Plays-Players-Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 3, 3 July 1926, Page 25

Plays-Players-Pictures

THE SHOWS.

Opera- House— _' ; '£ilac Time," opening 10th July, ffown'-Hall—

..Toti dal Monte, opening 24th July. Hi 3. Majesty's—Fuller's Vaudeville. Be Luxe Theatre—Pictures. King's- Theatre—Pictures. ATtcraft^-Pictures. <iir Theatre—Pictures. . impress Theatre—Pictures. ShorCVs Theatre—Pictures. Strand, Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Que*nl» Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Pictures

The Kendall String Quartette are now'afc Melbourne Assembly Hall.

The, Mastcrton Amateur Theatrical Society proclueecl ■ "The Magistrate". during this week. The Levin Choral Society, under the baton, of Edwin Dennis, A.E.C.M.,- is presenting the "Bohemian Girl" next Tuesday. There will bo a .chorus of fifty, and visiting soloists have been, engaged. Frank Harvey, last here with "Seventh Heaven," is going back to England. His first appearance in Australia" was in 1014 in "Joseph and His Brethren." He has been co-star with many of 'Williamson's notable importations".

filta Nugent, tho clever little dancer, Triio^-las visited New Zealand several times with "Williamson's shows, has'decided'to go .abroad. Sho has accepted an 'engagement which will take her to Berlin, which she hopes will be a,step-ping-stone to London. Ward Lyons, whose death at Perth was'announced a few weeks ago, was last-Here in the star part in""Cappy Kicks.1" The old Australian aotor —he was'» native^if Ballarat —had been on the^bpardg for very many years, but it w>S not until Philip Lyttou, who had secured the Australian rights of the play; selected him foi? tho part of the irascible "Cappy" that some degree of fame came to him. He waß-to have gone to London to play the part there, but ajeath rang down the curtain. "3*o, No, Nanette," began the twelfth week of its Sydney season at St. James Theatre on 12th June. It is said to bo one of the few musical comedies with a good plot, and ono which is sustained in its songs. While in Sydney "No, No, Nanette" is expected to break-its Melbourne record of 152 per-, formances. . " '•■'-.. . ■ ■, "Seventh Heaven" ha 3; not Caught"on iif" Sydney. The drama had a tryout this year in the New Zealand r.entres, with Frank Harvey and Eemy Oarpen. The fact that the brave Chico (Prank Harvey's part) comes 'back from1 tho war blind hits home too hard to a great many people, who refuse to. recogniso a happy ending- when the here--is disabled in this way. Tlie "Wanganui aniateurn arc at present rehearsing for the performanae of '''What Happened to Jones?" a comedy:,which they hope to present .late next month. . :': '■ Mr Beaumont Smith, director of the J C.'""WiUiamson's films - enterprise m NeW^ealand, returned to Auckland S ten days' ago, after a business vi.it to Australia. Speaking of the new Stre He intimated that the firm 'pr Sed extending .the theatre, .«r----cuit into other Dominion tovns m M^S-continues.to foliow^Mu^ Starr" in her Australian tour, hhelias Miss Starr will commence her JSew Sand tour at the f and Opera House SS^^la^^^^S-S %r4lSsV'^l F obably.l»eßtag.

•jt rpiouofoite recital under somewhat unusual conditions was that given, by BaSfiaus in-tlio stately Norman N£V<? of Cathedral. Thero was a Congregation of between three ■ and .four- thousand people for on behalf of Peterborough Infirmary, and.the first of its kind given in an En'fSUh Cathedral. Exquisite melodies jos! and fell, echoing through the aisles arid" the sonorous chord 3of a Jseqtnoyen- sonata had almost the power of the'organ. Tour familiar piece* by Schumann - "Eventide ''^"Spiritual Ecstasy " "Why?" and "Dream Fan-cies,"--came after Beethoven, some Brahma, and then Chopin's sonata containing the intensely moving funeral march.' The wailing melody and slow, haunting rhythm had a perfect setting in the great solemn spaces of the cathedral.' The beautiful Chopin nocturne tKaf fcam'd at the end sounded like a Benediction. Backhaus opens his Australian and New Zealand tour in Sydney to-night. As far as New York is concerned June can bo safely termed a revue month. Albert do Courville, in association with the Shuberts,: presented. "The Merry-World," formerly."Hello; London," and "The Merry Whirl during tire week of the 7th. During that week the versatile Neighbourhood group produced "The Grand Fleet Follies." In tho following week, that of the 14th to be exact, George "White revealed his annual "Scandals," and then Mr. Ziegfeld's entertainment open- ' d-^-ajt tho Globo this year, instead of tho;'New Amsterdam—about the 21st; Goorge Giershwin supplied the music for several numbers in the - Ziegfeld revue. •■ ■ '■■■'- Chaliapin, the world's greatest bass ginger, will commence'lris-"Australian-season under the direction of J. and N. Tait at tho. Auditorium, Melbourne, on Saturday,. 10th July; The.'appearance of; this world singer will bo a most not-ablO;-musical event. Chaliapin's tour; however, will be a brief one: Ho giveß but .twenty-five . concerts 'throughout Australia and Now Zealand .before he: retjirjis to America for- another -season.; . '"....

