Plays – Players – Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 112, 14 May 1927, Page 25

Plays - Players - Pictures

THE SHOWS.

Opera House— Nellie Bramley Company, 3rd May to 14th May. Eeneo Kelly Company. IVCa. May to 4lh June. University Extravaganza, 6th June to 9th' June. "Florodors." (Wellington Amateurs), 11th June to 15th June. "Lady Be Good," 18th June to 24th June. Town Hall— • Organ Recital, every Sunday, 8.30 p.m. Zimballst, violinist, $\Va, 26th, and 28th May. PaderewsH, pianist, 9th and 11th June. Friedman, pianist, first week in July. Concert Chamber— Miss Nora Greene, contralto, 14»h May. His Majesty's—Fuller's Vaudeville. Keeent—Vaudeville and Pictures. »c Luxe Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft—'Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures/ Queen's Theatre—Pictures. > : Princess Theatre—Pictures. The Australian premiere of Leo Fall's famous comic opera, "Madame Pompadour" will take place in Sydney on 21st i May.' ■• 1 It is rather a coincidence' that the Little Theatre Society in Auckland should start its 1927 programme with the same play as the National Bepertory' Theatre' in ■Wellington—"You Never Can Ten." : ' . I

"Tip Toes," the new musical comedy, was staged in Sydney last Saturday night, with Elizabeth Morgan (from California) in the title role, and Olsen and Johnson (from the Tivoli circuit) as principal comedians. Mr. Leo dv' Chateau, who is representing Mr. E. J. Carroll with the "Best People" Company, loft for Australia this week to conduct the tour of Ignaz IWedman, the great Polish pianist. "The Ghost Train?* mystery play which has been thrilling Melbourne audiences for many weeks, will have a short season in; Adelaide, and then go to Sydney. \ ' . The Brisbane Eepertory Society has taken a revolutionary step in forbidding any floral tributes to be in future handed over the footlights. Another innovation is-a refusal to allow any advertisements on the pages of their pro-, grammes. ■ A unique shop -has just been opened in London to be used solely as a store were almost any play, musical score, or book on music and the drama may be obtained. It is the only shop of its kind in England. Paul Longuet, once a prominent amatenr in Invercargill,. is playing with Frank Neil's comedians in "Charley's Aunt" at. the Grand Opera House in Sydney. Field Fisher is also with the company.

".Sunny,:V with , which tho new Empire Theatre in Sydney was opened, is still drawing large audiences, although it has been running three months. Miss Wyn Richmond is in the name part, with Robert Rhodes as juvenile, and Fred Heider and Van Lowe as princj-i pal comedians. Maud Courtney and Mr. "C" were appearing at the Theatre • Royal, Dublin. Murray, the Australian* '' escapologist," was also in the bill. Mr. and Mrs. C are welt known in New Zea- | land. They appeared many times on I the Fuller circuit. Dion Boucicault (husband of Irene Vanbrugh) has not been much vn^he English limelight lately; but, of course, tho little man is in the happy position of being able to pick and choose his jobs. Ho is now preparing a musical piece, a stage version of W. J. Locke's novel, "The Beloved Vagabond." It is to be hoped that the dream of Mr. E. J. Carroll the Australian entrepreneur, may come true. In the' course' of an interview in London he is reported to have said: "One of these days I may be able to gratify my ambition by introducing an entirely Australian dramatic company to London, and an All-Australian Opera Company. It is not a wild dream, either." , Miss Sara Allgood, who was in Now Zealand some yeajrs ago with tho original "Peg 6' My Heart" Company, is tippoaring with the Irish Players in London in "Professor Tim," a now play by 3£r. George Shiels, who is, I understand, a permanent invalid living in one room over, a little shop in Ballymoney, near Belfast. ■ '^The Ringer,". Edgar Wallace's play, which has been runnning in Wyndhain'B Theatre,. London, "since last May, has been, acquired by, J. • C. Williamson, Ltd., and has been produced in Australia by the Moscovitch company. The play, which should be seen hero next year,- is described #a a cleverly built story of the battle of wits between tho police arid a criminal. Critics write of the play as ingeniously constructed and possessing a decided air of reality. Writes a Sydney correspondent by the last mail: "At the Criterion the other evening I saw a charming, sprightly person on the stage. She played with grace> spirit, distinction, and delicacy, and moved like a goddess among tho stiff puppets of tho scone. Her glee and her: pathos were equally; catching. She, held a golden key at which all tho doors _of the heart flew open. Consulting my programme, I discovered that the actress was named—Nellie Stewart." ■ Miss Sybil Thorndike recently aroused a storm of protest by referring to London audiences as "lumps of suet," and stating that she did not consider herself a servant of the. public, This is a. rather extraordinary attitude to take up, for, as pointed out by other prominent players, an actor is decidedly' a servant of the public, depending upon audiences for appreciation and financial support. Miss Thorndike is considered Britain's greatest tragedienne.' Ono of her biggest successes was scored as "St. Joan." She is now touring tho English provinces with "The Greater Love."

