Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 87, 8 November 1912, Page 6

Plays and Pictures.

BRIEFLETS, Jan«cn, the smart and stylish American magician, commenced a short rcttirn season in Wellington last Saturday. The trnnsformist has a number of new tricks and illusions in his repertoire, and has been thorn to the bewilderment and amusement of large audiences since the opening night. » • « Oscar Asche regards tho Auckland and Wellington theatres as sadly out of date, and ho expresses surprise that in tho newer theatres the cantilever system has not been adopted, oliminatiing the pillars supporting the galleries. It was a big mistake, be said, to stick to the old system of pillars in the new building that was to bo erected in Wellington. * » « In speaking of American productions of Shakespeare, Oscar Asche says: "They're what they'd call 'the limit.' In character work and in comedy the Americans are good—l admire them— but never in Shakespeare." The lease of the New Theatre in Manners-street, owned by Messrs. MacMahon and Donnelly, has been disposed of to a. purchaser, who intends floating a company, which will also acquire MacMahon and Lodder's Queen's Theatre, Auckland, a new theatre in Onehunga, one in Christchurch, and another in Dunedin. The Messrs. MacMahon and Donnelly will continue to be associated with tho business. * * # Maeterlinck is engaged on a. new play in which the two delightful children of the""Blue Bird" will appear as grownups. * The J. C. Williamson management has decided that its Christmas attraction in Sydney will be "Milestones," with Julius Knight in the leading role. In Melbourne "Antony and Cleopatra," produced by Oscar Asche, trill be presented on Boxing Night.