Plays Players Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 117, 13 November 1926, Page 25

Plays Players Pictures

Eobert Chishblm, the Australian baritone, who was hero in "The Maid of the Mountains"—ho played the part of Beppo—is touring in American vaudeville. He is now a "headliner."

Little Tich, the well-known London comedian, is coming back to Australia with-hi» elongated shoes. He is booked for the Tivoli in Melbourne on 6th December. •

George Storey's company is now in Christchurch after a long season in Dunedin. Elclon Black and his Town Topic Eevue Company haVe taken their place in Dunedin. • - • ■ Hugh J. Ward, whose, retirement from the Fuller-Ward combination has been announced, first came to Australia in 1899 as a principal in Henry Hoyt's American comedy troupe, whose chief comedian was Harry Conor. The company ■ played two overrated American musical comedies, "A Trip to Chinatown" and "A Stranger in New York." Mr. Ward later gained fame in Australia and New Zealand in "The Man from Mexico" and "The : Music Master."' No doubt a fine reception will be accorded that wonderful juvenile act, Lorna Lance and Co., on their return to the vaudeville bill at His Majesty's Theatre, Monday next. These four children of the stage are all of one family, and the turn they present is of an exceptionally novel- and high-class nature. ■ Miss Zillah Bateman, ,who will appear with Mr. Joseph Cunningham's New English Comedy Company, which opens its season at the Grand- Opera House on Tuesday night, is not only an acclaimed actress but also a talented musician, whose experience has taken her into the realms of grand operiji. Another member of the company, Miss Henrietta Oavendißh, was associated with the late Sir Charles Hawtrey in many comedy successes, and was specially chosen to play the lead throughout Great Britain in the propaganda play "Uncle Sam."

The Midnight Frolics are now in Auckland playing to enthusiastic audiences, and soon they will be at His Majesty's Theatre, Wellington. This isa show on its own—an all-night show, embracing some of the best-known and most popular artists on the vaudeville stage of to-day. Everyone knows Clem Dawe, the popular young comedian, who on hi? last night in Sydney recently, after the farewell performance, was the centre of hundreds of . oplo who rushed the stage in an endeavou to receive a last handshake from this.great favourite. There are many favourites in a lesser degree embodied in tho Midnight Frolics, and a successful New Zealand season, is assured this company.

Mr. Joseph Cunningham's New English Comedy Company, whi'eh, after scoring meritorious successes in Australia, opens a season at the Grand Opera House on Tuesday Jiight, includes in its ;-epertoire some of the biggest London successes of recent years. Frank Hudson's witty, satire on the modern divorce Court, "The Unfair Sex," ran for two yeai-s at tho Savoy Theatre, London. Another play that had a phenomenal run.is "Eliza Comes to Stay," and 'liiu Hay's "Sport of Kings" is still being produced, so that New Zealand will see a production that is still enjoying its long initial success at Home. The fourth work, "Outward Bound," has not only scored in England but it is continuing to be a tremendous draw in America.

Fama's Amusements have secured the New Zealand distributing rights of the recently released British picture, "Nelson," the story of one of England's famous heroes. The film depicts the stirring battles that made the hero famous, and also the romantic episode in his life—the struggle between his affection and duty to his country. The picture is to be released in the Dominion early in the New Year. Belle Bennett has been chosen by Fox officials for the name part in their big production, "The" Story of Mother Machree," which JoTin Ford is making for 4he new release list. This picture will tell the story of the sacrifice of the Irish mothers who brought their children to America in order that they might have the many advantages- that they themselves' missed. Miss Bennett will be remembered for her remarkable delineation of the mother role in "Stella Dallas" and in the Ford production. ' "A Kiss for Cinderella" J. M.-Bariie-: used the legend as a dream sequence, but modernised it in his own whimsical way. Now that the play has found its way to the screen, it means that for the first time a folk play has been immortalised in'celluloid. "A Kiss for Cinderella" will be released throughout New Zealand and "Australia as a big Christmas attraction this year. Cable advice has been received from John W. Hicks, ,-jun., Paramount Australasian managing director, to the effect that the month of March will be celebrated as Paramount's fifteenth birthday month greater movie season. This event will be backed by a campaign, and it will be participated in by exhibitors throughout Australia and New Zealand.

After a ten months' visit to England, America, and Europe, Alfred Hill, the composer, says that ho found ho place with a higher standard of music than Sydney; but, he states, this fact is not' appreciated by the Sydney public. He arrived in Sydney recently after conducting several leading orchestras of the world. During his absence ho had records made of many of his compositions, including his Maori String Quartette.

The Harris Family of instrumentalists, who were recently on the Fuller circuit, have been engaged as the permanent orchestra at His Majesty's Theatre, Wanganui. The Hamilton Choral Society, under Mr. Harold Piper, is practising. "The Messiah," for production in December. Jascha Heifetz, who is to tour Australia next year, recently underwent an operation for appendicitis. Ho is making a good recovery in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Eonald Colman, Irene Rich, and May M'Avoy are featured players in "Lady Windermere's Fan," a Master picture. It is an adaption of Oscar Wild's famous society drama, which is being released throughout New Zealand. The ; plot hinges on the return of Lady Win-

dermere-'s mother, whom her daughter believes to be dead. Lady Windermere suspects her husband of fondness for the newcomer and in revenge receives tho attention of a former suitor. She is saved from ruin by her mother, s self-sacrifice.

During the coming week the Government .Publicity Office is releasing through the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer circuit the third of a trio of scenic tonepoems of the Great Winterless North, under the title of "Still Waters.'.' From a pictorial point of view the third picture is perhaps the best of the bracket, and includes some fascinating studies of the silent .and almost unknown, riverways that thread a picturesque passage through the ■'•snis and forests of the Northland. Contrary to the general belief, the North Auckland peninsula is ■ not a dreary desert of sand dunes and wind-blown, wastes, but a wonderfully forested and well-water-ed country with a class of scenery peculiarly its own, and second to no other typo within the confines of New Zealand. Those who have, the good fortune to view "Btill Waters" will bo •.surprised at the vast extent and the unusual' scenic charm of the Northland's "terra-incognita.."

"Don Juan," a Master picture, is a picture of romantic richness. Barrymore's interpretation of the role is but another of the many splendid characterisations by which he and other members of his family have made themselves famous.

Seymour Hicks proposes to produce in London during the autumn a dramatisation—by himself—Of- l''rank M. Packard's book, "The Miracle Man." More than a million copies of the book have been sold, and it has already been seen as a film, with Thomas Meighen in tho chief part. "The Miracle Man" has been dramatised for the stage_ as a big production in four acts containing 11 scenes. The action takes place in the United States, and the basic idea of the play is faith-healing. 7. is not yet certain if Mr. Hicks will appear in it. ■

Definite news has now been received of the departure from London on 19th October of Mr. Hubert Carter, tho Now Zealand tenor, who is returning to his native land to give a series of recitals here. .