IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1138, 1 February 1912, Page 17

IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

New Zealand is in luck’s way. We are to have a visit from that notable English actress, Miss Ethel Irving, a short season of seven nights opening at His Majesty’s on February Sth. Miss Irving is recognised as the greatest English-speaking actress of the

day, and Australia has literally been at her feet during her season there.

Mr. Leo D. Chateau is heralding Miss Ethel Irving, who will only appear in the four centres. The popular “advance” after fixing up arrangements for the season here, left for the South on Tuesday to make ready the way for a memorable event.

Dominion theatre-goers are to be repaid for the r appreciation of the H. B. Irving Company, by being permitted to see that brilliant actress, Miss Ethel Irving, in two of her successes. No relation to the famous H. 8., the lady by her exceptional ability, perpetuates the distinction that attaches to that magic name.

Mr. Harold Carr arrived in town on Tuesday, and as pilot of Brennan’s, promises us something tip-top in vaudeville.

A line from Mr. Allan Hamilton states that his company will be ipening in Auckland on Monday, February 26. “Beauty and the Barge” is one of their strong attractions. Sydney Press extracts are warmly eulogistic of the merits of play and performers. “There was not a dull moment nor a dull character in the piece (says Sydney “Sun”). The players acted the story as well as the authors wrote it, and that is saying much, for W. W. Jacobs as a writer has an inimitable style.”

A wail from Stratford! ‘‘Fancy‘Hamlet’ passing Stratford —the town named after the birthplace of the immortal Bard of Avon! Here we have ‘Hamlet’ street, ‘Portia’ street, ‘Falstaff’ street, and our nomenclature is Shakesperian, but ‘The worlds’ greatest living Hamlet’ passes ius by. There are reasons, of course, but the pill is difficult to swallow, nevertheless.”

Ethel Barrymore has opened in “The Witness for the Defence,” at the Empire Theatre, New York, under Charles Frohman’s management. The ‘‘New York Dramatic News” says that Mr. Frohman captured the play after seeing Ethel Irving appear in it as Stella Ballantyne. * * * * Coming events cast their shadows before! Apropos of Sir Beerbohm Tree and the music halls, the following paragraph from London Opinion of February 1911, is interesting:—“Mr. Seymour Hicks ; s preparing to have another fling at Sir Herbert Tree over

the question of the time limit in music hall sketches. He has written a little piece called “Cuts While You Wait,” in which one Sir Sherbert Tea turns his back upon the regular theatre, joinjs the vaudeville stage, proceeds to break the time limit, and ends in becoming the finest comic linger of the day.”

Ethel Irving figured in an exciting scene on Sydney Harbour on Sunday afternoon. A yacht containing 26 people capsized, and Miss Ethel Irving and a party of theatricals in a motor launch helped in the work of rescue. The women and children were picked up, and it looked as if some of the men, who were in difficulties, would be lost. However, ultimately the whole party was got on board. This is the third time Miss Irving has taken part in a rescue under sensational circumstances on Sydney Harbour.

A dear old lady who was sitting in the stalls at Her Majesty’s Melbourne, at a matnee last week, paid a high

compliment to the mechanical department of “Sinbad the Sailor.” In the rolling ship scene, the thunder crashed and the lightning flashed. Just at this stage, down came a torrent of rain, the noise on the roof almost drowning the voices of the artists. The old lady smiled appreciatively and knowingly. “Isn’t it wonderful? How real they do these things,” she said, “you would think that rain was the real thing.” ? iflj * * Two “girls” that are going strong in Sydney at present are “The Quaker Girl” and the “Girl in the Train.” Stated that Miss Nellie Stewart received a fee of £lOOO for posing for the pictorial representation of “Sweet Nell.” * * Mr. George S- Titheradge was presented with a cheque for nearly £5OO in Sydney, as a token of appreciation from public and private friends. ••I: * * * Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree to the musical halls! The famous actor has come in for some considerable criticism for accepting an engagement in one. He will appear in “The Man Who Was,” a dramatisation of Rudyard Kipling’s story. His colleagues, Sir George Alexandei’ and Sir George Hare, regard the engagement as being infra dig. ❖ Mr. Weeion Grossmith, the comedian, stated his sentiments respecting what is called “screaming” farce to a London “Express” representative recently. “You’ve got to shout your lines above the laughs,” he says. “You dare not wait till the roar has petered out; and you are ‘stoking’ all the time. You are playing at toppressure, for ever shovelling on the coals. It ‘takes it out’ of you, but the audience are playing it with you

—.omping and roaring till the final curtain. But oh, the ’stoking’ "it requires!” jj: * He: ‘ There was nearly a bad fire at the theatre.’’ She: "How was that?” He: ‘‘The villain lit a cigarette and tossed the match into the snow.” * * ♦ * Mr. Charles Berkeley will pilot “The Chocolate Soldier” Company over to Australia, through its Hobart tour.