THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 3, 28 September 1918, Page 11

THE THEATRE

» (By "Sylvius.") "Oh, Boy." Chatting with regard to the production of "Oil, Boy," by.J. C..Williamson, Ltd., which ia now running at Mclbouruo Theatre iloyal, Mr. Hugh Ward said that he was in Now' York sonio weeks, after "Oh, Boy" began its run, and lie then .secured an option upon the piece for Australia and South Africa. "Several times after," Mr. Ward added, "1 saw the musical comedy, wliicli had become so groat a rage \ that the ticket speculators had all the > seats for months ahead, and wore ; charging any. price hut that set hy the : tariff of the house. I paid iea dollars for two seats one night, which made mo moro than over determined that the ticket speculators would nover get a look in in Australia, so long as I had any say in tho matter. Then I came to Australia .again, and after being eight months hero returned to New York. ' 'Oh, Boy'- was still going strong, j It was a peculiar feeling to go into the theatre again, see the same cast, hear the audience laughing at the-same jokes, sud applauding' tho same songs. It made, a trip back to Australia seem like n week-end. jaunt from Sydney to Melbourne and back again." "The Invisible Foe." "Tho Invisible Foe," with which J. and N. 'fait reopened' at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, on _ .Saturday night lust, is an English-built drama which discusses supernatural telepathy. Speaking of tluMnessages which .Spiritualists get from tho other side, one of the ■ characters—Dr. 'Latham—argues that some years ago wircjess telegraphy, tho telephone," and a hundred other things that we havo since proved would liavo soDincd just as incredible as the possibility of'getting a messago. from the dead. "With these tilings in mind, how can wo. absolutely deny that such -messages can comb?" he asks, "flow cair -wo be sure that thhsc- people—foolish as some of them, perhaps, appear —are not upon the threshold of a great truth? If one believes in God,, how can wo believe that death' is tho end of all? 1 know thin I don't. Suppose a man—a man whoso every instinct was just and'generous,' bad done another a great wrong, and found it out too late. If his consciousness remained, itsn'fe it possible;.isn't it probable, that ho would try to right that wrong, and, since ho had cast away all ma.terial things, he could not communicate lii; the old.way? Yet ho would try; surely ho would try." Sir Oliver Lodge is not tho author, hut Miss Emello Pclini is the heroine. Professional orchestra. Especially attractivo is the programme to bo presented at His Majesty's Theatre to-morrow evening hy the' Wellington Professional-Orchestra. Tho chef do'oeurvc will bo the performance of Schubert's '.'Unfinished Symphony," a work of surpassing beauty of grandeur that entrances both audionce and players. Other items on the programme will bo Kubcnstem's "Melody in F," Baynes's overture "Enduro to Conquer," Pierne's quaint "March of tho Little Leaden Soldiers," Grieg's "Wedding Day at Troldhangen," and Elgar's famous march "Pomp and Circumstance." Notes. Music-lovers will he glad to learn that Miss Esther Fisher intends to pivo'a Chopin pianoforte recital in the Concert Chamber noxt month. The success of Miss Fisher at her first recital will still bo fresh in tho memory of all. who. were present. "Oh, Oh, Delphino," has proved a worthy successor to-"Katinka" at Her Majesty's, Melbourne. As a matter of fact, the. seemingly impossible, has happened. The French musical play during the first week of its run broke the record put up by its predecessor, and has since -.maintained its lead, "Delphino" immediately jumped into popularity, and is classed by inating patrons at Melbourne Her Majesty's as tho finest and most artistic musical production staged iti■■• Australia for many a year.

"Hello, Everybody," is ilio ;titlo of a big rovue J. C. .'Williamson, Ltd., are preparing i'oV production in Melbourne at the present time.. . Tlio announcement of tile engagement ofMiss Gladys MonericfF to Mr. Ellis Dav'ics, a well-known engineer in Melbourne, lias conveyed _ tbo impression, apparently, Hi at Miss Moncrieflt intends to retire from the stage almost immediately. Suck is not the case, however, for a three years' engagement 'with the J. C. Williamson management will be continued. Miss Moil-; crieff lias added tlio'crowning success to her career by her performance as Katinka at Her Majesty's, Melbourne.