STAGELAND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 364, 10 April 1915, Page 4

STAGELAND

BOOKINGS. Theatre Royal. In Season —"The :iad Eye." April 12 to 17—"Babes in the Wood," pantomime. April 19 to May I—Nellie1 —Nellie Stewart Company. Opera House. In Season —Brennan-Fuller Vaudeville.

At the Theatre Royal on Monday, April .19, Miss Nellie Stewart will appear in the great historical costume play, "Du Barry,'-' in which she recently made a striking success in Australia, and more recently in Auckland and Wellington. The Court of Louis XV. and the tempestuous days of the French Revolution Conn the background for the enthralling story of the fascinating little milliner and her love affair •with the dashing King's Guardsman, Ctosse Brissac, followed by her subsequent marriage with the Cointe du Barry. The reigning beauty of her day, history tells us of her meteoric rise to place and fortune at. the court of the erratic Louis, where her wit, beauty, and dazzling charm made her alike the envy of the ladies and the despair of the men. It is in such a character as this that Miss Stewart shines to advantage. The part is said to be reminiscent of ler famous creation, "Nell Gwynne," tout.it strikes a deeper note of tragedy. <'Da Barry" is said to bo admirably Btaged, the period lending itself to elaborate scenic effects and picturesque costuming. The cast is an unusually 3ong one, there being no fewer than '.M Bpeaking characters. Two actors of repute will make their first appearance in New Zealand, Messrs Clarence Blakiston, from the Haymarket Theatre, and Allan Wilkie, from the Garrick Theatre, liomlon. That sterling actor, Mr 11. R. Roberts, is also a member of the company. Mr Roberts played leading parts in "Du Barry" for four years in America, and is the producer of the play.

Madame Melba emphatically denies the statement published on the authority of the New York 'Review" that she had accepted an offer of £IOOO a week to appear at Keith's vaudeville theatre in America. She states that she lias not been approached, and would refuse any offer to go into vaudeville.

Miss T2na Slianahau (Mrs Harry Plinijuer) will play Lady Windermere in the Pliminer-Hall production of the piece in New Zealand, while Miss Beatrice Day will play the part of Mrs Erlynne, an which Mrs Robert. Brough appeared kere in 1894. In that production Miss Grace Noble was Lady Windermere.

Negotiations have been entered into by the Fuller-Brennan Vaudeville Pro-

prictary with Mr Stanley McKay, the pantomime producer, for the appearance of his No. 1 Pantomime and Burlesque Company in New Zealand. The company are at present appearing at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, with remarkable success, and at the conclusion of the season there will come straight to Now Zealand. It lias been decided that the company will inaugurate their Dominion tour at the Opera House, Auckland.

Mr <-ha.rlos Barnu in has arrived in Australia from America under engagement to J. C Williamson, Limited, to produce the following plays: "On Trial.'' "Kick In," " Under Cover," "The Law of the Land," "A Pair of Sixes,*' "Twin Beds,*' " It I'iiys to Ad •vertise," "Jle Comes Up Smiling," ''Big Jim Canity,'' and "Potash and I'r.rlmut.ter.'' Miss Ruby Davis is playing the rule of Robin Hood, principal boy in "Tin; Jtabes in the Wood" pantomime, voluntarily vacated by Miss Dorothy Harris.

Miss Alice Austin, a petite dark young lady with a winning smile and a eaptiT»ting, fascinating manner, is support-

ing Mr Joseph Blaschek in his popular " Society-Snap-Shots'' entertainment through New Zealand. In Australia and Tasmania she was highly praised for a series of novel selections of musical sketches at the piano. Blaschek is at present appearing in Auckland.

Moving pictures, says tlie "Bulletin" of " the Authors' League of America, are no longer an experiment, they are an institution. They have attained a 'dignity equalling-that oC the drama.

The estate of the late Cnyler Hastings, who committed suicide in America early last year, realised about £BOOO. Hastings will bo remembered by New Zealand playgoers as Sherlock Holmes, and the butler in Barrio's "The Admirable Crichton."

Miss llopwood Faldi, the handsome society entertainer who was rouud here once before, will shortly appear in Christ-church again, this time on the Brennan-Fuller circuit, in conjunction with, .lack Waller's Butter/lies Company. '

The Brisbane amateurs staged "The Toreador" recently and spent £BOO on the production. They ' cleared after expenses.

Miss Violet Paget (Mrs Hugh Buckler) reports that the Little Theatre Company is doing well in Brisbane. In the absence of her husband, Lieutenant C. Buckler, at the front, she is managing the company at the Palace Gardens Theatre in Brisbane.

According to a special cable appearing iu, the Sydney "Sun,". Miss Dorothy Waring, who won the Mclba scholarship at the Guildhall School of Music, has been engaged as prima donna for the revival of Vcrouique. Miss Waring, who is only 19 years of age, has been given a three years' contract for the engagement, and her salary tin ring the third year will be oO guineas a week.

"Aii actor lias to be adaptable out in Australasia," said Clarence Blakiston, leading actor with the Nellie Stewart Company, which opens in Christc.hureh on the first of next month. "He must be ready to take up any part. In London managers specialise more. You play a doctor, a lawyer, or a kjng, say, for two years, and then you are looked for to play those parts only."

