FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 17312, 27 March 1920, Page 11

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By Loiterer.]

'The Cruise of the Cymbaline,' which the Walter George Comp'any have- had in active rehearsal for three weeks, and in preparation for whose Australasian premiere dressmakers and scenic artists have been busy in Dunedin for so long, goes up at the Princess Theatre on Monday evening. This will be, by all accounts, at once the most imposing and the mosV.entertaining of Mr George's offerings, and the public curiosity aroused bespeaks capacity business. Andrew Pac> (of the Walter George Company), an old friend ofJScott Colville, with whom he was associated in the Dandies combination, brings me the latest news of the big fellow's health. Ho is still on his farm at Onehunga, and very weak, but making ground daily. As already indicated, it was pneumonia that ; brought him down, a mild attack, which , upon relapse developed/ to the double variety, and nearly accounted for him in its ravages. He lost four stone in the bout. s "Lightning* has gone well over its 100 th night in Sydney and will shortly move on to illumine New Zealand, opening for Easter at Auckland. This "gloom dispeller" has certainly proved one of the most radiant successes of the Australian stage. Already many inquiries have been received by the J. C. Williamson management in Melbourne as to whether the firm intend to revive the play in Melbourne, and " When will John D. O'Hara be coming back?"

Amon" the passengers to arrive in New Zealand from Sydney by the Ulimaroa was Mr R. B. Knowles-, advance representative for Kate Howard's "Possum Paddock' Company, who will commence a New Zealand tour in Wellington at Easter: and Mr Frank (ySnllivan, advance manager for 'The Better'Ole' Comedy Company, whose tour will commence in the South Island. Sara Allgood left Sydney by the P. and O. steamer Cap Verde for London. She hopes to return to the stage there shortly j after her arrival. Australian vaudeville artists are more than holding their own in England at present. Billy Wells (who was once an assistant to a hypnotist in Australia) and 1 the Eclair Twina continue to make good in revue. Decima and Eddie M'Lean proved the best act in 'Eastward Ho!' at the Alhambra, while their brother Ray is dancing- successfully in the Lyceum pantomime. Bruce Drysdale is head-lining'" at the Colisseum in London. He appeared in "Australia for years as dame in "tent" pantomimes, but never got on the pay roll of any of the big managements. lie went a-soldiering, and on December 20 last completed a three years' contract with the A.I.F. Though he found %vork not so plentiful in his own country, he is booked m London till June, 1921.* Jack and Cora Williams,, the European vaudeville novelty artists, whose act heads the_ variety end of next weeks bill at the Princess, offer something very original and startling. The first feature is the magnifjcient bizarre dressing of the lady, which is said to be a revelation. The act opens with lively comedy and song, and finishes with a sensational double dance; containing also, in mid-air, a startling feature in which the lady, suspended by her teeth, does a remarkable aerial serpentine dance. Mrs J. C. Williamson, together with her daughter, Miss Aimee Williamson, sailed from Sydney by the Megantic for an extended tour of America and England. By a coincidence, says the ' Sydney Daily Telegraph,' understudies were required simultaneously for Miss Minne Love's part in 'Buzz Buzz' in Sydney and Miss Pearce'a role in 'As You Were' in Melbourne. In th© former production Miss Clarence Hardwicke and Miss Audry Worth were called upon to fill the breach, and Miss LaHa De Baere, one of the Sydney "beauty girl" winners, took Miss Pearce's place. The performance satisfied the public in each instance. Seven members of the American company being brought to Australia by J. and N. Tait for the production of the drama written around the Canadian Mounted Police. 'Tiger Rose,' reached Melbourne recently. They include Miss Marie Ilka, who was selected by David Belasco to play the name nart in his drama; the producer, Mr Douglas Ross, and Mr Ethan Allen, Mr John Waller, Mr C. Henry Gordon. Mr Herbert Ranson, and Mr Reginald Goode.

