FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

Evening Star, Issue 18809, 6 December 1924, Page 3

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES.

[By Loiterer.] The principal of three acts entering the Princess Theatre bill on Monday is that of the Lecardo i Bros., pantomimic fun-makers and brilliant acrobats and tumblers. Of this act, Melbourne ‘ Table Talk’ said :—“Of late years we have had a lot of acrobats, but (he Lecardo Bros, have something new. Their work is sensational, and it is only after they have clone something and passed on to another trick that you realise whnt they have done. They' work very quickly, are neat, and right throughout their offering was continual applause. Theirs is one of the •finest acts 1 have seen for some time.” The other newcomers are Lena Jooste (from South Africa), comedienne and soubrette: and Frank Wilson, a brilliant English instrument a list. Mias M. C'ox-Taylor, the Sydney correspondent of llif 1 New Zealand Free Lance,’ writes: “The modern theatre is built to have those good rent-payers, shops, on the street level. This is the manner of the exterior on the Castlereagh side of the new Prince Edward Theatre. The cost is estimated at approximately £250,000. Every modern convenience and luxury will enable the patrons of big picture shows to be held in this handsome theatre. There is a fountain in the lobby, and blue and gold—the Prince of Wales’s colors—are prodominant in the decorative scheme. Visitors at the Australia Hotel have only to step across the road to enter the now theatre, which is under the direction of E. J. Tait and Dan Carroll. Christmas attraction in the four centres; ‘A Southern Maid’ (with Gladys Moncrieff), at Auckland; the Fuller-Ward show, ‘Tho O'Brien Girl,’ at Wellington; John D. O’Hara, at Christchurch; and Seymour Hicks, at Dunedin. Frederick Shipman, who introduced the late Nordica to New Zealand, is now business manager for the ‘ North-west Musician,’ a breezy little monthly published at Portland, Oregon, United States of America. ‘ Hie O'Brien Girl ’ brings with her May Beatty, win has thousands of friends in Hie dominion. What a reception this Pollard girl will get! Hugh J. Ward, who is at present in America, advises having secured the Australasian rights of the English musical comedy, ‘Archie.’ P. G. Wodehouse has a hand in so many such shows nowadays that one wonders whether the title of this one indicates Archie Moffam (pronounced Moom), Hie priceless English lad who married a New York hotel. Florence Austral, the Australian singer, who had arranged to visit Vienna to fulfil a series of engagements there, has cancelled her trip, owing to unsettled conditions in Austria. The singer stated that she was now negotiating with the managers of the Metropolitan Opera-house, New' York, and of the leading American concert halls, with a view to obtaining contracts. Tlie reception accorded ‘The Ten Commandments’ in Auckland and Wellington is said to have been unprecedented in the history of entertainments in both cities. According to all Accounts, Paramount has made in this creation the most magnificent piece of spectacnlarism of the modern screen. The Biblical prologue is said to be a wonderful piece of work, and the modern story is one that has a fowerful significance for modern society, t is expected that ‘The Ten Commantlments ’ will bo screened here in a few months’ time. Nellie Stewart promises to be Sydney’s latest Borneo, with her daughter Nancye ns Juliet. She is preparing the balcony scene from Shakespeare’s immortal love story for a charity matinee. Two years ago_, on a similar occasion, Nellie’s Melbourne admirers felt the thrill of an old allegiance at the sight of a slim, boyish figure in purple tights scaling the t'apulet garden wall, and the haunting tones of a husky-sweet voice crying the lover’s plaint; “ He jests at scars that never felt a wound.” Gladys Moncrieff received a most enthusiastic reception at His Majesty’s, Melbourne, when she made her first entrance as Teresa in ‘ The Maid of the Mountains’ after her return from her honeymoon tour. The huge audience showed its gladness at the return of the favorite lyric actress. From the gallery feminine cheers, prolonged into shrill sounds, made themselves heard above the cheering and band-clapping from stalls and circle. As early as 8 o’clock in the morning many women and girls assembled outside the booking office, and three hours later the crowd had sw'ollen to large dimensions. Both women and girls carried novels, knitting, sandwiches, and cushions. W 7 hen the doors opened there was a wild rush, and when the curtain went up the theatre was nothing but a sea of faces. In the success attained Howett Worstcr (Baldasarrc), Arthur Stigant (General Ivlalona), Blake Adams (Tonio), and Jack Ralston (Beppo) fully shared, while Miss Beryl Walkelcy (Vittoria) was also enthusiastically received. Altogether it was n great night ‘ The Maid ’■ has now given place to ‘ Sybil,’ with Claude Flemming added to those already mentioned. 1 The O’Brien Girl,' which Hugh J. Ward Theatres, Ltd., present in Auckland at Christmas, ran for twenty-three consecutive weeks in, Melbourne. ‘ Little Nelly Kelly,’ which was played for twenty weeks in Melbourne, was written and composed by George M. Coban, the writer and producer of'many famous shows. Nearly all the principals of the company are known to New Zealand only by repute. Miss May cßatty, of course, is well known, being a New Zealander by birth; she is the principal comedienne. Mr Mark Daly is the chief comedian, Mr R. M. Glitter eccentric light comedian, and Miss Mamie Watsoi is leading lady. Others of the principals are Leyland Hodgson, Ina Dale, Maudie Vera, Lou Vernon, Robert Jackson, and Eric Masters. In dancing the company is particularly strong. June Roberts, who came straight to Australia from the famous Ziegfcld Follies, New York, where she was principal danseuso, Hazel Harris and Westley Pearce are some of the specialty solo dancers. "Willy Redstone, a relation of Gounod, the great composer, is conducting the orchestra. He composed the music for ‘A Night Out.’ Pola Negri will offer ns her next picture for Paramount ‘Men.’ The chief theme of the picture is the betrayal of a young girl who is lured to Paris by a rascal w’ho first wins her love. Then ' comes the phase in which the girl finds herself in a position to exact a terrible revenge upon the whole species. She believes herself immune to the softer emotions, and, when she finds herself in love at last, realises that she herself has woven the net for her lover. First-night Haymarket audiences are the creme de la creme. And Galsworthy’s ‘ Old English ’ premiere was no exception (writes our London correspondent). Celebrities of all kinds were superbly present, and earnest students had a fine chance contrasting the ladies in the stalls and on the stage, to compare 1924 fashI ions with 1904. All depends on whether t your taste prefers arabesque or symmetry mystery or revelation-clothes or the woman. Apropos of the play, which is a Galsworfhian study of ruthless veterancy that masterfully meets fate with festive revel, it gives Norman M’Kinnel a grand opening for character acting. Ho achieves

