THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 50, 23 November 1918, Page 9

THE THEATRE

■ (By "Sylvius/')

Epidemic and the Stage. Uy tlio time th.it tne prevailing epidemic took Jiolcl vi -New /.oaliuiti, tnu only two touring theatrical companies in. the Dominion (outside of. vaudeville) wore .1. ami A'. Tait's 'Tog o' My Jicart" Company and Hie Scarlet Troubadours, who are somewhere in tins south. This was indeed fortunate for some Aiiinngomeiits, as ■ it would have mei.nt heavy loss if some of the larger companies had been operating when tne order came to close down. Managements know very well that if they were permitted to open there would bo no audiences to till the theatres. The "Peg" Company came to town in time to be laid out flat with, inlluenzii. In addition to. Hiss Sara .AUgood, Mr. Gerald Jlenson, and Mr. Maurice-Ralph (whose names have been mentioned during the week as sufferers), Mr. George Chalmers went down early/ and is now recovering. Early this week Mr. Lionel Walshe (stage manager), Hiss Madge Surtees, ami Miss ,\an Taylor were all down with the ailment and feeling very sorry for themselves. Mr. J. Macdonald (advance agent) was so bad that lie was taken to the Sydney Street Hospital. Some of the vaudeville people have been attacked, but so far not seriously. . \

The prospects theatrically nre bleak; .11 any case, we were not likely to get liny further touring companies uutil Christmas, but as (hat is now only a month away and the epidemic is still raging -everywhere there may be a general cancellation of dates. Even, if Ilin malady lets up somewhat, the public will not be disposed "to assemble in "crowds in a confined space for some little time to. come. .. '

Muriel Starr Tour, ; ■ The New Zealand tour of the Muriel Starr Company has been niupped. out as 1 follows:—Auckland, December-26 to January 11; Wanganui, January 1!), 11; W<iwerai. January 15; I'alhierston North, January i(i, 17; Napier, January IS, .20; ■Masterton, January 21; . Wellington, January 22 to. February 8; Dunedin, February 11' lo 15; Invercargill, February 1,7, .18; 'J'iiiiaru,. February 20,. 21; Christcliureh, February 22 to March 1. The repertoire will consist of "Tije Bird of Paradise," "The Mail AVlio Came Back," ."The Easiest Way," and a revival 6f "Within the Law." Supporting, the star will be Louis Kimball, Frank Harvey, Arthur Styan, Edwin Lester, J. B. Atholwood, Marion MarcusClarke, and Sorma Mitchell.. Mr. W. F. Russell will be business, manager of the .tour," Air- Robert Williamson louring manager,'.and Mr. E.irCarthy treasurer. Nstts.. , . . ••■•.■■■■■ "The Bin#s Boys on Broadway. , ,' in which Mr. Cieorgo Kobey and Miss Violet Lorraine appear to have lepeated their ''Bing Boys'' tfiiccess in London, \a to h,e staged in . Sydney at , Christmas by J:. C. Williamson, Ltd. If i( is as banal and pointless as the. ''Bin's .Boys." as witnessed in. Wellington,, .this item of news will.'.iironse little interest. _ .'Moody's. .really fine. play, '.'The Great Divide"— oiiij ot the truly bis plays America has Riven birth to iii the last decade—has been produced in Sydney by the . Williiiiison Comjiaiiy, headed by Miss Muriel Starr.. H is -hoped that this play will iji> included,.in .the-.New Zealand lVperloire. ; .'• Originally this 'play was produced by David' Belaseo in New York, and it still stands out as one of his most notable achievements..