THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3442, 2 March 1920, Page 52

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

liy I'AstU'lK.

Monday, March 1. Something in the nature of a sensation was caused in the Princess Theatre on Friday night by an accident to Mr Falls, of the daring acrobatic team oi Archie auu Gertie Falls. During the course of thenact, the male performer somersaults from the stage and "hooks" his feet on to the feet of his lady partner, who hangs feet down from a trapeze. "Archie" then swings head downwards for a second or two in this precarious position. Connection was missed on Friday night, and Mr Falls fell awkwardly on his head. He was stunned and the curtain had to be lowered. Fortunately the accident was not serious. The major attraction at the Princess this week-will be the reappearance of the Walter George Sunshine Players. Mr George and hi 3 company have been away for nearly eight months, and their tour of the centres has been one long triumph. He will produce this week an entirely new musical comedy entitled "The Bandits," which is said to be extremely funny and to have a rich vein of music-giving colour, as well as to be gorgeously mounted. The compaii retains the services of all the popular people who made the show attractive last time—MiGeorge himself, George Storey, Dulcic* Milner, Hylda Shannon, May Geary, Georgie Martin, Reg. Hawthorne. Andrew Pace, Barry Hitchings. Frank Haining, Polly M'Laren, and the lively bevy of showgirls". In addition the vaudeville will be reinforced by the debut of the American comedienne Florence Fox. The "Yes, Uncle" Musical Comedy Company will commence an 11 nights' season at His Majesty's Theatre next Tusedav. evening. The comedy is said to be among the brightest and most tuneful of musical comedies for many years, and one that has taken London by storm. The production :s being presented in New Zealand before either Melbourne or Sydney. The repertoire for the season is as follows:—"Yes. Uncle," "Going Up," "Hiarh Jinks," and "The Girl in the Taxi.' The leading members of the company are Messrs Alfred Frith, Field .Fisher, and William Green, and Misses Gracie Lavers, Cecil Bradley, Marie Eaton, Millie Engler, and Florrie Allen. Miss Madge Elliott is the principal dancer, and in this direction is associated with Mr Cyril Ritrhard. Mr Fred Leslie, one time dancing partner with Ivy Shilling, was at latest playing Abanazar (the oomic magician) in "Aladdin" at the Kennington Theatre.

"The AH Diggers' Company," actors back from active service with English and Australian experience, are staging at the Playhouse. Melbourne, "Mademoiselle Mimi." a comedy of the war, under the Tait management. The play is being produced by Captain Keighley, M.C, lately with Hugh Buckler and Violet Paget, in England, and formerly with Julius Knight and Andrew Mack.- Referring to the lady member of the company, the Australasian has this to say: —"One of the best things of the evening is Mr Lindsay Kemble's Mimi. A. girlish figure, very daintilv frocked, managing her arms, also her ankles, quite in the mode, Mr Kemble's girl challenges serious criticism. His voice is better than that of the majority of 'dashing soubrettes' in vaudeville, quite as good as some pantomine boys have possessed, and, with Hue-hie Glennon he, or she —for the terms are constantly confusing—dances gracefully. Mimi's best song was 'I Ne'er Meant to he a Naughty Girl.' " The great naval drama "The Luck of the Navy," which Mr Allan Wilkie and lis dramatic company are about to present for the first time in this part of the world, is representative of the latest in London theatrical successes. According- to the plot. the hero, Lieutenant Clive Stanton, V.C., R.N., of H.M. Submarine SA, is beset with Hun spies in England. The chief of these secret agents is the mother of another English naval officer, and she is ably seconded by a German who poses as a wounded Belgian colonel. The battle of wits, the actu.il physical fights, and the clever, but futile, contrivances for disposing of the_ hero are skilftdly blended by the playwright," Mrs Cliffor Mills. Mr Wilkie is presenting the play on a lavish scale, and the scenery has been specially prepared from photos of the original London production. Miss Eileen Boyd, well known in New Zealand, has returned to Sydney after a 12 months' tour in the East with Edgar Warwick's Vanity Fair Company. "Charley's Aunt," a perennial attraction in the British provinces, was once again revived as a London Christmas oroduction at the Royalty. Theatre. A very large number of actors and actresses have appeared in the various,presentations of the lively old faroo, and a few years ago they formed an association of their own The Voice, one of the most critical and informative of musical journals in London, has no doubt about the great qualities of Benno Moiselwitsch, the celebrated pianist (husband of Miss Daisy Kennedy), whom J. and N, Tait have induced' to make a tour of Australasia. In a recent issue the paper remarks: "Those of us who remember his debut in London" teii years ago will call to mind his tremendous success, and: will recollect that at that time it was prophesied that he had, a wonderful future before him; he was universally hailed as a new and radiant star m the musical firmament. Nor did ho

