FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 18045, 12 August 1922, Page 12

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[By Loiterer.]

There is to be a big 1 change of personnel at the Princess Theatre on Monday. New acts added to lend fresh vigor to the bill are: Etta. Fields, the Auckland-born soprano, upon whose future the greatest of visiting artists have commented favorably ; the Novas, comedy gymnasts; the Columbia Four, a talented quartet of harmony vocalists; and, Will J. Saunders, a noted cartoonist. On Tuesday the popular Newman and Wynne return. The revival of Barrie’s ‘ Quality Street ’ endured for 300 performances at the Haymarket, London. . Players known here, currently in New York casts: Margaret Wycherley (‘ The 13th Chair’), appearing in tho Arnold Bennett comedy ‘What _ the Public Wants ’; Louis Kimball, in a comedy ‘Partners Again’; Lumsden Hare, in a comedy ‘Billeted.’ The' Gaiety, Theatre,. Melbourne, for many years a vaudeville bouse, is being converted to the needs of drama by the Fullers. Hitherto the firm has used the Prince® or the Palace for its dramatic companies; but tho Princess is now to become the Melbourne home of the big organisation headed by Hugh Ward and l the Fullers, while with the long season of revue bv Ada Reeve at the Palace, that house will probably he identified with light entertainment.

Yorke Gray, a popular member of tho Johnson revues, is at tho Fullers’ Auckland house, in female impersonations. At tho Palace Theatre, London, on May 26 (according to ‘Variety'), Barry Lnpin'o was to fight Laddie Cliff for the lightweight championship of vaudeville. Walter George intends touring New Zealand with his .Sunshine Players at the. expiration of his contract with tho Fullers. A tour of tho East will follow.

Caleb Porter, the English character actor, who appeared hero as Nero with the original ‘Sign, of the Cross’ Company, lias entered vaudeville.

