Across the Footlights

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13815, 20 July 1918, Page 9

Across the Footlights

PLAYS AND PICTURES

(Isy "Fra Diavolo.")

Bookings. THEATRE ROYAL. July 20—Eisk Jubilee Singers. August. 20th, 21st and 22nd—The Pierrots. September 23, 24—Scarlet Troubadours. October 22nd—J. C. Williamson. Vacant dates— Pictures KING'S THEATRE. Nightly—Pictures.

Jubilee Singers Returning. The Eisk Jubilee Singers, who scored so heavily on the occasion of their recent local season, will return to Hamilton next week, and give an entertainment in the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening. There is no need to say much regarding these popular entertainers; most of the playgoers of Ham. ilfcon have seen and heard them, and appeared to lie well pleased with the programmes submitted. There is a charm about the quaint plantation melodies and jubilee choruses which makes a strong appeal, and in solo work also the Singers appeared to hit the popular taste. No doubt there will be a large audience on Thursday night to say farewell.

Cappelli, the Tencr. Speaking of Signor Cappelli, the brilliant tenor, ivhu will sn:;/, in Hamilton shortly, an Auckland critic says: "Success, emphatic and complete, was achieved by Signor Cappelli on the occasion of his opening concert at the Town Hall concert chamber on Saturday night. He was in splendid form, and thrilled his hearers with the glorious quality of his tones, whether voiced at the extremes of his wide range or in the middle register. There is a manly virility alxnit his upper register which is attained by few tenors." The other members of the concert party—Miss Vera Bedford (soprano), Mr John Amadio (flautist), Signor Caesaroni (basso) and Mr Harold Whittle (pianist)—were equally successful. Cappelli was to have sung here next week, but owing to the extension of his Auckland season, this has been found impossible. He will give a concert in' Hamilton on his return from his southern tour.

n Beautiful New Zealand." Cyril Maude's manager, Alfred Turner, thus extols New Zealand in a letter from America to The London Referee:—"We sailed for New Zealand on November 22 and opened at Wellington on November 27. I bad no idea that New Zealand was so beautiful, and the more I saw of it the more beautiful 1 thought it. It is full of variety and charm. The rivers are perfect, and fishing is the national sport. The scenery is the grandest I have ever seen. The people are charming. They speak with a perfect accent, and are most hospitable. I hope some day to return to New Zealand—it is my ambition.''

Bits from the Front. Items from the programme of an entertainment given by the Anzac Coves behind the trenches in Franco: —lf any stray shells should hit anyone in the middle of the show don't shout out. It upsets the actors. We would ask all the gentlemen to have their top hats adjacent. When we say top hats we mean gas respirators. Don't say tilings about us you don't mean. Also, look out for the cuivert outside our door. It's deep. So is some of our humour. Bruce DrysdaJe, in Hamilton some time ago with the Stanley M'Kay Pantomime Company, writes: ''Australians and New Zealanders are very popular in France. To a great extent this is due totitheir natural way of making themselves at home, and their liberality with their money. The two-up schools and other 'attractions' flourish for a week after pay day. Then, when you're broke, you float a loan till next pay day. As a pal who will stick to you through thick and thin, every Australian says, 'Give me Scottie every time!' The Scottish are sworn comrades. They have left some imperishable records here, where the best of the Allied countries have fought and died, side by side. Popular, too, are the American boys. They're a smart, clean, active-looking lot, and are sure to make good."

Return of Allen Drone. Allen Doone was given a great reception at the Tom Moore concert in Sydney recently. When he appeared there was a roar of cheering, which continued for several minutes. Then, when he started to sing "The Wearing of the Green," the hurricane of cheering broke out afresh. The song finish, ed, Mr Doone was brought back again and again to the platform. "There has never," he pleaded at last, "been a song written that goes along with that one; and so I'm awfully sorry; but— I can't sing another as an encore." Mr Frank Levy arrived from Sydney the other day to make arrange* ments for the New Zealand tour of the Allen Doone Dramatic Company, which will open at Auckland. The company, when the mail left, was playing "Lucky I O'Shea" in Sydney. Miss Edna Keeley ! is still the leading lady.

Jottings. Mr W. H. Frye, the popular amateur, and now attached to the N.Z.M.C., was iu Hamilton during the week on final leave. He received a warm welcome from his many friends. The Auckland Amateur Operatic Society will stage "Les Cloches de Cornoville" next week. -Miss Ethel Rao, who lias sung in Hamilton on seveial occasions, will appear as Germaine.' Tlie English Peirrots, after a stay of oight weeks at the Town Hall concert chamber, Wellington, will open a season in Auckland to-night. The Scarlet Troubadours arrived in New Zealand last week. They should have a successful tour.

Miss Ada Reeve and Mr Sydney James (here with the Royal Strollersi will be associated in a tour of South Africa.

M*ss Muriel Starr's latest productioi "The Man Who Came Hack," ii

which she is supported by Messrs Louis Kimball and Frank Harvey. The play is said to be rather unpleasant in theme.

Mr Will Pony, for many years witli thf Pollard Opera Company, was ..I latest J.dvieos principal comedian with Company producing 'The Hoy'' in Manchester, England. • lie is receiving mueli praise from the critics. Miss May Beatty, anotlier popular ex-Poi-lardian, is playing in London, where hoi hushand (Mr Latin) controls several theatres.

Will 'Last Lyniif" over die? It was revived in Sydney recently liy the George Cross Dr.ip.ath Company, and had a successful run.

-Messrs T. S. Webster and Co., of Hamilton, have boon appointed representatives of the Wellington Musical and Elocutionary Society. Anyone desiring information regarding the competitions to ho hold in Wellington in Xoveinhor can obtain same from this firm. The movie popularity contest in America, in which (>.()0(),iii)0 \otes were cast, has closed. The rosr.it is as I'ol lows: Lending (Jneens: Portrayal. Mary I'ickfoivl. 110, i:«) votes; beauty, Bovorly Bane, i:U..".Ofi; charm, Mary An-lor-son, l(i:i,!t!H). Leading Kings: I'ortrayal, Francis Bushman, ]10,.">70; handsomeness, Harold Lo.kwood, U»7.-l7o; •harm, Wallace .Mac Donald, IOo.SUO.