FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 15

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By LOITERER.]

Monday next will usher into the Princess Theatre the Carthy Brothers, a couple of fine English patter comedians who come from the leading London music halls with a splendid reputation. • ' Next week the Taylor-Carlton Super Pierrots will bo seen in a complete change of programme, which promises to maintain the high standard set by this excellent organisation. A medley of song, humor. harmony, and clever sketches will be offered. Phil Smith’s itevuo Company’s next offering is to be ‘ Sweethearts,’ a merry piece with melody, romance, and humor admirably blended, ’[ho story centres round an admiral who is engaged to a girl young enough to be his daughter, and his -son, a lieutenant, whose fiancee is by no means young. Alter a series of diverting scenes, the situation is adjusted by father and son making an exchange of fiancees. As the peppery old admirtd, Phil Smith lias a part alter his own heart, ami. provides Bin galore. He is well supported by Nat Hanley, Win. Greene, Phyllis Nicholson, and Peggy Peat. The bright and varied [rocking of the ballet, many excellent vocal numbers, and artistic dancing are among the distinctive features ot the entertainment.

‘No, No, Nanette,’ which, is .still profitably engaged in Sydney ,_ has at last reached Berlin, where it is drawing the inhabitants to the Metropolc Theatre. The star of the piece i.s Irene von Palasty, who is a piquant refutation of the popular notion that Herman women, after about the age of fifteen, develop figures like motor tractors, and shuffle along like deadbeats afraid of finding work. Frau--lein Palasty is pretty enough to he mistaken for a Viennese chorus girl, who, on the word of a. traveller who ought to know, are the most bewitching in Europe. That. Herman girls are highly attractive is proved hy the number whom British soldiers married during the occupation of Cologne. A proportion of the present capacity business at the Tivoli may be attributed Isays the Melbourne ‘Table Talk ’) to Bluett and Mo. the two Australian comedians who have combined their talents in a sailor burlesque. Fred Bluett has collected a considerihle following during his twenty-five or thirty years of popularity, and “ M 0,,” of the “Cliffy and Mo" combination, made a fortune for bis employers during his career in revue. Key Hone’s makeup as Mo i.s so ludicrous that his appearance is sufficient to cause gales o) laughter, whilst his absurd mannerisms and plaintive tones add to the effect. Bo far the comedians have boon together for two weeks only, and every day sees them becoming more accustomed to each other's stvle of work.

M iss Madge Titberadge and Mr Henry Ainley recently revived ‘ Much Ado About Nothing ’ at the New Theatre, London, and achieved groat successes as Beatrice and Benedict. Unfortunately, artistic sncco.-.s only was achieved hy the venture, and the management had quickly to search for a successor to the Shakespearian comedy. They found it in a sheik play, translated from the French, called' ‘Prince Fazil.’ Sheer melodrama, ‘Prince Eazd ’ promises, nevertheless, to bo a large money-maker, thanks to Miss Titheradge and Mr Ainley. _ Mr Ainley i.s an Arab prince, and Miss Titheradge i.s the luckless European girl who obeys the call of the Last and risks everything upon an exotic love affair with the sheik. The first scene is laid in Paris; the second scene is in. Fez, thou Paris again, and a poison cup! -Miss Titheradgo’s last three parts have been Nora, in Ibsen’s | Doll’s Blouse,’ Beatrice, and the wife in ‘Prince Fazil.’ A young actress who can achieve surceases in roles so dissimilar need fear few tests to which her profession can put her. Miss Titheradge’s brother, Dion, has made a successful appearance in a play written Jiy himself. ft is called ‘ Loose Ends,’ and it was produced at. the Garrick Theatre recently. MiTit,heradge played the part of a young man from tne back-blocks of Australia who is caught into the whirl of London society, with disastrous results. Those who knew him only as a writer of lyrics and flimsy revue dialogue were surprised at the power of satire disclosed in ‘ Loose Ends.’ Jim Herald is in the .sixteenth v, <■(■],- of Ids season at Fullers’ Theatre, Sydney. Proof of his amazing pop.ilamv i.s manifested hy packed houses at every _ performance. The gcmal comedian is always glad when it is time to play Sydiio y as it is bis home town. Shortly after his wife (Essie Jennings) arrived back from America Mr Gerald presented her with a magnificent ear. Both Air and Mrs Herald are keen motorists, and evc-v available minute they have away from the theatre is spent speeding round Sydney’s beauty spots. The elaborate chandelier of Fullers’ new St. James’ Theatre, Sydney, was made from the glass prisms of Giuflorella’s coach, originally brought out from the London Hippodrome for the Fuller pantomiucs. The Covent Harden opera, season opeaied in London on May 10. with a performance of Mozart’s ‘ Marriage of Figaro.” Despite the strike, there was a crowded house. The Cherninvsky Brothers have just completed their Vancouver tour. They nro making several performances for gramophone production. They are now making their initial tour in Mexico. All of the trio are married. For its third season the Auckland Little Theatre Society (the repertory movement) has decided to produce ‘The Dover Road,’ the well-known play hy A. A. Milne , 0110 of the most noteworthy writers of his day. A tentative cast has been chosen, and rehearsals have commenced. Air J. Clark, tbo newly-appointed producer, has taken up his duties. Mario Noy sent her Press notices to a friend in Sydney sifter playing the lead at .short, notice in Eugene O’Neill’s early play, ‘Beyond the Horizon.’ They were, one and all, extremely laudatory. Her emotional restraint and character shading were particularly enlarged upon. ‘Daddy Long Legs’ has now introduced to Australia the original London Judy in Renee Kelly. She is what the 'flappers call that “sweet” type of actress. Her husband. Hylton Allen, is the “Daddy” of this revival. George Bryant will play in ‘Rose Marie’ in Sydney. This fine, actor, has been absent from the Sydney stage ior too long, but it will be much longer before audiences forget his virile impersonation of Abraham Lincoln with the Repertory Society, says an Australian exchange.

