FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19197, 13 March 1926, Page 15

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By LOITERER.]

vNext week the George Ward' Revue Company will be seen in another hi lari; ons laugh-getting production entitled ‘ Turned Up.’ The story hinges on a marriage tangle, a husbaiUl and wife both unknowingly committing bigamy. Captain Hertnie Schultz is believed to have been drowned, and his wife marries again, espousing to an undertaker. The missing husband turns up accompanied by a dusky bride from Honolulu, and complications ensue. The comedy is mainly in the capable bands of George Ward and'Bert Le Blanc, so Fuller patrons can be assured of no dull moments. The frocking is very pretty, scenery appropriate, and there are many delightful musical interludes.

The Huntings, a pair of cowboy jugglers, are to apoar at Fullers’ Theatre and present a unique term. The act is chiefly remarkable for the lino ladder climbing (unsupported) oat the male performer. This is the man who not only goes up the ladder and down the other side, balancing as he goes, hut actually juggles with hoops and things while supporting himself on the top rung. It is one of the best things seen here yet. Fullers’ No. 1 Old Time Nigger Minstrel Show is to open at Christchurch next Monday, March 15. This clover band of artists consists of such brilliant performers as Linn Smith’s Jazz Band, Ward Lear, Arthur Elliott, “.Porky” Kearns, Will Kenny, George Hay, John Rorko, and Harry Linden. Before Sir Benjamin Fuller loft New Zealand ho made an important announcement to the effect that ho would shortly present to his patrons Irving’s Imperial Midgels. This is the most-talked-of act ever hooked, lb consists of twenty-five artists, who are the smallest folk in the world, and they offer a wonderful programme of musical comedy, aerobatics, boxing, wrestling, dancing, singing, and a circus. This act teems with unique novelties, and combines the most lavish scenic environment with novel and attractive costumes, One is absolutely transpoited to Midgetland. The fascinating, unbelievable Gulliver at last becomes real, as actual “ Lilliputians” disport in front of one’s eves. Those little people are not dwarfs, hut perfectly-propor-tioned miniature men and women. Their hearts are apparently of normal size for despite their working hard they yet find time to help their less fortunate brethren. Every citizen of Vancouver could only applaud them doing their “biggest act” when they saw The Midgets acting as a regular band of newsboys in the streets in a. successful endeavor to augment a num for “ Vancouver’s , Fifty Neediest Cases.” Because their stat ure is small they do not live abnormal lives. Serious romance recently ended in a. tiny couple braving the rough sea of matrimony. The little bride, Helen Bayer, pretty as a doll in face and figure, weighed onlv 531 h: her husband* pioportioned like an Adonis in miniature, weighed 641 b. The tiniest wedding ring ever made, specially ordered from Jitfanv’s. was slipped on to tho third fitmer of her left hand. The tiny bride, blushing and tearful, said: “Im so liappv.” as she received her husband s kiss." They are a happy crowd these twentv-five little folk. They radiate happiness through their mere presence, but when they present dancing and nrrobatics one can only think unit fairies have come to life. Madame Irene Ainsley, who has returned to Auckland, is now engaged in the formation of a grand opera choir. This will consist of some twentv-five, voices, and will support the various productions which Madame Ainsley proposes to introduce during the ensuing rear. Included will he the singing 'lesson from the Haugliter of Iho Regiment,’ the famous duets from ‘ Lohengrin ’ and Rustieana,’ quartet from Kigolelto, kitchen scene from ‘Martha,’ garden scene from ‘ Faust,’ and the pnson scene from ‘ll Trovatore.’ Swift and Daly, who appear at millers’ presently, are prone to evoke music from the, most unexpected sources. Swift is a droll comedian, whoso fun reaps generous applause. With his daintv partner he plays a variety of unusual instruments, and bis handling 'of auto bonis, httle suspected of musical tendencies, is unique. Their act is one described as one of the, cleverest seen in Fuller vaudeville for many years. Present indications are I lia I. Mr Hugh J. Ward’s new London Musical ('omedv Company, including. Male Bacon'and Jack Morrison, now on its wav to Australia to present ‘ Mercenary Mary,’ will open at the. Princess Theatre,-'Melbourne, at Easter. Direct from the Court Theatre, I,ondon, where it has been running for three years, ‘The Farmer’s AN iSo, a play of delightful humor and quaint characters, will bo seen here on April ]O, presented by a now company of comedians specially selected in England by the J. 0. Williamson management. " The newcomers include Doris Johnstone, Townsend Wliitling, Susan Richmond, Frances Cave, Edwm Brett, Douglas Vigors, Graham Stuart, Emmeline Orford, \\ circle jMoigfiUj Cynthia Burke, and Violet Ley, nearly all of whom have appeared in the English production. The cast in association includes Eardley Turner, Arfcmu Greenaway, Millie Engler, and letty Landau. .... , Jim Gerald, always a most brilliant conversationalist in private circles, has delighted his admirers (says the Sydney ‘Theatre’) by his graphic description of the many wonders oltlio Dunedin (New Zealand) Exhibition. But Jim errs when ho says it is built on the sito of a swamp. Lake Logan was never a swamp; it was one of too most charming of Dunedin’s beauty spots, but, being shallow, was easily drained for the purposes of land reclamation. [The writer is thinking of long ago; Gerald is more right in his description.] , . , . , Renee Kelly, who is playing her on - gina! role of Judy ju Daddy Long Legs ’ at Melbourne,, recalls some queer performances in which she las taken n-irt Tho most uncanny performance of ‘Daddy Long Legs’, vns given nt St Dnnstan’s Hospital, in England, for the blind soldiers. The whole company took part, hut, of course, there was no scenery. To play to rows, and rows of sightless eyes was. an experience Miss Kellv found exceedingly trying. Die blind men, she says followed the action of the plav without difficulty, and took the comedy points much quicker than the average audience Another peculiar experience, says Miss Kelly, was' playing this piece to the Mormons in Salt-'Lake City. ,Mosl- of them ocmoled boxes and bad their wives with them but they refrained studiously from laughing.

