THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 44

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By

Pasquin.

Alonday, January 10. The Walter George Sunshine Players will make their weekly change of programme at the Princess Theatre this evening. The new piece will be the one act musical comedy “The Bandits.” On the vaudeville half tho new act is that of Alberto, talking magician. In addition, the Rev. Frank Gorman, Vaude and Verne, De Wilford, and Rix will provide new' items. The New Zealand Diggers will commence a return season in Dunedin on Saturday' next. Miss Amy Murphy was at latest singing at the Wondergraph in Adelaide. Miss Murphy is now as well known in Australia as in New Zealand. Dame Clara Butt and Kennerly Rumford are preparing for another world tour, which is to include a visit to Australia and New Zealand. The New Zealand tour will probably take place this year. Miss Marie Rignold, who plays the part of Ruth Wimbush in the Robert Courtneidge production of “The Man from Toronto” under the J. C. Williamson direction, in conjunction with Hugh D. MTntosh, was in New Zealand once before with the versatile ’cellist, the late Auguste Van Biene. She comes of the famous theatrical family of the Rignolds, and is a niece of the late George Rignold. The choir of one church in New York costs £7OOO a year in salaries. Mr G. Fitzpatrick, formerly private secretary for Mr W. Holman when he was Prime Minister of New South Wales, is now an associate director on the Tivoli Theatres (Ltd.), and is representing that interest with ‘‘The Man from Toronto” Company in Dunedin. Ola J. Humphrey, the American actress who appeared in Dunedin in “The Scarlet Pimpernel,” is on a visit to Sydney with her husband, Captain Broadwood. He is said to be a member of the well-known English piano-making firm. Maggie Dickinson flying through the air is one of the fascinating sights in the J. C. Williamson pantomime, “Humpty Dumpty,” at Melbourne Her Majesty’s. This is one of the features of the butterfly ballet, an altogether wonderful blend of colour and movement. Suspended by a wire, the graceful dancer soars over the heads of the ballet, and appears to flutter from flower to flower. The flying apparatus is operated by an ex pert stage mechanist behind the scenes, and has to be carried out very carefully. The silver wire is tested with great exactness before each performance, the strictest precautions being taken so that no kink should get into the wire. Should this occur the wire would snap like a thread of cotton. One of the reasons for the wonderful success of “The Maid of the Mountains” in London—it achieved a run of over four years—was the music of the play. It was said that not since the “Merry Widow” had such exquisite music been heard on the London stage. This ranges from grand opera to the lightest of comic opera. The play was described by the London Times as “a charming blend of song and jest, with the thread of a first-rate plot.” The famous waltz is one of the most alluring compositions ever written. Rehearsals have commenced at Melbourne Theatre Royal for “The Maid of the Mountains,” which J. O. Williamson (Ltd.) will present shortly on a lavish scale. The title role will be played by Gladys Monerieff. Someone asked William A. Hassan, whose impersonation of Ginty. the cat. is a delightful feature of “Sinbad the Sailor” at Melbourne. whether he took Turkish baths to keep his weight down while presenting his animal impersonations in pantomime. Ginty the cat, by the way, is a very small cat, and his skin is of real cat’s fur. Mi' Hassan pointed out that he never found it necessary to reduce his weight. “My work does that itself,” he explained. “Just imagine wearing a fur coat during Christmas weather. V ell, inside the cat’s skin it is ten times worse. The tight-fitting skin allows of very little ventilation, the only breathing places being the small openings in the throat. In addition. I have to operate the intricate mechanism of the eyes, ears. tail. etc. It is, therefore, not surprising that a pantomime season reduces my normal weight bv about two stone. No. I never have to indulge in Turkish baths.” F.lhi Carrington, with Fuller’s Dramatic Players, who are to commence a season of stock drama at the King’s Theatre, Auckland, will be remembered by manv old theatregoers after her long absence. A Dunedin girl who promises to make her mark in the picture world is Miss Vera James, daughter of Mr W. F. James, of fota.lisatm* fame. Miss .Tames left Dunedin on a holiday trip to Australia a year ago with the view of learning the latest dancing modes. She had a quarter’s singing lessons with Mrs Hugh Ward, and was induced to trv her luck on the stage. She joined the chorus of Hugh D. M‘lntosh’s “Bran Pie” Revue Company, and before a week was passed she was given two parts, and did so well that tile management offered her a contract, to go with the company (o Adelaide and Melbourne. However, she refused this offer, as she was keen to go into pictures. She was fortunate in meeting Mr Franklyn Barrett, who has had a lengthy experience in film work, and he

