GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1383, 26 October 1916, Page 34

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

Signor A. Carpi, an Italian impresario, who is at present visiting Sydney, has engaged the Russian artists, Messrs. Mirovitch and Piastro, for a long tour of the East. 5. * * ♦ Mr. Julius Knight is appearing at Melbourne in a revival of the war play, “Under Fire.” This will be followed by “A Royal Divorce” and ‘ The Silver King.” * & * * Mrs. George Gardiner, well-known to the vaudeville stage as one of the Musical Gardiners, died suddenly in Sydney the other day. The Musical Gardiners were on tour in New Zea.und a few months ago. * * * * Gabrielle Ray, of musical comedy fame, has been engaged for “Flying Colours,” the next Hippodrome revue. This will be the first appearance of this charming actress in revue. **«- * . ' The Steele Payne Entertainers, now on the Fuller circuit, can look back on a variety of experiences met with in travels throughout the world. The late Nazam of Hydrobad, the Maharajah of Benares, and the Rajah of Patiala are counted among their patrons, and the presents in the possession of Miss Lizzie Payne testify to the manner in which the musical . anrily pleased the Eastern princes, in Africa the family appeareJ before Botha and Smuts. The eldest son of Mrs. Stee.e (Miss Lizzie* Payne) has already been in two campaigns. He was w.th Botha when the African forces were clearing the Huns out of South West Africa and afterwards fought in France till he was invalided home, when he returned to his African farm. *** * . . Great success attended the first production of “Peg o’ My Heart” in the New Zealand capital on the 11th hist. J. and N. Tait are very pleased with the reception accorded the remarkable comedy-drama, and expect that results during the rest of the New Zealand tour will be equally gratifying. The company appears in Auckland on October 28th, and subsequently visits Dunedin, Christchurch, Invercargi.l, Wanganui, Palmerston and other populous New Zealand centres. “Peg o’ My Heart” returns to the Palace Theatre, Sydney, at Christmas. * * * * There was a remarkably enthusiastic scene in the Theatre Royal, Christchurch after the fall of the curtain on “Othello,” with which the highly successful season of the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company was brought to a close. After several recalls, Mr. Wilkie said the wonderfully successful New Zealand tour and Christchurch season of his company marked the foundation of a permanent Australasian Shakespearean Company. He and Miss HunterWatts would remain at the head of that company, and they would include in the repertoire practically the whole of Shakespeare’s works that had been dramatised, as well as some of the old English classical plays.

Messis J. and N. Tait have decided to engage the brill ant elocutionist, Lawrence Campbell, for a series of further recitals from ‘ The Sentimen tai Bloke. > ❖ * It can safely be said of Mr. BrandonCremer —both from the managerial and acting standpoint—that there isn’t a man better equipped for the project that he has now in hand. — “Sydney Theatre,” referring to Mr. Cremer’s dramatic venture at King's Theatre, Newton. * * * * Eric Maxon, who came here first with H. B. Irving, and later with “Ben Hur” and “Within the Law,” has gone into khaki with the Canadian forces. * * • Dog actors are not often seen on the legitimate stage—though often in vaudeville —but in “Peg o’ My Heart” there are two canine members of Hie company. One is an Irish terrior, who may be said to be a comedian, and the other a toy specimen, who is an ingenue. A lively ‘ scrap” between the two is a feature of the play.