THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 44

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

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MONDAY, January 17. The Walter George Sunshine Players will produce a brand-new musical comedy entitled “Oh, Nell!” to-night. The piece was specially written for the producers by Mr Harold Lane, of Christchurch. The company has had the comedy in rehearsal for some weeks, and the expensive wardrobe and scenic accessories have all been. made in this city. On the vaudeville . side, a Canadian lyric tenor, Mr James Schofield, will make his debut, and new offerings are promised from the Rev. Frank Gorman, Alberto Rix, and De Wilford. From the moment the dainty female impersonator of the Diggers’ Company (Mr Stan Lawson), bewitchingly attired and with grace in every movement, pirouetted her (or his) way on to the stage to lead a joyous party of six pierrots in song and dance, until the curtain fell on the last scene of the concluding boisterous farce, the entertainment given by the Diggers ran merrily to the accompaniment of hearty laughter from an audience which filled every part of His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday. This is the third or fourth time that the Diggers have appeared in Dunedin, but that they have not outstayed their welcome was proved on Saturday night by the great crowd present. Probably the greatest attraction of the Diggers lies in their ability, while following on the more or less orthodox lines adopted by their professional brethren, to impart a certain freshness to their turns which cannot fail to make an appeal. Moreover, the Diggers give good value for the money received from their patrons, as can be seen from the fact that no fewer than 23 songs, sketches, etc., were contributed during the evening, that there were a large number of encores, and that the programme was concluded with a burlesque, “Murphy Meets the Governor.” The first of the big J. C. Williamson, Ltd. attractions for 1921 will be seen at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday week, when England’s greatest comedy star actress, Miss Marie Tempest, and the noted English actor, Mr Graham Browne, will begin a short farewell season of five nights. Phenomenal business was recorded during the Wellington and Christchurch seasons. The advance booking in Wellington was the heaviest ever known for a J. C. Williamson, Ltd., attraction, the entire seating accommodation, with the exception of the gallery being sold out each evening before curtain rise. A new play will be presented each night, the repertoire including “The Duke of Killicrankie,” “The Great Adventure,” “Mary Goes First,” “At the Barn,” “Cousin Kate,” and “The Marriage of Kitty.” The opening production will be “The Duke of Killiecrankie.” Mr H. R. Cole, a Dunedin artist, who went to the war, has accepted an engagement with the Fuller management to do lightning sketches. A cablegram from London, under date January 15, states that Miss Violet Lorraine is retiring from the stage and is to marry the Hon. Edward Joicey, the eldest son of Lord Joicey, the coal magnate. Rene, Maxwell, who is starring in “The Lilac Domino” at the Tivoli, loft Australia for London in 1914 to studv at the Guildhall. One of her most pleasant experiences in London was the night she spent at “The Lilac Domino” there. She loved the music, but little did she dream that she would take Clara Butterworth’s part when the operetta came to Australia. Rene Maxwell did not know then that she was an actress. Melbourne seems to have got Chu Chin Chowitis. It is a stupendous production, and the mind cannot assimilate it all at once. In fact, to appreciate “Chu Chin Chow” properly at least three visits are necessary. Miss Nellie Kolle is appearing as principal boy in Ben and John Fuller’s pantomine, “The Babes in the Wood” at the Newtown (Sydney) Majestic Theatre. Miss Kolle was principal boy in last year's pantomine at the same theatre. Mr Norman M’Kinnel, chairman of the British Actors’ Association, who has appeared in Australia, says in a press letter regarding a Sunday matinee of “Henry V”: —“As the performance is being given for a charity, we merely register a protest against the principle of Sunday theatrical performances. If there is any danger of Sunday performances becoming general, however, ibis association will take steps to prevent such an innovation unless (bo actors’ interests are suitably protected.” Sunday concerts are a regular institution in London, but so far the feeling has been against Sunday theatrical performances, though they are held in various countries of Europe and America. Stage management was visible at a recent London wedding, when twenty ladies of the Hippodrome beauty chorus acted ns guard of honour to a bride with whom they had been associated in revue. The salary of the vaudeville “star” has advanced greatly, even though allowance has to be made for exaggerated statements on the matter. “The music hall profession,” said Mr Tate, the president of the Variety Artists’ Benevolent Fund, speaking in London recently, "was raised from the back rooms of th e tavern. We have people

[ on our books—‘stars' in their day— who I never received more than £6 or £8 a week, j To-day there are ‘stars who receive £6OB I or £Buo. ” ' ror boxes at Mr George Robey's concert i at the London Coliseum on Sunday, Noum- ; ber 7, in aid of the children of printers who j toil m the war, jit V iiliam de Selincourt aud Sir William Paterson each paid £IOOO. j Inis constitutes a record in the history of j the stage. j One of the most important events in the history of tile Australian stage will be the first production of the comic opera that holds the world’s record—" The Maid of the Mountains.” It ran for 1320 nights at Dalys Theatre, London. The property of Chung Ling Soo, the illusionist, who met with a fatal accident on the stage just prior to corning out to fulfil an engagement to Ben and John Fuller, is to be sold by auction. The particulars of the sale (says The Times) read oddly. Ihe illusion apparatus includes “lantern, levitation, disappearing, and other fakes.” 1 here are papier mache life-sized lions and elephants, the Holy Bible printed in Chinese, four volumes of an English-Chinese dictionary, painted Chinese street scenes, a set of marionettes, a heavily carved Chinese lacquered mantelpiece, a “death chair illusion” (in deal box), a bridal chamber illusion (in crate), a “nicely-made and Japanned ‘vanishing bench girl’ in wood case,” arid “a Pretty Polly illusion,” with wooden cage. There is also included in the sale some property of the “Great Lafayette,” who was killed in the music hall fire at Edinburgh. This consists of three crates, containing, among other things, well-painted profile horses, surmounted by Guardsmen,” and “a large quantity of soldiers’ heads and shoulders, with bayonets.” Mr and Mrs John .Fuller, sen., have returned from an extended visit to Australia, and leave for Rotorua on Monday. After a couple of months’ stay there they intend making a trip to England. Mr Fuller is thoroughly restored to health and looks more vigorous than ever. He speaks enthusiastically of the firm’s plans for the future—in drama,'' pantomime, revue, and vaudeville —and according to the veteran head there is to be no limit to their ramifications. Old-time playgoers and the many friends of Mr L. J. Lohr, once a well-known tour-

ing manager in New Zealand and Australia, will regret to learn of his death, which took place at Waiwera, Auckland, on the last day of the year. L. J. Lohr was in his time the doyen ot touring managers, and there was no more popular man on the road. He was responsible for introducing to New Zealand such well-known artists as Carl Hertz, the famous conjurer and magician; Clinquevalli, the great juggler (whose act with a cannon ball will be well remembered) ; and the inimitable comedian, Frank Thornton. Genial and big-hearted, L. J. Lohr was beloved bv all who knew him, and in the professional world he was affectionately known as “Daddy” Lohr. He retired some years ago, and took an hotel at Anderson’s Inlet, outside of Melbourne. In 1915 he came to Auckland, and was “mine host” at Whakatane for a time. lie had not been in the best of health for the pastfew weeks, and died on December 31, at the age of 70 years. He was the husband of Kate Bishop, once a well-known actress, and father of Alisa Marie Lohr, of the Globe Theatre, I.ondon.