THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3124, 30 June 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.) "Baby Mine." Margaret Mayo, tho American writer of comedies, whose work i≤ always eagerly anticipated, made her lust l-oully biff success in "Jiaby Mine," the farce to bo j presented by tho now Williamson Com- 1 pany at tho Grand Ojiora Jlouso this ! evening. It was a iiit from .(ho premier performance, «ml was just »« successful in tho Old Country, but somehow or other its performance in Australasia has been eide-stpppod up to tho present, so that if tho present organisation continues Ifr. Robert dreig ami Jliss Buatrico Hollowny will have a perfectly new vehicle to convey their uncommon comedy gills to their many friends in Australia. "Baby ilino" has been eulogistieally noticed in both Chrisielmrch and Dmicdin, and thero is no valid reason why Wellington's verdiot should nof; join in the chorus of praise To-nighfs tho night. ■ ■ : I Ada Rocvc and the Soldier.", in Australia Mi™ AJα itoovc has been laying lierciilf out lo do all in her power to ajsibt tliu ciiuiio or AJinpiro by nvieing funds that are in tsoiuo way or other to benont those in khaki. 'Jtler latest icat is worth recording, it seems that thcro was a teai that tno Anzac JJutfet establish od in London for tiio bonelit of colonial soldiers' on leave in London would have to closo its doors, but beloro doing so word was cabled to Mr. Hugh L>. Al'lntosh, M.L.A., who told tho authoritieo in London to carry ou pending «o tion at his end. Then ho called on. llisti lteove, and sho .organised a. big bouofit matinee in .Melbourne, at which, sho sang about eight or nine, songs Jiorseli', with tho result that over £l<iOO was raised for tho bufi'ot, which still flourishes. On. her arrival'in bydney.from Melbourne last week Hiss Jteovo was. met by a largo concmiMO of friondfi and admirers, and tho Anzao Band escorted her from tho railway station to her hotel. Miss lleevo (who in privato life id Mrs Wilfred Cotton) is to commonco n tour., of Now Zealand at tho end of next month, tiho has never beforo visited i\ r ow Zealand, though sho has performed in Australia on four distinct occasions. Slip was tho original lead in "Tho Gay Parisieiino". and Fifi in "Tho French Maid."

A Groat Chance. "Grumpy" has succeeded in. capturing tbn favour of Melbourne iii the earao manner ns it" has wherever eke jt: has l)oon played by Mr. Cyril Maudo. Inero is a -rent opportunity for an alt-ster cast of certain nlaye with, euch' perforronra ; 15 lite " Mario Tempest. Mr. Grabn.ni Broomo and Air.. W'ni Maudo in Australia.at tlio earn* tune. Mv. llaudo is a notable Udm, and M Tempest the bwl Polly Bcclk hi tho wld, and Mr. Browne a groat ham Gei-nd-e. What an opportunity for ajgwat revival of Tom Itobprteon'e "Caste, say, ou at least one or two occasions. It is sk"S"s."?s't:^«. G. I , Huntley as Eoclcs. "Very Good .Eddio." Th o story oE "Vory Good Eddw proraises goocffun if.tte kande of the lirf"liant company wbich Messrs. J. antt n. Tatt STspLially imported. It onene on the CatskUl, the nver steemer that is just aJwut to. leave Now York for a long trip up fho Hudson Bivcr, the boat which Eddio,Kettle and his bride havo elected to travel by (to seek the bliss that only honeymoonere know. But they arn not the only couple who hare determined to fail into Elysium by the Oatskill. Thero aro Percy and his tlsie Darling. Somehow 'or other, the bnggets mixed at the quay, and Eddio'e strong-willed brido g° es oft to ni ihingß. while Percy seeks the land once more to claim his own. Whilst they are hunting ronnd for the missing trunks, away goes the CatskilV bearing Eddie and Blsio Darling. In such a position orn thesn too innocents abroad placed that they elect to pass as man and wife, and in ibet guise present themselves at the Rip Van AVinklo Hotel, where the clerk (Mr. John Bee!;) cannot make head nor tail of the pair, though his experience of honeymoon couples is vast and interesting. After a lot of, screamingly funny situations, Iho irate wife of poor littlfi Eddie, and Iho infuriated husband I of Elsio turn up at tho Eip, and mali tors aro comically straightened out.

Notes. Victor Herbert has composed _ tho music of an Irish musical play entitled "Eileen," which is running successfully under' Joe Weber's management in New York. The plot is conventional—gallant and romantic Irishmen, rascally reformers, and wicked Ted-coats. Glory bo to Dion Boucicault! That delicate nnd charming American comedy, "Tho Boomerang," was not appreciated by the crowd in Wellington. On May 26 it finished, a twenty-eight weeks' season (256 performances) in Chicago. At latest advices Cyril Koightloy was with Mr. Henry Miller's Company playing in San Francisco. Personally I'havo never eeen three J. C. Williamson shows billed in Wellington before the present week, and the fact'is noted because of its unusualuesa. Early in the week, when the pantomime was still being played, and its bills still made a lively display of colour on the hoardings, the bills of "Baby Mine" and "Daddy Longlegs" (two distinct companies) were to ho seen in tie shop fronts.