A correspondent gives the following as' the besfc. performances in London when the mail left:—Mr. Tom "Walls, in "Rookery Nook"; Mr. Ernest Truex, in "The First Year"; Miss Mario Tempest, in "The Marquise"; Mr. Cedric Hardwicke, in "Yellow Sands"; Miss Edna Best, in "Tho Constant Nymph"; Mr. Horace Hodges, in "White Cargo"; Miss Gladys Cooper, in "The Lotter"; Miss Edith Evans, in "The Beaux' Stratagem"; Sir Gerald dv Maurier, in "Interference"; Mr. Edmund Gwenn, in "And So To Bed." .

Elsie Janis, the American actress and mimic who will shortly" tour the Tivoli cirftuit in Australia, will receive one of the biggest salaries ever paid in this' part of the world. Many ex-sol-diers will remember Elsie Janis; she did great work in entertaining the men behind the lines during the war.' Writing in "The Stage," Jimmy Glover says: "I had a call the other day from May Beatty, who vaaf be remembered as the widow of the lato Mr. Edward Lauri. She has been for some years in Australia, and, of course, ia glad to get: home again. She tells me that music matters in Australia are progressing, wonderfully, and from a short conversation! should think that under proper management there is very great demand foj -good artists down under; Here then 'might be some outlet for a lot of the talent that seems to be wasted in this country. ' Things are going from bad to worse, not only in London but in-the provinces. One does not care to be a Jeremiah, but when one knows that very good artists" are flaying to empty or dead-headed benches in most of the halls within half ft mile of Lsngham place, anybody who hu keg gMI mmie §£ hear| must .■afi tOßa** „ ...-. . . "

Long Tack Sam ana his Chinese company is at present playing at the Broaaway Theatre, New York. , One hears of tho "remarkably rapia work" of one of the London playwrights of the moment, who has managea to have more than ono piece staged in a year; but Goldoni, an Italian of an earlier aay, seems to hold the recora. He promisea to write 16 comeaios in 12 months, and aid so. And he wroto IS4 other pieces, all of fair quality. The dramatisation of Dickens's "Pickwick Papers," by Cosmo Hamilton ■ and Frank C. Eeilly, made something of a stir when it had its first performance in Washington, says the New York "Heraia-Tribune." John J. ! Daly, writing of the play, allowed himself this extravagant piece of praise: "Of all recent'attempts to do something worth while in the theatre, the gesture made by Frank C. Reilly, is the noblest.'' Leonard Hall in the " Washington News" said "if the American theatre has ever seen a pure and undefilea labour* of love, 'Pickwick' is that same."

