THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 46

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pasquih. Tuesday, February 12. The event of the week will bo the appearance at His Majesty's Theatre on Thursday night of J. C. Williamson's new Musical Comedy Company in a four-night season. '•You're in Love" will be- the opening piece, ancj it will be placed for two nights. On Saturday night "Canary Cottage" will be staged, and on Monday night a unique experience will be offered, as it were, to Duned'in playgoers.- On that evening too first performance in Australasia of " lhe Only Girl "—a new three-act musical comedy that is just now the rage of New York anu London—will be given in Dunedin 1 The Haverly Revue Company is having a wonderfully successful season at the Princess Theatre, and several times during the week there has been standing room only. An additional attraction at the popular vaudeville house is the the musical trio—Laurie Kennedy ('cellist), Lance Kennedy (Hautitt), and Dot Adelle (pianist). Each of the performers is a musical artist, and they are responsible for some beautiful music. : -

Many present-day playgoers may -not Know that J. C Bain, who has been assisting his daughter Verna, the graceful young danseuse, in her turn at the Princess Theatre, was some 15 to 20 years ago one of tho most popular character comedians on the Australasian stage. About 12 years ago J. Q. Bain crossed the footlights to assume managerial responsibilities. He has, however, again donned his theatrical armour to storm an audience, since his daughter Verna has been garnering kudos and winning nigh opinions as a young premiere danscuso destined to achieve prominence amongst; the stars of tho theatrical world. Little .Verna features the Geneo style of dancing. _ After appearing in the four centres Mr Bain and his daughter Verna are to show in some of the small towns in conjunction with pictures, prior to their departure for America ?nd England. Verna lias buon booked to appear in London. Mdlle Antonia Dolores is. giving concerts in Tasmania. '•'Excuse Mel" an American farce, is being made into n musical comedy, entitled "Toot! Toot I" Not to be outdone, a rival theatrical firm announce that they ere producing an entertainment to be called 1 Tut! Tut!" Joseph Blaschek, tho well-known monolognist. will probably bo touring New Zealand shortly. Alyco Austin will-assist him irr his entertainments. "Turn to the Right" looks like rivalling "Peg o' My Heart." It has completed 12 months playing in Australia, while in Sydney the one hundredth perform - anco at tho Palace took place last month, and was ceicbratrd as a souvenir night! This has been a well-merited success for tho enterprising- firm of Taits. "A Little Bit of Fluff" was played for tho thousandth time at the London Criterion on December 12. Long runs are by no means '.ncommon nowadays, but the continuous run of Mr Ellis's farc-e has beer, exceeded by that cf three other popular plays--" Charley's Aunt," 1466 performances; "Our Boys." 1.562; "A Chinese Honeymoon," 1075. "A Little Bit of Fluff," however, bids fair to outdistanco its predecessors. Tho report of the Theatre Royal, Drury lane,, London, for tho year ended Juno 20 show's that operations resulted in a loss of £5901, to meet, which £SOOO has been taken from the reserve account. After allowing for £283, brought forward, a debit balance of £61 l 3 is carircd forward A New York cablegram to London in December announces the death of Oscar Lewisohn, the husband of Edna May, following an operation for intestinal trouble. Doceasod was only 32 year 3 of ago. Ho was ths son of America's "Copper King," Leonard "Lewis ohn, who left a fortune of five million pounds to be divided among his nino children When tho engagement was announced Miss May made it cjear that her fiance's fortune had not influenced hei choice. Mr W. H. Kendal, the well-known English actor, died in Ijondon on November 7 at the ago of 74-. He commenced his stage career at tho Soho Theatre (now the Royalty), London, at the age of_ 18, the stock oompany at that period including Ellen Terry and David James. _ He appeared as Louis XIV in "A Life's Re-

vengc. ' lie later became the leading juvenile in Buckstone's company at the iiaymarket, and among the parts he played were Komeo, Orlando, diaries iSurlace. In Ibb9 he married Madge Robertson, sister of T. VV. Robertson,, the dramatist, and alter 1875 Mr and Mrs Kendal acted consistently together. In 1876 he joined the liancroit Company at the old Prince of Wales's Theatre, and in 1879 he began his joint management with Sir John Hare of the St. James's Theatre, which lasted till 1888. Soon after this Mr and Mrs Kendal began a succession of American and provincial tours, which kept them for long periods away from London. Mr Kendal practically retired from the stage a few years ago. . The theatrical amalgamation rumour has again been revived (says Sydney Sun).__lt is freely bruited about that there is a scn«me suggested for the amalgamation of the theatrical enterprises of J. O. Williamson (Ltd.), the Harry Rickards circuits, and the Fuller circuits. Colour has been lent to the rumour by the interchange of prominent artists between the J. O. Williamson and Rickards companies. Several theatrical representatives were interviewed on the subject by the Sun. The representative oi tho J. O. Williamson companies declared there was not the remotest foundation for such a rumour in so far as J. C Williamson (Ltd.) were concerned. He was of the opinion that tho interchange of artists had given rise to the current story, and explained that such interchange was due to tho fact that many of these artists could not get back to England and America owing to war conditions, and had been employed by Australian managers who had not originally engaged them. Aa Winnie Brooke, widow, Miss Ada Reeve received a very : gratifying welcome on her reappearance at the Melbourne Tivoli. „ ittmi >» The Japanese fairy play, The Willow, with Miss Kathlene M'Donell. in the star part of the Willow Princess, did not catch on at Sydney, and the production came to a somowhat sensational close by the lady somewhat abruptly leaving the stage because of a giggle among the audience, followed after a few moments of irrcsolution by Mr Waldron, the hero of the story, and then curtain was"-slowly lowered. The giggle was due to the name of Nogo, the Faithful and devoted. The heroine, in reply to a question, commenced to. say, " I was Nogo," when the giggle became pronounced. The part of tho heroine offered little scope either for power or vivacity.