DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

Free Lance, Volume XVIII, Issue 971, 27 February 1919, Page 5

DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL

!8y Footlighti

MI>LLE. ANTONIA DOLORES, sweetest and most artistic of ■concert singers, is with, us once again and is renewing all her former success. How high she stands in public favour her crowded concerts abundantly testify. The first of a short series began in the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Saturday nigjit. Dolores hates to break faith with her patrons, but she had a great rush to keep faith •with them on this occasion.

On Friday she arrived in Auckland from Sydney after tedious delays. On Friday night she was on her way per train to Wellington. Is it any wonder that her concert. started half an hour late, and that the voice of the/ b songstress seemed to have lost some of the old-time charm and volume Y Monday's concert, following Sunday's Test, showed that the decline of power and richness was only a passing phase. Dolores was herself again. * * ■» * But, even if there had been some falling off, the singer's artistry—the witchery of her method—would have made full atonement for it. Take her play of expression as revealed in the simple Scotch ballad '' Comin' Thro' . rfche Rye." Or take that trio of Shakespearian ditties with which the concert opened.

In the bravura style there was Beethoven's ornate recitative "Ah! Perido" and aria "Per Pieta," with all their old-fashioned embellishments. There were a trio of charming French chansons full of delicate graces. In •the modern operatic style we had in Italian, that pathetic and melodious passage from "Madame Butterfly," the forlorn little Jap. wife pictures the return of her recreant American spouse. The copious recital closed with a posy of English songlets, ending with the very pretty " Swiss Echo Song." In all styles and in three languages Dolores captivated her audience. She was generous, too, in responding to recalls, for every item was encored, but she tried her voice too far when she ventured on the "Marseillaise." Then the audience joined her in " God Save the King," and her season was prosperously launched.

Mr John 1 Prouse as of yore rendered strong support to the diva with his fine baritone songs with which we are -all so familiar. He, too, paid the penalty of success in encores. The pianist, Mr Harold Smith, is an accomplished performer, both as accompanist and soloist. His execution of . Chopin's ever-green polonaise in A flat was marked by taste and power, and was promptly encored. This concert tour Is under the able direction of Mr Dun<can Nevin.

M. B. Figman and Company, recent importations from America by J. C. Williamson' Ltd., open their Wellington season at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening in " Nothing But "the Truth." M. B. Figman is„ a prominent American actor of the Fred Niblo type. He will appear here in his original role in "Nothing But the Truth," and will have the support of

A clever American actor now touring New Zealand under the direction of J. C. Williamson, Litd.

a specially-selected company. Miss Lolita Robertson, Mr Figman's leading lady, will also appear in Jier original role. Other prominent people whom J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have engaged to support the stars are . Mac. M. Barnes, Pirie Bush, Nellie Wilson, Primrose Caryll, Emma Temple, Kenneth Brampton, Leslie Victor, Lucie Carter, and Bernice Vert. The box plans for the first nights of the local season are now open at the Bristol; "Nothing But the Truth" will be played for six night only here, and will be succeeded on Saturday, March 8, by " T.he Man on the Box," Mr Figman's first big starring comedy in America.

Lolita Robertson, Mr M. B. Figman's leading lady, is credited with wearing something extra special in the of frocks i ll " Nothing But the Truth." In private life Miss Lolita Robertson is Mrs M. B. Figman.

Nellie Wilson, formerly with the Royal Comics, returns to us with Mr M. B. Figman. Since her last visit here, Miss Wilson has been appearing on the American stage. In " Nothing But the Truth " she plays the role (3 a vaudeville artist, and it is said that on the first night in Auckland the curtain had to be raised half a dozen times on the scene wherein she impersonates the " In-no-cent Gyurl."

Another fine double-change of prograijime is announced by the management for the Artcraft and Paramount Theatres for the new week commencing next Saturday, March Ist. The star attraction for the first half of the week (Saturday, Monday and Tuesday) will be dainty Marguerite Clark in her latest screen success, "Seven Swans." This beautiful story is adapted' from the most famous of all Grimm's Fairy Tales. It is said to be a wonderful production, throbbfng with stirring incidents. Marguerite Clark plays the role of Princess Tweedledee, who, for her seven faces death.

The feature' film at the Artcraft and Paramount Theatres for the second half of next week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) will be the famous drama "Believe Me, Xantippe," with Wallace Reid, as George McParland, the adventurousr young man who made a wager of £4000 with his friends that he could commit a crime and " get away with it"—that, is, that he could evade the police for a year after. This picture relates a most exciting series of adventures, in which young AfcParland finds himself with but three minutes' start of the police.