''There ia a aistinct aanger of the British stage becoming a sink of sexuality. In order to be successful, every new play has to, go a bit further, has to be more daring;—in other words, more indecent," declared the novelist Jerome K. Jerome recently, in a speech from the stage of the Bristol Little Theatre. He blames the large theatre, which, in order to pay expenses, was compelled'to cater for the mob, ana aa-. vocated the establishment of little theatres everywhere. "To be successful,'' he'concluaed, "a London play must araw £2000 a week, and when such riches pour in the bbx-roffice window art flies out of the stage door." America seems to be suffering from the same trouble.

Leon Gordon, a London Jew-•who played Witzel in ?'White Cargo" .in New Zealand last year; professes a great yearning for a real Australian play to take back with him to America. He doesn't want another "Kelly Gang" or "Robbery Under Armß," but if anybody offers him a tropical Australian theme in which he will have the job of a disillusioned, sarcastic waster who strangles an aboriginal Tondeleyo in the last, act, he will demonstrate his gratitude, in more than the usual form. "Ruddigore," which has never, been produced in Australia before, will be the opening production -of the return season, of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, in Melbourne. Mr. James Hay will act as producer. . Mr. i Hay was out of the east several times during the recent Sydney soason. Mr. Leo Darnton took over most of his parts when this happened, but the role of Hilarion in "Princess Ida" was ably undertaken by young Thomas Broderick for a few nights. This was his first big chance;' Mr. Alexander Watson, the brilliant English entertainer, who recently arrived in Australia to commence his fifth and final tour, under the direction of B. J. Gravestock, told an interviewer that Kipling was his favourite poet. "Although, of course, some people do not admit that Kipling is a poet," added Mr. Watson with a broad smile. Kipling's dazzling flash-like pictures, his depth of feeling and his brilliant choice of words, said Mr. Watson, pronounced him as the greatest poet. Alfred Noyes, on the other hand, did not appeal to him to such an extent. Noyes was too verbally fluent. As to prose writers, there were Barrio and Dickens, whoso charms wero irresistible. "They say Australians don't like Dickens," remarked, he,.'/but I have never found that to be the^case." Diekens's characterisation -was so fine, and he was bo intensely human. Mr. Watson in ten.ds giving a condensation of certain thrilling incidents from "Oliver Twist," entitled Sikes and Nancy. This was Dickens's-last condensation, and it was tho last of his readings. It was a masterly piece of -work, and whilst tho great author was engaged upon it ho seemed'obsessed by its striking reality. .Frequently was Dickens observed wandering about his garden, rehearsing tho famous murder scene. Only five years agowas this condensation printed for the first time, and then only 225 copies constituted the edition. The edition waß printed from a manuscript which belonged to Sir H.ilrving. George Bernard Shaw's highly amusing comedy, "You Never Can Tell," will be the National Ropertory Theatre Society's first production this season, on 4th, 6th, and 7th June, in tho Concert Chamber. This will be the second Shaw play presonted by tho society, as, it will be remembered, they inaugurated last season with "Pygmalion.'' Since tho departure from Wellington of Mr. Leo dv Chateau, the direction of the society has been in tho hands of Mr. Harison Cook, who was for many years producer and stage director of tho Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company, and who is already known for his productions in Now Zealand, not only in Wellington^ but also at the Dunodin Exhibition, Christchurch, Wanganui, and elsewhere. The Repertory Theatre Society has, since its inception, had very gratifying and welldeserved support, and, that it is filling a real want with play-lovers is proved by its continually increasing list of subscribing members. The forthcoming production of "You Nevor Can Tell" should certainly prove quite as popular and acceptable as any of its predecessors.-

"Florodora" was first produced in the Lyric Theatre, London, in 1899. This musical comedy has had a groat run, but it.is many years since it was vheard in Wellington. The Wellington Amateur Theatrical Society will revive the opera next'month in the Grand Opera House, and theatregoers will surely welcome the revival. It contains some splendid musical numbers verging on grand opera, and from all accounts tho local amateurs aro going to give a good show in this, respect. Harison Cook is .busily supervising-' tho entire production, and his long experience in London and elsewhero will greatly help the young society. Tho libretto is particularly good and full of amusing situations. Tho principals are all fine performers, including Mrs. J. F. Woodward, Miss Pauline Shotlander, Miss Gretta Stark, Ray Kemp, Lionel Inch, Alf. I^azengarb, A. Morris, Dunkley, and Dudley Alexander. Len Barnes is musical director, and David Devitt the ballet, master.