jHffwfft m fit© people of the Stage and Sown and m the latest recorded Musis.

Mr Hubert Carter, the New Zealand tenor, continues to do very well in England; and is booked for some months ahead. . Herschol Honlore, irlio ivas in punedin some weeks ago, stepped off the, boat from New Zealand one day recently at 12.30, and appeared at a Sydney matinee two hours afterwards. ‘ Secrets,’ which was revived in Australia by Marv Hinton (Hon. Mrs PittRivers) and ’Frank Harvey, is due to arrive in New Zealand this month. To watch ‘The Belle of New York,’ which the London Stock _ Exchange Operatic and Dramatic Society is giving at the New Scala_ Theatre, to have an object lesson in how musical plays have altered. _ Twenty-eight years ago the piece clectried London and the provinces, and it is regarded as a classic example of its particular sort. But how slow it is compared with ‘ No, No, Nanette,’ ‘Hose Marie,' and ‘ Mercenary Mary.’ The tempo of the music, the speed of the dances, the pace of the playing are at least 50 per cent, behind the present standards and fashions. —London newspaper. Serge Diaghileff, whose season at the Coliseum recently finished, would say nothing very definite about the next London season of the Russian Ballet. It is practically certain, however, that the dancers will be in London next spring, and there is an interesting rumor to the effect that then ballet will once again ho stagod_ in a theatre of its own. M. Diaghileff is well satisfied with the results of the recent season. He is now taking his company to Germany, after which they will go'to Monte Carlo under the patronage of the Prince of Monaco. Kitty Reidy and Hmvett Worstcr reproduced in London the Australian success in the production of Wildflower.’ Both were repeatedly recalled. Critics, however, are divided in their opinions. The ‘Daily Mail’ says: “Pretty Kilty Reidy was emphatically successful, ft he has a voice of a quality seldom heard in musical comedy, hut it is a pity that she cannot forget the audience. * AVc are alone together, 1 she whispered to the flower, at the same time ogling tlie dress circle. S>ucli little things jarred.” The ‘ Daily News’ critic was not impressed. Ihe success of ‘ Wildflower,’ says _Tho Times’ critic, was largely due to Kitty Reidy, whose singing was one of the most pleasant parts of the entertainment. She can also act, and da nets competently. Violet Ley, who will appear m Dunedin in ‘The Farmer’s Wife ’ to bo presented by a new English _ Comedy Company under the J- C,. Williamson management, played important roles with "Ethel Irving when the _ famous comedy star was in Australia tome years ago. For the last, few years Miss Ley has been on thelnmlin England, farming and breeding Scab ham terriers, and so, as she plays ti e part of a sporting country woman in The Farmer's Wife,’ she has a nvngemal and thoroughly suitable role. Miss Ley is very fond of Australian life, and was willing to give up her farm, her dogs, and other interests, and at a shortnotice to come to the dominions again. It is said that ‘Rose-Marie’ recently took £16,000 in a fortnight at Drury Lane, and that ‘No, No. Nanette, at the Palace Theatre, has collected £306.194 in the United kingdom since March last. The value of building up a tlicntrc tradition is oxomplißcd by the announcement of the 200th performance ot the present Aldwych plav. ‘ A Cuckoo in the Nest.' The length of the run of 1 The Fanner’s \\ ife (Court Theatre) _ has been exceeded by onlv ten pi avs in the fiistovy of Die English stage, of which six were musical pieces. ‘White Cargo’ lias survived numerous changes ol cast (Air Horace Hodges, who gave a marvellous reading ol the part of the doctor, is returning to it), and will shortly celebrate its 70nt.li performance in lonc'on. It is still possible therefore, despite rents, rates, and taxes. tn_ make money in the theatre