Entries for the Wellington competitions total 2,250. After the death of Gaby Dosly.s in Paris her furniture in London was sold 1 by auction. Among the objects was the bedroom suite, which has now been acquired by an American film company, and will bo used for the - Black Orenidaceae,’ a picture in which Lewis Stone and Barbara la Mari' will be the protagonists. Coming headliners at the Princess Theatre are .Marry Thurston, the noted London comedian (creator of “Old Bill ’), and the little red-haired madcap Daisy Jerome. Ruth Budd, hero with the Fullers, was recently at the Palace, New York. Daisy Jerome states her intention to buy a home in Australia and settle in the big land of sunshine. She is not the first actress to do so by any means. Quito recently Emilie Polini married and forsook America, for Australia, while at good many years before Maud Jeffries, the tvaglisK beauty (the original Mercia with Wilson Barrett) did likewise. Some of the J. C. Williamson turn's intentions:—Oscar Asc.be in ‘Cairo in September; Vanbrugb-Bmicioanit Company in English plays: Gertrude Elliott, in her repertory; Lady of the .Rose' and ‘The Naughty Princess,’ mimical comedies; ''The Gat and the Canary/ a shock-drama ; ‘Mary,’ musical comedy; and a return visit of Moiseiwitsch next, year, with Rachmaninoff to follow. In Vienna these days (says ‘ Variety') Helene Odilon, a. once, rich and well-known actress, is playing her last, and most touching role, that "of beggar, through _ the restaurants of the Austrian capital. Every evening she may be seen as the lights 1 begin to flare up, a bedraggled old lady selling pictures of a, handsome young girl whom one would take to be.her daughter, but who is none other than The Odilon in her prime. On her hat is a sign reading: “ Helene Odilon, once a. much admired stage .star, half lame, plays her last part as saleswoman.” According to Frank Morton (writing in ‘Free Lance’), the Abbey Theatre, Players arc not to visit New Zealand. “A pity', he comments. “In New Zealand they would do well. Their work is at all points singularly admirable, but they don t show their legs or indulge in that humor that borders on (he obscene. Apparently they have not done too well in Melbourne. The filing of State income tax returns gives one a breath-taking glimpse of what it. moans to bo a. star (says the New York ‘Theatre (Magazine’). One favorite of the. stage, in her statement, confesses to an expenditure of 60,000d0l in one year, which ought to be ample to keep her back coveredI—although 1 —although that’s the last thing in the world she ever thinks of _ doing. Other stars reveal outlays running into five figures. Women in the theatrical profession are allowed to deduct expenditures for paint and powder in making their returns. That is no more 'than, right, when you stop to consider that some of them, at least, seem to depend more upon paint and powder than they do upon silks and satins to obliterate theu'—er—deficiencies. In the cast of the successful London comedy ‘ Lass o’ Laughter is Miss Henrietta Watson, an actress once weil known in Australia. She received her schooling from the imperious George Rignold. The estate of the late Olivo Thomas (Mrs Jack Bickford), who died 1 from mercurial poisoning at Paris in 1920, is still in process of settlement. It is expected to realise about 26,000d01, composed practically of the sum realised at the sale of her effects under the hammer. The principal o( these were; Cadillac motor, 5,000dol; gold cigarette case with gold chain, 650dol; gold toilet set (bought by Mabel Noxmand), 1.425d01; pearl and sapphire necklace, 875dol; diamond pearl brooch, SOOdolpearl necklace with diamond clasp, 2,SOOdol; diamond necklace, 2.600dol; diamond and sapphire bracelet, 3,100dol; platinum diamond ring, 3£sJdol. Jack Pickford is now engaged' to marry Marilyn Miller, the “star” of ‘ Sally.’ Grand opera in vaudeville, the latest experiment tried by, the. Fullers at their Sydney house, has proved a lug success. The personnel of the combination known as the Royal Grand Opera Singers ia as follows:—Joyce Hadley (soprano/ Fanny Wood (contralto). Signor Sodom (tenor), Signor Pavnne (tenor). Signor Corti (baritone), and Charles Melvin (basso). Some, amusing instances arc. quoted in the Now York ‘Theatre Magazine’ of “capsule criticism, in "which the critic distils the very essence amt spirit of a review into a few lines. John Palmer, for example, on Bcerbohm Tree —“ Shy lock as Mr Tree ” ; Franklin P. Adams’s quatrain on Olga Ncthcrsolo in ‘ Sappho ” I love little Olga—her plays are so warm, and if I don’t see them they’ll do mo no harm” ; Oscar Wilde on Tree’s Hamlet—“ Funny without being vulgar”; Eugene Field on Creston Clarke’s Lear—” Mr Clarke played the King all evening as though m constant, fear that, someone else was about to play the Ace.” But the best story told in. tho article 'is an oral criticism by Bcerbohm Tree of tho collection of ladies chosen to appear as ladies-in*waiting in Henrj VIIL’ l ' Ladies,” said Tree, peering at them plaintively through hie monocle, “lust a liltlo more virginity if you dout i »> “’The close of tho Nellie Bramloy Dramatic Company’s season at Has ALajcsty s Theatre, Auckland, was marked by one q£ the most spontaneous and flattering tributes from tho audience ever accorded a company of this nature. The approach to the theatre was gaily festooned with flairs, and prior to the performance Miss Bramley was greeted with two Christmas trees inscribed with the legend “ To good old Nell, from the boys,” being a tribute from the theatre staff. The theatre was crowded, and at the conclusion of tliq performance bouquets and presents of every description wore showered on the popular artist. At the conclusion of a few words of thanks by Miss Bramley’s husband, Mr William Russell, the audience indulged in cheers and the sinking of ‘ Aulcl Lang Syne’ and ‘For They Are Jolly Good Fellows.’ Their enthusiasm also demanded a few last words of farewell by Miss Bramlev outside the theatre.

Rose ".Lee Ivy, the operatic soprano, who appeared here some years ago billed as “The Californian Poach,” is back in Australia under the pennant of Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller.

Tho chief pieces being used by the. Nellie Brarnley Dramatic Company in New Zealand .arc ■ ‘ Within tho Law,’ ‘The Third Degree,' and ‘ Sunday.’ The original exponents of these parls in New Zealand were respectively Muriel' Starr, Katherine Grey, and Title! Brtme. In addition to ■ 1 Cairo ’ and Shakespearean plays, Oscar Asclio will produce in Australia Pinero’s ‘ Iris,’ which has only once before been presented in the colonies —by the Broughs. Robert Brough was the Maldornado of that occasion. The Shakespearean pieces will be 1 Othello,’ ‘The Taming of tho Shrew,’ and ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ Fill De j, isne. who was here in vaudeville at the Princess Theatre, was once a member of the Pollard Opera. Company. In America she played on tour Peg in 'Peg of My Heart.’ Doddy Hurl, who is arriving in Australia shortly under engagement lo Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller In prefect a. series of character sketches in com.pa.ny with Harry Evans, is well known throughout ..England as a revue comedian. His last engagement in London was that of principal comedian in ‘Hullo, America’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre, London, in which he scored a most emphatic sneeprs. Air Hurl is said to be as versatile as the famous Barry Lupine.