THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3400, 14 May 1919, Page 52

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Tuesday, May 13. _ Although the Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company has pencilled His Majesty's for May 15 to May 22, it is now impossible for the company to appear on these dates. However, " Maytime" will no doubt be seen in Dunedin in due course. The company is at present in Auckland. Amy Castles is returning to Sydney after a splendid concert tour through the United States. Her sister Dolly (now; Mrs Trim) accompanies the famous vocalist. Harry Lauder, who receives a salary that a Cabinet Minister—in fact, almost anybody who with the exception of moving picture "stars"—would regard with envy, began his working life in a jute factory, and, while still a youth, worked in a coal mine. After winning several singing competitions, he began his career as a public entertainer. For 14 weeks he toured with a small provincial company, combining the positions of luggage man, bill-sticker, ticketseller, and comedian, and receiving 35s a week. It is an indication of his habits of thrift that, although he was married at the time, he brought back a bank balance from the tour. Later he sang for six weeks in England for £3 10s a week. The comedian, to whom London managers now offer a fabulous salary, could not for some time obtain a footing in the city. His first appearance in London was made at Gatti's Music Hall, in the Westminster Bridge road, when he was reluctantly given an engagement for one night, as substitute for another performer. Word from Sydney states that the versatile comedian, Jack Cannot, is giving up the stage, and is going to devote self to teaching the art of singing and acting. Mr W. S. Percy, the well-known comedian, made a brilliant debut in London last month in a new musical farce at the Criterion, "Oh! Don't Dolly!" The press notices were unusually flattering. The Times critio said: " The one bright spot was Mr W. S. Percy. He is a comedian new to London, hailing, one may guess, from various indications, from Australia, and he. might well have been overwhelmed by his reception. At times strangely like Mr Barry, at others like the late Mark Sheridan, he adds a personality of his own which will stand him in good stead."

So far it has not been decided what the next J. C. Williamson attraction to follow the Royal Comic Opera Co. (now in Wellington) will be, but it is pretty certain that it will be the dramatic eompany headed by Miss Muriel Starr or_ the pantomime. " Goody Two Shoes." Mr John Fnrroll is business manager for the Royal Comic Opera Company. English papers by the last mail contain highly favourable notices of a performance at Brighton by Miss Kathleen Levi, daughter of Mrs Blanche Bevi, late of Dunedin. She is declared to be one of the most promising pupils of the famous Matthay. and pleased the critics with her playing of the solo in Saint Saens's " Fifth Concerto."

" The 'Gondoliers" 13 to be produced in Auckland at the end of August by the nowly-formed Auckland Amateur Operatic Society. Mr Tom Pollard, of Christchurch, who was in a great measure responsible for the brilliant success of the same opera in Wellington last year, will manage the Auckland production. The Melbourne Argus quotes some significant figures showing the greatly-increased expenses which J. O. Williamson (Ltd.) are under in keeping up the high standard of their' production. Before the war canvas for scenery cost ll§d a yard. The Williamson firm had just imported 10,000 yards at 5s 9d a yard. Silk dresses for the chorus were formerly obtainable at £7 10s. Now they were made as a spcoial favour for £l2. _ The cost of costumes for principals had risen from £25 to £4O. "Soldier Boy" has a new sweetheart to disport with him at the Apollo (said the London Referee in a recent issue). Tin's is Miss Dorothy Brunton, who thus succeeds Mies' Winifred Barnes, who has played the nart so long and so charmingly. Miss Brunton is the Australian singing soubrette who made so much of her not too lavish acting, and danrcing chances in "Shanghai" at Drury Lane. " Down under" Miss Brunton has won high honours in comio opera and musical comedy, and " Soldier Boy" gives her more opportunities than she pa 4 yet had In the Motherland of showing he* excellent quality In thfs line.

It is announced that Lady Wyndham (widow of Sir Charles Wyndham), better known as Miss Mary Moore, will shortly return to the stage. Sir Charles Wyndham, who died recently, left a fortune of £190,000. Mr Martin Harvey, the famous English actor, recently gave a single performance in London of Maurice Maeterlinck's war play, "The Burgomaster of Stilemonde." The play ladks the beauty, mysticism, and poetic quality of the greater part of Maeterlinck's work, but is described as "a deeply moving tragedy." The scene is laid in. Belgium toward the end of August, 1914. Rumours have reached the Burgomaster, a simple, kindly man, of the atrocities committed by the invaders. His gentle soul refuses to believe the stories, and he insists that Stilemonde can come to no harm, for his son-in-law is Otto Hilmer, a lieutenant in the German army, "a kindheai'ted chap who wouldn't hurt a soul." The Germans enter the town, led by Major Baron von Rookow, and two lieutenants, of whom Otto is one. The Burgomaster is held as hostage for the good behaviour of the cit : zens. The second lieutenant, Karl von Schaunberg, is shot dead, and the Burgomaster's life is forfeit. There is an intensely dramatic situation when Otto breaks the horrible news to his wife and her father that the Major has ordered that he (Otto) shall command the firing party, so that he shall "prove respect for discipline to the end." If he refuses he will be_ shot with the Burgomaster. Isabella (his wife) demands the sacrifice, and will herself die with the two men. Otto agrees, and it is only through her father's poignant entreaties that she -will spare him the "intolerable sorrow" of her purposeless death that she is brought to the point of allowing him to go alone. A volley is heard outside. Then the Major, wRo at the last moment had taken command of the firing party, returns with Otto, but Isabella banishes her husband from her life. Frozen into quietude, she shrinks from him. "Don't touch me!" she cries. "Go away I Don't touch me! Go. It's over . . . for good I"