GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1449, 31 January 1918, Page 34

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

The New York representative of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Mr. Walter Jordan, cabled to the firm that Miss Dorothy Brunton had made her first appearance in America in a musical play entitled “Follow the Girl,’’ and had achieved a great success. The Australian rights of th s new piece have been secured by J. C. Williamson, Ltd.

The Camille Trio, whose knockabout acrobatic specialty is one of the features of the J. C. Williamson “Dick Whitt ngton” pantomime in Melbourne, were asked whether they ever hurt themselves by their rough-and-tumble acrobatics. “Well,” replied the leader, “we get so many bruises that we no longer count them. In fact, I don’t think there is any room on our bodies for more!”

The home-made “Rajah of Shivapore” is proving that an Australian production can hope to hold its own with the imported article (says a Sydney paper). Numerous changes are being Introduced, although even now there is scarcely a number in the whole show that is not encored nightly. It has now been decided that at the conclusion of the Sydney run the piece will be taken on tour to another metropolitan centre and then to New Zealand.

Mr. Borneo Gardiner, the New Zealand whistler, was at the Palace, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, at latest advices.

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have secured the control in Australia and New Zealand of the product ons and representation of the Goldwyn Pictures Corporations of America, one of the biggest producing factors in the moving picture industry in America. The artists who will be seen on the screen under the management of the Goldwyn Corporation inclnde Jane Cowl, who created the leading role in “Within the Law”; Maxine Elliott, who visited Australia with Nat Goodwin some years ago; Mae Marsh, who gained popularity and prominence by her performance in “The Birth of a Nation”; Madge who created the leading roles in "America in such comedies as “Fair and Warmer” and “Baby Mine.” and others. The Goldwyn pictures include screen versions of Rex Beach’s novels, including “The Silver Horde” and “The Auction Block.” The deal between the Goldwyn Corporation and J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is said to be one of the biggest ever pulled off in the picture business in Australia.

In “The House That Jack Built” at .Sydney Royal are two children, members of one family, who are under contract to the Williamson management. Their jo nt incomes exceed £5OO a year. * * * * One of the vocal features of the J. C. Williamson “Dick Whittington” pantomime at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, is Miss Pauline Bindley’s s nging of “The Songs My Mother Sang to Me.” Made up of the sweet old songs of long ago, and old-time ballads that still cling to the memory, the song is beautifully rendered by Miss Bindley, who has won success as a sweet singer of unusual brilliancy. Miss Bindley has lifted the pantomime into vocal brilliancy that few Christmas productions have previously enjoyed. Leading Fuller artists recently appearing at the Empire, Johannesburg, were Lieut. Gordon, ventriloquist: Mankin. the Frog Man; Harry Tsuda, sperical equilibrist; St. George statuary illusion act, and Margaret Jewell, soprano.

Miss Eileen Boyd, the Australian contralto, who has returned to her native land after some years’ absence, is to take one of the principal roles in a big musical show to be staged at the Tivoli, Sydney, next month.

Miss Nance O’Neill has contradicted a report that she will return to Australia shortly.