Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 69, 5 July 1912, Page 12

Plays and Pictures.

YVilliamson's "Sinbad the Sailor" Pantomimo Company will visit the Dominion in August, opening tho tour in Wellington, oil. tlie Mth.

The wages of actresses must he very good in Australia. Yet another player, Miss Florence lineson, of the Panto. Co., is now driving about Sydney in her own motor-car. She has taken out; a lieon.se, and acts as her own ohauf-

Concorninn a coming visitor to New Zealand, a Sydney payor writes: ''In lior own lino Cooper is m fine an artiVh as Ethel Irving is in hois." Miss Cooper could receive, no higher praise than that.

The Adelaide 'Herald," commenting, on the local presentation; of Maeterlinck's dream play, says that " "The Bine Bird' ilios over tho heads, of many people at the Theatre Royal, but there are times when even the unimaginative can enjoy, tho flight. It is a. charming piece of imagery."

The "Bulletin' says that Miss Winifred Purnell, tho Sydney, girl who set out for Europe to inako a namo for herself as a pianist without any society backing, is doing it. After her first London appearance—she had hitherto only shown in Germany, and there-abouts—-the "Daily Mail" told her that she "played with triumphant technique and force of musical character," and whispered to its largest circulation on earth that sh© is "a musician of most determined individuality, for whom an unusual career may be safely prophesied."

Tho impression that haa been made in Melbourne- by the Quintan Grand Opera Company is that Australia has for tho first time seen grand opera in the productions of this company. Tho principals reach a very high artistic standard, the orchestra'is tho best that has evor boon heard in tho Commonwealth, and the chorus is remarkably effective. 'JTip Melbourne critics have nothing but unstinted praise for (ho performances. The operas are all being sung in English.

The Wykiham-Nablo Comedy Company concluded a rather poorly-patron-ised Wellington season on Saturday last. Tlie company showed at the Opera House, but few seemed to bo aware of tlie fact (judging by the attendances, and there were no queues a mile long or any riots at the doors. The company was a capable one, the principals clever and experienced artists, tho musical farce comedies presented of more than average attractiveness!, being a pleasing blend of mirth and melody, fun and frivol, and yet the phiygoing public consistently stayed away, flow account for that: We give it up. As an old manager once remarked: "There aro times when you couldn't get people into your theatre if you put on tho Resurrection or the, battle ol Armageddon. There are other times when you can't keep them out with a gun!" Unfortunately for Messrs. Wvkeham and Nable, they struck one oi "tho times" and not one of tho •■other times." Perhaps Wellington theatregoers were saving up for the visit of Hilly Kersand's Greater American Minstrels, for the coons o]>ened big at the Opera House on Monday night, and the initial success seemed to augur full houses right throughout the season. Tho darkie entertainers provide several features of interest in their show, which possesses both no\city and freshness. The star of the. combination is comedian Billy C. Brown, who is a Hummer from Ilnmmerville. He's got tho goods, sure!