STAGELAND

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 866, 18 November 1916, Page 4

STAGELAND

BOOKINGS. Opera Houac. I Nightly -Fuller's Vaudeville. Theatre Royal. j In Season—Hale Hamilton Comedy Company.: November 21, 22, and 23—Children's Panto- | mime, "Daughter of tin- Cods." November 2(1 to December s— "Peg o' My Heart Company. December 0 to !) (pencilled)—J. Carroll. December 20 to January ii Ilium D. Mcintosh's Follies. The Bert la Blanc Revue Company will produce, for the lirst lime anywhere, a new revue at the Opera House on Monday next. This revue, entitled "Then They Woke Up,"j abounds with crisp dialogue, sparkling musical numbers, new quartets, and daintv ballets. Messrs la Blanc, Jake Mack, and Carlton Chase allhave parts giving scope to their inimitable capabilities. Miss Maud Miles wiil he heard in several songs which are particularly well suited to her voice, and has a part which gives her ample opportunity for display ing her histrionic powers. The Comedv Four have prepared a series of new' quartets, of which "The Lost Chord" is a feature. II is pleasing lo announce that the season of this popular combination has been extended for another week. In addition to the revue the bill will include Montitmbo and Wells (the knockabout comedians), The Farrows (a new English sketch act), The Flemings (in their surprising statuary ; turn), and Wilfred du Hois (thej amazing juggler). Miss Ruby Wilding, the clever j little dancer, whose dancing has attracted such favourable notice in Christehurch and elsewhere, will appear in two interesting solos in "A Daughter of the Cods." In her second number some weird effects are produced and the audience is pro- 1

mised quite a thrill. Little Elsie Lock also appears as a soloist in the Peony Mallei and the Fan Dance. The other big dance features of the

production will be a ballet of Japanese (lowers elaborately costumed, a doll dance by the' tiny lots, and a goblin dance.

"The Girl in Ihe Train" was revived at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday last, Miss Dorothy Brunton taking the name part. Mr C. 11. Workman appeared as Van

! Evck, president of the Divorce Court i (Will Percy's original part); Mr AJI ("red Frith, who, by the way, has enlisted, as Cornelius Sorop, the train ! conductor; and Miss Connie Ediss as JMartje. Other parts were accounted ' for by Messrs Field Fisher, Fred. iMaguire, Boh Greig, and Paid Plunjkeli, and (he Misses Marie Eaton and ! Madge Elliott.

Winter Hall, that sound, capable, and well-esteemed actor, has left Australia to seek fresh laurels as a picture-player in "the Slates.'" For years he played under the Williamson management. Me, James Atholwood, and Eardley Turner, were regarded as the last survivors of the line old school of Australian "legits" that set a standard which later-day players have considerable difficulty in reaching. Winter Hall was last seen round these parts with Harry Plimmcr in "Doctor Wake's Patient," and other revivals. The good wishes of a multitude of Christehurch friends will accompany Mr Hall in his new venture.

A five-reel Patlie drama entitled "The Woman's Law" will be the premier attraction at the Queen's Theatre next week. The plot is said to be one of the most powerful ever filmed, and its solution is impossible of anticipation.

The Italian Opera Company open-| ed in Brisbane last week. After that season is concluded the company,' with ils repertoire of 15 operas, will ■ come to New Zealand. Melbourne] and Adelaide will be visited later.

Next week's Fox feature at Starland will be a five-reel offering en-; titled "The Idler." The drama is! founded upon the hook of the same! name by 0. Haddon Chandlers, and is a powerful exposition of the problem! as to whether a man who wrecks the happiness of another man's home is entitled to forgiveness. There will! also he another star feature and a supporting programme.

"A Daughter of ihc Cods," the big Japanese extravaganza to be pro--1 duced bv Miss A. J. Menzies and Mr j W. S. Wauchop at the Theatre Hoyal | next Tuesday, will appeal strongly jjo all lovers of children. The story ! is a charming one and concerns an I old bamboo culler and his wife, and j the little daughter, who was sent to j them after years of waiting. Several I of the beautiful old Japanese legends I are woven into the tale, and lend an additional charm, besides giving opportunities for effective spectacular ; work.

Clara Kimball Young, the beautiful screen artist who has starred in so many motion picture masterpieces, will be at Everybody's next week in her latest and greatest success, "The Feast of Life." 'the story is full of heart interest, love, and romance, and contains some remarkably beautiful sellings.

Xew scenery has been painted for the Japanese production, "A Daughter of the Gods." Messrs W. S. Wauchop and L. 11. Booth have been hard at work for weeks past, and the results of their labours should be interesting to see. They have had the assistance of Messrs 11. Marsh and A. C. Mclntyrc, who have done the very necessary carpentering—no small job in this case.

Mr William Glover, known as the "doyen of Scottish managers" and one'of the famous theatrical family of the same name, died al Glasgow recently, at the age of 83. In the course of his long managerial career Mr Clover was associated with Irving, Toole, Dillon. Barry. Sullivan, Phelps, Macready, and Charles Kean. The tine old manager, who was also a splendid scene-painter, was an intimate friend of Charles Dickens. His son, Howard, is possibly one of the most resourceful and capable scenic, artists that ever strode a frame. Howard was for some years out in South Africa in the capacity of chief scenic artist for B. and F.

Wheelcr, Lid., where he was closely ! associated with Mr W. Hassan, the best property maker and designer I that the Australian stage has seen. Once, in South America, a production lof "The Duchess of Danlzie" was ; demanded from a company for j which Howard was mechanician and (scenic artist. The scenery was the only stumbling block, and' il looked as though an important contract j would have to be broken, or, in the ] alternative, that something would have to be "faked." Glover, taking j a cue from l!ie Italian grand opera | folk, slapped up three complete sets in a week—three sets of beautiful :nn<\ effective scenery, all of which i were painted on paper.

Those who remember the mighty Macisle, of "Cabiria" fame, will have another opportunity of witnessing some more of the feats of this giant's strength next week at His Majesty's in a picture entitled "Macisle." Il is the story of a giant who battled for a woman's honour.

Miss Pearl Ladd and Mr Villiers Arnold, who recently appeared al the Opera House in a capital singing act under (he designation of Ladd and Arnold, have been engaged to play important parts in the Australian pantomime, "The Bunyip," which is to form the Christmas attraction al the Grand Opera House, Sydney.

The vocal soloist in "A Daughter of the Gods" will be Misses Bessy Hollander. Irene Duncan, Ida Witbrahaui, Flossie Goodman, and Thelma Thompson, all of whom have good work to their credil in former productions, and Miss Ivy Spence and Master Vernon Colgin, who appear as soloists for the first time. The songs throughout are catchy and are by well-known composers.

Cecil Brooking finds considerable relaxation in the light comedy part of Alaric Chichester in the brilliant J. and N. Tait success "Peg o' My Heart." Mr Brooking is naturally a serious person, a student, and a scholar, and Alaric as he says humorously, allows him to escape from himself. lie puts down his fondness for study to a congenital liking. His father and his father's father loved learning, and he has merely inherited the habit. At present he is studying political economy and political institutions, and will often be seen in the street armed with a stout and treasured volume. Next to study, Mr Brooking loves travel, and has seen the best of the civilised world. During the course of extensive theatrical engagements he has toured through France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, U.S.A., Canada, South Africa, and several other countries.