MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 141, 17 June 1922, Page 13

MIMES AND MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.")

THE' SHOWS,

Grand Opera House—"Vice-Ecgals," in season. "Maid of the Mountains," Ist July. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. The King's Theatre—pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Picturei. Princess Theatre^ —Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures.. I'uramount Theatre—Pictures.

It is said that Miss Ethel Morrison b to join Miss Marie Tempest when the latter opens her London season next autumn.

When. "A Little Dutch Girl" was staged in London, the advance bookings at the libraries amounted to £27,400. This in itself ensured a run of over a. year. Nearly Uvo years had elapsed, however, before the play was withdrawn. Extensive preparations are being made at Her Majesty' 6, Melbourne, for the production of "The Peep Show," which is described as one of the biggest productions Williamson's have ever brought to Australia. Over a. hundred people will be included in the cast, nmonpt thorn wallknown London artists who are now on | thsir way to Melbourne. Madame Sarah Bernhardt. in spite of her amputated _ limb and of the fact that she will be 77 in October, is again exciti wonder and admiration in her thousands of friends by her latest exhibition of finergy. Last February silo made & tour of the South of France, playing? five times in four days at Nice and 12 times in 11 days a,t Mentone. Beausoleil. Cannes, Toulon, St. Raphael, Nimes, and Avignon. During their cominsr Australian tour, Guy Maier and Lee Pattkon, the noted duo-pianists, will present that moat desirable of all things—something different. A concert of music entirely for two pianos has never been jrivon in Australia before, but. according to the critics of London and Paris, and New York, it is somethins most delightful, as exemplified by Maier and Pattison. Commenting on their appearance at Wigmore Hall last June, the London Da% Telegraph spoke of it as "a recital that was as stimulating as it was unusual in charaoter," and added, " the performance had a unity of thought and a power that at times seemed' tremondous.V Mr. Harry Thurston, an English comedian (the original "Ole Bill"), booked to appear on the Fuller vaudeville circuit, caused a mild sensation in Sydney. He disappeared from liis hotel for nearly a. week, and it was feared that he had met with some accident. At the end of tho week he returned to Sydney, explaining- that ho had accepted an invitation to a motor trip to the Blue Mountains. He had' not realised that so much publicity bad been given to his absence, news of which had been cabled to England. Mr. Thurston immediately sent a. cable to his wife telling her ho was safo^ and _in good spirits. The Canadian at present is playing to big houses in Sydney. Among good stories of the late celebrated actors, Sir Henrj Irving, the tragedian, and John Laurence Toole, here is ono of the best. It occurred at a dinner given in their honour. Toole had been "setting the t&blo in a roar," and then the great tragedian, in his most solemn and impressive manner, addressed the gathoring. He had had a dream, he said. He dreamt that he a-nd Toole were both dead, and were wending their way to the place of settlement. Toole was in front, and he appeared to go through the gates of Paradiee without any difficulty. "But," he added, "when. I got there St. Petor said, 'Who are you ?' I said, 'Let mo in. please. I'm an actor.'" 'Oh, no,' said the Keeper of the Keys, 'we don't let actora in here. You must go down below." "But," I replied, "You have just let my friend, John Laurence Toole, in." "'Oh, ho's no actor," said the Sa-int. "Now run away." Tho magic of Mr. Osoar Asche,. who produced "The Maid of tho Mountains" in London, is evident in every senso of the comic opera, which is to bo staged in Wellington shortly. . The brigands' stronghold, with the mountains rising vague and dim, the wild moonlit sky, and the winding path leading round tho dark cliff, is a romantic opening. The Governor's palace at Santo, with ite circular sweep of wall and effect of depth and size is equally good, and the island scene with its sandy beach, cactus-starred cliffs, and blue ocean and background, completes the gallery.. In each scene the plan ie to conceal the fact that it is only a stage. The boach js real sand, and the boats slide up upon it quite naturally, while there are real oranges on the trees at Santo, and the brigands disappear down a. real canyon. The Melbourne Herald, in ite notice of "Tlie Maid of tho Mountains" . premier performance in. that city, said, after re-' ferring to Miss Gladys Moncrieff's triumph; "Second honours go to another young Australian, Miss Mione Stewart.