A farewell concert was tendered at the Town Hall, Wellington, on Tuesday evening by the Wellington Orphans' Club and other local clubs to Mr W. W 7 . Crawford, the well-known entertainer, who is taking up stage work professionally, and left for Australia as a member of the "Digirers" Concert Party on Thursday. Mr Crawford was one of Dunedin's best-known elocutionists a few years a'go. • It is announced from London that "in March Mr Robert Conrtneidge sails _ for. .Australia for a tour of all the big cities there, with 'The Man from Toronto.' He takes out a big company, headed ,by Mi

George Tully." Miss Daisy Kennedy, the Australian violinist, who was seized with a sudden illness in Sydney on March li. was successfully operated "unon by Dr Worrall. There is

every hope now tnat tier recovery win ne ranid, and that she will 50011 be able to enter upon her interrupted Melbourne season, wn : ch was to have commenced on March 13. The well-known Australian actor Cyril Keightky is appearing in a light comedy part in 'Curiosity.' a three-act play by H. Austin Adams, author of ' 'Ception Shoals.' presented last month at the Gr-eenwich Village Theatre, New York. "Very alert and amusing" is a descriptSnn gfven of W. S. Percy's performance in the chief comedy role'of an " Eastern-

-Rmerican comic opera, -Mesuiau, [juj<3uced at tho Alhambra Theatre. Ada Reeve, recently in the colonies, appears as a'-serious romantic soprano heroine, but it is eaid she has little scope for bright wo'le. 0. P. Heebie, the South Australian actor, is in the enst selected for the New York production of ' Tilly of Bloomsbury.' Hcrsrie has developed into one of the finest character actors in the States. A new p!av by Sir James Barrio has' been written for the Russian dancer Kar- ■ savina. It is in one act, and in-it Karnavina has a wordless part as a Russian dancer, who, visiting professionally an aristocratic Enelish, household, dances her ■ way into the affections of the son and heir. "i.llO Diseer Pierrots'" Australian tour is.to be under J. C. Williamson, Ltd. It Is not often a complete New Zealand company secure such an engagement aa this, and th-3 progress of their tour will be watched from this side with interest. Mr Bert Royle. the New Zealand representative for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., was much " inapressad with Jhe really first-cla* entertainment presented ' by 'these "Digger

Pierrots." and no doubt he was largely' responsible in securing for them this en- i gagement. j Victor Beck received a cable at Christchurch yesterday announcing the death at Melbourne of Mr Rob Thomas, of the firm of Will and Rob Thomas, the pioneers j of the English Pierrots. Rob Thomas-was well kno.wn in New Zealand, especially in j the North Island, where the English Pierrots have been frequent visitors for some 10 years. He has been in ill health for some time past. _ The new revue. ' Cruise of the Cymbaline,' which will be staged at the Princess on Monday, was written by Les. William*, of Sydney, the author of most of the George confections. New and special scenery has been painted for it, and the dresses (made here) have cost £l5O. A novel feature will be a Samoac .ballet with special Eastern dresses. The music throughout is good, with more concerted numbers than usual. Mr Storey is playing the part of the Stranger, round which the piece is written, and Mr Hawthorne plays the Steward, a light comedy part. (( There are at present'about a thousand "show girls" employed on the Australian stage. But the supply is bv no means exhausted. The Melbourne Tivoli advertised for 20 additional beauties the other day for the chorus. The rush of applicants quite overwhelmed the management. Mrs Brough-Bell, well known to New Zealand theatregoers, states that she has returned to Australia for good. London she describes as "a place where one is fighting for everything—for food, clothes, and ali else. Everything there is in a state of congestion, and even to get afterj noon tea.in a restaurant or tea rendezvous one stood in a queue."

