NELLIE STEWART

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 7

NELLIE STEWART

STAR AT ITS PEAK MAGHETISM OF KATHERINE GREY JACK CANNOT IN PANTOMIME [By Loiterer.] Nellie Stewart, wow at the peak of her career, returned on September 11, 1909, under J. C. Williamson’s management, in ‘ Sweet Kitty Bellairs.’ Her part in this play was the best thing she had so far done. She was a woman of remarkable personality, doubly remarkable in that “ besides bagging the men wholesale, she also captured the women.” It takes a great actress to bo wholly “ on sides ” with both sections of an audience. But Nellie Stewart was that. Claude King, Frederick Moyes, Langhorne Burton, Rosslyn Vane, Harriett Trench, and Madeleine Meredith were among the players, most of whom were new to Dunedin. In the following year Nellie Stewart reappeared in * When Knighthood Was in Flower,’ one of the most attractive of historical plays till then. Charles Major’s story was followed with ■fidelity, “ although knighthood was less in flower than in fruit at that period.” As Mary Tudor, Nellie 'Stewart had a very fine role. Gaston Mervale was excellent as Cardinal Wolsey, while James B. Atholwood was fine as the crafty Duke of Buckingham. On this tour Miss Stewart played ‘ Trilby ’ extremely well. Gaston Mervale was ' Svengaili, and “in some respects his performance was better than that of the late Reuben Fax.” It was in the final offering of that second visit, however, that Nellie Stewart excelled herself. In a faithful presentation of Barrie’s ‘ What Every Woman Knows ’ Miss Stewart revealed her full j capabilities in the role of Maggie Wylie, • and it was that performance, as much as any other, that resulted in her memory being retained to the degree that it is to-day. TITHERADGE’S CHANCES. Another Williamson production was the military play ‘ The Cheat,’ on November 27. This was looked upon as almost a perfect stage drama, only real weakness being the insufficiency of 1 the evidence on which the central figure. Captain Blanchard, was decommissioned and degraded as a common cheat. Fully 12 of the competent cast shared acting honours, hut George S. Titheradge, as the father of Captain Blanchard, was exceptionally fine. Thomas Kingston was outstanding as the captain, while Harry Plimmer, as his uncle, excelled himself. The company also gave ‘ The Flag Lieutenant,’ very well known to moviegoers. Kingston was Lascelles, the part made famous on the screen by Henry Edwards, and his was a flawless delineation. Thesiger was in the hands of Titheradge, the actor giving one of the few really great stage performances of the years. ‘ Peter Pan,’ put on by a J. C. Williamson company in His Majesty’s on May 13, 1910, offered Lizette Parkes, as Peter, a part right into her hands. She “ was a sprightly and versatile Peter with a fine ‘ I don’t care ’ incon- ' sequentiality.” Dolores Bovira captivated all as Wendy, while Thomas Kingston was “ thrilling as the ogreish pirate chief.” The whole presentation was on merry lines, and the atmosphere of Barrie was caught and sustained. TALENTED JUVENILES. Three young people, _ soon to he widely known, appeared in Burns Hall on June 27. They were Christchurch horn, and were Harry (16), Polly (15), and George (11) Ellwood, and under the name of the Ellwood Trio gave surprisingly good recitals on the violin, piano, and ’cello respectively. _ Harry Ellwood’s violin was an Amati, specially loaned him by Archbishop Redwood. ! Winnie Nixon, mezzo-soprano, supported the three instrumentalists who were looked upon as the beet musical finds in New Zealand. “ They are not accomplished artists, but they have the makings of such,” was a prophetic remark of our critic, and. he was subsequently proved right. GRAND OPERA IN ENGLISH. Grand opera in English came to Dunedin with the first performance of 1 Madame Butterfly ’ by J. G. Williamson’s Grand Opera Company, opening on July 6. The splendid scenery and enchanting music made an instantaneous appeal, “ the weak and sordid story being made interesting and beautiful with music of real charm.” On the first night Bel Sorel was Madame Butterflv (Cho-Cho-San) and Frederick Blarney Pinkerton. Eosina Buckman scored freely as Suzuki. On the second night the leads were taken by _ Amy Castles, who sang the music gloriously and in the style of a prima donna. Her voice had a beautiful hell-like quality and a fine range. Signor John Zerga was Pinkerton the second night, and Alfred Hill conducted a memorable performance. Later ‘La Boheme ’ and ‘ Oarmen ’ were offered, good business resulting. In the ensuing months there were several good plays: ‘ Brixton Burglary,’ which, on September 17, introduced Joe Brennan, and starred Fred. Graham, a happy comedian; ‘ The Brass Bottle ’ (September 24), a version of Anstey’s novel, in which the illusion activities were well staged, but was not_ otherwise, despite the acting of Leslie Holland, Kenyon Musgrave, Augusta Haviland, and Sinna St. Clair, particularly bright; ‘Aladdin’ (October 3), “ a bewildering tangle of glory and glitter, full of stage cleverness,” in which Marie Eaton introduced ‘ Rings on Her Fingers,’ and in which Bert Watson and Clyde Cook proved ideal panto, comedians; ‘ The Passing of the Third Floor Back ’ (November 7), with Harry Plimmer fine as The Stranger, and getting good support from Mrs Robert Brough, Dunedin-horn Reynolds Denniston, Alice Deorwyn, and Lizette Parkes. PLAY UNDER CANVAS. A novelty stage show was ‘ Robbery Under Arms,’ presented by Lytton’s Touring Theatre on the Oval from November 21. In a 2.000-seat capacity tjpnt Rolf Boldrewood’s drama was sensationally staged, the appointments permitting the free use of horses and outdoor adjuncts. It was quite a good show, Madge Hope as Aileen Marston giving a refined and womanly performance and Jefferson Taite making an efficient Captain Starlight, overdoing nothing. May Renno had an amusing comedy role as Euphrosyne Aspen. KATHERINE GREY. Performances of a memorable character were given when Katherine Grey’s season began on January 9, 1911, with ‘ The Lion and the Mouse.’ This American actress won recognition hy sheer personal magnetism. She had not the attraction of great physical or vocal beauty, she was an actress of pronounced temperament, and her work

