STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Mr. George Marlow hae decided to retire from the Adelphi Theatre, Sydney, and Mr. Ben Fuller succeeds him as governing director.

For some time past the Wellington Amateur Operatic Society has been rehearsing Sydney Grundy's bright and melodious musical comedy, "San Toy." The season will commence on August 19. Mr. Tom Pollard will stage manage the performance.

Vienna's tax on tickets for theatres, music halls, kinemas, dance halls, and eporting exhibitions like football games, which has hitherto produced £1,200 a year, is to be raised at once so as to bring in an income of £50,000 from an impost of 10 per cent on all paid admissions. "There ie no girl in 'Mother Goose' to come near Maud Fane for restrained, unaffected acting," sa-ys "The Theatre." "She stands alone. All the others should subscribe to a weekly purse, , to be presented to Miss Faue for the model she sete them, if they only had the senee to profit by her example."

Charlie Chaplin has never married, because the only woman he ever loved jilted him. " When I wanted to marry," he says, "I didn't have enough money. Now that I have money I don't care to marry. Besides there's plenty of time for that eort of thing when I quit work. No one realises better than 1 do that my services may not be worth £20 a week in five years' time. lm eimply making hay strenuously while the eun shines."

Doubtless there are moving pictures that ought not to be shown, although they are surprisingly few in number, holds the San Francisco "Argonaut." There are sermons that ought not to be preached, dramas that ought not to be played, pictures that ought not to be displayed, speeches that ought not to be delivered, and books that ought not to be printed. But it is public opinion that judges of these things, and in the volume of public opinion some sort of judicial sanity invariably discloses itself.

Lilian De Venny is an undeniably pretty boy—in some of her costumes, and at certain angles, (eaye "The Theatre.") She has, horwever, a peculiar tvriet in the mouth. The effect ie 1o give a eomewhat strained appearance to the face, especially when ehe'e singing, and to appreciably lessen whatever claims she may Lave to facial beauty. Mice De Venny has perfect knees. Just notice the knees of the girls in tights supporting her in her eong, "Soldier Boy," and you'll marvel how as between Miss Venny and the lot of them there I could bo euch a difference.

New music received recently includes a number of excellent compositions published by Chappell and Co. A new waltz, "The Long Trail," by Claude B. Yearsley, is founded on a popular song which is the rage of London at the present time. The haunting melody in the minor key makes a dreamy waltz, and the refrain in the jmajor key comes as an effective contrast." It is sure to be popular. The new songs are: "The Perfect Song," by Joseph Carl Breil, 'Take Mc To Flowerland With You," by Dorothy Forstcr, "I Bring You Joy" by Haydn Wood, and "A Silhouette," by Ellen Tuckfield. 'All are excellent solo pieces, but "The Perfect Song" will, no doubt, find the greatest favour with vocalists. "Come!" is the title of a stirring patriotic song, written ■by George Weddel after watching the bombardment of Hsrtlepool in December, 1914. It is published by Novello and Company, London.

Mr. Harold Ashton, one of the managing directors of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., returned to Sydney last week after an absence in New York of five months. Making that great city his head-centre, he has sought attractions between there and Chicago, and has returned with the option of scores of successful pieces. Many favourite American plays, however, make a purely local appeal, and are unsnitcd to Australia, . "Crook" melodrama and sensational pieces have suffered a setback, and Mr. Ashton thinks the tide has turned in favour of "sentiment and happy love." As an experiment he has therefore eecured on those lines "The Cinderella Man," a comedy which drew crowds throughout an entire long season at the Hudson Tlreatre, New York. As the title implies, this modern piece reverses the oldt'rme fairy legend. It is the story of a struggling painter of genius, whose neglected studio, lined with masterpieces, i 3 visited by a fairy-princess in the shape of a millionaire's lovely daughter!

i A much debated production was chronicled in London during the second v/eek in May at the St. James' Theatre, namely, H. A. Vacholl'e new play, "Pen," being an adaptation from Morley Roberts' novel "Lady Penelope." The title refers to Penelope, the niece of a dueh-' eps, prettily presented by Miss Marie Hemingway, who has four queerish lovers, a muscular captain, an American financier, a Jewish poet, and a blushing viscount. She gives no direct promise of marriage to any one of them, but ineiets that they are to become friends. She is announced later as having given birth to a son. Each of the four, three of them in a spirit of sacrificial gallantry, claima parentage ac the result of a secret marriage. The blushing viscount, much astonished and confused, proves conclusively that lie alone is the married man. This hair-raising plot, so far from alarming London audiences, apparently provided "a pointless comedy.' , "There may have been some bright design behind it; perhaps in another and a better world the veil will be lifted."

AH. Lawrence, the writer of two of the pantomimes produced by George Wiltoughby at the Adelphi (Sydney"), made the statement in " The Theatre Magazine" that the writer of a eong in Australia was lucky if he got £100 out of the Australian sales of it. C. MurrayGibbes—a New Zealander by birth, who has studied music abroad, and for some time now has been m Sydney—states, by way of reply to Mr. Lawrence, that out of " A Red Rosebud," the words and 'music of which are by Mr. liibbes, he has already netted £750. He explains that the song was first published by Eady and Co., in Auckland, and that through this firm he has received a loyalty on 30,000 copiee. Mo-re than this number of copies again have been printed in Australia. Mr. Gibbes himself has thad the direct handling of these, with the result that he has done better out of the copies Bold than ihe would on the ordinary royalty baste. Documents submitted by him to " The Theatre" bear out his statement as to the wide Bale of the song and the sum he estitortm it im» been worti Ulna

The Hon. Mrs. Lyndhnrst Bruce—Miss Camille Clifford ("now a wealthy, and titled, war widow), who made her name as the "Gibson Gir!"—is returning to the etage, and will make her reappearance in the new De Courville revue, "RazzleDazzle," at Dniry Lane next month. Other additions to the company are Miss Phyllis Bedelle and Mr. Frederick Ross, who, for the first time, will have a song to sing.

