THE STAGE. THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 52

THE STAGE.

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

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

PRINCESS THEATRE. Fullers' Vaudeville Co., nightly. "The flrnma'e laws the drama'i putroni |lt», Xai those who li-re to please must please te litc" .-,

By Pasqoim

Tuesday, January 21, 1919. Lance-corporal Stanley Wright, a son of Mr Duncan Wright, of this city, returned from the war in Ulimaroa about tour weeks ago. Lance-corporal Wright left New Zealand with the Seventh Reinforcements, and saw much active service till he was wounded in the leg last June. Prior to leaving New Zealand Mr Wright contributed theatrical notes from P aimerston North to the Otago Witness under the nom de plume of "Onlooker,'-' and in a brief interview gave " Pasquin" some particulars of people well known in the theatrical world in New Zealand. Mr Jack Webley, basso, of the old troubadours the Red Dandies, alao came back in the Ulimaroa, being turned down when his particular reinforcement reached England. Mr Webley is now being treated at the Cambridge Sanatorium. Mr Wright waxed enthusiastic when speaking of the Kiwis, the New Zealand divisional entertainers. The Kiwis are under the supervision of Mr Shale Gardner, who used to bo with Williamson's. The well-known young Dunedin basso, Mr Bert Green, and Sergeant W. E. M'Kinley (tenor) are leading members of the company. The Kiwis Company was formed by Mr David Kenny, an accomplished pianist of Wellington, who died in England of appendicitis, and Mr Garden then took over the control. As showing the strength of the company, it need only be - said that it has an orchestra .of 32 players. The Kiwis played in Paris for a week, and profits, after paying the heavy expenses, came to the satisfactory sum of 2000 francs. All the clear money from the performances goes to the division, and is used to purchase extra rations for "the boys." The soldiers pay half a franc (about sd) for admittance to their popular entertainers, and the officers one franc. They show at the base and when the New Zealanders are out of the line. Most of the entertainers are carrying one "wounded" stripe and some two. They showed in London at the Aldwich Theatre to great business. This theatre is run by the Australian Y.M.C.A. and was leased to the Kiwis. Lance-corporal Wright - says the famous Gunner Nelson —the female impersonator in the Kiwis—is a rare artist, whose make-up is really wonderful. He relates how two Australian soldiers on one occasion, after seeing Gunner Nelson in his (or her) part, had quite an excited argument whether he was not really a girl. The climax was reached when they manoeuvred to get round to the side door after the performance to make "her" acquaintance. At the base some really good picture shows are put on by the Y.M.C.A. and the Salvation Army. Lance-corporal Wright saw Mr Will Percy in Glasgow, and had a talk with him over old times. In London he went to see Miss Dorothy Brunton and Miss Ivy in "Shanghai." He also saw other artists who are known to New Zealand people by name only. With some of them he was not very greatly impressed. Comedian Fred Bluett has a son 16 years of age, who is appearing at present in Sydney in the J.C.W. revue " Hello, Everybody." How the years fly. It seems but yesterday when the announcement of the wedding of Mr Bluett to a Dunedin lady appeared in these columns There was no performance at the Princess Theatre last night (Monday). The Haverly Company finished a most successful season on Saturday night, and to-night (Tuesday) Fullers' Mammoth Minstrels will open a season. An additional attraction will be the reappearance of Mr Leonard Nelson after a long and successful tour in South Africa.

"Hearts of the World" will make a reappearance at His Majesty's next Saturday night for a short season. The famous production of Mr D. W. Griffith had a great reception in Dunedin -when it was first screened a cotiple of weeks ago, and its success then is likely to be added to. The distinction of being the first actor to win the Victoria Cross in the war is claimed for the late Lieutenant Wilbur Dnrtnell, who toured South Africa with Brought Pcarce and Amy Coleridge. He was awarded the distinction posthumously for great bravery in action in German East Africa, near the beginning of the campaign in that country. When all his men had been killed or wounded, he continued to stand alone and defy the enemy until he was killed. When his body was < recovered it was found that he had sustained 125 wounds. Mr Wilfrid Cotton (Ada Reeve's husband) was business manager for Marie Tempest on her South African _ tour, Mr "Waller Johnson is producing " Sinbad

