THE STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 54

THE STAGE.

Oontrlhations from th« Profession chronicling their ntove-inentß and doings ore invited. All communications to be addressed "Pasquin," Otogo Witness C2fiee. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. January 20 to 25.—J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Co. February 15 to 26.—Italian Grand Opera Co. PRINCESS THEATRE. Fullers' Vaudeville Company, ■'The drama's laws (ho drama's patrons give, And thoso who live to please must please to live."

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Uj PAHQUIfJ. Tuesday, January 23. Of many excellent companies thai J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) has sent to New Zealand, the firm lias sent US nothing finer of its kind in years, than tho clever combination which is" at present at His Majesty's Theatre. Since the old days of the Royal Comic Opera, Co. there has not been assembled such an array of talent m a local theatre, nor have wo been treated to anything brighter, more sparkling, or more delightful in musical comedy than "So Long, Letty " and "'To-night's the Night," while of ''High Jinks," with which the season closes on Thursday, it is said by those who .have seen it that it surpasses the two previous productions. Success has not spoiled Dorothy Brunton. She is as unaffected and as natural and charming as she was when I first met her a little girl of sweet 16 with Bland Holt seven years ago. Since then her career has been meteoric. Dorothy Brunton has jumped into the forefront of comic opera artists, achieving in two or three years what others less favoured have striven golfer a stage lifetime, and never achieved. Now she is about to depart to sec for herself tho big artists in tho Old World. She is looking' forward to this part of her trip With all delight. Not so to the travelling. Dorothy Brunton confesses to being the worst sailor in the world—if there is a worst sailor.—and is dreading the ocean. " Do you know," she inquired anxiously the other night, " if it is possible to get through to Gisbornc from Napier by motor car? I do so dread the sea. that 1 am prepared to take that journey, bad as the roads are reported to be, by car fo avoid it. The very mention of the name of a steamer makes mc ill. Oh, I'm a dreadful sailor!" Mr Alfred Frith, who played the "lifesaver" in "So Long, Lefty" at His Majesty's Theatre, has had considerable experience as a comedian in comic opera and musical comedy. For some years he was principal comed-an in all the Bandmann productions in India and the Fast, from whence ho came direct to Australia to join the New Comic Opera Company. His wife has also played extensively in light opera in the East. " She is one of tho " Delectable Eight," the like of whom for beauty, charm, and grace Duiicdin vows she has never seen The young colonial actor seems to do well in 'America once he " gets in." There ara numerous instances of New Zealand and Australian actors who have gone to America within recent years and done well. The latest is Rupert Darrell, who has been associated with Williamson's pantomimes for several seasons. Darrell left for Ameiica n few months ago, and after 10 days in Chicago, spent in doing the sights and callin"- on the various agents, hi' was offered and accepted a part in "Peg o' My Heart." The next Williamson attraction to our New Zealand will be a specially-organised dramatic company to produce "Damaged Goods," which is fo commence a .Maoriland tour at Wellington on .February 5. Mr Lawrence Campbell, the Australian elocutionist, who has been in Dunedin doing "The Sentimental Bloke," together with Mr Scott Colville, business manager for Messrs J. and N. Tait. 1< ft for Christchurch by tho second expn %». on Monday. By arrangement with O. J. Dennis, (he composer, Mr Campbell is to give AG recitals of "The Sentimental Bloke" on the present tour. Ono would have thought that a city which claims soino recognition as a literary centre, and ylnVh has invariably shown' an appreciation of modern anil dramar.io wor!< vrruil.! not have failed to regpend to iho c<A\ of Mr Campbell and "Tha (Sentimental Bloke." Tho majority of people have read the hook, and Mr CamphoH'a ability as an elocutionist was not unknown : therefore it was strange that th« .»,!•.lso.'i here was only fairly good, and not. nn might reasonably have,been expoolcd. excellent. Music-lovers will be afforded a special treat at His Majesty's on_ Friday and Sattudav. when M. Max Selinsky, an eminent Russian violinist, and _ Mr John Amadio, the well-known Australian flautist, will give recitals, assisted by Miss- Elsy Troweck (soprano) and Miss Jessie Masson (pianist). Barry Lupino, who has been engaged bv Messrs J. and N. Tait for "Very Good Eddie," fo be staged for the first Lime in Australasia in Sydney on the 10th ult., will he seen in one of his happiest bits of characterisation. Andrew Higginson will also have a good part, and Lilian Tucker

