STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 106, 5 May 1923, Page 18

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Lessees of London theatres can demand anything these days. According to Xew York "Variety," producers have to guarantee them anywhere from £400 to £800 weekly, and in addition, in most cases, 60 per cent of the profits of the show in town and ou tou:'.

The clever young Dunedin artist, Sophie Vivian, "joins the Beit le Blanc Revue Company as souiirette, replacing Peggy Fay, who has to return to- Australia. It is also announced that John Pastor leaves the revue to enter vaudeville again.

Wong Toy Sun has signed on for a season with the Fullers (says the Australian journal "Everyone's"), and will probably open" at the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle. The magician has just ret.urned from an extended world's tour, it being some years since he appeared in Australia.

' 2\(MV9 lias been received from Australia that Miss Nellie Colvin, a well-known Australian actress, was found dead in lier bed, having succumbed, presumably. to heart failure. Miss Colvin, who was the wife of Mr. Roland Staveley, actor ami sometime manager, was a. competent actress, who has appeared many times iii Now Zealand. Hiic was here with th« I'limmcr-Hall company in 1015, and this year was a member of the Nellie Brainley company. Miss Colvin was still with tho latter company in Melbourne when she died. Miss D. Purtlell—otherwise Mrs. William Greene —who has come back to Sydney after a holiday to join up with J. C. Williamson again, said that MuguJe Dickinson and .Sidney YatCS had caused a sensation in London. Vera Pearce was a great success in pantomime in Glasgow, and slic had met Ivy Shilling in Xew York, where she was nursing all injured foot. Dorothy Bninton, said Miss Purdell, was shortly to open with Alfred Frith in "London in "0. Lady, Lady!" Muriel Starr will come to Australia shortly, probably to play the lend in "E.-.st of Suez." 'She has not been on the fhipo recently, hut has been resting in Chicago, where Miss Purdell SIUV her. Hiss Purdcll spoko highly of the ability and the success attained in Chicago by a young Australian. Krancie Anderson. She Was playing in Frank Koenan's play, "Pptor Weston.' , In Australia this talented girl had a minor role in ''Turn to the Right." The greatest theatrical success in Xew York at present, said Mi** T>urdell. is "Rain." n dramatisation of Somerset Maughan's story. Mr. 7'red Cambourne, who died recently lit Tnlmerston North at the age of (if. was woll known to Xew Zealand audiences. He was one of the bestknown Australian character su-tors. and wns playing in the' J. O. Williamson "I'cep Show" Company at Ihn time of his death. 71c had Wn employed by the firm of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for about .".() yours and rtri-f came into prominence in Australia liy his excellent work in "Little Lord Fauntleroy." During his rarecr he filled many important part in different plays, including "Lishtnin' " and "Pnddy the Xoxt Best Thing," and he also played with Andrew Mack and mnny other actors of distinction who have visit el Australia and Xew Zealand. Mr. Cambourne was a native of Melbourne, and was in good circumstances, owning farm property in \ iotorin, where he spent his holidays when not engaged in theatrical work.

Though prize-figiiters and jockeys i\rc openly known tn pay particular atten-

tion to their dietary, less is known of the little tricks of professional sinsers in this direction (relates the "Ashburton Climrdian"). A story is current at Ashburton 'of a famous troupe comprising

nhmi' ton \ ociilists who put up at one of the leading hotels. Their ten—coming appearance on the stayjj —comprised (according to or»l«r) :i pl.ite of soup intr. which were broken two raw eggs. Xothillß more. But a* ni.L-ht, when the concert was a tiling of the past, they made an excellent porformiuien at roast beef and a full round of other substantial including Fulads. and ihen toddled off to bed. They had brought their own wine supply (Asiihurton being dry), but purchased locally their soda water, of which they drank amazingly.

A smart young gi-ntleman. with hi* hat nt .true Admiral Kestty angle (says the London "Stage"), was strolling into one of our theatres ii-;ir Piccadilly the other day- it happened to he one where smoking is strictly forbidden by the superior landlord —and the well-dressed young man was enjoying a particularly choice cigar, evidently only just lighted, under the belief that he could finish it inside.

"Xo smoking allowed, sir," said the uniformed commissionaire. stopp'Vig the young person, who looked at the old soldier as though lie would like to say '"Bothor!" or equally expressive of annoyance. But he gl'aneed at the attendant, and recognised that he was merely doing his duty, and just said:

'•Sorry, sorry.- as he fh:n S away the expensive smoke and passed inside to sec I the show. Evidently the commissionaire J did not know that the smart young fellow he had stopped was a possible future King of England! It was a typical incident, unlikely to have occurred anyI where hut in London. They were two i men of widely different class, but the . bearing of each was absolutely correcr ' The iirst of the two London Symphony Orchestral concerts was remarkable for I the magnificent performance throughout !of the band r.nd for the wonderful play- . ing of Rosenthal in the Liszt-Kglat Con- ; certo (says the London correspondent of the '-Melbourne Age"). The orchestra, .under (inoseens. played the Isenvei:uto , I ellini Overture 01 Berlioz, a new Sinfouotta by the conductor, ami tile Brahms First Symphony. Rosenthal Rave a thrilI ling display of his colossal technical .powers, impressing everyone, and reducing to despair, I have" no doubt, the students there who wen- inclined Iα fancy their own mastery of Liszt. But it was at the Albert Nail, under Kussiewitsky, thut the London Symphony gave their linest recent performance. Kussiewitsky is by general consent a great conductor. He is especially a master of detail, and for this concert "he had chosen a programme which seemed to give him opportunity for a glittering array of effects. The orchestra, in its finest vir-' tuoso mood, responded with a series of i interpretations of great music which will ! not easily be forgotten. The symphony ] was Beethoven's Seventh, and otherwise the programme included a Handel Con-' ecrto for strings, played with heautiful I effect, in the silvery-toned richness of i string enwiiiiilp, for* which the j Symphony strings are famou?. am! w\\u-U. they r\pl..ii,d niao in 1 iie Midsummer Xigiit's Dream Overture and Seher/.0. the lovely intj-oduotion :o the third act of the Meistersingers, and the Tannhauser Ch-erture. In all regards a great concert'