THE STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3619, 24 July 1923, Page 50

THE STAGE.

BOOKINGS. PRINCESS THEATRE. Fuller’s Vaudeville. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. July 26-August 6. —Emelie Polini. August 7-B.—Dunedin Choral Society (pencilled). August 9. —Dunedin Sliakesperian Society (pencilled). August 15-23. —Jean Gerardy. September 6-15.—Oscar Asche. September 18-October 6.—Dunedin Competitions. October 20-27.—Dunedin Sports Carnival. November 24-30. —Tana Fama Company. ' 1 ' ' \ ' \ i) MT T F > ’ A NOTES. til pAaciuiti MONDAY, July 25. The scene in the theatre on Saturday night, when the Walter George Sunshine Players closed the last night ot their many long and successful seasons was a real orgy ol enthusiasm, not paralleled by preceding ovations. At the conclusion of the entertainment the stage was laden with flowers and gilts, the artists arms were full of them, and the audience was signalling with noisy eloquence ns appreciation of the many pleasant evenings provided by this outstanding combination. Mr Walter George expressed the alfection that had come to exist between audience and actors, and the regrets inseparable from such occasions. Mr George Storey, a comedy idol of vaudeville audiences, had also to say a parting word. Jo-night the George Wallace Revue Company makes its appearance. The company takes its name from the producer and chief comedian. Mr Wallace, the youngest producer on the Fuller circuit, has had a remarkable run of success in Australia. The supporting principals are Mr Reg. Collins, Mr Marshall Crosby, Mr Jack White, Mr Tom Lincoln, Miss Nellie Hull, Miss “Babe” Scolt, and Miss Hilda Gifford. The vaudeville preface will bring four fine new acts to the Princess, one of them with an international reputation. This is the sensational aerial act of Colleano on the wire. Another important act is Abdy’s much enlarged zoo, a_ collection of dogs, cats, and monkeys. Poincare, the clever mimic, and Miss Winnie Prevail complete what should prove a remarkable bill. Tb© Emilie Polini Season will open at Lis Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday evening next the opening piece will "be “My 1-ady s Dress.” ~ Benjamin Fuller is expected in New u i, * n August, en route for America and Europe, in search of fresh attractions It is announced that after his holiday abroad A.fred Frith is returning to Austraha under engagement, to Hugh Ward and Co., instead of his old management Edgar Benyon, the well-known Christ cnurch boy entertainer, who has just cornD arl Tt l u months ’ tour of Australia under the Puller management, has accepted an engagement with Musgrove’s Tivoli theatres, to tour Australia and South A Inca. i? m-i, n ?7 ted , We!s b pianist composer, Miss Eaun Harrhy and her husband Mr W C Beckx-Daly, are at present in Auckland’ having arrived by the Ulimaroa from Svdney (says the Auckland Herald). Miss Harrhy has a big reputation as a composer., pianist ami singer. “I am a WelTh lass, she said when interviewed, “born in Monmouthshire and my earliest memory the T il i? Ke harpist ” Among U rri u . s . n <>table song- compositions T> S fi Across the Moor” “Tt, o Pathway up the Hillside.” “A Virrininn Love .song,” “Lilies of Normandy.” -TU* Young Rose. “You.” “Requiem” and work a inXd° a «‘P (t,Ue - ) -.. Her inslt 'iimoi,( a l ' d - Reverie” and “Romance ” of the H n rrhy - IS ,10 u makln s a concert tour S 3 ISteTJR Z y - “““* . Tt ~ s , sta ted that Mary Piokford wants to adopt the beautiful film chiki p hi , H pf , haute"!’ , WaS fo,md on a French L Iwet a " d t^ en ,. t ° America by Edith do la., ey, an English nurse. Thus far offers." 6 LaCey 103 refused Miss Pickford’s Maurice Muscovitch has sided from Eng--1 T d , for . n South Africa with accompany which wall tour with “The Great Lover ” his success of a couple of years a<>o ’at exn^t te9 r v | Theatre. Mr Muscovitch experts to be bacic m London about the middle of September. New Zealand audiences appeared to be divided in their opinion of the acting of Louis Dennison in the name part of “The Great Lover” when it was here hist year. Mr W. S. Percy. the well-known comedian, has been elected a member of the Society of Australian Fainter Etchers Book plates designed bv him (most of them lor well-known dramatic folk) were on view at the recent book-plate exhibition in Sydney The Melbourne Argus says they revealed a lively fancy and considerable artiste ski 11. Moon and Morris, soft-shoe dancers, who created a very favourable imnression in Dunedin, are playing a short season at the Unity Theatre, Perth, after which they will probably return to England. They have now been in the colonies for a number of years. , Many old theatrical friends visited the Coliseum, London, recently, to wish many happy returns to Fred Delaney, the senior, partner in the laughable turn billed as “Griffiths Bros.” Fred Delaney is probably the oldest performer with continuous service on the halls and theatres in Great Britain. lie was apprenticed to (he profession at the age of five, and the occasion was the celebration of bis sixtyseventh birthday. He has been continuously at, work in circuses, halls, pantomimes, and plays in all parts of the world for the last 62 years. “Voluntary liquidation does not mean the extinction of the Carl Kosa Opera Com-

pany,” said van Noorden, chairman of the efTmpany, in a statement made in. London recently. “Such a thing is unthinkable to me in view of the Carl Rosa’s half century’s work on behalf of English opera, in the course of which it has trained most of the leading English singers heard on the operatic stage, and lias become a household word up and down the country. Probably the company will be continued on a reconstructed basis,” concludes the statement, "and with this end in view negotiations are in progress, in addition to which offers of help have come in from a number of sources. These offers come from all classes.” A new record has been established at the Auckland Opera House bv the Stiffy and Mo Revue Company which has just brought a. memorable rgr.teen weeks’ season to a close. Both from a Pox office point of view and length of run. these talented performers have eclipsed all previous achievements on the Fuller circuit. The New Yetk Hippodrome, the largest theatre in the world, closed for the season on 28(h April, and there is a probability of. its never reopening. The New York Times, says there has been no definite confirmation of the recent report that the Hippodrome would make way for a modern hotel, the largest, of its kind in the Times so ware district. It is known, however, that the. Fortv-tbird Street Holding Company, which owns the Hipnodrome, has been considering an offer from a hotel syndicate, and the announcement was made that in all r.robabilitv this season would bring the Hippodrome’s long nd interesting history to a close. The Hippodrome was built in 1904. Its first show, under the direction of Frederick Thompson of Luna Park fame, opened in 1805 Ten vears later Charles Dillingham undertook the management, and he has since controlled it. Mr TTenrv Ainlev. speaking at Hull Luncheon Club, said there had never been a time when the stage and acting were so good, or the endeavour so good. There was nothing mediocre amongst the young olavers of to-d"v. Thev wer° all striving for beautv. and heautv was a thing that was going to bring success to the theatre. London and provincial roe pacers said that that was too expensive Thev would have to learn that their mone.v vc’d have to be expended for the exploitation of beauty in the drama, otherwise thev would not find peace in their minds or money in their purses.