THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3082, 12 May 1917, Page 13

THE THEATRE

(By iSjlvius.)

Tho GhernlavsUys. Thb .Russian trio of instrumentalists, MM. Leo, Jan, and Miechel Cherniavsky, who have been playing on the othor side of the Pacific sinoe they were last in Wellington, are to give the first of two concerts in the Town Hall this evening. During the period that has elapsed sinco they were here they have toured Canada and part of the' United States with success that exceeded their most sanguine hopes. The out-reach-ing temperamental flair with which these players invest any music they may include in their programme cannot fail to appeal to the emotions, whilst their technical graces are beyond dispute. It is with pleasure that eonoort-lovei'S and Cherniavskyadmi'rers in particular will learn that the three brothers have added nmah to their repertoire during the past year.' 'L'hey should he accorded a warm welcomo here. Amateur operatic Society. The annual meeting of the "Wellington Amateur Operatic Society will be hold next Wednesday week in the society's rooms, Exchange Buildinge. At that meeting it will be decided' whether the society will produce any work this yoar, the shortage of men being a somewhat embarrassing feature. The English Pierrots. Messrs. Rob and Will Thomas, who introduced the English Pierrots to the boach at St. Kilda some ten years ago, have carved out a plnco for themselves in this line of entertaining by always keeping tho show up to a certain standard, by eliminating anything of a. nasty character,* and by providing plenty of clean, healthy fun, judicioiisly intermingled with smart songs, and vocalised; , harmonp.. Many in Wellington will learn with pleasure that MissElna Langloy, the dainty little singing comedienne, is still with the Pierrots. Restricted Services. Tho restricted train services and the belief that the steamer services will be' loss elastic than heretofore is likely to hamper the transport arrangements of touring theatrical companies. Most of_ the tours, that liavo been booked this?year were arranged on the basis of the_ then railway : time-table, which permitted a company to tour comprehensively with a minimum of lost nights. The new short-staff timetable considerably alters tho position, so that a good deal of readjustment may ho necessary in some cases. For that reason tho "Baldpate" Company had to cut out Mastorton. on Wednesday of this week. It'would have been possible to get there and play that night, but thero was no means of getting across country the next day in order to play in Wanganui in tho evening. Lost nights are serious to managements, as the players are gen-, erally paid on the "no play no pay", system.

Hugh D. M'lntosh, M.L.A. Tlie rise of Mr. Hugh D. M'lntosh from tlo position of a humble caterer to a scat in the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales is oue of the romances of Sydney, and is a testimony to the restloss energy and commercial daring that lias made the man's name familiar throughout Australasia. Mr. M'lntosh was originally a baker and pastrycook, and made his first big rise by undertaking the biggest catering jobs .in Sydney, and doing them a little better than anyone else. Then v be appeared in the boxing world at the psychological moment;-built the Stadium at Rushcutters' Bay, and arranged and refereett the big fight for the heavyweight championship of the world between Jack Johnson and Tommy Burns for the biggest purse ever offered for a ring contest. This was only one of many big iigbts he arranged, when Mr. Harry Rickards died, Mr. M'lntosh acquired an interest in the Tiyoli Theatres, and was appointed managing director. Only a few months ago he arranged to take over the Sydney "Referee," "Sunday Times," r-nd "Globe," and is managing director of the company that controls those weekly papers. His many friends -will congratulate him heartily on his appointment to the Legislative Assembly. If he omploys the same energy and resource in the affairs of the State as he does in his other activities, he should bo a "live wire" in Now South Wales politics. "Penelope." • W. S. Maugham's play, "Penelope," Was presented by the. Marie Tempest Company at Melbourne _on Saturday evening last. The cast included Marie Tempest as Penelope, Graham Browne as Dr. O'Farrell, Sidney Stirling as Professor Golightly, Gregan M'Mahon as Davenport Barlow, Eardley Turner | as Mr. Beadsworth, Victor Tatnall as Mr. Anderson, Gwon Burroughs as Mrs. Ferguson, Ethel Morrison as Mrs. Golightly, Florence Gleeson as Mrs. Watson, Audrey Anderson as Peyton. There are three acts in the comedy.Ada Reeve Coming. Great news for the vaudevillo fans! Ada Reeve is coming to New Zealand. She is perhaps the most finished, magnetic, and alluring comedienne at present on the English vaudeville stage. No one who has ever appeared in New Zealand is comparable to this dainty little lady. The tour will commence either in the last week iu August or early in September; and at present will be restricted to the centres and j two or three 'of the larger towns. Of I the personality of this charming former, the Sydney "Times" said:— "That something which some actors and actresses have in a. superlative degree and others not- at all wo are in the habit of calling personality. It ; s tho capacity for making an indifferent song go as well as a good one. It is Jiot a question, of voice or looks. Miss Ada Reeve lias this power in a 'remarkable degree. Hear an,imitator in one of her songs and you will know just how much the song owes to Miss Reeve and just how little to its own worth. Her voice is not a. great one, although it is 'sweet and true. But when she sings, the song is meant to reach hor_ hearers. She is singing to everyone in. tho audience.as a separate entity, and every man and woman receives her message. She has, too, an infinite variety of methods." —. ( . Notes. Writing from Hong-Kong on 'April 9, Mr. Frederick Shipman, manager for Mr. Paul Dufautt, states tha.t the tour through tho East has "been a great succoss. At Singapore and HongKong Hhe seasons had to be oxtonded. On April 9 the company sailed for Manila, after which they were lb visit Shanghai. Ms. Charles Berkeley, of J. 0. Williamson, Ltd.'s, managerial staff, has been advised that tho firm is sending tho epochal picture "Intolerance" through New Zealand. Tho tour will commence at Duncdin on June <], and Mr. Berkeley has left for tho south to make tho necessary arrangements, lb' is understood that a rull orchestra, under M. Slapoffski, will accompany tho picture through New Zealand. "Tho Century Girl," now running at tho Century Theatre, New York, is tho most expensive revue over presented in tho history of the world. It employs from COO to 600 peoplo,'and, according to Mr. F. Zeigfeld, jun., no one receives loss than 25 dollars (£5) per week. The costumes alono coßt 135,000 dollars, i