin, January 5 to 8. At intervals during the past few years Mr Edward Branscombe has introduced to New Zealand many excellent attractions, both in concert parties and costume comedy companies, and of the latter the Dandies have proved very popular. The Branscombe firm control no less than six of these companies, and they . have selected the Red Dandies, as being the strongest and most successful, to tour the Dominion this winter, and the “Reds” will commence a season in Dunedin at the Burns Hall on September 9. The delightful comedian Mr Claude Dampier will make his reappearance, as also will Miss Irene Ycre, the dainty comedienne, and Mr Oliver Peacock, tenor. The new members include Miss Mona Thomas, an artistic singer with a highly-trained soprano voice; Miss Ida Newton, versatile soubrette; Mr John Wolby, who is described as a handsome baritone; Mr Cyril Connolly, a talented violinist and dancer; and Mr Harry Borradale, who has developed 'nto a clever light comedian. M ; ss Ri'ina Young -is now the pianist of the “Rods.” The company has just finished a most successful season of seven weeks in Auckland, and is now playing to capacity business in Wellington. The dramatic sketch which has proved such a success in the vaudeville theatres of England and America is to claim the attention of lovers of vaudeville in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Hugh D. MTntosh has secured a whole budget of the finest dramatic sketches of the day, which are to h" interpreted by such sterling artists as Miss Dorothy Dix (especially imported from England), who will be remembered in New Zealand as the leading lady in “The Snccklod Band” some four years ago Miss Lizette Parkes. the daintiest of Australian soubrott'es Messrs Arthur Styan. and Mr CyrT Mackay. This combination will in all likelihood visit Now Zealand in the near future under Mr MTntosh’s banner. i Tim troupe of Maoris from Rotorua who travelled across the Pacific Ocean to entertain the Americans at the Panama-Pacific Exposition returned to Wellington bv the Mfirama. Members of the party stated that whilst they had enioyed their visit and had been well treated they were "ot sorry to return to their native land. Their entertainment had been very successful, and their manager, Mr Anncslcy, wished to take them on to Los Angeles; but the younger members of the party were anxious to return to Now Zealand, so at the last minute they decided to come on by the Marama. The cast of characters for “The Man Who Stayed at Homo.” the sensational patriotic spy drama, to bo staged here shortly by J. C. Williamson’s dramatic company, includes Mr Frank Harvey, who will appear as Christopher Brent (the man who staved at, home). Mr Austin Milroy (who will appear as Carl Sanderson, a German spy). M-' Arthur Cornell ns John Preston, J. P. Kenneth Brampton as Percival Ponnicuik. Mr Leslie Victor as Fritz fa German snv), Charles Morse ns Cornoral Atkins. Miss Violet Daget (Mrs Hugh Buckler) as Miriam Leigh (a British Secret Service agent). Miss Emma Temple as Mrs Sanderson (a German spy), Mbs Dorothy Gumming as Molly Preston. Miss Vemplo Plgott as Miss Mvrtle, Miss Florence Gleescn as Fraulein Schroeder. and Miss I. Browne as Daphne' Kidlington. The nroduetion is staged under the direction of Mr George Barnum, and Mr A. L. Pearce is stage manager. The Dunedin season will open at His Majesty’s on October 6. Invercargill folloivs on October 12. Following the season of the Muriel Starr Gomnanv at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, J. G. Williamson (Ltd.) will present the Royal Comic Opera Company in a lengthy and interesting repertoire. Short runs and quick changes will bo the policy to be pursued during the season, in the course of which no fewer than eight pieces will be played, including throe for the first, time in Melbourne. The repertoire will comprise the following:—“After the Girl.” “Ma Mio Rosette,” “The Quaker Girl.” “Our Miss Gfcbbs.” “The Dancing Mistress,” “Paul Jones.” “The. Girl from Utah,” and “Tho Old Guard.” Mr Hugh D. MTntosh, of the Tivoli Theatres. Australia, who recently' visited Auckland and Wellington, intends to return to New Zealand shortly for the purpose of i rank nar himself acquainted with Christchurch, j Diiredin, and other towns he has not yet had I the importunity of visiting. Already he has | made arrangements for several further tours ' of ! he Dominion.