STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 156, 1 July 1916, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Both as a marvel of film production and as a popular favourite, " Quo Vadis?" hus been ousted from its proud position at the head of all film plays. There is a new picture in which all the most wonderful stunts of the cinema man have been combined with a thrilling play from the pen of the great Italian author, Gabriele d'Annunzio. Tlie film is called "Cabiria." It is at once the most costly, the most successful, the most spectacular and the most complete picture play ever constructed. The Itala Film Company of Turin, already noted for its enterprise and originality, is responsible for this picture. Apart from the plot and the live interest of the plary, both of which are ingenious and absorbing, the picture is remarkable because its scenes are drawn from the Punic wars—the long and fearful contests between ancient Rome and ancient Carthage, for the dominion of the world. Tlnese wars took place in the third century before Christ, and that is the epoch in which " Cabiria "is laid. No more fitting time could have been chosen fer the production of the film than the present. The world is distraught with the horrors of the present war, and historians tell us that this present war against Germany exceeds in magnitude only the Punic wars of 21R B.C. That was a war of extermination, a war for very existence, as this one is. It ended in the triumph of Rome. "Oabiria" will be screened at the Lyric very shortly.

Alfred Sutro, the dramatist, and Alexander Teixeira de Mattos, the author and translator, are doing war work in the same Government department in England. This association of Sutro and Teixeira de Mattoa is especially interesting in view of the fact that the latter succeeded Sntro as English translator of Maeterlinck. This wa« after Sutro scored so complete a bull's eye with "The Walls of Jericho" that he felt safe in devoting himself thereafter to dramatic authorship on his own account, and abandoned the translation work which previously had occupied a large share of his time.

Singers who fancy that indulgence in tobacco affecta the voice will be interested to learn that Mr. Paul Darault, the popular tenor, does not hold to any marked extent that smoking in the ordinary way does affect the voice, but saye that the cigarette smoker who makes a practice of inhaling is certainly running a risk tliat he (Mr. Dufault) would not run. On the day of ihis concert Mr. Dufault refrains from smoking until the evening, jnst as he refrains from talking as much as possible in order to rest the vocal chords, but in the interval frequently smokes a cigar, and always smokes after a concert. It is his practice, too, to have a nap and a read on the afternoon of a concert, in order chiefly to get away from company of any sort and to avoid talking. From his nap Jie rises usually at about 5 pjn., vocalises a little, has a light meal, then off to the concert. Dufault smokes a pipe ac well as cigars, but at no time is he a very heavy smoker.

The King and Queen went from Windsor to attend the great Shakcspeaie matinco Crife ait JJruSjT Lane. The performance was a hicmbraQe one. both as regards its purpose, the audience which witnessed it. and the crowning incident of the knighting of Mr. Benson, so picturesquely—indeed, it might almost be said dramatically—catried out. The whole audience eang the National Anthem as Their Majesties appeared in the Royal box. The Queen wore a very becoming black and white dress and hat, with sapphires and diamonds. With the iKing and Queen were Prince Henry and I'rince George, and in the box adjoining were Prince Albert and Princess Mary, who looked charming. The Princess Royal and Princess Maud, with Lord and Lady Karqnhar in attendance, were near tlie Royal box; and in the stage box Princess Christian sat with her two daughters. All the Hoyal party wore tho Shakespeare medallion.

An innovation in the lighting of moving picture theatres has been introduced at tlie Majestic Theatre, Melbourne, and it promises to be successful. The practice has been to keep picture theatres in ahnost complete darkness. This originated in a misconception. The notion was that unless all the lights in the auditorium were practically extinguished the screen effect would be indistinct. From time to time, however, devices for keeping the lights partially up without detriment to the picture on the screen have been tried. In the alterations at the Majestic Theatre the screen was taken back on the stage for about 30ft, the two sides of the proscenium forming a kind of welL The light from the projecting machine is consequently confined on both sides, and reaches the screen with so little loss of strength that it is not interfered with by a soft lighting of the auditorium. If the screen could be taken back 30ft more the effect would bo intensified to a degree that pictures could be projected in broad daylight. The picture does not suffer in the slightest. It is as sharply denned as ever, and the audience are relieved from an inconvenience. Moral objection to the picture theatre on the ground of the boTKe being in constant darkness is aieo removed.

