THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 4, 29 September 1917, Page 11

THE THEATRE

(By Sylvius.)

An Attraction Extraordinary, When i one remembers that Ada Eeeve was the original Julie Bon Boh in "The Gav Parisienne," the original Fin in "The French Maid," the original Lady Holyrood in "Floradora," and original in twenty other comedies and musical comedies in London, the status of the brilliant artist who is to be seen for the first time in Wellington on Monday evening will bo realised to some extent by those who can measure theatrical values accurately. Mi6s Reeve was for many years connected with the gaiety companies of Mr. George Edwardes in London, but even such a. company cannot afford to pay the salary such a talented artist can" command, and the break had at length to come. Vaudeville offered the big stakes, and Miss Eeeve has for nearly twenty years been one of the highest salaried women on the English stage, and is so to-day. She comes to us in the , full bloom of her prime, when a long experience has mellowed the asperities and perhaps tho precociousness of youth, with all her senses fullv humanised, with a full measure of that warp and woof of emotionalisms that we call sentiment at their full play. Miss Eeeve has put up now records in Australia, and there is littlo doubt that Wellington will give her a great welcome, not only as an actress'and artist of uncommon powers, but as a patriotic worker, whose admiration for the soldiers who go to and come from the war is unbounded. Miss Eeeve has the support of a very fine vaudeville company.. Pictures on Sunday. It is not generally known that moving pictures are shown every Sunday evening in Greymouth, Westport, Eeefton, .and Hokitika, from 8.30 p.m. until 10 p.m. This was brought about as.the result of a ■ roferendmu of tho municipal electors, who decided by a fair majority that pictures might be shown on Sundays, provided tho programmes were approved by the borough clerk. So each Friday the programmes are submitted to that official, and any pictures he may disapprove of are. of course, omitted. 'J'lio concession the West Coast people has been granted, through tho referendum, moro-by. reason. W tho commendable discretion rfhich has always been shown in the selection of pictures by Mr. Tom Pollard, whoso picture interests on the Coast are extensive. Mr. Pollard would not produce a picture calculated to give offence to any section of the Community, and has been known to turn down pictures which have been passed by the censor. By pursuing this policy he has gained the confidence of the community, and that confidence he has 7iever betrayed. "The Red Widow." "The Red Wfdow" (recently /produced by the Boyal Comie Opera Company in Melbourne) has the defects of its tjpe in being machine-made: it- has the advantages, which it perhaps hardly deserves, of being dressed, mounted, and put in evidence with all tho artistic excellence, the lavish perfection, which distinguishes the producing' .firm. It is good in its way, without being at all distinctive,' and without possessing, apart from scenic and personal equipment, anything that especially rivets attention.. There is no particular scone, or effect, which stands out. in tho memory or that is at all' magnetic, it is just even, light opora, running its broken course through events which are always* paradoxical, often inconsequential. Musically, it has tho usual waltz air as a keynote, and were it not that' Miss Florence Young and Mr. Bieginald Eoberts have so much to do in and with it'the new piecO[ would be rather badly off On tho musical side. Miss Young stands 'hi that sense above and. apart from'everybody else on the stage, and, whether in duets with Mr. Eoberts or in solos such as "Just for You," is always distinctive. Miss Young has that further merit amongst light opera artists that you never miss a word which she may cither say or sing. While'other leaders in "the cast 'have their special gifts, vocal distinction 13 .not one of them. Miss 'Minnie Love, Mr. Leslie Holland, and Mr. Phil. Smith are valued members of the company who have often proved their worth, but on the musical side *hey may without rudeness be offered the advice of one. of their own songs, "Never mind singing,- ]ust dance, my dear." Neither of the three has in "the Bed Widow" anything like the chanco for distinction that was given them in "Tho Pink Lady." Pilaris Tempest's Success, Clara Kummcr's odd; comedy, "Good Gracious, Annabolle," lias proved a big success in Sydney. Miss Mario Tempest as Annabelle iseaid to so suit tho role "(hat sho must have been melted and run into it." "Good Gracious, Annate,'" will be followed by "Mary Goes comedy by Henry Arthur .Tones, of "Silver King" and "Saints and Sinners", famo. Mr. Graham "Brpwno produced. "Mary| Goes First" in London, playing the part of tho young lawyer. In Sydney he is irgain directing Hie rehearsals, but he will play Dick Whichello. Ho says that the author generally takes charge of the rehearsals. Knowing the, habit' of • Henry Arthur Jones, Mr. Browne asked him not to show up for a fortnight until the rough edges wore knocked off the actors. AVhon tho dramatist did appear he was so pleased with the interpretation of the play that he didn't bother w.ith it again until the first night, when ho sat in front, Trooper Bluegum Revealed. Owing to a small indisposition, Miss Sara Allgood was out of her place in the cast of "Peg o' My Heart" at the King's Theatre, Melbourne, for the first time sinc6 "Peg" started its Australian career, and her part was taken by Miss Tien Hogue, a young Australian actress, who has already capitally- acquitted herself under several managements, and is un'doubtedly destined to go far in her profession. Miss Hogue is a member, of a well-known Sydney family, the head of which was once New South Wales' Minister of Education, and who had a long and distinguished political record. Miss Hogue's brother, He-land, was formerly on the stage in Australia, and played several important parts in musical comedy. He is now in America, where ho lias been a marked success. Another brother of Miss Hogue is even better known to Australians. He is the popular "Trooper Bluegum," author of much .rood "copy" on the realities and horrors of modern war. "Trooper Bluegum was all through Egypt and -Gallirjoh, and distinguished himself greatly. Notes. ■ Mr Clarence Crawford, the popular young drummer, xylophone soloist, and accessory manipulator of the orchestra at Fullers' Vaudeville Treatre Chnstchurch, and late of J. C. Williamsons companies, will make his appearance as onlnist at the next Sunday night concert tote Riven by the Wellington Professional Orchestra. Mr. Crawford,™ reachin" military age, enlisted for active serl"oe and is now with the 33rd Ne«r ZcAukl Field Altilery. He has been a most earnest musical student, and his excellent services to orchestral m* other musical associations, including bands, aroTo well known as not to require reeapitula ion here. .Crawford lost his father as the result of a yachting accident in Wellington harbour eight years „™ and « Httlo later he was taken in hand bv Mr. Ernest Jamieson, the wellnown New Zealand flautiat. who became MV foster-father and musical mentor. M? Jamieson has reason to bo proud of the' splendid progress made by/his pro-