STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 31, 5 February 1916, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Mr. William Begg, who is better known by his stage name of Walter Bentley, is a candidate for the Drummoyne seat in the New South Wales Legislature Assembly.

"March Waikato," composed by Mr. T. 6. Webster of Hamilton, a copy of which has been received for review, is a fine stirring piano solo, which is also scored for a band or orchestra. It is one of the best pieces of its kind by a New Zealand composer, and should be a good seller. It is computed tliat 7000 men connected ■with the kinema business in the British Isles have enlisted in the new armies. Two holders of tho A'ictoria Cross were formerly employed in the film trade, some of the leaders of which now propose to start a crusade to raise £30,000 to provide a complete motor convoy for the front. Russian kinematograph companies have received many orderß from London recently for films of Russian origin. The Russian kinema repertoire is very rich in historical dramas, but since tlie war broke out the market has been short of comic films, because they were mostly supplied by Germany. This is a good opportunity for the British companies to supply Russia with films of this kind. Mr. Hugh Ward made some presentations to six members of the staff of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., at H«r Majesty's "Theatre, Sydney, on Friday night. These employees of the firm have enlisted, and Mr. Wind, in presenting them with a purse of sovereigns, said that during thoir absence their salaries would be paid in full, and their positions would be kept open for them. Could patriotism go e,ny further? "Another presentation -was made by the staff and colleagues to the six. Recruiting threatens to seriously deplete the ranks of the theatrical profession in Australia. No fewer than eleven artists enlisted during the week (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"), and the male side of quite a powerful dramatic company could be formed with the actors now in active rehearsal, for the great European tragedy. Many of Branscombe's Dandies artists are obeying the "call" for which there is no "difference in time of clocks" allowance. Rannal Carlisle (now Sergeant Carlisle) is en route for "somewhere at the front." Dan Cerise, the property maatcr with the "Greens." went into camp on the 3rd. Mr. Arthur Mack, the comedian, will leave the Garden Theatre Company at the end of the month, and proceed to Adelaide, his native city, there to enlist about the middle of March. -Mr. Arthur Riscoc, the quaint comedian with the Scarlet Dandies at Brisbane, shed his baggy pants and the brimles* billycock for the more serious khaki garb. Mr. Philip Hardroan, the touring musical director of the firm, goes to Birmingham to take farewell of his people prior to going on active service. Mr. J, Bronnan, the clever character comedian with the "Pinks," leaves early next-month.

Charlie Faning, one or the finest comedians Australia has ever produced, since he combined all the qualities that make the ideal coloured sr.Urtaincr, has taken his last call in South Africa, whither he went with his wife (Georgie Devoe) and her daughter (Charlotta) not so very long ago. Unlike tbe variety performer of to-day (says a Sydney paper) Faning could adapt himself to any of the requirement* of tbe musichall stage. A capital clog dftneer„ although he did little of it in recent years, a clever mimic, and a raconteur" who could tell stories in a quaintly original manner, no manager was ever cornered because of the indisposition of a member of his troupe whilst the genial Charles was about, Many old Sydneyitcs remember a good joke played off on Charlie nearly a quarter of a century ago. One evening he had distinguished himself mpre than usual, and a group of jockey friends who had previously visited Paddy's Market across tbe street, showed their appreciation of his good humour by passing him over the footlights several hunches pj bright green vegetables. "Thanks, boys,'' was the laconic acknowledgment, "but you might have sent some corned beef with this." Fatal reminder. During the interval the lads hied them to another stall, and purchasing a huge smoking Tound of beef wrapped it carefully in newspaper and returned to the auditorium. Charles

"went better than ever" in his next turn, ajid as he was taking his call one of the horse-restraincrs, looking like a miniature undertaker, solemnly approached the stage and handed up the

"boiled offering." lt was hot, and as Charlie was unprepared for the feast he dropped it from his half-black hands on to the stage, from where it slid on to tbe piano keyboard. The audience thought it part of the evening's business, and voted Faning a "trick,"

