THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 46

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By PASQUIH. Tuesday, April 8, 1919. It is now 15 months since Mr Tom Haverly opened a Dominion tour at the Princess Theatre, and he and his' company continue .as popular as ever. As a matter of fact, the Haverly Revue Company can claim—and find full support from theatregoers for their claim—that they are the best drawing proposition for the Fuller firm of any of the companies of this particular character. The Haverly Company is at present in Auckland^ The Fisk Jubilee Singers have just concluded a 12 months' tour of the Dominion, and open at the Sydney Playhouse at Easter. During their New, Zealand tour the singers havo visited 170 towns and given 290 concerts. The company was held up for some time at Christohurch during the influenza, epidemic The popular "Billy" Russell, business manager to the J. C. Williamson "Going Up" Company, was presented at Auckland by the members of the company .with a solid leather suit case elaborately equipped with every accessory that tho heart of man could desire. Miss Cecil Bradley was the spokeswoman, and she prettily voiced the thanks and appreciation of all the members for Mr Russell's unfailing courtesy and attention throughout the tour. Mr Russell leaves the company in Melbourne, and will take the Royal Comio Opera Company to Perth. Muriel Window has been secured to tour Australasia with Harry Lauder's Company. Mr E. J. Tait has written as follows about this artist: "Pleased to say that I have finally secured Muriel Window's signature for a contract. She is to get £7O per week, Guaranteeing 16 out of the 20 weeks, hould we require to extend her contract, the next 10 weeks would be at the rate of £BO per week. I can hear you say that this salary is very high indeed for.a single act in Vaudeville, but we have sat out innumerable shows watching artists, and in comparison she is cheap to the great majority. "The Little Peacock of Vaudeville,' as Miss Window is called, is without doubt one of the oleverest actresses we have seen over here (in America). She is refreshing, and her stuff is zippy without being suggestive." The J. O. Williamson, Ltd., Royal Comio Opera Company has in it is said, a worthy successor to "Katinka." •Maytime" Is "a play with music," with a plot that is reminiscent of "Milestones." The cast includes the ever-green Florence Young, Gladys Moncrieff, Leslie Holland, Percy Claridge, Phyllis Amery, Reginald Roberts, O. R. Bantock, Sidney STirling, Olive Godwin, Oliver Peacock, Phil Smith. The play is produced by George Highland. Mr Allen Doone is completing negotiations for the purchase of a repertoire to last him for 12 months, embracing plays typically Irish. Mr Doone is making arrangements for the painting of the scenery, most of which will be done' under his personal supervision.

A largo deputation of theatrical and pioture people waited on the Premier at Victoria on March 20 to urge relief from the hardships consequent on tho restrictions placed on theatres and picture houses through the influenza epidemic. Among tho speakers -wore Mrs" Westmacott, Mr Arthur Styan (representing tho Actors' Association), Mr A. Davidson (representing the Musicians' tlnion), Mr John Fuller, jun., and our old friend, Mr George Portus (grind opera branch). Mr Lawson, in reply, said it was extremely difficult for the Government to recognise the principle of compensation, as it was hard to say where the payments would end. While admitting that the profession had suffered, he would not say it was altogether because of the influenza restrictions that the suffering had been caused. Had tho restrictions not been imposed the public would have stayed away for fear of catching the disease. That, of course, was a matter of speculation. A New York critic aptly described "Three Paces East," in which Muriel Starr is to appear at Melboiirne Theatre Royal, as "the Sherlock Holmes of mystery dramas." The new play, which will be given its first production in Australia, is crammed with thrills and surprises, and keeps the audience guessing. The fact that most of the characters are spies and members of the Socert Service should indicate tho thrilling naturo of tho story. Mr John Fuller, jun., related his personal experience of what had been done in Sydney, wher,o all members of the profession

below what was termed the bread-lino limit —that is, £5 a week—received weekly assistance from the State of New South Wales. The total cost to New South Wales was only £15,000. and he thought Victoria could surely do what tho other State had dono. That old favourite, Kyrle Bellow, figures as a companion star to Arthur Bourchier in the cast of "Scandal," now being played at the Strand Theatre, London.