MIMES AND MUMMERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10450, 2 May 1912, Page 2

MIMES AND MUMMERS.

(By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.) " Passers-lsy " at the Theatre Royal on Monday. * a *• "The Blue Bird" is flying successfully in Melbourne, and so far has justified itself. # * * * Private reports state that Jensen, the conjuror, did packed business at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney. Ho is reported as good. V The oldest theatre in America is to bo demolished. It was situated m Philadelphia, and was used by Hailam's Players back in 1760. For many years it has been doing duty as a distillery. *** Miss Florence Quin, who played Conscience in the Australian ''Everywoman," is leaving for England shortly to marry F. R. Foster, the successful bowler with the last English cricket team in Australia. Miss Dorothy Grimston, daughter of Mrs Kendal and wife of H. Meyer, with Oscar Asche's company, is going to teach elocution in Melbourne. She will also appear at MacMahon's Repertory Theatre. *** Henry G'arvill, who was in Australia with Julius Knight when "The Sign of the Cross" was first produced, and played Nero, is with Lewis Waller, appearing as Beau Nash in " Monsieur Beaucaire." V Aocording to more than one newspaper, Miss Sybil Arundale, who is witli tho J. 0. Williamson management at present, has engaged herself to marry an Australian squatter. The papers admit they are only talking rumours. * * • The Chapman-Alexander Mission in Melbourne decided to give a special afternoon to actors and actresses in tho King's Theatre. Tlio idea followed what was termed a highly successful venture of the same kind in Chicago, before tho mission came Out this way. * * * A private, letter from. Australia states that "The Quaker Girl" in Sydney has exhausted the management staff, so great has been the' business. The '' Girl" completely outdistanced '' The Merry Widow's" fourteen weeks by seven nights, but-did not threaten the eight months scored by " Miss Gibbs." * * # Charles A. Wenman, producer of " The Gay Gordons," has taken up his duties as producer for the Williamson Comic Opera Company. One of the .new ventures to be placed before the public of Australia at present is " Nightbirds," by Strauss, a comio opera that was successful at the Lyrio Tlioatre.

Rupert Julian came to this country with tho Stine and Evans Company, but is best known for a remarkable fall in " The Breed of the Treshams," played by the Julius Knight Company a year or so ago. At present he is playing Captain Badger with the Lew:fa Waller production of "Monsieur Beaticaire "■ in Now York.

Miss Nellio Strong, who went to America after having been with the Max Maxwell Company, had to leave New York on account of illness. She lias been recuperating in California, and is now playing the, lead in Kolb and Dill's production of " The Girl in the Train," a musical comedy that will shortly visit New Zealand.

Snakes are figuring in the stories used for advertising "Ivismet," and though they—tho stories—aro not all founded on fact, many of them ai;o interesting. The use of a snake in " The Speckled Band " brought the same stories into existence. They are to be found'—tho stories, I mean—in the portfolio of any Press agent under the heading " S."

Since Bon Fuller took over the management of Brennan's Amphitheatre, Ltd., in Sydney, the following; regulation has appeared find has been enforced:—" Ail comedians must subnet their gags before using." A good rnlo, and one that should save the management a great deal of annoyance, as well as improve the tone of the entertainment.

During the absence of the solo dancer, Miss Vivian Talieur, from " The Girl in the Train," at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, last week, the dance was done by Miss Flossie Dickinson, a little Melbourne girl, who has been before the public in musical plays for some time. Miss Dickinson went on at a few minutes' notice, and danced herself into favour, Miss Talleur, wlio injured one of her feet, is dancing again.

Ono of the features of " EYerywoman" is the music, and one of the features of the music is tho drums, for which a lad, aged fifteen years, is responsible. The nxusio is dfficult, but this boy, who is the son of a eidedrummer, acquits himself like a seasoned player. He succeeds where many drummers would fail miserably. Hie boy is a credit to his teacher, Reid of the orchestra at. the Colosseum, and he ia a credit to himself.

