Greenroom Gossip.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1111, 27 July 1911, Page 17

Greenroom Gossip.

A Grand Fina ! e. “ The Pirates of Penzance” by the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society, saw a successful week’s conclusion at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday. There was a very large and representative audience, including His Excellency, the Governor, who was accompanied by Co’onel Boscawen and Captain McDougall- Dr. Hope Lewis (President of the Society), Mr. W. A. Prickitt (American Consul), and Mrs. and Miss Prickitt, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brett were included in the party. The performance went with a fine swing, the principals, Mr. and Mrs. Abel Rowe and Miss Ethel Rae being enthusiastically applauded for their fine efforts, the ladies being presented with several floral tributes. The colour scheme of the - dressing was a feature of the production, Mrs. Abel Rowe being mainly responsible .’for the harmonious iqey-note sjtruck. During the interval, Dr. Lewis, Mr. Prickiftt and Mr. Brett went on the stage, and in felicitous terms congratulated the members of the '-company on their meritorious performance. At the conclusion, the company partook of supper at His Majesty’s Cafe, when Mr. D. C. Ingram, on behalf of members of the chorus made presentations to Mr. Francis Cornwall, conductor, and Mr. Vai Atkinson, stage manager, both gentlemen being warmly eulogised for their able work. Mr Peter Mackie, chairman of the company, also added a tribute of praise. Mr. Ingram is to be commended for the highly satisfactory way he carried out his arduous secretarial duties, while a special word of praise is due to Mr. Abel Rowe for his whole-hearted enthusiasm and energies in ’building up success. Pictures at Dargaville. Picture show entertainments continue to command premier attraction from the Northern Wairoa community. Mrs. Edmund Montgomery the well-known theatrical caterer, weekly displays the best films obtainable in Australasia, and is rewarded with full houses. At Dargaville three entertainments are given weekly, and other river townships are visited regularly. Despite skating ,and other forms of pleasure which also allure the public, the cinematograph easily holds its own and is becoming more popular. In order - to increase the efficiency of her entertainments, Mrs. Montgomery has x.strengthened her staff by the addi-

tion of Mr. and Mrs. Falvey. Mr. Falvey has the reputation of being one of the best operators in the Dominion, whilst Mrs. Falvey is a pianiste of high repute, and together they serve to materially increase the pleasure-giving power of the Montgomery regime. That the cleverness of Mrs. Falvey is beyond the Ordinary plane, is due to heredity, for she is a daughter of Miss Amy Vaughan, whose fame as an actress is well-known- • « a * Miss Hopwood-Foldi. The New Zealand friends and admirers of Miss Phyllis HopwoodFoldi, the talented monologue enter-

tjainer, will be interested to learn that she has severed her connection with Mr. George -Stephenson’s Company, “The Wanderers,” and at present is spending a holiday in Australia. * * * * An Assured Success. Local playgoers are (writes my Wanganui ’correspondent), looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to the approaching visit of Mr. J. C. Williamson’s Pantomime, “ Jack and the Beanstalk,” which will be produced at the Opera House on August 8 and 9. It is safe to predict that the Wanganui season will be a big success.

The Limit. Undoubtedly the sensational and humourous performance of Mr. Willie Pantzer and his Company in “Jack and the Beanstalk,” is the main feature. As it has> been termed “The Limit” so it must be regarded in the way of acrobatic turns. The sound judgment of Mr.' J. C. Williamson was never more clearly evidenced than when he secured the troupe from the London Hippodrome, seven months ago. And the popular entrepreneur has not been behind hand in appreciating the merits of these artists, for at the end of the Sydney season he presented Mr. Pantzer with a very handsome silver cup, valued at something like 50 sovereigns. At the making of the presentation, every member of the Company was entertained in champagne from the loving cup, which is now one of Mr. Pantzer’s most cherished possessions. # * ? “The Agile Three.” The Potter-Hartwell combination who have created a sensation at the Opera House, are well styled “ The Agile Three.” Their agility and daring absolutely know no bounds, while their methods are entirely original. With their somersaulting, acrobatic evolutions, balancing and dexterous feats, which include the “barrel” act and the “ double headed man” turn, they keep one on the qui vive of expectancy, which finds expression in a spontaneous burst of cheering. Mr. Potter is a veritable King of kings in his novel acts, and would appear to be boneless, so astonishing are his feats. Mr. Howard makes a speciality of side somersaults which he has brought to a fine art, while the lady artist of the trio, can keep the pace equally with her clever associates. In New York, it may be mentioned, this lady stood on the edge of a building 22 storeys high for advertisement purposes. Standing on her head or her feet is equally the same with Miss Hartwell. Head-balancing is her forte, while her dainty costuming enhances the charm of her turn. The trio were the rage in Australia, and are repeating their successes here. * * * * A Tragic Incident.

The tragic incident upon which “The Lyon’s Mail,” Mr H. B. Irving’s second play in Sydney, was founded, occurred in 1796, when a highly respectable French citizen was charged with brutal robbery and murder. So conclusive was the evidence against him that conviction followed with deadly calamity, and an innocent man paid the penalty for another’s crime. The story was first : dramatised in 1850, and it reached London the following year. Another version was prepared by Charles Reade for Charles Kean. In France it was the custom to have an alternate ending to the play. One night it would be the innocent man who ■ died, and on the next the reprieve would reach the prisoner just in the nick of time. It was this ending that was adopted in England, and which Mr H. B. Irving follows. * ❖ * Hamlet to Date. Perhaps it is not fair to give away one of Sydney’s sheep kings, but the story is too good to lose. The gentleman in question met an acquaintance the other day and asked him to dine with him that night at eight- “ Sorry, old man,” said his friend, “but I am going to see “Hamlet” tonight.” “Never mind.,” said Mr Merino, “bring him with you.” * * * * A Veteran’s Illness. Mr George Buller unexpectedly arrived from Sydney by the Moeraki last week. Owing to the serious illness of the veteran Harry Lyons, Messrs. J. and N. Tait arranged for Mr. Buller to come across and do the advance work for the remainder of Nicola’s Dominion tour. It was a hurried jump, the genial George only having an hour’s time to catch the Melbourne express for Sydney, connecting with the Moeraki. * « * * “The Arcadians.” At the conclusion of “The Arcadians’ ” season in Wellington Mr. Tom Walls received a lasting token of the approval of a section of the community. Mr. Walls plays Patrick Doody, the jockey, and the presentation took the form of a pigskin saddle and bridle. His success with the song, “I Gotter Motter” has been very consistent; and its degree may be gauged from the fact that though the song is not sung until ten minutes to eleven, six or seven encores are usually demanded, and the last cars allowed to go bang.