STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 22

STAGE JOTTINGS.

I Padercwski, the world-famous pianist, I coming to New Zealand this year under : the J. and N. Tail management, is not I an admirer of jaw. : in fact he denounce* I it. l"pon his arrival :it Sydney he was a»kcd to c\prc!»* an opinion on this | modern era/e; he : did so in the fol- | lowing emphatic word*: ".laxa is a perversion of rhythms, and a perversion of taste. Its • •lipin was with the negroes and it is' not correct to de»- I , cribe it as an exaggeration of music—it lis an absolute perversion. Berlioz ex- | | aggcratctl. and so did Wagner, hut these i I com|H>sers. while they did so. were carej fnl lo "iliM-ric the definition of lruth in art, ,Ia?j! is something totally different j from that." ''What do you think of the argument that the unmusical man may lw led to U-tter things in music through jazx *" he was asked. Padercwski was again emphatic. "I can only reply to that," he said, "that you cannot teach a man moral* hy teaching immorality."

Actors are never supposed to indulge in the luxury of going on the sick list— that is. if they have reached stellar rank. Of course, like other mortals, tbey are sometimes unwell and have to hand their parts to understudies. Wuy Bates Post, who is now appearing in "Leah Klc*chna" at His Majesty's, Melbourne, however, has earned the enviable distinction of not having once been out of a cast during the sixteen years that he has been a slar actor, and theatrical managements regard him as being the |«os*es»ar of a cast iron constitution. Mr. Post i himself states that his splendid health js due to the fart tbat he keeps himself "fit" bv indulging ill plenty of eveiri-e • --more e-pcriallv in walking. On the opening tiny of his M-ason in Capetown. ; however, it looked for a lime as though ; that city would \f the first place with j which he had e\er broken faith, for right up to within iwo hours of the pcrform■janrc. it was almost a certainty that ,he would not appear. A !«id chill eon- ,! traded on the train journey from ■Johannesburg had brought on a severe , attack of sciatica, and Mr. Post was ' almost crippled with pain. Sheer force of I will, combined with skilful medical j treatment. helj»cd him through the evenI ing. but the crow ded house had no idea ; of the agony which he was enduring.

" Lady Bo Good" is described a* a not of revelry, a mix tip of mirth and music mid a musical comedy possessing many particularly attractive attribute*. ' It jm.sscssc* many catchy tunes and vigorous choruses, and some of the solos and duets nre of a particularly high standard. " I*ady lie Good " is strong in dancing numbers, and a* the company con tains some of the be*t dancer* (of both sexes) ever seen in the Dominion, theatregoers in l»oth cities and financial districts may expect something unusually attractive in this very essential department. In every cam* " Xo! Xo! Xanettc " and " I«ady lie Good " will be presented in their complete form—there will be no abbreviations in the provincial area*.

The majority of the occupants of the gallery of a l-ondon theatre on a firstnight performance arc keen and sound critics of plays, actors and actres.se*. Many of them arc people of education, whose hobby is to attend first nights. They patronise the gallery because they are such regular attendant* at the theatre that dearer seats would constitute a heavy drain on their incomes. These patrons of the gallery have formed the Gallery First-nighters* Club, which has l>een in existence for nearly thirty years. A play lias to be pretty bad l»efore (he gallery ties will go to the length of hissing or booing is. but they have no awe of great names on the plav J bill. They regard themselves a* the representatives of (he paying public, and i they think they possess an inalienable! right lo exptes* disapproval if they feel that they ha\o not had value for their money. Of course, the producers of a play which has l»een hissed and booed are always convinced thai such disapproval has 1»con organised by j»ersoiial enemies of themselves and the author. •

with the object of damning the play. The fart that n play lias been Iwwwd becomes w icloty known patmus of (hi' theatre, even when sjx-cific attention lias not boon drawn lo the fact by lho dm ma tic critics of the Ixmdon newsjt3|>crs. who attend the first night*. A play thai has l>ecn condemned by the gallery seldom lw-«"omcs a commercial success. "You Never ( an Tell." the famous ooniedv l.v Uoorgc Hcrnaid which i< to l>e presented at the ( oncer 1 dmi-iliei. Town Hall. on April -I. '21. and ■2.J. liy the Auckland Little Theatre Soi-it-iv, will have the following cast: — Fergus t'rampton, played by Krnest lllair; William. l>y Tom Harris; Rohtin by Arnold Goodwin: MeComas, by Fred MoCnllum; Valentine, by John Gordon; I'hilip, l-y Robert Tole; Mrs. C'landon. by Mrs, Moncriefl McCitlluni: Gloria Clandon, by Con stance (Tnrk: Dollv ( landon. by Mart-n: Kinlnywiti and I in l«iirbmi inn ill. l<% Klennor Miller "Ymi Never ( an Tell." j. not an easy romedv to cast. As Shav rails for not onlj actors with ability !>»t ]«ersojialitic j suitable to th r Kenneth Brampton, van* <!cr«<ctcd. tnt Society ««■* fortunate in i>cirg stile «<i get together -haracter actor* aide tn fulfil these requirement. Mr. Kenneth Brampton, the Society's producer, ha* been working hard on the production. and ho *ays that the work of the player* at reflcarsaW has been excellent. He j. confidence thnt the comedv will |m» { Mr success when staged at" the Coaocrl

