STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 63

STAGE GOSSIP.

Dr Norman Hales, the well-known Wellington iunatcur actor, left for America by tho last trip of the Maknra. ■ A well-known actor, Mr Charles Percival St. John Smith, known professionally as Percy St. John, died in Brisbane on October 8; aged 56 years. High Jinks,” " The Girl in the Taxi,” and “ The Girl on the Film ” will be the repertoire of the J. C. Williamson Company, which opens at the Theatre Royal, Christclutrch, next Saturday night. Barry Lupino, the well-known pantomime, comedian, is enjoying great success in his turn at Melbourne Bijou. Miss Maud Miles, who also comes from the Williamson chorus, made a success as a singing comedienne. On October 30 Mr Allen Doone and his company will reopen at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne, where they will stage a new drama founded on an incident of the war in Flanders entitled “ O’Leary, Y.C” Mr Oscar Asche and Miss Lily Brayton have produced a new play called “ The Spanish Main,” which provides Mr Asche with the part of an Irish buccaneer and Miss Brayton with that of a pirate's daughter. It is reported that Miss Ethel Dane, the chic little English actress with Beaumont Smith “ Glad Eye ” Company, will visit Australasia again next year on a starring tour with her husband, Cyril Keightley, at present in America. Debussy, the French composer, has written the music for a new Egyptian dance, “ Khamma,” which Miss Maud Allan is rehearsing in her spare time. The dancer is at present in the United States, and her energies are devoted chiefly to work for, the moving pictures. At a dress . rehearsal of “ Paul Jones ” by the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society the members of the chorus presented Mr Tom Pollard with a handsome silver inkstand as a token of their esteem, and in recognition of the good work he had done in training them. Miss Carrie Haase has returned to Melbourne by the P. and O. steamer Medina. Miss Haase was known in London as tho ' Australian reciter,” and just before leaving England gave a recital to the first contingent of Australian wounded soldiers at the Harefield Hospital. The success of the first Williamson picture film, “ Within Our Oates,” has led to an extension of that particular branch of the firm’s thcatiical activities. Pictures are now being taken both in Australia and in the South Sea Islands whi will be screened here at an early opportunity. Ethel Dane and Toni Selford, who were prominent in Ae recent farce productions by Mr Beaumont Smith, have been engaged by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.), and made their first appearance under the firm’s management in ‘‘A Pair "of Sixes” by the “Stop, Thief!” Company at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney. When “ The Old Guard ” is resurrected at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, by the Royal Comic Opera Company, following on the production of “ The Dancing Mistress,” the cast will include the following:—Phil Smith, C. R. Bantock, Re". Roberts, Derek Hudson, John Ralston, Ethel Morrison, Leslie Holland, Charles Albert, Thelma Rayo, Gladys Mon Crieff, Elthel Cadman, and Maggie Dickinson. . An interesting improvement in “ behind the scenes ” organisation is being initiated by Mr de Courville at tho London Hippodrome. All the dressing rooms are being fitted up with the electrophone, so that the hard ng and quick-changing artists can hour at :.i\y moment what is happening on

the stage, and know exactly how much time they have—or have not—to spare. The callboy will lose much of his ancient importance.

Miles Kathleen Levi, of "Wellington and Dunedin, has just scored a remarkable success in having been awarded, at the Royal Academy of Music, London, one of the four silver medals for which 600 students competed. She also won a silver medal for pianoforte and a bronze medal for sightsinging. During her two years’ study this gifted young New Zealander has been fortunate enough to win no fewer than five medals. J. O. Williamson (Ltd.) |lnitiated a beauty competition in connection with their pantomime “ Mother Goose,” at _ Her Majesty’s, Melbourne. Applicants for inclusion in the chorus, are invited to forward their photographs to the pantomime producer, a selection being made of those attractive enough to compete. The winners will be given engagements for the complete tour of the pantomime throughout Australia and New Zealand, extending over about 10 months; and they will be kinematographed and displayed on the screen as the “ Pantomime Beauty Show.” Already photographs and entries are pouring in by the hundred, and the task of the judges promises to be a by no means easy one.