had the simplicity of all good acting* Without recourse to violence of spicvli or action she revealed the character mio was interpreting. She knew her powers and used them sparingly with the easts of a trained actress. ‘ The Lion and the Mouse ’ won success because of its human qualities and the all-round brilliance of the acting. Two other plavs were ‘ The Third Degree ’ and ‘ Paid in' Full,’ which was the beet. It had “an ugly story told powerfully, ifl hectically, and indicated finely tha taint of life’s appetites and frailties* Miss Grey was further stamped as a a actress of individuality and fascination..” She had as her leading man William Desmond, a very fine actor who in some scenes achieved an instantaneous triumph. Winter Hall, ofi Christchurch, was a member of the case* and was seen in some excellent character roles. Mr Hall was later to achieve a reputation as a character player ofl the rather dignified, slightly stiff type in silent pictures. Cyril Mackey, Leslie Victor, Alma and Susie Vaughan, and Alma Phillips were in the cast. February 27 saw J. C. Williamsou staging ‘ The Dollar Princess,’ a cheering production which made a profound impression on the public. For a musical comedy it was unusual in that it provided some attempt at character delineation with “an earnest and noti wholly fruitless endeavour to show tha English and the American in contrast.’*' Olive Godwin was the lead, and tha large cast included Lottie Sargent* Alice Mitchell, Maxie MacDonald W* b. Percy, Herbert Clayton, and Florence Young. The season included ‘A' Waltz Dream ’ and ‘ Knight for a Day. 3 STAGE AND SCREEN PLAYERS. June 10 saw ‘The Whip ’ produced* Lionel Atwill, brilliant “menace ’ ,ri the talking screen to-day, was one jfl the leading players, and he proved himself a very fine actor. This was a strong drama, the main plot and side themes being well worked out. Eardler Turner, another of the principalsj showed acting full of inherent dignity, and gave an all-round commandinw performance. A train smash, a hunting breakfast, and a race in which the illusion of galloping horses was well created were spectacular scenes. That fantastic musical comedy The Arcadians,’ was played by Clarka and Meynell’s Company on June 26* Well staged and attractively acted ifi proved' to the public’s liking. Included in the cast was an actor later to earn fame as a comedian'in the famous A!d« wych Theatre farces with Ralph Lynn, Robertson Hare, and Mary Brough, al fame destined to be duplicated on the talking screen—namely, Tom Walls. Ha was an excellent comedian even then, and he gave a ludicrous impersonatioa of a jockey. THE SHEFFIELD CHOIR. In the car sheds the Shefiield Choir, conducted by Dr A. C. Harriss and Dp Henry Coward, presented ‘ The Drean* of Gerontius ’ on July 6, the first ofl several recitals, which included ‘ Elijah.’ This huge choir consisted of 120 women, 80 men, and 10 principals, Hj was supported by an all-New Zealand orchestra of 46 players, drawn --from every corner of the Dominion. The orchestral prelude to * The Dream ofl Gerontius ’ was a remarkably fine effort, earning highest praise. The recitals generally were considered to be among the best choral presentation* heard in Dunedin till then. Offering familiar material and apparently not quite the artist he proved himself only two years ago, Nicola, the magician, appeared on August 21. Fern and Mack offered excellent comedy, while Nadolny proved a juggler of considerable talent. JACK CANNOT’S DEBUT. “ The best pantomime to date ” was the verdict on ‘ Jack and the Beanstalk ’on September 5. This was a riofl of colour and a whirl of movement. Ttj introduced Jack Cannot, “ whose technique was more personal than that ofl his predecessors.” He was as nimble aa an eel as Dame Trot, and so he earned a place in the hearts of Dunedin theatregoers that he never lost in all hia subsequent appearances. Mabelle Morgan was Jack, her pleasing personality; and refreshing singing voice making hep ideal for the part. Best musical number was * Garden of Roses.’ (To be continued.)