the iSailor" for the Fullers in Melbourne. Miss Lola Hunt is Sinbad, and Mr Harry Farrow (Dame), Mr Gus Franks, Mr Ernest Lashbrooke, and Mr Lcs Wharton arc also included in the cast. All these artists have been seen at the Dunedin Princess Theatre within the last few months. Mr Paul Stanhope, likewise well known to patrons of the Dunedin Princess, is appearing at Melbourne Princess in a revue. The Lewins and Mr Ernest Pitcher are included in the bill at the Palace. At the great Drury Lane Pageant, played in London for patriotic purposes, no fewer than three Australian-born actresses played important parts —Miss Marie Lohr played Lady Teazle, Miss Madge Titheradge played a leading part, and Miss Ivy Shilling appeared as a Columbine in the Harlequinade. On the same occasion the veteran Miss Genevieve Ward appeared as Lady Macbeth. Two young daughters of Miss Ada Reeve (Mrs Cotton) are in Sydney, being under engagement to Mr Hugh MTntosh for the Tivoh circuit. A -vaudeville artist, a local dressmaker, and a blue-and-pink silk stage frock and underskirt figured in a case at the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Thursday, when Leila Jrwin claimed from Violet Trevenyon the sum of £l7 5s lid, alleged to be owing to plaintiff for certain articles of apparel supplied to defendant. It was stated that defendant in October last ordered a frock, underskirt, and a hat from plaintiff, but when the bill was rendered she disputed certain items. The magistrate (Mr M'Carthy), after hearing evidence, said no arrangement had been made as to price. The price, however, must be reasonable. He considered Lsgs a reasonable cost, and made an order accordingly, with costs against the defendant. The production of moving pictures now ranks as one of the largest industries in the United States, and is ever progressing in quality and financial importance. Tremendous • sums are paid to stars, to producers, and for stage rights. In the production of "The Crisis" no less a sum than £200,000 is said to have been paid for the American and Canadian rights. There is one artist in the J. O. Williamson pantomime, " Goody Two Shoes," whicn is a great success in Melbourne, who goes right through the pantomime without hearing a word that is spoken. This is Fred Walton, whose remarkable creation, " Thj Toy Soldier," is introduced throughout the pantomime. Mr Walton wears a complete head-covering of fine silk gauze, which is covered with pink grease-paint, and appears to be the plaster head of a toy soldier. Throughout the entire production Mr Welton does not speak a word. His performance is carried out entirely in dumb show —in what is truly the real pantomimic art. In his' act with the two wooden soldiers, in which he arouses the jealousy of one by his bestowal of the medal on the other, for eight minutes he holds the attention and interest of the audience without, speaking a single word! /

SIR CHARLES WYNDHAM.

The death occurred in London on January 12 of Sir Charles Wyndham, aged 82. The famous actor-manager was born in Liverpool in 1837, his father being a London doctor, and he hiriiself studied medicine and took his degrees in London. He, however, was always interested in theatrical matters, and had frequently acted as an amateur before his first professional appearance at the Old Royalty Theatre early In 1862 in " Carnation of Carnation Cottage.'*' After six months on the stage he went to America, where he joined the Confederate army as surgeon. On leaving the army in in 1863, he returned to the stage in New York, acting with John Wilkes Booth, brother of Edwin Booth, and assassin of President Lincoln. He returned to London in 1865, and played in a wide series of plays during the next 30 years. In 1896 he received a remarkable testimonial from his colleagues to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of his management .of the Criterion. An afternoon performance at the Lyceum and an evening at the Criterion realised the sum of £2452, which he handed over to the Actors' Benevolent Fund. In November. 1899, he opened Wyndham's Theatre with a revival of " David Garrick," one of his greatest masterpieces, and gave the Soldiers and Sailors' Families' Mission. He appeared before the late King Edward (then Prince of Wales) at Sandringham in 1887 in " David Garrick," at Windsor Castle, 1903. in the same play, and at Windsor, 1907. in " Still Waters Run Deep." Sir Charles was knighted in 1902 by the late King Edward on the occasion of his coronation.

WELLINGTON WINC WHISPERS

Bt Peter Paw. January 16. Dear "Pasquin,"—Do you remember that clever artist. Wish Wynne? In one of her turns, in which she impersonated a Cockney "slavey" just dismissed from her position. She made her entrance dragging her tin box after her, and, looking off the stage, exclaimed, " Blimey, well out of that!" Those were Benjamin J. Fuller's sentiments when a steamer pulled away from a local wharf this week carrying him to Melbourne after an enforced vacation here lasting 10 weeks. Fuller's managing director should arrive in Melbourne on the 20th. It is understood that Miss Violet Trevenyen, who is at present on the Fuller circuit, will give up the stage after her present contract expires, and" retire into private life. Miss Trevenyon was married a few months ago. The Oappelli boom still continues at His Majesty's. The great tenor concludes his local season on Saturday, and then moves on to Christchurch. "The Boatwaiters." the company of actors who have been awaiting a passage to Australia, opened their season at the concert chamber on Saturday night to a packed house, and have been doing good business every evening since. John Hopkins and his "Dandies" have been playing the West Coast of the South Island, and the results have been pleasing. John Hopkins and the troupe come north next week, and play for a week in Palmerston North, and then the " smalls,", en route to Auckland. The company has been reorganised. "The Hearts of the World" has been dvawinrr tremendous business at the Grand Opera House.

LONDON THEATRES.

(By Cable)

There is an interesting theatrical fight for the possession of Drury Lane Theatre.

The directors accepted Mr Alfred Butt's offer of £109,600, subject to the shareholders' consent. When the oti'er was made public Mr Charles Gulliver, director of the l'aladium, immediately ottered £125,250, and Mr Oswald Stoll also made the shareholders an almost identical offer on behalf of the Alhambra Theatre Company. Finally Mr C. B. Cochrane is attempting to secure control of London's premier theatre. Mr Jack Joel's theatrical activities are creating widespread interest in London. It is understood that h e is behind Sir Alfred Butt. Mr Joel already has a greater or smaller interest in six West End theatres, and recently he provided the money for the purchase of a seventh with a view to rebuilding it, also the money to erect an entirely new theatre. It is believed that these last two ventures will involve an outlay of £2,000,000. It seems certain that he can acquire Drury Lane Theatre if he cares to, as he is already one of the largest shareholders in that concern. It is estimated that Mr Joel's investments in London theatres total about £5,000,000, and they are constantly appreciating with the current great theatrical boom. Mr Joel recently acquired a large holding ■in a leading catering firm, probably with a view to controlling the Criterion Restaurant, the leading theatregoers' resort.