STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 181, 31 July 1915, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

I STAGE FIXTURES. HIS .MAJESTY'S THEATRE. July 20 to 30— Grauam MofTnt Co. August 2—Maori Opera "Hlncmoa." August 10, 1-1, 14—The Chernlavskys. Sept. 1 to 10 -J. C. Williamson. Septl 27 to Oct. O— J. t.'. Williamson. October 11 to -'.'!— J. and N. Talt .Not. 2j to Dec. 4— J. ('. Williamson, tlirintuias Season— J. C. Williamson. M&s Gaby Deslys receives the enormous salary of £uOO a week at the London Alhambra. When she goes on tour at the end of her engagement she will receive i.'7;io a week. An ad. appeared in a Ivondon paper reading as follows: —"Wanted—a collaborator, by a young playwright. The play is already finished; collaborator to furnish board and lodging until play is produced." A writer in the London "Daily Telegraph" pays tribute to Mr Dan Godfrey and his work afc Bournemouth, for native music. During the season which closed recently, iMr Godfrey conducted 07 works by British composers, of which no fewer than 20 were being played for the first time.

How little the war has affected the economic and artistic life of Russia has been eloquently demonstrated by the Htatement of Mr. W. A. Jcliakovsky. director of the Imperial Theatres, who declares that, far from having diminished the theatrical business hus increased during this year. "The Imperial Theatre at Potrograd took in 30,000 rouble 3 more than in the ■preceding year," lie saye, "while in Moscow, despite the increase in the number of theatres, there was no perceptible diminution in the /e----ceipts. "We are busy preparing for next year, and we expect one of the greatest seasons, in the artistic sense of the word, ever witnessed in Russia's two capitals."

Tho controversy between Saint-Saens and tiouday, the Parisian critic, upon tho employment of modern German music -has found a support in favour from a French soldier in the tronehea. Between two turns in the trenches this trooper liae actually found time to write to the critic "to say that good music ie good, and bad music is bad, whatever else may happen, and that the name of tlie composer docs not matter, whether that name be Beethoven. Wngner, Saint-&aens, or <yen Kichard Straus. "Let tlie eacred union oi the country be maintained and strengthened up to the day of victory, but for heaven's sake after the war let everyone i»' free to like whatever he thinks likeable. It" ;i l! Frenchmen took to liking and hating in a masfi the same things they would cease to be Frenchmen. It would be h great pity, and a great bore, too."

A cinematographic Clin of some historical value has beVn prepared by the New Zealand Government's olliciai photographers a* a record of the sending of troops to the soat of war. The film was tested by a privnte exhibition recently, and found to be of excellent quality. It records the training of the men at, the Trenthnm camp, including both infantry and mounted infantry and other features of the camp. The marching of the troop 3 through Wellington, the farewell parade at Newtown Park, and the embarkation of the Main Expeditionary Force are well pictured, and :> section is devoted to tho Maori Contingent. There is a fine view of the departure of the first squadron of transports, escorted by X.M.S. Minotaur and the big Jnpiine.-,e cruiser Ilmki. Ilia KxceJlency ;ho Governor, the Prime Ministor, and Major-Oenrral Godley figure prominently in the picture.

Mr. Joseph O'Mara, speaking in the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, at the close of a. three wecke' season at the theatre, announced the elimination of German opera from his repertoire. "Now ie the time." he said, "when English opera is on the road to BUeceae. It will not be very long before Knglinh opera is risrht on top—unfortunately the |ihce held for bo many yeara -by foreigners, who did not dcuiTvo it. When we Ji.ive the honour and pleasure to appear before you again one thing is certain—-there will be no German opera in onr repertoire. When 1 ■ started the tour this year, I thought it was a pity to put away German art. but as the year has gone on and we have seen the vile things done by lbiv;r cnerrtfe.-, 1 thinlc it is timo lhat we should esat out everything that appertains to Germany." O'Mara'e remarks wen- loudly applauded by an audience which had been very enthusiastic in the company's rendering of "'The Lily of Killnruey."

