MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 103, 3 May 1919, Page 11

MIMES AND MUSIC

(HI "ORPHEUS.")

THE SHOWS.

Grand Opera House—Koyal Comic Opera Com- ' pany, in season. His Jlajesty's-Vaudeville. Tho King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft Theatres-Pictures. Oar Theatre—Pictures. Xew Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. People's Picture- Palace—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. . ■■ Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Pictures. .

Mr. George Portus, -well known .in Wellington, is now business manager of the Italian Opera Company, now appearing in Sydney.

Mr. Ben. J. Fuller leaves Sydney shortly on a comprehensive tour of tho United States, Great Britain, and the Continent in quest of star atti-actions for tho circuit. i

Mr. Leslie Holland's brother, Ellis, has arrived in Australia from London under engagement to the Tivoli, and will take Mr. Hugh Hunttey's part in "My Lady Frayle" when the latter artist departs for America. Mr. Harry Burgess-(the-tall comedian formerly with the Walter Johnson Company) has a revue company now pla-ying at the Bijou, Melbourne. Mr. Johnson has returned to America.

Mdlle. Antonia Dolores is booked to give her farewell Sydney concerts in the Town Hall in the middle of May next. Then she returns to France by easy stages, giving concerts en route.

Miss Frances Ross, a. one-time prominent member of the Bland Holt Company, has returned to Sydney after a year's holiday in Now Zealand. Miss Boss will return to tho stage at an early date.

Ths real name of some film stars :— Theda Bava, Theodosia Goodman; June Caprice, Betty Lawson; Viola Dana, Viola Flugarth • Bessie Love, Bessie Horton; Shirley Mason, Leonis Flugarth (sister of Viola Dana); Mary Miles Minter, Juliot Shelley; Mary Pickford, Gladys Smith; Blanche Sweet, Blanche Alexander.

Among tho many popular theatrical artists now appearing in Wellington with the Royal Comic Opera Company probably there is none better known to theatregoers of the Dominion than Mr. John Forde, or "Johnnie," as he is best known by his associates. It is many years since he first appeared here as Captain Corcoran in "H.M.S. Pinafore," when produced by Alice and Horace Lingard. Since then he has visited New Zealand with many companies, having been associated with a number of productions by Williamson, Garner, and Musgrove. As John Stofel in "Struck Oil," with Maggie Moore", he is known throughout Austi-alasia, as he almost created this character. Many will also recollect his inimitable performance of Tod Codd, the rough, hearty, old sailorman in "Beauty'and the Ba.rge," produced by Brough and Flemming. Another part played by him under the same management was the Bishop of Selby in "Dr. Wake's Patient." "Johnnie" is still as happy as ever, and does not regret coming to New Zealand at ' the present time. He states that during the period of the war and since the epidemic many members of the theatrical profession had not had too rosy or too prosperous a time in Australia.

"Have you ever noticed the number of New Zealanders who joined various companies of the Dandies, and have since linked up with other companies?" says Mr. John Hopkins. They include Joseph Brennan, a Dunedinite, now with J. and N. Tait, and appearing in pantomime in, Australia; Dorothy Ga-rd'ner, also from the southern Scottish city, who is now with tlie Steele-Payno Company in South. Africa; Harry Borradaile, an Aucklander, now a prominent member of "The Scarlet Gaieties"; Ernest Parkes, a Wellington baritone, now with "The Scarlet Gaieties" in Adelaide; Kama Young, a Christchiirch native, now pianist to 'Will and Bob. .Thomas' "English Pierrots," at present in Perth, W.A. All of the above artists gained their professional experience in costume comedy work under the Edward Branscombo direction.

