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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1482, 19 September 1918, Page 32

“So Long. Letty.” and “High Jinks” have had short successful revivals in Sydney.

John Junior, who was Muggs in “Turn to the Right,” is in “Honi Soit” at the Melbourne Tivoli.

“Who killed Spencer Leigh?” Did the hand that brought him to his death again thrust home the knife which killed Leigh’s friend? In the “Thirteenth Chair” these questions are answered at the end of an evening of thrills and startling situations.

Miss Ethel Morrison (McGinnity), who will be remembered for her excellent work with amateur societies in the Dominion some years ago, will make her reappearance here with J. C. Williamson’s “Thirteenth Chair” company. Since her amateur days, Miss McGinnity has appeared successfully with the Williamson management in comic opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, and other works, in comedy with the Marie Tempest Company, and now has proved her versatility by having achieved distinction in the character of Mrs. Crosby in this sensational mystery play.

The Scarlet Troubadours will give a farewell performance in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday night.

At the Opera House next week there will be a short reversion to the old-time minstrel show, headed by Mr. Charlie Pope and a speciallyselected company.

Wallace Brownlow, the wellknown operatic baritone, whose name is indelibly associated with some of the most famous Gilbert and Sullivan productions in this country and Australia, is at present in Christchurch on the Fuller circuit. Mr. Brownlow returns after a ten years’ stay in America, and is said to be at the top of his form. He claims attention as being one of the few genuine Savoyards still before the public. The Savoyards, be it known, are those players who have taken part in original productions of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas at the Savoy Theatre, London, under the D’Oyley Carte management. In the memory of colonial playgoers he will be recalled as King Henry of Navarre in the notable production of 20 years ago, “Ma Mie Rosette,” in which Nellie Stewart was Rosette and Florence Young Corisande.

J. and N. Tait's “Peg o’ My Heart” Company, which has just completed a tour of the West Coast, enjoyed the dis tine lion of putting up new records in nearly every town visited. The company travelled the district most comfortably in a twelve-seater Cadillac car, and as the weather was delightful were able to enjoy to the full the magnificent scenery of the Otira and Buller gorges, and the fine run up the coast to Nelson and on through the Sounds district to Blenheim. In Nelson the theatre was packed, and so many had to be turned away that the management was induced to give a matinee the next day.

This performance commenced at 2 p.m., was over at 4.30 p.m., and the same evening a performance was given in Motueka —a busy day. Mr. Ralph reports that the business on the overland tour of the North Island continues to be very good.

Messsr. John Farrell and Robert Williamson, who have just concluded the New Zealand tour of “The Bing Boys” company, as manager and advance manager respectively, are remaining in the Dominion to join J. C. Williamson’s American Dramatic Company, in similar capacities. The company will commence its New Zealand season in Wellington on Tuesday, September 24th., with the sensational mystery drama, “The Thirteenth Chair.”

Miss Gladys Moncrieff, who has added the crowning success to her career by her performance in “Katinka,” has become engaged to Mr. Ellis Davies, son of Mr. H. M. Davies, Kalinina, Gippsland Lakes. He is the chief engineer for an Australian firm which is engaged in work of national importance. Miss Moncrieff is a daughter of Mr. R. E. Moncrieff, Double Bay, Sydney. She does not intend to retire from the stage just yet, but will continue her three years’ engagement with the J. C. Williamson management.

The New Zealand tour of the “Thirteenth Chair” has been mapped out as follows: —Wellington, Tuesday, September 24 (six nights’ season); Dunedin, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, October 3, 4 and 5; Invercargill, Monday, October 7; Christchurch, commencing Wednesday, October 9 (five nights’ season); Wanganui, Wednesday and Thursday, October 16 and 17; Hawera, Friday, October 18; Palmerston North, Saturday, October 19; Hastings, Monday, October 21; Napier, Tuesday, October 22; Dannevirke, Wednesday, October 23; Hamilton, Thursday, October 24; Auckland, Saturday, October 26, to November 1, when the tour finishes.

The Scarlet Troubadours, after doing three nights at WTiangarei this week, play Onehunga September 20, Auckland 21, Hamilton 23-24, Te Aroha 25, Cambridge 26, Rotorua 27-28, Te Kuiti 30, Taumarunui October 1, Taihape 2, and then Hawke’s Bay.

Mr. Gerald du Maurier, at a meeting of the Actors’ Benevolent Fund in London, regretted that theatres are passing from the management of actors to business men, and added: “It is true I have a partner, but I keep him down at Brighton.”

Of Miss Eva Kelland, leading lady of “Snice” (the Sydney Tivoli revue) the “Referee” says: The new star is all that a leading artist should be. She is soft and alluring in emotional songs; full of pithy, quiet humour, and she dances delightfully. Her light contralto voice is aided by perfect enunciation.

A London cable states that Mr. Alfred Butt, theatrical manager, is now issuing to British holders of the Victoria Cross gold life passes, admitting them to his theatres and music halls.

“Katinka” put up a new musical comedy record in Melbourne. It ran for thirteen weeks with phenomenal success.

Thus “Loiterer” in the Dunedin “Star” on Leo. D. Chateau who is down there with the “Deemster” film. “I remember Leo when he “earned his crust” behind instead of in front of the proscenium arch, and a capital actor he was —character and comedy; almost the ideal Jaikes in “The Silver King.”

During an interval at the Cappelli concert on Monday night, Mr. John Hopkins, the director, announced that one extra concert would be given on Friday night in the Town Hall main building, as so many people had to be turned away from the previous performances. Cappelli will be at Rotorua on Thursday and leaves for Gisborne on Saturday.