IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1457, 28 March 1918, Page 33

IN PERSONAL TOUCH.

Mr. Allen Doone, beloved of all Irish playgoers and others too, passed through Auckland by the last American boat on his return to Sydney.

Mr. Frank Kenny, who knows every nook and cranny of New Zealand, through his long managerial association with Mr. Allen Doone, will pilot the Allan Wilkie Dramatic Company through the Dominion.

Miss Lottie Sargent has returned to the stage, and is appearing at the Tivoli, Sydney.

The Walter Johnson Revue Company will open a return .season at the Auckland Opera House on Monday week.

Harry Lauder has signed again with J. and N. Tait for a second visit to Australia in 1919.

Miss Lydia Carne’s many New Zealand admirers will regret to learn that she is ill in Wellington. Her place in the Walter Johnson Revue is being temporarily filled by Miss Polly McLaren, the clever Auckland dancei who has been on the Fuller circuit for some time

Mr. G. S. Douglas-Macaul, who is representing the Fisk Jubilee Singers on a ten months’ tour of New Zealand, was for some years employed on the managerial side of the Dandies in Melbourne under Mr. Nigel Brock, and is making his first visit to the Dominion. The Jubilee Singers opened in Dunedin early this month to capacity business, hundreds being unable to gain admittance. The company more than made good with their delightful harmonising. They are due up this way shortly.

“Seven Days’ Leave” derives its name from the episode occurring during the week’s furlough granted to Captain Terence Feilding. Messrs. Ben. and John Fuller will introduce Allan Wilkie in this play in Auckland on Saturday, March 30.

It is probable that Mr. Allen Doone will return to Auckland in July with most of his old company and a repertory of new plays.

Miss Muriel Starr, who is again appearing as Mary Turner in “Within the Law” at Melbourne Theatre Royal, has an objection to long runs. “Since I have appeared in Australia,” said Miss Starr, “most of the pieces in which I have played have been characterised by lengthy runs. This is, of course, gratifying from the point of view of success, but I must confess that I intensely dislike long runs. I love change, and oftentimes I think longingly of the early days of stock companies in America when a new piece would be put on every week. A succession of changes in quick order is what appeals to me. During the lengthy Melbourne season we have so far had only two changes, owing to the long runs of ‘The Bird of Paradise’ and ‘The Easiest Way.’ Perhaps later on the management might stage for one night each the various plays we have done before, and so provide me with a feast of quick changes.”

Miss Frediswyde Hunter Watts (Mrs. Allan Wilkie in private life) is at present recuperating in America, ill-health necessitating a long rest. Miss Marie Ney (well known in Wellington as Miss Marie Fix), who has made gigantic strides in the profession during the last two years, is leading lady of the Allan Wilkie Company, her work in that position being warmly praised in Australia.

Mr. William Ewart, the new leading man for the Brandon-Cremer Dramatic Company, has had good experience with the William Anderson management in Australia, so knows all the points that make for high-class melodrama. Personally equipped with the assets that make a successful stage hero, he should meet with the admiring approval of the feminine portion of patrons.

Mr. Percy Keogh, musical director with the Allan Wilkie Company, is making his thirty-second visit to New Zealand. » * * * Mr. Les Wharton has joined up with the Walter Johnson Revue Company. * Wirth Bros.’ circus is at present at the Sydney Hippodrome with a fine new show. Mr. John Cosgrove, well known in the theatrical world, was responsible for the dramatised version of “The Woman Thou Gavest Me,” which the Fullers put on in Sydney. * * * * The dissolving view, much affected by the movie producers, is used with telling effect in “Seven Days’ Leave.” One of the characters is telling what happened to a British officer in a German Hospital, and as he speaks the vision is shown through gauze at the back of the set. Sydney audiences during the long run of the play in that city, seldom sat through the scene without an outburst of indignation at the Hun methods, vividly portrayed on the stage. * * * * Victor Prince, who p’ays Robinson Crusoe in the Fullers’ pantomime, is a prolific writer. He has forty-two revues to his credit, and all of them have been produced. Also he has collaborated in a comic opera, which is down for production shortly. His most ambitious effort, however, will be in conjunction with Fred Thaite. This will be a musical show of a decidedly novel nature. The music has been written by Mr. Thaite around a theme that is daring and unique.