a popular New York actress, who made a success in the American farce comedy, "Nobody Home," has been specially engaged for on.; of Ihe foremost fiiiiinnio roles in the cist. Although "J he [Cinema Star" his settled down to u run in Sydney, the .J. V. Williamson management. i.-> looking ahead. There is mention of "The i'ink Lady," al a future date. This musical production, the composer of which is Ivan Caryli, was ono of the big London sttccisscs of a few years ago. The author and composer, however, have only recently been induced to sell the Australasian rights, which the big management promptly secured for its musi-cal-comedy patrons. Mr Paul Dufault left Sydney last week for a long tour of the East. Miss Pauline Bindley, who has considered /offers for comic opera, signed on with the party, which will otherwise include only a pianist. Opening at Sourabaya (Java), Batavia will also bo visited, followed by Singapore, and then by Saigon, a French possession, where, there is a replica of fhc Paris Opera House in miniature. Hongkong, Shanghai, Manila, and then various places ill Japan Will be visited, and from Yokohama the. party will ship for Honolulu, and tie nee to America. It is possible that the Shipman direction may extend the Dufault plans into a modilied world's tour. "An English girl with Irish eyes, of English parents, but born in America," is how Florence Rockwell has been described. Miss Rockwell is reminiscent of Miss Maud Jeffrics when siie appeared with Wilson Barrett in Australia. Miss Rockwell had already been seen in Australia prior to appearing in real drama on tho films. She will be remembered for her fine acting in " Body and Soul" and " She Fell in Love With Her Husband." At His Majesty's Theatre, commencing on February 15, Ben Fuller and John Fuller will introduce the 'Gonsalez Italian Grand Opera Company, which, since its arrival from Italy, has given 78 performances in Melbourne, ami over 100 in Sydney. The principals of tho company are Signorini Erncstina Gonsalcz and Teresina Visoni (sopranos), Signora Russ, Signori Piccolo, Franehi, Cappelli, Vittorio _ Lois, Balboni, and Dagrandi (tenors), Signori Vichffe, Scamuzzi, Belloni, Barontini, and Count Hercules, Filippini (baritones), Signori Guido Cacialli, Pasquale Pctrucei, Mosca (basso), and Signori Padavoni, Ccasaroni, Borghcsi. Tho season will include 14 of the operas which have proved most popular in Melbourne and Sydney. The opening production will be "11 Trovatorc," with S.gnoBettino Cappelli as Maurice. If has been said that no tenor has yet appeared in Australia so brilliant as Cappelli; whilst in Scamuzzi and Filippini the Gonsalez have two dramatic baritones of great power. Signer Balboni, who will appear in "1 Pagliacci," excels both as actor and. singer. The tenors, Dagradi and Lois, have youth and appearance on their side, and tho.r singing has placed them high in the regard of music lovers. To present 14 grand operas in 17 nights is a musical task approaching the remarkable. For tho purpose it requires three separate companies of principal artists, which it is said this enterprising organisation possesses. An undertaking of more than ordinary magnitude is the programme offered for the first five nights, comprising "II Trovatorc," "La Traviata," "Cavalleria Rusticana," "I Pagliacci." and ' Faust." The musical directors are the famous brothers —Giovanni and Ernesto Gonsalez,—who will have under them an orchestra of no fewer than 30 instruments. Altogether it would appear that in tho coming of tho Gonsalez Company a musical treat of rare quality and quantity may bo confidently anticipated. For the last six nights arc promised "Madam Butterfly," Rigoletto," "Mignon/ "Carmen," and "Lucia di Lammcrmoor." Mr Shiel Barry, a well-known English actor, was killed in action the other week. He was ono of the most promising of London actors, having inherited a faculty for weird characterisation from his father, the late Shiel Barry, who played the Miser in " Les Cloches do Corneville" more than 3000 times. Although Mr Barry was only in his thirty-fourth year, his experience of the stage was exceptionally long and varied. Beginning at 15 as a call-boy at the Lyceum, he "made his debut two years later at a leading theatre in Berlin with ForbesRobertson's company. For several years ho acted with Lewis Waller and Sir Herbert Tree, and he made a hit with Sir George Alexander as the uncanny Egyptian in " Bella Donna." WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. Br Peter Pan. January 19. Dear "Pasquin," —Philip Lytton's Comnany is playing a short season at tho Grand Opera House "this week, and "The Waybacks" has hit the public good and hard, for the big theatre has been filled every evening. The only fly in the ointment is that previous bookings will not allow of an extension of the season. It has not yet been decided whether the Fuller pantomime, "The Bunyip," will come across to New Zealand. Mr Walter Fuller expects to hear from Brother Ben in a week or two. If the panto does come along, it will be staged in tho Fuller houses. Clarice Buokman, sister of Rosina. who is st.adilv climbing the ladder of fame in London, leaves for England shortly to complete her musical training. At Fuller's this week iiiere is a remarkable boy soprano, Newman, who hails from Auckland. Tho youngster has a sweet voice, and is one of tho big attractions on the bill. Leonard Nelson is going as strong as ever, and emphasises that old aunt, that there are no songs like the old songs. The public does not seem to weary of Leonard, and he goes big every night. The Royal Dramatic and Comedy Company is due back next week, when they will present ''Sunday." "the Fortune Hunter," and 'Are You a Mason?" COMIC OPERA SEASON. On Saturday night Williamson's English Musical Comedy Company opened its season at Mis Majesty's Theatre in "So Long, Letty." the libretto being supplied by Oliver Morosco and Elmer Harris, and the music by Earl Carroll. " So Long, Letty " is certainly very entertaining and very amusing, contains a great deal of sparkling music that is by no means indifferently ating and that cannot fail to be attractive; and is very well acted, and splendidly mounted and costumed. The possibilities for comedy are great, and no one could suggest that Miss Dorothy Brunton (Letty), Miss Connie Ediss (Grace), Mr ('has. 11. Workman (Tommy), and Mr Field Fisher (Harry) omitted to take £nl] advantage of them. To use a remark