lotting m tta people of (lie Stage and Screw aaA ©a the latest recorded Muftis.

Nellie Stewart’s reappearance as ‘ Sweet Nell of Old Drury,’ at a benefit matinee, was such a popular success that, she produced the piece for a week at the Opera-house, to give playgoers of to-day an opportunity of seeing her in her favorite role. Sydney Stirling wa.s again King Charles. “ Never has a New Zealand audience displayed such wonderful enthusiasm as it did" at Pavlova's first appearance here,” John Farrell wires from Auckland. “ The famous dancer was greeted with cheers when she first appeared, and as the performance proceeded so did the enthusiasm increase. At the close of tiio performance the audience stood up cll masse and cheered Pavlova. The Hon. Eileen Pluukct is playing the part of Lady Myttoo in a new farce at the Fortune Theatre, London, called ‘Do Bo Careful.’ The ‘Morning Post’ critic says: “What it is about 1 do not know, nor can I.imagine.” ’the ‘Daily Telegraph ’ describes it as “ one ot those wild, extravagant, and wholly irrational farces about which it is vain to argue. Thirty years ago it might have made an appeal to a public snffieieutlv large to recoup its producer for his outlay, hut to-day it strikes one as out-worn and grievously old-fash-ioned.” “ [ was so overwhelmed by my welcome that I was struck dumb for the moment. 1 think English people make a marvellous audience!” This declaration was made in Loudon by Miss Gladys Moncrieff, the Australian soprano, who scored a great personal success and received an ovation when she appeared in ‘ Riki-Tiki ’ at the Gaiety Theatre. Miss Moncrieff spoke of the onroiiragi,ng methods adopted by Australian theatrical producers. “Twelve vears ago,” she explained, “I was earning about I'3 a week. My voice was an absolutely natural one, and I attended an audition. The management thought there were possibilities about me, and bad my voice trained, f have, of course, sung a good deal of grand opera, but 1 much prefer musical comedy—it is livelier to work in.” Now that the Don Cossack is passing nut of Russian history, it is interesting to learn that New Zealand will shortly have the opportunity of seeing a body of these remarkable men. For centuries the exploits of the Cossacks have made history, and their daring charges a era lust the Germans during the (treat War were the admiration of the Allied armies. When the Bolshevist rule threw the Russian Empire into _ an abyss of misery and distress, the thirtysix officers who are to visit New Zealand entered the ranks of the “White Arrnv.” and fought under Dcniken and Wrangel until the breakdown ot their offensive. Then they were shipped with tho rest of the Wrangel Army to be transported to the Isle of Lemnos. Later they formed a church choir,_ at Sofia, and became a part of the services of tho Orthodox Cathedral, working at the same time as workmen in the factories in order to earn a living. I heir concerts, which are to commence at the Auckland Town Hall on June ]5, are of an exceptionally high standard, and have attracted widespread attention tho world over.