la, "Polly With a Past," the comedy with which Miss Hence Kelly ana Company open their New Zealand season, under the. J. C. Williamson regime, the principal character, that of Polly, is supposed to be "the limit in smfulness," as one writer put it. "I want to forget my past,?' she says to one character; "I want to leave it behind 1." Comes the caustic comment: "T suppose it is so rapid that it keeps catching up to you!" . There isa touch of Wilde in the lines of one of tho men. "She want#," he says, in reference to a certain girl, "to marry me to. reform me because she thinks I am a moral wreck,. I can't do it. Why? Because when she finds out afterwards that I'm not she'll feel that I married her under false pretences." After the Southern tour of the clever musical comedy" company presenting "No, No, Nanette," to delighted New Zealand audiences, a return will be made to the North Island, when "Lady, Be Good," will be produced; After tho Wellington season the cojhpany will appear at Palmerston North) Napier, and Hastings, and will then go on to Auckland, where the New Zealand season will terminate.

London is soon, to have m repertory 16g»*wi gftfoned ngott iha American

Theatre Guiia. "The Daily Telegraph" in a late issue carries the announcement that "the Forum Theatre Guild, an organisation whose qpznmittee numbers eminent theatrical names, is to begin operations very shortly at the Royalty Theatre, ana will present a catholic assortment of plays of outstanding artistic merit. This producing group has its exemplar in the highly successful New York Thoatro Gwls, which is helping materially to make its native city the world* theatrical capital. Whether the English organisation will be able to equal its precursor., .is to be seen. At any rate this will assuredly be the ambition of the Forum's managing director and producer, Bobert Atkins." Among those on the managerial committee are Charles B. Cochran. Olemence Dane, Ewan Agnew, Mary Boraen, and Reginald Berkeley. "The Dybbuk" ig one of the plays scheduled for early production. Musical Notes. . Mr. Robertson (of the Wanganui Garrison Band, the champion cornet player of the Dominion), has accepted a position in Melbourne. He will be greatly missed, not only by the band, but by numerous friends in Wanganui. Great consternation was caused in London on sth March by the announcement of the closing down of the Queen's Hall Symphony and Promenade Concerts, and the disbandment of the orchestra. Chappell and Co. have lost £60,000 over the concerts during the period of their existence, and are unprepared.to continue this voluntary sacrifice for the art of music. Under the heading "Great Blow to Music," the musical editor of the "Daily Telegraph" says: To lionaoners at least, if not also to-the nation as a whole, the blow that has fallen through the decision of Messrs. Chappell and Company to discontinue the concerts of the Queen's Hall Orchestra after the current season, is-almost more formidable and disastrous to the canse of real music than any that could be administered by the gramophone, the 8.8.C., or all or any of the supposed lailitant oppressors. However excellent, '' canned" music, by which I mean machine reproduction or heard music,. be it gramophone or broadcast, is not, and can never be, the real" thing, however close the imitation. You cannot broadcast or machine-make a personality. Nuance goes too often by the board, some instruments are not what they seem. All the gramophones and all the broadcasting in Queen's Hall will not replace Sir Henry J; Wood and his orchestra, because for one reason,, you cannot broadcast the flowing black tie, the famous bow, the demonstration with the hamls, and all the rest that goes to make up that feast for the eye upon which Londoners'have fea for thirty years. True, We are told that Queen's Hall will still be available for concertgivers. But. how many of these can use the hall without the orchestra, plus, of course, Sir Henry Wood. For Sir Henry, too; has his drawing powers, and when all is said ana done Queen's Hall is essentially an orchestral home! Miss Eva. Webb-Jones, the popular Wanganui soprano, who is. continuing her stuaies in Syaney, .Js making good progress. She has been engaged to broadcast from Farmers (mostly afternoon engagements). Mr. Henri Verbrugghen, formerly of 1 the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, I and now conductor of* the Minneapolis i Symphony Orchestra, has purchased a Straclivarius violin at a cost of 35,000 dollars. The instrument is considered one.of the three finest violins in the world.

