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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1572, 10 June 1920, Page 34

Messrs. J. and N. Tait have definitely decided to send their pantomime “Mother Hubbard” to New Zealand. This is the first time this management has sent its Christmas pantomime to the Dominion, and judging by the huge laughing success it has achieved in Sydney and Melbourne, with Barry Lupino and Jack Cannot as the chief laughter promoters, it should have a popular run in New Zealand. The tour is to commence in Wellington next month. Other artists in the company will be Moon and Morris, the famous international dancers, and Hassan, the animal impersonator (from Drury Lane).

“The Lit--11 e Damozel,” one of the pieces to be presented by J. and N. Tait’s Comedy Drama Players, is c o n c e r’ned with the fortunes of a young harpist in the bijou orchestra of of a none too select

cate. Julie, the lady in question, has matrimonial designs upon one Captain Partington, and is in a fair way to wed him when he makes a bold bid for his liberty. Partington is aware that the matter is going to cost him something, as he has furnished Julie with quite a little evidence suitable for production in breach of prom-

ise proceedings. So, to avoid unpleasantness, he pays a young and handsome waster £15,000 to win the lady and take her off his hands. . The plan succeeds, and all goes well till the story of it quite unexpectedly leaks out. Then there are very interesting developments.

Mr. Harald Bowden is business manager with the Tait Company at present playing “Daddies.”

“The Miracle Man,” the star attraction at the Strand Theatre this week, is a demonstration of how a good thought can be materialised. The story deals with a notorious band of criminals operating in the slums of New York. They learn of an aged blind man who can heal the sick and make whole the crippled. With the intention of utilising these miraculous powers for their own advancement the criminals go into the hills by the sea to meet the healer. Their transformation into good citizens makes a most fascinating story, elemental in its simplicity, strong in its passions.

“I have never had a more congenial character to play,” said Mr. Lionel Walsh, the noted character actor, “than Old Bill in ‘The Better ’Ole.’ As soon as I slip into those dirty old khaki clothes and untidy puttees and gum on that fearful and wonderful old mo’, I seem to feel the character of the sad old dog, who found rest and peace in the trenches after the continuous bombardment of his wife’s tongue. He is a real type, I think, and it is only real types that the character actor can make a genuine success in, and what success I have achieved in the part I credit to Bairnsfather, who must have known Old Bill at the front.”

After seeing the “Lightnin’ ” Company off to Sydney, Mr. John Farrell returned to Auckland on Sunday and is spending a few days in Rotorua before' picking up the J. C. Williamson Pantomime Company in Wellington.

Owing to the dislocation of the railway service on Monday, due to heavy floods, the J. and N. Tait Company had to postpone their opening in Auckland until Tuesday.

The Allan Wilkie Dramatic Company, now showing in the South Island, open at Palmerston North on the 21st inst., and will play “The Luck of the Navy,” “The Rotters,” “A Temporary Gentleman,” and “Hindle Wakes.”

Mr. J. L. Goodman, who was specially engaged from Australia as business manager for the English Pierrots, has had thirty-five years association with the managerial side of theatrical work. He points with pride to the almost unique fact that some years back he went over to England and personally picked a company of 36 performers solely off his own bat, without the intervention of any agent. The company toured South Africa with burlesque pieces and met with a large measure of success. This is Mr. Goodman’s first visit to New Zealand.

Among the members of the “Better ’Ole” Company is Miss June Addell, who was the Peg in the South African production of “Peg o’ My Heart.”

Mr. Claude Haigh, who is in advance of the Gertrude Johnson concerts, was last here ten years ago with the Scarlet Troubadours. His last engagement, a three years’ one, was with His Majesty’s Forces, and after serving his country at the front he is once more in his old profession. Mr. Haigh is well-known in the South Island, being prominently identified with picture interests. Incidentally, he knows a good deal about the vocal art.

Private advices from Mr. H. I. Cohen announce that he has completed arrangements with Messrs. J. and N. Tait under which they will handle for him the Australasian tour of “Scandal.” the New York comedy success, armed with the rights of which he came from the States.

Mr. Charles Smythe, the favourite Sydney bass, has returned from New Zealand, where he has been touring during the past five months with, a coterie of artists amongst whom Miss Bathie Stuart was prominent. His trip was a successful one, and he speaks highly of the Dominion audiences. Mr. Smythe has made arrangements for the appearance of Sydney singers in New Zealand. * * * *

Mr. Romani, a young New Zealand baritone, sang the bass solo parts in the Choral Symphony and the solemn Mass in D at the recent Beethoven festivals in Sydney and Melbourne. During the war he served as infantry instructor at the Trentham and Featherston Expeditionary . Forces’ training camps. As his voice is of good quality, Mr. Romani should with further experience be a welcome addition to our concert platform artists, says the Sydney “Sun.” * * * *

Mr. Alf. Linley is advance for the Lyric Quartette, the talented Auckland coterie (Messrs. Alan McElwain, J. W. Ryan, Arthur Ripley and Herbert Richards) now touring the Dominion. The Quartette made an emphatic score when under engagement with the recent Chautauquas, the American party themselves being enthusiastic in their praise of the Aucklanders’ entertaining qualities.

Two sons of Mr. Hugh J. Ward, one of the managing directors of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., are appearing in the firm’s revusical comedy “The Bing Boys on Broadway” at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne. They are Mel. Ward and Hugh Ward, jun. Their roles are varied. They appear as Mexicans, sailors, cowboys, and other characters. Mel. Ward made his first stage appearance in Sydney some years ago as the dog in “Peter Pan.” Hugh Ward jun.’s first stage appearance is being made in “The Bing Boys on Broadway.”

Hettie Hartley, sister of Jennie Hartley, played Connie Ediss roles in musical comedy in London, and is a well-known personality on the musical comedy and revue stage in England. Miss Hartley has -been introduced into “The Bing Boys on Broadway” to make her 'first appearance in Aus r tralia with the specialty with which she has made a notable success in London.

There are plays pleasant and unpleasant. “Sinners Both,” at the Kingsway Theatre, London, has been described by the critics as “painful,” “sordid,” and “disgusting.” The critic of the “Express” says: “There are scenes in ‘Sinners Both’ which could not be repeated textually in a newspaper.” Yet it is attracting crowded houses and bids fair to put up a record run. “Damaged Goods” is said to be a religious work by comparison’

The Criterion Theatre, Sydney, was the scene of unusual excitement one day recently, when by some unknown reason the lion belonging to Carter the Great managed to escape from his cage and after clearing the stage of all the mechanical staff he invaded the manager’s office, where Mr. James Hazlitt and Mr. Scott Colville were busy with the weekly statement of returns. The lion walked right into the office, and Mr. Hazlitt, being seated facing th/) door, was the first to catch sight of the beast, and he quietly drew Mr. Colville’s attention to the unwelcome visitor. Neither gentleman moved, and the lion, after having a good look round, slowly turned and went back to the stage, where with a little trouble he was coaxed back into his cage, and not till it was reported that “Baby” was again behind the bars was the door of the manager’s office unlocked.