GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1371, 3 August 1916, Page 34

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

J. C. Williamson, Limited, have secured the Australasian and South African rights of “Mr. Manhattan, now a big success at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London.

Miss Paola Scherek, the clever young violinist, daughter of Herr Benno Scherek and Mrs. Scherek (New York), formerly so well known on New Zealand concert platforms, passed through Auckland recently. It is her intention to make her home with her brother in Dunedin.

Mrs. Langtry (Lady de Bathe) was recently appearing in New York in a one-act playlet entitled “Ashes, m which she is assisted by Lionel Atwell and Leopold Stark, two wellknown English actors who went to America expressly to appear in this sketch. Mrs. Langtry announces it as pos'tively her farewell to American audiences.

The announcement that J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has disposed of its South African interests is not su^ 1 ?' ing (says a Sydney paper) South Africa has been in a troubled state ever since the big Australian ma ™Jg ment entered the theatrical world there. First there were the laboui riots, followed by martial law, and close upon this came the Boer rebellion. The Williamson mana^e ™ ellt began under the direction of Mr Bar old Ashton, who retired to join the Australian directorate as associate director. He was succeeded in South Africa by Mr. Richard Stewart. AustraS and English actors have form--0-1 the South African companies that nave he® entertaining South African playgoers. The purchasing company S the South African Trust a powerful money organisation whose chi enterprise 7 hitherto has teen moving pictures and vaudeville. • * * * ■'

Miss Sara Allgood, who makes si ca a captivating little character oi 1 eg in “Peg o’ my Heart” now being presented at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, is one of the interesting products of the brilliant literary and dramatic movement that began in Ir land a few years ago. Her extraordinary stage aptitude and her natural winsomeness brought her forward though her youth and good looks v e e often sacrificed to the necessities o stage realism in the richly dialogued dramas which Synge Yeats; and other enthusiasts presented to the* "°rld M'ss Allgood played wita Ir^ o . players in the uncommon, haunting Sas Of the new Irish school for over ten years, but she qhake good work outside, notable m Shake speare and English Repertory Shawian students will be to know that Candida is one of her «reat est parts. Also she has been responsible for a poignant picture of Nan in Masefield’s wellknown tragedy of that name.

Miss Minnie Love, of the J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company has received an offer to appeal n p tures under the control of the Mutual Film Corporation of ss Love will probably accept the en o ment, and will commence her new duties in the U. S. in October. ... * * *

Alfred Mirovitch and Michael P.as tro the brialliant Russian Musicians who have achieved so much success in Sydney and Melbourne, are now giving concerts in Adelaide. After their short Adelaide season they intend to w’s’t Tasmania, sudsequently returning to Melbourne for a big orchestral concert on August sth At this concert M. Mirovitch and Piastre. the brill ant Russian Musicians and violin parts in Tschaikowsky s famous Concerto. After th s appearance in the Victorian Capital, the celebrated pair will set out on a iou of New Zealand.

A court decision in Berlin has settled the oft d’scussed question of just what constitutes an orchestra. Said the judge: “It is an orchestra whenever at least four musicians play to gether under the direction of one person- even if that person plays one of the instruments —provided always be has a conductor s part.”

Enrico Caruso left New York in May to return to his native Italy, there to offer his services as a soldier in the Italian army now fighting the Central Powers. Mr. Caruso was in excellent spirits and said that whether he returned to America the coming of autumn or not depended on the state of the war. “I am now in the first category and am going to offer myself

and my son to the Government,” said Air. Caruso. “If the Government says ‘Yes,’ I will be a soldier.” Mr. Caruso said that he did not think the Government would call him, however. His brother had been representing the family, as the tenor is the bread-win-ner. The season, he added, had been very satisfactory in every particular. He did not think the war would interfere with the coming season.

Allan Wilkie is more than pleased with the result of his Shakespearean run in Sydney. “My productions have been so well received,” he said, “that it is my desire to continue permanently in Australia, doing as I did for some years in England, touring from centre to centre and back again with Shakespearean plays, and occasional revivals of other old classics. There are 20 of Shakespeare’s plays that I would like to present. My idea would lie to present two new pieces during each return visit and to give short revivals of those formerly produced. It is apparent that short seasons and quick returns are better than a stay extending over several months, for while there is an assured following for Shakespeare, it cannot be pretended that his works appeal to all classes of theatregoers, like many of the modern productions. The possibilities of running a stock company in Australia are enhanced by the versatility of the Australians, who fit in the various roles acceptably.” Mr. Wil kie and his company, after a season in Brisbane, will tour New Zealand.

Miss Madge Maitland, “the Irish girl from America,” will appear at the Auckland Opera House shortly, with a book full of new songs and a bunch of new gowns to startie the feminine gender. Miss Maitland hit popular taste m Sydney when she packed the Fuller Theatre for several weeks. She has a variety of songs of character type, and finishes stirring ballad. Miss her act with a soulMaitland introduces an innovation in the matter of presenting her singing turn, inasmuch as she. never leaves the stage during her act.

Stage statisticians have collected previous Australian diamatic records as follows: —“GetRich - Quick Wallingford” (Fred Niblo), 90 performances in Sydney; “In the Ranks (Geo. Rignold), 78 performances in Sydney in 1887; “The Squatter’s Daughter” (William Anderson), 72 performances.

The late Mr. DaMd Mitchell’s Victorian estate is valued at .£299,711, and is left equally to his seven children. The will provides that, except Madame Melba, who is free to draw her whole share of £42,816, tne other participants will draw the incomes of their shares.

Mr. Roland Staveley, the well-known theatrical manager, has arrived in Wellington. He brings with him 5000 feet of film, illustrating the war operations on the French front, taken under the direction of the French Government authorities.