THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 56

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By PAHQDm.

TUESDAY, Jane 27, 1916. It is anticipated that tiio alterations and improvement to the Princess Theatre will be completed about July 22, and on July 24 Fullers' Vaudeville Company, now at His Majesty's, will reopen tne theatre. Our next attraction will be the Pink Dandies, of which our own Joe Brennan is principal comedian. The Dandies have just concluded a season in Wellington. Christchurch follows; then Dunedin irom July 16 to 22. "* The Allen Doone Dramatic Company will commence a season at His Majesty s on July 26, when will be presented a new war drama, "O'Leary, V.U.," in which the American actor-munager will play the hero of the Victoria Cross. Several Irish dramas Dot previously seen here will be staged during the season. W. S. Percy, tho well-known ex-Pollard comedian, who set out on a 12 months' holiday tour of America and England some two years ago, and struck London shortly after tho outbreak of the war, has at last got a footing in the metropolis, and, as it is a good engagement, ho is not likely to relinquish it to return to Australia —at any rate, while tho war lasts. Percy is appearing at tho London Hippodrome in a big revue called "'Joyland," and is pleased witn his prospects after tho difficulties that crossed his path at tho outset owing to the war. Percy is not a great correspondent, but tho last heard of him was that he was doing well and likely to stay at tho Hippodrome for some time. The New Zealand tour of Paul Dufault has on this_ occasion been one grand triumphal niafch. Tho Canadian tenor gave his final concert in tho Dominion at Auckland on Saturday night, and on Monday started with his party for Sydney, where ho opens on July 1. Theatre-goers will learn with interest of tho marriage in Sydney at the end of last month of Bert Lo Blano and Winnie Knight, two well-known members of the theatrical profession. The wedding was a quiet one. Mr Le Bianc is producing tho musical comedy revues at tho National Theatre in Sydney. Miss Knight appeared in several of ' tho Willoughby, Anderson, and Marlow pantomimes. That old favourite, Maggie Moore, is a real "utility" actress. The other day she was in Dunedin playing grand dame roles in the Royal Comics' season of revivals. Sho returned to Melbourne.with the Royal Comics, and shortly afterwards made her appearance in vaudeville on tho Fuller circuit. Now sho is in Sydney appearing again with tho Royal Comics, billed as "special engagement of Maggie Moore in the role of Madame Blum" for "The Quaker Girl." Julius Knight, who recently played a season here in "Under Eire," is now appearing at tho Theatre Royal, Sydney, in a scries of revivals by arrangement with J. C. Williamson (Ltd.). The opening production was "The Silver King," which lias since been followed by "The Lion and the Mouse," made memorable here for the fino work of the American actress, Catherine Grey. Miss Lizotto Parkes is leading lady for Julius Knight's company. A feature of the present season is that popular prices, 4s, 3s, 2s, and Is, are being charged. Something went wrong with tho works on the opening night of the "Mother Goose" pantomime on Wednesday last. The performance waa advertised to commence at 7.45 p.m., and the curtain did not go up until a-quarter to 9, finally falling within 20 minutes of midnight. Portion- of the mechanism of the rolling ship is alleged to havo gone astray or had got, out of gear, and tho rolling ship refused to roll, despite all efforts. Complaint is made that the audience was not taken, info tho confidence of tho management respecting tho delay ; £.ub acoidcuts of this nature will happen to tho bosVregulated companies, especially on first nights. On tho first night of "Under Fire" in Dunedin thero was a delay