A treat ie evidently in store for picI fure-lovcrs when "NcptuneV* Daughter," the marvellous photo-|»lay. with Annette I Kellennan. the Australian Vcnita, as its Vt.ir. finally iv.i-hes New Zealand. The Dominion tour of this great pictUTetlijiitia him been repeatedly postponed, owing to the great success it has been in Australia. It is now etated that the picture t>pen« in Wellington on the Ist October. The 6tory of "Xeptune's Daughter" takrs two hour« and a half to unfold. Annette Kellennan is shown at home in the water as only Annette Kellennan can be. surrounded with a cast which adequately brings the pictured story vividly before the public. The picture was filmed in the Bermuda Inlands, where Shakespeare is supposed to have laid the scene of "The Tempest." The beauty of the Bermudan share under and above water, together with the startling developments of the story, is eaid to make "Neptune's Daughter" something entirely different from anything that lias heretofore been exhibited on the screen.

The world of entertainment has suffered a grievous loss by the death of Mr Barclay Gammon, who passed away on June 2 (save a London paper). Mr (■amnion, who was 4S years of age, had been confined to his room for some time by bronchitis, but it was to heart failure that lie eventually sueeumbpd. Sinco the days of Corney Grain, whoee legitimate successor he might rightly be accounted, no musical entertainer ha<s held a higher place in the favour or the affections of the public. Barclay Gammon was not only an expert musician, but a. humorist of the iirst water, lie both wrote a-nd composed the songs -with which he captivated his audieriee. Among his latest was "Kaiser Bill," a thing of the rarest wit and wonderful drollery. Standing in the wings, lie would complete a verse on the spur of the moment, and surprise those in front by an apt reference to something that had happened in the course of the day. lie was a.s fertile a« he was infinitely amusiug. To the call of charity he was ever ready to respond, oven at grzvp inconvenience to himself. A bigger-hearted, a more kindly man never breathed. Wherever lie went lie created an atmosphere of geniality and good fellowship. Of him it may safely be said he never an enemy and never lost a friend. world is the sadder by ihie, death*

Jess Willard, the man who battered Jack Johnson to the canvas at Havana, is "working" the New York variety iheatn*; at a, salary of £200 a day. The latest American advices state, bowever, that ho, has not proved a great boxoffice attraction. The day of the "freak" turn is done.

Albert Chevalier, one of the greatest favourites the vaudeville world has ever had, and who eventually became a society entertainer, ihas entered into the picture world. His first appearance was in the 7>lay "The Middleman," in which Mr Charles Cartwright and Miss Olga Nethersole toured a good deal of the world.

Captain Herbert Flemming, eldest son of the late popular Australian acior, Herbert Flemming, has succumbed to the -wounds he received at tho frontCaptain Flemming's mother was wellknown in the musical world as Madame Minna Fischer, and is married to the composer, George Clutsam, of New Zealand. Another of her sons is still at the front.

Miss Grace Pal otta, who for six months played in comedy sketches for Mr. Kdward Fable at Bombay, Calcutta. Colombo, Bengal, and other Eastern cities, has returned to Australia. On her arrival in Adelaide she received a message from Mr. George Willooghby, asking her to accept the position of leading lady in a farcical comedy company; but_ having 'previously arranged to retire from the stage temporarily, she declined tho offer.

Jimmy Britt, the ex-champion boxer, who is appearing at the Sydney Tivoli Theatre in a series of clever etories and recitations, was originally educated for the law. lie studied at the San Francisco University, but a change in the financial affaire of the family altered the intention. Eritt has been called the Bean Brummel of the vaudeville stage, and even before he entered the -professional boxing ring woe known oe "The Fighting Dude." That wae because hf; always neatly dressed, but that /act, he says, "never prevented mc from laying down my drees suit in the dust for any tough guy who wanted a battle."'

