THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3179, 1 September 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.)

Ada Reeve Tour. Last week it was announced that tho visit of Miss Ada Eeeve, tho brilliant Eiiglish comedienne and vaudeville star, had been postponed owing to the industrial upheaval in Australia. Later news states definitely" thatT Miss Eeeve and hor company will leavo Sydney in time to open iii Auckland (instead of Wellington) on September 10. This is good news indeed, as there have been many expressions of regret heard since the announcement of the postponement of the tonr, and though the itinerary has been slightly altered, tho news that tho brilliant actress is coming this way will be received with immense satisfaction by all lovers of the best in vaudeville and comedy. It is understood that during her tour Miss Eeeve will bo seen in some little plays in which talent will receive full play. One of these plays, by Sir James M. Barrie, entitled '\Half-an-Four," was received with enthusiasm by Australian critics and the public.

"La Mascotte." Qnco more the public is to bo afforded the opportunity of witnessing tho talented, members of the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society in light opera. Andran's tuneful opera comique, 1 "La Mascotte," has been selected for production, and all who remember the vogue this work had years ago will agree that tho soebty lias made a wise choice. "La Mascotte" lis teeming with delightful music which ono carries away from the theatre with them, airs thi>t kesjc ilnfr-a-linging in tho ears for days' after Hearing them. Another and very special attraction will Tjo the dressing, which will be on a scale hitherto unsurpassed by amateurs in this country. An outstanding feature of the opera is its third act, which has a military setting, and in which an "army" of fifty girl 'soldiers will execute' a picturesque march, specially planned by tho producer, Mr. Tom Pollard. The cast will include Miss Helen Gard'ner (of Dniiedin) as Bettina (the mascot), Mis; Isabel YVilford as. tho PrincessTiameita, Mr. A. W. Newton as. Prince Laurent, Mr. Herbert Wood as Prince Prillelini, and Mr. Alva Shaw as Bocco; Mr. Beck is engaged on lhn_s;-£!.'£gj, and Miss Sinclair is making the dresses (from by Mrs. .Tas. Hannah, after the original London models). The season will comI nienee on' Saturday, September 22.

Like Gilbert and Sullivan. One or two critics, commenting upon the lyrics : of "The- Whito Chrysanthemum," which •J. and N. Tait has staged with great success at the lung's Theatre, Melbourne, and are to bring to New Zealand, have hinted that some of them recall the Gilbert and Sullivan sparkle and colour. One Melbourne writer, indeed, suspected a plagiarism of Gilbert in two items, "The House We've Come to Search" and "Threoßad Boys.'" Those two items, specialising tho eccentric detective activities of tho Japanese police trio,, played with grotesque- humour by Messrs. Donaghey, Bristowe, anil Pope, are not of English origin, however, nor were they in tho original libretto. , The lines were tho work of Barry Lupino, in one of his happiest moments of inspiration. The music, facetiously illustrating the spirit of the lyrics, is from the pen of tho

Diddling the Deacon. _■■ : Everyone knows tho typo. He exists in every small town—feared by many, loved by none. Ho has by some peculiar cunning that is inborn oome to bo the moueyloii<ler)of the .village; ho has a mortgage on every other house; is known to bo a tight hand 1 - at a bargain, and qualmless when, it comes to applying the "squeeze." • liti "Turn to tho Eight," the rainbow play that Messrs. J. and N.. Tait are sending through New Zealand noxt month, this character is represented by Deacon Tillinger. When .Toe Biascom comes out of Sing Sing it is to find his mother in the clutches of the Deacon —she is behind in. her rent, and the Deacon is applying the "squeeze." Joe and his shady young pals, Gilly and Muggs (who had resolved to go straight), try hard to "raise the wind," but there is not a zephyr in the village, so the cimning that a ooiirse of crime has implanted is called into play. Gilly. is tho inventor and sole esecutor. He learns all about the Deacon and his office, and even whilst, the "squeezer" is applying the "squeeze" ho sneaks off, burgles the Deacon's safe for tho required 125 dollars, returns and nays it oyer to tho Deacon, and whilst ■ rough-housing" him off the premises picks his pocket of the wad of dollar bills, and with lightning rapidity makes for the Deacon's den and returns tho money to tho safe. All through this scene there is laughter and tears chasing the emotions of everyono in tho audience, for dear old Mrs. Blascom is a pearl of mothers, and in tho end succeeds' in turning her son Joe and his humorous pals to the right.

Chung Ling Soo. y The Fullers havo completed arrangements for a tour of Australia and $e\v Zealand by i:lie> iamous Chung Ling 800, the World's most magic magician. Chung Ling Soo will bring with him a complete company of supporting artists, and all the attendants who have been, identified with him sinco he 6reated a sensation by dropping a lino over the footlights and apparently catching 6sh'in mid-air. Although Chung Ling Soo's nationality wont unchallenged for a long timo after he first began astonishing the world, it gradually leaked out that, he wis . really ..a very astute Scotchman.. Strangely onougli, though Chung himself has never denied it there are probably. thousands who refuse point blank to believe that he is other than a genuine Oriental. " A lino tribute' to his remarkable make-xip and powers' of mimicry is provided in the fact that tho Scotchman is now appearing! in China and convincing the Chinese themselves'that he is one of thorn.

Notes. Mr. Scott Colyille, of Auckland, has received a cable message from M. Piastre the distinguished Eussian violinist (now in Java), stating that on account of the illness of M. Mirovitch, the pianist, the projected tour of New Zealand will have to be cancelled.

It is not generally known that Miss Jean Clyde, of the Bunty Comedy Co., at present appearing 'at His Majesty's Theatre, is the original "Bunty' of Graham Moffat's world-wide success, "Bunty Pulls the Strings." Miss' Clyde played Bunty in London, throughout the United Kingdom,-America, South Africa, ami Australasia.

At Easter, next year, Signor Bettino Cappelli will be tho principal tenor in the new Italian Grand Opera Company, which is to be organised in Italy for Messrs. Ben and John Fuller, junr., by Count Pilipini.

In the new Majestic Theatre, recently opened in Sydney by the Fuller Proprietary, tho management introduce an innovation in the seating arrangements, by which every seat in tho auditorium is numbered. Tho patron buys at the ticket box tho number entitling him to a seat, ; and that • seat is available for him, no'matter how late ho comes.