Tlie ""Mother Goose" pantomime, which, opened at Wellington this week, ■will play a ten weeks' tour of the Dominion. Just on 100 people comprise the organisation, the transportation charges of which, with secnery, involves an outlay roundly of £3,000. This means v weekly load of £300 for transportation alone. The other 0. C. Williamson companies are now in either Sydney or Melbourne. In Sydney " Gipsy Love" has been replaced by "The Quaker Giri" Miss MfeggifrAioorc has been specially engaged for the part of Madame Bhnn in the English musical comedy. "It Paye to Advertise," now in its third woek at the Criterion, continues merrily on its way. It will be followed by "The Boomerang," a delightful comedy that haa just been transferred to London. In this case the cast will be entirely English in character. The play is reported a success in London. The third J. C. Williamson Sydney house—the Koyal—is dov being tenanted by Hγ. Julius Knight, who is scoring a big following in his revival season. In Melbourne "On Trial" ie succeeding well. It will be probably followed lny " Romance," which play, now running in London, the Williamson management has purchased for Australia, Now Zealand and South Africa. " So Long, Letty," is dv its final weeks at Her Majesty's, Melbourne. A revival of "High Jinks" is to fdlow, and then "Tonight's the Xight," an English musical attraction, will be presented. The next production for Sydney will be " The Cinema Star," which in due course will ha eetenltted by the Royal Comic Opera

The Taite' career in drama 'has opened in the most happy fashion with the American comedy-drama "Peg o' My Heart." The management reckon to dear £10,000 on the Sydney season (now in ita twelfth week), and anticipate that throughout Australia they will make a "clean up" with it to the tune 'of £30,000.

An amusing incident happened recently at the New Theatre, Cambridge, where the audience are noted in the "profession" for their "chipping" proclivities On a Monday night each turn was subjected to sundry interruptions by a few young officers in the stalls. A certain Russian tenor was on the "bill." On making (hie appearance he had the rame treatment meted out by those in front. A brilliant idea struck him. Hie quietly addressed the conductor, who at once struck up the Russian National Antliem. This was sung by him three times, the officers, of comee, being compelled to stand to attention meanwhile. At the conclusion the tenor, with an affable smile, left the stage, lhappy in the knowledge that he had got hie own back!

Minnie Love, laet here with the Royal Comic Opera Company, and previously with the "Cinderella" Pantomime Company, received a tempting offer from the Mutual Film Corporation to play lead in several big productions by the company. Miss Love told a West Australian paper she would probably be leaving for America in October.

Chaplin's contracts provide that as he is a British subject he ehail not leave the United States and rnn the risk of compulsion in Britain wifcnm the life of the contract without the permission of tho Mutual Film Company. " 'Hie British public," says the London " Evening News," "will do doubt swarm into (lid picture theatres, paying their Hardearned money to see on the ecreen a British knockabout comedian wbo, if he were at home, would be liable to be called up for military service, but wJk> prefers the sunshine of Los Angeles and the dollars of Freuler to helping the country that gave him birth and his start to fame,and fortune."

A well-known figure on concert platfoTras hae passed away in the person of Mrs. Robert Buchanan, jun. (Jessie N. Maclachlan). Her death occurred on April 30, after a lingering illness, at Thorncliffe, Woodend Avenue, Cathcart. During the past year, owing to the state of her feeatth, Mjes Maclachlan (to use the name by which ehe was known pro fcfisionaJly) had not been heard in public, but for more than thirty years previously she was one of Scotland's best known vocalists. A native of Oban, she came when a girl to reside in Glasgow, and it was in the city that she made feer debut on the concert platform. She was one of the first voealiste to popnlarioe Gaelic Eongs, and at Highland gatherings in Scotland, in London, and in the Colonies—which ehe toured several times— she wae a great favourite. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Robert Buchanan, jtnx, and one son. Mise Maclachlan visited New Zealand some years ago on a concert tour.