THE STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 46

THE STAGE.

Contributions from the Profession chronicling their inovements and doingd are invited. All communications to be addressed "Pasquin," Otago Witness Office.

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. . May 2 to May 7. —Williamson's Farce Comedy (Greig-Hollowoy). May 8 to May 11. —Williamson Comedy Company (Florence Rockwell). PRINCESS THEATRE. Fullers' Vaudeville Company. "Tho drama's laws the drama's patrons give, And those who live to please must please to lire."

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Fasqxjik. Tuesday, April 17. There is nothing nearer than May 2 for our next attraction at His Majesty's. On that date Williamson's Farce Comedy Co. with Bob Greig and his wife (Miss Beatrice .Holloway) in the leads, will commence a brief teason opening ,with the mystery comedy, " Seven Keys to Baldpate," which is claimed to be one of the cleverest plays ever written by the American authormanager, George M. Cohan. Other pieces that will bo staged during the season include " The Travelling Salesman" and "A Pari of Sixes." Meanwhile our leading Temple of Thespis is in darkness. Playgoers will have pleasant recollections of Mr Robert Greig's breezy personality when he toured New Zealand with Mr Htigh J. Ward's Comedy Company. Since then Mr Greig has made wonderful strides in his profession. Ho was selected by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) to tour South Africa in the roles created in Australasia by Mr Fred -Niblo, and tho success ho achieved can be gauged by the fact" that he was immediately engaged to present the same pieces in Australasia.

Miss Beatrice Holloway, who is leading lady of the J. 0. Williamson's (Ltd.) Farce Comedy Company, is the daughter of the well-known Australian actor-manager, Mr Charles Holloway, and niece of the famous English actor of the same name. Brought up in the atmosphere of the theatre, it was quite natural should adopt the stage as a profession, and few actresses of her age can claim to have played as many leading parts. Miss Holloway is considered to bo the _ best dressed in the profession in Australia. She says: " I never think of my dresses until" I have thoroughly absorbed my part; then, when you know your type, the rest is so easy." One of the most popular attractions to visit New Zealand this year will be the newly-organised company, playing "Daddy Long Legs," with Mir Charles Waldron and Miss Kathleen M'Donell in the leads. It is reported that it will visit us about July; but it will probably bo later in the year.

Jeromo Patrick, of this city, who is better known as A. J. Patrick, is getting on well in America. Following up his success in "Marie O'Dil " in New York, the young Dunedin actor is now leading juvenile to Frances Starr in "Little Boy Blue." The critics praise his work. Patrick made his first appearance on the stage, like so many others, in amateur opera at the Princess, and, having a taste for acting, followed it up. Going to London, ho had a trying experience, and, subsequently returning to Australia, did good work in a round of. parts, principally in romantic drama. His experience stood him in America, where, once he got in, he justified tho critics calling him an actor. Wallace Biwvnlow, the handsome baritono of the early Royal Comic Opera days, who returned to Australia some time ago after a long absence in America, has joine'd the Colours.

May Moore Duprez, the jolly American girl who toured iSew Zealand some yoars ago with a Harry Richards' Co., was, when the mail left, making her reappearance in London after her recent marriage. Tho following aro the dates for J. C. Williamson's Farce Comedy Company:— Wellington, April 7 to 21; Christchurch, April 23 to 23; Timaru, April 30; Oamaru, May 1; Dunedin, May 2 to 7; Masterton, May 9; Wanganui, May 10 and 11; Palmcrston, May 12; Hastings, May 14; Napier May 15 and 16; Gisborne, May 17 and 18; Auckland, May 21 and June 2. One in authority, and not as a scribe, writes me from Sydney anent theatrical doings: —"Tho chief interest of recent months has been the advent of J. and N. Tait's two new shows—' Very Good Eddie'' at tho Palace and ' Turn to the Right ' at tho King's in Melbourne. As usual, all the hardheads tipped failure for both shows, tho principal objection being the theatres. Well, opinions for onco were wrong. ' Eddie,' which, by the way, is a musical farce, is in its eighth week, and should do another threo, totalling a 10 or 11 weeks' war-time run. 'Turn to tho Right,' a comedy-drama, is in its sixth week. Of the J.C.W. shows ' Fair and Warmer' did a fair season at the Cri. It's a great comedy, and beautifully played. ' The Pink Lady' at Ills Majesty's is booming. ' Daddy Long Legs'—Charles Waldron and Kathleen M'Donoll in the leads —is drawing all Sydney. Mario Tempest opens in Mel-

