THE STAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19367, 25 July 1925, Page 13

THE STAGE

“Wee’» Georgie Wood. A particularly strong vaudeville company “Wee” Georgie AVood, the Lilliputian comedian, now appearing (under the J. C. Williamson banner) at the Wellington Grand Opera Hottso. “Wee” Georgie is said to be the most highly paid vaudeville Artist ever brought to the Dominion. With him is a brilliant company, including Billy Afaloney, international singer and dancer; The Aldor Trio, wonderful trapeze artists; Frank’s (astonishing canine statuary! ATarie TJawton, with piano and harp; and Whidder, the original d>ancing violinist. The musical director is Mr. A. G. Frost. * * # • Mr. Hubert Carter’s Success. Air. Hubert Carter, the New Zealand tenor, continues to have many engagements in England, and his Press notices are very complimentary. The Sussex Daily News speaks of him las a finished artist, whose work in recitative and air was “quite exquisitely done.” The {Torquay Times said: “The soloist in 'this piece (Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast) wtis Air. Hubert Carter, who, with his 'rendering of ‘Onaway. Awake, Believed! ’ held the audience spellbound. IHis rich tenor voice rang through the building with the clearness of a bell. jOno musical critic wrote of Air. CarIter’s solo singing in “Hiawatha”’ |“Mr. Carter has a very fine tenor I voice, and does his work in quite masterly fashion. He also sang throe 'songs later in the programme. These wvere so well rendered that the audience 'demanded encores twice. They wore |fairly captivated by his singing.” ** ‘ # N.Z. Players. I An interesting programme comes from New York. It was issued from Times Square Theatre, and w«as for a special invitation performance and first production in America, of the drama .“Obsession,’ written by Emilio Polini ami Doris Edgerton Jones. This play was originally produced at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, by J. C. Willliainson, Ltd., and was favourably received by the press. The first production in America is made the more Interesting by the number of New Zeallanders in the east. These include

Harry Plimmer. Harold Carr, Reynolds Denniston, and Laura Roberts. Harold i Bowden, erstwhile of the J. C. Williamson managerial staff, was also connectled with the production.

Uld Song Hits Revived. | The Veterans of A’ariety in Sydney arc reviving the song hits of thirty ; vears ago—“ After the Ball.’’ Daisy. Daisy, Give Ale Your Answer, Do.’’ “01/ Air. Porter.” “Two Little Girls in Blue,” etc. The audience joins in singing the choruses lustily. » * * ’ • A New Theatre for Christchurch.

The progressive firm of John Fuller and Sons, Ltd., have completed arrangements to erect a plaintial theatre in Christchurch. The property acquired for this purpose is at the Clock Tower, and has a frontage of 90ft to Manchester Street and ,190 ft to Lichfield Street, and the back of the Section extends through to Bedford Row. Centrally situated and in a busv thoroughfare, a more suitable location could

hardly be imagined. The new theaire, which is to bn called The Majestic, is to have a seating Capacity of 2300. and, with the single exception of His lAlajcsty’s, AVellington. will bo the lor gost in the Dominion. All tlm latest {ideas are to be embodied, and in g moral design and equipment The Alajestic iwill comp l aro favourably with the onorGnous block of buddings containing two {theatres which is being erected for I the Fullers in Sydney nt a cost of apIproximatelv £5b0,000. Thorp is to bo ja revolving stage, which will enable |several scopes to be sot at once, and jthe. very e’r.bor'ate lighting scheme (which is being installed in the new (Sydney theatres will be duplicated in | Christchurch. The circles are 1o be 'practically self-supporting, thus eliminating posts, and a new de'sign of luxurious turn-up chairs are to be installed through I out. including the upper circle. It building this now thetitre, Afessrs Ful ]ors are looking further than the re quiroments of the vaudeville business (inasmuch ns the stage and its equip Iment will bp designed to accommodate the very largest of theatrical produc ! lions. Alessrs Luttrell Brothers, o I Christchurch, hiavo been appointed ar , lehitocts. and probably Air. Syd Tmtt roll will visit America at the end o: the present year to view the progress . that the States have made in theatre construction.

Marie Burke’s Next Role. Aliss Alarie Burke, the fascinating “AVildflower,” will be seen in the title role in ‘‘Rose Alarie” when the company returns to Australia. “Rose Alarie” is an outstanding success in London 'and New York just now. < ❖ * The Gilbert and Sullivan Revival. When the Gilbert and Sullivan season opens in Australia in March it is said that “Utopia, Limited,” will be revived, in (addition to the betterknown operas. “Ruddigore” will also receive its first professional airing on the Australian boards. Besides James Hay (tenor) and Charles AValenn (corned inn), Air. Leo Darton has been engaged in London for the company. • • • • Thurston Hall in “The Broken Wing.” At the conclusion of the “On Our Selection” season at the King’s Theatre, Thurston Hall (who ’vill be remembered in “So This Is London) will appear at that theatre in another comedy—la Mexican one this time—entitled “The Broken Wing.” This is a clover and amusing play which had enormous runs both in New York and London. The life of Thurston Hall, who takes the leading part, has been full of vicissitudes. The arly days of his theatrical life were spent with a travelling company which carried its own theatre in the form of a tent, and collapsable chairs; as few of the American towns in those days could boast either theatres or halls. {Sometimes they travelled by rail; moro often the company had to depend on wagons and horses. But it was a happy life, with plenty of jolly camps in pleasant places, and occasionally the chance of fishing by the river bank while the wagons were being prepared for the next move.