THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3249, 21 June 1916, Page 60

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Fasquin

Tuesday, June 20. Miss Dorothy Gard'ner, of this city, who was ono of our brightest amateurs, and who adopted the 6tage as a profession, joining one of the talented "Dandies," has resigned the "Dandies" to accept a salary from the Fullers. The comedienne will carry all the refinement of drawing- room vaudeville into vaudeville proper, and her audiences will like her for it. Dorothy Gard'ner has written one or two sketches in which she will appear in New Zealand. Miss Kitty Chcshett and Cuthbert Ross are associated with Miss Gard'ner in the new venture, which opened in Wellington. I have just heard that the recent season of "Les Cloches do (Jorneville," which should have been a financial as well as an artistic success, just cleared expenses. The pity of it, when are considered the expenses and the weeks of work that must be put in before the curtain goes up ! One 01 these days amateur opera will be put on a popular basis, and only then will it be made self-supporting. The idea of expending- £6OO on the off-chance of getting £6OO back is madness.

Harold Ash ton, who shortly after his return from South Africa, where he had been managing director for J. C. Williamson, left on a tour of America and England in search of attractions, is due back in Sydney shortly. Since the war the field of drama, light opera, and faroe has been confined to America so far as Australia and New Zealand are concerned. England has practically produced nothing now during tho past two years, and one wonders just what Harold Ashton will bring back with him from. London. Wo know that he has secured two plays from America; but a good English comedy after so much American stage literature would bo a delightful and pleasant change. One of the most artistic engagements the Fullers have made is that of the operatic artists Pearl Ladd and Villiers Arnold, who were brought out by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) for tho Repertoire Company; and who now, on tho Fuller circuit, are singing at His Majesty's. It was sheer delight to listen to these artists on Monday night in selections one rarely hears off tho operatic stage. Their setting is artistic to' a degreo, tho costuming picturesque, and the right atmosphere pervades. It was a bit of real opera on the vaudeville stage. The introduction of such artists as Pearl Ladd and Villiers Arnold, and those exquisite Scotch players Jean Clyde, David Urquhart, and Abis Barker, of " Bunty Pulls tho Strings" fame, who appear on the same bill at His Majesty's this week, is raising the tone of vaudeville to its highest. I don't know when I enjoyed anything so much at Fullers'. I mentioned last week that Dunedin's own Joe Brennan was back in New Zealand—this time as the principal comedian of the Pink Dandies, duo here shortly. During the week word ea.mo to hand that the Dandies ( had met with a great reception in Wellington, and Joe Brcnnan's was an extra shave of appreciation. One of the best things he does is "Chrysanthemums." Anyone who saw Barry Lupino do this will roali.se just _ how well Joe Brennan does it: for this class of work lie is inimitable.

Mr Harold I3owclen has arrived in Auckland to pilot the Tivoli Follies on their second tour of New Zealand. The .Follies have a bi<r reputation on the Australian side, and the only reason they are not bigger favourites in New Zealand is that they are not lons - enough in any one town 1o acquiro that personal touch which counts for so much in Sydney and Melbourne. In Gydnev I noticed that the public wont to the theatres not so much to SCO the play as the players—to" see Vera Pearco and Julius Knight rather than hear the Follies and seo " The Silver King," to see Dorothy Brunton than " Long, I.ctty." This personal worship counts for comparatively little in New Zealand,

whero we era more concerned about the play than tho players. Did the companies

play longer seasons hero I fear we shwuld all be hero-worsJiippcis. Look at Dorothy Brunton in Sydney ami Aielbourne— an adorable artist whom the gens favour more because fihe is Dorothy iiruntonl But nobody thinks of deluging Dorothy Brunton with violets or of buying a menagerie for Vera Pearco in New Zealand. The members of the "Mother Goose"

Pantomime Company have arrived at Wellington, and the "annual" makes its first appearance on Wednesday evening. Air Harry Farrow., who has been playing the Damo in the "Mother Goose " pantomime in Melbourne and Sydney, recently vacated the role, and his understudy, Air Rupert Darrell, undertook the part. For the New Zealand tour the Williamson firm has dug up Mr Arthur Stigant, who was the Dame in "Umderella" last year. To use his own expression, he has, in the meantime, been "chasing chickens" in West Australia. Ho bought a poultry farm, and, with his wife and young SO n, both of whom he brought from England, has been engaged in rural life.

