GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1416, 14 June 1917, Page 32

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

Mr. Richard Stewart is coming over to New Zealand in charge of the J. C. Williamson pantomime. This will be Mr. Stewart’s hundredth trip to the Dominion with J. C. Williamson attractions. After making his “century” he will be located permanently in Sydney.

The takings at the two perform* ances at the Opera House, Auckland, on the King’s Birthday established a record for the theatre. It was only limited space then that turned away more good money. There’s no doubt about vaudeville becoming a craze in Auckland.

Mr. Hugh Mclntosh, M.L.C., President of the British Empire League, celebrated Empire Day by giving a luncheon at the Town Hall, Melbourne.

Sydney James, of “The Strollers,” and Jack Waller, of “The Butterflies,” have amalgamated, and are putt ng on a big show in Sydney at the end of this month under the title of “Look Who’s Here!” Mr. James describes it as a “kaleidoscopic innovation.”

Mr. Charles Waldron’s first connection with “Daddy Long Legs” was in the original production at Chicago three years ago with Mary Chatterton. The play ran there six months, and they then moved in to New York for a year, after that to London at the Duke of York’s Theatre for a seven months’ stay.

Mr. Andrew Higginson, who was the original Prince Danilo in “The Merry Widow” in New Zealand, is back again in Australia playing a leading role in “Very Good Eddie.” He tells a good story of an incident that happened when he was playing in a southern town in America last year that can stand telling. He ordered some coffee at an hotel, and when it was brought to him the coloured waiter poured in the milk when the coffee turned an unhealthy green shade. He drank it notwithstanding, and afterwards said to the waiter: “Do you drink this coffee, Rufus?” “Lor a mussy, no sar,” said the coloured gentleman,” “I makes my own!”

The Sydney suburban theatre, the Newtown Majestic, was opened on June 2 under the Fuller management. This is the third addition to their string of theatres that the Fullers have made in the last twelve months, the other two being the Palace in Melbourne, now playing stock drama, and the Majestic in Adelaide, now housing the “Bunyip” pantomime.

Mr. Harold Ashton left £8193, of which £1033 was real estate, the rest personalty.

Miss Lilian Tucker, who is now appearing in “The White Chrysanth_ mum,” which is being staged by J. anc N. Tait at the King’s Theatre, Mei bourne, made her debut in a musical piece, “The Little Millionaire,” in Chicago, and later achieved considerable notice in “Madame Sherry” in New York. Other musical comedies in which she Has played from time to time are “The Girl in the Taxi.” “Quaker Girl,” “Little Miss Brown,” and “Her Soldier Boy,” while she has also been well cast in pure comedies like “It Pays to Advertise,” “Somebody’s Luggage,” and “Nobody Home.” Miss Tucker owes much of her success to the kindly interest and encouragement of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Cohan, the parents of the brilliant George M. Cohan.

The J. C. Williamson management has given instructions to its London partners to entertain wounded Australians at “High Jinks,” and asked to be debited with the cost of seats. One of the debits amounted to £4OO. “We naturally cannot expect our partners to bear these charges,” said Mr. Ward, “they have their own claims and do a great deal for the English wounded. We think, however, that every Australian house conducting business in London can help in the comfort of our soldiers, and we, particularly, are wishful to do all we can.”

Mr. Cyril Maude, the creator of “Grumpy,” opening in Melbourne on June 16, has played under his own management during the past 15 years, and for over seven conducted his own theatre, The Playhouse. “Grumpy,” by the way, put up a record in America during Mr. Maude’s recent tour. He played it throughout the States for ten months without having to break its continuity by staging another play. ❖ * * * “Outcast,” due at His Majesty’s Theatre after “Daddy Long Legs,” is a play by Hubert Davies, dealing with phases of West End London life, originally produced at Wyndham’s Theatre, with Gerald du Maurier and Ethel Levy in the cast. It had a long and a very successful run.