THE THEATRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 14

THE THEATRE.

NEWS, NOTES AND COMMENT.

(Bj “ CBITICVS.’’)

January 9 to 16—'Willoughby Dramatic Com-

pany. February 2 to 13—Tho Court Cards. February 16 to March 6 —Gilbert and Sulli-

van revivals. March 11 to 27—Literary Competitions. April Bto 10—“ The Glad Eye ” Company. April 12 to 17—“ Babes in tho Wood" Pantomime Company.

Though tho theatrical year of 1914 will go down into the past as chequred with disappointments, it contained many bright spots, and among them was the appearance of “ Buuty Pulls the Strings,” a charming comedy which enjoyed deserved success. Three American plays of more than ordinaryinterest, “ Within the Law,” “The Argyle Case” and “Ready Money,” must be numbered amongst, tlio good things of the year, but the failure of Mr Fred Nibio to visit the South Island, and the curtailment of tlio Buckler-Paget Company’s tour will be included among the hitter theatrical disappointments. Mr Nibio, by the way, is returning to America in May, but it is probable that he will run through tho "Dominion again with his latest successes, “ Seven Keys to Baldpate,” “Broadway Jours ” and “ Never Say Die.” The programme for 1915 includes visits bv Miss Nellie Stewart in “ Du Barri ” and “ Dorothy o’ the Hall.” and the Beaumont Smith-Lonis. Meyer Comedy Company in “ The Glad Eye ” and other farces. Two pantomimes, “ Cinderella ” and “ Babes in the Wood.” are already announced for production in the Dominion during 1915. and the BuoklerPaget Company, with plays from the Little Theatre, Sydney, will also ho among tho theatrical offerings.

Mr Arthur Hunter, who was with tho Williamson management for over fifteen years, died in Sydney last month from consumption,. Mr Hunter was here last in “ The Merry Widow,” in 1909. His wife was Miss Kate Porter, who played, with Miss. Nellie Stewart in comic opera years ago.

The George Willoughby Company, which will commence a season in Christchurch on January 9, will play “ Tho Ever-Opcn Door,” by George R-. Sims,' “Under Two Flags” and “Camille.” The company' has been playing in Dunedin, and after the season in Christchurch will go north. “ Under Two Flags ” was produced hero eight years ago by the Charles Waldron Dramatic Company, an American combination, which found if difficult to present tho play properly. Miss Olga Jane Humphrey played Cigarette.

’The following are the dates booked for the New Zealand tour of “Babes in the Wood,” the Willoughby, Ltd;, pantomime: —March 31 and April 1, Invercargill: Easter. Saturday to April 10, Dunedin; April 12 to 17, Christchurch:' April 19 to 27,' Wellington; Muy 10 to 22, Auckland. Tho tour will close at Palmerston North on June 2, when the company will return to Melbourne. Miss Daisy Jerome, hero at the Opera. House a month or so ago. will be in the cast, hut tho principal boy will' bo Miss Dorothy Harris. Miss Nellie Fallon and Mr Henri Marcelle, who were heard in x ragtime songs in “Aladdin” last year, will also bo with the company.

Latest mails from America brings news of many players, well known to New Zealand, who are enjoying success oh the American stage. _ Mr Jerome Patrick was appearing in a New York production, and had accepted an engagement to “star” .in a motion picture; Mr Conway Wingfield was appearing in “ Daddy Longlegs,” the cast for.,which wan headed by Mr Charles Waldron; Miss Ada Stirling was with “ When Dreams Como True',” and Miss Nellie Strong was playing in “Peg o’ My Heart,” on tour; whilo Messrs Fred H. Graham, CoJin Campbell and Tom Graves were in “The Little Cafe.” Mr Gaston Mervale was .in “Consequences,” a Schubert production in New York, and Mr Charles Hammond was leading man to-Miss Maude Adams. .Mr Fred H. Quin troll, was musical director with .a Viotor Horbor.b opora company.

Next month there will bo a series of Gilbert and Sullivan revivals in Christchurch, and it is interesting to look back on the early days of, these comic operas, which led to "the brilliant revival of British activities in this special branch of theatrical work. The first of, the series was “ Trial; by Juiy,” described as a dramatic cantata,” which was produced on March 25, 187-5. Jt achieved success at once, and has been revived frequently, the most notable occasion being in 1898, when it was produced, at the Nellie Fa'rren benefit. In,that production Miss Nellie Stewart, Miss Grace Palotta and Miss Maud Hobson were among the bridesmaids; Messrs E. J. Lonnen, W. Elton and Scott Russell were on the jury; and among the crowd were Miss Ellon Terry, Miss Florence Young. Miss Fanny Brough and Mr (now Sir Charles) Wyudham. Miss Florence Perry, who was in Now Zealand as 0 Mimosa San in “The Geisha,” appeared as the plaintiff: The next production was “ The Sorcerer,” which ran for 175 performances: l and then came “H.M.S. Pinafore” including juvenile company), 700 performances; “The Pirates of Penzance,” 863 nights ; “ Patienco,” 408 performances; “lolanthe,” over 300 nights; “ Princess Ida,” 246 nights; “ The Sorcerer” (revived), 150; “ The Mikado,” 6672; “lluddigorc,” 288; “H.M.S. Pinafore” (revived), 120; “The Mikado” (revived), 116; “The Yeomen of the Guard,”' 364; “The Gondoliers,” 554; “Utopia. Ltd-.” 245; “The Grand Duke,” 123; and “The Mikado” (revived), 226.

In Australia this year three pantomimes have been produced. “ Cinderella,” by Williamson .Ltd.; “Babes.in tho Wood,” by G. Willoughby Ltd.; and “ Smbad the Sailor,” by Mr William Anderson. Two of. these will visit New Zealand during tho year, but nothing is known so tar of tne prospects concerning the third.

When the Julius Knight Dramatic Company was in Christchurch 1 learnt it was highly probable that Mr Knight >vould bo seen in George Bernard Shaw's “Pygmalion” this year.

Mr Allen Doone is booked to visit Christchurch during the winter, aud it is interesting to notice that he is returning to America shortly in order to secure new plays. Mr Doone Iras been out in Australia now for three years, and on his return from America will recommence operations in Sydney during Easter.

It is not generally known that Sir James Barrie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once collaborated in writing the libretto of a comic opera which was a terrible failure. Their work was entitled “Jane Annie,” the music being oomposed by Mr Ernest Ford, a pupil of Sir Arthur Sullivan, but the opera, which was produced during the Gilbert-Sqlhvan-Carte quarrel, ran for fifty nights only. In this unfortunate production Miss Dorothy Vane, now with the Gilbert and Sullivan Company in New Zealand, played the name-part. “ The Beauty Stone,” by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, also 1 succumbed after forty-five nights, although in this case the music was by Sir Arthur Sullivan.

that the organisation js contemplating a production during the--year. “Lack of support by the public has not assisted the Society’s finances, hut the members are working strenuously to enable further effort to he made- It is to be regretted, that amateur* do not receive more encouragement. An excellent performance at St Michael’s Schoolroom a little while ago did not draw the audiences. if:'deSefved, notwithstanding tho fact that the donation of " the prooeeds to charity was au additional incentive.