at once the massive bulk and the minute detail of the old autocrat who dines himself to death on the brink of ruin. Mr Walkley calls that scene Rembrandtesque. It struck me as more Hogarthian. And I remain a more devoted admirer of Galsworthy in a book than on the stage. . . Seymour Hicks, the distinguished London actor-manager, soon to visit New Zealand under Hugh J. W ard s management, tells many good stories in his new book, ■Chestnuts Rercost-ed.’ “The kindness of our American cousins to us when we visit their shore,” he remarks, “and their continual solicitude for our comfort sometimes make extremely difficult the answering of questions and the necessity of commenting on facts that arc repeated to inn press and keep one’s interest, Oscar Wilde was lionised on his first visit to the States in the early eighties, and was the recipient of great hospitality. Among his hosts was a gentleman who, although he gave Wilde the best time imaginable, whenever the guest expressed admiration at the sights he was being shown, always said: “Ah. but you should have seen it before the war.” Wildo was delighted enough with what lie did see, and at last got so tired of the constant repetition of the' phrase, that, standing on a balcony one evening after dinner, and having his attention drawn to the beauty of tho sky .and the silver moon overhead, ho, apparently absent-mindedly, said: “Yes, the moon is wonderful to-night; but I suppose I ought to have seen it before the war.”

‘ Unguarded Women ’ is a new Paramount picture due for release hero shortly. Paramount has been trying for some time to add Alan Crosland to it/ directorial forces, and has only recently succeeded. Ho lias been' signed to make a series of pictures over a term of five years. Alan Crosland, next to Cecil B. Do Mille, represents perhaps the greatest name of the list of directors. Crosland comes- with a great record that is upheld in every way by this production. Ho made pictures for Cosmopolitan. Tho cast of ‘Unguarded Women ’ wilt include Bebo Daniels, Richard Dix, and Mary Astor. A well-known Now Zealand musician, writing to a relative in Auckland, says :

“ While wo were in .Rome we had tho pleasure of meeting Miss M’Euroo (who is to take the soprano solos in ‘The Messiah’ at Auckland), Miss Eileen Driscoll (of Wellington), Miss Esquilant (Wellington), and Mr Archie Scott (baritone, of Christchurch). They gave us as much time as they' could spare from their studios, and added greatly to our enjoyment of the Eternal City.” '.Miss Grace Palntfa, in a chatty letter to a Sydney friend, tells of a holiday she has been spending in Austria and Bohemia. “1. had a very good offer to be the manageress of a business in .Melbourne, but if i 'do return to Australia it will be aa an actress, and nothing else. f still feel that some day IT! get another great chance, and I’ll just love to return to the loyal pals in something that is worth while—so there you are!” Miss Palotta thought of trying her luck at film work in America.'but did not like, the rushing round. Mr Win. Burton arrived from Sydney last week to make preliminary arrangements for Hip, Hugh J. Ward attractions, Seymour Hicks (Dunedin) and ‘The O'Brien Girl’ (Wellington).