STAGE GOSSIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 3216, 3 November 1915, Page 63

STAGE GOSSIP.

Amy Castles has been engaged for a provincial tour of Victoria prior to leaving for America. The dramatic company which recently staged “The Man Who Stayed at Home 1 ' in Dunedin, is now back in Sydney rehearsing the new war play, ” Under Fire.” Mr Harcourt Beatty, who will be remembered here as a capable actor, is at the front bolding the commission of lieutenant in Ihe London Scottish. Mr Ben Fuller, managing director of the Fuller Vaudeville Company, left Sydney by the Niagara last week on a trip to America,. He is accompanied by Mrs Fuller and family. Miss llosina Buckmann is singing at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, in the Beecham Grand Opera Company, playing the leading soprano roles in “Butterfly,” “La Boheme,” etc. George Willoughby, late of farce comedy and melodrama management, has now entered the field of concert management, and presented Peter Dawson and company to a Melbourne audience on Saturday night. It had been the gossip of the wings and the dressing rooms that the gilded nut of the cast was at last going to the front. When the chilly cynic of the company heard it he said; “Going to the front, is he? Have they made him acting manager, then?” —London Opinion. The genial Irish-American actor, Allen Doone, who recently played a successful season in Dunedin, despite coronation ceremonies, staged a new war play in Melbourne for the first time on Saturday night. The new play is entitled, “O’Leary, V.C.” Doone, of course, plays the hero, and who better? J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) have secured the Australasian rights of " Under Fire,” which is described by the New York papers as tbo most sensationally successful play of the season. "Under Fire" tells a love story which goes a winding way through the most vivid and realistic pictures of war that the stage has ever offered. It will be produced in Australia by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) in the near future. The J. O. Williamson attraction for Wellington at Christmas will be Miss Muriel Starr and a strong dramatic company. The season will open on Monday, December 27. The Christchurch season opens on Monday, January 2, and closes on the Bth. The company then return to the North Island, and play overland to Auckland, where they will open on cither January 15 or 17, and play until the 22nd or 24th. The J. C. Williamson management during the week received advices of the brilliant success in London of the powerful American drama, “ Kick In,” which was played by a complete American company for the first time in London. This play is one of the outstanding dramatic successes of the American stage, and has been running for the greater part of a year throughout the States. It will be given its first Australian production in Sydney on November 6 by the company that played “ The Man Who Stayed at Home.” Mr Hugh J. Ward has written from America detailing the success of various plays held by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) for Australia. These include " Kick In ” (soon to be staged in Sydney), “ Twin Beds,” "It Pays to Advertise,” " Under Fire,” “On Trial,” and others, all of which are holding their own strongly in New York, and are touring with a number of companies throughout the States. Mr Ward ha.s secured some attractive novelties and effects for the “ Mother Goose ” pantomime, which is now in course of preparation at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne. Sir Arthur Pinero once delivered a telling snub to a certain leading lady who was rather inclined to " boss the show.” During a rehearsal this lady lost her temper, and shouted out to the dramatist: “ What is this scene supposed to be? If it is a room, where on earth is the fireplace?” The actress was so irate that it looked as though she would throw up her part; but Sir Arthur soon settled her by “ the soft answer that turneth away wrath.” “My dear madam,” he said calmly, “ every room has four walls, and this ” —pointing to the footlights—“ is the wall where the fireplace occurs.” After that the actress could do nothing but continue rehearsing her part.

FULLERS’ VAUDEVILLE COMPANY. Two now turns wore presented at the Princess Theatre on Monday evening. The Musical Ibsons-—two ladies and a gentleman—presented a most enjoyable performance, tho two playing on a number of instruments, and securing their greatest success in a concerted number tor piano, violin, and clarionet, one of the ladies playing tho lastnamed instrument. Carter and Shea struck a distinctive note in the presentation of their turn, tho stage being arranged as an artist’s studio. The lady proved herself a most capable performer in solo work on the harp, and also played the accompaniments to tho vocal efforts of her partner Shea, who was loudly applauded for his singing of “Tho Minstrel Boy.” Tho honours of the evening, however, undoubtedly rested with Miss Violet Trovenyon, who is in her last week at the Princess. This vivacious comedienne was recalled no loss than four times, and even then her audience was not satisfied. Armstrong and Ilowavlh have also not outlived their popularity, and the former must bo complimented on his choice of songs and tho excellent enunciation with which they are delivered. The duo received a most flattering reception. Ernest Pitcher, in a wonderful make-up, was rewarded with hearty laughter for his quips and cranks, and the audience would have appreciated further contributions from the strange-look-ing instrument which ho played, but from which most tuneful melodies issued. _Nat Hanlev is a skilful performer oh the piano, and also a rather remarkable whistler, and Joe Charles and tho Glory Girl arc clever exponents of ragtime music. Charles has a Guo voice, and would no doubt bo heard

to advantage in songs of the ballad type. Phil Percival broke new grouncl in a policeman sketch, in which ho displayed his ability on the piano, and received full appreciation for his efforts. The programme will be repeated this week.