THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 44

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pacoi'in

MONDAY, August 23. There are several changes of personnel for the new programme at the Princess Theatre to-night. The new revue will be Ihe Railway Tangle,," and Billy Elliott, Le Mounier (strong man), Kitchie.and Khftie (comedy acrobats), Nora Burke, and the Courtneys- will also appear. Helen Charles, Louis London, and Thurber and Thurber were given a send-off on Saturday night. The brief "Mother Hubbard" pantocaine season in Uunedin proved highly successful, both from an artistic and attendance point of view. On Saturday night there was a particularly large house, every seat being filled.

Mr Alf Linley has arrived in Dunedin to make arrangements for the opening of the Lyrio Comedy Company. Mr Walter V. Hobbs, representing Chappell and Co., who are directing the tour of Miss Amy Evans (the Welsh soprano) and Fraser Gange (the Scottish basso cantante), arrived in Dunedin on Saturday to prepare for a Dunedin season by these famous artists. The search for fresh pantomine subjects is causing one of the almost forgotten friends of nursery rhyme days to come forward once more. "Humpty-Dumpty" will be the Williamson pantomine of the present year. Messrs Bailey and Grant have rented the Lyric Theatre in London, and was to have presented Steele Rudd's play, "On Our Selection," there on August 23. Mr Bert Bailey, who has been in England for more than a year, had great difficulty in procuring a theatre, as all the principal playhouses were booked up months ahead. The Australian papers became sarcastio at a cablegram which has been received regarding the salary received by Charlie Chaplin*. The Sydney Sun says that the statement "will make countless thousands mourn. The declaration of the wife of Charlie Chaplin that this comedian's earnings are about £20,000 a year will disillusion the world. A miserable £20,000! Already, no doubt, the rush to the cinema studios of would-be millionaires is growing less. We were all told so frequently that we believed it (more or less) that Charlie Chaplin earned 500,000 dollars a .year. We now find that he earns only 100,000 !"

Georges Carpentier, the world's noted boxer, and an aviator-hero of the war, is the leading man in a remarkable feature film, the Australasian rights of which have been secured by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Its title is "The Wonder Man." Messrs E. J. Carroll and Harry Musgrove have floated a company for £200,000, half of which is already fully paid up. They have acquired the whole of the Victoria Aroade, right opposite the Australia Hotel, Sydney, on which they intend to build a modern up-to-date picture theatre with a capacity of 3500. Mr Gordon Conrad, remembered as manager with the PlimmerDenniston Company, is now director of publicity for E. J. Carroll. The Trinity College of Music, London, is sending to Australia and New Zealand this year, as examiner, Mr Albert Mallinson,, the song-composer, whoso work is so wellknown here. Recitals by Mr and Mrs Mallinson have been a feature of the London musical world for many jears, and those they gave in Dunedin some years ago, under engagement to Moynell and Gunn, will be remembered by music-lovers. Mr Mallinson has composed upwards of 300 songs. Among hi 3 latest compositions are "Float, Little Boat," "Welsh Milking Song,".and "A Lad that is Gone." Probably the most popular is his "Slow, Horses," Slow," which he gave in Dunedin. Ruth Budd, the aerialist who proved such a success at the Dunedin Princess some year or two ago, is now in American vaudeville. Of her performance at the Majestic, Chicago, a critic writes:—"No one knew what Ruth Budd had in store for them, as she was billed fourth as 'The Girl With a Smile.' Ruth enters in a pretty costume and picture hat with a song and dance. Then a maid awaits her in a dressing room, centre of a velvet drop. As the audienco gazed she stripped herself of clothing and revealed a lovely figure. She sang through her gymnastics on the trapeze, and got off in fine shape." Some excitement was caused in Sydney theatrical circles on the evening of Saturday, August 7, when it became known that on the first performance of the new musical comedy, "Irene," there was a strike amongst the chorus. Mr Charles Wcstmacott came before the curtain and offered to give the audience its money back. Nobody took advantage of the offer. Mr Westmaoott deolared that Mr Walter Baker—l imagine this is our old friend of Bland Holt Days—in spite of his statement (hat ho was not going- to call out the chorus, had declared a strike. He had called a meeting of the male and femalo chorus of "Irene," that afternoon, and five of the girls had broken, out of the room where they had been detained by force. The play then went forward without a chorus, except for the five escapees and two volunteers. Later, Mr T. J. Tait said that the understanding

with the chorus was that they should itceive the usual chorus salary, and that no demand had been made upon the management by the chorus or the Actors' Federation. The trouble quickly ended, and the play went smoothly on the Monday night WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. By Peter Fak. August 20. Dear "Pasquin,"—The "Aussie" "Smart Set" Diggers do not belie their name. They are a smart set, and they have convinced Wellington that they are. Their opening performance on Saturday night was witnessed by a crowded house, and business has been up to the high-water mark ever since. The show is a bright one, and gives every evidence of careful preparation and management as creditable as most professional shows." There is not a "dud" in the company The Diggers who appear as the "ladies" of the company are really good, especiallv Charles Holt. Unfortunately "Miss" Holt is suffering from a severe cold, and has been out of the cast during this week. From here the "Smart Set" go north, and Charles Berkley is already on his wa» to make known their good qualities* After a holiday the "Diggers Pierrots, the New Zealand Company, assemble in Wellington next week for rehearsal, and they will start their route march through the north the following week,, opening at Hawera on the Ist September. Claude Haigh is the advance guard. Our next big attraction will be "Tiger Rose," a successful American play, to be staged by J. and N. Tait's specially selected company. The company is due here on Tuesday from Sydney, and will open in tne Grand Onera House next Thursday.

Mr J. C. Whitfield, who was stage manager of the "Sleeping Beauty" pantomime, has taken over the stage direction of the Aussie "Smart Set."

Miss Amy Evans and Mr Fraser Gange, the eminent singers, gave their first concert hero on Wednesday evening, and scored a great triumph. 'Both are accomplished artists, and their future concerts should draw crowded audiences. The English Pierrots are in their sixth week at the Concert Chamber, and public patronage shows no signs of diminishing. Dot Dee, an English artist, is the latest attraction at His Majesty's.