THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 44

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By Pas-ct m. Monday, July 4. The Mimi Diggers continue to draw excellent houses to the Princess Theatre. “Tile Tommy's Bride” will be the new revue for this evening. On the vaudeville side three new acts are announced-—these being Bellora, a famous bird mimic; the two Cookes, who furnish an exhibition of balancing and equilibrium; and Miss Daisy Cooke, a clever wire-walker. In addition, the Rev. Frank Gorman, Arthur Tanchart, and Newman and Wynne will also appear. Miss Mane Nilsson, the famous Scottish soprano, is to give two concerts in the Burns .Hall this week. Tile “Humpty Dumpty” season will commence on Saturday next at His Majesty’s Theatre. Signor Notariello and the artists associated with him gave the last of their series of concerts at the Burns Hall on Saurday night. Should the company be able to revisit Dunedin, it should meet with a warm welcome. Mr M'Carty, the well-known theatrical agent, who is with the Allan Wilkie Company, was laid up for a few days in Dunedin. Ho lias now, I am glad to say, recovered; and has resumed his multifarious duties with the company. The Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company will visit Invercargill, Balclutha, Gore, Oamaru, and Ashburton, playing “The Merchant of Venice” at each of those places. The company will subsequently go through the North Island, appearing at Palmerston North and Taihape on its way to Auckland. Air Tano Fama writes me from Wellington that the New Zealand Diggers (who have just concluded a tour of New Zealand, which lasted nearly 10 months and extended over 100 towns) have not amalgamated with any other theatrical organisation. This popular company will play a return season in the Dominion, starting about next October. While absent from New Zealand their producer intends to secure some novelties for their new programme, which will be on a more elaborate scale than hitherto, and altogether an additional £IOOO will be spent on the show. “The Babes in the Wood” has been chosen by the J. O. Williamson management for the Christinas Pantomime this year. Miss Maggie Dickinson, who is at present _ in England, is due back in Melbourne in time to commence rehearsals for pantomime. It is possible that in the meantime she may accept an engagement in London. At last “The Ala id of the Alountains,” which holds the record for any production ever staged in Melbourne, is nearing the end of its run. After a season of 23 weeks “The Maid of the Mountains” will be replaced by “Kutinka” in order to allow of the production to be transferred to Adelaide, where the season will open on July 16. “Katinka” was staged at the Melbourne Royal last Saturday, July 2. It is understood that Alexander Watson, the celebrated elocutionist, will commence another tour of New Zealand in September next. A comment on “Chu Chin Chow” bv a London critic: —“Very soon ‘Chu Chin Chow’ will rank among the old plays; but it is unlikely that it will over be revived, for it is doubtful if it will ever cease running. Oscar Asohe has become so spoilt by bis continuous appearance in a role that plays itself that his grunts and his appearance were the only things I recognised him by.” The attraction at the Sydney Playhouse, Castloreugh street, just now is “A night at a Maori Pah,” hv the famous Rotorua Maoris. It is billed as “The Revue that is Different.,” and one of the biggest lines in the. nils, and posters reads: “Forty full blooded Maoris from the thermal regions of New Zealand, headed by the beautiful twin guides, Eileen and Georgina, of Whakarewarewa fame.” Two daughters of Mr Frank Morton, the well-known journalist, who worked for a time on the reporting staff of the Otago Daily Times, are with the “Chu Chin Chow” Company which is visiting New Zealand. Mr Morton now resides in Sydney. Miss Nola Lux ford has been offered a leading part by Oliver Mniweo in bis new screen pmductmn “The Halfbroed.” Miss T/oxford is a FT.*:slings girl, a daughter of Airs A. A. Pm it. and in private life is Airs Maurice Cl. Luxford. She went to California a year ago. and has steadily worked her way info the front rank of film ariists. \ mother New Zealand girl—Miss Isold Wilfred, a daughter of Mr Tom Wilford, of Wellington—is also- achieving success li l the pictures in America. ‘ Clara- Buit and her husband. Konnorlv Romford, ere to open n tour of the col inios in Svduey next September. Dornldiv Lnmfon has added to her long list, of sun eses by her performance in “Oh,

Lady! Lady!’* at Aleiboume Her Majesty's. Miss Brim ten plays tlie rRe ot i :.!iny W i-leii —“i* aiming Fanny,” a crook, who, while gracefully fainting in a gentleman's arms, gently annexes his jewellery. iler performance :s a study in clever c.narncter acung, and is a still further indication of the popular young star’s versatility and i lie scope of her ability. Since her first appearance in musical comedy Miss Brunton has dune nothing better than her clever performance ot t lie role of “Fainting Fanny.” Interviewed in Wellington the other day, Mr Ernest Drake, the Dunedin tenor, who has just returned from England, gave some interesting details of his successes at Home, and of the musical situation. Mr Drake was selected 10 sing the tenor roles in Ihe Messiah” and ‘‘Hiawatha” at Brighton, and on the» death of Gorva.se Eiwee, was asked to sing in Elgar's ‘‘Dream oi Gerontius; but had to decline, as he was not up in tlie role. On one occasion he was summoned to sing (a trial) at Covent Garden Opera House by Mr Higgins. As the result he was offered an engagement in the v arl Rosa Opera Company, and was also wanted by Mr Seymour Ilicks for bis musical comedy, ‘ Ihe Little Di tch Girl,” but* on the advice of Mr Uttley (his singing master) lie declined both offers. Referring to singers of the day, Mr Drake placed Miss Buckrnan at the head of the operatic sopranos, stating that the critics placed her “Butterfly' 5 before all others—even before that of Emmy Dost inn. Robt. Radford was still England’s best baritone, and Tom Burke vva- one of the best, operatic tenors. lie believed that Harold W illiams, an Australian, with whom he toured (with Madame Limn), was destined to be the best baritone in England. Mr Drake intends touring New Zealand, when he wai be associated with Miss Dorothy Baker (violinist), Miss Clarice Wood (pianist), and Miss Molly Dixon (soprano). Later he will visit Australia, en route to England.