Miss Kathleen Levi, the young and very talented daughter of Mrs. Blanche Urn, ot New Zealand, had a singular honour conferred on her in being chosen, from the 600 students there, to play the solos in a Beethoven concerto at the concert given by the Royal Academy Orchestra at the Queen's Hall, London. Miss Levi's technique was exceptionally fine, her phrasing very good, and she played, especially for one so young, with : great breadth of tone. Miss Genevieve Ward, who many years ago was a great favourite in Australia, particularly in "Forget-Afe-Not, returned to the stage at tbe age of 78. She was engaged to play the part of a naughty old duchess in a new comedy by Mrs. Clifford Mills, which Sir George Alexander was to produce on New Year's Day at the St. James' Theatre, London. "I had no intention," said Miss Ward in au an interview, "of acting again, but the war strain, sitting in the house alone reading, knitting socks for the men at the front—l have knitted sixty pairs since the war began—and playing patience all get on my nerves, strong as they are. When, therefore, Sir George Alexander offered mc a part in his new play 1 said if I liked it 1 would accept it. And I did like it. Except for Mr. Benson now and then, I have not played' since "The Virgin Goddess" was produced at the Adclphi ten years ago, although 1 have been asked several times. 1 was glad to find that my memory has not suffered in the least. I learned my part in three days and went to the theatre for rehearsals letter perfect." Miss Ward began her career as a singer in grand opera. Lord Howard de Waldcn, who takes a great interest in Welsh national music and drama, recently offered a prize of £100 for a Welsh folk playlet. Tbe priaie has been won by Mr. J. C, Frances, with "The Poacher," which is described as "picturesque and poetic" Its story j empliMises the lure of the wild for the roan turned by a lay preacher from a nightly defiance of the game laws-—that exist, in spite of the text, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof" —to commonplace respectability and the legal purchase of meals, hitherto supplied by uucqutont rabbit But there is a vagabond, with a ready wit and a wagging tongue, to limn the pious preacher in hia true colours, and to paint for the converted one the joys of the snare and the stealth of the night excursions, resulting in a well-stored larder. The poacher can hold out no longer against the eloquence of his partner, nnd as the curtain falls the pair depart for another expedition. Lord Howard dc 'Waldcn, who is reputed the wealthiest peer in Great Britain, seems to imagine that his versatility eclipses that of the Kaiser himself. Among other things the peer wrote the libretto of "Dylan," an unsuccessful opera. Jack Cannot writes from the Tivol". Theatre (Sydney): "Might I nsk you to give mc a few lines in your valuable paper in which to air a grievance? During tho last two or three weeks I have been receiving letters—anonymous ones —from people asking mc why 1 do not join and do my bit. As you may not know, I have seven years' servioe in the Territorials and two in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves. If we get compulsory service I will go to-morrow, and willingly; but my wife and baby boy are ■ dependent on mc, and I'm not going to let them live on five shillingw a day while there are thousands of -single shirkers [lounging about corners of streets and attending tbe pony-meetings. There ore thousands of men in jiast the same position as myself, who would welcome conscription for the sake of tbe Empire; but it's not fair to expect married men to go when there are so many single ones remaining. I'm afraid if I had anything to do with the law* of the Commonwealth my idea* would be too drastic. In the first place, I'd have cnnacriptkin, and I'd close the pubs altogether. By not doing so we are going tv drag this war on for many long, weary month*, and Jose thousands of precious lives." "Twin Beds," which enters upon Its foitrtli week at the Criterion (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph") has been | subjected, to the fierce light of clerical criticism during the week, Canon Chart, ton was the first to express his feelings. His protest was followed by the Anglican Primate, who made hoardings generally the basis of comment on the condition of the theatre. The controversy under the circumstance* has turned on the question whether a play can be judged by its poeter. From what can be gathered, the authorities instituted inquiries on the point, and found that 'T?win Beds" was not likely to outrage public morality. The Williamson management points out that in book form "Twin Beds" has been on sale in Sydney for months, and that the cover design, as exhibited on the bookstalls, is a reduced copy of the hoarding poster. Mr. Hugh Ward was in Melbourne during the clerical outcry against tho farce. Ilia comment upon it was: "When it ia necessary to stage plays as bad as the people who haven't seen 'Twin Beds' appear to think it is, I ehall give up management and spend my time fishing in the harbour, where there is more scope than in the old mill stream."