STAGE JOTTINGS

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 164, 13 July 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS

k Australians do g well in New fork include Robert Chisholm, Bob Greig, Beatrice Holloway and Georgia Harvey.

Wilma Berkeley, the Melbourne girl, who is described as a protege of Dame Nellie Melba's, is playing the leading role in Robert Courtneidge's production of the new romantic opera, "The Damask Rose," which had its premiere at Manchester.

Mr. Allan Wilkie and his company will commence a season at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, on July 20, with an entirely new repertoire of English comedies and the more popular Shakespearean plays, headed by "Much Ado About Nothing." The repertoire will include "The School for Scandal," "She Stoops to Conquer" and "The Rivals."

The amusement at the London Gaiety, where "Love Lies" provides the jolliest entertainment, derived chiefly from every character seeming bent upon justifying the title. To begin with, Cyril Ritchard, as the artist-hero, declares himself to be a peer of the realm, a pretty deceit so long as the peer in question keeps out of the way, which he does not. He appears himself and involves the inventive artist in a string of further lies made necessary to justify the first one. Then Laddie Cliff (as another artist) declares that ,he is not married to Connie Emerald, when he is, and Stanley Lupino allows it to be thought that, so far from being married to Laddie, Connie is his (Stanley's) wife.

Remarkable realistic effects are promised in the forthcoming production in Melbourne of the new mystery thriller, "The Zeppelin Terror." The whole of the action of the play takes place during a Zeppelin flight, and the audience not only feels something of the sensation of flight, but also experiences the impression of falling through space, during the thrilling "crash" scene in the second act. " The Zeppelin Terror" Avas chosen by Mr; Tom Moore during a year's search for plays in America and England for presentation in Australia by Gladys Moncreiff-Tom Moore productions. The entry of this popular pair into theatrical management will be watched with interest.

May Beattv, whose engagement with J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has terminated, will leave shortly for London, where she intends to go in for "talkies."

Apropos tlie production of "Mr. Cinders" in London, Reginald Arkell pays tribute in "The Lookef On" as follows: "We do not look for genius in musical comedy, but after seeing Bobby Howes and Binnie Hale in "Mr. Cinders,' I am inclined to think that this most unusual combination has been discovered at last. 1 have always suspected Howes of being more than a good comedian, and once, during some imitations by Binnie Hale, I felt th t she might be more than the cleverest member of a clever family. Now these two brilliant youngsters have got together, they are giving us the best bit of team work that musical comedy has ever seen—and I don't think genius is too big a word for it."

Mr. Harold Williams, the Australian baritone, is scoring remarkable successes in England, and is now one of the bestknown singers in the United Kingdom, appearing every year in the leading centres. Although the young baritone specialises in concert work, he has achieved conspicuous successes in "Tannhauser" and "Othello." He also made very successful appearances during the 1925 opera season at Covent Garden. Mr. Williams has appeared in "Hiawatha" 53 times during the last few years. He was complimented by Sir Edward Elgar on his singing in the "Dream of Gerontius," and amongst his numerous concert appearances, he has scored notable' successes under Sir Henry Wood, Dr. Coward, and the great Koussevitzky, in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Upon the still silence of an Australian theatre one morning there came a deafening crash, intermingled with the sound of falling glass and loud laughter. Rehearsals ceased. Scared looks appeared upon the faces of the ballet. Had some lunatic run amok, or was it an earthquake? When the tension had relaxed somewhat, everyone fled in the direction from which the disturbing noise had Come. What a sight is was that met their eyes! Helen Patterson, a new leading lady, was on the floor surrounded by broken glass, laughingly trying to explain how it all happened. It seems that Helen had misjudged the space of her dressing room, and in an attempt to do a Catherine-wheel, had put her feet through the glass door. Fortunately she was unhurt, and rehearsals continued as usual.

H. B. Irving was an enthusiastic collector of books and pamphlets relating to trials or murderers. Marie Tempest loves old Chinese porcelain, and found many rare pieces in Sydney. On her last visit she expressed regret that she had to pass a particularly line old "God of Contentment." as she already had twelve others in her collection. George Willoughby is an authority on swords, guns and armour, and possesses a magnificent collection. Madame Melba has one of the finest art collections in .tha Commonwealth. As for American actors, they are like schoolboys who are all born collectors of anything old or quaint. It is seldom that a visitor from the States leaves Australia without n boomerang. One of them said that a boomerang was the only thing he evethrew away that returned to him. Pepito, the Spanish clown recently in Sydney broke two windows and four boomerangs, before he was satisfied- 'He carried twelve away with him.

