“ARRAH-NA-POGUE.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1404, 22 March 1917, Page 54

“ARRAH-NA-POGUE.”

Mr. A. Brandon-Cremer made a happy choice in presenting “Arrah-na-Pogue” at King’s Theatre on St. Patrick’s night, Dion Boucicault’s famous Irish drama drawing a crowded and enthusiastic audience. The atmosphere of the play was admirably sustained by the company, and the stirring incidents intermingled with comedy and pathos were represented with a creditable attention to detail. Mr. Frank Neil, on this occasion, forsook straight out comedy to play Shaun, the postman, giving an earnest and likeable portrayal of the loyal young Irishman who went to prison to shield his sweetheart. Mr. Neil further won the ear of the audience by his sympathetic singing of “Wearin o’ the Green.” Miss Kathleen Arnold made a charming Arrah, acting with naivety and sincerity. Beamish McCoul, the rebel leader, had a dashing and vigorous cour terpart in Mr. Maurice Tuohy. Mr. Edga Kenna had a rest from villainy, and portrayed the kind-hearted Colonel O’Grady with suitable demeanour. Mr. Frank Reis g&ve a meritorious study of the unenviable part of Michael Feeney, skilfully judging its possibilities. Mr. Kenneth Carlisle was impressive as Major, and Miss Mabel Hardinge was ;ttractive as Fanny Powers, the rebel’s fiancee. The interpolation of appropriate songs and dances added zest to the production, while another enjoyable factor was Miss Abbie Taylor’s orchestra.

Rumour hath it that Mr. BrandonCremer is’to establish a second stock company to operate in Wellington, so successful has the Auckland venture proved.

The competition inaugurated by Mr. Henry Hayward for the best New Zealand national song or anthem has been won by “lona Hope,” of Auckland, for her effort, “Land of Promise.” There were 163 competitors. Mr. Hayward is now calling for competitive musical sett ngs to the winning verses.

Mr. Alec Lorlmore, Australasian representative of the Famous Play-ers-Lasky Film Productions, and man-aging-director of the Australian Feature Films, Ltd., Sydney, is on a visit to Wellington, which city he intends to make the distributing centre for his companies’ films. The attractions offered are the Famous PlayersLasky films, Art Croft-Mary Pickford films, and “superfeatures” of miscellaneous makes. His company has engaged “Fatty” Arbuckle, Douglas Fairbanks, Madame Olga Petrova and Burton Holmes.

There is no part for C. H. Workman in the forthcoming production in Melbourne of “Canary Cottage,” so the congenial comedian has expressed his intention of changing his Christian name and making it “Out of Workman” for the time 'being. During his

leisure hours, Mr. Workman will indulge in his favourite pastime of lob-ster-catching at a secluded locality off the Victorian coast. • • • Miss Daisy Atherton, the leading comedienne in “Fair and Warmer,” at Melbourne Theatre Royal, is a daughter of Willie Edouin, the famous English comedian. She is therefore a niece of Mrs G. B. AV. Lewis, an old favourite of Australian audiences, who is now in England. Miss

Atherton is a brunette of the vivacious order, with sparkling eyes and a lively sense of humour. Until she left England for Australia she was appearing with great success in “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” which will be played by this company in due course. She is a theatrical manager as well as an actress, being the proprietress of two touring companies in England, An interesting story attaches to the production of “Canary Cottage,” which is to be staged for the first time in Australia at Her Majesty’s in Melbourne by the J. C. Williamson New English Musical Comedy Com-

pany. Oliver Morosco was chatting with a prominent newspaper writer in San Francisco, when the phenomenal success of “So Long, Letty,” cropped up. The journalist characterised “Letty” as a play that happened once in a lifetime, and challenged Morosco to produce another one to equal it. The author-producer-manager accepted the challenge. He cabled to New York to Elner Harris, the co-author of “Letty,” anl to Earle Carroll, who composed the music.

Both arrived in San Francisco simultaneously; the three got together, and again collaborated. The result was “Canary Cottage” which in America has exceeded the success of “So Long Letty.” The J. C. Williamson production of “The Pink Lady” has proved one of the most successful musical plays the firm has yet handled.