disappoint these expectations. On the contrary, his genius surpassed even the hopes of his most ardent enthusiasts. His wonderful virtuosity and individuality developed rapidly until at the present day he is, perhaps, the most celebrated pianist of his generation." Miss Ada Reeve, hailed in London as "that great musical comedy artist," is stated to bo likely to take the leading part in a coming West End production. Miss Reeve's early Australian appearances were in musical comedy, notably "Winnie Brooke, Widow." Several artists well-known in New Zealand are appearing in Mr Oscar Asche's play, "Eastward, Ho," at the Alhambra, London —Andrew Higginson, Ambrose Manning, and Eddie and Decima M'Lean. "Eastward, Ho" is said to be the most expensive revue produced in London during recent years! It has been stated that £30,000 was spent on the production before the curtain rose on the first performance.

Miss Marie Ney, the clever Wellington girl, who, as S.ybil Craven in "The Little Damozel" at the Sydney Palace, is called upon to smoke one of. the very strong Turkish cigarettes mentioned in the course of the play, had an unenviable experience recently. Miss Polini lights the cigarette at each performance, and Miss Ney, after taking a puff, has to ejaculate, "Strange! Strange !" After making the remark, however, on the night in question, the actress placed the lighted end of the cigarette 5n her mouth, it is stated. The remark that followed did not sound to those near her as anything like "Strange ! Strange !" One of the most romantic figures in the theatrical firmament has passed away with the death of Mile. Gaby Deslys. Born jn Marseilles and reared with the "gamins" of that cosmospolitan city, she nuickly rose until, at the time of her death, she commanded a salary which "princely" would hardly describe. Her first appearance in England was in 1906 at the Gaiety in "The New Aladdin," where her wonderful personality made an instantaneous hit. One of her many subsequent appearances was in "Rosy Rapture," a revue from the pen of the versatile Sir James Barrie, which, from the box office point of view, was neither a rapturous nor a rosy production. After playing- in " ouzette," in which many New Zcalanders will recall her performance, she returned to Paris. Gaby Deslys figured in more than one cause celebre, and was a fruitful top'c for Paris over its "fiP o'clock." Nevertheless, she pursued her way serenely, and at the time of her death must have accumulated a- fortune of no mean dimensions.

Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson and Miss Gertrude Elliott (Lady Forbes-Robertson) returned to London in December after a brief tour in the United States, during which the celebrated actor gave on Shakespeare's characters.. "I have had an excellent time," said Sir Johnston to an interviewer. "Everybody has been very kind to me, but J am not going to return to the stage. 1 made my farewell four years a<ro, and now I am going to take things quietly. I believe in retiring"while I can still shake a leg."

The long runs of Australian pantomimes have surprised some visitors from England, where pantomime usually ends with the school holidays. However, possibilities of an English change are foreshadowed. "The ideal' at which I am aiming," said Mr Arthur Collins, in speaking of the latest Drury Lane production, "is the provision of a consistent story, beautifully embroidered with songs, designed to heighten the effect of the various situations. If I succeed I see no reason why the run of the pantomime, should be limited to the holiday season, or why, when the children have gone back top school, their elders should not return to enjoy what is, in reality, a high-class musical comedy, interpreted by prominent artists selected from the light operatic world." Mr Oscar Asche's "Ohu Chin Chow." was originally intended to be a pantomime. The of the piece was slightly changed, dramatic interest being introduced, and a record-breaking run was obtained.

Count Filippini, the Italian baritone, who visited New Zealand -with the Gonsalez Opera Company, and is now _ resident in Sydney, states that a limited liability company, with a capital of £IO,OOO, has been formed for the purpose of establishing an opera company, to be known as the Australian National Opera. He says that his a.gents in Italy have been instructed to engage eight principals, consisting of a light and a dramatic soprano, two contraltos, two mezzo-sopranos, one tenor, and a bass. Two conductors are also to bo engaged. He is expecting a cable at an early date announcing the names of the artists. Signor Balboni, the dramatic tenor, and Signor Cacialli, the bass, have, Count Filippini states, signed contracts with the company. The chorus of Australian singers has already been formed, and is now rehearsing "Aida," with which the season will open in Sydney in July. All the operas' will be sung in Italian. Among operas new to Australia which are included in a repertoire of 25 works, are "Mephistophele" (Boita), "Vally" and "Lorlie" (Catalina), and "Isobel" and "Iris" (Mascagni). Count Filippini adds that theatres have already been engaged in each city in Australia, except Sydney, and that the company will also tour the East.