FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 18256, 21 April 1923, Page 8

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

tßy LotnißM.l An announcement of interest to Dunedinitcs is that tho clever young local artist Sophie Vivian joins the Bert lo Blanc R'ovuo Company as sonbrelte, replacing Bcggy ITay* wlio lias to return to Australia. It is also announced that John Pastor loaves the revue to enter vaudeville again. . Walter George end his New Sunshine Players return to Dunedin in about three weeks. The company (Hie most, popular revue hand on tho Fuller Circuit) consists of ten principals and a ballet of eight Now Zealand girls. George Storey principal comedian, but tho personnel is otherwise much changed. Five new vaudeville acts of importance enter the Princess bill on Monday. These are tho M'Kinnou Boys, Scottish entertainers in song and dance; Trancis Thorne, violinist; Marvel and Daring, comedy chair balancers; Kearns and Hunt, comedy duo; and Violet Elliott, 1 2001 b of jazz.” Tho new Bert Lo Blanc revue wilt he ‘Here and Hereafter.’ Information has reached Dunedin that Paul Stanhope, well known in revue, was recently playing in the pictures in America with Pauline Frederick's company. . Marie Key, tho well-known emotional actress, sailed from Sydney for Loudon laat month.

Allan Wilkie and his Shakespearean company were to. play Tasmania this month. One of the plays obtained by Hugh J. Ward is ‘Tons of Money.’ The London cast of this farce is headed by who was hero as Peter Doody in ‘The Arcadians.’

One hundred pantomimes were given in England for tho_ 1922-25 season. As on most other occasions, ‘ Cinderella ’ headed the list, this time with fourteen, productions. For other leading subjects the order of popularity was ‘Dick Whittington,’ ‘Aladdin,’ and ‘The Babes tho Wood.’ There was only one ‘Toity Thieves ’ pantomime. The Ward-Sherman Eevuo Company is playing Newcastle. Lola Hunt and Jack Kearns win be. one of the feature acts at the Princess Theatre next week. Miss Hunt is well known here for her vivacious work with tho first Johnson revues, while Jack Kearns has played not infrequently here for, twenty years in vaudeville. Older playgoers remember tho M'Kisson-Kearns combination, and Kearns's handsome wile, Ida Eosslyn, dead these many years. Wong Toy Sun has signed on for a season with the Fullers (says the Australian journal ‘Everyone’s’), and will probably open at the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle. Tho magician has just returned from an extended world’s tour, it being some years since he appeared in Australia.. Phil Percival, entertainer at the piano, who has had very poor health this twelve months in New Zealand, Has returned to Sydney. Tho latest scene in the famous Zicgfeld Follies (New York) will represent the interior of King Tutankhamen's tomb. There will bo a song entitled ‘ It Took a Lot of Booze to Tank Amen.’

George Stewart M'Mamis, an American pianist of distinction, will act as accompanist to Jean Gerardy during the latter's tour of Australasia. During his career (says ‘Everyone’s’ journal) M'Mamis has acted as solo pianist and accompanist to other of tho world’s platform celebrities. The many friends of Mr_Scott Colville throughout tho dominion will be glad to learn (says the ‘ Sporting and Dramatic Review ’) that ho is once move convalescent, after being seriously indisposed for some weeks, and hopes to bo about again ehortly.