A scheme for a huge new concert hall and opera house for London to cost nearly & 500,000 has recently been outlined in the English papers. Coni vineed that, in order to attract Englishmen to good musical and theatrical performances, prices of admission must tie brought down, a 'firm, of West End concert,agents. ; is, embarking on the huge project of building a theatre to" seat | 4000 people. "If the people -won't support a thing like this," said the manager to a "Daily Mail" reporter, "it is good-bye to music in London." Preliminary arrangements which have been made for the grand opera season to, be given in Melbourne in September are announced by Mr. Frank Tait, of the firm of J. O. Williamson, Ltd., who returned to Melbourne after a visit to Great Britain-and the Continent of Europe. Mr. Tait said that he spent much time in Italy arranging for artists for the Australian opera season, and although the full company had not yet been engaged he believed that it would be a very strong one. It was not intended to nia-ko public tho personnel of the company until all tho members had been engaged. Tho opera season would last for sixteen weeks, being divided between Melbourne and Sydney, and, if practicable, arrangements would also'be made for performances in the other States. In addition to many of the operas which have alrcaly proved'successful in Melbourne, it was intended to produce several which would be new to Australia, including "Tarandot," "L'Amore do Tre Eci," and "Manon," by Puccini, and "The Cavalier of tho Rose." Tho_ amazing versatility of the new electric recording process i. never more clearly shown'than.by its fidelity in recording a full military, band. The over-popular "March of the Mountain Gnomes," 'as interpreted b; the band ol EM. Grenadier Guards'presents a problem in recording to which no other process could do full justice. The result is delightful. The essentially pictorial | aspect of the piece is very, intelligently j brought out, the heightened tempo and the dramatic climax being particularly effective. On the other side of this re-1 cord is a. lesser known, but extremely j interesting work by the same composer, Eilenbergi : , Critical London audiences have paid Corporal West; of the Grenadier Guards, tho high compliment of showing a marked preferenco for the cornet solos which have been a feature of the Guards' performances, and this popularity has been an inducement iq give them special recordings. These records have enjoyed a great and observed success. All four solos are well-known, particularly the favourite, "Softly Awakes My Heart," from Saint-Saen's opera, "Samson ana Delilah," and they are all rendered with intelligence and taste. Both these records will be welcomed by a large public. ' ' Recordings of tho celebrated Don Cossacks Choir are always interesting, particularly when their undoubted abilities are tested by such excellent material.! Their interpretation of an old Russian folk-song, "Monotonously Rings the Little Bell," is. a rare musical treat. The bozarre persistence on a single treble nofce is.saved from lack of colour by the skilfully blended accompaniment o± the deeper tenors: and basses. The vocalisation is remarkable, and, one imagines, very accurately recorded. On the other side of the same.record is the well-known "Song of the Volga Boatmen," too familiar to need much comment. As one expects from such . a thoughtful choir, their rendering reveals new beauties in this piece. Another brilliant recording by the same choir contains two numbers which, though of remarkably subtle voice-tex-ture, will be easily appreciated by any* one with an ear for pleasant harmony. Both numbers aro more dramatic than pretty, "The Road to St. Petersburg" especially asking from its listeners an appreciation of .the motive of the song: but neither can fail to impress by reason of its sheer vocal beauties, and the skilful arrangement of the voice parts. Thiß record should be heard again and again.

