THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3470, 14 September 1920, Page 44

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

lis f ASUPIB September 13. The Burgess Revue Company made its final appearance at the Princess Theatre on (Saturday evening. This evening all vaudeville will be resumed, the bill being headed by Wish Wynne. There are five new acts coming' in to support her —Ward and Sherman icross-taik comedians), Eiieen (J'JSieill (musician), Ella Airlie (comedienne at the piano), Curly Sherwood (American comedienne); and Herbert Joy. In addition there will be fresh ac:s from La Rose and La Rose, the Williams Sisters, Bert- Coleman, and Pagden and Stanley. The Evans-Gange Concert Party concluded a sucoesstul Dunedin season on Saturday afternoon at the B'urns Hall. Miss iVXarie Ilka will appear in the title role of "Tiger Rose," the J. and JM. Tait success, which will be presented at His Majesty's on Thursday night. The staging of the piece is highly spoken of, and a feature is an awe-inspiring thunderstorm in the second act. The company includes Ethan Allen, Reginald Goode, John Waller, C Henry Gordon, Louise Waller, Douglas Eos3 (producer), and other artists new to the Dominion.

The Australian "Smart Set" Diggers are proving a popular draw at His Majesty's Theatre. There are some very clever performers in the company, which is particularly strong in female impersonators. The season concludes to-morrow night.. Dunedin has been exceptionally well catered for in the matter of entertainment during the past month or two, and music of a distinctly high order has been conspicuously present. On Saturday evening in Burns Hall another fine concert company made its first appearance. At the head of the party is Signor Lucien Cesaroni, who was a prominent member of the Grand Opera Company which visited Dunedin about three years ago. Signor Cesaroni is accompanied by Miss Vera Oarow (soprano), who, it is understood, is making her first tour of New Zealand. Miss Gladys Vincent (violiniste) and Miss Rosa Walton, who officiates at the piano in the capacity of accompanist and otherwise contributes to the entertainment. The company will appear again on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

Mr John Farrell, who was in Dunedin with the "Smart Set" Diggers early last week, has left for Auckland, where he will be associated with the "Tilly of Bloomsbury" Company. Joseph Graham, who gives a splendid impersonation of a funny old solicitor in "The Man from Toronto" at Sydney Tivoli, got his first stage experience in Australia, although he has not been out here for about 40 years. Mr Graham was a civil service clerk in London, and he came to Sydney in search of gold. Instead he became an actor, and picked up the tricks of the profession from William Hoskins. He is accompanied by his wife and daughter, both of whom appear in the bright comedy at the Tivoli.

An Australian soprano, Miss Maxwell, after a sea-ies of successes abroad, is at present touring Australia, and with a company of artists she will visit New Zealand about the end of the year. She will be accompanied by Mr Vernon Sellars (baritone), Miss Una Black_ (violinist), and Miss Nathalie Rosenwax (pianist). Mr Duncan Ncven, last here as manager of Mdlle. Dolores, will manage the tour of the Dominion.

New York is to have a theatre where only children will be desired, and where the plays are to be selected with especial reference to their adaptation for juvenile appreciation. Rachel Barton Butler, author of a piece called "Mamma's Affair," is the sponsor of the scheme. The Australasian tour of Lowell Thomas, lecturer and traveller, .undertaken at the official invitation of the Commonwealth Government, is to be directed by J. O. Williamson (Ltd.). With 70 performers on the "stage," in addition to a "stationary chorus" ©f 400, which took no part in the stage movements, Purcell's old English opera "Dido and iEneas" was successfully given in Hyde Park, London, in July. Tire quality of the acting and singing by amateurs is described as surprisingly good. The names of the performers were not supplied, but the audiences (space was reserved for 10,000) were

satisfied with thj> music. After all, the play is usually more important than the players, though modern methods tend to exaggerate the personal side of most productions. One of the most interesting experiences of Miss Marie Tempest and Mr Graham. Browne in tiio East, prior to their return to Melbourne, was liie banquet tendered to them by a number of important Chinese diginturies and citizens oi i-'eking. The feast was a most sumptuous one ; the viands of the choicest, and most mysterious, variety. The banquet was held in-a room with the most wonderful embroidered silk hangings. Real gold plate was used on the tabie. At the close of the repast the distinguished artists were eulogised in English, one of the hosts (a mandarin of high degree) informing Miss Tempest and Mr Browne that their visit to Peking had given the citizens "one of the gladdest times of their life." The artists were presented with some handsome gifts, and Miss Tempest was also given a Chinese nightingale in a. cage. She has brought the bird with her to Melbourne.