with all kinds of plays if they hit the public’s fancy. A musical attraction on the New Zealand lists for 1926 is the. Don Fossae.: Choir, comprising thirty-eight ex-ofn-cors of the Russian AVhito Army, who are coming out to Australia next month, opening in Sydney on April DArrangements for the tour are now being made by Mr Frod_ APCron, undei whoso management Kreisler toured New Zealand'last year. _ There /rre some superb bass voices m the choir, and it is nothing for them to descend to Hie R and A sharp below the bass rleff. which is a nolo or two bc-'ow the 'cello’s lowest sound. A considerable sensation was created by the lust appearance of the Don Gos».i *■- 111 London last year, and in January last thev achieved a record by appearing on throe consecutive Sundays in Die Albert Hall, London, winch uns a nolding capacity of over 10,000. A ter the An - tralinn season the Don Cossacks w 11 visit the principal °t N ow Zealand on their way to illd G“r ''n V-Uti’ : A vind picture of Adelina, latti-. stage life is given in W Ami,s -ong’s fascinating book ‘The Romantic World of Music’: ‘‘ She was very stubborn about one l-lmiE-un he felt in* perfect condition she u.d to sing, though kings and <AY 1 be disappointed. ‘lt I not tee well,’ she said to Mr Armstrong, did not sing, but went to l,ecl aIR ‘'- url there was no one in. .1 lie oiicra-hon.-n might remain closed, bnt d there had been opera then there would be o opera now.’ From Raucrnieister,ll,o modest little singer who so olton l.clpod out Mr Grace at the Metropolnan Opera-house. Air Armstrong beard ol another reason why Patti preserved Innvoice intact so many years. in ensembles at the end of nn Yj,’- " 1l( Y chorus and orchestra «c,e cas g• * once, Aladamc Haiti did R 0 J ‘ prima donna’s top notes. At Co\oil Garden Opera-house it was ;■ good Bauermcister s mission to mg those top notes instead, and audiences were none the wiser.’ _ Some years ago living st,-unary became something ol a vogue- Less has been heard of it lately, but the Romano Bros. (Arthur and Cyril), who are to appear in Fullers’ vaudeville shortly, are on tour with a senes of classic poses wonderfully presented against a blade background and under delicately colored lights, and the two brothers, both of whom are perfect specimens ot manlv athleticism, look as if they had been’cawed in marble. The brothers first appear as wrestlers, and are seen in a number of ’ which, from the statuesque point of new, display their art to the best advantage. Then follow such studies ns ‘Prehistoric ■'n.’ 'The Hunter,’ ‘The Stonethrower,’ ‘ A Rugby Tackle, The Disc-thrower,’ and so on. It is difficult indeed to realise that one is looking upon a. living form in all these tableaux, so still are the figures. Arthur Romano displays his remarkable muscular development, and the artists conclude their show by an exhibition of the characteristic punches of ianions boxers. The Romano Brothers, (ho shorter of whom is 6ft 3in in height, are two of the sons of Bishop M'Lagen, late of Claremont, South Africa, who is the father of eight sons, all well over 6ft, mid all first-class athletes. Art.hnr, one of tlie brothers, was formerly an instructor of the Swedish system of physical culture in Australia, and was the holder of _ the athletic champoinship for both British | Columbia and Australia. Ho learned j a great deal about sculpture from Proi lessor* Rodin, the well-known French sculptor, and he and his brothers have • been Rodin’s favorite models.

Gwen Burroughs is returning to Sydney from America by the Sierra, and also Marion Marcus Clark, who has been over there for many years. Both arc to play in ‘The Seventh Heaven * in Sydney, a new drama, for ’-hicli the leading lady will be Reray Carton, an American actress. George _ Parker is returning to produce the piece. Miss Burroughs was last in Dunedin with Louis Bennison.