Untitled

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1598, 9 December 1920, Page 36

Transferred to Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, “The Boy”—the latest success of the J. C. Williamson Royal Comic Opera Company—has gained impetus by reason of the larger capacity of the theatre, and has drawn packed houses during the week. “The Boy” holds its own not only by reason of its tuneful music, its excellent cast, and magnificent staging and mounting, but also because of the plentiful comedy throughout the entire play, which makes it one of the funniest musical comedies ever staged in Australia.

Preparations are now well in hand for the J. and N. Tait pantomime to be presented at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, at Christmas, and the management are now able to promise an attraction that will excel all their previous ventures in this department of amusement. Among the artists who have been secured to take a leading part is Jennie Hartley, the vivacious artist who gave such life to the J. C. Williamson production of “The Passing Show of 1920.” Also a big position in the cast has been allotted to Elinor Crane who has been specially engaged in England. Jack Cannot will make a welcome reappearance in a part that will allow him considerable latitude for his engaging humour. Likewise Elsie Parkes has been re-engaged and will sparkle in a dancing scena. Arthur Benton, a new English comedian, is also in the list of entertainers along with two other brilliant comedians, Edgley and Daws and the Littlejohns, a specialty team.

Miss Dorothy South, who has held Sydney in thrall for twelve weeks as leading lady of the J. and N. Tait hit, “Irene,” at the Criterian Theatre, is a brilliant little American whose volatile energy and keen sense of humour have lifted her to a premier position on the New York stage. Miss South is a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, where she sang in the church choir and had some local reputation under her real name of Lilian McMillan. After she went to Boston to complete her musical training she decided to drop her own name if she ever went on the stage, as she considered it unsuited 5 for the musical comedy actress she was trying to become. So when her opportunity arrived she christened herself Dorothy South —Dorothy because it was her mother’s favourite name, and South because she came from there.

“Shore Acres,” in which John D. O’Hara is playing at King’s Theatre, Melbourne, holds the record for comedy-drama on the American stage. James Hearne, the author, who played the role of Uncle Nat for seven years without a break, told Mr. O’Hara that according to his reckoning over 30,000,000 people in America had witnessed the play during its long career. The eulogies of the play by the American press .fill fifty-five large scrap books, now in the possession of the author’s family.

The Minister of Education for N.S.W. (The Hon. T. D. Mutch, M.L.A.) has arranged for Messrs. J. and N. Tait the well-known concert entrepreneurs to manage the New South Wales Orchestra’s tour of New Zealand, and it is hoped that every assistance will be offered to them in order to make the tour a success and encourage further visits from the Orchestra.