THE STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3276, 27 December 1916, Page 50

THE STAGE.

Oontrifc'dtions from the Profession ohrocloling their nrovementß and doings are invited. All communications to be addicisod "Pasquin," Otago Witneßß Office.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. December 26 to 30.—Lytton Dramatic Company. January.—Royal Dramatic Company. January 20 to 25.—J. C. "Williamson Comic Opera Co. March 8 to 20.—Italian Grand Opera Co. PRINCESS THEATRE. Fullers' Vaudeville Company. "Xho drama's laws the drama's patrons give, And those who live to please inutit please to live."

TUEATIUCAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By PAyquiN. TUESDAY, December 26. There was no performance at the Princess Theatre last evening. At tiie matinee today the popular \ictor Prince Company presented the pantomime "Robinson Crusoe." A great deal of preparation had been gone through to enable the pantomime to bo staged in a thoroughly artistic manner. On the actual performance side there can be no question of. its merit, as the members of Mr Prince's company have already demonstrated their versatility to Dunedin audiences.

Mr Lawrence Campbell, the well-known elocutionist, is to commence a tour of the Dominion at Wellington on January 9. He will present Mr U. J. Dennis's delightful character sketch ''The Sentimental Bloke." Mr Scott Colville will go on ahead. A welcome season of comedy will commence at His Majesty's Theatre to-night, when Mr Philip Lytton will present for the first time in Dunedin "Tho Waybacks—At Home and in Town." Dramatised from Henry Fletcher's delightfully humorous bush stories, the comedy-drama is rich in strong characterisation and local colour. Tho first act opens on the farm of Dad Wayback, and moves with rapidity from one farcical situation to another.

The popular French Canadian tenor Paul Dufaidt, concluded a short season of two nigh's at His Majesty's Theatre last week. M. Dufault made his first appearance in Dunedin in October of 1913, with tho Madame Nordica Company, and the artistic success ho then achieved was sufficient to guarantee him a warm welcome from Dunedin people on any future visits. With tho Madame Nordica Company was that great accompanist Romayno Simmins, probably the most accomplished artist in his particular metier ever seen on a local concert platform. M. Dufault returned to Dunedin in February, and again in April of 1914; he made another tour of the colonies, commencing, at Dunedin. in April, 1916; came back onco more in Juno of that year, and, as stated, has just concluded his sixth visit. A great temperamental artist with a beautiful voice.

Tho author of "A Pair of Silk Stockings," an English comedy that the Williamson management has secured for Australia, recently told a. London interviewer that he wrote the piece in a fit of temper at having his serious, plays refused production by theatrical managers. The venting of his temper in this way brought him £30,000 in royalties.

The principal girl for this year's Williamson pantomime will be Miss Gertrude Yates. Miss Yates was born in London, and has had some good pantomime experience. She has also played in musical comedy, in which class of entertainment her parts include Phyllis in "The Cinema Star." Lady Betty in '-The Pearl Girl," and Eileen in "Th'o Arcadians." Miss Yates's great grandfather, Fred Yates, acted with David Garrick, and was also owner of the Adelphi Theatre. Her last London part was that of Honoria Grundy in "My Lady Fravle," in which she was associated with Miss Irene Browne, who played lead. According to the New York Dramatic Mirror, Mrs Bob Fitzsimmons, wife of the former champion pugilist, has purchased a four-acre tract of land in a suburb of Portland (Oregon), and will convert the place into a homo for old actors and actresses. There is a house on the property. All sorts of modern conveniences will be installed, and tho homo will he opened shortly. It will bo operated under the supervision of the Pacific Coasf Protective Society. Mis* Daisy Jerome, who throughout her long visit_ to New Zeaalnd showed herself keenly alive to the sweet use of advertisement, is now back in the United States, where she is referred in the press .is "nn Australian actress. "The man-about-town" (says a recent San Francisco Chronicle) "got a shook yesterdnv that he won't yet over mit.il he rends this explanation of how it happened. Ho was loitering in ' Look 'em Over Lane,' as he calls Peacock Allev. In the St. Francis, when he saw a beautiful and petite youncr woman in earnest conversation with a largo coloured man who miehfc have been a twin of Jack Johnson. Suddenly he saw the girl plant a kiss on the phvsiognomv of the son of Ham. The girl was Miss Daisy Jerome, an Australian actress, who arrived here a few days ago. Day after yesterday she lost a diamond and sapphire brooch, set in platinum, worth

lOGOciol. Tho coloured man picked it up in the gutter of Powell street, traced the owner through a Chronicle 'Lost' ad., and returned it to Miss Jerome at tho hotel. He refused to accept a proffered reward for his pains, whereupon Miss Jerome presented him with the oscillatory salute hereinbefore clcscrihed."