THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 46

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Uy P'AHQUXIf. Tuesday, September 11. The English comedienne, Ada Reeve, who was to have commenced a New Zealand tour at Wellington on the first of the month, but whose tour was diverted to opening at Auckland, arrived with her full retinue last week-end, and to-night Cluesday) opens her season at His Majesty s, which lias been redecorated and transformed beyond belief. Ada Reeve is supported by a strong company, and her trip through the Dominion promises to be something in the nature of a triumphal procession. Ah woe is me and bitter woe! I have just received a copy of the amended tour of New Zealand for Miss Ada Reeve, and Dunedin is not even mentioned. In the original itinerary (upset by the lack of transport) Dunedin was arranged for—indeed, Ada Reve and Co. would, had all been well, been on the eve of arrival here: but in the new tour we are being treated like Taihape and Invercargill! I don't know who is responsible for the revised arrangement, but the blood of disappointed Dunedin playgoers be on his, her, or their head. It may be that when Ada Reeve learns of the disappointment in Dunedin she will, like the good heart of her when she heard of the illness of the Australian soldier, Spud Murphy, make a special trip 1 In the meantime we have the pictures, vaudeville, and

•"The Dandies." There are three revue companies appearing on the Fuller circuit in New Zealand at°the present time—Bates's Revue Company, at the Princess, Dunedin; Johnsons Revue Company, Christchurch; and Paul Stanhope's Revue, Wellington. One of the " Very Good Eddio people (who arc at present "held up" in New Zealand), writing me the other day from Wellington, states that there was some rejoicing in the chorus at the prospect of an early return to Sydney, a boat bemg due to sail from a northern port this week. As the strike has ended there will be no further anxiety in the ranks of the " Good Eddies," who will now be able to return by the outgoing boat. Miss Helen Card ncr, 01 this city, who has been engaged to play Bottma m the Wellington Society's production of the charming opera, "La Maeeotte," this month, left for Wellington last week-end to take part in the final rehearsals. Air Tom Pollard, who is to coach and stage manage the production, is also in Wellington, and will start the final rehearsals immediately. When the Pollard Opera Co. staged •" La Mascotto" in the old days it was eure of a welcome, for it was one of the most attractive and tuneful operas in the extensive Pollard repertoire. Mr John Hopkins (who is not a stranger to Dunedin) dropped in last week to say that he had made arrangements for a brief visit of "The Dandies," opening at His Majesty's on Thursday. For this relief much thanks. We were wondering wba* would become of us with the isolation from all the good things. "The Dandies" have come to the rescue, and there is need for gratitude. By the way, there are one or two old friends in "The Dandies" who will be welcome with the newcomers. Going away from home for news, one learns from the Boston Globe that Rupert Dan-ell, the well-known pantomime knockabout comedian, served nine months in the trenches in Egypt, and received an honourable discharge as unlit for further service because of injuries. Ho has returned to vaudeville, and is appearing with Isabel D'Armond in an act at the Boston Theatre. Rupert Darrell is well known in New Zealand as the utility man of many pantomimes, while Isabel D'Armond will be remembered with the first Tivoli Follies Co. It was on the cards when Maud Fane signed on under the Williamson management that she was destined sooner or later to bo the leading lady of the Musical Comedy Co. She was wasted in pantomime, and had to play second to Dorothy Brunton in recent musical comedy productions; but with the departure of Dot Brunton for America this month Maud Fano succeeds as leading lady of the English Musical Comedy Co. now in Sydney. Passengers by the same boat which landed Ada Reeve and patty at Auckland last weekend were the Cherniavsky Trio, who gave a " farewell" recital at Auckland last night prior to their proceeding to America. In the new Majestic Theatre, recently opened in Sydney by the Fuller Proprietary, the management introduces an innovation for Australia in tho matter of seating

arrangements, by which every seat in the auditorium is numbered. The patron buys at the ticket box tho number entitling him to a seat, and that seat is available lor him, no matter how late ho comes. Sarah Bernhardt, undismayed by her age and physical infirmities, contemplates making a 40 weeks' tour in tho United States this season. The tour is to be under the management of William F. Connor, who planned to begin with a two weeks' engagement at tho Knickerbocker Theatre, .New York, on September 1. Madame Bernhardt intended to appear in scenes from her successful playe. At tho Magistrate's Court at Wellington Duncan Neven, representative of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., was charged with having caused to be inserted in the Evening Post of July 16, 1917, an advertisement of the cinematograph picture "Intolerance," whereby that newspaper became an indecent document. Defendant said tho advertisements were inserted to refute remarks of Dunedin clergymen which ho thought were unfair and unjustified, and also as a challenge to the public to judge the matter for themselves. The [Magistrate reserved his decision.

The German Imperial Clothing Commission, which now rations apparel .for men, women, and children, has declared war on actresses' stage wardrobes. It decrees that they must not order new gowns, lingerie, millinery, shoes, and stockings for every new part. They must wear out their clothes like ordinary mortals and not shrink from wearing the same costumes in more than one piece. A certain latitude will be allowed, owing to professional traditions and public expectations, but tho lavishness of tho past will no longer be tolerated. "It's a bit stuffy—won't you open the window for a bit?" These were Sir Herbert Tree's last words, addressed to his nurse in a West End home less than ten seconds before he passed away. The nurse complied. When she turned round to ask if the air was more to his liking, she discovered, to her horror, that he had fallen back upon his pillow, peacefully, dead. Operated on on June 21, Sir Herbert was well on the road to complete recovery when heart failure overtook him. This was in no respect connected with the accident to his knee or the treatment which had been invoked' to heal it. He had just had his dinner and was in splendid spirits. His medical adviser had taken leave of him at tea-time and had not intended to return to see him for another day or two. The operation was completely successful, and both pulse and temperature remained, if anything, better than normal. At no period of tho intervening 12 days had Sir Herbert suffered from anything in tho nature of temperature or fever. The late Beerbohm Tree, whose death occurred recently in England, was never word perfect on the opening night, and he is even credited with occasionally forgetting what particular character he was playing. While holding a levee in his dressing room he startled his guests by turning to his dresser with the inquiry: "What am I playing to-night?" The Gonsalez Grand Opera Company gave its final performance in Sydney—for a time at August 4. The Gonsalez Company proposes to rest in Sydney for three weeks, and then tour the various provincial centre's before revisiting the Philippines and Eastern capitals. They retain Signors Scamuzzi, Dagradi, Belloni, Cacialli, and Foli (manager), and all their lady principals, as well as the chorus; and meanwhile they will secure other artists in Italy for Sydney and Melbourne seasons beginning about next May. Messrs Ben and J. Fuller are also considering an Italian season for next year, and have empowered Count Filippini to engage artists. That baritone will be associated with the principal tenore, Messrs Cappelli and Balboni, and he is now cabling to his agents in Italy. He will shortly leave for America and Italy to engage two sopranos, two 'mezzos, a contralto, two baritones, and a basso. The war will obviously make negotiations difficult. The Fullers will star Signor Cappelli in concerts.