STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Allan Wilkie'e recent season in Melbourne is reported to 'have 'been the most successful he has ever bad.. "On a conservative estimate" (says a writer) "Wilkie has cleaned up the town to the tune of a good £2000 a week, and no success was more honestly earned." Edith Taliaferro, the distinguished American star who is coining to Australia, and most likely to New Zealand, is to open in Sydney next month with "Let us be Gay." Miss Taliaferro, who originated the role of Rebecca in the comedy "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," is a very popular artiste. The new musical production, "Mr. Cinders," has been definitely promised for Australia and New Zealand. The premiere will take place at Sydney in June, with a season at Melbourne following. The cast is now being chosen, following on the London success of the'' piece, and four, or five people, including Hindle Edgar, ,a son of Marriott Edgar, a formerWilliamson "dame" will be brought from England for the Australasian tour. On Easter Saturday the Roxy Theatre, Melbourne, presented at 1/0 and 1/ an all-talkie programme of vaudeville, consisting of. sixteen "shorts," each placed by well-known American vaudeville people, who have in recent times deserted the music halls for the more payable and less strenuous routine of Hollywood studios. There will be continuous sessions at this latest cinema. The Roxy is the old Gaiety, in Bourke Street, converted by Fullers' '.Theatres, Limited, into a talkie auditorium, with excellent acoustics, to sea-t from 900 to 1000 persons. The gifted Auckland dancer, Jocelyri Yeo, is featured in a portrait study in the February number of the "London Dancing Times." At present she.is principal dancer with Cochrane's Cabaret Revue at the Hotel Splendide, London, a favourablo resort. Jocelyn Yeo was known in Auckland as Jocelyn Dixon, a talented pupil of Miss Cecil Hall. She was offered for the third year the principal dancer's part in the Lyceum Pantomime, but accepted the cabaret offer, which affords more scope.

Our London correspondent, under date March 18, records the death of John Kirby, a comedian, who had amused London during the past five years. A close friend of Mr. Kirby- stated that death was due to a clot of blood on the brain. "I know," he said, "that for a considerable period Mr. Kirby lias suffered from blood pressure. On Saturday night he retired to bed fairly early and was seemingly in the best of health then. In the morning when his valet entered the bedroom with Mr. Kirby's breakfast he found him unconscious." A doctor was immediately called and ordered his removal to a nursing home. This was done, but Mr. Kirby died without recovering consciousness on March 18. John Kirby, who was born in Dunedin, 30 years ago, was articled to a firm of solicitors, but at 19 tried his luck on the stage at Brisbane.- He joined the Australian Imperial Forces during the \var, and though he returned to the Australian stage afterwards, he did not come to London until five years ago, when he was in "The London Revue" at the Lyceum. Then he appeared .in, "Carry On, Sergeant" at the New • Oxford';' in Palladium Pleasures" at the Palladium; in "Tip-Toes" at the Winter Garden; "Lady Luck," Carlton; "Shake Your Feet,"., Hippodrome; "Oh, Kay," His Majesty's;, "Virginia," -Palace. His favourite par-ts were Joe Horn in "Rain," and Silas in "Virginia."