A picture, of unusual interest to New Zealanders will be showing at the King's Theatre, commencing on Saturday. This is a six-reel Australianmade racing drama, entitled " Desert Gold," in which Mr T. H. Lowry's famous mare is the prominent feature. This is not merely a number of pictures of the marvellous Maoriland racer. It is a well-constructed story with a love-tjieme running through it. But the story is woven round the exploits of I>esert Gold, which actually participates in the picture to a very great degree, and is seen in some of her greatest successes over the other side. The drama is full of thrills, even to the up-to-date one of an aeroplane flight against time to save the great mare from being scratched at the last minute. There is another point in which this picture will interest "Wellington people in particular. The costar of the drama is Marie Ney, the Wellington girl who has won fame on the Australian stage.

There is an unusual element in the Goldwyn feature, "Joan of Plattsfrurg," the feature film of Saturday's new programme at Everybody's. Mabel Normand is the star, and she plays a part totally unlike anything she has previously done. Instead of being a» merry little lady always up to pranks she becomes a waif who hears the story of Joan of Arc and is immediately seized with a desire to do similar deeds for her own country. The way in which she succeeds'" in doing a great service for her country makes a vigorous and exciting climax to a fine story. A pleasing feature is the transition of Joan from a homeless waif to a smart young lady, and this rounds off a love theme of much beauty.

. Mae Marsh, is decorated with expensive dresses and splendid jewels in the Goldwyn feature "Money Mad," next Saturday's new specialty at the Empress. It is not she, but her stepfather who is money-mad. His Hindoo servant exercises a malign mystic influence" over him. He murders his wife to obtain her money. The manner Mae and her lover trap the swindlers and also unearth the secret of her mother's death, constitutes a very exciting screen story. There is a distinct element of eeriness running through it, and the sinister figure of the Hindoo servant is a memorable one. The love theme is charmingly portrayed.

By an interesting coincidence the advance manager and the general, manager for the Dominion tour of "Nothing but the Truth 5 ' both wear the same surname, Matheson. Further, both are Dunedin-born, but they are not related. George of that ilk is general manager and James is in advance. The latter is just out of khaki, and back into " civies." He was three years and two months in camp, attached to the Dental Corps. Though he experienced none of the fighting he declares that his was not' the "cushy" job some would make it out to be. In fact, he says lie is glad to be back on the road again.

The Wellington Chautauqua week begins on Saturday next, March Ist, and ends on the following Friday evening. The big brown tent has been pitched on a most central position, namely on the church site in Boulcott Street just above the Albert Hotel. The Chautauqua during the week of seven matinee and seven evening performances will present twelve programms of music, art, drama, fun and oratory. It boasts five lecturers, five musical companies and a dramatic company. For further particulars see advt. elsewhere.

Chautauqua community expert, who will deliver five lectures during the Chautauqua week in Wellington.

* ■» ■» * x Not daunted by the fact tliat her annual dance recital in aid of Sir Arthur Pearson's Fresh Air Fund, had to be postponed on the eve of its production last November owing to the epidemic, Miss Dorothy Saunders has now arranged for it to take place in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Friday evening of next week. A programme containing many novel features will be given .by Miss Saunders and her pupils, and a delightful evening's entertainment is assured. The object of the recital should appeal strongly. The whole of the proceeds are to be devoted to Sir Arthur Pearson's Fresh Air Fund, which is wholly expended in giving to the slum children of the great cities of the Motherland the joy of a trip into the country. Miss Saunders' last effort produced enough to provide this treat for over a- thousand children.

The Wellington Commercial Travellers, ever to the fore on behalf of a worthy object, are-holding a "Surprise Packet Feature " throughout this coming month of March. It is to be in aid of the Mercantile Marine Fund, an object which will appeal to all. For particulars as to the tempting range of prizes to be offered see advt. in another column.

'' Peace in the world means a mar-

vellous development in motion pictures," says Producer Thomas H. Ince. The photo-play of the immediate .future will have a new heart-throb, for it will yield marvellously to the sentiment of the masses. With autocracy •crushed and human rights established throughout the world, the stories of .the screen to-morrow are bound to be -bigger. The motion picture industry is yet in the early stages of development. . The declaration of peace has -struck off the shackles that hindered its growth. During the soul-trving times of the past few years its power ior good has been forcefully proven, and its recognition by the governments of the work insure it a progress that I believe will astound even the greatest •optimist.

