MIMES AND MUMMERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10416, 21 March 1912, Page 2

MIMES AND MUMMERS.

(By THE LIM.ETiIG.HT MAX.)

on Arx and tricks at. the Theatre Roy.il.

Nat Gould is said to ho seriously contemplating a lecturing tour of Australia.

_ Tho first production of " Undo Tom's Cabin "' in Melbourne was in 1801, when Marsh's Juvenile Comedians from America staged it. Mrs Slapoffski wife of Herr Slapoffski, here as tho conductor with tho H. B. Irving Company, will return to London on March 30. Xext Thursday will see the arrival of ''The Beauty and tho Barge" after a prolonged absence. The play was introduced to Christchurch by tho Brough-Flemming Company some years ago. To those who liavp and those who have not seen it the revival of the pretty little play will bo welcome. -

Marlowdrama is cropping out in a new line of sensations. The domestic woes of classics like "Married to the Wrong Man.," " Driving n. Girl to Destruction" and " The Bad Girl of tho Family" still continue to draw big houses, but the latest in Melbourne is " Tho Queen of tho Redskins.

A London weekly paper to hand contains a peculiar announcement. Tom Walls is billed as " a famous Australian comedian. In Australia, when he appeared as Peter Doody in -"Tho Arcadians." ho was " a famous English comedian." I wonder if H. B. Irvingwill go back to London as an Austra--I'an tragedian. * * *. t Of the attractions at present in London six will be produced in Australia by G. C. Williamson. Limited. Included in tho six are:—-"Bella Donna," from Hichens's sensational novel; "The Count of Luxembourg," musical comedy; " Mouscue," a Japanese musical comedy; " Tho Nightbirds," a powerful though morbid study of slum life, in which Princess Bariotinsky has made a remarkable success.

Miss Mary Pickford, the, " Tattle Mary" of American Biogrnpih fame, has returned to the company that, first made her famous. Miss Pickford was at first.seen in the " A.8." films and then she went to the " Imps." Tho Majestic Company followed her marriage with Owen Moore, a motion picture actor, and now Hie "A.8." is to know her once more. Some films with tho littlo. lady as one of tho characters should be out here before long.

Harcourt Beatty is tho fighting man in "The House of Temperley," that is to say ho plays Jack Temperley, who enters tho ring to fight the middleweight champion of England. Tho play is founded on -"Rodney Stone," Sir A. Conan Doyle's novel, and is at present scoring heavily in Melbourne. Cyril Mackay plays tho bad Sir Charles Temperley, and George Bryant- is cast for the part of Tom Cribb, champion of England. Miss Dorothy Dix and Miss Susie Vaughan are also in tho cast.

With the inclusion of George Willoughby in George Marlow, Limited, lias como an influx to the Marlow companies of new artists. Hugh C. Buckler, who was responsible for some good work as the Fool in "A Fool There Was," has accepted an engagement with Marlow and will appear in " The Sins of Society." His wife, Miss Violet Paget, will also appear in Marlowdrama. Mr Buckler, while in London, had experience in Drury Lane drama, so the step will bo by no means new to him.

T The death of George Grossmith has caused the following story to appear in some theatrical newspapers-Some time after George Grossmith's father, an entertainer and "Dickens reader died, the son received nn income tax paper which assessed tho income of Grossmith, sen., at £'2ooo a year. The son wrote to the Income Tax Office: '• I am glad to hear my father is <l°ino; so well in the next world; £2OOO a year is a great .(leal more than he ever mado in this. Kindly forward this notice to lvs new address, remember me affectionately to him."

Miss Maud Plunkett, a member of the Adelaide Repertory Theatre, was with the H. B. Irving Company, and played tho Maid, in ''lhe J'? 01 }* Mail" She has a part in "Dr Jttvyll and Mr Hyde." Speaking of the Adelaido Theatre sho .said the male members of the organisation painted tho scenery and made tho properties wherever possible. Dresses wero provided as far as possible by the members and there was always a thorough "famjlv spirit. There wero 110 leading ladies in tho society. Miss Plunkett nas now been cast for a good part in " The Blue Bird."