The prite thi« week «oe* to Kathleen Ricketta, aa. Paraell Road, for.— FAIRLY CAUGHT. A boy approached the hooking window of a suburban railway station and said: ("Half fare to the city, please" As the boy wo* amok tog a cipareilc I the clerk remarked: "A lad ol vow should not he smoking." "Way shouldn't IT" asked the other.' "I'm fiitcon year* old'" "Are you?" responded the clerk. "Well,l full fare, please! ■ THE ONLY WAY. A young man proposed to a girl and wa* accepted. After their first tender ! transport.* were over tbey Jell antoj serious talk. "Now that wc are engaged," said th? j girl, "we must begin to economise. Promise, me. darling, that you wont do ' anything you can't afford." The young r.ian uighed grimly. "If 1 promised yoo that," he said. "I'd I , ha>c t<i break off our engagement " j TAKEN AT HIS WORD. The junior pat 1 Her bad been on a ijsit to a di«taiil branch office, and wa» giving his lather a full account. "The manxt&T there." be said "is apt to lake 100 much on himself. I ga\c him plainly to understand lie must gel authority from here instead of acting! too much on his own." "Yes,*' said the senior, dryly, "So I gather. Mere's a telegram from him." Tbe telegram ran: "Had gas escape in j the office. Please wire instruction*.** MISUNDERSTOOD. Smiffkin* van one of those men who, like to gel something for nothing, and when he called upon a friend and found that a nice fat chicken had just hern placed on the table, be smiled. Then be sniffed appreciatively. "I say. old man." he said, "that smells good. Are you going to eat it alone V The other knew SmifTkin*. "Oh. no." he said, quietly. "With spinach and potatoes, aod thing* like that." A HELPING HAND. Arthur and Willie were playing noisily. though peacefully, when Willie's mother came out to tell the visiting Arthur that he had bctUr go home to dinner. She had just turned to re-enter the house when her hoy threw a stone that sent Arthur howling in the direction of boQie "Willie." she demanded sternly, "why did you throw that stone a! Arthur?" For a moment the inhospitable Willie stood aba*hed. watching the flight of hi* playmate. Then be sighed decplv. "Well." he said, "Arthur had to go t j home, anyway."

TACT. A policeman on point duty had made a mistake whilst regulating the traffic. Uc had held up a Urge touring car lor | nearly five minutes- when there waa no need. The driver, a middle aped woman. «a> 1 indignant, i "t.ood graewn* me. ofljeer! *' She-1 rem - I Med with wrath. "Ik. you realise thai you have delayed me I Have, you neier been on point duty Marc* I want to know why you held me up»" "I be R your pardon, madam." M id the pohoeman. "but at firU 1 thought von Mete too young to be driving a car.*** PRESENCE Of MIND! j "When J was only a lad." continued the millionaire. who «-«, telling his lei low dub member* at iheir annual damn -owe „* ,j 1<; jroobiea ol bis earlier hie I walked to Devonshire I found a fa* and, alter live years' hard work manaWd to Rave enough to buy a bicvole " rbere w«« a g,, p of «*«, o n I I mm the listeners. j "Not lon- a ft CT / ,„.„..,„ , h( . o , h< „ airesji. I P .., a letter fjotn home. Mot he*a. very ,<|. S „ I jumped on ,he bike and mde mm U.ii.lon m> , m Ume u , the d«eto, * av l!ja| , h( . , rokh air oj wa . , hc on , v lh<*ave mother." I j !!«< audience gasped I "You didnt take her back ? - tbeyi , h S.t d U» mUHomlre. -I dragged he old bike ,n let the wind out oi the jtrre*, ami mothers alive lo^ay." POOR DOGGIE! A |a.J„..,«,,,,. ~r < UJ% !r,ue 7;; i;;; •-».««■«*■.... •**.;■« * j -Vou ranna hne >e: do- i n j 4f . 3r -- , j «t« ngatmvt the rule*." | I ahaJl hold him in my Up all , hc -lx!r» I " WM * r " "»««*ered the ,m-rd •a*ten him a rjebt I«. T ir•l «ill IHM him t..';,„ „„,.- „ .. 3 ?mTi: d ! -v a r w,ta ' «*-«".£ -dT h r^un^%;-v;ta'; r,h u^ ■ lied bin. J„ i , uina Ka > .101 l *»ce. \c

