THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 52

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

liy J'ASJQUIN.

Monday, December 18, 1936. Miss Wish Wynne, the English character actress, concluded her brief stay at the Princess on Saturday nignt, wher. she was accorded quite an ovation. It & a pity that pressing engagements at Home prevent Miss Wynne making a longer stay, for she of all the stars on the Fuller circuit has been tho most satisfying and the most worthy to be called a " star." The Italian Opera, Company which the Fuller Jinn has sent to New Zealand, and which will commence a Dunedin season in February, has a triple cast of principals and a big chorus. The firm paid 130 fares on the Manuka from Sydney to Wellington for the Italian opera artists. Mr Frank O'Sullivan, touring manager for the Royal Dramatic Company, is clue in Dunedin next week to arrange for the local season of ''Madame X." and ''Are You a Mason?" "Madame X" has never previously been played in Dunedin. It is a powerful drama, and will thoroughly test the merits of the company. " Arc You a Mason?" on the other hand, is a rollicking comedy, done here years ago, and the revival will be most welcome.

The success already achieved in New Zealand by the Royal Dramatic and Comedy Company (Ltd.) is gratifying. Although composed of English and Australian artists, it is essentially a New Zealand organisation. The company was formed with New Zealand capital, and arrangements made with J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) for the rights to produce certain of his successful dramas and comedies at popular prices. The idea is to make the company a permanent one in the Dominion, so that the money invested and profits will necessarily be kept in the Dominion. The plays arc- staged and presented on a complete scale at popular prices of admission. Mr Stanley Grant, representing J. C. Williamson with "The Birth of a Nation," passed through Dunedin last week, and reported excellent business throughout with the famous firm. ""The Birth of a Nation" will be shown at Invercargill for Christmas. Allen Doone loves New Zealand. Only recently he toured these parts, and returned to Sydney, where ho is concluding a season prior to another descent on the Dominion, tho tour of which is to last five months. Frank Kenny returns as manager. That well-known comedian and actormanager, George Willoughby, will pay New Zealand another visit after an absence of about six years. Ho will bring with him an entirely new musical faro? company, and the pieces to be produced are those wellknown farcical comedies, "What Happened to Jones" and "Why Smith Left Home." Mr Willoughby on this occasion will introduce a novelty very much in vogue now in England and America —namely, in interspersing his farces with the latest musical hits and dances. He has carefully selected his company for that purpose. The New Zealand season will commence at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on Saturday, January 13. Miss /Ivy Schilling, the Australian pantomime beauty dancer, who went to London shortly after tho war broke out, has been engaged to appear in Harry Lauder's revue at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Will Percy and Fred Leslie, who were associated with the Comic Opera Company in Australia, are also appearing in revue in London. A dispute between the principals of one of the largest vaudeville firms in London and the orchestras at seven London houses ended in the resignation of 180 male instrumentalists, whose places were taken by women.

Thai great French kinema comedian. Max Linder. is to appear on c again in pictures, after having served his country for two years in the war zone. 110 is now released from the French army, and lias been engaged by the Essanay Company at a salary of'£lsoo per week. The appearance of a now play by the author of " Bunty Pulls the Strings" would be welcome, and it is good news to learn that during a stay at the pleasant mountain holiday resort of Knrmzawa, in the Far East, Mr Graham Moffatt completed a new four-act play dealing with Glasgow life. Mr William Greene, who has recently been touring -with the J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company in South Africa, is now in Sydney rehearsinnf with the New English Musical Comedy Company, with whom he is dostined to take Paul Piunkctt's

place. The newcomer is of a manly type, but in spite of this latter qualification, the doctors an South Africa declared him uniit for military service. Miss Enid -Bennett, an Australian ingenue, who appeared with Fred Niblo in a number of plays, and later went to America, is now at the Ince Kay-Bee studios. Mr Thos. " find," and proposes to star her in important productions. Miss Bennett before leaving Australia appeared with Mr Niblo in a film version of "Officer 666," a J. C. Williamson release.

After many efforts the aspiring singer had managed to get permission to give a trial performance at the local music-hall. The house was full, and he warbled in his sweetest tones. Suddenly a- hoarse voice came from the side of the stage: " Here, you come off!" ordered the stage manager. " Can't you see you're emptying the house?" " Er—l don't seem to be a success, then?" said the amateur timorously. " Success! Huh!" snorted the manager, angrily. "At clearing them out you're the most successful I ever met. Now, for goodness' sake go and sing outside and drive 'em in again." Frederick Ward, who came to Dunedin from London some years ago as private secretary to Sir James. Mills, and who afterwards became an actor and manager in Sydney, where ho took over the Little Theatre after Hugh Buckler had gone to the front, filed his schedule the other day. Examined before the registrar by the official asignee, Mr Ward said that his bankruptcy was caused through the withdrawal of capital and other matters in connection with a venture at the Little Theatre. He was 29 years of age, and some years ago came to New Zealand as private secretary to Sir James Mills, of the Union Steam Ship Co., at a salary of £2OO a year. Later on he came to Sydney, and secured an engagement with the J. C. Williamson Co. (Ltd.) as an actor. He had previously appeared in London. His salary with the J. C. Williamson Co. was £5 per week, and for 22 weeks he appeared in "Madame X." He had also appeared with the late Lewis Waller. Subsequently he became attached to the Country Amusements (Ltd.), as a producer at £7 per week. He next followed the profession of a teacher of elocution and dramatic art at Castloreagh street, Sydney, and later took a lease of the Little Theatre from Mrs Foster Turner for three months at £25 per week. He produced several pieces, including " Victory" and "The Second Mrs Tanqueray." He carried on for over two months. He had no money of his own for the venture, and he negotiated with Sister Veni Cooper Mathieson. She was a metaphysician, and the head of the Universal Church in Australia. She was the principal of the New Thought movement in Australia. A pupil of witness's, who was associated with her, brought under his notice the play " Victory,' by Dv Julia Seaton. He produced the play. He told Sister Cooper Mathieson he was willing to produce high-class plays at the Little Theatre if sufficient capital were forthcoming. He said £SOO would be necessary. She said the money could bo obtained. He took a lease of the theatre for three months. He had hoard of the Home of Truth at Paddington. and believed it to be still in existence. The further hearing was adjourned.