MIMES AND MUMMERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9788, 3 March 1910, Page 2

MIMES AND MUMMERS.

[ (By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.) I* The Besses at Lancaster Parle this evening; "Havana" at the Theatre Royal. "%* The estato of the late Lionel Brough was proved, at £2645 l l 2s 7d, and the solo legatee is his daughter. « Vaudeville at the Opera House keeps popular, and the Klimos, clever acrobats, do a smart turn this week. ' * «• Fuller and Sone have renovated the Colosseum to distinct advantage, and the building is now pretty and comfortable. # * Knight and Katherine Grey—American lead—produced Shaw's " Arms and The Mnn" in Sydney on. Saturday. The mail boat has not reached these shores yet, so its reception cannot be stated. « *» » Geoff Nye lias West's theatre well forward and promises an early opening. Startling pictures, a machine made by West's hnn, a fireproof operating box away from the main building and new t-vpe seats are features. *»• On Wednesday evening, the eastern door, with its "draughts, disappeared from the Colosseum, and in future the Is entrance will be by the door used in the past for the 6d scats. The more payable patrons will be lod to their seats by means of a sloping passageway. *•* It is quite possible, and highly probable, that before very long wo shall hear of a well-known Australian and New Zealand comedian striking out London wards. His progress will be watched with keen interest by the playgoers, with whqjii he has always been a great favourite. %• Walter Monk writes from Sydney that Hugh Ward's company did not make a great hit with "Vivian's Papas," and that " The Fencing Master," with Beatrice Day in tho cast, is being substituted. Monk is general manager and goes ahead, while Eddie O'DelT is treasurer.

There is a bubbling in the. theatrical sea, and things are expected to happen soon. At present, however, there is "mile upon mile of mystery ' "without any key to the puzzle. One, however, is inclined to look ,towards Frohman, and certainly to look for a combination of some sort. Combinations of ton solve the mysteries of patent locks.

The revival of "A Country Girl' by the Williamson Opera Company this week was a thorough success, and was a fair interpretation. Many people sighed for the days of Bant-ock and Oelia Ghiloni as the Rajah and Princess, for Victor Prince and Olive Godwin do not "get thore" to any great extent. Saint-Saens' opera " Samson and Delilah " was produced in Dublin last month for the first time in English by the Moody-Manners Opera Company. The principal parts wore cast as follows :—Samson, Mr Joseph O'Mara; Delilah, Mile Zelie de liussan; and High Priest, Mr William Deyer. The work is to be performed in concert form by the Sydney Philharmonic Society this year.

••• Boston (U.S.) reports the death of an old lady, Agnes Booth Schoefol, who was the first Australian-born actress to make a mark in America. She was born in Sydney in October, 1846, and was the daughter of an English army officer, Captain Land Rooke»s. Her best-known stage name was Agnes Booth; she took to that after her marriage with Lucius Junius Booth in 1867. She made her first appearance as a dancer at the age of twelve; at fourteen she went to 'Friaco, still dancing; then she took to the drama, and later on played leading parts in New York with John M'Culloch and Edwin Booth.

In New York it is a criminal offence to strike a man wearing glasses. " Alan Dale," the critic who incurred Laurence Irving's anger, wears glasses, and the whole talk and threats by the actor amounted to " Take off your glasses, and then we'll see." Irving wears glasses also, and therefore it is quite possible that the two—actor and critic —•might have met, breathed firo ahd departed unhurt because they wore glasses. I wonder if all the critics wear glasses in New York! Perhaps the Government here might be persuaded to legislate in the same direction. '

A little while ago Pollard's Opera Company took up an "Adamlesg Eden," and then dropped it for "Manola" and " Olivette, but I believe that the little one-act play will be taken up again shortly. Meanwhile " Miss Hook" is scoring big, and "Uncle Tom's Cabin " is being placed upon the stock;?. "Undo Tom" is really the " East Lynne" of the operatic stage, although it actually has no claim to be included amongst musical plays. Whenever Pollard's have produced it the critics have first sneered and then praised, and the people have flocked to it. I suppose Tom Pollard expects history to repeat itself.

.Every little while one receives news of the advance of the Misses Edgar, the two Christchurch young ladies who are now in ./Custralia. The latest is to the effect that the Pierrot Company at Adelaide, which has made such a " big hit," is to be taken up by Edward Branscombe, who intends to incorporate them with The Jesters, and then import artists from England to maintain three Pierrot companies, one each at Melbourne Adelaide and Brisbane. Miss Iris Edgar and her huiiband will bo stationed at Adelaide, where he will be installed manager, and Miss Ruby Edgar will be at Brisbane. The new arrangements will not bo in full swing until after April.

" Arms and the Man," by G. B. Shaw, will be staged for tho first time professionally in Australia 011 Saturday night in Sydney. The following is the cast, one that, it is hoped, will be famous as the first to appear in Shaw in Australiaßluntschli (the Swiss "chocolate-cream" captain), Julius Knight; Seggius Saranoff, Reynolds Denniston; Major Potkoff, Leslie Victor; Ralna Petkoff (the heroine), Miss Kathern Grey; Louka (the clover servant)) Miss Elsie Wilson. There is only one weakness in the cast, and that is in connection with the part of Sergius. The play will be preceded by " Waterloo," the playlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doylo, in which Sir Henry Irving made a great hit. Julius Knight will play the part of the old corporal. He was a member of living's company when the play was first produced.

Tim Colosseum has flown gracefully back to grace. The pictures last week wore really worthy of intense attention. Tho American Biograph picture, " Through tho Breakers,' was a m as . ter-touch. The lightning was wonderfully artistic, and the story worked out cleverly and with considorablo dramatic force. Thore must ho a right smart dramatist at tho hoad of the Biograph Company. Tho film stereoscopic viow of Lake Lucerne in without doubt tho finest scon in picture the Colosseum has shown. It is u picture that would plcaso ovon a photographer with a week's experience. Tho other film# wero nnt !- tho comic films wore laughable. Tonight "Tho Galley Slave," from tho writings of Victor Hugo, will bo shown. It is said to he a very lino series. Tho " Kinjj of Liliput" will tfivo the Chmtchuroh people an opportunity to boo tho land mado famous h.y Swift. Tho American Biograph p«o»U» nuouJ.v " W,a« JfiuUiim

Served," which sounds interesting, and there is also " Tile Devil-Wonian," whioh sounds more interesting. Melba's long-talked-of scheme for producing grand operas in Australia, with "6ome of the world's greatest singers " in the company, depends upon the co-operation of Manager Williamson seemingly (says the "Bulletin"); so it is still very much in, the clouds. J.C.W. has yet to discover what support he will get for his " Madame Butterfly" and '' La Boheme" venture, which presents much the same business appearance as the " CavaJleria Ruetioana " and " Pagliacci "-oum-Btue Bullet experiment of years ago. Should the forthcoming season, of grand opera seem to create a demand for something biggor and mor© costly in the same line, Williamson may feel disposed, to fall in with Melba's proposals, whatever they may be. That the Firm will commit it«elf to anything like a half partnership with Melba in the proposed scheme is, on the face of things, very unlikelv. The proiect is hers, not J, 0. Williamson's. The 7nasterful prima donna, who has bad no experience a« a manageress, will certainly want the control of any grand oner a company she mav bring to Australia. Therefore, unh*» Mflba contracted to lie controlled by J.C/.W.. the Firm would not have much, say in the matter, And who could control Melba, anyhow?