THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 13

THE THEATRE

■ « (By, Sylvius.). Story of "Katinka." Hero is the story of tha new musi-* cai comedy "Katinka," to be played here next week. Firstly, we Bre introduced to the wedding festivities of o nd 1^ t,nka ' ™ Yalta, on tho BJ.ick Sea. IJiis is a marriage of convenience, the bewitching Katinka being hopelessly in love with the dashing Ivan Dimitn. Her parlous condition she confides to 0110 Thaddeus T. Hopppi, a wealthy American, travelling for pleasure, who, with the assistance of Ivan and his friend Petrof, plan to find Olga, otiierwiso known as Nashan, who is in icality the first wife of tho wouldbe bigamist Boris. Olga has disappeared somo ten years previous to the ; opening of the play, and was last 1 neard of m Consttuitinoplo. By tho aid of various ingenious disguises, Hopper and his well-meaning confederates succeed, in practically, abducting the willing Katinka, who in order to further the plot consents to travel as the enthusiastic Hopper's better half. All happens well until 011 their arrival at the Golden Horn they learn that tire '. S'* at a,lf l terrible Aijif Bey is expecting ft company of famous Circassian dancers for his Tiarein. With the aid of tho irrepressible Hopper, Katinka secures admission to tho harem, where she goes in search of the recalcitrant Olga. Presently tlio amourous Arif Bey becomes enamoured of the beautiful Katinka. Then things happen fast. Tho complications arc ludicrous. Hopper, in the liarem, undergoes' some astonishing hair-breadth escapes, finally succeeding in escaping with Katinka and his comrades to Paris, where Katinka,- after Unfortunately becoming separated from iier mid-dle-aged, but utterly valiant Hopper, is seen as a cabaret singer' at' the luxuriant Cafe Turkouise. To the dismay of tile much-harassed maiden, firrives Prince Boris and his retinue, 1 together with Tatiana, Katinka's mother, and Varenka, sister'to' Katinka; Of course the Prince demands- the .return of Katinka with him to Russia'as his wife. Things are now in a magnificent musical comedy muddle, of course humorously assisted.by Hopper and Mrs..l Hopper, the latter having tracked'down her spouse earlier in tho proceedings. Eventually, however, Olga, stopping into tho breach at the critical moment, claims, the recant Boris as her husband, which-leaves the. way open for tho devoted lovers Katinka and Iran • to marry and live happy ever afterwards. Theatres and Coal. The British theatres have been dealt a rude shock by the Coal Controller. The London "Telegraph" announces that from April 1 theatres, music-halls, and kinemas are to be closed at 9.30 p.m. The-same authority states that "managers are alarmed," and that there are fears that the evening programmes will have to bo abandoned. Even if it comes to that, howovel', there will be but little real grumbling, for it is but part of tho additional discomfort. that has been thrust upon tho people generally during the last week. Gas, eleotficfty, and. coal are how subject to the almost universal rationing scheme, and the places of amusement will be 110 worse off than every household in the land. Nor is it likely that there will be any great-monetary loss,- that is to say, in comparison' with .pro-War figures. The' theatres have been Enjoying boom' times almost. Tho New Year began with all the" big houses playing to capacity business, and in some cases two different shows were hotised at tho one theatre, - one-being gijjen.' in. the afternoon-find- the othiir at- night.", Moreover; the seekors. scenr. tti : have ; j*rdwn-'guito' custbmcd 'to the idea, oF going "to 'tlif theatre in the 'daylight,- so that, after the inevitable deputation or two, things will settle rapidly down under the conditions imposed .by th'o -necessity, .of econ'oiHisiiig every available.:'ounce .of coal. Actors' Association of Australasia. At the general meeting of the Actors' Association of- Australasia, held in Sydney last week, Mr. Arthur Styan was clected president in the place of Mr. Harry Plimraer (now in America), ond Messrs. Sydney Stirling and Herbert Leigh vice-presidents. The new council includes the following wellknowii artists: Miss' Eily Malyon, Miss Emma Temple, Messrs. Charles Workman, Barry Lupino, Arthur Greenaway, Frank Greene, Frank Harvey, Leslie Victor, Kenneth Brampton, and J. Plumpton Wilson. During the past year tho association, besides securing many important Concessions for the theatrical profession generally, distributed over £300 in benevolent grants. A roll, of honour is shortly to be unveiled at'the society's rooms in' Sydney, and a. list, of the actors who haro - already donned khaki, numbering over 70; and it is anticipated that the ceremony of unveiling will* be performed by "tiie Governor-General of Australia. • Ono of the nfiw.ly-elected vicepresidents, Mr. Herbert Leigh, is a member of tho Allan.Wilkie Company, now playing a season iti Auckland. Notes. " '' A big step up in his chosen' profession 'lid-s. been achieved' by llarry: I. Cohen (formerly of. Dunedin),. who has been appointed to manage the Emjiire Theatre. London, for Sir. Sacks, a wellknown London manager. The Empire, formerly." a music-hall, is one of tlio largest of the London theatres. The opening production last month under tho now regime was" the musical piece, ''The Lilac Domino." - Prior to this appointment Mr. Cohen was managing the "Damaged Goods" season at the St. Martin's Theatre. . Miss Fayette Perry, the dainty American who was in "Wellington with "Very Good Eddie," hae.left Australia for her native land. Miss Frediswyde Hunter-Watts (Mrs. AHan Wilkio in private life) is at present recuperating in America, ill-health necessitating, a long rest. Miss Mario Key (well known in Wellington as Miss Marie Fix), who has made great strides in tho profession during the last two fears,' is leading lady of the Allan Wilkie Company, hor work in that position being warmly praised in Australia. "The Million Dollar Girl" is the t'tle of the rerue which has succeedod "Samples" at thoSydney Tivoli. The new principals include Mr. Hugh Ogilvie, Mr. George Edwardos, Miss Lottie Sargent, Miss Jtosio. Parkes, and Mdlle. Bone Adofee. ' There is some talk of ''Samples" being sent to New Zealand. Allen Doone may return to New Zealand from America in June or July.