Amongst tho lighter numbers issued is one of particular interest, a recording by tho Royal Serbian Tanibouritza Orchestra. Following the recent visit of the orchestra to Great Britain, ana coinciding -with the awakening of a musical conscienceness in Serbia, this record has enjoyed • great vogue in

well-knaap* Serbian folk-songs in the form of a waltz, lively ana tuneful, which will appeal for different reasons to all classes of music-lovers. On the other aide of tho tame record the same scheme has been adopted to introduce familiar Italian meloaies to British audiences, and here La Nuova Orchestra have been just as successful in proaucmg a fox-trot at once effective ana gay ana redolent of the music best known to the Italian "man-in-the-street." This record should be very popular. Music must be a healthy profession! In the course of a letter to a London paper, Mr. George Riseley, of Bristol, mentions that he has been a member of the Bristol Royal Orpheus Society for sixty-four years, ana has conaucted the concert on the ladies' night annually for fifty years without a break. That must surely be a record, as must the fact be that the society has a long, waiting list of possible new members. Tho eighty-third ladies' night was given in February. The home-coming: of Toti da! Monte, after several years of absence from the Italian Opera House, during which she toured Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, and the principal capitals of Europe, was triumphal. Her reappearance took place on 18th February at the Theatre Carlo Felice of Genoa, where "Lucia di Lammermoor" was specially staged for the '. . young diva. The files of Italian papers now at hand have long and glowing reports of the memorable evening. After the famous '' Mad Scene»' the whole auditorium rose and repeatedly applauded Toti dal Monte to the echo. All the papers agree that there has not been for many years such a display of enthusiasm at Genoa's great opera house. She had sung as a debutante, in 1917, at the Polzteama Genoveae (another Genoese opera house), and the public of that city had followed. her ,career with great interest. As reported, by cable, Toti dal Monte will return to Australia- with the J. C. Williamson Grand Opera Company. The Wellington Choral Union; has der cided to perform Verdi's "Aida" after that celebrated opera has been'produced in concert form by the Auckland Choral Society. It will be the selected work for the third concert of the season and will replace Verdi'a "Requiem," which was previously decided upon. "St. Paul" will be performed by th'ci Wellington society on 3rd and 4th June, the cast including Miss Naomi Whalley, the Palmerston. North soprano, who is to sing at the Auckland society's "Creation" concert on 26th May; Miss Nora Greene, contralto singer,. recently arrived from England; Mr. Edwin Dennis, tenor; and Mr. William Watters, baritone. The Auckland Choral Society's performances this season will be: Haydn's "Creation," 26th May; Verdi's "Aida," 11th August; miscel-, laneous concert, including Mascagni's "Cavalleria Eusticana," 13th October. The Palmerston North Choral Society has selected the following soloists for" its performance of "The Bohemian Girl": Madame W. Fraser (Oamaru), soprano; Mr. Hubert Carter (Wanganui), tenor; and Mr. Harrison Cook (Wellington), bass., \ ; : Private advice has been received that Mr. Kenneth tmpett, formerly of Auckland, was specially chosen .to sing the new Australian national anthem, "O Thcu Favoured Isle!'' during the visit of the Duke and Duchess' to Melbourne. This will mark the first publicperformance of the work which has just been released-by the publishers, Messrs. Allan and Company, of Melbourne. The words of the new. anthem are by C. J. Dennis, writer of "The Sentimental Bloke," and other verses, while the music is by William G. James, • composer of many Australian bush ■ songs, who was accompanist to Toti Dal Monte during her Australian and New Zealand tour.