bourne in ' The Marriage of Kitty.' This was done some years ago with Rose Musgrovo in the lead. Gaston Mcrvale is back as producer for Tail's Comedy Company. E VV. Morrison, who produced ' Withui the Law' and ' Peg o' My Heart,' is back in the same capacity with ' Daddy Long Tegs.' Andrew Higginson and Barry Lupino-lead tho male portion of the 'Very Good Eddie' Company. Lupino, by tho way, comes back with un enormous reputation, and lie qualifies. Ho does wonderii th^ lg ' s a . s Eddie. A new comedian, John Beck, is also a nice performer, with a style entirely new. Picturo business seems to jog along as of old. Another Grjffilhs's production, ' Intolerance,' is the chief attraction at the Royal. Tho Daylight Saving Act was distinctly bad for theatres—sunset at 9 p.m. We came back to standard time last week. The amusement tax seems to bo met with a fair amount of ' don't give a hang if it costs a quid ' sort of feeling. Theatre prices now resemble Anthony Hordern's bargain counter sale—late gallery, Is Id; ' early gallery, 2s 2d; stalls, 4s 4d; reserved stalls and circle, 6s 6d. Talking of prices, do you know that to book a seat for any J.C.W. or Tait theatre for any Saturday night cost.> 3s. It's simply marvellous how tho country stands it. "Here's one, and it's true: A certain Sydney manager cabled Geo. Bobey asking his terms for a tour of Australasia. His reply read as follows: 'Why this'idle curiosity?'" When Cyril Maude commences his Australian tour in June his first production will bo "Grumpy," in which he has made such a great success both in London and America. The J. C. Williamson firm intends seizing the opportunity, while they have this distinguished actor in the country, to do an elaborate production of " Tho Great Lover." Melbourne is to have the first production in Australia.of "London Pride," the war play, which, staged in London at Wyndham's Theatre, has taken the city by storm. It has already passed its eighth month. The scenes are laid in England and Franco. The hero is. a London coster, who enlists. ''London Pride" has the longest cast ever included in any production in Australia. There aro no fewer than 65 characters. Tho play will be produced in May at the Melbourne Theatre Royal by Charles St. John Denton, who was specially brought from London to stage it for J. C. Williamson (Ltd.). A cable from San Francisco states that Madame Melba gave a concert in the Auditorium for the benefit of the Allies' funds. The audience was the largest in the history of San Francisco. Madame Melba herself bought the first box at auction for £IOO. The proceeds totalled over £4OOO. A mysterious telephone message to tho effect that "something might happen" caused the Chief of Police to take extra precautions to guard tho Auditorium. It was believed that German sympathisers had planned an outrage, but the concert passed off without any untoward incident.

WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS.

Br Peteb Pan. April 13. Dear "Pasqin,"—lt was a packed, jambed holiday audience which greeted the Williamson Comedy Company at the Grand Opera House on Easter Saturday night, and Bob Grcig and his clever little, wife, Beatrice Holloway, had a great reception. The new play, "Sov'en Keys to Baldpate," proved a winner. It is a mystery-farce, and the "plot" is too good to give away. "Seven Keys" has run all the week to great business, and will foe succeeded to-morrow evening by "A Pair of Sixes," and later next week "The Travelling Salesman' 5 will bo produced. Old friend J. B. Atholwood is a member of the Greig—Holloway Company, and has a fine character part, out of which he sets the last ounce. Edwin Lester is another of the old brigade who gets a good chaneo in the comedy. ' John Hopkins is making arrangements for a winter tour of the Dominion of a specially-selected "Dandies*" Company. He expects the company to open at Auckland on May 17. ' "The English Pierrots," who will bo piloted by Victor Beck, will also winter in the Dominion, and Wellington will see their opening night on May 16. It is quite possible that Mademoiselle Antonia Dolores will miake a tour of the Dominion towards the end of the vear. Miss Beatrice Holloway has bought a great bisr Union Jack, and has presented it to the Returned Soldiers' Club. It is to bo autographed by the members, and will be offered at auction at the Opera House next Wednesday afternoon, when the members of the "Baldpate" Company will give an entertainment in aid the funds of the club. Yesterday afternoon the members of the oompany visited the hospital, and entertained the patients with song and story.

PRINCESS THEATRE.

The seating accommodation of the Princess Theatre was taxed to the utmost on the 16th, when the customarv change of programme was made. The entertainment must be voted one of the best provided at this zonular. place of amusement, and tho new bill of fare is calculated to satisfy the most avid and critical auditor. From the rise of the curtain till the finale tho audience was kept in a happy mood. Brull and Hcmsley in their clever burlesque, " The Knut, tho Girl, and the Esrg," were very good, the Brighton scene being extremely humorous. The Le Grohs, acrobats and contortionists, staged a turn that savoured of the wonderful, the contortions of one of tho trio being such as' to appear almost uncanny Both as a combination and individually they are marvellously clever. The second part of the programme was devoted to the second production by the Walter Johnson Musical Revue Company, entitled " Tho Kissing Maid." A lugubrious atmosphere is never associated with the Jewish character, and those who seek capital comedy entertainment of an extreme type are provided with such in this piece, which concerns tho life of one Ikey Umsky, athis chateau and estate at Dieppe. The various scenes were provocative of abundant humour. The catchy and tuneful songs and choruses fairly "caught on." Tho dancing throughout was artistic: in fact, tho wholo m'eco is so planned that nil the parts combine in a manner that makes it an entertainment which commands appreciation.