Barnstorming is responsible for many theatrical jokes. Here's one said to bo true of Roy Redgrave, here with Miss Tittell Bruno in " L'Aiglon," hut now with "William. Anderson. ''Roy Redgrave has played every part in tho famous old " East Lynne." On one occasion, though then a full-grown man with the proverbially rinsing ' hero's ' voice, ho played Little Willie. The eompnnv with which Ijci'jjravo was connected found, on arriving in an English provincial town, that no ono could be got to play the child part, and he undertook to do it. Ho did not lie on the bed, hut under it, with a lighted candle to help him read tho words. A bolster under the blankets served r.s Willie, and the mother addressed her remarks to it, while a, squeaking voice from below gave the responses."

Mrs Annio Yen mens, mother of Maria me Yeamons Titus, recently <;11 ocl of paralysis in America, after having been about sixty-sis years on tho stage. She was about a: venty-six years of ago when she died. Mrs Yeamens was born in tho Isle of Man, and during her early life wes with her father, William Griffiths, in Australia. She first appeared in a part at tho age of ten years, in " The Farmer's Daughter." Then ?hs was with an American circus, and married Edward Yeamens, a clown with the organisation. Then sho went into drama, and a little over four years as; o she retired, but oulv for a few months. She returned to the stage, and appealed in vaudeville as a singer and dancer. At tho time sho announced that she intended to remain on tho stago if possiblo until sho had completed a career covering three-quarters of a century.

The Sydney branch of the Australian Society of jitagicians recently had a lete night to welcome the mystery men at present appearing in Sydney. Among the visitors were Jansen, from the Sydney Criterion Theatre, Doflollis, the eccentric juggler of .lunsen's Companv, Talbot, Nicola, Charles Hugo, George Stillwell. St George Sylvesta (National Amphitheatre) and Lazern the Mystic (Haiti's Circuit). A programme of magic: and mystery _ was (liven. Amongst the entertaining members of the Society were Frankstone, "Tho Rhyming Magician"; Denver, "Thimble Expert ; Carbines, "Coin Conjuror"; Abbott. Mysto, Cardigan, "Comedy Conjuring s '; Yando, E. Hosking, C. Keecli, Kendor, Monologist. It must have been interesting for mystery men to liavo to prove to mystery men that the quickness of the hand deceives the. eye.

• H. 13. Irving has been talking about repertory theatres in the dominion. I wonder if any amateur organisation would he sullicientlv brave to take up work nlon<i the lines. Instead of pro-

ducing farco and farce comedy, to put on something by Galsworthy. Shaw or Barker. It all sounds very visionary, but Adelaide did it in a remarkable way, and perhaps it might I>b possible to produce one play a year. Amateur organisations usually break down in the finances and because of individual jealousies. The financial downfall is hard to understand. In most cases amateurs provide thoir own costumes, hut tlio experience of the past ton years or so in Christchurch has shown that the expenses cannot bo kept down, and despite "good business" for the productions, the overdraft has swamped everything. It is there that'tho difficulties must be first overcome. I remember one Society hero that produced a comic opera and had an expensive supper laid behind tho stage every night during the season, and another that had dress rehearsals for a fortnight before its opening night. Individual jealousies always occur—they crop out in professional ranks as frequently. but tho solution of it all is a real enthusiasm for the theatre and a study of dramatic work. It is not sufficient to know a part. A thorough stage society should go further, and endeavour to encourage local talent in all directions, and its work outside of actually producing plays would ho extremely beneficial. Australia is going to have a drama of her own, but unless New Zealand makes a start nothing will be done that can bo creditable. Musical comedy is interesting, farce is tnjoyablo for amateurs, but tho more serious branch is the part that needs developing and is worth it. Probably a Playgoers Club or a Drama League would go close to providing an introduction to the study of the theatre, and to prepare the way for something bigger.