It is indeed difficult to keep trace of all the new acts engaged by Air Ben Fuller ior the Now Zealand circuit; and so swift do they follow that one has barely time to express _ appreciation before another and more glorious act is upon us. At His Majesty's new acts are tumbling ever one another, with more to follow next week. Opening on Monday in connection with the now bill ore Nelson and Nelson, acrobats on stills, who present an act of distinct novelty. The " Australian Dartos " (Eddie and Doeima M'Lean), who are favourably remembered with J. 0. Williamson, have returned after five years in England and the Continent, and' appear at His Majesty's on July 1. Starting their professional careers at. the ago of four and a-half and six, the little M'Leans did imitations of the French D'Artos, then highly popular, and won instant recognition, subsequently playing in eight consecutive pantomimes with J. 0. Williamson. Theij father was for i2 \ears ballet-master for Air Williamson, and old association made that entrepreneur take the liveliest interest in the welfare of the tiny M'Leans. His influence won them an instant engagement at the London Palace, and their talent did the rest. Since then they have showed almost continuously in vaudeville except for a profitable engagement in a Folies Bcrgore revue in Paris, when they were the only English-speaking act on the bill. The star of the revue was Madie Alinto, the originator of the sp ; der web dancs introduced to Australia in "Come Over Hero." Sho was then posing on a golden calf, with a big ballet dancing in the foreground. Tho Al'Leans then went to Berlin, from where they were booked for the American Orpheum circuit. At Hamburg, where they appeared, two weeks before war broke out, they used to show at 1 a.m., which, as M'Lean says, "was interesting, but wearying." It is not always through the regular channels that big and expensive engagements are made. Some time a big star finds a way out to Australia on other than professional business, and fortunate the manager who secures such an artist. Air Ben J. Fuller has just made one of his biggest engagements this way. A highly-paid English artist went to Africa uncler engagement, and, having relatives in Australia, dropped in to see them before returning to England. Tho result of this chance visit is that Ben Fuller makes an important engagement, and an English artist of repute (Miss Wish Wynne) is introduced to the circuit. So satisfied is Mr Ben Fuller with his latest engagement that he is taking the largest theatre in Sydney, the Adelphi, and supporting her with a big vaudeville company for a season.

It is reported that a writ has been issued on behalf of Harry Farron, actor, against J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) in respect of alleged wrongful dismissal. Farron, who was trio Dame in the "Mother Goose" pantomime, is claiming- £ICOO damages. Grand opera in New Zealand at war prices, 6s, 4s, and 2s, will prove a veritable feast for opera and, one hopes, profitable to George Marlow when he sends his Italian Grand Opera Company on tour of this country. This company opened its Australasian tour in Melbourne on Saturday n-'ght in "II Trovatore," which is to be followed by "Traviata," "Pagliacci," and "Oavalleria Rusticana."

An act that was one of the sensations of American vaudeville will be launched on the Fuller oireuit shortlv. It is one of the bookings made by Mr Ben Fuller during his recent United States tour, and will be one of the most highly-paid vaudeville acts that he has brought to Australia. It is said to outshine even that of the famous Banzai troupe of acrobats who. on the Fuller circuit a few vears ago. created such enthusiasm. One thing greatly assisted Mr Fuller in his achievement, and that was that the troupe of artists he has booked—Bryand Choebert's Marvellous Manchnrinns—were completing- a world tour that had taken them several years, and were on their way back to China. Australia, was on the return rout". "When Mr Fuller was in the States the Orpheum Circuit was billing them in the most extravagant, terms. Like the Banzais, who were Japaneze performers, the Manohurians provide an acrobatic entertainduring which they accomplish their startling feats. Some of their acrobatic work is carried out while thev are han sing suspended by their pigtails. There are five of them, and to see them hanging in a lino by their back hair at the opening is a bizarre spectacle. They average about 12st in weight, and often one pigtail is bearing the weight of three men—about Sost, or nearly a quarter of a ton.