Across the Footlights

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13893, 19 October 1918, Page 9

Across the Footlights

PLAYS AND PICTURES.

(By "Fra Diavolo.")

Bookings. THEATRE ROYAL. October 25 J. G. Williamson. November 12, 13 —Hamilton Operatic Society ("La Mascotte.") Vacant," dates—Pictures. KING'S THEATRE. Nightly—Pictures. "La Mascotte." Rehearsals or "La Mascotte" by the Hamilton Operatic Society are going very smoothly, and everything points to a successful production on Show nights, Tuesday and Wednesday, November 12th and l.'Uh. The following caste of characters has been arranged:

Laurent XVII., Duke of Prompino Mr (i. Smith.

Prince Fritellini, Crown Prince of Pisa, Mr Patterson. Rocco, a farmer, Mr H. Fort. Pippo, a shepherd, Mr R. Lafferty. Matheo, an inn-keeper, Mr H. (laze. Parafante, a sergeant, Mr A. Partington.

Tito, a peasant, Mr Scott. Ciuisseppe, Mr Howe. Court Pages. Misses McLeod, Halliday, Milnes and Kennedy. Fiametta, Laurent's daughter, Miss Annie Turner.

Bettina, a country girl (La Mascotte), Miss M. Edwards.

A special feature of the production will be the ballets. Mrs Parkhouso has in band a bellet of 18, ami, judging by the progress already made, the dances should be spectacular and thoroughly artistic. They include Hie Rose, Pagp and Military ballets, and all are very effective. -The chorus, too, is doing god work, while the principals are entering into their labours with enthusiasm. A grand orchestra will assist. As a result "La Mascotte" should be one of the most enjoyable productions ever staged by the Hamilton Operatic Society. Mr S. Tombs is acting as conductor, Mrs Ross as pianist, and Mr A. E. Manning as stage manager. Hamilton Singers.

Miss Annie Turner, Hamilton's contralto, made an excellent impression at the organ recital givon in Auckland on Saturday night, her items being enthusiastically encored. It is likely that, as a result of her success, she will receive other engagements in town. Miss Turner not only possesses a voice of excellent quality, hut she sings with renting, consequently she is always popular with audiences. Mr "Pom" Watson will leave Hamilton for Pukekohe next week. His departure will be greatly regretted, for during his short stay here he has made himsolf extremely popular as a singer and character comedian. He has always been very generous in the matter of singing for charitable and other local purposes, and will be especially missed by the returned soldiers, whom he was ever ready to entertain. Mr Watson will take with him to Pukekohe the good wishes of a wide circle of friends. To-night, at Frankton, he will be ten- ; dered a farewell.

I Mr E. Wright, at one time a popular Hamilton vocalist, is now in Auckland, I after spending some tme in camp. At a concert given in Auckland on Monday ¥ night Mr Wright was associated with Mr and Mrs Cyril Towsey. It will be remembered that the trio often gave much pleasure to Hamilton musiclovers when they were resident here. At Monday night's concert one of the most appreciated items was a song •cycle by Mrs Towsey and Mr Wright. During his sojourn in the camp Mr Wright was a popular member of the | CI Pierrot troupe. A Presentation.

At the practice of the Hamilton Operatic Society this week the president, Mr S. Tombs, -on behalf of the members, presented Mr P. Cubitt, treasurer, and formerly secretary of the society, with aset of handsome carvers, as a slight token of esteem and poodwill in connection with his approaching marriage. Mr Tombs paid a tribute to Mr Cubitt's services to the society, and wished him and his prospective bride happiness and prosperity in their heartily 4'pdorsed by members, who joined in heartily singing "He's a Jolly Good Fellow," OUd gave three ringing cheers for "prospective bride and groom." Mr Cubitt suitably acknowledged the gift and the kindly remarks made.

Miss Carrie Moore. News is to hand of Miss Carrie Moore, the former musical comedy favourite. A writer in the last issue of the Theatre Magazine says:—Looking as fresh as a girl and with a beauty all her own, Carrie Moore was greeted by applause as she was seen by the audience at the Walter Bentley students' recital (Kind's Hall, 'Sydney;, during the month. Miss Moore is now the happy wife of Jack Wyatt, a wellknown and popular Sydney bookmaker. His gifts to the one-time J. C. Williamson musical-comedy star include some magnificent diamonds and wonderful furs. Everyone will be pleased to hear of Miss Moore's complete happiness, for a kindlier, more generous woman never lived than she when on the stage, and many have cause to remember and be grateful to her for practical sympathy shown when needed.

The 13th Chair.

The power of the plot in "The 13th Chair" is not exhausted in" the first act. Indeed the tide of interest rises rapidly during a skilfully-devised second act, and reaches its utmost heights in the subtle cleverness of act three, which is a model of the playwright's craftsmanship. It would not be fair to divulge the denouement, for it is in the speculative aspect, keeping the audience on tendeiiiooks from first to last, that the appeal of the. drama exists. When "The I.lth Chair" was first staged in New York it created something of a sensation, and the success it achieved may be gauged by the fact that it has been running for two consecutive seasons in New York, and it is now beinjr played throughout the United States by no less than 10 touring companies.

Jottings. The popular comic, opera, "Floradora," will be staged in Auckland early next month by a band of amateurs, in aid of the Returned Wounded and Crippled Soldiers' Hostel Fund. "Struck Oil," with Miss Maggie Moore in her original role of Lizzie, has been pieturised in Australia, and will shortly be shown throughout New Zealand. Mr H. R. Roberts appears as John Slopel, a part in which I have seen him many times. Miss Kmilie Polini, the latest Williamson star imported from America, after successful seasons with "He Luxe Annie" and "The Invisible Foe," is now appearing in "The Kyes of Youth." Warrant -officer A. P. Kennedy, who was aboard the Matunga when captured by the Wolf, and is now a prisoner of war at Gustrow, Germany, writes:— "There is little amusement here, except a weekly picture bill, and an occasional play, mostly by the French. The. Belgians and Russians give good shows. Strange to relate, the English do not contribute towards the entertainment of the camp. Some of. the womencharacters are very weli played by the men. The Russians have a most charming lady charaeter : impe'rsohatdf'."

In "High .links":—Field Fisher (pressingly-: Have a drink. Connie Ediss: No, no, no! Well—er —only up to the brim. Besides Miss Ethel Morrison (Ettie Maginnity) another ex-Wellington amateur is included in "The 13th Chair" Company, in the person of Miss Maisie Carte. Since their amateur days in the Empire City both Miss Carte and Miss Morrison have, had much professional experience. Wirth's Circus will visit New Zealand at the end of the year.