SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1318, 29 July 1915, Page 32

SOUTHERN STAGE NOTES

(By

“Lorgnette.”)

WELLINGTON, July 26.

It is some considerable time since Mr. Allen Doone and his company last appeared in Wellington, and in the interval the deservedly popular Irish comedian has conducted a highly successful tour of the Commonwealth. His re-appeanmce this evening served to introduce a new play entitled “Barry of BaMymore,” and it was w.tnessed by a very large and appreciative audience. To Mr. Allen Doone has been acco) ded the gift of beingable to present Irish sentiment — humorous and dramatic —in the most convincing manner possible. He acts as one in direct sympathy with the theme upon which he is engaged, and is fortunate in possessing able and accomplished coadjutors in the persons of Miss Edna Keeley and a company who worthily maintain their respective parts. “Barry of Ballymore” must be added to the already longlist of successes which they have already achieved. Mr. Doone, as Barry, of course sustains the brunt of the performance, and does so with admirable ease and confidence. Miss Edna Keeley, as Lady Mary Bannon, is the sweetest of colleens. Mr. Clive Farnham, as Gerald O’Hara, was excellent, whilst the o', her characters in the play were all well played. Richards’ vaudeville combination brought their season at the Grand Opera House to a close on Saturday evening. From start to finish the perfrmances were witnessed by large and enthusiastic audiences. Mr. Mclntosh intends to send companies across at regular intervals, being thoroughly satisfied with the business done on the present tour. This is good news indeed, as first-class vaudeville shows are always well patronised by New Zealanders.

The cast of characters for the coming production by the Wellington Ama.eur Operatic Society of Planquette’s tuneful opera “Les Cloches de Corne.ille” is as follows: —Germa.ne, Miss Annie Sullivan; Serpolette, Miss Isabel Wilford; Manette, Miss Marie Fix; Jeanne, Miss Nellie Driscoll; Suzanne, Mrs. Mentiplay, Gertrude, Miss Jackson; Katherine, Miss McCormack; Marguerite, Mrs. D. Bridge; the Marquis, Mr. Frank Charlton; Grenicheux, Mr. H. Dunn; Gobo, Mr. A. E. Shaw; Gaspard (not yet cast)’; Christophe, Mr. D. Bridge; the Baillie, Mr. D. J. Kenny. It is more than likely that Mr. George Stephenson will have two shows touring the Dominion before the end of the year. One will be a pantomime company, and the other possibly a comedy company. This week’s programme at His Majesty’s Theatre is absolutely the finest that has been presented at this house for quite a long time. The bill is headed by Madame Marion, whose clever act has bewildered all who have witnessed it. Then there is Tozart in his artistic pointing scena, Fluerette in her classic;’.! poses, Gardiner and Lemar in their novelty act, Mr. Phil Ascot in it clever exhibition of dancing, and also Nellie Kolle, the Newmans, the Rhodesburys, and last, but not least, Miss Dorothy Harris. It is simply man eJous the patronage accorded the numerous picture shows in Wellington. Everj evening it is hard to get a seat, whilst the day sessions of the continuoui houses are also patron.sed well.

Mr. George Barnum, who staged “Potash and Perlmutter” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, produced “The Third Degree” in New York. “No production 1 have ever put on gave me such an amount of anxiety,” said Mr. Barnum. “We were a little bit afra d tnai the exposure of police methods in New York would draw trouble from certain quarters. As a matter of fact, the members of the firm received theatening letters, which were anonymous, but the origin of which could be guessed at, advising the withdrawal of the piece. Nothing was done, however, and nothing happened.”

Miss Marie Eaton is said to have achieved something of a grand opera success in “The Girl on the Film” at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne. The clever young Australian’s singing in the role of Signorina Gesticulata, the Italian cinema actress, is considered one of the features of the piece.

Reginald Roberts, of comic opera fame, has had to pay at the Peddington (N.S.W.) Police Court for excessive patriotism. Plaintiff, one Cecil James Willis, said that on the evening of June 21 he visited the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Blau at Darling Point, and played his viol'n in the grounds. Among the music was Schubert’s “Serenade.’’ While he was playing this jiece something like a revolver shot, uas heard by him twice,

and he felt some missile brush past him. He felt very nervous and ran for shelter. Roberts, who was on the balcony of his residence next door, called out, “Stop playing that music in there. You are a lot of Germans. If you play any more German music there I’ll put a bullet through your neck.” For the defence, Roberts said that he objected to German music ct the present time —especially when it was being played at the house of a German. He had told WDlis that he would break the v.olin over his head if he played any more of this German music. The magistrate held that there was no proof of assault, but for using threatening language Roberts would It lined 20s, with costs.