SNAPS IN THE STUDIOS. J The Road Through the Dark' is Clara Kimball Young's latest release through Select. The story shows Clara at the height of her dramatic art. It concerns a girl who is taken possession of by a German Prince who comes upon her as one of the population of a French .village which is being " disciplined" by the Huns. Her awful career, however," is redeemed by. her sacrifices for her country, and all ends happily. The play is lightened by some remarkable comedy flashes. This picture is due at the Empire shortly. ' Hearts in Pawn' will create a sensation among the many fans who adore Sessue Hayakawa. He is allowed to smile the 'smile of the happy ending as the last sub-title rolls in. „ This is the "star" for the big bill commencing at the Empire and King Edward on Tuesday of next week. Mary Pickford has suffered irreparable loss in the recent fire at the Brunton Studios. Miss Pickford is now working on ' Pollyanna,' and " Cootie," an Airedale who appeared in many important scenes, was burned to death. The director is nowconfronted with the problem of finding another dog exactly resembling " Cootie." If this cannot be done it will be necessary to throw away 2,000 ft of film, and get. another dog for the part. This would entail the lo3s of about £2.000. - Besides the loss of the dog, about £3,0C0 worth of scenery 'was burned, and Mary's double, made in wax, which saved the" little star a lot of time when the camera man was arranging lighting effects in the studio, was also burned. Lovers of a wholesome story with gripping mystery, dramatic situations and sus- ! pense, coupled with excellent production and the best of acting, will thoroughly enjoy the fine English production, ' The Valley of Fear,' founded on the fascinating and exciting story by Conan Doyle in which the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, unravels a startling murder mystery, and in doing so opens up a chapter of crime from the past, which in its turn is another great detective drama—a powerful story within a' story. H. A. Saintsbury. the famous English actor, the original Sherlock Holmes of the English stage, is the Holmes of the film, and gives* a masterful psrformance. He is supported by Miss Daisy Burrell, the wellknown musical comedy star', Mr Cecil Man.ieriiig, the popular English dramatic star, and a cast of performers all well known in England as leaders in their profession. 'The Valley of Fear' will shortly be seen at the popular Queen's. It is difficult to realise the triumph of the Prince of Wales'.? Western tour unless you have seen the I,oooft film recording his visit, to New York, ami the more comprehensive one of his 10.000 miles journey through Canada (says an English paperj. The first is already going the rounds of the theatres, but the latter has only once been exhibited to the public. This was when it was shown at the Albert Hall the other day, before a crowded audience, which included the King and Queen, the Prince himself, and other members of the Royal Family. No one enjoyed the film more than the party in the Royal box. Princess Man- and * Prince Albert were j particularly amused at their brother's nerI vous tricks of fingering his tie when he faced the cheering multitudes, and of screwing up his gloves into a compact ball when called on to make a speech.

GIGANTIC PICTURE COMBINE

Amalgamation has just been effected in Australia covering the interests of a number of companies, and involving a capital in shareholdings, films, and theatre buildings of £3,000,000. The companies involved are:—-Union' Tiieatres, Limited; Australasian Films, Limited ; J. C. Wil- ! hameons Films; Electric Theatres. Lim-' ited ; the Greater J. D. Williams Amuse- ! merit Coirgumy, Limited; Spencer's Pictures. Limited : West's Pictures, Limited • Amalgamated Pictures, Limited: General Film Company of Australia. Limited. This huge amalgamation of interests has been effected for the purpose of developing the picture business in the immediate future, and the first action of the new organisation will be the erection of two large and luxurious theatres in Sydney and Melbourne—one in George 'street, and the other in Bourke street: ' The sites have already been purchased, and the plans are now_ in course of preparation. Mr F. W. Taring, managing director of Electric' Theatres, Limited, and one of the new directors of Union Theatres, Limited, and Australasian Films, Limited, sailed oil the Meganthic for New York, taking with him a weil-known Melbourne architect, who, in addition to the main plans of the buildings, which ,ha/e already been placed, in hand, will introduce the latest American effects in picture presentation in the new theatres. The two big theatres immediately to be built will have a frontage of 120 ft by a depth of 250 ft, and will each hold 4,000 people. It is confidently expected that, with the luxurious fittings, these theatres ■ will certainly egual, if not excel, the best of their kind in England or

America. Roomy, comfortable seats will be provided, with private boxes, logee, lounges, retiring rooms, telephone booths, and refreshment parlors on a scale hitherto unattempted hi the colonies.