engaged her as leading lady for his big Australian production ‘‘A Girl of the Bush. In tile star part Miss James has a great t.eal to do, and, according to reports, sue lias screened wonderfully well, and should be a great favourite with movie tans. The release in Xevv Zealand will be watched with special interest. The case in which Henry Clay iSmith, an actor connected with the Tivoli Theatre C ompany, sued Cass Downing, conductor of the orchestra in the same theatre, for £IOOO compensation for damages, reached the prothonotary (Mr W. M. Richards) in Melbourne on December 20. On August 25 a dispute arose between Smith and Downing owing to the former having got leave with his wife (Miss L-ee White) to absent himself from a rehearsal to attend a concert given by Air John M‘Cormack. Blows were exchanged, and Smith had his dislocated. He sued for damages in the Supreme Court, and, as no defence was entered, a verdict was given for the plaintiff, and the matter was referred to the prothonotary to assess damages. Henry C lay Smith described the encounter between himself and Downing as a “rough-and-tumble * fight, in which Downing used methods with which he (Smith) was quite unfamiliar. Witness paid £25 to Dr Strong, as well as bills to a chemist, a masseur, and an X-ray expert. The prothonotary siud that ho would assess -damages at £l5O. including £64 17s 6d special damages. 1 he will of the late Florence Maude Barraty Rivington (professionally known as Florence Young, actress) has, for probate purposes, been sworn ut £10,689. Miss Young, who died in Melbourne on November 11 last, bequeathed £IOO to her friend Minnie Levy, of St. lvilda road, Melbourne, and £SOO to Reginald Roberts, She then devised to her executor (\\ illiarn Hamilton, solicitor, Sydney), all her real and personal estate, upon trust, to sell and convert into money, and to divide the proceeds equally between her brothers, Frederick Young, James Young, George Young, and her sister, Gladys Clark. Miss Young’s estate consisted of £2OOO in realty, £2973 sh< ires in public companies, £620 furniture, £2335 value of jewellery, £937 money on current account in the Bank of New South Wales, and £1852 in Com monwealth War Loans. At the hearing of the libel action in Sydney, Philip Newbury v. the Triad, claim for £SOOO damages, Mr Newbury said that he was approaching his fifty-seventh birthday, and began to sing when he was 14. He approached Messrs Fuller’s manager, Mr Mack, with a view of engagement for tour in New Zealand, but Mr Mack said he did not see iiow it could be done in view of the article which the Triad had printed. Witness considered he was still in his prime as a singer. It was not unusual for a singer to retain his voice until a much greater age than 57. Charles Wulder Baeyertz, editor of the Triad, said that after the publication of the criticism he met Newbury, who complained of being very ill with a sore throat. He said that he had only consented to sing on the understanding, that the state of his health would be explained to the audience. Witness said that the criticism was written in ignorance of his health, and that the last thing that the Triad desired was to do a singer an injustice. Witness wrote a paragraph to that effect. (Plaintiff was awarded £SOO damages.) Tho centennial of the birth of Jenny Lind, the Swedish Nightingale, was observed with appropriate ceremonies at the New York Hippodrome on October 6, tho anniversary of her birth, when Belle Story, the Hippodrome prima donna, appeared at both performances of “Good Times” on that day in a replica of the costume worn by the Swedish singer upon her first appearance in America at Castle Garden, now the Aquarium, in 1850. Miss Story sang on each occasion the two best known of Jenny Lind’s numbers —the “Echo Song” and “Cornin’ thro’ the rye.” WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. Br I'Ei'Kft Pan. January 7. Dear “Pasquin,” —Marie Tempest’s season has been a great artistic success, but why the Grand Opera House has not been packed full every evening is a source of wonderment to old theatre-goers. This wonderful artist, and her capable company, has -drawn big houses, but she and they deserved better patronage. The plays presented all have bean high class, interpreted as one would see them in best theatres of the world; but yet the public taste seems to be for the jazz stuff! We are a decadent race. Miss Tempest closes her season to-morrow night, and then goes south, when it is to be hoped the people will be more appreciative of her great talent. Mr J. S. Vinsen, who has been stores manager of the New Zealand Picture Supplies since it commenced operations, is leaving for a trip to England, where he hopes to expand his knowledge of the picture business. He is taking with him the film “Beautiful New Zealand,” which should be a good advertisement for this country. Mr Vinsen was the recipient of presentations from the directors and staff. The Rev. Mr Askew, vicar of St. Mark's, who has just returned from England, brings glowing accounts of the success of the Neyv Zealand tenor, Mr Ernest Drake, who is well known in Dunedin. People who know predict great things ahead for Mr Drake. John Fullerf sen., who has been healthrecruiting for months past in Australia, arrived from Sydney this week. He goes on to Rotorua, and in April contemplates paying a visit to England. .John Hopkins and his “Fashion Plate Dandies” open a season in tho Town Hall on Saturday. Mr Hopkins has added a number of new artists to the combination. The company lias been doing good business in the Taranaki province. LONDON COMEDY COMPANY. “THE MAN FROM TORONTO.” An audience that very nearly filled His Majesty’s Theatre had presented to it on the 6th one of the prettiest comedies that have been seen on a Dunedin stage for a very lengthy period. “The Mail From Toronto” —such is tho name of the comedy —comes from tho pen of Douglas Murray, and has been performed with remarkable success in various parts of the world, and has stood the test of long seasons in several instances. An outline of the story will make the position quite clear. Mrs Calthorpe, a very charming widow, has, before the playopens, refused moro than one offer of marriage from the wealthy uncle of Fergus Wimbush, who at his death leaves a will almost entirely in favour of Mrs Calthorpe and Fergus, on condition that they marry. Mrs Calthorpe has already made one love-

