FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 15

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By LOITERER.]

Con Moreni and his “ Silk Stocking ” Revue Company will bo hailed with delight at the Princess. Theatre on Monday.. Tho cast includes such_ performers as Con Moroni, Dolly Varni, Violet Lester, Ivy Davis, Minnie Goldberg, Harry Moroni, Cyril James, and Alex M'Aliister. For tbeir opening production they have chosen ‘Nicey Kicey,’ a bright, breezy comedy, chock full of lilting melodies, dainty frocks, pretty scenery, and attractive ballets. Mutt, the baboou comedian with Apdale’s circus (now appearing at the Princess Theatre), is reputed to bo as strong as three men put together, but to his master he is as obedient as a well-trained child, and bis many teats of strength and agility are watched with great interest and amusement. Mutt is the star of the troupe, and well he knows it; and it is very entertaining to notice tho attitude of blase indifference ho assumes when other members of the troupe are performing. Patsy is also a skilled periormer on the bicycle and globe, but it is as a chariot racer with a clog as bis steed that, be excels, though one must regret! ully admit that some of bis methods arc unfair, and would earn lor bun rigid exclusion from all the trotting clubs in the dominion. The dogs, too numerous k) individualise, do sumo very artistic rork, such as waltzing, skipping, and walking on two side logs only—the latter a most difficult feat, winch took months of training and patience.

The Kendall String Quartet is now at Melbourne Assembly Hall. The Mastcrton Amateur Theatrical Society produced ‘ The Magistrate,’ during last week. Frank Harvey, last _ hero with ‘ Sevcnidi Heaven,’ is going back t. His first appearance in AusIXilia was in 1914 in ‘ Joseph and His Brethren.’ Ho has been co-star with many of Williamson’s notable importations. The ‘Bulletin’ remarks that ‘Rose Marie,’ at Sydney Her Majesty’s, continues to earn the fat interest on the £25,000 which was -spent on the production.

The Levin Choral Society, under the baton of Edwin Dennis, A.R.C.M., is presenting ‘The Bohemian Girl’ this week. There is a chorus of fifty, and visiting soloists were engaged. ‘ No, No, Nanetto ’ began the twelfth week of its Sydney season at St. James Theatre on June 12. It is said to bo one of the few musical comedies with a good plot, and ono which is sustained in its songs. While iu Sydney ‘No, No, Nanette,’ is expected to break its Melbourne record of 152 performances.

Nellie Stewart is nothing if not frank (says the Sydney ‘ Sun ’). In her farcw*l God-blcss-you-all speech on the last night of ‘ Sweet Noll ’ she paid her tribute to William Russell, the Operahouse lessee, in these words: '“Mr Russell is a man of whom you will soon hear big things. Since my own manager, Mr Mnsgrove, died there is no

one in whom 1 have had such faith.”

The Wanganui amateurs arc at present rehearsing for the performance of ‘ What Happened to Jones?’ a comedy which they hope to present late next month.

Three plays written by actors arc at present running in London. They arc ‘lntimnA) Enemies’ (Norman MTvinnel), ‘Conflict’ (Milos Malic-son), and ‘Loose Ends’ (Dion Tithcrmlge). Mr Harison Cook is to adjudicate the vocal section at the Wanganui Competitions. The other judges are Mr Bernard Page (for instrumental) and Mr Stamley Warrick (for the elocutionary ).

Mr Arthur Jordan arrived at Wellington from Sydney last week. He has been specially engaged to sing the tenor solos in tho Auckland Choral Society's concert production of ‘ Faust,’ also in ‘ Carmen ’ in Wellington. It is probable that, in addition, ho trill give one or two 3ong recitals with Mr Harison Cook.

It is not extravagant to say that tho general strike cost the London theatres about £II)U,OIKJ, says a London exchange. They were affected for a fortnight, and during that period attendances dropped to tho extent of, roughly, 75 per cent, below normal, only three or four West End houses doing any business worth speaking of. Friends of Allan Wilkie and all lovers of Shakespearean drama will be sorry to hear of tho loss sustained by his company in a disastrous tiro at the Mechanics’ Institute, fieelong, on Juno 14. Scenery and efforts, including the complete wardrobe, were destroyed to the value of £4,000. In consequence, Mr Wilkie was reluctantly compelled to disband the company until at least tho end of the year. This, of course, means the cancelling of the New Zealand tour, which was to have opened at Auckland this Saturday. An influential body of Australian men intends making a public ap|mai for assistance to ensure an early resumption of Mr Wilkie’s programme, which in late yearn has taken on tho character of a national educative movement. Travelling as pianist with tho Sunbeam Children is Miss Rosina Palmerston, a talented artist who is known to New Zealanders through her association on the Fuller circuit, her last visit being with Madamo Stephano. Miss Palmerston, who is a Queenslander, has won many distinctions for vocal and instrumental work, and is a gold medallist of the Royal Academy of Music, London, having gained honors cortificates in both singing and piano. In her childhood days she and Miss Gladys Moncricff took part in competitions and productions, and the Press cuttings of those days arc greatly treasured. Miss Palmerston has travelled in many parts of the world, gaining experience with musical comedy and concert companies and winning plaudits everywhere for her exceptional talents. A descendant of the famous Carandini, musical gifts arc second nature to her. At their season, which commences at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday, July 19, for six nights and a matinee, Saturday 24th. the Futurists English Revue Company place before us a new form of entertainment which is at present the rage of London, known as a Cabaret Show'. This consists of a merry mixture of potted plays written by the leading revue writers at Home; sandwiched in between these playettes are tuneful melodics, songs extending from grand opera to tho latest jazz tunes, expert solo and ensemble dancing, combined with artistic stage settings and gorgeous Futuristic Hocking, the whole cemented together with a liberal serving of clean, clever comedy calculated to tickle tho palate of the most fastidious playgoer. Like modern dentistry, they hope to draw without hurting.

J6l tings on the people of tho Stage and Screen and on the latest recorded Music.

Clar Smith and his wife (Lee White), tho popular vaudeville entertainers who are pleasantly remembered in New Zealand, appear to have fallen on evil times. They were examined in Sydney tho other day boforo tie Registrar in Bankruptcy, and told a story of financial tosses. Henry Clay Smith said that tho real cause of the bankruptcy warn had business from tho time that they loft Australia threo years ago. Ho then had several thousand pounds in cash, but their financial troubles began when they arrived in London in 1923. Their home had bec-n sold for £3,500 by a friend of theirs, whose wife held a power of attorney. The premises were unencumbered, and eventually they received about £3OO of the purchase money. And that was lost in lets than a month over a theatrical venture entitled ‘ Come in.’ They are sorry now they didn’t “stay out.” Mr Olay Smith went on to say bo had not lost any money at racing or betting. At present bis wife and ho were engaged at a salary of £2O a week each, and they found that they had to spend the whole o.f that to maintain themselves. Leo Anna Smith supported her husband’s story. At present she had no assets a>t all. In reply to a question, Mrs Smith said that they were going fo pay their creditors as soon as they could. In spite of Dame Fortune's hard knocks, Clay Smith and Leo White ‘Keep Smiling.’ That is the name of the piece they are now playing to large audiences at the PuUwe Theatre, Sydney.