" 'Flying' Matinees" are the subject of a London article by Captain Paul Bewaher, who recently included some poems founded on his war-time air experiences in a volume called "The- Bombing of Bruges." He considers that very soon the hurried matinees given by London companies in the provinces may literally be flying matinees, for the players will travel by air. "If the performers ■ leave London shortly after 11 in the morning with their bags stowed away in a freight machine, they will fly to their objective in time for lunch and for the change before the performance. It is assumed that the theatre at which they are going to present their show has the scenery for the production. After the performance they will % back to London,- and will be in their dressing-rooms at their usual time. This will probably be done quite soon as a 'stunt,' though it will be some time "before it becomes a regular thing."

A striking new prologue to "The Luck of the Navy," which was recently well past its 250 th performance in London, is thus described :—"The curtain rises on absolute darkness. Gradually the outlines of a submerged submarine become manifest, and as the light, little by little, grows stronger, you realise that the boat is lying at the bottom of tho ocean, while real fish dart here and there, curious to know what this strange monster may be.. EventuaJly a panel slides back, and the interior of the vessel is revealed, while the voice of the captain is heard giving orders, duly repeated by members of the crow, for an ascent to the surface. Altogether an exceedingly effective and arresting picture, calculated to attuna the audience to the thrilling events which are to follow."

_ "When Percy Grainger came to America from Australia a few years ago/ says the New York Herald, "he had a strong accent and long golden hair. He looked much like a hothouse pianist, so delicate and picturesque was his appearance. Nevertheless he played the piano like a young Hercules. His'chords sounded more complete and resonant than those of other pianists, and his whole style was virile. Now he looks like he. plays. He has spent nineteen months in the American army. His hair is cut in tviie military fashion, he talks American, and his "facs has acquired an outdoor colour. The army has changed his appearance, if not his playing. Mi. Grainger was discharged from the army on 13th January,, having served in tha band of the 15th Coast Artillery, and later having acted as an instructor at the newly-formed Army Music Training School at Governor's Island, which 19 directed by Captain Arthur A. Clappe." Mr. Grainger is stated to have told the interviewer that in his opinion the war had'been a great factor in raising the standard' of American bands. Tho number of men allowed in an army band had' been raised from 28 to 47, arid the prescribed instrumentation was, he believed, the best in any army. One' could almost write symphonic music for such a band. A school for, band leaders had been established at Governor's Island, to graduate 400 leaders a year. There were also six replacement band camps, to provide men to fill the weak places in bands both in Europe and in the American camps. The signing of the armistice had stopped most of these activities, but a good effect would remain. Personally he had had no time to compose when the war was on,

so he did not know what the effect. oil his own compositions would be. It was true that he had written a "Children's March," but that was when ho was recovering from an attack of measles. But ho had had an opportunity of studying good wind instruments in a way that he would not have had otherwise, and hoped to write quartettes for them. "Ultra modem music," he added, "deals to a great extent in the colourful wood wind instruments, and these are the basis of the band as now authorised by the United States Government in the army. It seems to me that instead' of rearrangements of orchestra, piano, and operatic music, new things could be written for the band in a modern spirit."

Jack Cannot, the well-known comedian, is giving up the stage, and is going to devote himself to teaching the art of singing and acting. Mr. Cannot (says the Sydney Sun) states that he studied for five years abroad under the finest teachers. He was under Baraldi for somte time, and then went to Marie Withrow, in his opinion one of the cleverest woman teachers that London has known. It is her method that he will teach in Sydney. Mr. Cannot says that this method does not discardl bel canto, but moves it into a more forward position where it can be preserved, and where dramatic diction and emotional expression can, be added to it. This is what he is going to try to teach to Sydnoy students, together with acting in all its branches, and elocution.

A summons has been, served- on J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in Sydney, by tho well-known comedian, Mr. Clyde Cook, claiming £266 for guaranteed salary by reason of the alleged determination of a contract between tho parties before its expiry by efflaxion of time. A writ has also been issued, on behalf of Mr. Leslie Gaze, against Harry Rickards Tivoli Theatres, Ltd., claiming £-510 3s 4d for alleged broach of contract.