Rossini, the groat Italian composer, was as much a wit as an epicure, and oit :one occasion .he thus addressed' come of his pupils: "My children," said he, "there are three kinds of singers—(l) Those/who. have a voice but'do not know how to sing; (2) those who know how to sing but have no voice; and (3) those who have neither a voice nor the knowledge of how to sing." Miss Gladys' Moncrieff has been re-' engaged to return to Australia and play in "The Blue Mazurka;" Mr. Frank Tait, on his return to Australia from abroad, stated.that Miss Moncrieff.has tho best musical comedy voice in the world. She is to play under the direction of J. 0. Williamson, Lta. Miss Moncrieff is scoring her biggest success overseas in "The Blue Mazurka," Lehar's operetta, in London. Interest in "The Blue Mazurka" will be accentuated by the^fact that Miss Moncrieff received some of the most appreciative notices over accorded an Australian artist by London newspapers. She is cast for the part of Bianca. "The Times" critic said Miss Gladys Moncrieff sings charmingly, and when it is her turn to be sad acts with zealous intensity.

In an attempt to analyse the causes of Paderewski's wonderful success as an .artist outside his magnetic personality, it may. .. be found that oho reason is his choice of material for performance. He plays music that he knews will touch hi 3 hearers—familiar music of Bach, Beethoven, Ghopin, Schumann, Liszt. Tho critics have complained from time to time that he played nothing ultramodern. But Paderewski is'wiser than his critics, although he plays the Brahms-Handel variations, and the Paganini variations, he knows that the music of Chopin makes an inßtant appeal to audiences, and he has always drawn largely on this composer both for programmes and encores. Next to Chopin, he playa the classics with the romantic spirit • which make Handel, Bachj and Scarlatti glow with a new life. His' Schumann is a revelation, and ho plays the . familiar things of Liszt, especially. the rhapsodis with a feeling that can. arise only out of a genuine admiration for their inventor. The first of his concerts in New Zealand will be given in Wellington on 9th and 11th June.

Jascha Heifetz, the young violinist, who is to tour New Zealand this year under the direction of Messrs. J. and N. Tait, was born in Vtlna in 1901, and studied under Leopold Aver, the famous Hungarian violinist and teacu'er. Heifetz displayed such remarkable musical ability at the early age of throe that Aver took a personal interest in this infant prodigy, and after three years of close study under the great teacher Heifetz, when but sis ' years of age, appeared as soloist in Kovrio, playing the Mendelssohn Concerto and other difficult pieces. His progress' was nothing short of phenomenal. He has made many world tours, and it; was due to the enterprise of Messrs. J. and N. Tait that Heifetz was eventually, induced to come to Australia and New Zealand. His remarkable success is still fresh in the memory of all music-lovers, and his forthcoming tour of the Dominion will, be one of the greatest magical events in its. history. As a performer on the violin Heifetz has an impeccable- technique, and a broad fervid, style which makes him a virtuoso of the first rank. The Pictures.* 5" It is claimed that for the screen rights of "Abie's Irish Bose," Anne Nicholl's record-breaking drama now being presented to New Zealand audiences, tho authoress received the largest sum ever paid for the picture* rights of any book or play. ' Before Miss Benee Kelly left for Australia and New Zealand to play in comedies produced under the J. C. Williamson management, she refused the offer of a large sum to play lead at Hollywood, the gteat film manufacturing centre of the United States. Senator Guthrie dropped a bomb in the foreign film ranks when he etated before the Commonwealth Kirn Inquiry

had paid a record price for "a British war picture and they were "deliberately holding it off the screens and exploiting American war pictures to tho detr£ ment of -the British Empire. ' No picture has been more roundly condemned in England than "London." The Post's" London correspondent has sent out extracts of most scathing criticism. Apparently the American company put in too much Hollywood, and too little London. Thomas Bucke, author of "Limehouse Nights," has repudiated his connection with the film.

