THE STAGE FROM THE STILLS

Southland Times, Issue 17305, 29 March 1913, Page 11

THE STAGE FROM THE STILLS

1 (Bjr ‘‘MwkhslO MUNICIPAL THEATRE BOOKINGS^ • 19 13. J - ‘.i - April 7th—B. E WiUtTOS. April Bth to 12ih—Beebe’a yanfiavHLe Co. April 28. 39, 10 and May I—Geo, Marlow. May 5. 8 and 7—E. Branscombe —Dandies May 33rd and 21th —J. C. Williamson. ..May 30th and 31st—J. C. Williamson. Jyne 2 to s—Boxing Association (pen.) Jane 12. 13, and 14—John Poller and Sons. Jane 18 and 17—Allan Hamilton (pen.) July 11—Orange Ledge. July 31, Aug. 1 and 2—J. C. Williamson. August 4 to 20th—Competitions Society. Bept. 28th and l!7th—E. Branscombe. Oct. 3 and 4—J. C. Williamson (pen.) October 13 and 14—Band Contest. Nov, 13th to 18th—Band Contest (pen.) Nov. 28th and,29th— J. C. Williamson. ZEALANDIA HALL. Fullers’ Pictures, every evening. LYCEUM. Hayward's Pictures, every evening. The first performance of “The Blue Blrd"ln New Zealand was given by Williamson's specially organised “Blue Bird" Company in Auckland on Easter Monfiay night. A private wire states' that MaeterAnck’s fairy play was witnessed by a crowded house and received with •vary manifestation of approval. Tha following tour has been definitely Bxad for J. C. Williamson's production •f "The Blue Bird”: —Auckland, March S2nd to April 4th; Gisborne. April 7th and Bth; Napier. April 10th: Danhevirke, April 11th: Palmerston North. April J2th: Wanganui, April 14th; Eltham, April 18th; New Plymouth. April 16th; Masterton. April 18th: Wellington. April 18th to May Ist; Christchurch, May 3rd to 13th; Tlmaru, May 14th; Dunedin. • May 18th to 22nd; Invercargill, May 23rd and 24th. There are over fifty people In the actual caat of characters of "The Blue Bird,” Including the following:—lrby Marshall, A. R. Blandtord. Gertie Cremar. Vera Sp.iull. Georgia O'Meara, Harry Halley, Charles Mettam, Maurice Dudley. Ernest Lash brook, , Madge Elliott, Stella CazaJla. Brandeston Revett. Nellie Calvin, Frank Harcourt, Vera Keogh, yrilllam Lockhart. Jenny Hawkins. VetaCannon, S. Burton, Harry Raynor, Redge Hawthorn, Charles Mldley, Clive Hanford, j. Bernard, R, Lawrence, Dulcle french. O. Vaughon, Cecil Bradley, Tessl« Magner. Eileen Hayes, Misses Tate, Swallow, Ferguson, Collman, Breakwell, Nepean. Myers. Smith. Bradley. Wells. Baines, Leigh. Carron Richardson, Hawkins, Hayes, Cannon. K. French, Owens, Buggett, Vaughan. Magner and Haines. Miss Rosina Buckman has been singing at the London Palladium In a concert programme, which brought forward also Miss Ruth Vincent, the well-known opera singer. Miss Buckman has secured several engagements, and recently took part in a concert at Londonderry. Miss Felice Lyne, who is to visit Australia shortly, has returned to London for concert appearances, after a tour In ker own country. This tour appears to kave been highly Incrative, for the statement la published that a concert which ■he gave, in Kansas City realised £2500. Madame Melba, who is to reappear at Covent Garden, London. In the summer, ■will make an operatic tour In Canada later In tha year. Owing to her prolonged visit to her home In Australia the prlma donna has been absent from the London operatic stage for two years. The New Comic Opera Company had a* quick ran across from the Bluff, New • Zealand, to Melbourne. They arrived on Saturday morning and rehearsed, opening that night in "The Chdcolate Soldier" at Her Majesty’s. Record speed was imAde by arrangement with the steamwhlp company. Mlsa Margaret Jopp, who Is widely known In Southland, is a member of the “Blue Bird" Company which opened In .Auckland last Monday and which will be ■een In Invercargill In May. The "ride for life” of Miss Ethel Buckley- In “Under Two Flags.” at ,the Adelphl Theatre, Sydney, recalls the sensational scene In "Lured to London," when the actress dived Into a tank of ■water nearly thirty feet In depth. The other day Mr Cyril Maude, the well known actor-manager, received a letter saying .'“Forward a fiver, or be exposed.and have your life made a hell.” He politely asked the writer to call at the theatre, and two brothers turned up and were arrested by detectives. A local syndicate has been formed to establish yet another picture show in George street. Dunedin. A site has been secured, and a start will shortly be made go demolish the present buildings prior go erecting an up-to-date picture theatre. Quite a new type of waltz characterises “The Count of Luxembourg,” which Is to be staged In Melbourne this evening by the New Comic Opera Company lor the first time in Australia. It Is danced up a staircase by Count Rene and Angela. The effect is striking as the couple, swaying to the rhythm of the Waltz; mount step by step, until at the 'top of the staircase the Count takes Angela In his arras. It is not likely, kowever, that the waltz will become popular In the; ballroom. The acrobatic skill It requires should prevent that. Messrs J. C. Williamson. Ltd., have obtained a perpetual injunction which will prevent moving picture shows from displaying films of “The Merry Widow.” Said Pip Powell, on Monday: “I have been playing King Grabbers in the pantomime 61 weeks, including rehearsals. During all that time T haven't been out of the show once. As soon as I leave 'Australia, on the completion of the long tour of “Puss In Boots,” I go straight to Bristol, England, to commence rehearsing as Dams once more. I would aooner be Dame than King—any time!” The public is not likely to enjoy the humour of Mr Harry Lauder for many years longer if he maintains his present resolution. Mr Lauder asserts that he has promised his wife to retire from the stage as soon as he has saved £120.000. Ho expects to be in possession of such a sum by the lime he has concluded his tour of the world, which is due to start In. 191-1.. The contemplation of such a prospect must be very pleasant to a man of his temperament, when he recollects that not so very many years ago ho was glad to accept engagements at the rate of a few shillings a performance. And only the other day he was in a position to refuse a fee of £SOO to sing at a smoking concert organised by the American Tobacco Company’s officials, on the ground that he was already earning quite sufficient. So after all he is enly saving up for a rainy day. and not ifor a flood. Several years ago. Mr Hugh P. Ward was at the Empire, London. In the same bill for ten months with Mdlle. Genee. They were good friends, and he being an American, led to the famous dancer seeking his advice about American offers. One day Mr Ward said to her. “You are worth £6OO a week In America. Don’t go for loss, and If you accept an engagement at that under 45 consecutive weeks. I’!l never speak to you again.” When the -I. C. Williamson management were finally negotiating terms with Genee, Mr Ward had cause to regret his early advice. The star dancer is coming to Australia in May. ft lias been left to an American actress called Shirley Kellogg to remark that Englishmen are the best fellows in the world. Recently she said to a London reporter; "There Is no country In the world that grows such nice men as Englanfl, and If you think T say this as au American In London, who is seeking with soft soap to got into th«lr good books for the benefit of my work on the stage, yon can just unthink it quick. , If I tell you that since T have T>een in England I have met with nothing hut clean-hearted kindness from your countrymen, you will know what I mean. They are such good fellows—such pals—men with whom a girl can mix without fpiiing that she in scandalising society. And quite a lot of you are very goodlooklng.” As there has been a good deal of surmising regarding the birthplace of Mr Julius Knight, and his first appearance In Australia, it mav interest playgoers to know that Mr Knight was born In Scotland, and first qtirne to Australia with tLo Laura Villiers Company in 1891. On returning to London, he was engaged by Sir Augustus Harris to create the c.i a racier of Hon. Julian Ledford in “The Prod Km 1 Daughter” at Drury Lane, and the following year he went to America to play the same part in the New York production, and stayed there for 11 months. While there lie was seen by Blr Henry Irving, who engaged him to return lo London, lo play (he part of ■Valentine in "l-'f:usl.” at the Lyceum Theatre., and lie continued under Sir Ilenrv's management 1-u- three seasons. \[ r Knigh' I ns appeared in Australia for D-.orc seasons than anv other siar actor, —-a record to be i-rood of, ci>n::blerin«»

