Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 91, 13 December 1912, Page 11

Plays and Pictures.

Relating some amusing stage, stories in the Sydney "Sun," the narrator says: It. -was rather trying for the unfortunate actor in Randolph Bedford's play, "The Lady of the Pluck-up." idlen he had to ar-k, "Am I acting crook?" and the gallery as one man shouted "Yes!"' A similar incident, happened ii few weeks ago at. the Bijou, Melbourne. An actor had to say, "Now is the time to art," and he no sooner uttered the words than a stentorian "god" yelled, "Then why the devil don't ye'r!'' The present- visit of .Tuhus Knight to Australia is his fifth. Only another artist, equals him in this record—Miss Grace Palotta. Both are great favorites with Australian audiences, and Mr. Knight probably registers more successes and has had a healthier influence upou the J. C Williamson treasury than any other star who has ever visited Australia » • The annual visit to I>ew Zealand of j Wirth Bros.' Circus and Wild West Show is announced. The big show will descend first upon Dunedin, opening the season there on December 23. j | To-morrow night will witness tho in-j augural .performance of the Wellington! season of the Bert Bailey Dramatic Co.j This company is one of tho best all-, round theatrical organisations at present touring Australasia, and includes many well-known and clever artistes. Bert Bailey is funmaker-in-chief, and of | him it can be said that he has the' comedy goods and knows how to unload them. Miss Mary Marlowe, a young. English actress, and C'uy Hastings, an English actor, appear in the leads, and; Edmund Duggan and Miss Laura Rob- j crts (sister of Harry of that ilk) are other prominent members of the company, whose initial offering is a highlysuccessful dramatisation of Steele Rudd's immensely popular Australian story, "On Our Selection." The piece should prove a strong draw-card, and the company's season be profitable and pleasurable to playgoers and proprietary both. "Pip" Powell, the dame in "Sinbad the Sailor" and the King in "Puss in Boots," this year's pantomime, claims' ta have broken a new record in being the only dame that ever went through the. Williamson 4-3 weeks' tour without missing a performance. The number of perfnrmanees was 343. The date fixed for the production of "Milestones." in which Julius Knight is to make his Australian re-appearance is December 14, at. the Criterion Theatre, Sydney. Mr. Knight will appear as John Rhead at three periods of life — at thei ages of 2-**, f)0. and 77. Tbe play might be taken by those inclined to a serious view of the drama as a study in heredity. Three generations aro represented. The evolution in cloHics and furniture is also interestingly illustrated. "It must not be thought," remarked Mr. Knight, discussing the production, "that 'Milestones' is a big play in the sense of great scenes and crowds. It is just the opposite. The success it has won has ! be«- on its charm, novelty, and cleverness-. It also allows of excellent act- ! ing scope. There is not. a character in the piece but commands your interest. and you find yourself deeply engrossed in. trie story that runs through a man's whole life,.' I saw the play a. number] of times, and it never failed to take, a hold of mc." The fact that the farewell song recital of Madame. Kirkby Limn, when she alone contributed tho entire programme, with her brilliant associate, Mr. Wm. Murdoch, as accompanist, attracted the only full audience of her Sydney season evoked the following reflections from the critic of the "Sun": It is very evident, both here and in England, that managements are too prone to overload programmes with altogether unnecessary "supporting" artists._ The supporting artists, baritone and violinist, of Madame Lunn were right enough in their way, and under ordinary circumstances they would have been heard with much enjoyment. But when a star artist makes a flying visit to tbe city the case is altogether different. People want to hear the big singer or the big player, and "padding" in the way of supporting artists is ertremely distasteful to the majority of people. Madame Lunn and Mr. Murdoch could go through the length and breadth of Australia and they would be sure to make money for their management. Of course, the strain of supplying the whole programme is severe on most artists, and there are but few who can siiceessfull** attempt it. Nevertheless it. is what the cultured amon_ th". musical public want, and there is evidence in every place where concerts form part of the musical life of the community that the days of long programmes and many artists are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.