STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 22

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Mr. Robert Simmers, the well-known Auckland singer, who went to Australia a short time ago, is a member of the chorus of the "Leave It to Jane" Company. Comiiig attractions to His Majesty's Theatre are billed as follows:—"Primrose," on April 10; International vaudeville, on April 21 j "Give and Take" Comedy Company, on May 5; and "Seventh Heaven" Company on May 22. Florence and Clifton, now appearing at the Opera House, strike a new riote in acrobatic entertainment. Brilliant exponents of the art of forming Roman rings, they mingle comedy With most difficult feats. The brilliancy of this is overshadowed by their absurd fooling. Indeed, it is a long time sirice patrons of Fuller vaudeville have had 'the opportunity of seeing such a refreshingly original turn as that presented by these acrobatic comedians. Mr. George Gee* the popular J. C.: Williamson comedian, arrived in Auck- i land this week with Mrs. Gee arid their small daughter. Mr. Gee Will take part in "Primrose," Which is to be played here on Saturday, April 10, by the company now playing "Whirled Into Happiness;" Margery Hicklin will play "Joan," a part she had in the original production in London. It is claimed that "Primrose," a big dancing 6how, is the smartest musical comedy produced for many years. "The Insect Play," or "The World We Live In," by the Brothers Capek, is being presented this week at the Playbox Theatre, Sydney, by Duncan Macdougall, the managing director, arid his troupe of players. The Playbox is to Sydney what the Little Theatre is to Auckland. It is now in its third year, and is growing steadily and vigorously. Its members enjoy a number of privileges, p"d nn the first Sunday in every month Mr. Macdougall gives dramatic readings of plays by the world's most famous writers. The director is credited with making hißtory by bringing the Commonwealth into line with the other places where Art theatres abound. The next production will be Sutton Vane's "OutWard Bound." One of the ballets to be presented by Pavlova is "Chopiniana," a setting of various Chopin pieces, orchestrated by Glazounoff. This is how it was described by a London Press correspondent: "About ten or twelve members of the ballet danced the first two, and then Pavlova suddenly tripped upon the stage, and with Novikoff performed a series of the most remarkable bird-like flights and brilliant pirrouettings to the music of the Valse in C sharp minor. There was wonderful variety in all that she did, but when she introduced the climax to an extraordinary pas seul with a series of evolutions right across the stage, and in which her steps were so rapid that they could scarce be followed by the eye, the audience rose en masse j and cheered her to the echo. Then the spectator understood her world fame.

the Auckland girl, whose success on the Australian stage has qualified her for the lead in "Whirled Into Happiness."

Another musical attraction is on the New Zealand lists for 1926. This isthe Don Cossack Choir, comprising 38 ex-officers of the Russian White Army, who are coming out to Australia next month, opening in Sydney on April 17. Arrangements for the tour are now being made by Mr. Fred. McCrea, under whose management Kreisler toured New Zealand last year. There are some superb bass voices in the choir, and it is nothing for them to descend to the B and A sharp below the bass cleff, which is a note or two below the 'cello's lowest sound. A considerable sensation was created by the first appearance of the Don Cossacks in London last year, and in January last they achieved a record by appearing on three consecutive Sundays in the Albert Hall, London, which has a holding capacity of over 10,000. After the Australian"season the Don Cossacks will visit the principal cities of New Zealand on their way to the United States. "To many a patron of the musical stage, the ladies of the chorus are almost the principal attraction. Whatever they may be individually, collectively they are pretty girls, becomingly and often very expensively dressed in clothes which challenge all their feminity and make them feel that they really are the lovely, laughing heart-breakers they are --apposed to be. Their names appear jn the programmes—an unindividualised bunch, it i 3 true, frequently without Christian names and in smaller type,! yet sufficient to enable a determined admirer to identify them if he cares to make a few inquiries. Thus they can indulge.in two sets of hopes. They have their professional hopes of being noticed one day by the manager and turned into a star; and they have.their social hopes of being noticed one day by a gentleman in the stalls and turned into a countess, or at least an owner-driver. The gentlemen of the chorus, on the other hand are irradiated by no such dreams. They have no social expectations, their very names are suppressed. They cannot afford to entertain, and they are seldom or never entertained. Instead of a lovely dress which would inspire any woman who is a woman, they have as a rule day and evening suits which would rob Valentino of distinction. Even > their professional hopes are nearly dead.Most of these men have been in the business for years, and they have almost forgotten their dreams of fame and become reconciled to partnering the girls in concerted numbers and forming an unostentatious horse-shoe behind 0 the leading lady."—Arnold Palmer in "The Sphere." * -_.---■■- 4r