THE STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3509, 14 June 1921, Page 44

THE STAGE.

Oimfcribntfons frotn the Profession ohrooiollng their movemente and doings are invited. All oomm uni cations to be addressed “Pasquin,'* Otago Wituees Office.

PRINCESS THEATRE Fullers' Vaudeville nightly. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. June 15 to July 2.—Allan Wilkie. Booked. July 5-9.—J. C Williamson. Booked. July 11-16.—J. C. Williamson. Pencilled. "The drama’s laws the drama’s patrons gi v ©- And those who live to please must pleasa Us live.*’ THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By

Pasquin.

MONDAY, June 13. Iluxham’s Serenaders concluded their success lul season at the Princess Theatre on •Saturday night, and had a fine send-off. They open in Christchurch. The “Mmn” D.ggers, who have just concluded a season at Christchurch, will be the newcomers tins evening. On the purely vaudeville side the Rev. Frank Gorman will make a reappearance. me Eng.ish Pierrots have just about completed their tour of the southern towns. They open a short return season in Dunedin on Thursday. The opening play of the Allan Wilkie Company, whose season commences on Wednesday, will be ‘‘Hamlet.” "‘The Merchant of Venice.” “Twelfth Night,” “Macbeth, ’ “Othello,” and “As You Like it” will follow, a change being presented each evening. It is to be hoped that the company will receive the cordial support of theitregoers. The will of the late Florence Maud Barx'aty Rivington, professionally known as Florence Young, operatic artist, who died on November it, 1920, has been lodged at the Probate Office, Melbourne, for the purpose of filing. Her estate in New South VVales was valued at £10,745 and her personel property in Victoria at £B2O, which were lett to her brothers : id sisters, subject to a bequest of £IOO to Minnie Levy, of St. Kilda road, Melbourne, and £SOO to Reginald Roberts. Early in the month “Going Up” was having its second revival in Melbourne, Miss Dorothy Brunton taking the part of Grace Douglas (played in Dunedin by Gracie Lavers). Miss Cecil Bradley, Win. Frith, Mr Field Fisher, Miss Madge Elliott, Air Ritchard, and Mr Jack Hooker are still with the company. After about, two years in the East as producer and player with Mr Reynolds Denniston and a company mainly Australian, Mr Reginald YVykeliam has returned to Sydney. Theatrical entertainments hold throughout the United Kingdom on Warriors’ Day (March 31). in -aid of Field Marshal Karl Haig’s fund for unemployed ex-service men, realised £115,140, which amount Lady Tree, widow of the late Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, has handed to Lord Haig. What memories are evoked by that oddest of verbal combinations, “Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay,” once so eloquent, now so insane. The author of the song with which Miss Lottie Collins drove London imbecile has just died. lie was Mr Richard Morton, a well-known dramatic critic, who wrote lyrics for the Gaiety and Daly’s in the days o r John Hollingshead. The granddaughter of Sara Bernhardt. Mile. Lysiane Bernhardt, was married at the _ Church of Saint Francois de Sales, Paris, to M. Colin chi Bocage, the dramatic autihor, who is well known under the aom de guerre of Louis Verneuil.

Mr W. S. Percy, who is returning to Australia under engagement to J. O. Williamson, Ltd., will be leaving with his family in July. In October he will probably open with “The Naughty Princess,” and go into pantomime at Christmas. He expects to be in New Zealand some time next year, and is looking forward to seeing old friends. Since leaving Australasia he has played with W. Savage at the New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, and he has toured the whole of England, Ireland, and Scotland with Sir Alfred Butt’s company in “The Boy” and “High Jinks,” He has spent a year at the London Hippodrome with Ids own sketch company, and was in the cast of “Oh Don’t, Dolly,” at the Criterion Theatre,' “The Girl and the Boy,” at the Duke of York’s, and “Medora,” at the Alhambra. George Villiers Arnold, who was playing the role of Mustapha. the cobbler, in “Chu Chin Chow,” in Australia, died on May 21 at Sydney. His wife. Pearl Ladd, who had recently replaced Miss Louie Pounds m the same piece, owing to that popular artist’s approaching return to London, was wilh the sufferer to the end. Mr Arnold came to Australia with the J. O. Williamson “Giibert-Sulhvan Opera Company” of 1914. when he proved himself a charming singer and a character-actor of talent. As an actor he gave an elnborate'y fantist-'c impersonation of Pish-Tush in “The Mikado.” Mr Arnold ultimately joined - I ' o boyal Comic Opera Company and other combinations, until nearly four' years a<r o xv,ion he appeared in vaudeville sketches XV, th his Wife under the Fuller direction and in several of their pantomimes. In the chorus 0 f the Gilbert, an.! Sullivan tompanv which is to tour New Zealand‘is Miss baleen Pollard. a grandniece of veteran Mr Tom Pollard. The young lady is |USt 16. Annette Kellevman was the opening attraction at J O. Williamson’s new Theatre Koval 111 Sydney on Saturday night, June 4. Miss Kellerman has a company of 22 artists with her. When Jascha Heifetz arrived in Melbourne his retinue astonished the large crowd of musical and other people who thronged the railway station platform to meet him. ITe was accompanied hy no fewer than 15 relatives and members of his staff. Heifetz was accorded a civic welcome