The next musical attraction that Messrs. J. and N. Tait are'sending to New-'Zealana is that delightful operajtie: artist Toti Dal Monte, who has leapt into prominence within the last five ye£r.sy and is considered to be now at the,:zenith of her power. As a beginiieivat La Scala, (in Milan), Totl dal Monte achieved success aa much by herviseauty as by her powers, and was engaged for the opera season at Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Eio dc Janeiro, ■wliei'c she swept the Latin audiences, off.rtheir feet. Then came the visit to Australia two years ago, whore she costarred with Melba in the most successful opera season over known in the G'ornmbnwea.lth. "Dal Monte Nights" vie (£ - with and even ' triumphed over "Melba Nights," and the 'pre'ttjr,:,.and youthful prima donna scored one of the most "triumphant successes ever known. At the conclusion of that tour, Toti dal Monte' fulfilled opera and concort en-: gagements in America and England with" great success. Now we arc to hehf-Jier'-in concert. The Now Zealand tour will open at Wellington'on 24th July.

"Oedipus Hex," the first production of. the recently-formed Greek Play Society^took placo recently at the Scala Theatre, London, Mr. J. T. Sheppard!s translation being used. Mr. Robert Atkjns produced, and tho cast included Mr. H. A; Sai'ntsbury (Oedipus), Mr. Ivan Samson (Joeasta), Mr.. Wilfred Walter^ Mr. Prank JTosper, Mr.

Tristan Eawson, Mr. Lawrence Anderson, and Mr. Austin Trevor. It is tho aim of the society to stage the plays exactly, or as nearly exactly as possible, as they wore performed at Athens.. Two of the1 prime essentials, an open-air theatre and a Greek stage, had to be foregone, but an all-male cast was employed, and costume was accurate, even to the employment of masks by, all the players and the cothurnus (high-soled buskin) by the tragic actors. Three plays are to be given each year, the other two in 1926 being "Oedipus Colonus" (Sophocles) and "The Frogs." : ' Leon Gordon, tho author of and star actor in "White Cargo," playing just now in Australia, will shortly commence an Australian play. "I hope to make it of this country," he said, "without introducing .red-shirted bushrangers. There will not be a single pistol-in it, and I shall take every opportunity of living with the people in city and country to get the 'types.' "

..Waliis Clark, who plays tho doctor in "White Cargo," at present in Australia, has- played many parts in the drama of life—rcircus clown, acrobat, theatre manager, actor—these are a few of his roles. He is English-born, and the son of William Waliis Clark, the inventor'of acetylene gas. In accordance with.the very best traditions oi the history of successful actors, ho ran away from home when quite young, arid joined up. with a circus as a clown, later he became an acrobat. Then a chance came to play in drama, and subsequently his acting caught the inter- ' eat of John, Lionel, and Ethel Barry- ! more, all of whom he has been associated with in many plays. The Pictures. ; Peter B. Kyno's successful story, "Shamrock Handicap," has been converted to screen 'use under the original titlo, and is expected to be released in a few weeks' time. Janet Gaynor, L. Farrell Mac Donald, and Leslie Fenton head the i exceptionally strong cast which hag been assembled for this tale of the Anld Sod and tho New World. "Komola," the Metro-Goldwyn-May-er adaptation of George Eliot's exciting story of love, sacrifice, and thrilling adventure,- is now in the second week of a most successful season at Auckland. The Gish girls, Lillian and i)orothy, are credited with "wonderfully artistic interpretations of two fascinating roles." Lillian appears as "Boriiola," wife of the arch-villain, "Tito," and Dorothy "win 3 the sympathy- of everyone" as his dupe, the unsophisticated country girl, "Tessa," "Bomola" ran for 14 consecutive weeks at George M. Cohan's "Theatre on Broadway, New York, to a top-price for admission of ten shillings a seat. The picture will be seen in this city at an early date.

