THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 52

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By

PASOUIN.

Monday, January 24. Mr Walter George and the Sunshine Players will produce the pretty, tunelul, and comical Eastern revue, “The Belie of Burmah,” at the Princess Theatre to-night, and three strong new acts are announced in the persons of Desperado and La Rose, a sensational pair of acrobats; Hurt and C’lilfs a pair of sketch artists; and the amusing pianoloquist Wallingford Tate. In addition to these, the Rev. Frank Gorman (who will stay another week), Alberto, De Wilford, and James Schofield will provide new items. The Marie Tempest-Graham Browne season will commence at His Majesty’s Theatre to-morrow night. The opening piece will be “The Duke of Killiecrankie.” A change of programme will be given each evening, and the season will close on Saturday night. The very successful Dunedin season of the Diggers was brought to a conclusion on Saturday night. Reynolds Denniston, the ox-Dunediu amateur actor, who has travelled in many lands since he became a professional, sends me a post card from Singapore under date December 16, conveying the season's greetings. On the reverse side of the card is a photograph of the five ladies and 10 actors who comprise “The Denniston Players.” Time has dealt lightly wdth Mr Denniston, who looks almost as young as when he graced the boards in Dunedin more than 20 years ago. In order to meet as far as possible difficulties as to transit, following on the strike by the stewards and the holding up of shipping, the leading Melbourne theatres announce that until further notice all performances will begin at 7.45 and end at 10.45. r l he attendances are being seriously affected as a result of the reduced train services consequent on a shortage of coal, and the dislocation .if the night train services. Miss Violet Carmen, who has arrived in Sydney from England, appeared in Australia and New Zealand some few years ago, making a hit with the song “Gome Down the Wanganui.’’ Since then she has been in England, where her engagements included three annearances as principal bov in pantomime—“ Cinderella,” “Jack Horner,” and “Red Riding Hood.” Miss Carmen will appear in vaudeville for Ben and John Fuller, and will introduce several of the latest English song successes. Newman -qyid Wynne, cockney sketch artists, who " are shortly due at Fullers’ Theatre. Sydney, have engagements booked until 1926. I do not know whether the two artists are to come to New Zealand. For beautiful scenic effects “Chu Chin Chow,” at the Melbourne Tivoli Theatre, is said to stand unsurpassed in the history of the Australian stage. The Slave Market in the first act. and the Oasis and Kasim Baba’s Palace In the second, are particularly fine examples of the scene painter's art. The dressing throughout Is magnificent. The Verbrugghen Orchestra, which is about to start out. on a tour of New Zealand under the J. and N. Tait management. has mapped out an itinerary covering 14 cities and towns. Tn Auckland. Wellington. Christchurch, and Dunedin the festival will last a week, and there will be a proportionate series of concerts in the other places. The programmes are to be of a most irite-esfing character, and some brilliant soloists are to be included in tlip company. Among them will be Carl Formes. Signor R-ilhoni. and Miss Elsie Trpweek, who will be heard in some special operatic selections. The Daily Mail recently entered noon a search for an English P ; ckford and offered a Prize of £SOO to the girl' who equalled the popular film artist from America. The judges have now awarded the golden apple to Winifred Ne’son. of Eastbourne. Miss Ada Reeve, the famous singing comedienne, is at present in South Africa., where she is appearing in a series of mus’cal cornedv revivals in .Tohanncshur" including “The Merry Widow” ami “Florndora.” Miss Helen Charles, after a tour of over cv months in New Zeal e l flip Tr,,]i n) . circuit, has made her final anroarance in Auckland, and was to sail for Rvdnev. There is a London actress who has had a salary for four rears a -d nothing to ,1c for it. Tn 1916 Miss Marianne Caldwell was engaged “for the run of (he piece” f-w “Chu F 1,;,, Chow" at TTis Majesty's Theatre. Before lids ohstinnteV successful nlav was produced it was found that Miss Caldwell need not be cdled ,mon for the wart she had rehearsed, and her services have never been required since. Every week a chorine for her salary is sent her. and in acknowledging the receipt of it she sava where she mav he found if wanted in a hurrv. The outstanding feature of the part for which she was east is an “Infectious” laugh. On hoard the Ormonde, which is to arrive at Melbourne on .Tannarv 29. is .Toe Oovno. the famous fa roe-comedian, who is to appear under the ,T C w;tj;,nv-nn tf Id 1 management in “TTis T.adv Triends ” “Wedding Bells” and “Nighty-Night.” The London Morning Post reeorded the fact that tlm famous comedy star was given a farewell

dinner at CSrco’s, London, prior to his departure to Australia, and that the chair at the festive board was taken by Sir Walter De Frece. Looking down the list of artists appearing in the original London cast of “The Maid of the Mountains”—the world’s record-breaking comic opera—to be staged in Melbourne by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.), some familiar names meet the eye. These include the celebrated Jose Collins, daughter of Lottie Collins, of “Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay” fame. Lottie Collins visited Australia some years ago. . Miss Jose Collins played the title role, in which Gladys Moncrieff will appear in the Australian production. There are also Arthur Wontner, who was a member of the Julius Knight-Maude Jeffries Company, and Pop Cory, husband of Winifred O’Connor, who was prima donna of the Clarke and Meynell Comic Opera Company, and who also appeared in several of that firm’s musical productions. According to a cablegram to the Sydney Sun, the late Mile. Gah.v Deslvs’ house at Kensington Gore is up for sale. It contains a mysterious secret room, which has been religiously kept locked. The remainder of the house is decorated and furnished in Eastern luxuriance, suggesting a Moorish harem. There is a gilt bath, and the bedsteads are also gilt, the coverlets being fringed with monkeys’ hair. The debut of Miss Elizabeth Irving, daughter of the late Mr H. B. Irving, as Titania in the production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Court Theatre, London, marks the entry of the third generation of the Irving family into the career peculiarly associated with their name. Miss Irving, who has only just left Wycombe Abbey School, is the niece, through her mother, Miss Dorothea Baird, of the present Master of Balliol, Mr A. L. Smith. WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. Br Peteii Pah. January 20. Dear “Pasquin,” - John Hopkins’s “Fashion Plate” Dandies opened at the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last week, and are having a most successful time. The company is a clever one, and should do well on the lengthy tour of the Dominion which John Hopkins has mapped out. Miss Rosa Walton is still with the combination, and her pianologues are a feature of the show. Mr Renn Millar is also a member, and the popular basso had a flattering reception here. The much heralded “Irene” made her bow to a New Zealand audience at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday, and proved as good as has been proclaimed. It is a delightful musical comedy, and the star, Miss Dorothy Goreth, is as clever as she is winsome. The comedy is splendidly staged and is dressed in the usual Tait manner. “Irene” is in for a prosperous run here. At His Majesty’s, Fuller’s are running all vaudeville to the public taste. A 12-year-old violin player, Daniel Lubowslci, who is said to be very gifted, and comes with much press appreciation of his gifts, is to give two recitals here next week. The lad is on a tour of the world, and members of the family assist him in his recitals. His sister, Anna, a year older than Daniel, is his accompaniste.