DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1246, 5 March 1914, Page 37

DUNEDIN.

(From our Dunedin correspondent)

DUNEDIN, February 25.

Mr. Johnny Farrell, touring manaeer of the New Comic Opera Company, at present in Dunedin, was to have departed for Australia by the Ulimaroa. sailing on Sunday last, but at the eleventh hour he received a cable advising him to remain with the show until the end of the New Zealand tour, which closes at Invercargill, and then to proceed to Australia with the members of the company by the Willochra. due to sail for Melbourne on Monday next. Mr. Farrell is at a lost to understand what his future movements are, save that he knows he is to take the comic opera to Melbourne.

By the way, the Comic Opera Company makes a big jump from Inver-

cargill, their last playing town in New Zealand, to their next playing town, Perth, in Western Australia. They will be a fortnight travelling to their destination, and no play means no pay.

Mr. Stamford, the English producer who is touring with the New Comic Opera, expects to return to England shortly. He has been engaged in Australia, with periodical trips to England, for the past seven years. This - is Mr. Stamford’s second trip to New Zealand, but the first to the South Island. He came across to Auckland with “The Merry Widow” Company, when the Lehr opera was first produced in that city. Mr. Stamford is delighted with New Zealand, its people and its scenery, and for its size he says it is a most wonderful show country.

Miss Florence Young, who was temporarily indisposed in Christchurch, and was unable to sing in “The Chocolate iSoldier” in that city, has been in splendid voice in Dunedin, where she is immensely popular. Mr. Dick Stewart, business manager of the New Comic Opera, will not remain in New Zealand on this occasion, but will journey to Australia with the company on Monday next. This appears to give point to the statement that the Williamson Company will have no attraction in New Zealand for Easter. There is nothing definite on this head, however, and it may be that when the time comes an Easter attraction will be sent over. There is some talk of “The Grafters,” an American musical extravaganza, coming across shortly under the management of William Anderson.

The charming Madame Antonia Doroles, whom we have not heard for some years, is due to give two concerts in His Majesty’s Theatre on March 3 and 5. Mr. Hopkins is in town making the necessary arrange-

ments. Private advice has been received from England that Miss Eva Skerrett, of the Bluff, who is known on the concert platform and the music hall stage as Iwa, the Maori vocalist, has scored a success in pantomime in London. Iwa played the part of the Princess in “Robinson Crusoe.” In addition to her song successes she led a poi and canoe dance, which was received as a decided novelty in pantomime, though it had been seen at the White City with the Maori troupe of which Iwa was a member. Twa is well-known in Dunedin, where she received her early training in singing. The death is announced as having taken place in New York last month of W. F. Hawtrey, the well-known actor who introduced “A Message from Mars” to New Zealand, and who flor two years ran a permanent comedy company in these islands, playing “Mars,” “The Lady of Ostend,” “The Two Mr. Wetherbys,” and other pieces. His brother is the well-known English actor, Chas. Hawtrey. W. F. Hawtrey, while in New Zealand, was supported by a good all-round company, of whom G. MacMahon and O. P. Heggie, who .has recently been scoring a big success in England, were the leads. Charlie Hammond, a young Tasmanian, who subsequently went to America to his great advantage, was also a member of Hawtrey’s company in New Zealand. The dead actor was keen on cricket, and gathered in his company

one of the best touring elevens that ever played the game in New Zealand. I had almost forgotten to mention that Frank Musgrove (brother of G. M. and Harry Musgrove) was also a member of Hawtrey’s company in these parts. With Williamson’s companies (with which he was long associated before taking over a show of his own), W. F. Hawtrey was a sound and conscientious actor. His best work was Glabrio in “The Sign of the Cross.”

Miss Dorothy Brunton, the ingenue of the New Comic Opera, and talented daughter of the late lamented John Brunton, scenic artist for Bland Bolt, contemplates a trip to London at the conclusion of her engagement with Williamson. The New Zealand Aviation Syndicate has arranged with Scotland, the

aviator, to “fly” on Saturday next. The “flying man” was to have appeared last Wednesday. He started from Gore on his • trip to Dunedin, and had got 40 miles on his journey when, owing to the velocity of the wind against him, he had to turn back.