Following the .announcement of the appearance under the J. C. Williamson management .of William Faversham, playgoers find that they may look with confidence to 1030 proving a most interesting year, theatrically. It is announced that Edith • Taliaferro, distinguished star, and the originator in both New York and London of the title role in "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," will visit. Australia shortly to play a comedy season. .Another sensational engagement is that of Louis Gravtire, the famous tenor, who comes in June under the J. and N. Tait management. An interesting experiment in musical comedy is to be made in a theatre in the West End of London- by giving two performances a night, : after the manner of the music-hall system. The experimenter, 5 who hopes to have the idea in full swing before Easter, says there are many workers in the West End who, if thereis an early show (G. 30 or so), will like to see it, direct from their work, and afterwards go home. And the appeal of the later performance—9 o'clock—is this, that it becomes a possible entertainment for those who, having dined, spontaneously say, "Let us go to a show," and can go on, without bustle, to the second, house. There is the further inducement that a lower price—seats frt»a 2/ to S/6 —offers. Such convenience, it is thought, may well help in the theatres' battle With "talkie" competition, and the actors, it is understood, favour the idea, because, with matinees abandoned, there is no increase in their work, but they have freer davs for themselves. Mr. Maurice Moscovitch has won high praise from the. New "York critics for his interpretation of the title-role in "Jew Suss," which, by the way, has been produced in that city umier the. name of "Joseph Suss", to distinguish it from the play running at one of tlie Yiddish theatres. The Moscovitch season is of particular interest to New. Zealanders. because of the association of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., with Charles Dillingham in its management. Miss Bvrl Walkley has been chosen for one of the - roles, that of Graviella. The adaptation is that of Ashley Dukes, and it is presented, says the "New York Times," in a production "of redeeming magnificence." "More than a decade ago," that journal proceeds, "Mr. Moscovitch left the Yiddish stage of New York, where he was much admired, and went to' London, where his .success on the Eng-lish-speaking stage has been notable. Now he is playing for the first time in English before American audiences. But his acting has flow, command, ,ceremony and character. Nor does it presume: upon his part or his audience. . It.is acting rich in (training and breeding." As for the play, it is described as scarcely more than the framework of a grand drama;, "but as a frame-work it makes . way ■. for many bravura scenes that the acting and, the staging bring to life.", .Mr....Malcolm. Keen, as the dissolute. Duke, shares histrionic honours with Mr. Moscovitch,. playing the role, it is stated,, with gfciety, spirit, and royal authority., Tl.ie.story reveals, how the horror-stricken, Jew Suss discovers, like another,' Rigoletto, that his only daughter is .one 4 qf. the Duke's victims', and thereupon. makes his royal master the object, of .his implacable revenge. "Mr. Moscovitch,"' says the "New York World," "gave a performance that touched the audience deeply."

The prize this week goes to Miss Phyllis Purdy, Dominion Road, Mount Eden, for THE REST OP 'EM. "You're charged with being drunk and disorderly," said the justice of the peace, to' a man in a small town. "Have you anything to say 1" "Man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn," began the prisoner in a flight of oratory, "I am not so ungrateful as Keats, so intemperate as Burns, so timid as Tennyson, so vulgar as Shakespeare, so ." "That'll do, that'll do," interrupted the justice. "Seven days, and take down that list of names he mentioned, and round those fellows up. They all go together, and seems to me from what > this man says, they're almost as bad ;as he is." . . ; OPPORTUNE. Busy man: J. really cannot see you! Traveller (eagerly): Then I'm the very man you want, sir; I'm selling spectacles! MADE A HASH OF IT. Mrs. Newlywed: 0h v Jack, you left the kitchen door open, and the draught has shut my cookery book. So now'l haven't the faintest idea what it is I'm cooking. MACBETH—AND BILLIARDS. A letter of introduction handed by an actor to a West End manager ended with: "He plays Macbeth, Richelieu, Hamlet, Shylock, and billiards. He plays billiards best!" NO FEAR. "We are now passing the most famous brewery in Birmingham, : " explained the guide. "We are not" drawled the American tourift, as he quickly hopped off the motor coach. HAD THE SAME CHANCE. Wife: That's the kind of husband to have! Did you hear Mr. Dike tell his wife to go and look at some twentypound hats? Husband: My dear, have I ever deprived you of the privilege of I.ooking at twenty-pound hats ? f HER ANSWER. , , "Look here," said the master of the house to the new maid, "how dare you tell your mistress what time I came in this morning, after I told you not to?" "I didn't, sir," replied the maid. "She asked me what time' you got in, and I told her J was too busy getting the ! breakfast ready to look at the clock." • ; SPOTTED THE WINNER. Two Englishmen were- out riding in India when suddenly a native dashed out from amongst the bushes, running for his life, and hotly pureufid by a.,gigantic Jeopard. • ■ "'•) " "He's making, a, good race for it," remarked- one' of the Englishmen. "D'ye think you can spot the winner?" "The winner is spotted," came the dry retort.