Bearing a name famous in the stage history of the Commonwealth, she lives up to it well. There is a promise of a fine comedienne hero of the kind we sadly lack. Miss Stewart is pretty, sings prettily, and, altogether she made a, pleasant picture of Vittoria. And she showed a sense of characterisation which might not be expected in one so young." Miss Stewart is a daughter of Mr. Richard Stewart, and. a niece of Miss Nellie Stewart.

A Chicago telegram to London Etates that Miss Muriel M'Cormick, daughter of Mr. M'Cormiok, the Chicago millionaire, a-nd grand-daughter of Mr. J. D. Rockefeller, senior, the Standard Oil "King," has met with an amazing Bncc&ss on her stage debut in, a. ono-act play in French verso, _ "Lo Passant." Miss M'Cormick, who is tho sister of Miss Mathilde M'Cormiok, whose recentlyannounced engagement to a Swiss riding master created a. considerable sensation, some time ago expressed her intention of taking up the stage as a, profession, despito the millions of dollars at her disposal. Her debut was the role of a boy. and her acting was acclaimed as "splendid" by a large society audience at th« fashion'ablo Kimball Ball. Her father, Mr. Harold M'Cormick, who was recently divorced by Mrs. M'Cormick, formerly Miss Edith Rockefeller, the daughter of the "Oil King," and her mother also were occupying seats in different parts of the house. The millionaire was enthusiastio over his daughter's success. To the newspaper men afterwards Mr. M'Cormick said that he did not object to Miss Muriel's stage aspirations at aIJ. "Sho loves it; that's all there is to it," he declared.

A draft scheme for the institution, of a Central College of Theatrics has been drawn up and approved by the council of the Actors' Association in England, being developed into a constitution. The scope of the proposed curriculum is extremely wide, and th& Actors' Association is of opinion that the establishment of such a school will be welcomed by tho theatrical managements and'by the general public, who will undoubtedly benefit by the increased efficiency of the English stage. It is suggested that the name of the school should be "The College of Actors," and that it should have power to grant diplomas as Licentiates, Associates, Members and Follows. Existing actors and actresses are to be admitted to its examinations at a. nominal foo, and no reflection is to bs made on actors and actresses who may not seek examination. It is further proposed tha.t the Actors' Association should inaugurate a system of apprenticeship, whereby new actors and actresses can qualify as licentiates after examination without passing through the college. Tbo principal objects of the college are: To study and teach the technique of the arts and crafts of theatre and cinema. To establish a minimum standard of acting and to Krant diplomas after examination by experts appointed by the Actors' Association. To help to keep_ puro tno English lan.guage and its use in speech. Eventually to form a. controlled portal of entry to tho stage. To provide special short courses in a the various aspects of their art for existing actors and actresses. To provide a source of income for the Actors' Association to be used in the interests of members who may he in need of help. To provide a centre for entertaining and exchanging ideas with foreign artists, and to be a focal point to which all interested in the development of the British stage shall be attracted. To raise the status of actors. A Sydney critic paid a unique compliment to the young Russian "wizard of the violin," Toscha Seidel, in writing of his

wonderful success at the opening concert in Sydney. "Toscha Seidel makes a. wonderful appeal to both the senses and the emotions^ He lifts one entirely into another sphere, and one feels the greatness that is his, and' the imagination is wafted to realms in another firmament. You are amongst the stars, wondering, elated, and uplifted. Perhaps it is that Seidel typifies supreme youth—youth, the master of difficulties; youth looking- out upon the world, and finding in it only beauty—and beauty responds to his call whenever he strikes his magic violin." Seidel is due in New Zealand in July.