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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1521, 19 June 1919, Page 33

Miss Muriel Starr is playing in “The Silent Witness” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, at present. In the cast are Frank Harvey, Louis Kimball, Marion Marcus Clarke, Frank Hatherley, J. B. Atholwood, Bertha Ballenger, Norma Mitchell, Sidney Stirling, Ethel Harrison, Arthur Styan, Norman Lee, Edwin Lester, Fred Coape, James Hughes, William Buckley, Harold Moran. The play is by Otto Harbach, one of the writers of “Katinka.” The silent witness is a blood-stain which plays an important part in clearing up a murder mystery. Mr. Len Barnes, the Wellington baritone, intends to leave New Zealand shortly to try his fortune in America. Probably he will make his final appearance in “H Trovatore” with the Choral Union at the end of the month, when he will take the role of the Count de « * « * The theatrical world of Europe and America received a shock on the publication of the fact that the late Mr. Charles Frohman, the international impressario, had left an estate less than £lOO net in value. Mr. Frohman conducted his business on such enormous lines on both sides of the Atlantic that no surprise would have been expressed had it been announced that he had left a million sterling. The London “World” seems to have put its finger on the spot when it said anent Mr. Frohman: “The real explanation of the matter seems to be that Charles Frohman was not in the true sense of the word a commercial man. Though he neither looked like it nor talked like it he was at heart an artist, and his artistic soul rebelled against the calculating spirit

which enables men to amass money and keep it. Frohman never shackled brains. He never made long contracts with promising actors or actresses at a modest figure, and then turned their increasing popularity to his own profit. He always bought in the open market. His starring of different artists was to a very great extent unselfish.” Yet such was the name and fame of Frohman that many an actor and actress would have accepted lower salaries than they could command to be under his banner. * * * » « Miss Muriel Window, the “Little Peacock of Vaudeville,” who is making heaps of friends and admirers in Melbourne, where she is appearing with the J. and N. Tait Company in support of Sir Harry Lauder, is said to be a most original stage frocker. Miss Window does not wait upon the fashion —she is always designing and conceiving new combinations of colour and new effects in “cut,” so that the women are kept jumping with interest as the artist comes on in dress after dress, the likes of which have never been seen before. Yet each of her dresses has character, and their character is always suited to the particular song or bit of mimicry she is engaged in. Mr. Allan Wilkie, supported by Miss Frediswyde Hunter-Watts, has just commenced a repertoire season of modern and classical drama at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. The opening attraction was “The Silver King.” This was to be followed by “Romance,” “The Squaw Man,” and “The Sign of the Cross.” • * * « Caruso has just paid over £30,000 income tax. To the Internal Revenue Collector he wrote 2 “I am very proud to send you my cheque for income tax. lam glad to do my part in contributing toward paying the expense of the war. America has done much for me, and I am happy to reciprocate.” * • • • It looks as if we are not to see Miss Emelie Polini after all, as the brilliant young Tait actress, who made such an outstanding success in Australia in “De Luxe Annie,” is announced to leave for London early next month. But there is always hope of plans being altered. * • • « One morning recently, the story goes, there was quite a run on lemons at Covent Garden Market, London. During the morning three men enquired the price of a small crate on the premises of a wholesale dealer. One of the men tendered a ten-shilling note, and was about to hand it to the dealer, when it vanished. He picked up a lemon from the crate and cut it open. Inside was an egg, and within the egg a walnut. He cracked the walnut and showed the amazed dealer a tenshilling note. “Number correct; you have won your bet,” said one of his companions, and they left. It appears that one of the three men had made a bet of £2O with Mr. Austin Temple, the conjuror, who is appearing at Maskelyne’s Theatre, that he could not do this same lemon trick that he had done at the theatre at Covent Garden in his (the wagerer’s) presence. The number of the note was taken beforehand and corresponded to that found in the walnut.