STAGELAND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 163, 15 August 1914, Page 3

STAGELAND

BOOKINGS. August 17 to 24—"The Argyle Case." August 29 to Septsmfcar s—Harry Lauder. Ssptember 6 to 14— J. C. Williamson, Ltd. John Galsworthy is to have his revest play, "The Mob ; " acted in America. Universal peace—the abolition of naval armaments, the substitution of reason for physical force —these are the underlving ideas of "The Mob." It has not yet been decided what the Wellington Operatic Society's next production will be, but it is probable that "La Maseotte" will be the opera chosen. Andrew Mack is appearing in a film produced by the Popular Plays and Players. It is entitled "The Ragged Earl." * Mr Graham Moffatt, author of "Bunty Pulls the Strings," took a new role in Sydney recently. He occupied the pulpit at the Unitarian Church, and addressed the congregation on the subject of ""Church and Stage." After 44 years of active professional life Paul Cinquevalli, the world-famous conjurer, has come to Australia to settle down. He arrived at Fremantle last week, and in a talk with a reporter said: "I like the people of Australia, and I like the climate. That is enough? for me. I want to spend my days here. I have made my last professional appearance in London, and, after a tour of a vaudeville circuit in Australia, I shall rest here on my laurels." Harry Lam>»r is not alone in making the entertainment 1 of-the'Lauder season which opens in the Theatre Royal on August 29, he brings a-vaudeville company with him. The supporting company will include the three Hassans, Continental acrobats; Jack Ark,' diabolo expert; Kitty Ryan, balladist; Irene Bercseny, gipsy cymbalist; assisted by Yoslca,. a Hungarian violinist; and Selwyn Driver, society entertainer. Mr Tom Vallance, a brother-in-law of Mr Harry Lauder, is stage manager, and Mr Horace Sheldon is-musical'direc-tor. One of the reasons why "The Argyle Case," to be seen in Christchurch next week, is-considered a more attractive detective drama than " Sherlock Holmes " is that the audience are taken into the confidence of the detective, as it were, whereas Sherlock Holmes kept them in the dark until the finish, when he explained everything. "The Argyle Case'' begins with the arrival of the detective on the scene of the crime. Every step taken by him in the clearing up of the mystery is taken so that the audience can follow both his actions and his reasoning. They are, in fact, onlookers in the enthralling unravelling of a tangled skein of crime. That old favourite, Maggie Moore, is a member of the company of players

appearing in "The Argyle Case" —she plays the part of a negro cook and is said to take the part, with enti re naturalness and without caricature. The leading man in the plav is Charles Harrigan. Harry Diver, who died in Sydney recently, was an actor of more than ordinary ability, though in later years his light was obscured in the gaudj r glare of melodrama. He was a son of Dr Diver, of Wellington, and was in the company which supported Mrs Brown Potter and f£yrle Bellew. He also appeared with several Williamson organisations. New Zealand's last experience of his ability was in melodrama, '' The Power of the Cross,'' and "The Face at the Window," in which last-named play Diver played the effective.

Mr Horace Nightingale, who has been associated \yith the George Marlow and George Willoughby managements for a number of years, has joined Hugh Buckler 's company, the clever band who have made the Sydney "Little Theatre" a place for the production of the real drama of the time.

Mr Charles Westmacott, representing Beaumont Smith (who, with Louis Meyers, of London, is . responsible for introducing "Mr Wu" and other plays to Australasia), is due to arrive in New Zealand shortly to prepare the way for a totir of the Little Theatre Company.

The reper'Ary will incV»3 "Fanny's First Play," "The Man on the Box," and "His House in Order." At the same time Mr Westmacott (Who will be remembered as manager for Oscar Ase'he): will arrange for the appearance in New Zealand of "Mr Wu" and " The Barrier. " ■

! "Gipsy Love," Lehar's Hungarian j opera, now being playecl in Sydney, and which will shortly be produced here, has achieved one of the biggest successes in musical plays J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has yet handled. Even the record put up by "The Merry Widow" bids faic-to be laid aside. In this opera, Lahar has '/come into his own again" for the first time really since his wonderful success with "The Merry Widow.'' An interesting feature of the performance is the dance of Victor Lauschmann and Vlasta Novotna, both of whom were members of the Genee company not very long ago. Mr Lauschmann was in the original production of '' Gipsy Love'' in London. Miss Nellie Stewart will appear again in Sydney shortly : in David Belasco's play, "Madame du Barry." She expects New Zealand at Christmas time, after giving a season in Melbourne about* the Cup period. - ; ; The Quinlan Opera Company commences a short English tour in September, and then plays through Canada and the United States, commencing at Montreal in October. The company is due in Australia in May of next year. W. S. Percy, playing in America recently, is said to have made a great hit in Lehar's comic opera, "The Maids of Athens," a-piece which isknown in. Germany as "The Mountain King.'' He returned to Sydney last month. According to recent reports from New York, Margaret Anglin was making a big success as Mrs Erlynne in a revival of "Lady -Windermere's Fan." That other brilliant actress, Katlierine Gray, was playing the leadiiig, part in a farcical comedy, "The Rule of Three." The Ellen Terry matinee in. recently, when the great actress .played' ' 1 The Merchant of Venice,'' together with many actors and actresses famous in days past, brought a lot,-of &ged asperity on the boards once more.; , A. - "Bulletin" writer says that Age was • the thing most represented, and gives an instance of its testiness. During rehearsals one of the actresses took exception to the methods or one of the actors. Said he loftily: "Madame, at this stage I can scarcely require correction. I have been 60 years on the stage." "I should have thought you had been 80 years on it, " she-riposted, and, as the; scribe says, it was agreed that" th e drinks were on the actor. M:* Ben J. Puller says that the two performances daily at . the National, Sydney, l have caught on immensely, and that the attendances every , day in-the week has a long way exceeded his wildest expectations. Madame' Eleanora *' de Cisneros, on the conclusion of- her engagement in Spain, "joined the Boston Opera -Company in Paris. - The dramatic mezzo was said to be in particularly fine Singing voice and' scored a big success.