Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1046, 24 March 1910, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

the mablow company abbtves. The members of Mr. George Marlow’s Dramatic Company arrived by the S.S. Victoria from Sydney on Sunday and are having a short rest before opening their season at His Majesty’s on Saturday. With them is an old friend and ex-New Zealand pressman, tn the person of Mr. Niven, who is acting as the touring manager of the company. In addition to “Married to the Wrong Man,” the company has in its repertoire “That Woman from France,” “The Wedding Ring” and ‘Midnight Chimes,” all pieces new to the Dominion, and which have only recently been played in Australia for the first time, with the exception of the latter, which will receive its first criticisms in New Zealand. 3TBONG DBAWS. These Marlow dramas have all met with the greatest success. “Married to the Wrong Man,” the opening play of the season ran for six consecutive weeks in Sydney, five weeks in Melbourne, nineteen nights in Adelaide, eight nights in Newcastle (that, too, during the strike), and a fortnight in Brisbane, all to big business, showing the intense drawing powers of the piece. The drama is said to depart from the orthodox in many ways, the ending especially being different from the usual type of drama. Among the scenes are the selling of a wife on her first wedding night, her second wedding night, when her first, husband, who is believed to be dead, reappears, and during which the shock causes her to be struck dumb, while there are several scenes that are said to rouse the enthusiasm of the audience to an unusual degree, sustaining the interest from beginning to end. * • • * NEW ZEALANDEBS TO THE EKONT. The number of New Zealanders on the Australian stage is now almost legion. Mr. George Marlow’s Company has not neglected the Dominion’s talent for the present tour. Mr. Thos. E. Tilton, who is stage manager, is an Aucklander who has made great progress in his art and is regarded as a clever character actor. Mr. Paget Hunter is a South Islander, who plays “straight” parts unusually well, and has appeared under the J. C. Williamson management. Miss Nettie Bundle is a Dunedinite. She was a clever amateur in that city, but her progress on the professional stage has been rapid, and she has attained to an excellent position now. • • • • THE POFDIAB BESSES. It has been well and truly said that “The Besses o’ th’ Barn Band” owes much of its present position in the world of music to the singular variety of its entertainments. Variety, it may be said, however, has been the motto of the band ever since its inception; for it early realised that the secret of success lay in having a universal appeal. Accordingly it has ever judicially arranged its programmes to suit all tastes, and, possessing as it does, a magnificent repertoire, it has found no difficulty in giving performances remarkable for their character and diversity. This quality of the Besses concerts, it is needless to say, has made the bandsmen immensely popular on their present tour of New Zealand. They have been commended again and again, and not the least by the church going sections of the community, who have discovered that the band is rendering at each of its concerts a genuine bracket of sacred airs. Indeed, such reverential pieces as “Lead Kindly Light,” “Abide with Me”

and “Deep Harmony”, have been given at practically every appearance of the Besses, and have been found to be more attractive to their audiences than many selections of a secular character. JUT OLD POLLABD FAVOURITE. Under the stage name of Miss Maud Huitana (an English name Maorised), and who is well known to playgoers as Miss Maud Hewson, a one time principal of the Pollard Opera Company will shortly commence a tour of the Fuller circuit at the Wellington Royal. AN IMPRESSIVE FEATURE. The most notable feature of “ The Prince and the Beggar Maid,” now being produced at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, is its impressiveness, gained by the lavish attention that has been paid to detail. From behind a high altar the light streams through stained glass windows, where silent saints keep sacred guard the archives, mullions and columns. All add to the general realism, and the last note of naturalism is reached when the bishop enters in his magnificent papal robes, heralded by the acolytes swinging the incense in golden censers. . * * * • THE FUNNIEST OP FAROES. ■Australian audiences will at an early date see the George Willoughby English Farcical Comedy company in Weedon Grossmith’s famous play, “The Night of the Party,” said to he the funniest farcical comedy ever written. Something of its quality may be gauged from the fact that it put up a run in England of 2350 nights, and is still being toured through the provinces by about half-a-dozen, companies. The company, which was specially selected in England by Mr. Willoughby, will inclue David James, the principal comedian, who was picked by Weedon Grossmith himself to play the pare of Crosbie, the valet. He is the son of the famous David James who for years played the butterman in “Our Boys,” which had the longest run on any play on the stage, and with which his name ever after was most intimately associated. The leading lady will be Miss Mab Paul, who was for two years appearing in important parts with Sir Herbert Tree. Mr. Hugh Buckler, a handsome actor who was also for some time with Sir Herbert Tree, and was leading man with the Wheeler company in South Africa, will appear in the important role of Mr. Frank Frayne. Others in the company will