Alfred Mirovitch and Michael Piastro. Russian musicians, who have already appeared with success in Sydney and Melbourne, are arranging to make a comprehensive tour of New Zealand. Alfred Mirovitch, the pianist, is a native of Petrograd, and studied under Professor Lutsch, and later had the guidance of the celebrated Annette Eseipoff at the Petrograd Conservatoire, where he won the Gold Medal and capped his achievements by securing the coveted Rubinstein prize. Michael Piastro, the violinist, who is noted for his tone and powers of interpretation, is an equally successful Russian musician. Like Mr. Mirovitch, he spent profitable years as a student at the Petrograd Conservatoire, receiving much of his instruction from the great Professor Aver. He left the Conservatoire in 1910 with firßt-clas3 honours, his successes including the principal gold medal for the violin and the 1000 rouble prize. The year-long feud between the "New York Times" and the theatrical firm of Shirberte has been .brought to an end by the capitulation of the theatrical managers, who have notified the "Timee" that its critic will be welcome in their theatres hereafter. While there is room for improvement in the present New York brand of dramatic criticwm, aays "Springfield Republican," it will hardly be brought about by any attempt of the managers to dictate what critics the papers shall employ. In this matter the "Times'" critic attacked a grosely indecent play, and, when the Shuberts refused to admit the critic to their theatres, the "Times" refused to advertise their attractions. The "Tknee"' example may be commended to other newspapers which are troubled by builying theatrical managere.

Mr. Harold A. Bowden, who made arrangements in Auckland for the Tivoli Follies, understands that Horace Golden, the noted English illusionist, is to commence a tour of New Zealand in Wellington about August 30. Golden, who presents an elaborate entertainment, exceeding in the appointments .those of Chung Ling Soo, carries about a hundred tons of effects and a company of about 30 people. His illusions are said to be the most puzzling yet performed in Australia.

The J. C. Williamson Co., lAd., has dieposed of its South African interests. South Africa has been a troubled state ever since *the big Australian management entered the theatrical world there. First there were the labour riote, followed by martial law, and dose upon this came the Boer rebellion. The Williamson management began under the direction of Mr Harold Ashton, who retired to join the Australian directorate as associate director. He was succeeded in South Africa by Mr Richard Stewart. Australian and English acton have formed the South African companies that have been entertaining South African playgoers. The purchasing company is the South African Trust, a powerful money organisation whose chief enterprise hitherto has been, moving pictures and vaudeville.

Mr. Ben J. Fuller, governing director of Fuller's Vaudeville and Theatres, Limited, who has decided to enlist, told a Sydney "Evening News" reporter the idea* and reasons that had led to hie decision. "I am 42 years old, and two leading doctors certify that I am as eound as a bell, and that I shall train as .fit as anyone," said Mr. Fuller, tilting back on his chair. "Why shouldn't I go?" Asked whether he had thought of all the people who depended on the Fuller circuit for their living, he replied that the Fuller organisation was in good shape, and would run itself till he came back. The first'six months of the war were critical, and he had had to reduce the staff's salaries by 25 per cent. Then his accountant showed that business had crept up to normal again, and the staff, had been repaid the deduction for the whole six months. "Those men think a lot of Fuller's. They'll look after things all right while I'm away. Since yesterday," Mr. Fuller added, "five of my friends "have announced their decision to do so—Harry Sadler, part proprietor of the Princess Theatre, Darcy Perry, manager of the National, and three others. John Earle, a man I 'was paying £25 a week, enlisted some time ago at six 'bob a day. It's the men we want, at the war and after the war. The others don't count."

Several leading theatrical companies in various parts of the United Statee 1 have been virtually crippled in their 1 personnel as a result of the order iesued ; recently by the British Government calling home for military service all Britone of military age. New York has '■ been singularly hit, and has lost practically all the young English actors who ■ have been appearing there on the stage. There was hardly a cast in New York ' that did not contain at least one or two British actors, to say nothing of the ; out-and-out English companies that have been appearing on Broadway. Patriotic ' almost to a fault, these sturdy British 1 actors resigned their positions and gallantly answered their country's call, and ■ were soon aboard ship bound for Liverpool. The three foremost representatives of the English stage who have been in ' America tliie season were Sir Johnston I Forbes-Robertson, Sir Herbert Tree and , Cyril Maude, the former and latter of i whom have at this writing already re- . turned to England. These three men are well beyond the age for military service. Shortly after half-past eight one evening this week the Lake Coleridge current was interrupted, and many buildings in Chrietchurch were suddenly plunged in darkness for a few minutes. At the performance of the. opera "H.M.S. Pinafore" at the Theatre Royal the light failed at a most inopportune moment. A very spectacular period of the opera was due, that in which Sir Joseph Porter makes his state entry in the first act, attended by a fashionable and charming retinue of his "sisters and hie cousins and hje aunte." The orchestral players could not {see their parts, and consequently the j chorus in the wings heralding the apI proach of Sir Joseph started in various keys. "The bright blue eeas" of which they sang became troubled waters, and Sir Joseph entered in gloom instead of ! splendour. His .charming eisters and ; cousins flitted on to the stage singing . "Gaily Tripping, , ' but stumbling musi° cally at each step. Chaos coon reigned, and the tripping ones came to a stand- . still. Sir Joseph looked very worried, ! and Captain Corcoran was perturbed. I The audience took the incident aooAJMtartfe. *~^