SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1249, 26 March 1914, Page 36

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES

(By

“Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, March 23.

The next important theatrical attraction to be seen in the Empire City will be Mr. William Anderson’s American Musical Burlesque Company, which opens the Grand Opera House on Easter Saturday. company, which is at present playing a successful season in the South Island, did tremendous business for some fifteen months in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane. The> trump card in the company’s repertoire was the burlesque entitled “The Grafters,” being ably seconded by another play of a similar nature, called “A Day at the Races.” Both these pieces have been selected for production during the present Dominion tour. Every member of the company was specially engaged to interpret certain types of character, with the result that in “The Grafters” and “A Day at the Races” the members of the combination furnish all the allurements which have made musical -extravaganza so much the rage. Clever comedy acting, bright singing, dninty dancing, together with attractive stage settings and tastefully arranged ballets are all essentials to the success of such productions, and it is confidently stated that none of these are lacking in the William Anderson productions. The ballets are produced under the personal supervision of the inventor, Miss Fritzie de Guy. Mr. Paul Dufault, the celebrated French-Canadian tenor, made his farewell appearance in Wellington at the Irish national concert on St,

Patrick’s night. Mr. Dufault was in splendid voice, and met with a most enthusiastic reception. Indeed, so enthusiastic was the demand for encores that at the conclusion of one of hist songs the huge audience was startled by a resounding crash in the vestibule of the hall. It appeared that the vibration caused by the enthusiastic plaudits had caused two pieces of plaster, which had become loosened by the recent heavy earthquake shock, to fall from the ceiling over the stairway leading to the gallery. Each piece was about a yard square, but fortunately nobody was standing near at hand when the masses fell-

The programme presented at His Majesty's Theatre this week by the Brennan-Fuller vaudeville combination is absolutely one of the very best the management has given to the patrons of this popular house of amusement for quite a long time, and the seating capacity of the theatre is fully taxed at each performance. Included in the bill are some halfdozen acts that could easily be a headliner on any programme.

Mr. Walter Fuller arrived from Sydney by the Maunganui last Wednesday to take up the position of general manager of the picture interests in New Zealand of Messrs. John Fuller and Sons. Mr. Fuller’s headquarters will be in Wellington. It is pleasing to be able to state that the organ recitals given in the Town Hall by Mr- Bernard Page, the city organist, are increasing in popularity. The attendances are becoiri,ing larger and larger at each recital, and the appreciative manner in which they are listened to must be highly gratifying to Mr. Page.

I understand that Mr. Wilton Welch, who is at present fulfilling an engagement under the BrennanFuller management, will shortly introduce to New Zealand playgoers his own drama entitled “The Warning.” It is a play with a purpose, the plot dealing with the White Slave traffic, and is said to be forceful and appealing. “The Warning” recently had a successful run of six weeks, at the Littie Theatre, Sydney. During, the New Zealand season Miss Louise Qarbasse will play the leading character.

The farewell complimentary concert tendered to little Cecil Haines last Friday evening \was an unqualied success in every way. The big Town Hall was packed to the’ doors. Miss Cecil Haines leaves for Sydney 1 with her parents in a few days, and the talented - Hittie kiddie’s many friends will be always anxiously awaiting news of her future career.

Mr. Paul Dufault and his concert party left Wellington on Wednesday for the West Coast, where they will give a series of concerts. Mr. Dufault is highly pleased with his recent North Island tour. He states it was a great success in every way and one that he will always look back on with pleasure. Miss Betty Purdom and Mr. James Culford Bell, the well-known Wellington elocutionists, assisted at the Caledonian concert which was given at Carterton last Thursday Evening. Both Miss Purdom and Mr. Bell are at present busily engaged coaching pupils for the Napier Competitions, which are to be held at Easter. J. C. Williamson’s “Within the Law” Company sailed for Sydney by the Willochra, which left Wellington on Friday. Mr. W. A. Low, recently manager of Stephenson and Linley’s “80-Peep” Pantomime Company, is at present in Wellington-