Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1075, 13 October 1910, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

Miss Beatrice Day Beatrice Day is back in Melbourne, having finished a successful tour with the Clarke and Meynell Company, through New Zealand, appearing as Kate Creegan with Mr. Roberts as Pete. She is resting for a short time, and has scarcely decided what to do. She has several of her own plays, among them being that very fine one, “The Breed of the Treshams,” and she may do something with them. Writing in Sydney Sporting and Dramatic News, “Professional” says, Miss Day is perhaps the most versatile ‘star’ that has ever visited Australia. Miss Day has played a round of parts which few actresses can lay claim to. In her repertoire are included dramas and comedies by Pinero, Jones, Sutro, Oscar Wilde, Sheridan, W. J. Locke, Wilson Barrett, Hall Caine, Jerome, Haddon, Chambers, Charles Young, Robertson, J. M. Barrie, etc. I think it was in Barrie’s delightful play, ’Quality Street,’ that brought Australian audiences to the feet of Miss Day. And then, again, I am thinking of her ‘Lady Gerania’ in ‘Dr. Wake’s Patient’ —her delightful and womanly impersonation.

From grave to gay, a swift movement from humour to pathos, the whole so sympathetic, so natural as to make the character a most lovable one in Miss Day’s hands.” New Zealanders keep a very warm corner of their hearts for Miss Day, and hail her appearance here with the greatest cordiality.

Hugh Ward Company The Hugh Ward Company have returned to Australia after a successful season of four months in New Zealand. Last week they appeared in several Victorian centres en route to the West. “The Girl from Rector’s will be presented in Sydney at the Palace Theatre about Christmas time.

The Georgia MagnetNew Zealanders will remember Annie Abbott, the little Georgia Magnet, who created a sensation during her tour of the Dominion many years ago. The remarkable feats performed by her would hold the audience spellbound, and mystified all who witnessed her novel turn. She would lift twelve men in a chair with apparent ease, while another of her feats was to place her hands against the wall, and despite the fact that a dozen men would use their combined strength in endeavouring to shift her, there was not the slightest pressure between her hands and the wall. It will be of interest to readers of this paper to learn that the lady in question was

appearing with great success in a very novel show at the London Pavilion when the last English mail left.

A Sensational Success.

Instead of decreasing, the attendance grows larger nightly at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne. Thousands have been turned away. “The Winning Ticket” is a sensational success, and deservedly, for it is a splen-didly-written and cleverly-construct-ed play, whilst the mounting is superior to anything Mr. Anderson has ever done. It is in for a long run, by all appearances, and the company will not need to trouble about anything for some time.

“ The Winning Ticket.” William Anderson’s Dramatic Company visits Sydney on November 26 for a month’s season at the Criterion Theatre. “ The Winning Ticket” will be the productiofi, and it should hold the boards for the whole of the term.

The Picture Boom-

“ The Squatter’s Daughter” pictures are showing overland to Sydney, and attracting crowded houses everywhere. They will be back in Melbourne at the Athenaeum Hall in a month’s time for the Cup season.

The Caledonian Entertainers.

The Jock Willis Company of Caledonian Entertainers is showing to good houses in Southland. At Invercargill the talented performers scored continuous success, their Scotticisms appealing hugely to enthusiastic audiences. • With the company are incorporated artists of high repute, and judging by reports, Mr. Willis and his party are likely to spend some time in touring the Southland district.

Caught the MovementMr. George Edwardes, paying a visit the other day to one of his “Merry Widow” companies on tour, observed a curious gesture on the part of a leading man during his songs- “He sings well,” said Mr. Edwardes, “and he’s an uncommonly good actor; but, tell me, why does he move from side to side like that with his hands out?” “Weel,” replied the doughty Scot in charge of the outfit, “you see, he fields first slip in our cricket team, and he’s rather caught the movement.” “Oh, I see,” said the governor. “Weel, put him mid-on for a week cr two.”

“ Our Miss Gibbs.” It is stated that the J. C. Williamson firm is spending over £4-000 in Sydney alone on the production of “Our Miss Gibbs.”

The Marlow Theatre.

The Adelphi Theatre in Sydney, being erected by George Marlow at a

cost of £40,000, is being rapidly pushed forward, and it will be opened early next year by a specially selected company. This theatre is being erected on the side of the old historic Belmore Markets, demolished some time ago in connection with Sydney’s street improvements. • » e * “Jack and the Beanstalk.” For this year’s pantomime in Melbourne, which is to be “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Mr. J. C. Williamson has engaged Sibyl Arundale for principal “boy.” Dorothy Firman, Hannah Doherty, and Lilian Doherty are also engaged, as well as Mr. Sam Elton for comedian and the Pantzer family of specialty acrobats.

A Great Sporting Drama. “The Chance of a Lifetime” Nat Gould’s fine sporting drama was staged by William Anderson at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday last to- a crowded house. The booking was a record, and the piece achieved an instantaneous and brilliant success. It is close on to two years since Mr. Anderson last sent a Dramatic Company to Sydney, and in consequence the reception they received on this occasion was tremendous. The mare Trixey’s climb up the staircase, and the race for the Ascot Gold Cup created a big sensation;

Realism on the Stage. In “The Winning Ticket,” now being staged at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, the realistic representation of well-known Melbourne scenes go a long way towards, making the play the big success it is. The Town Hall, St. Kilda, Cole’s Book Arcade, Little Bourke Street, the Lawn at Flemington, the Bird-cage, and the race for the Melbourne Cup are all wonderfully real, and reflect great credit on the artist, Mr. Rege Robins.

J- C. Williamson’s Ventures.

Says the Detroit Free Press: Owing to the great success of “Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch” and other American plays in the antipodes, James C. Williamson, the Australian manager, is negotiating with Litt and Dingwall, managers of “In Old Kentucky,” to take the company and production there intact.

Christmas Attractions.

Mr. Bert Royle, Mr. J. C. Williamson’s representative in New Zealand, has been advised that the Christmas attraction for Wellington will be the Royal Comic Opera Company in “Our Miss Gibbs” and “The Waltz Dream.” The dramatic company headed by Miss Katherine Grey will commence a tour of New Zealand at Christchurch on Boxing Night, playing “The Third Degree,” and “The Lion and the Mouse.” The New Comic Opera Com-

pany, playing “The Dollar Princess,” will commence a tour of the Dominion At Auckland at Easter; “The Whip” will follow about the middle of May in the same city; and the pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk” will commence at Auckland on July 24.

Italian Opera. With the assistance of Madame Melba (writes the London correspondent of the “Australasian”), Mr. J. C. Williamson has just completed his arrangements for the Italian Opera Company which his firm will introduce to Australia in September of next year. Besides Madame Melba there will be three sopranos, three tenors (including Mr. John M’Cormack). Madame Wayda will be the contralto. There will also be two, three baritones, and two conductors. Some few of the leading members of the orchestra will be taken from Europe, but the chorus will be entirely Australian. It is intended to give sixteen operas, of which three will be new —“Tosca,” “Samson and Delila,” and “Orpheus.” This will be the largest operatic venture ever attempted south of the equator. As there will be no subscription, it is most probable that the customary scale of charges for admission will have to be increased.