MIMES AND MUMMERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10299, 2 November 1911, Page 2

MIMES AND MUMMERS.

(By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.) Herbert J. Bentley has evidently left the picture-making stock company he was with, and is now one of the troupo to put on "Beauty and the Barge" for Allan Hamilton. Noel F. Fleming, tho tenor in "Tho Chocolate Soldier," is a son of Barton M'Guckiu, an Irish tenor of years ago, who visited Australia and sang with Madamo Amy Sherwin. * # ft George Stephenson has gone into the juvenile business and lias engaged Liddiard's Juvenile Pantomime Company to play "The. Old Yunnan who Lived iu a Shoe" through the "smalls" of New South Wales. « #

On Saturday evening "Tho Girl in the Traill" will go on at the Sydney Criterion, with Miss Sybil Arundale and Tailloiu - Andrews, both imported, playing the leads. Jack Cannot lias been moved from, pantomime to play a comedy part in tlio piece.

For tho first two nights in Christchurch Miss Blanche Browne could not appear as Mary Gibbs in "Our Miss Gibbs," owing to an attack of tonsi litis, and Miss Connie Milne appeared in her place. Miss Milne is too hard for the part of Mnrv, and her - voice is rather metallic.

New Zealand cannot have Miss Florence Baines again, but the Lancashire lass is sending out her sister Miss Marie Ihvinos, who will open a season in Christchurch on Hexing night. She will play " Our Mary Ellen " (a different version of "Miss Lancashire Ltd") and " "Laughing Liza."

A feature of the last motion-picture week was the introduction of *' Xigomar." a French iilm that includes somo very lino work. The acting iu the picture was flawless and tho action was made very realistic. The Dance of the Will o' th' Wisp was a remarkable piece of photography.

Perhaps it is my own fault, but I. must say that it seems that musical comedy artists in these times sadly require lessons in elocution. Not only in " Gibbs," but, also in " Sergeant Brno," there was a remarkable unintelligibleness due to the faulty delivery of the dialogue and song words by the principals.

Tho news that the Shuberts are extending their sphere of operations and their capital is interesting, and ono is made to recall that there are people who have suggested (and I'm one of thorn) that tlio Shuberts at ono timo had their eyo upon a theatrical contest iu Australia. L'erhaps that eye has not closed but has only been winking. r * * In the advertisements for tho Opera House this week there was an announcement that Signor Martinengo was " direct from the Loudon Halls." In the face of that statement it would seem that the Signor had taken as long over the direct journey as did the dredge Manchester, and that ho had used the Point Elizabeth (Grevmoutb) route.

O. Henry on the stage will bo introduced to Australia on Saturday evening when "Alias Jimmy Valontine," tho dramatisation of "The Retrieved Reformation," will bo produced in the Theatre Royal, Sydney, by the company that has been playing "The Speckled Band." William Desmond and Cyril Mackay will bo in the leading roles.

Two years ago there was talk in Sydney of the old Victoria markets being turned into a theatre and the Sydney city fathers were approached on more than one occasion in connection with the proposal. At last they have accepted an offer by William Anderson, and tho now playho<use, which will have a good situation, is to be ready for opening at Easter.

I notice that official statements from Australia give the ago of Harry Richards as sixty-six years, and his correct namo as Leote. It has been stated by an Australian Pressman that Kickard.s was a superstitious man and would nover begin any venture on a Friday, would avoid anything with 13 in it and objected strongly to black lettering on yellow posters. He died on Friday, October 13.

On November 28 Christchurch will bo introduced to " The Woman in the Case" and will bo told "A Fool There Was." Both plays are by Americans and both liavo made reputations. Miss Elinor Foster and Mis» Mabel Trevor are playing leading roles, and included in the cast is Gerald K. Souper, who was hero last with Fred Graham's " Brixtou Burglary." Hugh Buckler, hero last with the Willoughby Comedy Company, is tho leading man of tho company.

A reputation is a difficult thing to live up to, and " Our Miss Gibbs" was handicapped at the start. Sydney went wild over it, following Loudon, a.nd Melbourne was enthusiastic, and now New Zealand has been captured. New York, however, stood tho lady for threo weeks and then withdrew patronage. Australia and Now York wero both, wrong. "Oar Miss Gibbs" is a. good musical comedy as musical comedies go nowadays, and there are many opportunities, and New York should not havo been hard on it, because it was well produced flipro. First and foremost let me talk of tho mounting. Tho lirst act is a good sot, with some good detail work, but the dressing is not stupendous. The stairway and the balcony show-room make it a line piece of staging, but it is not enough to mako ono leavo homo." The Whito City is a very stagey affair, and as .scenery has nothing to recommend it. Tho dressing, of " Our Miss Gibbs" is good, but not suSlieiont to drive ono into raptures. To be thoroughly ' odious it docs not compare favourably with " The Arcadians'' in dress, chorus work, music or eomody. .Miss Blancho Browne has nob fully recovered from her indisposition, bub it is clear that to this lady is largely duo tho success of " Hiss Gibbs." tSiie has a very small voice, but she is a small person with a great grace and a Jot of charm. Miss Browne never ]ki,lls, but always pleases with her simplicity. Bertie Wright is inclined to force matters a woo bit, but his dimiuutivouess helps him to play a lot of funny low-comedy work, ami to bo thoroughly amusing. Alias Nellie 'Wilson gives a good pieco of character work', and the impression conveyed by her good work in "The Merry A\'idow " is horo confirmed. Andrew 'M igyinson is more than fair. When" 3 Fred Leslie is intelligible lie is funny, but it is harder than ever to understand what he is gabbling about. Leslie Holland who plays llughie J'ierrepoint has hi* own idea of tho part, and he plays it to the full. The incidental numbers are quite pood when well handled. Miss Browne's Moonstruck" and her duets with Berlin Wright " Country C-ousin," and " Our Farm," wero delightful. Miss Wilson made a u.reat deal of " Mats,"' and tho sextet. " An English Gentleman,''' contained some good, comedy work. Tho Dnnso du Yaurien is a capita] piece o; work, a hit too short if anything, and reflects eredifc upon Fred Leslie, who arranged it, and Miss Schilling gets a littio ray or two front the reflected lipht. Tho first tableau in it is wonderfully effective. Tho chorus work in "('i.bbs'' is fairly good, and the orchestra, is thoroughly efficient.