THE ROYAL COMICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 946, 23 April 1908, Page 18

THE ROYAL COMICS.

When the Royal Comic Opera Company finish their season in Sydney, a period of much moment will begin for them. They will remain in Sydney till the second week in May under the old conditions and then a re-organisation wil’ take place for “The Merry Widow” which is to be produced for the first time in Australia at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne on May 16th. Not only will the ranks of the company be strengthened by the inclusion of several new principals, but it will have the

benefit of Herr Gustave Slapoffski, as a conductor. His work in grand opera has been the subject of eulogistic reference from one end of the Commonwealth to the other. He has moreover, the additional advantage of being thoroughly acquainted with “The Merry Widow” which he saw a score oir more times in Europe, and also with its composer, Lehar, with whom he became very friendly during his recent tour of the Old World. As to the composition of the company which will be entrusted with the production, Miss Carrie Moore, whom Mr Williamson specially engaged for the title role, will be a host in herself and her return to the scene of her former triumphs in such a play and with such a part, ’s quite an event, while another interesting engagement is that of Mr Albert Higginson to play the part of DanPo, the baritone who has also to be a comedian. Mr Sherras. the new English singer who has mad: so favourable an impression, and all the old comic opera favourites, will also be found places. But the company as a whole will practically become “The Merry Widow” Company, and that opera wil. become its chief, and indeed, only care tor the next twelve months or two years That Mr J. C. Williamson is ’ustified in all these extensive preparations : s abundantly manifest from a recent letter fro.n Geo. Edwardes who writes that The Merry Widow” is the biggest thing ne has ever handled and that he anticipates for it at Daly’s Theatre a longer run than any musical piece has previously acchieved under his management.

Bland Holt, after a six weeks’ season at Adelaide Royal, goes to Wegtralia, and afterwards tours New Zea and. He will carry a repertoire of nine plays-

Messrs Geo. H. Barnes and Harcourt Beatty, with some assistance from Arthur Styan are said to be writing a comedietta entitled “Only a Soveieign.”

The Empire, London, paid a dividend of over 16 per cent, for the year just closed. The famous vaudeville house made a profit of which works out. at a performance —a truly astonishing record in these days of high salaries. *

Miss Ellen Terry celebrated her sixtieth birthday on 27th Februaiy last. She was the recipient of many hundreds of congratulatory letters and telegramsS? s? * *

It is not generally known that Mrs Mark Hambourg, who was Hhe daughter of Sir Arthur Mackenzie, is herself a violinist of distinction. She always tours with her husband,, and that fact gave rise to quite a mild sensation in America last year, where the fashion has been for

artists to pose as unmarried for he sake of the matinee idolmaker.

That all biograph hunting and adventurous films are not “fake” is proved by a Russian, Prince Werindrof by name, who recently left Khartoum on a hunting expedition. The prince, who is only twen-ty-three years of age, was accompanied by a doctor, a chef, and a gent eman who is to operate a fully equipped cinematograph apparatus, which is to record the prince’s movements, especially when lion shooting.

Mr C. St. John Denton, who pilots the Musical Company which has opened a ten week’s season at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, with “Miss Hook of Holland,” was admitted as a solicitor in England, although he has not practised as a lawyer. His father is a clergyman, the Rev. Canon Denton, of Asnley-de- a Zouch. a place which readers of “Ivanhoe” will remember, was the jousting rendezvous of Richard Coeur de Lion.

At Her Majesty’s Theatre. Melbourne, Monty Brewster still strugg es manfully with his unearned increment to tne huge entertainment of consistenly large audiences who laugh themselves tired over the ingenious devices ne employs to rid himself of his inconvenient inheritance. The clever comedv will run for another fortnight or more yet, and will then give place to “John Glayde’s Honour ” the Alfred Sutro play which deals with such a momentous phase of modern social conditions.

“The Dog Man”—Mr Charles W. Weston—who has been brought from America to play Nana in “Peter Pan” is rehearsing it now for the fourth time. He was in three Maude Adams companies touring through the United States, and of him—to slightly paraphrase Shakespeare, it may be said that one man in one piece plays many parts. On different occasions he has been the dog who day nurses the Darling children, the ostrich which dances for the six lost boys, the crocodile (part of him) which pursues Hook, a lion, some pirates and a red Indian.

Nearly all the characters in “Peter Pan” fly—the boy who wouldn’t grow up is specially given to that form of loco-

motion and all his friends have learnt the art. For their flights across and up and down the stage, Mr L. R. Carleton has invented a new flying machine which is now being made in Melbourne under his superintendance. Mr Carleton, whom Mr Wiliamson has borrowed from Mr Frohmann, is one of the latter’s leading stage managers and has travelled with Maude Adams in “Peter Pan” for two or three years so that he is familiar with the least detail of the piece. » » * * The pantomime season in Adelaide has throughout run merrily to the accompaniment of packed houses and unstinted appreciation, and reaches its conclusion today (Saturday April nth), writes Mr George Tallis, and next day. Sunday, the first big trip will be made —the journey to be undertaken being one of those rushes in which “Mother Goose” particularly delighted last year. The company, with all its scenery, and paraphernalia leave by special train in the morning, travelling right through South Australia and Victoria to Albury. No stops wi Ibe made (even in Melbourne) except for refreshments, and Albury will be reached early on Monday evening. There trains will be changed and the company will complete the journev to Sydney on Tuesday morning, thus giving ample time for rehearsals and so on, before commencing the season on Easter Saturday. • • * • An issue of 100,000 booklets of “Peter Pan” for the benefit of the youngest era, is being made by J. C. Williamson with the story to’d in simple language by Miss Annie Rentoul and with dainty coloured covers designed by her sister, Miss Ida Rentoul.