GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1365, 22 June 1916, Page 33

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

The farewell concerts to be given in Auckland on Friday and Saturday next by Paul Dufault are events that will be generally welcomed, for seldom has a singer attained such universal popularity as the Canadian tenor has achieved in the Dominion. It is altogether unnecessary to compare this artist-musician with other tenors heard here. There is that in his personality and power of expressing the composer’s inmost thought that compels the deepest admiration and defies comparison. Another great asset towards this singer’s success is the absolute good taste with which each number of his programme is selected. Although born of French parents, the Dufault programmes are largely in English, and in English that is a model of perfect diction. Every word is perfectly distinct and understandable, and in hearing Dufault sing English one realises what a beautiful language our oft-criticised mothertongue really is. Mr. Dufault will be assisted here by Miss Pauline Bindley, the delightful young soprano from Bendigo, and Mr. Harold Whittle, the Sydney pianist, and Miss Florence Scapini, one of our own daughters, for whom the critics predict a great future as a violinist.

One of the most handsome floral tributes ever presented to any stage artist was an immense boomerang, handed up to Miss Vera Pearce, the Queen of the Tivoli Follies, on the occasion of her 21st birthday, which was celebrated recently in Sydney.

It stood over 6 feet high, and was so heavy it took two men to lift it over the footlights. The frontispiece in this week’s issue, showing Miss Pearce standing by her tribute, will give some idea of the florists’ handiwork.

Miss Vera Pearce, the beautiful Queen of the Tivoli Follies, which attraction is billed to open at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, on Monday, 10th July, is styled in Australia “The Boomerang Girl.” On the opening night in Auckland each member of the audience will be presented with a silver boomerang as a memento of the return of this brilliant combination. The motto of the boomerang is “1 go to return,” and many of these tokens have been presented to the soldiers before leaving, some of whom have styled themselves “the Vera Pearce boys.” Prior to the opening performance Mr. H. D. Mclntosh has sent over some bronze boomerangs for wearing in the coat. These may be had gratis on inquiry at Wildman and Arey’s, the box office, or direct to His Majesty’s Theatre office.

A newcomer to the Tivoli Follies who will be making her first appearance in New Zealand at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, on Monday, July 10th, is Miss Thelma Raye, an artist who has successfully appeared in musical comedy in Australia. Although brought out to Australia to play leads in musical comedy, Miss Raye is no stranger to revue work, she having successfully appeared in many attractions at Home, including “Sd. a Mile” and “The Passing Show.”

Miss May Eeatty, who once was a favourite with playgoers, at latest was playing lead in the English provinces in “The Miller’s Daughter.”

Miss Camille Clifford, whose noble husband was killed in France, is scheduled for work in motion pictures in America at £2OO per week. To take this offer she rejected a handsome offer to appear in vaudeville.

Three more Rex Beach novels are being put into the films: “The Barrier,” “The Iron Trail,” and “The Silver Horde.”