A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 57, 7 March 1936, Page 3 (Supplement)

A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

GOSSIP FROM LONDON.

SHAKESPEARE ON THE FILM

(From Our London Lady Correspondent.)

Hitherto even the most daring, film producers have fought strangely shy of the world's greatest dramatist. But in October we are to have, in New York, London and Paris simultaneously, a premiere of Shakespeare's incomparable poetic pantomime, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It has been filmed for the cinema world under the direction of the capable German producer, Max Reinhardt, which is at all events some reassurance as to its artistic merit. But the names of the film cast are not altogether comforting to Shakespearean enthusiasts. Jiunes Cagney, the wisecrack "bad hat" of Hollywood renown, is playing the immortal Bottom the Weaver and a famous slapstick comedian and a crooner also have parts. It sounds rather a queer Shakespearean mixture, but we must wait and see, on the sage Asquithian principle, until the film is thrown on the screen. WOMEN'S CLUBS. The highbrow members of the old original Bas-bleu Club probably gave rise to the persistent story that women's clubs are dull and dreary places. In London nowadays women's clubs are becoming a more and more popular feature of social life. Two of the best known have a membership of 7000 between them and the varied programmes arranged cover a wide range of interests. There is, Tor Instance, an aviation section confined to pilots, the wives of pilots, and otner women with a real knowledge of aircraft engineering. The film section studies developments in that new and rising industry, and not only are lectures given by producers and others connected with films, but expeditions are made to studios to see the work on the "sets." Music, drama, literature, sport and languages all have their special groups. GENRE PAINTINGS. The art exhibitions at present showing at the Mayfair galleries have been considerably enlivened by a one-man show by Mr. "Edward Ardizonne at the Leger Gallery. Mr. Ardizonne, who is an Englishman of Italian extraction, lias chosen some very odd subjects for his pictures. Public houses figure largely, and their habitues are portrayed with grim realism. This young artist does not set his easel in a convenient bar and proceed to work there, but notes types, and, making rough pencil sketches of them, assembles them in finished work. Also, included in the collection is a Jubilee scene in a poor street, studies of ribald bookmakers, out-patients at a hospital, and even a stuffed fish in a glass case. The works are described in the catalog© as genre paintings, and they certainly cannot be accused of monotony. PERFECTION. The "perfect girl," according to the dictum of one of America's most famous revue producers is sft 7in in weighs Bst 131b, and is 35 and 25 inches respectively round the hips and waist. Such measurements, apart from that of height, may well cause concern to many London girls who have prided themselves upon the lissomeness they have gained by strict curtailment of their lunch bills. Actually, the proportions are approximately those of the typical English country-bred girl of the pre-war era. The recent craze for slimming, however, has brought the average waist measurement down to 23 inches, with a slightly more than proportional drop in weight. If fashion in the "female form divine" is changing in America, it will doubtless also change here in the near future. To add weight is easier than to reduce it, the only snag being that it is not always inclined to go on in the right place. LADY PAMELA SMITH. The younger of the late Lord Birkenhead's two talented daughters, Lady Pamela Smith, who has just become to Mr. William Berry, has, like her sister, inherited something of the vivid personal charm and zest for adventure that characterised her famous father. Lady Eleanor Smith, the elder of the two, is an authority on gipsy and circus life and has even gone the length of camping with these strolling folk in order to get local colour and firsthand information for her books. Her book "Red Wagon" made her name as a novelist. Both girls are keen on sport and are accomplished horsewomen, so inuch so that recently Lady Eleanor took the place of a trick circus rider, who had fallen ill, at a moment's notice and discharged the part without a hitch, in addition to inheriting F.E.'s good looks. Lady Pamela tajces after her .atlier in her passionate affection for dogs. impersonated Peter the Hyde Park pageant but, unlike Barries hero, ehe has not refused to grow up. THE SUN CATCH. I looked over a new house during the week-end which must surely constitute the last word in sun catching. fj" exterior was not particularly attractive since the enormous windows gave 1 rather the aspect of a great glasshouse rather than an ordinary dwelling o] bricks and mortar. The rooms were all on two floors, and the flat roof w - given up to an enormous sun parlour built almost entirely of glass and sur rounded by open balconies which afforded a wonderful view of the surrounding country. It was like being on the_dec ot a great liner. The architect,- J. was told, had got his ideas from extensive travelling on the Continent, and especi ally in France. The effect of airme« was delightful, and you came away wut the feeling that here was something which ultimately must tend to revoiu tionise all our domestic architecture. CURSE IN DISGUISE. Labour-saving devices are lending a new complication to the servant prob -lem. It was difficult to get domestics before. To-day many girls, wher entering their names at a registry office, lay down the condition that the„ only intend to take service in a new house. Usually there is the furthei stipulation that the new house s a be equipped with the latest labour saving devices. Some even go so far a; to insist that the employer shall paj for stamping her insurance book--, demand which is, I believe, not me re 13 irregular, but even illegal. Unl ® s ; . inventors of labour-saying devices cai provide us with something in t lena uii of robot domestics, it looks as thoug all their efforts to help the housewif. may prove to be not a blessing curse in disguise