THE STAGE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11991, 30 May 1914, Page 2

THE STAGE.

(By "The Critic")

TOWN HALL BOOKINGS. Juno Ist. —Pipe Band Bazaar. June 9th and 12th. —Tango Competitions. July 30.— J. C. Williamson Ltd. (Pantomime, "The Forty Thieves. ,, ) July 81.—Geo. Willoughby. ("The Eosary.') , August 24. — J. C. Williamson, Ltd. ("Joseph and His Brethren. ") Pictures. —Vacant dates. • FORESTERS' HALL. Thompson-Payne Pictures, permanent. Miss Ruth Lincoln, who created Miss Hook of Holland in Australia, is with tho Gilbert and Sullivan Company, which Avill open its Australian tour next month. The takings for Harry Laud.er 's first week in Melbourne wore £4000, The j promoters consider Lauder the best proposition- they have ever handled. Old-timers (says a Sydney critic) were reminded by Miss Maggie Moore's j appearance as tho negress in "Tho Argyle Case" that Topsy, in "Uncle Tom's Cabin," was one of her early successes. Last night was the last night of "Come Over Here" at Melbourne Her Majesty's. "Sealed Orders," the great naval spectacular drama, opens to-night. It will take a week to transport the big revue to Adelaide, where it will open on Saturday, June Oth. This is by far tho heaviest production that has yet been transferred to another State. Siguor Canuso, the eminent tenor, is appealing at Milan against the dismissal of his claim for £40,000 against Br Dclavedova, who in 1907-8 performed an operation on the singer's vocal chords, and who, it is said, subsequently made statements, in an interview, allegedly calculated to damage Caruso's reputation and entail on him financial loss. Judgment has been reserved in tho case. Signor Caruso is appearing just now at Co vent Garden Theatre. Critics agree that his voice has altered; that it has gained in softness what it may have lost in volume. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph announces that the Boston Opera Company, consisting of .'SOO members, including Madame Melbo., and with a repertoire of .'SO operas, has arranged to make a tour oti Australia in August, September and October, 191 H. The company will previously appear in Paris, afterwards going to America. Madame. Melba expresses herself delighted with the prospect. She says, "Australia is opera-mad at the presI ent time. " J It is seldom that the creator of a leaI ding role in ti big English or American : success is specially brought out to Australia to play the same part here, which has been done for tho production of "The Eosary," which George Willoughby presents at the Princess Theatre. , The leading character, that of Father Brian Kelly, was created by Mr Harrington Beynolds in the original New York production, and he was specially engaged in America to portray the same part in Australia and New Zealand. "The Eosary" will be staged in Masterton on July 31st. Miss Maud Chetwynd, one of the daintiest little dancers and soubrettes ever turned out in the Williamson ; school, and for years in musical comi edy, has forsaken the gay light opera ; stage for the more serious melodrama, I and was at latest appearing with "The Worst Woman in London." Miss I. Maginnity leaves Wellington shortly on a visit to Australia, to meet her sister, Miss Ettie Maginnity, who, as Miss Ethel Morrison, has been doing splendid work with J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. An extended tour in South Africa is just completed, and an Australian season will commence with a New Zealand one to follow. Miss Ettie Maginnitj'- will get a warm welcome from her old friends in Wellington, where she was one of the most popular amateurs several years ago. This note from the Capetown daily came to hand recently:—"Miss Ethel Morrison gave a very excellent interpretation of the Lady Jane ("Patience.") She brought out all the humour of the character, and i'the somewhat masculinity of her lower notes was not unsuited to the part. " It is now announced that Miss Winnie Volt, an English actress who is appearing in the revue, ."Come Over Here," is to bo tho principal boy of "The Forty Thieves" pantomime" on the New Zealand tour. Miss Jessie Lonnen, who is the principal boy in Australia, is not being sent to New Zealand, the reason being that she was here recently with tho Royal Comic Opera Company. A good number of New Zealand tours are being arranged by the J. C. Williamson firm. The first of these is "The Forty Thieves" pantomime, which opens in Auckland on June 29th. Julius Knight was to have commenced a New Zealand tour at Auckland on August 10th ; but arrangements are now being made for the opening on September 7th.« Julius Knight will bring a repertoire of the most popular of his old pieces, including "A Eoyal Divorce," "Sign of the Cross," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," and "Monsieur Beaucaire. " The old may prove more attractive than the new, and the chances are that such'plays as "A Eoyal Divorce" and "Sign of the Cross" will again draw the multitude. Arrangements have been made for a New Zealand tour of "Bunty Pulls the Strings." The tour commences at Auckland on October 12th.

In a recent interview, Maud Allan, the artistic classical dancer, said that •often people laid to her blame the extravagances-of "undress" on the stage to-day. "I will not accept the blame," she said, "without a protest. When I commenced my recitals in Europe I broke away from all the accepted notions and returned to the ancient Greek form. The gorgeous scenery and dressing were discarded, and I tried to obtain as much simplicity as I could. At that time no.one would take me to London; but Mr Butt, in spite of the criticism of his friends, engaged me for the Palace Theatre. London appreciated me, and at once other managers took advantage of my success to introduce so-called classical dancers. Many tried, and various people who appeared as Salome, though entirely unfitted for it, introduced the undesirable element .of grossness into it. And now I think you, will find that of the classical dancers of the world I am the most clothed I am. often told lam wearing more,'but I am wearing similar, dresses to those I first wore. The lashions of the stage and the street have gone past me. My imitators may have made money, more than I, but to mo my art is, of supreme importance."