GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1399, 15 February 1917, Page 36

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

“To-night’s the Night,” the second production by J. C. Williamson’s New Musical Comedy Company, has been christened “revusical comedy.” It is •one of those gladsome entertainments that go galloping gaily through three hours.

Mr Leonard Nelson, whose fascinating personality and turn for comedy make him a riot on any bill, has been associated with the Fuller circuit for over ten years, and is just concluding a six years’ permanent engagement without having lost a week. Previously he had a permanent run of four and a-half years, and also an unbroken run for the same period on the Rickards circuit. Mr Nelson has written most of his own successes, the famous “Mr Booze” putting his star in the ascendancy, while with his song “Good-bye Melbourne Town” he made one of the biggest chorus hits in vaudeville. This popular artist leaves about the middle of the year for South Africa and thence for England to fulfil bookings. Mr Nelson, by the way, is Australian born, and has a warm spot for Australasia, the countries that have built up his successes.

Evie Greene (sister of Frank Greene) has just scored a big success at the London Palladium in “There’s a Ship That’s Bound for Blighty,” which is the latest song hit in Great Britain.

Paul A. Rubens, the composer of “To-night’s the Night,” is an Oxford man. He writes both his lyrics and music. His song, “We Don’t Want to Lose You” has been the best seller in sheet music of the war efforts. Dorothy Brunton popularised it in Australia.

Miss Jenny Mcßae, the kilted girl appearing at the Auckland Opera House, posseses a robust contralto voice of the dramatic oraer, and demonstrates her fine range in such numbers as “Caller Herring,” “Annie Laurie,” and “The Rosary.”

Alfred Frith takes the key for his comedy in the second act in “Tonight’s the Night” from the line he speaks when he is accused of overindulgence. “Oh no,” he says, “it’s just a gentlemanly glow.” The temptation to the average comedian wonld be to overdo the thing, but Mr Frith is said to keep admirably within the bounds of the author’s description of his state.

The Wellington, Petone, and Hutt members of the Wellington Education Board have been appointed a committee to inquire into the kinema in its relation to the education of children.

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., who pre sented that wonderful film creation “The Birth of a Nation,” are shortly to screen D. W. Griffith’s latest spectacle, “Intolerance.” Gigantic settings dist.nguish the production.

There is a movement in Australia to put C. J. Dennis’ “The Sentimental Bloke” into pictures, and if this succeeds the “Moods of Ginger Mick” are to follow.

The members of the new J. C. Williamson Comedy Company, which recently arrived from South Africa, include Thomas A. Braidon, Daisy Atherton, Percy Marmont, Elma Royton, and May Nightingale, all of whom are well-known in London. They opened in Sydney on February 3 in “Fair and Warmer.”

A most tempting offer is reported to have been made to Miss Vera Pearce, of the Tivoli Follies, to go into pictures in America. Some time ago the representative of a big American film house was in Australia, and was much taken with Miss Pearce’s personality and natural aptitude for camera work. He returned to headquarters, and, as the result of his report to his directors, a letter has been received by the Queen of the Follies offering her miost tempting terms to visit the States and engage in the picture industry. Miss Pearce has already appeared in pictures in Australia.

Baroness Dorothy van Raven, appearing for the Metro pictures, says she sends one-fourth of her salary to (Holland each month to care for a Belgian baby.

There’s no limit to the enterprise of the Fuller management. Their latest venture is to form a stock dramatic company in Melbourne to produce thrillful plays in quick succession. The Fuller Brothers have only to stretch over their vast vaudeville c'rcuit to draw in some first-rate dramatic artists. Charles King, playing recently at Melbourne Bijou with his wife, Virginia Thornton, is a noted American actor. Virginia Thornton : s an actress of personality, and their support, Rupert Drum, a good character man. Harrington Reynolds, of “Tito Rosary”; David Urquhart, Wee-

lum of “Bunty”; Jean Clyde, the Bunty of 750 English performances: and Abie Banker, also of Graham Moffat’s show, are among other recruits from the legitimate now playing in Fill er’s vaudeville.

“There appears to be some sort of Freemasonry between the gallery girls in Australia,” remarked Miss Florence Rockwell, who is starring in “The House of Glass” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. “Sine? I have been in Melbourne I have had practical indication of this. After the first-night performance of ‘The House of Glass’ I found a number of them waiting for

me at the stage door, and their kindly words of welcome and nice little speeches were most encouraging. Yesterday 1 received a basket of the most beautiful fruit. To say that 1 was surprised and delighted would not adequately describe my feelings. 1 was told that the gallery girls in Sydney had written to Melbourne asking the gallery girls at the Theatre Royal to give me a good time. I must certainly say that they are doing that,” added Miss Rockwell. “I find that this is a phase of theatrical life in Austrafia that is altogether delightful, and most encouraging to the artists.”

There is plenty of opportunity for fun-making in the story contained in “To-night’s the Night.” This musical comedy is to some extent based on the farce comedy “Pink Dominoes,” which delighted playgoers of the past generation. To mention that there are three ladies, covered with pink dominoes, in the Covent Garden Ball, who are mistaken for other ladies by their beloved adorers, is to indicate that amusing situations and awkward complications ensue. “To-night’s the Night” will be played on Saturday and the two following nights.

Reginald Wykeham is a quartermaster with the Australian A.S.C.