less marriage, and, being ut an independent turn cl mind, mill somewnat seiiwiiled, acts her taee against becoming united to a man she lias never seen, but upon the strong rcprooi utauons made uy her uncle, who is al.su her legal auviser, reluctant.y consents to meet Jroigi.s \\ imbusu. “ J i.e -M n* I’ioin l oionto. Fergus, on his side, is profoundly indifferent as to what may happen, and pays a wsit to Mrs Calthorpe s home. Before lie arrives, the alert brain of Mrs Calthorpe has ue - . lsed a plan to discover whether Fergus is actuated b.v mercenary motives, and assumes the role oi servant in her own house, giving it out that Mrs Calthorpe has been suddenly calied away from home. In order to test Fergus she shows him a photograph of a Mrs Hubbard, who, with her daughter, appeais in the early part of the comedy, telling him it is Airs Calthorpe. The old lady is very far from being prepossessing, and when Fergus sees the portiait he flatly refuses to enter into uny matrimonial engagement, being partly persuaded thereto by the attractive personality of the pretty housemaid, Polly Perkins, who is in reality Airs Calthorpe. Polly is quickly interested in this vigorous man front Toronto, and the love that springs up between them grows with great rapidity. Kuth U lmbush, the sister of Fergus, who inherits under the will if its conditions are fulfilled, makes strenuous efforts t-o induce the “Alan from Toronto” to consent to marry the Airs Calthorpe of the photograph, but, Fergus perenujfccrily and energetically refuses, as lie is -JWing more anti more in love with Polly every day. In the end, after showing in small ways what his feelings are for Polly, he makes a declaration of his love, but is refused; I’oliy declaring that he must marry Mrs Calthorpe. This he very forcibly declines to do. and is on the point of taking his departure in a dejected hut rather turbulent frame of mind when Polly appears in her proper person, and so in the end Fergus Wimbush does marry Mrs Calthorpe and not Polly Perkins. Mrs Calthorpe was charmingly presented by Aliss Margaret Swallow, who evidently quite appreciated the kind of character she had to portray. The Fergus Wimbush of Mr George Tully was a capital study, and was a fine illustration of sturdy manhood and strong self-reliance ; of one who was not to be diverted from his purpose by the interference of others. Tho Mr Priestly of Air Joseph F. Graham was an admirable piece of acting, and was recognised as such by the audience on more than one occasion. Plenty of good, wholesome comedy came from Mr Ronald Ward as Bobbie Gilmore; Aliss Rosaline Courtneidge made a bright, vivacious, and frisky Ada Wimbush; Aliss Alarie Rignold, as the calm, collected, and rather calculating Ruth Wiinbush. was eminently successful; and the smaller parts of Martha, Airs Hubbard, and Mimic Hubbard were . quite satisfactorily filled by Misses Blanche Alassey, Leslie JT.ester. and Leslie Graham respectively. In fact, it may be said that there was not a weak spot in the whole cast.