THE STAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12404, 23 August 1918, Page 3

THE STAGE.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.)

lest tv My Heart” lias had a re* iniirknblo tour of the South Island, Merlin" ith great difficulty in socnring theatres in Die centres. Hie Jand A. Jait Company turned their al--1)11 t° tlio small towns, and they n ill have played seven weeks in the oouth Island before they leave it. The takings in tho small towns, like Gore, Nightcaps, Waimate and Riverton, nere astounding, and there can he little doubt that the, inhabitants of ttieso places will be grateful to .1. and e Hie opportunity of seeing anra Allgood as Peg. At the same time i wish we had an opportunity of kgoiiiji; Miss Aligood in some of tho play s by the modern Irish dramatists. It would be, worth while to see her vnth a good company in sonic of J. M. o.vngo s plays or some of l.adv Grcggpry s, Lord Dunsanv or St John Ervmes, to name a few.

i Florons Ziogfeld, , in Now York, is conducting a vigorous campaign against, ticket speculators, and is soiling tickets only from Ins box office. v .i. s !i ro V inK J’hat theatregoers in Now t ork don t iniiui waiting in queues if tjicy can save the extra amount that the ticket speculators usually take. 10-night ‘‘The Bing Bovs Arc Here.” 1?’ . TV 0 n spa «>n at the Theatre Ko.Mil. (Ins up-to-the-minute production comes with a, high-somulhtg reputation. It is the London “ Ling Boys” with more put into it, "so that Australia and New Zealand arc jc ally getting more than London audiences were .satisfied with. “The Bin,g Boys” had an enormous run in London, mid the Australian version tins enjoyed a success no loss remarkable. Jack Cannot. Minnie Love and Hilda Guivor head the cast. , Stock companies in America arc said ,3 ° enjoying bettor easiness than they have known in many years, and in New \ork, whore people are going on their way to sec their soldier sons botoro they leave ‘ for Europe, the theatres are having the biggest sunt', mor season in the city’s history.

Cyril Maude "wont to England in duly, but was to have sailed this montlr on his way hack to America, m tm l ' o ,s 0,50,1 111 November in the having Grace.” Vaudeville theatres in America Imre . boe «.?<*™ed by the censorship autlioi itios that no jokes which might die cotrimoiital to the nation's war actmhc? are to be permitted. A joke about, dm Home Guard looking after soleiers wives has been minted by the authorities as vicious, and against the interests of tho nation. “This is no time to make jest oi tho uniform or tho tragedy of n soldier's home," say* tfio Censor s office, in a polite biit jinu luitt to vftiidfivilJu managers to ifoep n watchful eye on their peri omens.

Madeline Fox. wife of Eddie Fox, ;t famous American comedian, died late in Juno. She was a ballet dancer, but a tier her marriage to Fox she loft the stage.

E. k. fait has gone again to America in search of now attractions. His immeuato attention will be devoted to securing novelties for the new j. and Ai. lait and Bailey and Grant pantumime, “Jack and Jill" in Melbourne at Giinstinas. _M r Tail also hopes to complete, negotiations commenced during bis last visit for the engagement of two wolbknown stars.

Sydney James, recovered from his recent illnoss, is appearing at tho Sydney ilayhonso with his new production, I i.errofc . I le. ■ All tho best-known members of his company are, with him. I quote from the Sydney “Sun” of recent date:—Sa-Hera. ’ the mind reader on arriving in Australia, told the r idlers’ general manager Mr Dongas, that she would remain cm the National programme for tbirty-c-Mit per ormanccs. Dougla. Inuglmd «n { ] ,4id. loirll 1,-. r1“! keep you there ■ ' “v to, but, the : m rue M iminora upset ail transiJ.oil lUTaiigemeuts, and 'acts that slmnhf have como from New /ioalam to Newcastle couldn't gcr there m lime, and Douglas m re-arranging the circuit acts, sclioduled Sa-Hera to close at the National on j! rid ay next. Then lie reckoned up the number of performances she had given here. Sa-Hera was right— tho total was thirty-eight. Tlio fact that American managers consistently billed Daisy Harcourt" as I ho English Comedienne ” led to liifdi luwds on more than one occasion (savs n. Sydney paper). “| am Australian'” says the Snnshino girl, who comes to the. National next Saturday, “and 1 want everyone to know it. Why l ] was born on the North Shore. I went to Fort Street School, and the very first tune [ appeared m public was' at a benefit concert in the School of Arts Neutral Bay.” Miss Harcourt has been awav for seven years, Hm last four spent continuously ifi America, where critics maintained she was “another Vesta Victoria, a "feminine llobov,” and a ' diminutive Marie Dressier."

“The Bing Boys Are Here” has music written by Nat C. Ayer," who has done a great deal in the way of providing London with attractive tunes. One of the charms of “The Bing Boy,” is that it is British in origin. Koi Cooper Megrtic has. adapted a French play with the title “Under Orders,’ and Marjorie Rambcau is to star in it next season. Megruc has written “ Under Fire," " “ Under Cover” and “Under Orders.” ' Chaniiing_ Bollock lias written “Roads of .Destiny,” from 0. Henry's story of that name. Hazel Dawn, who has been seen hero in tho pictures, is to appont next season on tho stage in a comedy called “Dolly of the Follies.”

