THEATRICAL VENTURES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 624, 29 September 1909, Page 9

THEATRICAL VENTURES.

!" :■ MISS'. MUJUEL, MATTERS AND ME. ; jiaoMii K. JEUOME. ; '~;Mr. Beaumont Smith, secretary to Mr. 'William. Anderson, theatrical manager, whom lie accompanied-to. England somo months 'ago, returned to Melbourne on September 19. Among the arrangements made by- Mr; Smith on' hi 3 account wcro the completion of!contracts under which" Miss. Murjol Matters, tho well-knowii suffragist, and Mr. Jerome K, .Jerome,.the author, will visit Australia. Mis? Matters, who. is an-Australian' girl, gained considerablo' notoriety by the sensation sho created' through' addressing tho Houso of Commons from the 'gallery while chained''to the "grille." Sho will, deliver illustrated'lectures on the English (suffragist movement. _ Mr. Jerome will 6pend two months in Australia,;lccturing from liis books, and ho will, go for a month to New Zealand. Mr. Smith also arranged for the original "Mrs. General Tom Thumb,": who was in Australia 30 years ago, to appear in Melbourne about: Easter. : This'little lady, who is about'2B inohes in height, js now 70 years of age.'. She. will be accompanied, by her husband, "Count Magri," who is of somewhat similar stature..; 'When Mr. Smith left-London, Mr. Andorson, who' will be returning in a few', weeks by tho Orontes, had purchased several 'important plays. " These include "The Princ® and.'.tho Beggar Maid," whibh. drow very largely' in London last season;'/'From. Shop Girl to' Duchess," by Charles Darell, and The Chance of a Lifetime," by Nat Gould and .Frank Gcr : 'aid. - Mr. Anderson had also bought new versions of the pantomimes, "Babes in the Wood", and "Little Bed Riding Hood," One of these will bo staged at the King's Theatre at Christmas. Mr. Nat Clifford, the English comedian, has been engaged .to play Dame in "Little Red Biding Hood," • and the part 1 of the prinolpai boy will probably bo taken by. Miss Claire Romaine. Mr. Anderson was, when Mr. Smith left, negotiating with Miss , Ada. Reeve for a visit to Australia. The other parts in Mr. Anderson's new plays will be, under•taken by,local- talent, whilst tho scenery and oostumes- will.,bo mado locally from Efiglish" models. '■ .■- ■