MIMES AND MUMMERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9424, 24 December 1908, Page 2

MIMES AND MUMMERS.

CBy THE LIMELIGHT MAN.) Hal Campbell, who was with Williamson's firm seven or eight years ago, is to come from America to musically direct "Jack and Jill." *•* There is something very interesting in the announcement that Albani has accepted a two weeks' engagement at the Palace of Varieties, Glasgow. Yesterday W. Ilooton-Smith, who successfully introduced tho Chcrniavski« to Christchurch, loft for tho north to moot the Scarlet Troubadours. Writing from London, Alice Pollard says that she considers "The King of C.utonia " tho best musical comedy running in London at present. The music is by Sydney Jones. *•* Tittoll Bruno and Co. with "The Girl of tho Golden Wc«st," " Diana of Dobe-on's," " Sunday " and " Romeo and Juliot," will commence their eea-eo-n at His Majesty's on Saturday (Boxing night). *** On January 18 Ernest Toy, a very well-known English solo violinist, will commence- a tour of Now Zc-ahmd un<];t the direction of Leslie D. Millar, of Melbourne. Mr Toy is not a stranger to Now Zealand. He visited tho larger towns about ten Years ago. * "* » * It was intended that "Tho Merry Widow" should give way to "The Duchess of Dantzig" at Sydney JotChristmas, but owing to the success of tho waltz-opera it has been decided that no chango -will bo made, ami lit, looks as if " The Widow '"' will enjoy a fourteen weeks' run in the capital of New South Wales. *•• One of the latest plays in .London is a four-act society drama entitled "Tho Brido Tangle." Tho plot deals with a young girl who, after being swindled out of d; 100 at bridge, is persuaded to marry one of tho f>windlors. Later comes the denouement and love-solv-ing. It nas proved attractive to the London playg<*ei's. *** The new operator at tho Colosseum to replace Brandon Haughton is Rud Peterson, the well-known balladist, who for some time- past has been assistant manager at the pictures. During tho Last week Mr Peterson had charge of the machine, though Mr Haughton way within call in case the apparatus misbehaved iteclf in any way. *•* Edward Branscombo is not perturbed at all over the question of Chris<tehurch's affection for good music or its endeavours to be fashionable, but he will give Christehnrch another opportunity to refute the sneers that have been made against its fair reputation. Tho Cherniavskis will return and give concerts on March 9 and 10. *"* Seymour Hicks has succeeded in obtaining for his company the reputation of being a short-cut to speedy and effective marriages into the aristocratic families of England, and. he hns hit < n a, further scheme that should add greatly to his advertising thunder. He has prevailed on tho i: Express" to hold a beauty contest, and lias offered to engage tn-o loading twelve contestants. " Jack and Jill," seemingly, is going to- bo largely a pantomime of bullets. Xo fewer than live ballets will occur during the play, and all of thorn are entirely now to Australia. An eccentric ballet, entitled the Pony Ballot, will be taught by Fred Leslie, and Mias Jennie Brenan will teach tho Harvest Homo, Hose, Snowstorm, the Noah's Ark. Butterfly and Electric ballots, and the Teddy Bears' Picnic. * « I saw the- socond and third acts of "Troubles" when it was presented by tho Christ-church Comedy Club on Annivorsarv Night, and though, ric-i-h: 1 1.1] 1 ? 1 , the production is new to Christchurch, there is (something very familiar «bout it. There is abundant evidence of the hand of the " improver." and several local "gags" thrust their presenceupon the audience. It is not sufficient that a "gag" should bo merely given; it must be offered to the audience in such a way as will not permit its beins disregarded. There is an art in making a '"gag" fiucccflsfnl, but tho Christen iirch Comedy Club has not yet attained that pitch of excellence. Taken generally tho men were good, but tho Indies of tho club wove docidcdlv weak. According to Austin Brercton, who has just published a biography of Henry Irving, the lattcr's stage earnings from 187S, when ho became established as a successful actor, to 1005, amounte-d to £2,261.(537, and his expenses durina the same period totalled £2.108.290. "More- than half the takings came from London performances, about one-third from his eight American tours, and tho balance from trips in the English provinces. Irvine: loft only a few thousands, for, in addition to his lavish ex pond it: ire. he gtivo away large sums as pensions to out-at-elbow mummer acquaintances of his oar]v days. During his career he played (571. different parts, 428 of which ho studied during his first two raid n, half year;;, ' while with provincial stock companion. ! Incidentally Broroton mentions that during tho lc^t fow rears of her service with Irving. Ellen Terry cot £100 por wook in London. £200 during tho provincial wanderings, and £300 on tho American tours. There aro few biograph operators in tho Australasian moving picture world who ran claim to bo superior to Brandon Haughton, the "man at tho machine" at the Cokssaum for a long time. Haughton has had a wide experience with moving pictures, fliid his work proves him to bo an expert of the loading division. Every travelling company showing cinematograph pi> i tm-Gs liar? been rather surprised, not I so much by the variety and newness of the films, but at tho ste-ady, clear manner in which they aro thrown on the . screen. Mr Haughton is going to the West Const with his old company, Perry's Biorama, but tho trip is only of a holiday nature. Mr BmtpMon wishing to see tho beauties of tho West scenery before leaving the dominion. He will go to Sydney shortly, and . then to Paris, whore he will fulfil en- , I gagemonts with Pa the Frores, onc_ of , { the loading firms engaged in moving I picture photography. It is net usually known that innre than one picture that lvis broil smrvn in Christchurch \ was math 1 by the Ptivl.o people in nei cordanco with crngp^tions made by ?.?r ', Haueht-on. Mrs Haughton, who was well known as Mi*s Ida Brady, Avill accompany hor hus-<baivl to Franco, and, with her sister, will ?'tudy ringing there. ,