Reggie: Isn't this a wonderful floor for dancing:' Ethel iafter being on all the eveningi Thcs «hy ,j£C you tim- it * Tor.n: It', no good argtuag with vow You'ie no brams. l»« t * . So bnfat* Why. man. lie get l.r.m» tlmi hi.v e never hern U«**d! She: 1* it 17 uc that "i«i »Uo *l ww that women live u. we wider thaa men? He: Ye*: paint's a great pr*«er«Bjj«B roa know. "1 euppos-c you have heejj in the jj so long that you are accustomed to *ti legs ': " *a.id the pretty girl t, O the U&ot. •'I wasn't cien looking. m*,*," wa* thr repli. Landlady: You say this chicken *nut> i*n't good? 3 told the cook bow to mate it! Perhaps she didn't rates the jftctj Boarder: I think it was the chicken «hi didn't catch. Finst Sale,man: So yon went through France wjtb your #i«mplfls'; How ,fljfl you succeed? Second Salesman: Eoitcn. Every lime ] handed any one air card he t:iought 1 wanted to fight i, duel. Xobbs: Mrs. Smith is •.imply and o. the subject of grrm*. and ffterjlin* « filters everything in the house Dodds: How does she get along with lwr ba*. band* Xobhs; Oh. even their relation arc •trained! little Mary had been taught politeness, and wa* an apt pupil. One da* the minister called. Mary, waitiiit carefully for a pause in the root-erst-lion, remarked. " I hear we are goby lo have tbe pleasure of losing you." Schoolmistress: "Now, children, what did tbe lioman* do for the Briton*?" Small CJirJ: "They civilised Van, aa*»* "How did they do" that T* Second Small Girl: "Please, miss, thev taught 'cmhow to fight," Smith: Would you—er—advise m, to—er —marry a bcautifol girl or a sensible girl ? Brown: I'm afraid you'll never be able lo marry either, old —L Smith: Why not? Brown: Well,* beautiful girl could 4q better, and a *e»iblc girl would know better. During harvest a farmer had wait his labourers out a supply of liner. Liter be went to ask bow ihey liked the brew. "It's just right," said one old ' fellow. "How do you mean ifs just right *"* a«-ked the farmer. "Well «r." replied the man. "if it "ad been any bet Ur you wouldn't 'ave given it to us, i and if it *ad been any worse we couldn't 'ave drunk it—so it's just right.**

Well Done. Barton: "So you're staying at tin Dole! Colohk-us*. How do titer d» your" Carton: *"Oh, in every way, old mi*. Where He Got It. Traveller itn Highland Inn): "Sony to give you the trouble ol fetching i&i* gla*.s of water for me." landlord: "Hoots, mnn. that's "** trouble. We always keep a &"0» on the premises in caw of fire." The Winner. Philip (ardently: "£*eiy morning my fust thought is of >»n. deal." PVironella: 'I* it. ' Philip! Your cwuun mh» that.. t(« " Philip:" "Ye*, but 1 git up an hov* eat lift than be doc* ~ Airy. Father: 'Si,, with iW few pent* J«l haven't (squandered in ri"l<m* living y OO proprif.c m flnm a madcap apropl«l" ooTiipanA }?••■» i(M afr iim Hheuil WOT the i en". iit< ' " Son *}"i r<!i r. Imve Die air. JM* lit)«n . ]iat«-t " To ibe Poini. The r.iM' <4 the urai wbn wata* »*Teaslje <•-. t-t small fonipn enin* of TiPgl'* gible value placed in the offertory, '*" calls ihe Mory oi the pastor who thas addreswd hi« Hc.rl; — 'Members of the < ■ .ngregation »"h 0 desire to eHntnlmte l.uttxms to the col-lettio-n aw- !e,,<iesle.l nd to \aUSO" tberr, flat, as d...n C k- <b«* ntfl itnpW* i«atribntbni'» «;i'iie :i» mntlrt'. t" 11 rl " tb. <■onitil.ui;. I,'- x..lne «v „'.onej-. I" 1 * tfdii'-e* it* v«lm.- a« :i hullon." I A G*od Thing. A sl..ekl.Ti.Uer. u hot* good In'* v "\ ' well known, weni to dinner with *M° f friends Presentlv rme man said *• ■■• "1 supfrme with roiir amaxing iMg I yo-.iSe filled off nnv smrmnt of g**" j thnir* l»iel» " - With n ivt:l, > >• >-s rye. the «■*, I broker replied. -Well. 1 picked «P -Pj . tlunp recentlv. It *1 ood at ** *' •Jdit«.iered it.' and I**l week it «">«*" ■\™" ;,«« 1* -■r.0r.,1 jrracoi.s' What «** «< ■ man demanded. tj "A tliermnmi'lu." *aad tia. SLC Hrokcr quietly " , _ i( ,- ,J»r?anL . * ••• *'*•