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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1559, 11 March 1920, Page 37

Miss Muriel Starr, in a chat to a Wellington “Tinies” reporter, says she has been much struck during her three visits to the Dominion that the theatregoers never rise to the extremes of enthusiasm over a good play that she has witnessed in America. “The extraordinary thing is that the people here seem to think they are so very enthusiastic, and yet they do not show it,” she remarked in answer to a question. “It does not seem to be considered quite the thing to applaud. I have constantly seen friends in my audiences who do not show the least outward sign of appre-

For the production of “The Lilac Domino,” to be staged in Melbourne this year, the Tivoli management has engaged Miss Winifred O’Connor, a brilliant English artist, who played the title role in the comic opera when it was first staged in London.

The announcement that Mrs, Brough has been engaged by J. C. Williamson Ltd., to appear in “Tilly of- Bloomsbury” has brought shoals of congratulatory letters to the firm. Six years have passed since the popular actress went to England, where she added to her prestige and successes. Her engagements included eighteen months with Vedrenne and Eadie’s company in “The Man who Stayed at Home.” She also appeared in “The Land of Promise,” “Trelawney of the Wells,” “Caesar’s Wife,” and other plays-

Princess Mysteria, the full-blooded American Indian mystic, whom the Fullers have imported, is said to present an exhibition of the occult right away from anything preceding. No questions are asked by a third person, but she introduces an extraordinary “whis'pering pipe,” through which people whisper their queries. She has been psychic from childhood. At the age of five she had already demonstrated amazing gifts, and her mother, a full blooded Hindoo woman had a reputation in her Hindoo village as a mental telepathist. The Princess, who on the voyage to Australia gave several remarkable demonstrations to the passengers on board the .“Sonoma,” is regarded as a chief among thought-readers and second-sighters in the United States. She is at present appearing in Melbourne.

ciation; when I have asked them why they are so impassive, they have been unable to give any reason, and yet assured me that they have thoroughly enjoyed the performance. I cannot understand how they can sit there all night without showing the least appreciation of the performers’ efforts; such impassiveness, a thing one is not accustomed to in the States, leads one to believe the performance is not going well; and, personally, the breeding of this feeling affects my acting. It is also extraordinary out here that just because a play is written around certain conditions that do not happen to exist in this country, people say it is not real. For instance, ‘Common Clay’ does not appear to be understood, for we have heard the opinion expressed that the conditions it depicts are not true to life. Yet it deals with a subject that in other parts of the world is generally recognised.” After returning to Melbourne in order to undergo an operation, Miss Starr will proceed to her home in New York and thence to England on a pleasure visit.

The elephants performing in Wirth’s Circus have, been with the show 12 or 14 years, and are of the Indian breed. An historic member is Princess Alice, the mate of the great Jumbo, of the London Zoo.

Sarah Bernhardt recently produced in Paris a play entitled “La Maison Cernee,” the action of which was laid in Palestine. The play concluded with the entry of Lord Allenby into Jerusalem.

Ben and John Fuller set aside the afternoon of Thursday, February 26, for the special invitation matinee performance of “Cinderella” pantomine for the inmates of Sydney orphanages and homes for children. Invitations were cordially extended to all institutions having the care of children.