be Miss Violet Paget, who was leading lady with George Giddens’ company; Reginald Fry, a clever young comedy actor; Arthur Cornell, a character actor of note; Amy Willard, who was last out here as a member of Nellie Stewart’s first “Sweet Nell” company; George Willoughby, the popular comedian, who is well known here; Nellie Mortyne; Gerald Moulton, and a number of others. « * * * PETEB FAN. Rehearsals are advancing steadily with the specially selected “Peter Pan” Company in Melbourne and the forthcoming New Zealand tour promises to be a very successful one, (writes my correspondent). All the members of the company are throwing themselves enthusiastically into the spirit of the play, and are working with a will to perfect themselves in their respective parts. The company left Sydney by the Moana on Saturday, and will begin their tour of the Dominion on Easter Saturday at the Wellington Opera House. * * ♦ ♦ FROM HAU CAINE. Hall Caine is keenly interested in the forthcoming production of ’’Pete,” and in a letter to Mr. Clyde Meynell, says: “ I am glad to hear that you have secured such a capable young actor in the person of Mr. Roberts to produce “ Pete ” in New Zealand. I read the press notices concerning him with great interest, but I had already heard of his previous success in America. I shall look forward to hearing how the result of my efforts to write a play that will be appreciated by all classes of those who go to the theatre, will be received.” * ♦ * • TO BE HOPED NOT! It is devoutly to be wished for Miss Stewart’s peace of mind that her performance of Maggie Wylie in “What Every Woman Knows,” at the Melbourne Princess’ Theatre, at Easter time, will not result in a similar display of appreciation as was shown to Hilda Trevelyan when she appeared in the same role in the Glasgow production of the Barrie comedy. She entered her dressing room one evening and found to her consternation that her first Act dress (the plainest and least expensive of the lot) had disappeared. A search was made but with no result and the only conclusion that could be arrived at was that the dress had been purloined 'by an ardent admirer of the actress who wished to have it as a souvenir.

“ALADDIN.’’ Thundering applause, shrieks of laughter and exclamations of admiration and surprise were the forms of approval adopted by the crowded house which assembled to greet the “Aladdin” pantomime on the opening night (Saturday, March 12) at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney (writes my Sydney correspondent). As the various features of which the huge pantomime is composed were presented in quick and smooth succession they were awarded a great reception, while the members of the company, as they made their respective appearances, could not have been otherwise than genuinely gratified by the cordiality of the .welcome extended to them. The Fire Ballet, The Bird Ballet, The Living Flag of Australia, the Balloon effect, the uproariously funny Price and Re vos t turn were a few of the features which drew forth specially enthusiastic comment, while the performance, the songs, the comedy, the dresses and the scenery, all met with unmistakeable approval. » * • * “WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS.” A particularly strong cast has been selected to support Miss Nellie Stewart at the Princess Theatre in her Easter attraction —“What Every Woman Knows.” In the popular Barrie comedy, Mr. Harcourt Beatty will appear as John Shand, the man of ambition, while the parts of Wylies, father and sons, will be filled by Mr. J .B. Atholwood, Gregan McMahon and Eardley Turner respectively, while among the ladies will be Miss Madeline Meredith and Miss Gwen Burro wes. Mr. Gastori Mervale will stage manage the piece and also fill a place in the cast. • • * * “ THE LION AND THE MOUSE.” A strong, intense play and a splendidly adapted cast are two facts which account for the great popularity which “The Lion and the Mouse” has won for itself, both in Sydney and now in Melbourne where it is playing to fine houses at Her Majesty’s Theatre. Mr. Julius Knight has shown himself so versatile in the past and so capable of getting right irito the atmosphere of the part he essays, that it goes without saying that he gives a fine rendering of the role of the multi-millionaire, John Burkett Ryder, who is accustomed to dominating not only his own household but the American financial world, but is at last rescued from the state of selfishness and utter disregard for the welfare of others, by the girl he engages to put together and shape