passed by one of the audience, ''They were screamingly l;nmy." ihese lour characters me cicvcrh urawn, two totally different typ.-s of men iii.il woni ;: being sirongiy contrasted. Ihe oilier c-li.-r.ift-.rs, ol v.iiom there ;tr<• several, are mainly lor tilling m purposis. .fudging by the g.ncial siyle oi the ni'.is c ii a:.p ai\- to In- mod 11- '1 on American ideas ot melody. I'he,e i.- a U\qtu-ut tendency towards lagnme, and in o;ie oi- two iii.staiu.-es il is fully developed. MR LAWRENCE CAMPBELL'S RECiTALS. ilr Lawrence Campbell, who paid a visit to Dunedhi some years ago, ga\e ii:s open;l'-:. ■'• ' !'i on tiit- 17th in Burns liali, and revived and added to the favourable impression he created when last here. lie selected for his recital "The Sentimental Bloke," written by 0. J. Dennis, read by many and enjoyed by all. The work was given very fully, such curtailment as was made in no way interfering with the completeness oi tin- storv liiil na.s to tell, in one respect '•The Sentimental Bloke" presents a difficulty from an elocutionary point of view, and that is it is Bill speaking during the whole of the two hours, and there is therefore no opportunity of breaking away from the one peculiar personality and stylo of diction. Mr Uampbeij overcame the difficulty remarkably well, but it was impossible to completely avoid a certain d> grec of sameness creeping into the recital, 'i hat, however, was not apparent until the evening was well advanced, and at no time was it at all prominent. That he made hk- recital interesting, amusing, and wholly entertaining there is no question. Bill in his hands was made an entity, had a real existence for those present, and his ideas and conclusions, shrewdly, if sentimentally, formed and quaintlv expressed, were enunciated with telling effect in Bill's own peculiar vernacular. PRJNCESS THEATRE. It is almost unnecessary to state that tho new programme presented at the Princess Theatre on the 22nd inst. wns of an entirely enjoyable nature, and that the audience was quite as demonstrative as usual. The items were strictly vaudeville, and extremely varied. The public has become so accustomed to a good orchestra at the Princess that its contribution to the success of tho evening is scarcely recognised to the full. Mr F. 11. Stokes and the instrumentalists associated with him certainly deserve a word of commendation for the work. Miss Marjorie Alwynne, who finishes her Uunedm engagement thus week, is a capable balladist, and was especially successful in pleasing the audience with her rendering of "My Aiu Folk." Mr Early and Miss Laight revived the very amusing sketch "On the Water Wagon " by special request, and it proved as mirth-provoking as ever. The two Dcvons made their first bow to a Dunedin audience, and their success was instantaneous. Dura and Judge, who also made their first appearance, are acrobats of exceptional ability. They introduced their turn with a song on comedy lines, engaged in some amusing patter, and then astonished the spectators with some remarkably clever acrobatic feats, head balancing being chief among them. Billy Mann has been appear? ing here for some little time. lie is a minstrel of the comic order, and gave many new songs. Mr Harry Leeds and Miss Trixic Lemar were included among the newcomers, and presented a turn that was full of "go." Matters were very brisk while tho two occupied the stage. They introduced some rew "business " and plenty of new gags. Miss Dorothy Harris has already made her mark here as a vaudeville entertainer, and added to her previous numerous successes. The two Belgian musicians supplied vocal and instrumental selections quite artistically, and by their performance made it clear that they are cultivated to no ordinary degree in "the art of music. The programme concluded with the comedy "Also Ban,'* m which Mr Blake and Miss Granby appeared.