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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1539, 23 October 1919, Page 36

Judging by the interest displayed at Wildman and J Arey’s . when the Emelie Polini box plans opened on Tuesday, the J. and N. Tait Dramatic Company are sure of a warm welcome on their appearance at His Majesty’s Theatre next Saturday evening, when will be given the first presentation in Auckland of “De Luxe Annie,” with Miss Polini in her original role of Nan Delmore. The story of “De Luxe Annie” is of a woman who loses her memory and becomes the accomplice of a fake book-agent, whose schemes for making money are not confined to the sale of the de-luxe bound volume carried by the accomplice. Her many adventures up to the time that her memory is restored to her form one of the most fascinating plays ever staged. Mr. Victor Beck is back in Auckland after preparing the road for the Diggers’ Pierrots in the north. At Cambridge they broke all records, and everywhere similarly good business seems to be the rule. They play Thames-' 1 and Rotorua next, and are - due to open in Auckland the first week in November.

Mr. Arthur Stigant has signed another year’s contract with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., this time for musical comedy. And it is safe to say the 'five-years-running pantomime dame will be a decided acquisition. Mr. and Mrs. John Tait will arrive with the Emelie Polini Company on Saturday morning from Wellington, and during their visit here will stay at the Grand Hotel. Miss Eva Lynn, of the Ziegfield Follies, New York, will be principal girl for the next Williamson pantomime, “The Sleeping Beauty.” Miss Winifred Roma, from Drury Lane, will be principal boy. “Goody Two Shoes” concluded a highly successful season at His Majesty’s on Tuesday night, a packed house bidding an enthusiastic farewell to all the favourites. “Dame” Arthur Stigant, Miss Dorothy Hastings and Miss Madeline Harrison came in for special favour, and plenty of friendly tokens were handed across the footlights. The company open in Dunedin on Saturday. * * • • Mr. Brodie Mack leaves by the Moeraki to-day for Sydney, where he will take up the important position of assistant general manager for the Fuller firm. Mr. Mack, who succeeded the late Mr. George Stephenson as manager of the Auckland Opera House, has made a host of friends during his term of office here, by his unfailing courtesy and managerial aptitude, and at the conclusion of the performance on Saturday week tangible evidence of his popularity was forthcoming. Mr. John Fuller spoke eulogistically of Mr. . Mack’s qualities, and presented him with a handsome case of pipes as a personal memento. The house staff and orchestra, through the incoming manager (Mr. C. Edgares), gave him a travelling bag suitably inscribed, together with an engraved silver mug from the ladies’ staff for his little son. He has also had presentations galore from friends in front of the footlights. Mr. Mack expressed regret at severing, a pleasant connection, and made complimentary reference to the abilities of his successor.

Oscar Asche has informed a London interviewer that his new Oriental spectacle, “Mecca,” will have fine parts for Lily Brayton and himself, and also for Bessie Major and Gourtice Pounds. Miss Major is best remembered in the colonies for her work with the Brough Company, and Mr. Pounds was in Australia some years, ago singing tenor parts in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. • C. J. Dennis’ work “The Sentimental Bloke,” famous wherever the English language- is spoken, has been made into an eight-reel film by Raymond Longford, and the world’s rights acquired by Mr. E. J. Carroll, who is now on his way to arrange releasing agencies in England and America. Mr. Frank Talbot, favourably remembered in New Zealand, is putting “The Bloke” over at the Auditorium, Melbourne, whilst Mr. Bob Shepherd, late of the Fullers’, is handling it at Sydney. Mr. Leo D. Chateau has left the International Attractions, and will control its ex-, ploitation in New Zealand. Two copies will be screened simultaneously in the North and South Islands. Those who knew and loved Syd. James, whose death occurred so unexpectedly at Karachi, India, will be interested in the sad particulars contained in a letter to Mr. H. L. Westgate from Mr. George Hurdle, pianist to Mr. James’ “Pierrot Pie” Company. Writing on July 7 from Karachi, Mr. Hurdle says: “We have had a terrible misfortune, and I daresay you have had the news already. We finished our season at Bombay on Sunday last and caught the boat for Karachi on Monday at 1 p.m.—a 42 hours’ run.. The weather was awful, and the whole crowd had to turn in for the trip. James did not feel his first pain till 3 o’clock Tuesday morning, and Wednesday at 2 o’clock he died under chloroform on the operating table (just a matter of 35 hours) —acute peritonitis. The terrible tossing of the boat undoubtedly killed him. The doctor said that if he had been taken ill in Bombay and been attended to there he would have been saved. He was as healthy and as lively as could be in Bombay, and also when we sailed. We buried him on Wednesday morning, and it was a terrible ordeal. All the company are suffering more or Itess from nerves. You know what an all-important factor he was in the show, and we now are just “a ship without a rudder.” We are stuck here' doing nothing and awaiting the arrival of Bandman’s general manager on Tuesday. Then we shall see what they intend doing. Our season at Bombay was a record one as regards business and popularity, and we seemed in for a tremendous tour of 12-18 months and a fortune for James. Then suddenly he is taken from us. It is indeed terrible.”