BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8535, 14 September 1907, Page 3

BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.

Mr Julius Knight initiated a brief season at the-. Princess Theatre, Melbourne, on Saturday, August 31st, and the Melbourne people showed their favourite very plainly that they were delighted to have him back in their midst after his long absence. "Robin Hood" was his opening production, and the popular actor was at his best in the title role, while the piece generally is well calculated to meat with approval from the playgoing public. Mr J. C. Williamson's new Musical Comedy Company are now in AdeJaide where they opened on Saturday. August3lst, with "The Blue Moon," which was witnessed by a fine audience. The Adelaide season will last three weeks, during which time the company will put the finishing touches on "Kitty Grey," so that it may be included in their repertoire for their season in the West, which will start towards the end of September. For Perth and Kalgoorlie they will have four pieces, "The Blue Moon," "Lady Madcap," "Three Little Maids," and "Kitty Grey," and these last will be still further increased for the New Zealand tour. T*he press on the other side gives warm praise to Miss Maud Hildyard, the English actress, who has come -out under engagement to Messrs Meynell and Gunn, and opens her New Zealand season at Auckland on the 16th inst. One writer describes Miss Hildyard as the finest emotional actress the colonies have, seen since Sarah Bernhardt, whilst others, recognising her forceful dramatic charm, say that Miss Hildyard would fill every, ideal in such plays as "To&a," "Fedora," etc. She will open her season in the great Irish moral drama, "A Warning to Women," which will be succeeded by "The Great Awakening" and "A Beautiiul Fiend." Miss Hildyard is co-author in the two latter dramas. Mr G. H. Barnes comes to New Zealand as general manager, and the tour is under the direction of Mr Allan Hamilton. Only the leading centres are to be visited, with one night each in New Plymauth, Wanganui, and Palmerston North*. The star is supported by a very strong ■company, among the principals being: Messrs James Lindsay, Conway Wingfiled, Tracey Borrow, Boyd . Jrwin, Rutland Beckett, Noel Stokes, W. Bovis, and Misses Amy Singleton, Hilda Meade, E. Guildford Quinn, and Jean Thorns. Miss Madge Mcintosh, the new leading lady for the Harcourt Beatty Company, arrived in Australia from London last week, under engagement to Messrs Meynell and Gunn. Miss Mcintosh will appsar in the leading female rol 1 of the newly-formed Beatty Mcintosh Company, of which Mr Harcourt Beatty is leading man. Mr Gaston Merva>e is also a prominent member of the company. Miss Mcintosh will make her first appearance in Australia in "Her Love Against tht World," -at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, on Sat-rday of this week. Amongst

the other plays to be included in the k company's repertoire is the romantic drama, "The Midnight Wedding," "Second to None," "Prince and Beggar Maid," etc. Miss Marie Narelle is still improving in health, but theperiod of her resuming her professional work has not yet been fixed. Some little time ago a rumour wa3 current that the clever trio. Le Roy, Talma and Bosco, whose conjuring feats were one of the best turns seen in the Rickards circuit, had broken up owing to the death of one of them. This, however, is not so, as they were recently appearing very .successfully at the Olympia, Liverpoo!. Mr Rickards does not believe in the.drama as represented by the three comedy companies he has had on tour. Vaudeville in future will be his only joy. Amongst the re-en-gagements made by Mr Rickards are those of Cinquevalli and the exceedingly clever Charlenes. Mr George Musgrove states that lie intends to bring a grand opera company every two yeai'3 to New Zealand. Next month Mrs Tom Fitzgerald starts out with her circus sho,v, which she has been consolidating and adding to for some months. The many friends in New Zealand of "La Belle Rose" will wish her every success in her plucky venture. Mr Edwin Geach intends to bring . a number of attractions to New Zealmd during the next twelve months. Mr Frank Thornton, with a new company and additional repertoire,, will make a welcome re-appearance. An American company will produce a dramatised version of the well-known book "Mrs Wiggs' Cabbage Patch," and to give variety Mr Geach will introduce Carter, the chver conjuror.