AUSTRALIAN HAPPENINGS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1097, 16 March 1911, Page 18

AUSTRALIAN HAPPENINGS.

(From Our Sydney and Melbourne Correspondents.) A striking instance of the realism which marks present-day dramatic productions is furnished in “Via Wireless,” the new play which has followed “The Whip” at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. There are several very remarkable scenes in the new piece, possibly the most interesting being the wireless room on a big ocean liner. There is no make-be-lieve about the plant used in this scene, for it was installed specially by the Australasian Wireless, Ltd., and is “the real thing.” Another very novel scene is that of a huge foundry showing the casting of a nine-inch gun. The effect of immensity in the picture is cleverly conveyed by care ful attention to perspective and other details, which mark the difference between a finished scenic artist and a mere dabbler with the brush. The wreck of the steam yacht and the rescue of the survivors and the final breakup of the disabled vessel, is a highly exciting incident. The play is one well calculated to keep an audience intensely interested throughout. * * tit * The Luua-32 theatrical managers evidently do not intend to lose Mr Kenyon, for since he has been out here he has been besieged with offers of engagements in London, some to commence no less than five years ahead. But almost incredible as it may seem, the talented comedian is booked so far ahead that he finds it almost impossible to accept any more engagements, even though so far in the future. « 3 v 3 The children’s pantomime, ‘‘The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,” concluded most successful seasons in Ballarat and Bendigo, and is now playing a four nights’ season at Geelong. e a 3 s Miss Beatrice Holloway, fully restored to health, made her appearance in Mel bourne as Queen Carona in Max Maxwell’s presentation of “Revenge” at The King’s recently. A glad welcome was accorded this clever young actress, who wore no less than eight pretty frocks during the course of the evening.

Max Maxwell has every reason to feel proud of the successful inauguration of his dramatic season at The King’s Theatre, Melbourne. Long be-

fore 7.30 the theatre approaches were blocked with a dense crowd, unable to obtain admission to witness “Revenge,” one of Bland Holt’s fine dramas. * ■ • > Established favourites in the person of Arthur Styan, Chas. Brown, and Tom Cannam add material strength to Max Maxwell’s company now playing at The King’s Theatre, Melbourne’ by arrangement with William Anderson. Max Maxwell is strongly supported managerially by G. O. Portus and Colin Campbell. • • Max Maxwell, who is probably the youngest actor-manager in the colonies, is proving by the excellence of his production of “Revenge” at the

King’s Theatre, Melbourne, that his long schooling with BL nd Holt is standing him in good stead. Maude Plunkett, Adelaide’s leading amaieur player, having decided to adopt the stage as a profession, has been placed in Max Maxwell’s organisation. The young debutante’s last performance in amateur work in Adelaide was in “John Glayde’s Honour,” for which she received great praise. Miss Eugenie Duggan will not accompany the William Anderson Dramatic Company to the West. During the six weeks ’tour of the company Miss Duggan will take a well-earned rest in order to be at her best on their return.

A special dramatic company is being organised by William Anderson to , open at The King’s Theatre, Melbourne, on Easter Saturday, a’ short season will be played, and the coni- [ pany will then journey to New Zealand, opening at Auckland on May | 9th, in “The Prince and The Beggar | Maid.” ▼ • • A record house greeted William Anderson’s Dramatic Company at the Theatre Royal, Adelaide, when they opened in Nat Gould’s sporting drama »|“The Chance of a Lifetime.” -j3 « * ® « Miss Katherine Grey and her new pleading man, Mr Desmond, who have ; sjust concluded a season in Auckland, /will open at the Melbourne Princess’s < Theatre at Easter. Their opening '•'piece will be “Paid in Full,” and durumg the season, which will be a very T brief one,, it is proposed to present ' “Arms and the Alan.” Air j. C. Williamson, after an extended stay in England and on the Continent, returned to Australia by the “Otway” last week. One of his first considerations as soon as he settles down will be the preliminary work in connection with the Melba Grand Opera season and the H. B. Irving tour. ■owsa Since he produced “The Belle of New York” some years ago, Mr Berard C. Ventry has helped many a crude stage aspirant up the ladder a prominent position, and many present-day leading artists owe much of their early training to “The prince of stage producers.” Such being the case, it is only natural, in view of the fact that Mr Coventry is leaving Australia for good in May, that the theatrical profession should . wish to give him a hearty send-off. Accordingly a big combined benefit is being arranged to be field at Her Majesty’s Tfieatre, Melbourne, on May 9th, and members of every company then in Alelbourne will take part. 9 9 0 0 Tennyson sang that “Men may come and men may go; but I go on for ever.” A modern and up-to-date version of these lines might be made out of the following:—“Alails may come and Mails may go, but ‘Gibbs’ goes on for ever.” This idea is suggested by the fact that all the liners included in the Australian running have ben out here since the big Gaiety success first began its carrer in Sydney. Eight months ago, according to the officers of the Orsova,

they saw the London presentation of the piece. They witnessed it again soon after in Sydney, and on their most recent trip out they saw it yet again. On their* next voyage out they expect to see it in Melbourne. Since she appeared in “La Danse du v'aurnen” with Mr Fred Leslie, Miss Ivy Schilling has become very popular with the play-going public, and has to pay the penalty of her popularity by signing her autograph for scores and scores of applicants who choose this method of showing their appreciation of the vlever little dancer. The Hamilton-Plimmer-Denniston Drama iic Company, fresh from a successful com- of New Zealand, are at the Sydney Palace Theatre, where they opened on Saturday, March 11 in “A Message from Mars,’’ with Sydney’s darling, ex-Baby Lizette Parkes, as Minnie, Mrs Robert Brough as Aunt Martha, Harry Plimmer as Horace Parker, and Reynolds Denniston as the Messenger.