THE STAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12284, 5 April 1918, Page 4

THE STAGE.

NEWS AND COMMENT.

(By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.) In “Maggie,” a comedy by Edward Peplo, whicli was recently produced in America, the load was played by Phyllis N’ielsun-Tcrry., in the company were David Giassford, Henry Neville and Leopold Stark, well-known, in Australasia. It is announced that Maggie Moore is at present occupied in compiling her memoirs. On Easter Saturday night the first performance in Australia of "The Only Girl” was given at Melbourne Her Majesty's by the Now English Musical Comedy Company. “The Only Girl” has a lengthy success in America to its credit. The music is by Victor Herbert, the composer of “The Fortune Teller, ' which should guarantee its tunefulness. The cast included .Maude Fane, William Greene, Field Fisher, Cecil Bradley. Fred Maguire. Harry Motton, Alfred Frith, Dorothy Purdell. Madge Elliott, and Connie Ediss.

Much publicity was given some months ago to the report of the escape to America of Tatiana Itomanov, daughter of the former Czar The matter was cleared up in January when .Mane. Romanov, thp grand opera singer, aimed at an American port and stated that sho had been mistaken for the former Grand Duchess and detained in Yokohama by the American Consul.

To-morrow, a special train will leave Sydney, carrying the biggest company, numbering ‘250 people, Unit the Williamson management lias ever transferred from one town to another. They reach Melbourne on Monday afternoon, and the work of preparing for the opening performance of the pantomime “ Dick Whittingtoii ” at Her Majesty's there on April 13, will be commenced immediately. M hen Katblene MacDonell returned to Melbourne, opening at the Theatre Royal on Easter Saturday night, playgoers saw the first production in Australia of “The Cinderella Alan,” a play of love apd sentiment.'in a similar vein to that of “Daddy Long Legs.” The author is Edward Childs Carpenter, one of the most successful of American playwrights. It is a charming play of youth and romance. Charles Waldron played the penniless Cinderella- Alan, and Kathlono MacDonell, the daughter of the millionaire.

Business at the Opera House lias been remarkable over the Easter holidays, and the experiment of holding an extra matinee on Easter Tuesday was fully justified by the results. All records have been broken this week, and, judging by the enthusiastic reception accorded the liaverly Company every evening, things should continue to be good. Sir George Birdwood is the authority for the statement that “ Hamlet/'’ “Macbeth” and “Othello” have been played for several generations by Indians in Poona and Bombay. Sir George Alexander’s name in private life before he became famous was Sampson, and he started as a draper's assistant.

From the “ Bulletin ” about an artist who, will probably be seen in New Zealand this year: “Thais Lawton, whom the Taits are showing with Post in ‘The Masquerader’ next month, has a Portia to her credit that haughty Boston vows is the best it has yet inspected. Also her Beatrice in ‘Much Ado’ and her Rosalind in ‘As You Liue It’ appear to have caused hoorays in Shakespearean shrines. Thais has done, in addition, Paula Tanqucray. Dorothy Vernon, Nell Gwyn, Maslova (of Tolstoi’s ‘Resurrection’) and several other modern heroines; ■so ■ she ought to be fully qualified for her comparatively easy job in the version of Katherine Thurston’s dead novel.”

10-morrow ■will see at the Opera House the production by Tom Haverly of the second adventure'of Murphy and Casey, This is entitled “ The Man in Black,” and is said to be an oven funnier farce than this week’s productionOn -Monday the vaudeville section will be strengthened by the inclusion of Dehnore and Lee. Writing 0 f this act John Hamer, the Dunedin representative of the Fullers, says: “The turn that brings the people to tire edge of their seats, and almost has them cheering at the i s that of Delmoro' and Lee. This is without doubt the greatest aerial gymnast act we have over played in this country, and should be a big draw everywhere.” Old friends in Sydney Jones nnd Agnes Baines, vocalists and will make a reappearance. Other newcomers are Stewart and Moore, a clever patter, song and dance team. Irene Castle, the dancer and film a iTist, last December filed suit for £6ooo against the Century Amusement Corporation. She claimed that she was engaged at £IBO a. week and £2O for each extra performance for the run of “Miss 1917” at the Century Theatre and that she was summarily" dismissed on December 3 and refused permission to go on the stage. Her services began with the show on November 5. She says the show would continue for thirty weeks. At the same time Adolph Bloni. a Russian dancer, sued the company for £ISOO for salary. Miss Castle’s estimate of the season was a long may out, as “Miss 19,17 closed down a few weeks later. The piece did big business right through its season, but the expenses were so heavy that the capacity of the great playhouse was necessary nightly to enable the production to pav its way.

The Fullers celebrated the Easter holidays by sending a- road show through some of the smaller towns of the North Island. The company consisted of Kelly and Drake, M’Kay and Graham, Mand Conrtnev and Mr C Marsden and Florence, ‘Sydney Jones and Agnes Raines, The Harlans’ Hickey and Rose, and Sergeant Copeland and Kid.. Local vaudeville patrons will recognise this as a strong programme. The towns visited consisted oLWammnui (two nights). Danuevirke. Napier aiul_ Hastings (one night each), and business is reported to have been exceptionally big. No doubt ns this tour has proved so successful the Fullers will turn their eyes to the South Island. There are several good towns which it would probably pav to visit, such as A«hburtnn, Timani. Oamaru. Invercargill, Gore, Waimnte. nnd on the "West Const. I understand that the local manager has communicated with his head office suggesting: such a tour. Greatly to_ the amusement of the members of his company appearing with him in “Chu Chin Chow,” Mr Oscar Aseho posted up the following notice inside the stage entrance to His Majesty’s Theatrel wish to correct the statement that has been made in some quarters to the effect that Messrs Grossmith and Laurillard enter into possession of this theatre at once, ‘ Chu Chiu Chow’ does not quit until the public give him notice, and before that event happens Messrs Grossmith and Laimllard may be in a far, far better land. There is hope.”