THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 52

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

_ Tuesday, April 24. Somo time since it was mentioned that the Fullers threatened seriously to outrival in point of attractions any other firm in A ustralasia, and in proof thereof were quoted tho numerous interests the Fullers had established in Australia and New Zealand. Not only has this firm a vaudeville circuit, which embraces every playable town in the two countries, but it has vaudeville interests in India ; South Africa, and the East. And if this were not enough, the Fullers spccuato in grand opera, Shakesperean drama, musical comedy and pantomime. Next we shall hear of this enterprising firm bringing out a big musical star. Anything is possible for the Fullers these days. At present, in addition to the vaudeville attractions in every city in Australia and Now Zealand, they have the Italian Grand Opera Co. in Adelaide, Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Co. in Sydney, " The Bunyip " Pantomime Co. in Melbourne, and a dramatic company in the same city. Of revue companies playing under the Fuller management there is no end, and the best of those is Johnson's Revue Co., now in its third week at tho Princess Theatre in this city. For wealth of sconery and wealth of girl, which make all revues possible, Johnson's has no rival on the Fuller circuit in Australasia.

The numerous Fuller companies recently played a game of "general post." A special tram loft Sydney on Easter Sunday for Melbourne, carrying members of the "Bunyip " Pantomime Company to Melbourne, and performers of the La Blanc Travesty Stars, en route to Adelaide from Auckland. The Johnson Musical Comedy Company jumped from Brisbane to Dunedin. and the " Follies of Pleasure " from Adelaide to Brisbane. Early in the week a dramatic company, headed by Harrington Reynolds, sailed from Sydney to Hobarfc, and an entirely new vaudeville company left for Perth. On Good Friday the Gonzales Opera Company quitted Melbourne for Adelaide, and practically complete changes wore made in every one of the 26 theatres which played Fuller vaudeville on Easter Monday night. The only shows which did not travel were tlic stock dramatic company of the Melbourne Palace Theatre and the Victor Prince Company at Auckland. If coming events really do cast their shadows before, and Bob Groisr is as I knew him some years ago when ho first came to New Zealand, there can be no doubt of tho substance. The_ genial and breezy comedian, together with his charming wife (Miss Beatrice Holloway) will be welcome as much for themselves as for the attractions they will present during their brief visit to Duncdin. The season opens a day earlier than originally intended—Tuesday, May 1, instead of Wednesday, May 2 —at His Majesty's with the mystery play, "Seven Keys to Baldpate." Mr Robert WUliam-

son, the touring manager, has already made our hoardings more picturesque by his poster display. Two important Williamson attractions will arrive in New Zealand, train and steamer facilities permitting, in June. The pantomime, "The House That Jack Built," will commence a New Zealand tour at Auckland, and -'Daddy Long Legs." with Charles Waldron and Kathleen O'Donell in the leads, wiil open in Wellington. The curtailed railway and steamer service caused touring theatrical managers considerable anxiety concerning the transport of their companies to various parts of the Dominion. The Florence Rockwell Co.'s visit, to Dunedin has, I hear, been cancolled, owing to the restricted running of trains and steamers, and the risk of delay in returning to Sydney. Now that the strike is over, the risk has been minimised, and arrangements may yet bo made for a visit from this company. Miss Hilda Dorrinaton, who toured NewZealand with the "Within the Law" Company, managed by Lionel Walsh, was sent to India, recently as lead in a dramatic company, and made a big success. She is now on her way to America, an actress of reputation. Stars are really made in a night. I have it on the word of a good Australian that Messrs J. and N. Tait have netted a huso sum over "Peg o' My Heart." which is iust completing its Australasian tour. The figures are 60 large that I hesitate to print them for fear of unbelief; but with "Peg o' My Heart" anything is possible. Mr Walter Monk, one time on the road for the Williamson firm, and Hugh Ward, when that, worthv was in management, but who for the past'five years has been in the picture business in Wellington, is leaving to take over the management of the Royal Film Exchange, a branch of the Co-opera-tive ' Film Exchange, with headquarters m Australia,. Miss Thelma Raye. who was through New Zealand a short while ago with the Tivoli Follies and who cmrie out under engagement to J. C. W'Hiamson. was recently married in Svdnev to Private P<n-cy Dawson, of the well-known jewellery firm. When Private Dawson leaves for thf front his wife will rejoin the Tivoli Follies. J. and N. Tait announce that they have re-engaged Evelyn Scotney, the renowned. Australian soprano, and Howard White, the eminent American basso, for another tour of Australia, commencing in Melbourne or Sydney early in .Tuly. Tho brilliant pair are leaving America in June, and it is their intention to sing in all the Australian capital cities, and probably later on spend some weeks in New Zealand. Maurice Farkoa, whose death is so widely deplored, was something more than a singer of ditties. He was a leader of fashion. It was ho who introduced on the stage black silk knee-breeches for evening wear: _lt was his inspiration which confirmed King Edward in his personal predilection for this garb, and inclined him to make it etiquette for his private parties. Farkoa also wore red evening tail coats, and King Edward actually had one made, but found that the colour was not satisfactory *for a man of his proportions. Andrew Higginson is glad to _bo back again in Australia, where conditions of theatrical work leave the artist a good deal of time for his private pursuits. W T 'hen ho first wont to the United States ho secured an engagement in vaudeville; but tho system of having four shows a day, including Sundays, was too trying after his England and Australian- experience, so he took the first opportunity to secure another engagement. After that he was heard in "Sari," a musical comedy under Colonel Richard Savage's management, and later played in "Porn Pom," a great Broadway success. He was also in the pictures, appearing in a film version of "Robinson Crusoe"; but just, before coming to Australia he was back in musical comedy in a piece called "The Amber Princess," at the New York Globe.

' 'SEVEN JKEYB. TO B ALDPATE," The first production by tho J. C. Williamson Farce-comedy Company is an American story dramatised by Mr George M. Cohan, from tho novel of the same name, written by Earl Dorr Biggers. The cast is a lengthy one, and includes amongst, its characters a novelist, a newspaper woman, a hermit, a woman blackmailer, a crooked politician, a millionaire railway president, and the chief of police. Those characters could bo dressed into many s-tories, all more or less hacknayod, but their placing in this piece is altogether original and unexpected. The scene of the play is a summer hotel on the top of a mountain in the depth of winter, which in itself is a place where unusual things might be expected to occur. Other features that would be likely to play a part in a hackneyed story also appeal- in the most novel form. They include a ghost a roll of notes worth 200,000d01, a murder, and a bet of 5000dol. These are the ingredients of the play, but it is the mix'ng of them rhat provides a first-class mystery. Mr Robert Greig, who has been entrusted with the New Zealand production, has taken every care to cram all tho thrills and laughter that the scrip affords into the three hours' stago traffic. Associated with Mr Greig will be Miss Beatrice Holloway and a carefully selected J. C Williamson cast.