GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, 3 April 1913, Page 21

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

“ The Fortune-Hunter.”

Winchel Smith, author of “The For-tune-Hunter,” has taken the ordinary type of people one meets for the characters in his play. In their commonplace surroundings he has set a story of sentiment and humour.. There is no woman with a past ' stalking through the four acts, demanding the righting of her wrongs; mere is no sex problem, but a wholesome story told in the pure country air. The comedy comes with two years’ unbroken prosperity in New York and one year in Chicago to recommend it. “The Blue Bird” on Tour.

The North Island itinerary of the “Blue Bird’ is as follows: —Gisborne, April 7-8; Napier, April 10;’Dannevirke, April 11; Palmerston, April 12; Wanganui, April 14; Eltham, April 15; New Plymouth, April 16; Masterton, April 18; opening at the Opera House, Wellington on Saturday evening, April 19th.

Clara Butt in Boston.

Thus the “Boston Transcript” on Clara Butt: “The phenomenal performance at Symphony Hall yesterday afternoon illustrates at once the inadequacy of our present methods of advertising and the fallacy of certain reputations. Many in that audience who came into their stalls to scoff remained almost literally to pray. What they saw was a woman of superb beauty and physique suggesting intimations of those lovely giantesses which Michael Angelo introduced on dizzy ceilings and the good Du Maurier loved to picture in a land of meagre women. What they heard was a recital, the peculiar quality of which I wish to heaven might be emulated by certain cherished performers who pride themselves on possessing a less popular appeal. When the full two hours and a half had magically elapsed like 20 minutes, one can quite understand the excitement and pleasure of the audience, the great applause and in some quarters the extreme emotion.”

Features of “The Count of Luxembourg.”

In a production that will be characterised by some interesting features, Mr. W. S. Percy, as the Grand Duke Rutzinov in “The Count of Luxembourg,” has a role differing from any in which he has previously been seen during the years in which he has delighted Australian playgoers. It is a light comedy instead of a low comedy part, and should possess for Mr. Percy something of the element of novelty. There is no doubt, however, that the comedian will add this to his already long list of successes. The dancing side of “The Count of Luxembourg” will be a strong feature. The ballets have been arranged by Miss Minnie Everett, and incidental to the second act are dances by Miss Talleur and Mr. Albert, and Mr. Lewis Victor, and Miss Dickinson. In the first act, Miss Arundale has a novelty in the form of an original military dance, in which, dressed as a Zouave under her skirts, on discarding the latter she embodies in a striking dance number the various evolutions of rifle drill, culminating in a rattling performance with a side drum. Another more than interesting feature of the production will be the famous waltz on the staircase, in which Florence Young and Talleur Andrews figure.

A Famous Actor-Manager.

During the past 17 years Sir Squire Bancroft, the famous actor-manager, has given 150 readings of Dickens’s “Christmas Carol” for charitable purposes. As a result the sum of £20,000 has been raised and distributed among the hospitals and other institutions. Sir Squire Bancroft is now 72 years of age, and he has rendered great assistance to charities apart from his readings. His “readings for hospitals” campaign is an institution in England. He was knighted by the late Queen Victoria for the notable services he has rendered to his profession.

“ Milestones,” Best of All.

An Australian journalist, with an experience of over twenty years on one of the leading daily papers, recently returned from London, and mentioned that of all the productions he had witnessed at the theatres in that city, he liked “Milestones” the best of all. “ It is not true

that Australians lack sentiment,” he asserted. “As soon as I saw ‘Milestones’ the thought came into my mind, ‘This is just the play to succeed in Australia.” We undoubtedly are sentimental, though we do not show it, perhaps, on the surface. The success that ‘Milestones’ achieved in Sydney and the enthusiasm with which it has been received in Melbourne indicate that playgoers are extremely partial to the play W’hich embodies a certain amount of sentiment and a display of the light and shade in the phases of life. The only fault I have to find with ‘Milestones’ is that seats were booked up. so far ahead for the London production it took me nearly a fortnight before I could get in to see it.” * . * * * Faint Praise! The .following review from an American journal proves that an attraction that played there recently was thoroughly appreciated: “The show at the Opera House last night was pretty good, all but the songs, dancing- and jokes.” * * * * Money Turned Away. Here is an echo of “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford” from a London paper: In response to numerous requests from patrons of the pit, Mr. Arthur Collins has decided to adopt a popular price pit at the Queen’s Theatre. The price of the unreserved seats, therefore, will be gallery Is, pit 2s. The unanimous praise lavished by the Press and public on that screamingly funny farce, “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford,” has been more than justified. Money is being turned away nightly from the doors of the Queen’s and the advance booking is very heavy. Since the opening night over 20,000 people have witnessed this extremely amusing and entertaining fare, receiving it with whole-hearted enthusiasm and applause. The reputed bad luck of the Queen's seems indeed to have changed. * * * Gifted Theatricals. Apart from their stage work, there seems to be quite a number of principal artists under the J. C. Williamson management who are gifted in other directions. Mr. Eardley Turner is a facile writer of verse, stories, and has made a name for himself by his contributions to the Australian and English Press. Miss Irene Browne is an accomplished pianist, and has a singing voice that would win for her a foremost position on the concert stage or in musical comedy or comic opera. Leslie Victor is a clever writer of short stories, and has had many of them published in Australian papers. Herbert Ford, the English actor- who made his first appearance in Melbourne in “ Milestones,” is a journalist of note, and his contributions to the London Press have placed him' in the front rank ‘ of “freelance” writers for the London leading newspapers. W. S. Percy is a clever black-and-white artist, and designer, and were he to desert the stage for the studio at any time, it is certain he would achieve as big a success in that sphere. Julius Knight, as is well known, is a remarkably clever sculptor, some of his work with the mallet and chisel having attracted the approval of critics of note.