THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2964, 30 December 1916, Page 11

THE THEATRE

£By Sylvius.] ,

In London. In the new revue in which .Mr. Harry Lauder is to bo presented by Messrs. Sacks and Chariot at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Miss. Blanche Toinliu will be leading lady iii a singing role. Air. Frederick Harrison's next new play for the liaymarket Theatre, when ii successor to ".Mr. Jubilee Drax" is required, will be a three-act light comedy by Messrs. 8. Sandeman and L. Huskisson. lie says it is very witty and bright, that iis title is ''Tho Widow's .Might," and that Miss Ellis Jeffries will appear in it as a iasciiiating widow. vVar times notwithstanding, the long runs of plays still occur; but, strangely enough—and in this lies tho difference between the present and the other years for a, long wliilo back—there is no musical play in the lirst three at tho top of the list. 'Peg o' My Heart" recently' recorded Sob performances; "A Little .Bit of Fluff" is second with db'B, and "Romance" follows with -131. Sir George Alexander was to return to tho St. James's Theatre shortly after Christmas, when ho Was to produce a new play, in three acts, by Louis N. Parker, entitled . "The Aristocrat," in which lie was to play tha leading part. G. 'I?. Huntley will soon join tho ranks of London managers, tie is to produce a new comedy, called "Carrying On," by Lecliman ■ Worrall and Margaret Kayo. The piece, which deals with three generation*,. appears lo be somewhat akin.to "Milestones." It will be tried first in Manchester. Tho latest comedy by Horace Annesley Vacliell, working in association with Thnjnas Cobb, is "Mrs. Pomeroy's deputation," which has been .tried with success in tho English provinces, 'it is said to bo in jjio lightest possible vein.

Japanese Prima Donna. What will Hobson say to the invasion of our opera houses by the Japanese? (writes an American musical ;U'', t|-(! )- Jjast J°ar a prima donna from tokio, Tamaki Miur.i, took New York, Boston, and other American cities by storm. Tha.fc.sho is a renl'danger is indicated by'tho fact that her Ohio-Ohio-San in "Madame Butterfly" is, in souio respects, superior even to Gcraldine Farrar's. What is to become of bur Gcraldine? What is worse, this dangerous Japanese, prima donna- is going to try to-dim the memory of another great American singer, Fmnia Fames', by appearing in Mascagui's "Iris!'.' Tamaki Miura is a. member of tho Boston •National Grand Opera Company,

Tail's Enterprises. "Very Good Eddie" (there- is no comma or punctuation mark in tho title, by tho way), J. and N. Tait's new musical, comedy attraction, which is duo lor. production in Sydney early in tho new year, is founded on the American farce "Over Night," with, it is' alleged, a real plot to its story. The book is the joint work of Philip Barthelomao and Guy Bolton, with music by Jerome liorn, and lyrics by Schuyler Greene. A strong] feature of the show will be the chords to be styled tho "swagger fashion girls", on account of tho smart, .chic fashion and stylo of the drosses to bo worn.

Preparations are now well in hand for J. and'N. Tait's production of tho American success "Turn to the Right." The comedy, which is reported to have aroused gales''of laughter .wherever it has been staged in 'America, is mentioned by "the ■ "Green Book Magazine" of -America ,as tho. "one pronounced hit" of. the .'New York season. The piece was written by John L JJiiaVartl and Winchell Smith (the latter the author of "The Boomerang" iud "The Fortune Hunter"), and may be described as a prime piece of humour concealing under its surface laughter a serious study, of the virtues of'reformation and atonement. The plot is highly ingenious abundance of family sentiment gives it a kindly human note which is sometimes lost by American dramatists in .their desire for smartness and effect. Several new American artists have been specially engaged for the Australian presenta'tion, which will be a replica in its stage arrangements of the great production now attracting crowded houses at the New York Gaiety Theatre. Notes. ' Mr. Fj. J. Tait is now on his way back to Australia after spending somo busy weeks in America. Mr. Tait is bringing back with him several American artists who have been engaged to appear in "T.urn to tho Right"- and "Very Good Eddie," which will be the ■first of his firm's attractions for 1917. • Mr. Tait has also obtained the. Australasian rights of a 'dramatic farce, "finder Sentence," a brilliant musical remedy "Adele," and several other shows which have,done very well in America recently. ■ ) Last Saturday night saw the fiiit production, at Melbourne! Her Majesty's of the J. O. AVilliamson pantomime "The House that Jack Built." Tho production was particularly interesting by reason of the inclusion of no fewer than ten new artists, several of whom, occupy a prominent position on the pantomime stage in London. The characters were represented as follow:—Hilda Guiver (principal hoy) as Jack Bildcr, Ernest Langford as Farmer' Barleycorn, Harry Roxbury as Saminy, William Fullbrook as Policeman, Constance Cayley aS the_ Prince Regent, Gertrude Yates (principal girl) as Princess Suset-ta, Arthur Stigant (Dame) as Dame Barleycorn, Dorothy Firmin as Madge, Ruby Dolby (Fairy Queen) as the Fairy Industria, Frederick Hcarne as Lord of. Misrule; Charles Albert as Demon of Despair, Maggie Dickinson (principal daucer) as the Fairy Sunbeam. The dances, marches, and groupings were invented and arranged by Minnie Everett, the ballet and incidental music composed and arranged by the musical director, Victor Cnunipion. W. R. Coleman designed and painted the scenery, and the pantomime was produced by Charles A. Wenhian. For fifteen months prior to coming to Australia- to play principal boy in "Tho House that Jack Built," at Her Majesty's. Melbourne, Hilda Guiver. played a long series of musical comedy roles in South Africa under the j. C. Williamson, Ltd., management. These included Sonia «i "The Merry Widow," June in "To-night's tho Niglit," Louisa in "The Cinema Star," "Estelle in "Betty," Eileen Cavanagh in !--"J'ho Arcadians." So widespread is the interest in the propagandist play, "Damaged Goods," now drawing packed houses at Melbourne Theatre. Royal, that J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has decided to send the piece on tour. A notable London comedian appears as Sammy in the J. C. Williamson pantomime "The House that Jack Built" at Melbourne Her Majesty's.- This is Harry Roxbury. This is Air. Roxbury's twenty-third pantomime, but his interesting record also includes important parts iu musical comedy, revue, and comic opera, in the early part of his career be appeared in such operas as "Les Cloches de. Corneville." Madame Angot," "Erminie," "Paul Jones," and others of that type.. For live years he ran his own pantomimes.-. For tivo' years ho played Jack in ' "Mother Goose" in England, the Gretchen iu that production being Daisy Jerome, who achieved so much success in Australia,