When she was in Australia Miss Ivy Scott was regarded as a charming soubretto in musical comedy and no more. I think she was hero last with " Tho Belle of New York " as Fifi, but it will be a surprise to many to learn that she lias been singing the leading soprano part in Puccini's opera, "The Girl of the Golden West," on tour with a Henry W. Savage Company in United States. Criticisms from several provincial dailies praise Miss Scott very highly.

Rumour, a lady always busy, tells that_ Cyril Mackay has left the J. C. Williamson Company and will appear iwith William Anderson's dramatic combinations. If the statement is true, Mackay will bo a loss to the big firm, but a gain to his new manager. Mackay did fine work her© with Ivatherine Grey, especialy as Brooks in "Paid in Full." Ho will also bo remembered for a splendid Rivers in "The Cheat," played by the company headed by the late Thomas Kingston.

Mr Edward T. P. Steyne, who produced the pantomime, " Sinbad the •jailor, ' and tho musical comedy, " The Girl in tho Train," for the Williamson management, died in Melbourne recently. Mr Steyno was hern and bred in tho theatrical profession. His father whoso ronl name was Lear, acted for twenty years _on the English stage. Horn in Dublin forty-nine years ago, Edward Steyne. commenced liis association with the theatre as a call-boy and it was not long before he became assistant stage manager. At the ace of twenty-one years ho was tho stage manager for an English company that toured .America. Returning to England lie continued his caroor successfully, nnd produced 110 fewer than seventeen pantomimes. Eight years ago he came to Australia, and produced " The Three T/ittle Mnids," " Kit-tv Grav," and "Tho Girl from Kay's/' in which Mr G. P. Huntly appeared as leading comedian./ Mr Steyne returned to Australia last year. He leaves a widow and two sons, who are at present in Melbourne. The eldest son is a scenic artist.

This was the Svdnov cast of " Ban Hur" in 1902.—8 en Hur. Judah. Sou of Itliamar, Conway Tearle; Messala (a Roman youth), H. Hamilton Stewart; Simonidas (a Jew, a friend of Ithamar), Austin Melford; Arrius.ftha Tribune), F. Lumsden Hare: Iderim (a -Shiek), George F. Black : Drusus. Frank Hollins; Cocilius, Edmund Guenn; MaiInch. Roland Siaveloy: Hortator. .T. Robinson; Metellus. Sydney Bell: Sanballat, Johnson AVeir: Khaled, Charles Adams; Centurian, Charles Lawrence; Officer of the Galley,.E. Colthurst: Ist Citizen* Horace Cooper; dtli Citizen,

Clcorgo '"Merriman ; sth Citizen, . Svduov Keary; Esther (Simonides' Daughter), Miss May Chevalier; Iras (the Egyptian's Daughter), jVI iss Ruth Mack ay : Mother of Hur, Miss Mabel Lane; Tizrali (Sister of Hur) Miss Florence Gleeson: Amrah (Nurso of Ilnr), Miss Alma Vatighan ; Balthazar (the Egyptian), W. F. Grant; Gaspar, (the Greek) Q. Murray; Melchior (the Hindoo), Narranji. This is how tho play will be cast _ m tlia revival oil May 4: Ben Hur, Erici Maxon; Messala, Harcourt Beatty: Simonides, Eardley Turner; Arrms, Winter Hall; llderim, Arthur fetyan; Drusus F. Compton; Balthazar, Leslie Victor; Mallucli, J. B. Atholwood; Hortator, T. Lloyd: Metellus,_ Boyd liTvin ; Gaspar G, Chalmers; Khaled, F. Cambourue; Centurion, Carlton Stewart; Esther, Miss Dorothy Dix; Iras, Miss Gwen Burrouglies : Mother■of Hur, Miss Susie Yaughan ; Tiarah, Miss George O'Meara; Amrah,- Miss Alma Va ugh an.