The prize this week goes to R. L. Nottingham, 2, West Lane, off West Street, Newton, for: HOPING FOR THE BEST. Sandy and Jock went out together for a day's mountaineering. Sandy was entrusted with the whisky bottle, which he placed in his hip pocket. During a hit of rock work Sandy slipped and fell down a few feet on to a ledge. Said Jock from above: "Are ye a 1 right, Sandy ?" Sandy replied: "I dinna ken, Jock; there's summat trickling doon the back o' ma leg." Jock: "Lord, Sandy, but I pray to the Guid Lord that it's bluid." BOTH. "Do you believe, sir, that on election day the women should be at the polls?" "Yes, sir," the crusty bachelor unexpectedly replied, "at both of .'em— North and South." THE PEER'S RETORT. The late Lord Henry Bentinck, when canvassing Notrh Nottinghamshire,' was told by a furious opponent: "Lord Henry, I'd sooner vote for the devil than you!" "Perhaps, sir,' replied Lord Henry, "in the event of your friend not coming forward I might hope for your support." " QUITE "AT HOME." The train started, every carriage packed to its utmost capacity with holiday-makers. "Henry," said a woman occupant of one of the crowded compartments, "Henry, I'm shocked at you. Why don't you get up and give your father ypour seat? Aren't you pained to eee him reaching for a strap?" "Not in a train, mum," said Henry. 1 TRUE TO TYPE. Two friends, an Englishman and a Scotsman, stood gazing at a magnificent mansion and the stream of luxurious automobiles parked outside. "What do you think of that?" asked the Englishman. "Gosh," murmured the Scot, "it looks grand. I'd gie a thoosand poonds to be one of them there millionaires." THE REAL THING. "Who's dead?" asked the stranger, viewing the elaborate funeral procession. "The man in the coffin," answered a small boy. "But who is it?" asked the stranger. "It's the Mayor," was the reply. "So the Mayor is dead, is he?" mused the stranger. "Why, of course he is," said the small boy, witharingly. "D'you think he's having a bloomin' rehearsal ?" . ; NONPLUSSED. •'* The schoolmaster was giving his class of boys their weekly Scripture lesson, and the boys were ill an unhappy frame of mind, for they were always kept in sch'ool later on this day. "Can any of you boys quote me a text?" questioned the schoolmaster. "Pleasej sir," spoke up Tommy Smart, "Judas went and hanged himself." "That is a text, certainly, said the schoolmaster, "but cannot you give me a better one?" "Yes sir," quickly piped up Tommy Smart, "Go thou and do likewise." LOVE—AGE. A young lady had an old admirer who, having found her glove, returned it with the following distich: — If from your glove you take the letter G, Your glove is love, which I devote to thee. The old gentleman's name was Page, and he received the following unexpected epigrammatic reply which chagrined him so much that he left the neighbourhood: — If from Page you take th# letter P, Your Page is age, and that won't do for me. A FERTILE LAND. , A few years ago a lecturer and emigration agent touring rural England gave point to his remarks re the glories of his pet Utopia by the following yarn:— "Say, folks," he said, "I once kept a store in Squawville, and one day a young Britisher lounged After making his purchase, he had a N»ok round the store, and turning to me fte said: "What do people round here use date stones for?" "'Date "stones ?' said I. 'Yes,' said he, pointing to an open sack near by, 'Stranger,' I exclaimed, 'you've, missed it. Them ain't date stones. That's wheat, local wheat.'" HIS CHOICE. As he marched into the shop with his seven sons, poor old Snoggs looked very worried. The tailor, scenting a big order, came forward all smiles. "Yes, sir," he said, "what can I have the pleasure of doing for you, sir?" "I want new suits for these boys," replied Snoggs, pointing to his offsprings. "All seven, sir?" asked the tailor, beaming. "Yes," sadly answered Snoggs. "Very good, sir," piped the tailor, "come along, sir, and choose the cloth; is there any particular material you would like, sir?" "There is indeed," replied Snoggs, in a desperate tone of voice, "sheet-iron!"

It was dusk as she stopped at the roadsido garage. "I want a quart of red oil," she said. The man gasped and hesitated. "Give me a quart of red oil," she repeated. "My tail light has gone out." Mistress (to new maid): Bridget, you must not call me "Mrs." When you , speak to me, you should say, "If you please, "madam," or sometimes "ma-am," but for the most part "mum." And when you address your master say "sir." Next morning Bridget rushed to her room, saying, "If you please, madam, and sometimes ma'am, but for the most part mum, sir's fell down in a fit." A young man bought a very old car. Informing his father of this fact, he said: "Dad, be a sport, I need one or two accessories to complete the car. Will you give me one?" "Very good/' said his father, indulgently. "I'll give you a pedometer." "Why," he scoffed, "you've made a mistake. You mean a speedometer. A, pedometer measures- >the miles you walk." "Yes," replied the father grimly. "I know that." A gentleman, who was not quite sure but who thought it possible that he had drunk a little too freely at lunch, met a lady friend wheeling twins in a perambulator. "Now, be careful, old man," he said to himself, "and don't give yourself away." Then he greeted the lady by saying, , "Good afternoon, Mrs. Smith. What an : extraordinarily beautiful child!" Clara; "Men are the most impatient creatures! Harry knows that I have an offer from Mr. Oldchap, who is just rolling in wealth, yet Harry is just as unreasonable and babyish as if he thought I really cared for that old greybeard. Harry is so ugly about it that he won't do me the smallest favour." Mother: "What did you ask Harry to do ?" , Clara: "I merely asked him to wait and : be my second husband."

Smart. "Can the sardine-box?", "No, but the tomato-can." Sorry He Was Right. She: You were right, dear, and I was wrong. He: Forgive me, darling. And Flourish, Too! Teacher: What is mostly raised in damp climates? Pupil: Umbrellas. Couldn't Keep a. Secret. 4 .Marie: Is it true that Margaret has a secret sorrow ? Anna: Yes, hasn't she told you about it? A Hard One. Young Man: I have something for the poe-t's corner. Editor: All right, young man; the poet scorner sits over there. Jest in Pun. Teacher: Who c~.n made a sentence with the word "gruesome" in it? Little Willie: I can. The man stopped shaving and gruesome" whiskers. Number One. Said Lord John Russell to Hume, at a social dinner: "What do you consider the object of legislation?" "The greatest good to the greatest number." "What do you consider the greatest number?" continued his lordship. "Number one, my lord," was the commoner's prompt reply.