With the Humphrey Bishop Company fn West Australia are Billy Maloney and Ivy Moore (both known here for their Work with the Tom Haverly Company. Mr Herman Lee, a member of tho ’Forty Thieves’ and ‘Peep Show’ Company, had had luck on his arrival in Auckland. While rehearsing for his dance in the frog ballet he fell and strained the ligaments of his foot, incapacitating him from carrying out his allotted part in tho cast, though he still makes an appearance and works hard in other directions. Mr Leo was over here lust with ‘ The Man from Toronto’Company, Amongst the singers and instrumentalists of wide-world repute who were booked to tour Australia and New Zealand this vear (says the ‘ Sporting and Dramatic Jleview ’) were included Gerardy, Rachmaninoff, Tetrazzini, Elman, Moiseiwitsch, and Rosa Raisa. Up to the present Jean Gerardy is on the premises, but tho latest news says that both Tetrazzini and Rachmaninoff have defaulted. No clear reasons seem to be forthcoming as to their not fulfilling their contracts, so it is more than likely we will never hear these great artists in this part- of the world. Tetrazzini does not like tho sea voyage, and that might account in some measure for her not undertaking the long trip. ‘The O’Brien Girl’ seems to have become rejuvenated since the 100th performance of that delectable musical comedy at the New Princess Theatre pays Melbourne ‘Table Talk’), and though mow in its fourteenth week there is still no need for Mr Ward to begin rehearsals for its successor. Having such an attractive list of productions in moth halls, whichever is (selected by him as- his next offering at ‘‘The Theatre Beautiful” will bo worthy of the New Princess andi its high standard. Meanwhile Mamie Watson and all the other charming people in ‘The O'Brien Girl’ are nightly delighting packed houses. Marie Tempest has done better with ‘The Marriage of Kitty’ revival at the Duke of York’s, London. The balance-sheet presented at tho annual meeting of tho Auckland Amateur Operatic Society recorded a credit balance of £635. 1 Our .Miss Gibbs ’ resulted in a credit of £lßl, and its three predecessors aluo showed profits—namely, 1919, ‘Gondoliers,’ £203; 1920, ‘Geisha,’ £35; 1921, ‘Country Girl,’ £454. A discussion took place as to the subscription for subscribing members, and it was decided to increase it from 23s a year to 27s fid. The president (Mr Fred Earl), tho vice-presi-dents, the hon. secretary (Mr Harry Goldie), and the hon. treasurer (Mr J. 11. Jackson) were re-elected, and) (he following were elected to the committee:—Miss EtneT Rae, Messrs W. W. Bruce, J. I’. Stevenson, A. V. Hunt, F. E. De Guevrier, .L. P. Leary, W. J, Crovvther, S. Coldicutt, W. Coltman, N. Lcvien, and Captain Redmond.

Mr Geo. Portus, who has been connected with many theatrical companies, has joined Allen Doone as his manager. “ Stilly” (Mr 2sat Phillips) and ‘‘Mo” (Mr Roy Rene) and the members of the splendid supporting company, are smashing all records in their laughter-raising campaign in Auckland, and have proved one of the greatest attractions Fullers have sent to New Zealand. In a letter to the theatrical writer of the Wellington ‘Times,’ a Sydney correspondent says: “They arc real artists. They dispense real inn, and they arc liberal with the doses, too. With Qucenie Paul and (Mike Connors you have a quartet hard to heat in any part of the world—and I have travelled some. Believe me, when they come to your city make a date of it—and don’t miss them. Sir Benjamin Fuller told me that Stiffy and Mo delved deeper in a humorous way than perhaps the casual observer imagined. I have seen and heard, and I agree they arc real artists, and in their own line are at the top of their profession.”

Lessees of London theatres pan demand anything these days. According to New York ‘Variety,’ producers have to guarantee them anywhere from, £4OO to £BOO weekly, and in addition, in most cases, 50 per cent, of tho profits of the show in town and on tour.

Mr H. I. Cohen and his ‘Scandal’ Company arrive in Dunedin by train lato this evening, and spend the week-end here. They proceed south on Monday, returning for the Dunedin season, which commences on Thursday evening. Mr A. J." Carroll, of the staff of Fullers’ Bijou Theatre, Melbourne, was on tho staff of the Princess Theatre at the time of the visit of Sarah Bernhardt in 1891. Ho recalls that in the third act of ‘Theodora’ a man in the gallery laughed at a very serious moment. Bernhardt refused to return to the stage for the next act until tho man was put out. A search for the offender was unavailing, hut then someone happily thought that it would be' easy to toll Bernhardt, that he had been banished. This brought peace, and the play proceeded after a rein ark ably long interval. It did not finish till midnight. For the Bernhardt season, at advanced prices, there was “ capacity ” business every night. Bert Bailey ami Jules Grant are reviving ‘On Our’Selcction,' tho perennial Australian comedy-drama, at the Grand Operahouse. under the direction of Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr John Fuller. Bert Bniley, in his original role of Dad, has repeated the success he scored as tho sturdy old pioneer when the play was first staged in Australia. Another member of the original cast, is Fred M‘Donald, who is seen as Davy. Jack Kirby, who produced Fullers' pantomime 'Dick Whittington’ at the Melbourne Palace Theatre last year, has scored an individual hit as Maloney, and is considered by many of the critics in Sydney as the best Maloney yet seen in the play.' ‘(ln Our Selection’ will be followed by ‘What Happened 1 to Mary,’ a .■harming comedy-drama. Inter on 'Grandad Build’ will'lie revived. Mr Bniley is delighted with the success which has attended tho revival of Steel Eudd’s comedy, and states that it will not be long before the 2.000 th performance is reached. A remarkable record 1 for an Australian play—in fact, for any play ever staged in Australia.