of half an. hour before the curtain went up, but the management did not think it necessary to make any explanations or apologies. Anyway, apologies and explanations —so runs the experien.ee of most managers— respecting 1 itches in the performances are best left unspoken. By the way, the rolling ship was in good working order on Hio second night in Wellington, .and it proved ono of the hits of the panumima It was bound to come. The big feature of a new- war drama in England is a Zeppelin raid, or, rather, a representation thereof. Whilo the searchlights are glinting through the air and a German spy is manipulating a guiding light, a Zeppelin glides across the stage heavens. An aeroplane, flying over the Zeppelin, drops a bomb; the Zeppelin breaks in the middle, and slowly falls to the stage. Then the curtain drops on a dramatic finale. Miss Maud Allan, the dancer, who was through these parts two years ago, and who was recently ill in New York, has returned to England, and will bo dancing again in London shortly. It is throe years sineo she loft England, and she has been touring ever since—in India, Rangoon, Penang, Singapore, Hongkong, Shanghai, Manila, Australia, Now Zealand, and the United States. Recently, tho inevitable having happened, she has been engaged upon klnema work.

Among the passengers to arrive in Wellington by tho Moana from San Francisco were the~ Five Manchurians, said to be very expert acrobats. On account of the Alien Restriction Act, there are certain formalities to be observed before Chinese subjects are permitted to land, and in order to "carry en" an interpreter was found. He tried to make lrmself understood by the new--comers, taking them one after tho other. With the first four he was unable to make any impression, but, luckily, the fifth man had a smattering of the Cantonese language, and was able to make his fellow Manchurians understand what was wanted. After that the necessary bond was entered into by Mr Walter Fuller with the Customs Department, and the Manchus left for Auckland by Sunday night's express. Like the Banzais, who were Japanese performers, the Manchurians provide an acrobatic entertainment, during which they accomplish their startling feats. Some of their acrobatic work is carried out while they are hanging 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 36st, or nearly a quarter of a ton.

Mr George Marlow's arrangements for his various enterprises are now practically concluded, covering the next few months. The Shakespeare Company will tour New Zealand, beginning at Auckland on July 31. The leading members of tho Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company are now in Melbourne, and a large chorus has been engaged to augment their forces. Tho season opened on Saturday at the Princess Theatre with "II Trovatore"—"Traviata." "Cavalleria Rusticana," and " Pagliaeci" to follow. The company is equipped with a repertoire of 21 grand operas, a larger number than Mr Marlow expected. The American Burlesque Company commenced a season of extravaganzas, revues, and musical comedies at the Adelphi. In Brisbane tho melodrama stock company is still doing well at tho Theatro Royal. * Mr Marlow's present enterprises include every class of theatrical production, from Shakespeare and grand opera to melodrama. Madge Fabian, who is starring- in "On Trial" at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, candidly admits that there are at least two things a woman should not do on the stage. One of these is shoot; the other, throw things. "In tho first case," explained Miss Fabian, "she is apt to let the gun dangle, and close her eyes as she fires. However tense the situation is, it is apt to become rxliculous. In the case of the second, when she throws things she is sure to hit the wrong object." Miss Fabian gave point to her assertion by mentioning the following : '_' When Alexandra Carlisle was plaving the title rolo in ' Every woman ' at Dirury Lane, London, in tho scene where she throws the bottle at the mirror, sho cast the missile with great force, but missed the mirror and struck the sceno cloth. Of course, there were shrieks of laughter from the audience. I was more unfortunate myself when subsequently playing tho same part. This timo the bottle fell into the stalls and hit a bald-headed old gentleman on the chin. His injury necessitated medical attention, and it took me all my powers pf sympathy and persuasiveness to restrain him from taking an action for damages." _ " Peg o' My Heart," which will be soon in New Zealand this year, has undoubtedly achieved its triumph by its grippinsr heart interest. Its sentiment, sweet, homely but never maudlin, has been like a breath of fresh air to many people who aro never touched bv the banalities of musical comedy or thrilled by the shocks of melodrama". lhe simple, direct appeal of tho dainty comedy has won millions of admirers in the English-sneaking world. Blase citizens enervated by the stage's indulgence in sex problems, have been brought to discover a new interest in the theatre bv tho innocent little love f-tory of "Peg o' My Heart" Sara Allgood. who plays tho title rolo in Australia, says it is the most charming piece she has ever appeared in. " Believe me," sho adds emphatically, "j li V r> everv moment on the stage as Peg o' My Heart''