THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3314, 19 September 1917, Page 46

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquin. Tuesday, September 18. Just on going to press I received a telegram from the manager of the Ada Reeve Company advising that it has been decided to visit Dunedin; but that dates have not yet been definitely arranged. Another ohange has been made in the New Zealand tour of Ada Reeve. The Auckland season was to have closed on Saturday, but owing to the success of the comedienne it has been extended, and closes this (Tuesday) evening. This has necessitated a rearrangement for . the southern tour, which now opens after Wcllir. gton on October 10 —the date upon which one fondly hopes Miss Reeve will open in Dunedin. Mr Percy Crawford, who was last here as manager of the " Tivoli Follies," has returned to New Zealand as business manager for the Ada Reeve Company's tour of New Zealand.

What it is to be popular. Walter Johnson's Rcvuo Co., on the occasion of their •'farewell" in Christchurch on Saturday night, were bombarded with bouquets and other floral tributes. Lydia Carne was specially singled out, and staggered off the stago under a veritable bower of flowers. The Revue Co. is at Auckland at present. This in reply to inquiring friends. In the course of an interview Mr Joliffc, the New Zealand censor of moving pictures, said that during the year 1952 pictures were examined, containing 4,433,660 ft. Of these 36 were absolutely turned down, and cuts ranging from 750 ft to 15ft made in ,227. I have been advised that the "English Pierrots" will not visit the South Island this tour, which has been so successful in the North Island. Mr' Victor Beck has, however, booked them for another tour in 1918, weather, war, and other circumstances permitting. Madam Charlene, the musician, is back ia Dunedin with her juggling husband, and now busy at the Princes Theatre. Since last here they have played their act through Africa, South America, the Continent, Britain, and lately tho_ U.S.A. Charlene travelled as an entertainer in Africa in the Boer war, and "made his towns" on occasions per armoured trains. Mr Hugh M'lntosh travelled across to Auckland last week to personally superintend the opening of Ada Reeve's tour in New Zealand. The opening, by the way, was something in the nature of a triumph so far as the English comedienne is concerned, Miss Roevo (whose first appearance in the Dominion it is)_ completely captivating the first-night audience by her artistry. It will be a thousand pities if Dunedin is not given the opportunity of seeing Miss Reeve, and certainly a thousand pities if Miss Reeve is not given the opportunity of seeing Dunedin! Perhaps this will move the management. Mrs Maesmore Morris, a well-known Australian beauty, and a picturesque actress in romantic drama, has just lost her husband, Mr Alfred Maesmore Morris, who died in Melbourne the other day. He was an interstate cricketer, and represented Victoria against New South Wales and South Australia in 1889; but an injury to an eye cut short his cricket career.

The "Royal Comic Opera Company, which recently revived "The Belle of New York" and "The Mikado" in Melbourne, sails shortly for New Zealand to undertake a tour with "The Pink Lady," "The Kinema Star," nnd "The Red Widow" as the loading attractions. Mr Robert Williamson arrived in Auckland the other day. and his presence suggests the early arrival of the Royal Comics. This company has not been to New Zealand for some time. Florence Young- is still the leading lady. Our old friend Ba.rrington Waters, who was manager at the King's Theatre for the Fullers, and who was subsequently promoted to manager in Perth, has recently been transferred to Melbourne as manager of the Palace Theatre. This is the latest, acauired property of the Fuller proprietary. When the mail left theri was a great run on "The Bad Girl of the Family." As Barry Waters, in -a brief note, says: "Doing wonderful business." And melodrama was supposed to be done with ! Under the direction _ of Ben and John Fuller Rignor Cappelli, the tenor of the Italian Opera Co., recently in Now Zealand, will shortly tour with a company, giving "scenes from the operas." The company will include iSignorinas Buss. Franeh, and Lois, and Fignors Lois, Barotini, Scamuzzi, and CaccialH.

The forthcoming production in Wellington of the oharming opera " La Mascotto " re-

calls the fact to old Pollard admirers that I the first Pollard company that visited Dunedin way back in the early nineties played •'-Mascotte " with the following cast: —Alt Stephens (Laurent), H. Quealy (Bocco), Lily Everitt (Bcttina), Edio Zeigler (Frittolini), Beryl Mackay (Pippo), and Lily Stephens (Fiametta). Now, after all these years, Tom Pollard is producing it in Wellington. Speaking of Pollards, I received an interesting letter tho other day from an old Pollard member, and I make no excuse for quoting from it. . , . "Fancy four of our old members have died within a few months—Fred Duval, in Auckland, Jack Thomas, our old mechanist, in West Melbourne, Alf Stephens, at tho front, and Eileen (Eily O'Sullivan) at Christchurch. Last week I met our Nellie Wilson. She has two fine littlo sons, and lives in Melbourne. Nellie looked eo well —just tho same. We hadn't seen one another for about 14 years, and, of course, our tongues did go. We wcro standing talking in Bourko street, and at last a policeman told us to move on. . . . You will bo surprised to learn that I am going out to India, China, and Japan with Edgar Warwick's Court Cards. lie is reorganising the company for the eastern tour, and will have a very strong littlo company. His wife, Maud Fano, is not coming with us; she remains with the firm; but Mr Warwick has secured two very clever Australian girls in her place. Wo leave in September for Hongkong, where- wo open first. I am to do the advance work."

Mr John Black, father of tho well-known Black Family of Musicians, writes mo from Sydney :—'-'Dear Pasquin,—Just a line to tell you that Nellie and Elsie have been engaged by Frederic Shipman to mako a tour of tho East, with a high-clasb musical and vaudeville organisation he is taking there. Tho ginls will do their musical turns, and Nellie is also musical director. They sail direct for Manilla, doing the Phillipine Island, China—possibly Japan l , Malay States, etc. Among other artists engaged are tho Le Grohs, Leonard Nelson, Fiedo Brothers, Hilda Felstead, and Kecly and Aldons, a pair of very clever dancers, now appearing at tho Tivoli, and there are others. The tour will last some six months or more."

Dorothy Brunton is not going to London to play lead in "So Long Lctty" after all. At least, not on this tour. The war has upset the debut in London proposition; but (and the fates are kind) an urgent cable sent by Oliver Morosco, one of New York's theatrical magnates, has caused the fair Dorothy and her devoted mother to pack up post haste for New York, where Dorothy is to play lead in a musical comedy "What Next?" Amid tears and lamentations Dorothy Brunton took farewell of Sydney the other day; but, prior to stepping on the boat, she dined with the gallery girls at Paris House. One cannot in staid Dunedin quite realise this actress worship by gallery girls in Sydney; but a party of them waited all night to be first in on Drothy Brunton's farewell!

Mrs E. J. Mulholland, formerly Katherino Major, an Auckland girl, is about to make her stage debut with Manager Freddy Shipman's company., which left Sydney recently for the China coast and the show places in between. Her husband, Dr Mulholland, wears khaki, and will presently proceed to the front. Meantime his wife, who takes the .name of Fern French for stage purposes, and who is a soprano of some brilliance, and a dainty dancer, will tour as far as Yokohama with' the company.