Mr. H. W. Tamam, of Oamaru (Hampton Woods), has forwarded an autograph copy of the new patriotic song "Keep On Keepin' On." -which strikes an entirely new and original note in patriotic music, and makis an appeal to business men. Not everyone is able to stand in the fighting line: and the patriotism of those who remain at home can be best shown—as the title of the ?ong suggests—if all will "Keep On Keepin' On." The merit of the song, and the generous ofTer of the composer to devote the proceeds from the sale of this issue to the fund for wounded soldiers, should ensure for it a ready sale. Every copy sold means four votes for Xortfi Otago's candidate in the Queen Carnival contest.

The J. C Williamson picture film.. '•"Within Our Gates," its a laudable attempt to stimulate recruiting (bays the "Bulletin'). A home-bred Hun gets a financial grip of an Australian-German young mau in the Mebourne War Ofliec ami forces him to copy papers, which the out-and-out Hun turns to wirelese .account, the, wircles* plant being in his [attic." But "he lias a fair adopted ! daughter (a very dangerous possession for a spy) who love* the War Minister's son and gives the frame away. Hence the spy is euchred, and the Australian transports get eafely to Egypt. Both the hero-lover and the penitent AustraTeuton go to Gallipoli, where the latter succumbs to a Turkish bullet whilst he , it. rescuing the hero from a tight place. So he dies happy, purged of hie treaeh- ' cry o« regards the "papers." The melodrama, devised by \V. J. Lincoln, introduces a lot of military spectacle, and tlie storming of the Gallipoli cliffs tickled up Ihc soldier section of the audience when the film was submitted to private view at Her Majesty's (Melbourne).

Tin , etagc censor has been stirred into activity by the London revues, and from the Lord Chamberlain's Department there hae issued a circular, warning them that scantiness of attire may lead to t!ie production being ordered to close down. This move by the Lord Chamberlain (siiye "Criticus," in the "Lyttelton Times") is without doubt an attempt to check, in the licensed theatres at any rule, the wave of bare-skin costumes on tbc stage, which commenced in America, and lias crossed the oceans on both sides of the States. Australia has already seen on its stage costumes in which scantiness of the attire was accentuated by the fact that bare skin was eh own pi eminently. The latest papere from America refer to one production at a midnight show in which there is not one etoeking and no tights. With this in mind, it is startling to look at photographe of some of tho "costumes" which have to lie worn by the chorus. Exactly why this parade of semi-nudity should tip necessary is not quite clear, and periiaps it theatrical managers directed their attention to the possible effects of eucli scenes as these on the sexual crime of our lime, they might be astonished. Now Zealand has no power of censorship short of actual prosecution for indecency, but ik is to bo hoped that the authorities will keep a dose watch on the inroade of anything of the kind.

Stephen Phillips will not make history with the ''modern epic drama"' "Armageddon," which Mr. Martin Harvey produced at the New Theatre on Tuesday, says the "Weekly Dispatch," London. Briefly, as far as ite plan goes, it is a revue in six scenes—the first of them laid in Hell, where Satan sends the shade of Attila back to earth in search of trouble, or to make it. The scenes that follow have no relation to each other. They are all concerned, it is true, with the present war, and designed, to tell us that war is a horrible thing; but although fine phrases abound in the dialogue written for these scenes, nothing i≤ said or done to show us that the author has any great mission, or that he Jcncws more or feels more deeply about what is happening in Europe than the very simple man in the street who has friends and relatives fighting iv France or elsewhere. Why it should he thought necessary to give* a Hell scene with a presumption that wars are ordered from there, goodness only knows. No ordinary human being could explain it. The action of this drama lies in the bombardment of Rheims and the Berlin Tress Bureau scenes, and as bath are quite trivial the high aim of the prologue is not sustained in anything approaching an impressive manner. Frankly, the drama i 3 a disappointment. It ha-s been inspired, apparently.'ty what the author has read in the papers, and it has no pretensions at any moment to be as inspiring or impressive as some of the things that have been written about the war by journalists who have seen something of it. At the end of the performance Mr. Harvey, who bad a very good reception, made a speech, and so ended for some of us a very disappointing play.

THE DKADHEAD,