the desire for quick changes and new faces that characterises Australian audiences. —Clara Butt in- New York. — The reappearance of Madame Clara Butt in New York, after an absence of 12 years, caused considerable excitement In the city of skyscrapers, and her phenomenal voice seems to have captured the Imagination of New Yorkers. Referring to her appearance in that city the leading journals tax the English language for superlatives in praise of her remarkable voice. The following are some of the expressions used by the critics: "It Is seldom that a contralto voice so true to the real contralto type In quality and timbre, as well as In range. Is to be heard. It is likewise a voice of great beauty. It is one of the most remarkable organs of the present day.”—New York ‘Times.’ “The phenomenal tones of Madame Butt amazed at least as much as they delighted those who heard them. The flexibility of the contralto’s voice was wonderful." —New York ‘American.’ “Reduced to cold- fact, the proposition stands that she is not only the greatest living contralto, but the greatest singer of her special type In the world.” "Dally Eagle," New York. "She sings tones where they no longer lie in the voice of any other contralto living, and in her high range there is real beauty Of tone and ease of production. Moreover, she understands the delicacy as she does the broader strokes.” —New York ‘Sun.’ “If there were many singers who could employ English with the facility that Madame Clara Butt, the English contralto, displayed In her recital In the Carnegie Hall, opera in English would be as Inevitable as sunrise. Madame Butt sang a number of English songs with such clean cut diction that It warn possible to hear every word. For the rest, tier voice is phenomenal in range and power.’! New York ‘Telegram.”