STAGELAND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 193, 19 September 1914, Page 13

STAGELAND

Fred Niblo, Josephine Cohan, and Company are at present producing their American comedy in Auckland.

"Juggling is not what it used to be," Cinquevalli confided to a Sydney interviewer, with a sigh. "Audiences nowadays want to laugh, and a juggler lnust put all his tricks in a> comedy setting no matter how wonderful the tricks may be. He must have a comic assistant, or dress as a tramp, or put a spangle on his nose, or do something else of the kind. Years ago it was different. Audiences sought for skill in the juggler's work, and appreciated it ■when they found it.

The latest production by the Willoughby Melodramatic Company at the Adelphi Theatre, Sydney, has been "Under Two Flags," an adaptation of Ouida 's military romance. The leading parts were taken by the principals who recentlv toured New Zealand with * 'The Beggar Girl's Wedding"—Miss Vera Eamee, Miss Ariel Hotson, MiGeorge Cross, and Mr Rutland Beckett.

, Miss Marie Lohr, the clever daughter of Baddy Lohr, so well known in theatrical matters of a few years ago, las been engaged by Charles Frohman to play, leads in New York, presumably to take the place of Miss Billie Burke, who has married Mr Florenz Zeigfield, another New York producer. Miss Xbhr made her stage debut in Sydney in 1896, and in 190rmade her first London appearance.

The series of plays which Hugh Buckler, Violet Paget, and company lave been presenting in Auckland and Wellington with great success are of the highest quality. The company will play here for only four nights, and it is not certain which of the plays in their repertoire they will produce, but their list is as follows: Pinero's ''His House in Order," Bernard Shaw's clever eomedy "Fanny's \First Play," revivals of Pinero's comedy "The Gay Lord <Juex," and "David Garrick," Arnold Bennett's whimsical comedy "The Great Adventure," "The School for Scandal,'' and '' Sweet Lavender.''

Paderewsßi was to have come to Australia about the end of April, and begin a. tour of the Commonwealth and Hew Zealanddn Sydney, giving 30 eoncerts in all. How far these plans will stand now that war is raging in Europe is not yet known.

Miss NelEe Stewart has made a jrignal." success- with David Belasco's ?'Du Barry" at the Sydney Theatre Boyal. 'According to one critic the piece provides her with a star part of lively charm and final tragedy, which anight have been written for her. It consists: of scenes entirely covering the gay life story of-the favwho presided at Versailles during the'last five years of the reign of Xiouis 'tX'Y;'^ "'■ These scenes are expressed In the terms of Nellie Stewart's winding art, first in the playful, comedy in which she is so freshly piquant; midway in an emotional situation, which «he forces through to a. success of en-

thusiasm, with an effective melodramatic touch; ultimately, in the dismal pathos of the prison, and of the tumbril, as it jolts along its way to the guillotine, escorted by a mad crowd of bloodthirsty eitoj'ennes and howling sans-culottes.

"J.F.H.," writing to the "Bulletin" from the spot, has the following —"A London variety theatre has tried the experiment of an 'All American Week,' but neither Press nor public, was very enthusiastic about the innovation. A dozen Yankee turns in unre- ! lieved succession, all in the Amurrikan i language, make for irritating monotony. So 'the London audience thought on the first night. It started guying the artists before the performance was half over, and the sloppy sentimentalism that characterises so many U. States songs and sketches was greeted with boisterous guffaws, to the obvious consternation of the performers, who apparently expected everybody to take out a handkerchief and shed a silent tear. Each member of the audience was presented with a packet of chewing gum on entering the theatre, but the Cockneys seemed unable to appreciate it. The experiment is not calculated to encourage an All-Australian Aveek in Fogopolis, although show people from down under, not having the mannerisms or twang or eccentricities of the Americans, would be more likely to make a success.