Jacqueline Logan, f ciatured in snp-1 port of Louise Fazenda in "Footloose 1 Widows," a Master picture to be released shortly, was born in Corsicaua, Texas, and was educated at Cold Springs, Colorado. Her first' thought of her career was in journalism, and she was on the staff of the "Colorado Springs Gazette."- Next she turned to the theatre and understudied prominent actresses till, her chance came during a revival of "Ploradofa" in New York, when she assumed the leading role. That led to an engagement with the Ziegfleld Follies, where she was discovered by Allan Dwan and signed up for the screen. Since then she has played many "leading roles with prominent actors. Pola Negri's next picture will be "The Woman on TriaL" Doris Anderson, one of the youngest and most successful of , Hollywood's screen writers, is preparing the adaption for Florence Vidor's next Paramount picture, "The World at Her Feet," from the French play, "Lawyer Bolbec and Her Husband." Miss Vidor has just completed "Afraid to Love," with. Clive Brook as her lead- i ing rcai. \ For sheer'realism, it is doubtful whether the inspiring forest fire scenes, shown in "Then Came the-Woman," shortly to be released by Universal, have ever been approached^ upon the screen before. Literally acres and acres of tall impenetrable forest fall victim to the dreaded fire. William J. Locke's great' novel, "The Glory of Clementina," forms the basis of Pauline Frederick's latest F. 8.0. production, which will shortly be released by First National. The story has_ to do with the rejuvenation of an artistic genius, who, in the pursuit of fame, .haa stiaed every natural instinct. Aa early First National-production will be entitled "Lily of the Laundry," featuring Anna Q. Nilsson. The, story is both humorous and pathetic, and intensely human. Briefly, it tells of a girl in a laundry where the suits worn fey a baseball team are frequently washed. Lily becomes interested, especially in one suit, which is;,,always more soiled than 1 the others,: arid-flnally goea to the ball grounds to witness a game and learns who wears this particular nnif orm. He is the star player, and Lily's impressionable' heart' goes out to him. From the drab'little laundry girl she blossoms forth, and finally attracts his attention with a resultant romance. It is easy to understand why CharI lotte Merriam always feel at home in a | rough frontier setting of a'film. There was a time ia this young star's life when frontier /towns and outposts meant home to her. Miss Merriam plays the heroine in "Steele of the Royal Mounted," the Vitagraph's picttirisatic-n of James Oliver Curwood's story, released by Master Pictures. ' Without the artistry of Emil Jannings the German-made Master picture, "The Last Laugh," would never have been the success it proved itself to be on the Continent, in England, and America. Jamungs. is admited by the entire industry as being the greatest character actor of the period. This great photoplay is devoid of all slapstick tendencies and cheap movie devices, yet hardened picturegpers, critics, and general public alike, have sat through it spellbound. There is. no playacting in "The Last Laugh"—it is reality and Emil Janningsi Edmund Lowe rises to, great heights in his delineation of- the leading role in the Fox picturisatipn of A. S. M. ■ Hutchinson's novel, '-'One Increasing Purpose." His handling of the part of the idealistic Simon Paris who is striving to find out the purpose, .behind life, is a most sympathetic one, and audiences will see iv this..T.ole something of the clever handling of the title* role in "The Fool," which is considered as Lowe's great dramatic.triumph. ' He is supported by Lila Lee, May Allison, Jane Novak, Huntly Gorden, and a big cast. The next Buck Jones production for release here will be "Desert "Valley," from the Jackson Gregory novel of the same name. Jones rides to fresh honours in tho lead, and gives a splendid characterisation of a man from the "great open spaces,"-who thrashes a bully who is holding the water rights to' many acres of surrounding country, whilo the cattle are dying off in tiheir dozens. In her role as the loyal little home builder in "When the Wife's Away," a Master picture due for early release, Dorothy Eevier expects to be laughed at, and certainly hopes so. "But it'll be sympathetic laughter," she predicted, " because almost any young wife •would do the' same sort of thing and get herself and her husband into the same sort of complications. It's funny, but its -tragic. George K. Arthur has the leading masculine role,, and a cast of famous comedians support him.

Rosewood is not the wood of any kind of rose tree. It is obtained chiefly from various Brazilian trees. The name is due to the faint smell of roses when the wood is freslily cut..