SOME GRAMMAR. Thomas, coming home from school,, saw his mother liiakirig the tire. Mother: Tliomas, my son, reach me a stick of wood. Thomas: Mother, the grammatical portion of your education has > been sadly neglected. You should say, "Thomas, my son, transport from yonder i ecumbent collection* of combustible material to the threshold of this edifice one of those curtailed excrescences of defunct log." QUITS. Pat Murphy was ; taking his first flight in ail aeroplane. The pilot was taking him over London. When they were up about 3000 feet, the 'plane suddenly went into a nose dive. "Ha; ha!" laughed .the pilot, shouting to Pat, "'fifty per cent of the people down there thought Ave were falling." "Sure," admitted Pat, "and; 50 per cent of the people up here thought so, too." NO USE TEMPTING FATE. : Grim was the reply-of the Scottish grave-digger • when a certain niggardly farmer was haggling about the charge for his wife's interment. I well remember the grave-digger recounting the incident. I had asked him if he ever had had any difficulty in getting payment for his. rather trying work. "Only vince," he said. "Tt was when Ewan Swan buried his ■ wife. Ye mind her with' the guid gaun tongue. Efter I had raised my kep, as a signal to the mourners to gang, Ewan stayed ahint. Says he to me, 'What will j be aw'n Ve, John?' Seeven and six,'-says I. 'It's ower. much,' says he, 'in licht sandy soil like that,' and he hands me a croon. 'Sandy soil or hard clay, its seeven and six,' says I, 'and doon with another half-croon or up. she comes !' And I iiivver- seen(h half-croon' come sae smert oot o' a fermer's pooch."

| , me tteeaie, Watson! ; > Mother: Tommy, the canary has dig. appeared., „■ -i't; Tommy: That's funny. It wag - just now when I tried to clean it with the vacuum-cleaner. A Taking Disposition. ! Nurse: Did the orderly take • yoitftemperature? , • ; Patient: Blowed if I know; but 1 - shouldn't be surprised. I saw. him' ;V take my mate's tobacco. • - Yankee Talkie. , • Teacher: Who, can tell me why a lis" I 'i' never came out of George Washington's' : mouth? . ' ; Pupil: Because he always spoke down his nose, ,Miss,! r .■' Tale of the Day. " ■>; Daddy, what made you instrrT ■ mother?" . "Oh, because I was a fool, I suppose "Poor mother!" "Why poor mother?" "For marrying a fool." ■ I' Right. ■ Kathleen, aged three years, was , busy putting on her shoes. When the--' task was accomplished, Kathie's mother .said: ' . '' % "Well, Katliie, dear, you've put yoiir shoes on the wrong feet!" " Kathie (rather' - worried) 1 But, "s'?< mummy, I hasn't got any ozzer feet I, *'• • : •. •;• " ■ W'. f,, V'jv • Scored Again. Mrs. Sharptongue: Why don't you g®',-. to work? Tramp: Please, mum, I made' a solemn vow 25 years ago that I'd never' do another stroke of work till womea. . was paid the same wages■ as men. , ' He got s. good feed. "r

Quite Meet. • < • "Yes,- deai% I know I'm late, trnfc IV met an old pa,l—er,;well, you know the. sight of an old schoolmate is might be-mailed both meat and drink, to UK'." ; . ' ... ' , " ' ■' "Of course! That's what you 1 men usually' do in the circumstances." ' "EhV' " %Q ; ■ . ; ; "Meet and drink!" , Comfort for Him. • r.*" She: Does the fact that I have money' make any difference to you, dearest? He: Of course it does, my own. It is such a comfort to know that if I' should die you would not have to, depend on the Widows' Pension to keep you. : She: But suppose I. should die? , He: Then I would be provided for. A.party of Boy Scouts were on tlicir. annual holiday. Each boy was being, given his morning task,'and one boy was told he must prepare'the soup. ... 7 Not having much idea, lie was given a few instructions from/ the scout ; W , charge, who told him not to forget »•, turnip. The boy asked about what size turnip, and the reply was. "One abouti the size of your head." - . Some time after a farmer came, run-r ning to tile camp exclaiming, "One of: your lads lias gone sheer mad. He jS pulling up all my turnips and trying his hat on them." It w as in the early hour?: of the morning, and the big charity affair was com*, ing to an end. As a fascinating little; lady tripped across the pavement to her_ car a mendicant lurched out of the darkness. "Charity, lady," he whined. "Spare a copper. I'm starvin'!" And then she turned upon him ana ( replied, petulantly:,"How utterly unreal sonable you are. Don't you know I v$ f; been dancing all the blessed night for VOU?" '