into readable form the rough matter dealing with the great man’s career. As Shirley Rossmore Miss Katherine Grey is charming, particularly in her encounters with the millionaire where she so quietly and naturally scores every time. With her sweet, expressive face and perfectly natural manner and emotional power, Miss Grey is most decidedly a great acquisition tc the company. The other members of the cast are admirably placed and help considerably to the success of the play. • « * * “B ETE’S” BABY. Australians seem to be fond of the stage even from their birth, says a Melbourne paper. Clarke and Meynell advertised for a baby to be used in the Harry Roberts production of “Pete” in New Zealand. More than twenty arrived, some carried, others walking. All were accompanied by their proud mothers, each of whom, naturally, with all a mother’s pride declared her own child to be the best. The baby plays a very important, though not a “speaking” part in “Pete.” • • • MISS KATHERINE GREY. Miss Katherine Grey, who, during her short soj urn in Australia, has already established herself high in popular favour with the playgoing public and is at present delighting Melbourne audiences at Her Majesty’s Theatre with her charming impersonation of Shirley Rossmore in “The Lion and the Mouse,” is a Californian by birth and keeps a very warm corner in her heart for her native place. Her first public appearance in a theatrical role was with Augustin Daly’s company, and after a season with that organisation she joined one of Mr. Charles Frohman’s companies in which she supported Maud Adams. She has since that period travelled all over the United States and although for the most part she has played in modern drama, she also includes in her repertoire many poetical and classical plays. She appeared in the first American presentation of Bernard Shaw’s “Arms and the Man,” and includes “Candida,” another Shaw piece, in her list of plays. Her last American engagement was under Charles Frohman in “The Thief,” she playing Marise to. the Richard of Mr. Kyrle Bellew. Miss Grey, will , have an opportunity to appear in drama out here shortly, when, with a specially organised company, it is proposed to present “Henri of Navarre.”

A SENSATIONAL PLAY. Auckland and Wellington audiences will see, for the first time, Henry Arthur Jones’ famous play, “ The Hypocrites,” which created such a sensation when staged in Sydney and Melbourne, and in the former place was preached about from the pulpit. It will be presented by the Harry Roberts-Beatrice Day Co. * « » » A BIG ORGANISATION. The coming Easter time will be no exception to the rule as regards the changing of the J. C. Williamson organisations, writes my Sydney correspondent. The Pantomime Company has taken the lead with its little jaunt over to Sydney leaving Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne free to accommodate the Julius Knight Dramatic Company which opened last Saturday week with “The Lion and The Mouse.” Then the Royal Comic Opera Company travel down from Sydney to Adelaide next week and from the latter port embark for the West where they are due to open in Perth on Easter Saturday. The new Comic Opera Company, having finished a very successful tour of New Zealand, plays Hobart and Launceston and then comes on to Melbourne to take up the running at Her Majesty’s Theatre at the conclusion of the brief dramatic season. In addition to all this interchanging which will mean the transportation of some 400 or 500 people over about 6,000 miles by land and sea, there will be two entirely new productions to handle at Easter, “ Madame Butterfly” by the Grand Opera Company at the Theatre Royal in Sydney and “ What Every Woman Knows” by the Nellie Stewart Company at the Princess’s Theatre, Melbourne. ■■•■ • • * * J. C. WILLIAMSON COMPANY. The J. C. Williamson Dramatic Company finished its career in Adelaide with a very satisfactory season. The members of the Company for the most part will be drafted into other organisations under the same management, including the Nellie Stewart and the Julius Knight Companies, while Mr. T. Kingston and one or two others will join the “Peter Pan” Co., for the New Zealand tour of that fascinating Fairy Play. • « • WESTS’ NEW THEATRE. The new King’s Theatre, for Wellington, erected by Wests, in conjunction with Messrs. Donovan and Linley, of Wellington, was opened last week. It is a plain commodious structure built as nearly fire-proof as is possible, having a reinforced concrete gallery and stairways, and an operator’s room of similar construction, with walls 20in. thick. The operator will work in a massive strong room, and even if the film was to take fire (which is the great risk in picture halls), it would simply burn itself out, and the smoke would disappear through the large vent which leads through to the roof. The hall, which will seat 1500 people, is so constructed that a full view of the pictures can be obtained from any seat in the house. CHRISTCHURCH NOTES. My Christchurch Dramatic Correspondent writes: On the 24th inst., West’s New Picture Theatre will be formally thrown open to the public. As I think I told you before, then latest addition to our places of amusement is in Gloucester-street, almost opposite the Theatre Royal. It is to be an up-to date house of its kind, with a seating capacity of about 1800, and the back seats will command top prices. This is a common sense arrangement in a theatre built expressly for spectacular effect. Elaborate precautions have been taken to guard against fire, and the exits are so many and so well arranged that the theatre can be emptied in the twinkling of an eye. ... At Fuller's Opera House “Deave’s Merry Mannikins” are making quite a hit. Then there is Frank Yorke (a host in himself), the Scott Bros. Jack Russell, and a heap of other clever people. And the public roll up every night and flock into the popular variety theatre until it will hold no more Some capital pictures are just now delighting Colosseum audiences. “The Paris Floods” continue to attract a lot of attention; then there is a really good film “In Little Italy,” and an exciting one in “A House of Cards.” From the first picture to the last the entertainment is brim full of interest Easter attractions for Christchurch include: The Pollards, at the Theatre Royal; West’s Pictures, at the New King’s; and special holiday programmes at Fuller’s Opera House and the Colosseum.