THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2522, 24 July 1915, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

[Br Sjlvids.l Tho World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. Vaudeville in New Zealand. Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh, tho proprietor of tho Tivoli Theatres in Australia, and successor to the late Mr. Harry ; Ivickards, is eminently a practical man. He showed it when ho relinquished catering, and initiated the biggest boxjng boom ia Sydney probably ever known m tho world—that culminated in the . Johnson-Burns fight for the championship of the world. It was Mr. M'lntosh who crected the big boxing stadium at Rushcutters Bay, now run by Mr. 'Snowy" Baker. Tiring of the pugs, Mr. M'lntosh turned his attention to the theatre, and only two years ago saw his chanco when Mr. Harry Rickards died. He obtained, a controlling intorest, and has shown considerable perspicacity in maintaining a decent standard of vaudeville throughout his circuit,' which embraces Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. ■ Asked recently who was the best drawing card he had engaged sinco he took over the management, Mr. M'lntosh unhesitatingly said Miss Ada, Reeve. One can quite believe it after having seen that gifted lady's delicate genius in musical comedy. Mr. M'lntosh has been assiduously inquiring as to what kind of acts are favoured most in New Zealand, and has been told that good comedy and musical acts are most favoured. Chung Ling Soo," the conjuror, lias probably been the biggest individual draw in vaudeville in this country during the past decade. The Fullers would probably give the Stanhope Revue Co. the credit for being among tho best "draws" they have had of recent years, with the Banzai Troupe of Japanese acrobats and balancers, and the Randall Jackson Co. as the two best acts in their respective lines. . Mr. M'lntosh is quite serious in .his intention of exploiting New Zealand as a steady thing, which cannot fail to be anything but good news to theatregoers. A Drop of Irish, Allen Doone, LLe Irish-American, who has "a way with him," is due' at the Grand 1 Opera House on Monday evening next, with a new play entitled "Barry of Ballymore." This entertaining comedian represents _ a class' of performer native to America-, and known there chiefly through the performances of Cliauncey Olcott and Andrew Mack, whose "Tom Moore" we remember with pleasure. Allen Doone . has a soft crooning wisp of a tenor voice, which plays' curiously round the heart, whilst the head is arguing if'it is a voice at all,_ and in the end the heart wins— as it always must do. One assumes that "Barry of Ballymore" is no worse or much better than the numerous other plays we have seen Mr. Doone in, and with which he is said, to have more than kept tho bold wolf from the door in' Australia,, so all the good Irish hearts, may be prepared for a fin© warming when the curtain risis on Monday evening. Miss Edna Keeley is still Mr. Doone's leading lady, and the personnel of the company differs little from' what it was two. years ago. Mri Ben Fuller's Activities. There has been some re-shufflin'g in some of the management of two theatrical firms in Australia, and the result'has been to bring Mr. ■ Ben J. Fuller into greater prominence in the two concerns' he is associated with. Having bought out Messrs. George Willoughby, A.- B. Davies, and G. T. Eaton, Mr. Fuller became the owner of the Adelphi Theatre business in melodrama, which was first George Marlow, Ltd., and later George Willoughby, Ltd. Mr. Fuller theii sold a share to Mr. George Marlow, who returned to file Adelphi Theatre as partner. Then in the Fuller-Brenuan vaudeville business, Mr. Fuller's co-directors, Messrs. Davica and Eaton, resigned after representing the Brernan interests on the Board of Directors for some time. Their places, were taken by Mr. William J. Douglas, who was Mr. Fuller's right-hand man m Sydney for some time, and by a prominent business man (the owner of the Adelphi Theatre), so that Mr. Fuller has pracically assumed full control of his vaudeville circuit.

Bubbles from "P. and P." - From "Potash and Perlmutter," at Melbourne Theatre Royal :■ — "Twenty-two dollars has he charged for sleeping-cars, and ho was recommended as a. wide-awake salesman! No wonaer he can't sell goods—he sleeps all the time." "Cost you seven dollars for a dinner? What did you eat —goldfish?" "If you know vot I vos tbinkin', ycr could 'are me arrested!"

The cast of "Potash and Perlmutter is as followsßoris Audrieff, Lewis Willoughby; Miss Cohen, Nancy Winter ; Sydney, Cyril French;' The Impatient One, Victor Tatnall; Abe Potas, Paul Burns; Mawruss Perlmutter, Sam Le Bert; .Miss Lovin, Greta Bretelle; Mozart Rabinor, E. L. Dclancy; Henry D. Feldman, John De Lacey; lluth Goldman, Margaret Vinton; Marks Pasinsky, Samuel Howard; Miss Nelson, . Given Weston; Miss O'Brien, Rosalind Smeaton; Mrs. Potash, Lizzie Wilson; Irma Potash, Sylvia Bremer.; The' Mysterious One, Charles Lawrence; Henry Steuerman, Edwin Lester; Senator Murphy, Carleton Stuart ; Katie, Gladys Pardy.

The ever-popular 'Red Dandies, with Mr. Claude Dampier as chief fun-ma'Ker, are due to open at the Concert Chamber on August 7. The Wellington season will bo one of th'ree weeks.