Rin-Tin-Tin is not popular With Senators., His arrival in the PittsTj.urg station when ho was on tour caused a furore, while Senator George Wharton Pepper, on a campaign tour for re-elec-tion was overlooked, according to the Pittsburg "Press." Einty's next Master picture is "Below the Line."

• The Buck Jones production, "The Cowboy and tho Countess," is screening now at the Queen's Theatre. Buck has already made his first picture on the 1926-27 schedule, which is "Thirty Below Zero," .a.story of tho frozen north. Buck' will make seven thrilling stories for the screen for next season's pr.esc^i.tat'ib.n',"and.in.'anticipation of the hard" work which is in stdfo" for him, he ana his wifo are at present enjoying a two months' vacation in Europe. "The Woman Hater" is one of the most intense and dramatic love stories that has been produced this season. The acting is- equal to tho story, which means that Heleno Chadwick and Clive Brook in the leading roles live up to their reputations. The exotic lure of a Parisian, actress is faultlessly portrayed by Miss Chadwick, who " wears a number of, elaborate gown 3.

"The Limited Mail" is a picturisation of Elmer , Vance's thrilling melodrama of .the West. Filmed in the Colorado Mountains, the picture contains some "of the most beautiful scenes ever recorded in p, photoplay, and the exciting sequences of train wrecks and landslides make the picture most thrilling and spectacular. Monte Blue is again seen as a rugged outdoonhero —the. type of role which first brought him . success.

"The Johnstown Flod," a Fox special, is due to be released in Wellington shortly. George O'Brien, Florence Gilbert, and Janet Gaynor, with a fine supporting cast, interpret this sensational story of one of the most tragic disasters in tho history of the TJnitod States. Johnstown was a thriving city, some 37 years ago, but in a single afternoon it was swept-away by the bursting of a huge data, and hundreds of lives were lost and thousands pf pounds' damage done. The jiroduction is amazing in its realism, and is expected to create a sensation when it is released here. "

Scenes in "A Fool and His Money," a^ Master picture now screening at tho .Empress Theatre, range from an American boarding-house to a castlo in old world Europe. The foreign atmosphere is authentic, as has been verified by many people who watch closely tho technique of pictures. The castlo exterior i 3 most imposing, while the interior accurately portrays, tiio high ceilings and big fireplaces peculiar to European architecture of the middle ages. The castle itself is an. exact replica of the old Yon Elm stronghold on the Rhine, and was^ reproduced from drawing and photographs brought from the original for that purpose. The picture is adapted from the novel of the same name by George Barr M'Cutcheon, and features William Hines and Madge Bellamy as tho leads, supported by .Stuart Holmes, Alma Bennett, and a host of other stars.

"'Virginia Lee Corbin, ono of the cast of Mrs. Wallace Roid's "Broke Laws," was a; noted child actress of the stage. Sho won fame with Dustin Farnum in |'The Little Rebel," and is still best in parts in which she has the rebellious littlo girl to play.

Photographic novelty is promised in "The Last Laugh." Emil Jannings has the leading rola in this dramatic story of human nature, which concerns a pompous old man who finally has the last laugh in his struggle against Fate. That the philosophy of life is best illustrated by the river and the myriad changes it undergoes in flowing to the sea: is the inspiration to bo found in "The* Recreation of Brian Kent," a Master picture attraction, announced for early release. Mary Carr and "Kenneth Harlan aro the featured players. ' More than 1000 persons applied recently for an opportunity to appear in Gloria Swanson's new picture, "Fine Manners," and of these nearly 500 were, selected. When word was sent but that, extras were needed for a street scene in "Miss Swan3on 's picture it brought an almost unprecedented response. The street in front of the studio was so crowded with applicants that traffic was blocked. Those hundreds of. people were used in a scene presenting a section of Times square on New Year's Eve. The street was reproduced in the studio, and the night celebration was staged there, with the milling crowds, mounted traffic cops, automobiles creeping through congested traffic and all the hurly-burly and Confusion usually attended upon a farewell to the dying year and greeting the new.