Edward Peple, who wrote “ The Prince Chap” and “A Pair of Sixes,” has completed “Patsy on tho Ming.') It portrays tho adventures of “an aristocratic waif,” who crosses from Ireland to America, thus reversing the process, of “Peg o’' My Heart.” “ She meets her hero in a New York tenement. Ho is played by Victor Moore, who has been seen here in films. Peggy O'Neil, one of the American Pegs, is to have the part of Patsy. “The Chinese Puzzle'’ is a play of diplomatic life, scheduled for production in London by William A. Brady. Recently “ The Story of the Rosary ” was revived by Allan Wilkie in Sydney and attained its eighty-sixth performance in that city.

V. Tallcur Andrews, the well-known baritone, is to leave Australia- shortly. He will bo remembered as the Chocolate in the piece of that name, tho Count in “The Count of Luxemburg,” and also for bis notable work in “ The Girl in the Train,” “ Night Birds ” and “ The Oingalco.” During his extensive engagement with Hugh D. M’lntosh on the livoli circuit, Mr Andrews proved his suitability for vaudeville work, and ho was known as the matinee idol in the days of tango tons. Mr Andrews has made two attempts to enlist, once in England in IJ)Li and afterwards in Australia. A week or so ago a complimentary benefit was tendered to Mr Andrews in the .Sydney Playhouse.

The latest artist to sign a Tivoli contract is Eve Kelland, who arrived from Louden recently to play the principal role in a new musical show shortly to be staged lu Sydney. She is a blonde, and has been starring in England and South Africa for the last two years in “ S’nicc,” a gay revue. '

Tho National, in Sydney, is now playing all vaudeville. The A 1 Brace company concluded a twelve weeks’ season'on Friday, and has embarked lor Now Zealand. The next Fuller rev.no expected at tho National was tile Walter Johnston Musical Comedy Players, who have proved one of the. firm’s biggest and most consistent money-makers.

Paris’s first underground theatre has opened its collar doors. The theatre is called L’Abri, or shelter, and is in the cellar of a six-story building in the grand boulevards. The collar, which was an unusually largo one, already had been classed as a public shelter by the municipal authorities. The cellar was greatly enlarged, however, and was lavishly decorated. It seats about I.IUO people, and is heated by electricity. Air raids or bombardments will not slop the performances, although patrons will be notified, so that they can leave if they wish. The theatre lias an orchestra of fifteen pieces, and is complete down to the smallest details, It. is guaranteed to ho safe by the municipal authorities. The first night of the new theatre was well attended, for Parisians have become annoyed at having io leave the other theatres when the air raid alert sounds. It is not enjoyable to have a Chariot or Chaplin film break off in the middle. and then, too, one doesn’t get one’s money back at the hex office.

To-morrow night at the Opera. House will seo the first appearance- hero of Bessie Lester, a clever American dialect comedienne. Miss- Lester has been a big success in Australasia since her arrival from America, and should be well liked hero. On Monday "Walter George will produce ‘’The Grand Hotel,” which is considered by .lohn Hamer, Fuller’s Dunedin manager, io bo the best in his repertory. The well known operatic baritone, "Wallace Brownlow, will make his lir-t appear-

anco in this theatre with a brilliant, selection of songs. Ennis and Lo Clorc will also appear in a clever dancing turn for the first time here. Marie Tempest has expressed the opinion that Gladys Monerieff's voice is the best trained she has heard in musical comedy for twenty years. A recent, cable to the Fuller firm announced the immediate return to Australia of Frediswydo Hunter-Watts (Mrs Allan Wilkie), who has been visiting the U.S.A. on a health trip. Site may arrive in time to take her part ot Lady Mary in •‘Seven Days’ Leave” at Sydney Grand Opera House—a roie which she has already played 150 times in Australia. An important Williamson attraction listed for hero in September is Kalhleno MacDonell and Charles Waldron in a. _ repertory of now plays. The production of greatest significance trill bo Richard Sheldon’s drama “Romance,” which, with Doris Keane in the leading role, completed n 1000 nights’ run in London last May. When first produced in Australia Madge Fabian,.took this role. but. she could not. be persuaded to visit New Zealand. The story embodies the love tragedy of a bishop. As a youth ho had become enamoured of the opera singer Marguerite Cavali 1 ini. wiio, as he subsequently discovered, had a- 'past. In the prologue the bishop's grandson, who has fallen in love with an actress, asks consent to his marriage. The bishop is not sympathetic with the match, and the youth reminds him ho has forgotten he was once young. Thereupon the old man tells his own story, which makes the play. Playgoers of bygone days will recall many pleasurable reminiscences brought to light by Victor Beck, the veteran advance agent, during a chat with a. northern journalist-. Mr Beck, by t ho by, was laid aside-with a serious illness in Christchurch some weeks back, but is now in harness again, and is in advance of the hhiglish Pierrots, winch no doubt, will lie seen in this city shortly- _ His participation in eighty tours ot Now Zealand .since IS7B, and"an evidently phenomenal'memory, make him an ideal historian, and treasured memories of the great players who brought their talents to Now Zealand even so bmg ago as that will bo freshened by Mr Beck’s recital. He visited Austro-j ha first just after the outbreak of the : Zulu War, with the late George Eig- i 110 Id. who produced in the Common-' wealth centres '‘Lights o’ London.”; “ Youth,'’ “Alone," “Elaok-cvcd Su- 1 sam “Clan Carthy” and “Henry' V .-’ (Rignokl, of course, was the stand- i ard Henry of his ora). The New Zea-• land season opened in Dunedin on Box--! ing Night, and lasted five, mouths, i though only the four centres were visit-' and _ only two pieces produced—! ' Youth ' and “Lights o’ London.”. The company included J, R. Grcville, 1 Harry WalUm. “Jimmy” Oathcarc, ■ Frank Harcourt. Joe Tolano, Jimmv I Hiiidott. Victor 'Beck, Roland Watt-; !