A good deal of talk is being made about the production by the Australian Opera League of Alfred Hill's / and Fritz Hart's operettas, as though they marked the beginning of a national school of music and were .the operatic first feints of Australian musical genius. "L.H.P.," in the "Bulletin," arises to blight the fond faith with a list of previous productions as followeth: — Luseombe Searelle wrote a dainty work, '' Estrella,'' in . which Nellie Stewart appeared with the rest of the Royal Comic principals. Majeroni and Wilson produced the same composer's "Bobadil" and "The Black Rover" (the latter reached the Globe THeatre, London). Auguste W. Juncker, who so often conducted for the Williamson firm, wrote three operas, "The Queen's Page," "A Romance of Corsica," and '' Zelma,'' all of which reached the publie through amateur sources, as did Arundel Orchard's and William Curtis's efforts at the Sydney Palace. Of these "The Emperor" and "The Coquette" were the best. At the same house was produced Alfred Hill's "Moorish Maid." v Earlier in our musical history "Tapu" got its baptism at Her Majesty's. The. book of '' Tapu'' was from the pen, of Arthur Adams, of the "Bulletin," and the book of "The Moorish Maid" was by John Birch, of the . Auckland "Herald*. '' Carmini Morley 's opera, '' The Two Brides; "Fred W. Jones's "The Monarch, of Utopia;'' and Squarise's " Fabian,",all done in Maoriland, were works not to be sneezed at.

George Musgrove found a great declension among the "extra gentlemen" of the stage in his temporary absence from the management. "What do you think of this?" he exclaimed, preparatory to giving an instance:—"One of

the supers refused to take his moustache off. He said his wife preferred him with a moustache. Now the heart of a man like that is not in his art!"

The following is an extract from a letter from Rosina Buckmann, dated from London, June 12: —"Madame Melba has been an angel to me. Introducednie to the management, at Covent Garden; and I had the good fortune to be engaged, both for the past German season, when 'Parsifal' was produced for the first time in England, and for the present season. The present season

opened on April 20 with '.La Boheme.' Isang the part of Musetta. to Madame Melba's Mimi. I was so_nervous —just shook from head to foot—and could not really do my bes't from. sheer fright. But Madame was quite pleased. The King told her I was the best Musetta he had seen, and that he was proud to know I was a British subject. ... I have booked quite a lot of concerts for the coming season, and am singing at the Sheffield Festival. Herr Balling, who is known in Nelson,-is the conductor."

Miss Muriel Starr has been putting •up something of a record in Sydney. In 10 days she appeared at four benefit performances, and presented a special sketch at each.

Prior to the first production of '' Bunty Pulls the Strings'' in London, it was not expected by those who knew that both the play and the players were Scotch that it would be anything of a success. '' I was told,'' said Mr Graham Moffat, the author of the comedy, "that, -as. none of my artists were known, and all the rest of it, the thing could not be expected to go. You see, I had taken a complete company of Scots to play it, and that seemed to be the point of doubt. Naturally, none of my people' were known. Anyway, we played it. The notices were simply splendid, and 'Bunty' was fairly started. Do you know, I had not read more than four notices next morning before theatre managers were looking me up. You see, the Scotch play' and players had made a hit. The play ran for 16 months, with nine productions per week. This was a record for any play.''

The-record of "Madame X.," chief character in the melodrama in which Muriel Starr lately scored in Australia: —Desertion of husband and child. Decamps with iover. When lover dies, asks her husband to take her back. Husband refuses. Drifts to casual lovers, absinthe, and drugs. Shoots Laroque, a lover picked up at Buenos, Ayres. Acquitted. Embraced by son, whose father asks her forgiveness. Curtain.

Once more Muriel Starr. Discussing her methods with an interviewer, she spoke these words: —"I am never very good at explaining how I achieve the effects with which I am credited. I have always heltLthat acting is instinctive. Often and often Ido things in a part that I am not conscious of until they are commented upon."

Evidently jolly and plump Celia Ghiloni has been taking a course of dieting, or anti-fat, for Sydney "Theatre" says of her: —"Celia Ghiloni's loss in weight has certainly not improved her looks. When with the Hugh J. Ward Comedy Company she was a picture of health and vitality. Now she looks prematurely aged, and a trifle saggy. As Julesa in 'Gipsy Love' Miss Ghiloni has a very small part."

J. D. .Williams,. the hustler who organised the continuous picture craze in Australia, is in America, living in Easy street.

George Stephenson and Alf. Linle'y, who have arranged to take the '' Hmnpty Du pty" Pantomime Co. to New Zealand, expect a five months' tour. The opening performance will be given in His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on October 4 —if the present arrangements are not upset by the war. Olive Robinson is the principal boy, and Molly King the principal girl. The company, says Mr Stephenson, totals seventyeight people.