by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne at the Town Hall—an Honour winch appeared to deiigilt him nninuiise.y. iU-ifi u s snup.e, boyish, and unartectfcii demeanour won all hearts. -May 31 marked the one hundred and fiftieth performance of “lh.e Maid of tne Mountains' at Melbourne theatre Koval. A handsome souvenir was presented to the audience as a memento ui me oc a.-i-m. llow popular tile comic opera has proved, and how lasting i.s its success, is indicated by the fact that il is still p.axing to capacity, and the end of the season is not yet in sight. Jan Caryll (formerly Thomas O’Carroll, a New Zealand dancer) writes to me Loin the Oremorne Theatre, Brisbane, stating that he had concluded his Australian engagements, and that he intended to leave Sydney for England by the Ceramic in order to gain wider experience. Mr Caryll was in New Zealand with J. C. Williamson's “Bing Boys on Broadway” and "Passing dhow of 1920.” Mr W. F. Russell has arrived in Auckland to make arrangements for the Dominion tour of “Chu Chin Chow.” The Oscar Asche play will be staged at Auckland on June 28. Fdgley and Diwe, the two eccentric comedians with the “Sinbad the Sailor” panto., and Dan Agar, the dame, have organised a revue company entitled “Odds and Ends,” and intend to tour New Zealand. Some of the “Sinbad” girls have been engaged us supports. Gilbert i'Tankau, the talented son of “Frank Dauby,” has dramatised his mother’s delightful story, "The Heart of a Child.” It is being presented at the Kiugsway Theatre, London, with Miss Fay Davis and Miss Rene Kelley in the leading roles. Mr Arthur Pusey, who appeared frequently during the war, on the Navy and Army Canteen’s Theatrical Circuit, is playing juvenile lead. WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. Bt Pkteb Pah. June 10. Dear “Pasquin,”—“The Vice-Rcgals,” a Digger costume comedy company led by Pat Hanna, are due by the next boat from Melbourne, and will go on to Wanganui, where the Dominion tour commences. Victor Beck has everything in readiness. The “Marama” Opera Company returned from the south this week, and played at the Lower Hutt on Wednesday night. The company is playing through the Wairarapa district. By the Marama, which is due hero from San Francisco next week, Jack and Mary Graham, an American vaudeville duo, will arrive. They will make their first appearance on the Fuller circuit at the local house. Just now Philip Noxvburv. Maud Courtenay and Mr 0., Nellie Kolle and others are amusing and entertaining the public.

The “Humpty-Dumpty” Pantomime was produced at the Opera House on Wednesday, and as a spectacle was nT that wea claimed for it. The scenery and dressing are gorgeous, and the ballets delightful. The company is exceedingly strong in dancers. “Humpty-Dumpty” should have a successful run. Roland Stavely arrived from Sydney last week to take over the business management of the Rosemary Rees Comedy Company, which is about to tour the Dominion. The company is at present rehearsing in Gisborne, where it will make its first appearance in ATiss Rees’s farcical comedv “The Amateur Adventuress.” The principals of the company are—Miss Katie Towers. Miss Korn King. Miss Tna Marsh, Harold Moran, and Gregory Lawson.. The play has been accepted for production in London.