STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 11, 12 January 1918, Page 14

STAGE JOTTINGS.

j Fuller's operatic "star," Signor Betj tino Cappelli, is appearing in costumed I productions of grand opera scfena at the Athenaeum, 'Melbourne' with him appearing alsd feigndfa Bice GSljlpeiii: a dramatic stijirana. i Mr. Edward Landbr, who toured New Zealand With "The Glad Eve*' Odtiipany, has enlisted 1H SydHe\v ( and ,weiit into eahip on itfthtiafv 3: tie had three tithe's pte'Vibilßiy ofVertjil himself for service* bait 'was rejected: At the present Mr. Lah : dor is a member df Fullers' "Seven Days' Leave*' Company. Essie Jennings* the principal/ boy in the revival of the Fuller pantomime "The Bdnyip" at the Melbourne Bijou, was for some years in vaudeville, both by herself arid playing sketches with her husband, •tnines Gerald, who is now with the Australian Forces in Mesopotamia. She was also for three years with the Stanley McKay pantomimes, and has just returned frbhi India, where she played a lengthy engagement in musical coniedy with the Bandman Company. Following the example of Lilian McCarthy and Violet Vahbriigh, Mrs. Gilbert Carman lias asked for a restitution df conjugal rights, a preliminary to England's politest form of divorce. As a novelist Cahhan has for some time been known to a circle less numerous than select; ne is also one of London's most uncompromising dramatic critics, in which capacity he was caricatured by Shaw as Mr. Gunn in " Fanny's First Play." The lady who is now asking for her rights w-as on the stage as Mary Ansell. and while appearing in Barries " Walker, London," entered into matrimony With the author. When Barrie divorced her, Gilbert Cannon was the co-Te., and their marriage took place a few days after the order vvas made absolute. The selection of girls to represent Germany in the war ballet of the J. C. Williamson pantomime. "Dick Whittington." gave the producer a bad quarter of an hour. Naturally, none of the ballet were willing to expose themselves in a guise Sure of Unpleasant reception, aiid. in fact, those chosen refused to go on. Mr. Weninan and Miss fcveiett called for volunteers, but hone were forthcoming; At last a simple expedient was agreed upon—to select the girls by ballot. This was agreed to. and those who drew the blanks were picked as the "Germans.** They accepted the position as gracefully as could be expected. Tt is likely that after the war Albert de Cournville, London's "King of Revue," will visit Australia. In a recent letter to -lack Haskell, producer of the .1. C. Williamson spectacular revue, "The Bang Boys Are Here," Mr. de Conrnville says that since the war he has come into such close contact with the soldier representatives of Australia that he is looking forward to the cessation of the war. when his wife, Mißs Shirley Kellogg, known as the Queen of Revue, and one of the most beautiful women on the English stage, will visit the Commonwealth. In New York has been produced "The Wooing of Eve." a new play from the pen of Mr. J. Hartley Manners, author of "'Peg o' My Heart." and "Out There." Critics are inclined to regard the new play as rather thin and theatrical, but the author's wife. Miss Laurette Taylor, as the heroine scoreß a pronounced personal success. Mr. Manners describes his play as a thoroughly artificial and sentimental comedy"; one critic suggests that " a frankly farcical tale disguised as comedy by Miss Taylor and some other good players" would be nearer the mark. 'The theatre-going public last night (December 20)" says the 'New Zealand Times," "bad an opportunity of seeing an actress whose fame as an exponent of light comedy has endured for almost a generation in London. It was not, therefore, surprising that there should ■have been an overflowing and exuberant audience—in every sense—at the Grand Opera House. Miss Marie Tempest is not in the heyday of her career, certainly, but her art enables her to amuse an audience vastly within the limits of the particular part she assumes. Without too much exaggeration there is in her acting juvenile joviality, spontaneity, briskness, bright suggestion—all the qualities that go to make a brilliant comedienne. la her case age has not withered her infinite variety. After seeing her last night one can well understand how it is she has earned her title as a queen of comedy. Tt was an exposition of neverfading juvenility. At times she evoked I considerable hilarity, and, on the whole, there was the comfortable feeling that it vvas a fortunate thing for New Zea- [ landers when Miss Marie Tempeßt was tempted to vißit the Antipodes. The piece chosen for primary presentation woe 'The Marriage of Kitty'—a comedy ; not unfamiliar to us. Some years ago it was produced with Miss Rose Musgrove in the leading role. Miss Tempest plays the part on much more broadly farcical lines." Our old familiar the Pecksniffian actor (or author) who "welcomes straight-out criticism, whether for or against him." frequently (rets full-measure gratification in the United States (says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph"). Thus the other day the smartest paper in the Greatest Country on Earth, discussing 'The Love Drive," a new play by Sydney Roscnfeld, \ remarked that the programme described the piece as "a delightful comedy," and ' that as its main incident was the hero's j effort to secure the hand of the heroine ' In marriage by gaining entrance to her i bedroom at night, and thus compromising! her, the "delightful" quality of the play j vvas for the public to appreciate. ft i added elegantly that "Mr. Niblo played the love-making hero with all the soft-, ness and finesse of a drummer in the J hardware trade." One imagines that; when interested persons obeyed that iiu- I pulse and looked at the title pace of the I paper it occurred to them trait they 'should have seen there not "Life." hut "Death." Roland May Watts-Phillips, who, said the police prosecutor, Sergeant Spyer, I was formerly an actress of some repute, i was charged in the Sydney Central Police Court last week with having in- I sufficient lawful means of support. Her I age was given on the charge-sheet as 58. Mr. McKenßey (the presiding magis- | Irate) asked: Will you consent to go to Newington Asylum for the sake of your friends and for your own sake? The defendant gave her consent, and Mr. McKensey discharged her. Miss Roland Watts-Phillips was at one time one of the best known actresses in Australia. She was leading lady with George Rignold for many years, and played the leading women's parte in his Shakesspearean plays. She was a great favourite, and always shared the honours of the big first nighte in the old days at j Her Majesty's Theatre. Miss Watts- | Phillips retired from the stage shortly I after Rignold gave up the lease of the j Pitt Street house. j