THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 28 July 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.) Next Big Attraction. The next big attraction for "Wellington will bo J. mid N. Tait's Musical Comedy Company, which for six months past has been playing "Very Good Eddie" in Australia, and only just before leaving Melbourne a few weeks ago staged the pretty and enormously humorous Japanese conceit "The Whito Chrysanthemum," both of which pjays are to bo seen in Wellington. The season hero commences 011 August 8. "Very Good Eddie'-' is a musical farce, the music for which was composed by Jerome Kern, who has just scored another big success with "Oh Boy!" in New York. The company is a particularly interesting one. It is headed, as most people know by this time, by that sprightly humorist, Mr. Barry Lupino, who was the life and soul of a couple of Williamson pantomimes. Another popular favourito is Mr. Andrew Higginson, the original Danilo in "The Merry Widow" in New Zealand; John Beck," a "dry-goo<b" comedian of the first ranlc; Alfred Bristowe, a distinguished character actor; Miss Lillian Tucker, 'a divinely tall and fair American actress, who is accounted a great beauty in her own land; Miss Fayette Perry, an electric spark as a dancer and comedienne; Miss Kan Taylor, a strong cccentric character actress, and many others, includinz n full ballet 'and chorus. "Very (■food Eddie" is just a rumble of delight, distinguished by good character work, bright music, clever dancing, original humour, and bright settings. New Plays in New York. The following is a list of the plays which have been staged in New I'ork since mid-February:— Comedy Theatre.—"The Last Straw, by Bosworth Crocker. "A. Private Account," by Georges Courteline. • "The Death of Tintagiles," by Maeterlinck. "The Hero of Santa Maria," by Kenneth Goodman and Ben Hecht. These are oneact plays, all presented in the .one bill. Little Theatre—"The Morris Dance," by Granville Barker (based on E. L. Stevenson's *book, "The Wrong Box"). Comedy.—"The Iron Crpss," by Elmer Reizenstein. . , . Harris.—'"The Imaginary Invalid,' oy Moliere. Princess.—"Oh, Boy!" musical comedy by Jerome Kern (composer of "Very Good Eddie." Masim Elliott's. —"The Little Man, by John Galsworthy. Fulton.—"Pat's First," comedy by Lee W. Dodd. Knickerbocker. —"The Professor's Love' Story," by Sir J. M. BSrrie. Criterion—"Johnny Get Tour Gun," a farce by Edmund Lawrence Burke. Harris.—"The Brat," comedy by Maude Fulton. Cohan and Harris.—"The Willow Tree, a Japanese phantasy by Benrimo and Harrison Eh odes. Douglas Fairbanks's Patriotism. Writing himself recently on-his own feelings about the war, Mr. Douglas Fairbanks, the American actor, said:—"lt is. a poor sort of American' who fails to thrill to tho call of his flag to-day, and for thai flag and the freedom, the liberty, the brotherhood which it represents, I am ready to abandon my profession should the need arise and with all my strength, all my power, and the deepest conviction of which I am capable, I am ready- to fight until it waves, triumphantly as a symbol of tho splendid America which our fathers founded and fought for in '76." Maude to Visit Dominion. Alter a record-breaking season at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, which was wholly taken, up by "Grumpy," Mr. Cyril Maude will open in Adelaide to-clay. Owing to Mr. Maude's American and English engagements it will be impossible for him to play a return season in Melbourne, and he will be able to pay only one visit to Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, and tho principal towns of NewZealand. From the Dominion, Mr. Maude .and his .company sail direct tor America. Every effort 'has been made by Mr. Maude to enable him to extend his stay, but, as already mentioned, existing engagements entered into long ago prevent this boing done. Death of Carreno. It has been stated that the late Teresa Carreno spent most of her life in America and regarded herself as an American. I am afraid that ia scarcely the truth. Madame, probably the finest pianist v;o in New Zealand have ever heard', was a. nativo of Caracas, the capital 01 Venezuela (in South America). Her father was at one time the Minister of Finance in that country, and General Bolinar was her uncle. At an early ago she showod remarkable musical gifts, and was trained under Gottschalk in Paris, and. afterwards by Professor Matthias and Rubinstein. She was carried four times. During the last ouaiter of a century flv more the greater part of her time was spent 011 the Continent, chiefly at Dresden, Berlin, end in Switzerland. She made ocoasioual tours of America, awl 011 two occasions visited the Dominion, nnder the management of Benno Scherek (who is also now in America). Madame Carreno's widower is Signor Tagliapietra. He visited NewZealand with his talented wfe, who was, in very sooth, a queen of women in her art, general culture, appearance, and manner. Notes. " Miss Muriel Starr has achieved a striking success in Chicago in: the production of the Hawaiian play, "The Bird of Paradise." Press notices to hand by thc last mail refer in the most eulogistic terms to Miss Starr's performance in the leading role. Miss Starr, who is raider engagement to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., iivili appear in "The Bird of Paradise" when sho returns to Australia in the near future.