GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1292, 28 January 1915, Page 36

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

Mr. Hugh C. Buckler, who is a British reservist, has had to return to the colours, and left Sydney last week. Mr. Buckler was in the middle of a season in Brisbane.

Miss Sinna St. Clair, who came to New Zealand with the “Brass Bottle” Company a few years back, is in Australia with “Who’s the Lady?”

Mr. W. F. Grant, who came out to Australia to play Mr. Wu for Beaumont Smith and Louis Meyers, had only returned to England two days when he was in Territorial khaki, recruiting the right brand of material for the Essex regiment.

“One of the best tricks ever invented to get a good seat at a theatre was perpetrated at the Theatre Royal, Bournemouth,” said Barry Lupino. A man entered the stalls and found them full so he walked into the gangway and’ called out, ‘ls Mr. Smith here? He is wanted outside most urgently.’ About twenty people got up and left the stalls, and the man coolly, took the best seat that was vacated.”

Bennett McKenzie and Ruby Guest are the latest acquisition to the FullerBrennan circuit. Miss Guest handles many instruments with consummate skill and finish, among which are the mandolin, banjo and xylophone. Mr. McKenzie’s speciality is “Stories at the Piano,” and the duo provide together a refined and highly pleasing act. They will appear at the Auckland Opera House on Monday.

A marriage of interest in social and theatrical circles took place at St. Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, Wellington, on January 14, when Miss Zillah Tancred, daughter of Mr. H. S. Tancred, of New Plymouth, was married to Mr. Raymond Laurence, of the Julius Knight Company, elder son of Mr. Arthur Laurence, of Liverpool. Mr. Martin Lewis (also of vhe Julius Knight Co.) was best man A reception was held after the ceremony at Sayes Court. The guests included Mr. Julius Knight.

Miss Rene Maxwell of Sydney, has won the principal scholarship, valued at £Bo’ per annum, at. the Guildhall School o< Music. Miss Maxwell attracted the attention of Mr. Quinlan, the famous entrepreneur, during the last visit to Sydney of the Quinlan Opera Company, by singing at an impromptu concert at Her Majesty’s Theatre during a wait before the rise of the curtain. Miss Maxwell has made considerable progress in London, where she is studying. She is still in her teens.

The genius of Jan Cherniavsky, of the famous trio of brothers, has now unfolded in the prophetic sense. He is shortly publishing a book dealing with the European war, and as he has first-hand knowledge of practically every important town in the war arena he should be able to make an interesting contribution to the war history. Many of the prophecies he made during the early part of the war have proved only too true. He has shown the same clear insight into the motives, causes and effects of the present crisis as he invariably displays in the interpretation of the great masters.

Mr. and Madame Wielaert, the wellknown Auckland musicians, returned last week from their trip abroad. They had a most interesting time both in London and on the Continent, though the war spoilt some of their most treasured plans. Both were studying hard in London in view of an engagement by M. de Hondt, director of the Italian opera in Holland. Everything wa3 arranged and the contracts signed for them to take part as soprano dramatique and conductor in a repertoire including “Aida,” “Faust,” “La Boheme,” “Carmen,” “CavgUeria” and “Pagliacci.” Then came the war, and of course the contract was cancelled.

Beaumonth Smith is following up “Who’s the Lady?” and “The Glad Eye” in Sydney with “The Chaperon.”

The Jones’s came into their own at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, on January 15. Out of respect to the piece under production, “Broadway Jones,” only people enjoying the familiar patronymic could book seats.

“I admire American plays,” says Walter Howard, British dramatist, “because American dramatists have a habit of speaking their minds. They write direct, strong, uncompromising plays. Sometimes they may be crude; sometimes finesse and subtlety may be missing, but strength, humanity and the essential dramatic elements are there. The fault, of the British play-maker of to-day is his overnicety. Our London dramatists write ladylike plays. They would call a spade not a spade, but a rude agricultural implement.”

Mme. Genee, the famous dancer, has reconsidered the question of her proposed retirement, and is returning to the stage.

“The great difficulty in writing popular successes at present,” Suzanne Jackson, the American actress, observes, “is that the public demands three third acts and no first acts.”

All the male members of the J. C. Williamson. Ltd., company at present, in Johannesburg, joined the Transvaal Civilian Corps, formed with the object of town and home defence.

An unusual sight was witnessed at the Adelphi Theatre, Sydney, at the opening performance of “The Ever Open Door,” a few weeks ago. At 7.30 p.m. all entrances to the auditorium had to be closed to keep out the rush of people who desired to gain admission to witness the piece.