THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 116, 2 February 1918, Page 3

THE THEATRE

(By "Sylvius.")

Where Life is Not Real. Anion? other explorations in civilisation, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Kcrnot, of Wellington, were forcibly interested in tlio picture-making business of California. Sir Kernot says that no one visiting Los Angeles can avoid it. You go out for a motor 'drive in ono direction, am! there in a little vallo.y closo besiio thiS road ono may see a complete Indian camp, with the braves smoking gravely; the old chief laying down tho law, and perhaps a young white backwoodsman holding an Indian girl in Lis nrms._ At first the visitor may bo deluded into tlio belief that it is really an Indian eamp, but the whirr of the camera soon disillusionises. 11l another direction forty or fifty horsemen will bo seen raising tlio dust of the prairie, in their mad pursuit of the plot of some story of tlio screen. He was silting ono day, comfortably puffing away at a cigar in the spacious foyer of one of tlio great hotels, when there entered upon the view ono of the most gorgec.us bridal parties that could bo imagined. Ho began to sit up and tako notice, v-hen his ear caught tho whirr of the camera. Only a picture, after all! Tho picture business, which is a vast industry, tinges the life of Los Angeles, with • unreality—one never knows if anything is real, as there is always the dread possibility of what is apparently tho most innocent domestic scene or the most appalling accident being something arranged for the camera.

When Mr. Kernot was in Los Angeles, there was something approaching a slump in the picture manufacturing business. _ Hundreds of people had been dismissed, and lots of "studios" were closing down—the effect of the war in combination with over-manufac-turo. A Clever Dancer. In the "Dick Whittington" pantomime at Melbourne Her Majesty's, Maggie Dickinson again exemplifies not only her skill as a dancer, but her remarkable versatility. There are dancers whose capabilities are displayed in only one particular style of dancing, but Miss Dickinson's art ranges over tho most .diverse phases. In "Diok Whittington" tho brilliant young Australian is seen one moment in a dainty measure of olden days; tlien poising in the classic drapings of Peace in the great War Ballet. In an entirely different class is her agile variation of the hornpipe in the Ballet of the Eastern Sailors, which is. portion of the pageant that introduces the finale to the first act; and in tho Ballet of Temptation . she Las three different and distinct dances, a quick change of costumo being made for each. One of the secrets of Miss Dickinson's success is that she never relaxes her training. Every day she has three hours' practice. " I eat well,' sleep well, keep in the fresh air as much as I can, and always try to he happy," is how Maggie Dickinson sums up her daily lifo and its effect on her work.

"Pinafore" at Apia, Tho Anglicising of Samoa goes on apace. "H.M.S. Pinafore" was produced at Apia by amateurs during Christmas week. The "Samoa TimeS," with a reckless disregard for the verities, said

