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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1544, 27 November 1919, Page 32

Miss Mione Stewart, whom many Aucklanders will recall as an unusually gifted child, started her professional career in Australia at the Melbourne Tivoli three months ago in “The Officers’ Mess,”’ making good to such effect that one week recently she played the leading part (replacing Miss Vera Pearce at a moment’s notice). Now she has been offered a three years’ engagement with H. D. Mclntosh. One Sydney writer says: “Miss Stewart is thoroughly at home in the musical play, and acts with all the aplomb of an old stager. Given bigger opportunities she should acquit herself in a manner which should undoubtedly prove her inheritance of family talent.” By the way, she’s the daughter of Richard Stewart.

Mr. C. Edgares, the newly-installed manager of the Auckland Opera House, says Mr. Ben J. Fuller has about forty big acts booked for the circuit. They will come along in due course when steamer accommodation can be secured.

Mr. Leo D. Chateau is in Auckland in connection with the screening of Mr. E. J. Carroll’s picture, “The Sentimental Bloke,” which is enjoying tremendous success in the south ac present.

Mr. Tom Pollard, who produced “The Mikado” so successfully for the Wellington Operatic Society, is to produce “Paul Jones” for the Nelson Society.

Mr. Walter George will produce a new musical playlet at the Opera House on Monday, entitled “The King of Dunnowherski,” which promises to be something out of the common.

The Royal Comic Opera Company are due here early in the year with a new piece, “Theodore and Co., introducing Mr. Theodore Leonard. <5

Billy, the automaton made famous throughout the world by the late Sydney James, in his ventriloquial act, is, it is stated, to be buried alongside the lamented chief of the Royal Strollers in India.

George Hall, who did well in Australian vaudeville some years ago, has returned from America under engagement to the Fullers.

At Louisville, Kentucky, Fritz Kreisler, the famous violinist, was refused permission to appear at the Opera House because he was an Austrian.

“ r i'he Romance of the Everglades” is the title of a unique star act Mr. Ben. J. Fuller has secured in America for the circuit. It is due to open in Australia next month.

In the J. and N. Tait production of “Daddies,” Mr. Jerome Patrick is appearing as Robert Audrey, who adopts, and eventually marries, the charming little orphan, Ruth Atkins, who is presented with great skill by Miss Gracie Dorran. Mr. George Bryant makes a living picture of the kind-hearted, but grumpy, James Crockett. The other principal characters in the piece are taken by Miss Greta Brunelle, Miss Beatrice Esmond, G. Kay Souper, Reginald Wykeman, Roland Rushton, and Tai Ordell.

New turns at the Opera House next Monday will include Frank, Lank and Alice, the Aerial Delsos, the Bryants, the Correlli Trio, and Eddie Montrose.

Well-remembered “Dick” Stewart, who in his time made over 100 trips to New Zealand and is now in residence as manager of Hei’ Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, in the course of a chatty letter has the following to say about things theatrical: —“Sydney theatres have had an in and out sort of 61<perience with the exception of Her Majesty’s and the Criterion, for these two- have been carrying on with phenomenal success for the past tw r elve months. At the former the grand opera season of seven weeks ‘was one of the finest I have ever experienced since my association with the firm. We have three complete companies, with most of the leading roles taken by Australian young girls, amongst them being Miss Strella Wilson (soprano), Miss Leah Myers (mezzo), Miss Gertrude Johnson (soprano lyric), Miss Pattie Russell and Miss Nellie Reach (both sopranos); then, for one performance, a Miss Verona, with a remarkably brilliant, flexible soprano. Miss Strella Wilson was a pupil of Madame Melba, and you can see the teaching of that great artist. Miss Amy Castles was in splendid voice all the season with but one exception, when

Miss Pattie Russell appeared at a moment’s notice as Mimi in ‘La Boheme’ with most artistic merit. We followed with ‘G'oing Up,’ which is in its twelfth week arid still playing to the capacity of this tremendous theatre. It started its Sydney season at the Criterion Theatre, and was transferred to this theatre after six weeks of enormous business. It looks like continuing its sensational career at the above up to the Christmas production, when I believe a revue will go on. At the Tivoli Theatre with ‘The Officers’ Mess’ Hugh Mclntosh has had a very good time. They had about nine weeks with it. Fuller’s theatre (the new National, Castlereagh Street) is having a tremendous run with vaudeville, and ‘Possum Paddock’ (an Australian play with an Australian com- ) pany.) did an enormous season at the Theatre Royal, Sydney. I believe it s* is going over to New Zealand shortly, l when you will have an opportunity of judging for yourself. Melbourne shows: The Royal Comic Opera Company have been reviving ‘Maytime,’ ‘Katinka,’ and all their most recent successes to great business, and a new production is shortly to be presented at Her Majesty’s Theatre, _ Melbourne, in ‘Theodore, Ltd.,’ introducing a new comedian, Mr. Theodore Leonard. He is very versatile,--and was associated with me during the ■whole time I was in South Africa. I anticipate a big success for this , clever artist. He has a good London reputation, having been understudy for”. George Graves for some time in London. ‘Lightnin’,’ with the American .company, has simply taken Melbourne audiences by storm, and it is still running to the capacity of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne.”

The Sydney “Theatre” pays a nice tribute to Miss Macfarlane, remembered here pleasingly in connection with the Shipman enterprises: — Mary Macfarlane is that rare being ■ —a thoroughly competent press woman and theatrical advance agent. After a comprehensive commercial education she felt, about six years ago, that she needed a change, and seeing that Frederic Shipman was taking some films through the East she called at the Australia and asked him to engage her as advance. “But I don’t want an advance agent,” declared Mr. Shipman. “You may not know it,” answered Miss Macfarlane, gently and firmly; “but you do.” After some argument Miss Macfarlane was appointed to the position. “And a very good thing she was,” says Mrs. Shipman, “for she has grown to be our very dear friend, and in business a genius that guards our interests as if they were her own.” Miss Macfarlane has piloted many of Mr. Shipman’s films throughout Australasia, notably “Neptune’s Daughter”; and the present is her fourth trip to the East in her professional press-agent-advance theatrical capacity.

Playgoers of Auckland will be pleased to learn of Miss Muriel Starr, who in recent years made such a great success for the J. C. Williamson management in “Within the Law” and other dramas. Miss Starr will be warmly welcomed by a public that does not soon forget its favourites. She will appear in a new and powerful drama entitled “The Man Who Came Back,” which will be produced for the first time in New Zealand.

The death of Herbert Jarman, the actor, at the age of 48 years, is announced by a Press Association message from London. He first appeared on the stage in 1889 and was for many years a prominent figure in Britain in . the provincial theatres. He toured Australia, 'New Zealand and Africa some years ago. He was associated with the late Lewis Waller for some years.

Frank Harvey, like Muriel Starr, has a new type of part in the forthcoming production of “The Man Who Came Back,” to be staged during her season in this city. Mr. Harvey will play a detective. The popular leading man has appeared in many varied roles in his time. He has been a miner, a Wall street magnate, a mine owner, an engineer, and other types of men who have made good, but this is the first time he has been a detective, too, with something more to interest him than the pursuit of criminals.

A. Brandon Cremer in an article in Sydney “Theatre” gives a personal touch that will recall memories to former King’s Theatre patrons: “In my career as a producer I have been associated with hundreds of actors and actresses. Two that it may not be invidious to recall are Frank Neil and Maurice Tuohy. The latter is juvenile lead with the Fullers’ Dramatic Co. at the Majestic Theatre (Newtown); and Mr. Neil, besides being the producer of that combination, plays the principal comedy roles. They have personally and professionally my sincerest admiration.”