During her enforced vacation owing "to the Melbourne theatres being closed on account of the influenza outbreak, .Miss Muriel Starr has taken up the study of Shakespeare. Shakespeare's plays have' always appealed strongly to Muriel Starr, but this is the first time she has really had the opportunity to ■devote her leisure to their study. It is whispered that as the result, Miss Starr may be seen in the near future in such roles as Portia in "The Merchant of Venice,". Rosalind in "As You Like It," or Katherine in " The Taming of the Shrew." Frank Harvey might possibly make a very effective Petruchi o.

New productions which are likely to reach us in the usual leisurely way— some time before they are bald-headed —are the revue " Hullo, America," 4 'The Officers' Mess" (a musical hodgepodge), "The Week End," and "Jolly Jack Tars." Cosmo Hamilton's novel "Scandal" has just been dramatised. * l The Bantam, V.C." is awaiting its premiere in London. Pinero's farce The Magistrate," under a new title " The Boy," is now well into its second year at the Liondon Adelphi. For its introduction to America it is being re-christened with the fetching title of "Kiss Me."

Rachmaninoff, the great Russian piano composer and virtuoso, has been giving pianoforte recitals in New York lately. Crowds of "flappers" who thronged to hear him clamoured _ for his celebrated prelude in C sharp minor as an encore piece. He declined to give it, although he yielded five encores, including his own "Humoreske." All Flapperdom sorrowed, for it seems there are amiable fanatics who follow this pianist from place to place hoping to hear him in this particular prelude like the man who attended every performance of the lady lion tamer hoping to see her swallowed by one of her pets.

Douglas Fairbanks has written another boob. The title is " Making Life Worth While." The success of his first book, " Laugh and Live," is responsible for his re-appearance as an author of a new volume of optimistic •cheer for mortals of a war-worn world. It is another message from the man "who knows howi to keep himself happy and well, and is willing to pass his recipe on to others. It is written in his own characteristic style. It took exactly twelve months of Fairbanks' time to write " Making Life Worth While." That is, he dictated between scenes when he was acting in motion pictures, and burned the candle many

evenings. According . .to the Britton Publishing Company, over 400,000 copies of "Laugh and Live '> were sold in America.

Puccini is the most affuent operatic composer of the present day. Three new one-act operas of his have just been produced in New York. In "II Tabarro" (" The Cloak"), a Seine bargeman, his faithless young wife, and the lover whom the husband strangles, are the leading characters. " Suor Angelica" ("Sister Angelica") is the story of an aristocratic maiden who expiates a youthful trouble in the convent. In remorse she poisons herself, and as she dies the Virgin. Mary appeal's to her, and a choir of nuns and angels sing " Thou Art Saved." "Gianni Schicchi," the third operetta, is founded on an amusing comedy. At the instigation of the disappointed relatives of a rich man just died, " Gianni " (or "Johnny") impersonates the dead man so as to make a new will before dying, and he eonfounds them all by making the bequest in his own favour.

Charles Chaplin is just 29 years old. His bride, Mildred Harris, admits the age of 17 years. She is a star with Universal. . # ■ ' * * -K When Mrs Josephine F. Bushman was granted a divorce the other day from Francis X. Bushman she was also given substantial alimony assessed at £8000, which F. X. B. will have to pay out of his earnings' as a screen star. The grounds for the severing of the nuptial knot are cruelty and neglect. In addition to above amount respondent was ordered to pay houserent of petitioner, who is to have custody of the five children.

J. D. Williams, well known in moving pictures in New Zealand and Australia a few years ago, is reported to have died of the universal 'flu in San Francisco.

Negotiations have been closed between Jesse L. Lasky and Evangeline Booth, representing" the Salvation Army, for the filming of a big motion picture telling the remarkable story of the Salvation Army both in war and peace. The story of this motion picture finds its basis in historical truth and in recently developed facts. In the production of this film the Famous Players-Lasky organisation will have the full co-operation of the Salvation Army. Commander Booth herself will appear in the picture as she discharges her regular daily duties, and the story will be filmed with the due reverence and respect the subject calls for. The photo-play will include an all-star caste made up of favourite film players. It was expected that the picture would be ready for release, as a Para-mount-Artcraft Special, early this year.

Commander Booth, in speaking of the filming of this subject, said: "We have been besieged with requests from potion picture producers in connection with the staging of a photo-play based on the work of the Salvation Army. The Famous Players-Lasky organisation), we felt, was best equipped to do such a motion picture full justice. The Salvation _ Army, as: .such, will not appear in this or any other motion picture in the capacity of actors and actresses, but will be filmed in connection with the story as they pursue their ordinary daily functions both at the front in France, in their scores of institutions for mercy in the United States, in the slums, the tenements and wherever misery, hardship and privation, either among the young or the old,, exist.