"Considered as a whole, the performance was generally conceded to challenge comparison with tlio beat amateur achievements in comic opera of Australia and New Zealand/ Judged by this exacting standard, principals, chorus, and orchestra all acquitted themselves with real distinction; whilo in one of its features, that of the scenic accessories, it was admitted to be absolutely unique. Nevor before had 'Pinafore' been staged by amateurs south of the Lino with such wealth of scenic beauty end realistic effect as in the present instance." The notice further stated that the touching solo, "Farewell, My Own," was rendered with sucli fooling that itis said that many of the susceptible Samoans among the audience wore moved to tears. Really! Notes. Miss Kathleen MacDoncll is appearing at Sydney Criterion Theatre in a brief revival of "Outcast" prior to the first prediction in Australia of "The Willow Tree," a Japanese fantasy, which has achieved an immense cess in both London and New York. It lias a delightful and charmingly sentimental story. , "The .Bing Boys Are Here" is running to ur m eeedented business at His ■Majesfajs Theatre, Sydney. Mr. Harry Primmer, the actor-man-ager, his left Australia for America. It is understood that lie will try his luck in tho picture world. His late partner. Mr. Winter Hall, has been working in pictures in America for ayear pas-t. Miss Sybil Arundale, well known to Sydney audiences, recently presented at the London Hippodrome a musical fantasy especially written and composed for her under tho title of "The Clock." , . j The next big production to be staged at the Tivoli (Sydney) is "Samples" This is a smart London revue, in which the chief comedy part is to bo played by Phil Smith, for long leading comedian of the J. C. Williamson Comic Opera Company. Others in the cast are Eileen Boyd, Kate Gourlay, Marie Eaton, Doris Thornton, and Cclia Ghiloni. Lester Brown produces. Sir Johnston Forbes-Robovtson; who bade farewell to tho American stage last sca.m, reently returned to that country in order to appear before the moving picture camera ill a cinematographic adaptation of Jerome K. Jerome's play, "The Passing of the Third Floor Back." He will go back to England as soon as tho photoplay is complcteiiran 1 will not appear on the regular stage whilo in America. '.Hio comedian George _ Graves has a v/onderful fund of stories. One lie relates i= in regard to a gentleman who had been dining not wisely but too well, and arrived home at such a late hour and in such a confused condition that he crawled on to a. flower bed in the middle of the front lawn, and peacefully went to sleep. "When he awoke in the morning he looked np to find Ins wife gazing very wrathfiilly at him from tho upper bedroom window. Still somewhat vonfused as to his surroundings, and feeling most decidedly chilly, he called up to her, "V'tinan. sliuo that window at oncol Do yon want me to catch my death of cold?" Mr. Peter Dawson, the popular baritone, who lias returned to Australia from England, opened at the Sydney Tivoli on January 10. "Charley's Aunt" was once moro revived in London at Christmas. Of Signor Malini, a prestidigitator, who appears here next-week, it is said that "110 commences whore others leave off." Malini is on a tour of the world, and has inst completed an extendeil visit to Australia. He does not seek the aid of mechanical'inventions in his conjuring, relying solely upon his digital dexterity. Malini lias appeared by command before royalty (including the Iving of England), in many countries, including the King of Engcouutrios. Ilis first performance here, in tho Concert Chamber, next Saturday night, will be under tlio patronage of the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massev) and the Mayor (Air. J. ,I*. Luke, C.M.G.). ' John Philip Sousa, who patriotically gave up valuable concert contracts to take a commission as lieutenant in the United States Navy, his duties being the leadership of the band of the United States Navy, has written a

little hit of verse, to which his former earning capacity gives portinence. I joined the Reserves oil the thirteenth of May, I gave np my hand, and a thousand per day, A dollar a. month is my Government pay, My God! .iiovr the money rolls in. Lieutenant Sousa wrote the lines during it recont visit to New Yorlc, when he took his now hand to the Hippodrome. Tlio gentlemen who had proclaimed loud and often that the day of the long run was over must feel sadly disappointed by tho way in which facts have Upset their dearest wishes and their prophecies, savs a recent "Weekly Dispatch." There never was such a time for long runs! Look at "A Little Bit of Fluff," now on the f)00 mark, and "Romance," oil the 800. _ "Clm Chin Chow" is creeping up to 500, and "Theodore and Co." to 400. "The Maid of tho Mountains" and "General Post" have each been played 250 times, and "Damaged Goods" and "Suzctto" 200 each. "Inside tho Lines," "Bubbly,' "Cheep," and "Smile" are on or over the 150 mark, and "Tho Three Daughters of M- Dupont" crossed the 100 linn recently. All the above plays—with one exception— will go on for a long time yet, and four oF tho eight productions staged since August 1 will certainly secure longrun honours. All this must be vory disappointing to the man who advocates changing tho bill every week, or everyday, or twico n night. It was not to ho expected that Wagner would escapo quite scot free from the unpopularity in which his fellow, countrymen of to-day have only too deservedly sunk Saint-Saens it it who has dealt him the blow ill a newlypublished book, entitled "Gennanophile." Says the veteran Frenchman: "Wagner was a true Hun, with all the blatant, blasphemous self-conceit" of his compatriots; and he quotes the etorv of how Wagner, at a moment when he Was gambling and winning with stolen money, felt, he declared, guardian angels hovering over him. The money, if you please, tho gambler had stolen from his mother. _ Viscount Drumlanrig, eldest son and heir of the ninth Marquis of Queensberry, has married Miss Irene Richards, an actress, who has been appearing in "Theodore and C 0.,, at the Gaiety Theatre in London. He was 21 years of age January last. When war broke out he joined 'the Black Watch. The ninth Marquis thrashed a goldfields newspaper editor in the days of tho boom at Coolgardie. The offence was in a reference to the pedigree of the aristocrat. Mr. Zante Wood, who was well known in amateur theatrical circles in W®'* lington, and whose ideas on London shows were so interestingly set forth in TnE Dominion of a fortnight ago, has returned to Wellington. Anew edition of "Look Who's Here, the clever revue that was produced here some weeks ago by Mr. Jack Waller, is to he presented at the Grand Onera House on Saturday. February 16. This is a company which cave an excellent account of itself, and in point of up-to-datedness gave points to all other alleged revue companies.