■ I Phillips, Solange Navarro. Alice Woolj ridge and Flora Austead. In Australia, I Uie same year, Air Beck was.associated j yitli George Conpiu’s comedy season: .' with Jennie Lee (in “ Poor Joe”); and ,' in 1881 bo was. back in Auckland ;>■: ■ Abbott’s Opera House with the Carrie j Nelson Company, playing “ Aladdin, ’ j with a cast that included Lachlan APGowan and J. -B. Steele. There followed tours with Dunning’s Opera Com1, pany—“ Boccacio,” 11 Manola,” “ Aladame Angel,” “Hip Van' Winkle,” tho ,G. B. W. Lewis 1 Pantomime Company; Marie De Grey j Comedy Company; Genevieve Ward in ‘’Scrap of Paper,” “Mammon,” “Jealousy”; James ,M‘Mahon and Geo. j Loitch Company (1884-85),.- producing ~ “ Tim Silver King,” “ The Privhte Secretary,” “The Orphans;” “Con the Shaughraim,” “ Arrah No Pogue ” (the late Maggie Knight was a member of this company). Mr Beck was next associated with Dion Boncicault’s Irish : dramas, which were played through New Zealand twice in 1885. It was during the second tour that Boucieanlt’s marriage with Miss Thornclykc took place. The same year found our his- ■ toriau again in this country with George I Darrell (“ The Sunny South” and /'Transported For Life”), hut in the i period 1835-86 he- was associated with j the Williamson and Mnsgrovo nmiiage- | menfc at the Theatre Royal, Sydney—i a notable production being “ Cinder- ! clla ” pantomime, with Nellie Stewart j in the leading role, supported by Darcy 1 Stewart, Johnny Fordo,'-and J. R. . Grevillo. Equally notable following 1 productions were the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in Melbourne, with such : artists cast as Nellie Stewart, Ida Grei sham, Frank Thornton, John Fordo, ; Johnny Wallace, the “Sinbad the Saili or” pantomime (with Airs Henry Bracy ; in the lead) ; a Bland Holt season, and | association in quick, succession with Charles Warner, Robert Brough, Charles Arnold, mid Afajeroui (18891. Then for a town (1889-1893) Air Bock •was connected with the Bruugh-Bouci- | can It regime, which was responsblc for ' the richest comedy output of Australia’s . theatrical history. During those years 1 there were staged such line plays as .“Joseph’s .Sweetheart,” “Jane,” .“Betsy,” “’Caste.’’ “The Parvenu.” , “ The Magistrate, •’* “ Dandy Dick,” ; and “ Diplomacy,” with such groat I p!ayci’s > as Robert Brough, Dion Bond- ! eanlt, Jim., George Tithoradge. Georue j Anson. Frank Cates, Cecil Ward. Flo’ri once Trovolyn (Airs Brough),' Pattie Browne, Jenny Watt-Tanner, Bessie ; Alajor, Emma Temple, Airs Gibson. ' About this time, too, it was that Olga , Nothoi’solo and Charles Cartwright came j out. Betwen 1894 and 1896 Air Beck , toured the “smalls” of New Zealand | with one of the pioneer moving picture , shows, hut in LSD< he was back in the 1 ’‘legitimate,” agent for the New Zea--1 land tour of the beautiful and fascinati ing Airs Brown-Potter and Kyrle BelI lew, who in a tour of only forty-five ! d.ays playnd “ La Tosca,” “ Forget-Me- ! Not,” She Stoops To Conquer.” /Camille.” “ David Garrick,” “Lady of Jvve.ns.” “School For Scandal,” ” Fran slloa,” “Borneo and Julie:;” and “As Yon Like It.’ Air Beck’s later service has included tours with the Bessie Doyle Concert Company. An- 1 toinetie Stirling. Trobelli, Bosnia Buckman Concert Company, the Dandies, the, Smart Sot, and the English Pierrots, with whom ho is now associated.