Play-goers, who have no idea of the expense incurred in running theatrical enterprises in these days of high costs, may be interested to know a few figures relating to the season in Perth of "The Bing Boys on Broadway" and "The Passing Show of 1920." The return fares of the company from Adelaide to the west amounted to £1230, and the freight £4BO, making a total of £1760 for these two items alone. This heavy expenditure had to be charged against a two weeks' season in Perth, and absolutely preoluded any profit being made on the venture. Yet it is necessary to enter upon such tours a 3 these in order to keep the company empjoyed and to fill in dates between visits, to the bigger centres. Mr C. R. Stanford, an actor well known in Dunedin a decade or two ago, is now playing the title role in "The Boss Cockio" at Melbourne Royal. Miss Maud Fane has married again. Pier new spouse, Lieutenant Foley Knight, belongs to the Imperial navy, but he has been attached to H.M.A.S. Brisbane on the Australian Station for several months. Twelve months ago Miss Fane's former husband (Edgar Warwick Goodohild) successfully cited a young scion of English nobility, Robert Peel, as co-respondent before the Practice Court, Melbourne. After the suit Peel returned to England,' where, it Is stated, he recently acquired £BO,OOO, his portion of the Peel fortune. He is now on his way to Australia, but it is known that the break between him and Miss Fane prior to his going was irreparable. Miss Fane, in an interview, said she had learnt that Peel had come into about £BO,OOO, but added that he had been completely eliminated from her life.

In looking through programmes of the Shakespearian productions in which Mr W. J. Holloway "starred" his step daughter, Miss Essie Jenyns, whose death occurred recently in Sydney, one observes a number of well known names (says the Melbourne Argus). In one Melbourne production of "As You Like It," for instance, Orlando was played by Mr Richard Stewart (brother of Miss Nellie Stewart), the banished duke by Mr H. R. Roberts (recently seen in "Eyes of Youth" and "Kindling"), Sylvius by Mr Arthur Greenaway (also of "Eyes of Youth"), Frederick by Mr Collet Dobson (now in stock drama)) Jacques by Mr Albert Norman (long with Mr Bland Holt), Touchstone by Mr Robert Inman (afterwards with Mr William Anderson), Oliver by Mr Alfred Rolfe (of the Dampier- productions), Adam by Mr Harry Hodson, and William by that fine character actor Mr J. B. Atholwood. Mr Armes Beaumont provided the tenor songs of Amiens. In "Twelfth Night" Mr Greenaway played Sebastian to the Viola of Miss Jenyns. One of the productions of the company was the seldom-seen "Cymbeline," with Miss Jenyns as Imogen. WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. Bi Peter Pak September 10. Dear "Pasquin,"—The very spectacular entertainment, "Our Reveille," which has been produced in other centres of the Dominion, was staged here on Wednesday evening at the Grand Opera House before a large audience. The marches and ballets were excellently carried put, but the performers were a little weak on the vocal side. Mr Lints is the producer, and he promises further novelties during the season. "The Singing Parson," the Rev. Frank Gorman, has succeeded Wish Wynne as headliner at Fuller's Vaudeville House, and he has made a hit with his songs and anecdotes. Leonard Nelson is still .with us, likewise the Nine Wonders, who are very popular here. Gerald Griffin, the Irish American actor, who opened in Sydney last week in "The Rose of Killarney," will remain in Australia until March next. Victor Beck is arranging for Mr Griffin to open either in Auckland or Wellington on March 17. The New Zealand "Digger Pierrots" opened their third tour of the Dominion at Hawera last week, when they played to a packed house. Victor Beck has drawn up an itinerary which will keep the "Diggers" on tour until February. Claude Haigh is the man ahead. The company is due in Wellington in November. The English Pierrots finish their nine weeks' season at the Concert Chamber tomorrow night. Sickness still holds some of the members of? the boards, but the others have risen to the occasion, and patrons have had no cause for complaint. From here the company crosses- to Marlborough, and then goes to Taranaki, returning hero late in October to take boat for Melbourne. The Pierrots will return next Easter, opening at Auckland.

When the English Pierrots were here in 1918 admirers said farewell to Misses Elsa Langley, "Billie" Wilson, and Rima Young, all of whom have now taken to themselves a husband. Cupid throws an accurate dart •at the Pierrettes, for a-talented member of the present combination said good-bye on Wednesday night and left to-day for Melbourne to say "I will" to a young Australian. Miss Maxine Mackenzie "is the name of the lady, and she was a talented and athletic member of the company. The Pierrots wished her joy, and gave her something tangible to remember the happy days on tour.

Mr John Hopkins was in town this week, and he reports a successful time with the Cesaroni Concert Party. His 1920 Dandies are at present in Auckland.