THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 62, 7 December 1918, Page 11

THE THEATRE.

-- k> (By "Sylvius.") The Christmas Bill, Wellington is to be .given a first-class tlicfttricui attraction for tho restive seaBon. J. C. Williamson, Ltd,, havo completed arrangements for the Musical Comedy Company to open at the-Grand Opera House on Boxing Night in the new American musical frivolity, "Oh, Boy," which has .been quite n.success in Sydney and Melbourne (with Miss Maud Pane as tho leading lady). Other nrasi- ■ cal plays to .be seen during the season will be "The Three Twins/'. "Oh. Oh, Delphine," and the new aviation comedy, "Going Up," recently produced in Adelaide. ' Mr. Charles Berkeley will act as advance mjnngor of the musical comedy company. .- "Going- Up." .. "Going Up," the new Yankee musical fcomedy, making its first Australian run at the Royal (Adelaide), was a strong little etcry before ever music v. as put lo it -(says tho Sydney "Bulletin"). In the story Street is a young author Siaking holiday at a summer hotel after writing a best-seiler, which included 'a mi rely imaginary account of an air-ii?ht,- : [This,has been taken in dead narne-B by the other guests, and, before he quite know? where he is, he lias been backed for hi? nipiipy !o fly .a nintch; and whim ho finds I lilt the hand of..a '.ertain girl, is likely to go to the winner ho makes tho mad venture. It is the only musical comedy on record in which a worked-up audience -has cheered a hero, as if lift were in'melodrama, when he ?ajd "I will do .it!" It is also the only one. in which a fascinating hero lias stood «rouiid. for two acts-inn Vihio funk, littoriiw gloomy prophecies of his own parlr death— much -• n<; tho'iglrthe sentimental interest of "The Arcadians" should centre in Peter Dnody. Like thnt plnv, foo, is the scone where tho flight is followed round tbo dress circle ivifh race-slasses by thft whole company with nn intensity which fires the audience. The action of the niece makes another'spurt in the last ton minutes, iust wlmn most of such Biiou-s go to. bits. Backers pud rivals tosether. all genuinely fond of Street,wt news'of his wnbbly flight by countless, telephone, and foler'ra.nh mes=aires from all over tho eoiintrvsidc , still he totters in a winner. On-Hi» first nicht, when tho curtain fell on this scene, the Mavor of Adelaide in his place and led vjld cliperins: "fir nil pnr+iei concerned. That is the sort of play it is. The Rostands, . ; All seriem's" lovers" of the- drama will mourn the death 0f.31; Edmond Eostand, who was'to. the French 'stage as Bodiii was k> the French sculpture, a giant in letters,' who has left in such plays as "Cyrano de . Bergerac," "L'Aiglon," "La Samaritaine," . and "Chahtecler" monuments "to his genius. It is inter-' esting to. know that M..Eostand has left behind him a son who bide fair tofollow., in his father's footsteps. 'Five years ago M. Jfaurice Rostand, -associated with, his,mother,-wrote'a play'which gavo greal pleasure in. France, and when translated iiito English .'V,hd produced in America made a distinct .-hit. ■' This play was called "A Good Little Devil." The name of the-Kostands in Cainbon.is one of the.most beautiful in all the fair r,ealm of France. ■-. . • Sick Players. ■ ; Miss Sara Allgood of the "Pego' My Heart-' Company, the popular. Irish actress, who has been: confined .to her bed . \ for the greater part of the time since ' her husband's', lamented. : deatb, ..is now .considerably■ improved in health.. Mr. Wilton Power, who had a.very severe at- . rack of 'cho'prevailing malady,- is now convalescent. '- Mr.'Maurice Halph, the \ manager of the company; is convalescing . at 'Day's" Bay, and Mr. .Lionel "Walsh '•- (stage manager)'is. taking a course of , country air at Shannon, " - . Mr. J. M'Domild, the advance agent,. \ who had a-very bad time, has left for , Auckland,' still looking the shadow of his , former fielf! ' \ Kiss Nan Taylor is doing a "Florence \ Nighfingalo act" in' Wellington, and do- . ing it. well. . She will be-Tres* reniembor- ! Ed as one of the original 'members of ' JloiMt'e "Bimty Pulls the Strings" ' Company in New-Zeaalud. , Notes . '• ; '• In the cnst~ of the J. C. Williamson pantomime, "Goody Two Shoes," at Her I i\tajesty's- Theatre, Melbourne, will be Arthur Stigant (dame), Maggie Dichin--6011, Sidney Yates, ConJloreni, Dorothy Hastings,' and Ernest. Langford..-The pantomime will be -produced by Charles ' A. AVemniin, : Anrew MacCu'nn will be 1 musical- director, and the ballets and ' dances will be invented and'arranged by, ' . Minnie Everett. 1 The doctor '.who attended at Her MaI jesty's Theatre,- Melbourne," ~to ,iunoculate the J.- C. ■ Williameon ; "Hello, Everybody' , revue company . against Spanish influenza found that the ' etatistics published in the Melbourne newspapers regarding thai personnel of the .company had' not baen- exaggerated. The' jnnoculation commenced alter the performance,.and when at two o'clopk. in tho morning the" mtdico was informed that only one.hait\-of the company had ; been 'done he" nearly collapsed. The number of.innocnlations carried out .was 216. Two' artists well remembered iii Australia have returned to appear in the . Williamson pantomime, "Uoody Two Shoes/'. They are Toby. Claude, ' the-pocket-comedian,, and Nellie Wilson,, 60 favourably .recalled ss the statesque . beauty of the Eoyal Comic Opera Com- , pany of a few years ngo. Mr. Fred Walton, a prominent comedian and dancer,- ■ is-bringing:his toy soldier :not from America; J.ules -will come with his marion- ; vc'ttes; and'-Deary and Ca'rlton will-also come from New York with, comedy and novelty.. . ■ . ■ .- Miss May de Sousa, .one of America's brightest .singing comediennes, will be i the principal boy in J. C Williamson's pantomiuie, "Goody Two Shoes."