The pantomime '' The Babes in the Wood," to be produced at the Theatre Royal from April 12 to 17, is possessed of the combined attractiveness of revue, vaudeville, and musical comedy. Specialty turns will be introduced by Miss Josephine Gassman and her clever troupe of Picaninnies, the New York Comedy Four, Marcel and Fallon, and the Haulon, Dean, and Hanlon team of hand-balancing acrobats. And, as the star attraction of the show, Miss Daisy Jerome, in her role of Maid Marian, the principal girl, interpolates brand new, bright, and breezy songs in her various, scenes. The " Escalade" —used for the first time in the Dominion —is one of the most spectacular features of the pantomime. Mr Lester Brown, the producer, brought the '' Escalade" novelty from the United States. Tt is really a moving platform, enabling very effective "groupings and tableaux to be staged. There will be no '' walking the plank" over the heads of the audience in

"The Babes in the Wood"; but a semicircular "walk," whereon the principals may promenade whilst presenting any song turn, has been placed in position around and above the orchestra well.

Miss Florence Esdailo, the Australian vocalist, now in New Zealand with the Brennan-Fuller circuit, has just returned from a long English and Continental tour. She was in Hartlepool when it was bombarded. She didn't stay to finish her engagement there, but tied Londonwards.

"Neptune's Daughter," the pictureplay in which the Australian, Annette Kellerman, has returned as the star, is meeting with much success in Sydney. Miss Kellerman 's feats in the water are remarkable. Her compatriots expected wonderful aquatic ability, but that Miss Kellerman should also prove herself an

actress, a dancer, and an expert swords- ', woman, has been matter for surprise and : comment. The play takes two and a- ■ quarter hours to produce. "Neptune's [Daughter," with Miss Kellerman, was originally scheduled to open a New Zea- : land tour in Wellington in the latter : part of March, but owing to the success ! of the Sydney season the New Zealand {tour has been postponed.

A New Zealand tour is shortly to be undertaken by the Eed Dandies, at the head of whom Claude Dampier still flourishes. The Red Dandies begin their tour of the Dominion on May 8. The young Aucklander, Harry Borradale, is described by the '' Theatre'' as the Red Dandy who has most successfully stirred the hearts of the Cremorno Gardens audiences this season. Two other popular artists of the original combination are Messrs Oliver Peccock and Leonard Griffiths. The company includes ten

capable performers, several of whom will make their first appearance in New Zealand during the coming season.

Mr Edward Branscombe will, in addition to "The Red Dandies," also send "The Violets" on a tour of the Dominion. This company will make its first New Zealand appearance in Auckland. "The Violets" include two remarkably clever artists in Miss Marguerite Le Roy, who has achieved distinction as a danseuse, and Miss Dorothy Card'ner, a comedienne, who made her name in I>uiie<lin as an amateur.

"1 think the Sydney audiences are the best in the world. Where else could you yet a city of (500,000 and play three pieces for six months to capacity business? I do not think another city in the world would show a return like that." —Fred Niblo.

J times .J. Corbctt, the ex-heavy-weight boxer, now appearing Jit tlie Melbourne TivoJi, had :i tremendous reception on arrival at Spencer Street Station, Melbourne. He was met by several thousand people, and as lie stepped from the train he was the target for hundreds of flowers thrown at him by the members of the Follies Company. Subsequently a procession of motor cars, headed by Mr Mcintosh's limousine, drove to the theatre, where an informal reception was held.

"When we came through Sue/, to Australia," related Mr Stigant, the Dame in the "Cinderella*'' pantomime, "we saw British soldiers posted unendingly. There was some surprise when the three cheers given by the passengers to the Tommies were unanswered, but the reason was contained in the remark of one of them, a Scot, who came up close to the ship and shouted, reproachfully, to the Immigrants leaning over the side, "You're gangiu' th 7 w-r-rong way, laddies! "

Miss Ivy Shilling has been Kcoring well in England. She recently won the famous "Pelican Cake" prize, an annual competition for the most popular artist in pantomime, musical comedy, or revue. Miss Shilling secured 8502 votes, beating all the big favourites. Gertie Millar was third with 74.')2 votes.

"C. Ockuey," in the " Bulletin' ; : Sydney lias many opportunities of viewing the pro. and pro-ess at (dose, quarters. M. and Madame Greasepaint are constantly to be met at tea-lights, outdoor processions, and White City celebrations, and the public must have grown familiar by now with the openair make-up of all its favourite mimes. But yet another chance presents itself of rubbing shoulders with the mummer —the so-called "professional matinee." Ostensibly the morning show .'s given ''in response to many requests from the artists at the various theatres." The announcement eontiues naively: "The public will be admitted at the ordinary prices." "When "professional matinees" were introduced in England (1 believe "Wilson Barrett was +he culprit) the general public was rigorously excluded, and it took its matinee on the doorstep of the theatre watching the stars go in. But nowadays it would seem the pros, in front of the curtain are as much part of the show as those behind, which, all things considered, is deuced cheap at "ordinary prices."

Kiuematograph actors in Kngland earn roughly :">/- to 7/(5 a day, and find their own clothes. If a kiuematograph actor or actress can swim or ride, they can earn up to 10/6' a day. if they can only walk on in small parts they earn 'A/- a day with light meals provide*-'.