FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 15

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By LOITERER.]

At Fullers’ Princess Theatre on Monday people will bo able to purchase at small cost volume four of that fascinating book entitled ‘Storiettes.* This volume abounds in delightful comedy sketches, dancing, and vocal scenas. The illustrations will be carried out in charming settings and colcmugs. This energetic littlo band of entertainers has spent many hours of work in the compiling of this volume. A feature chapter will bo an old English scena, with the lady members as sweet maidens of tho eighteenth century. Special thought has been given to tho mounting and costuming of this scena. Tho Foulasto Bros., members of the Storyette Company, are a clover and original team, who have appeared in many productions and pantomimes, os a “ specialty.” They are both very fine dancers, acrobats, and comedians of high standing. It is reported in London that Basil Penn has acquired a new comedy by Noel Coward called ‘This Was a Man ’ Mr Dean also has ‘Souvenir’ and ‘ Demi-Monde ’ in his possession. ‘ Sou venir ’ is the renamed ‘Nadya.’ Mr Thco. Treziso, of Auckland, will, in Whangarci, produce ‘ Our Miss Gibbs’ for the Waiata Society. Afterwards ho returns to Auckland to rehearse ‘ The Arcadians ’ for tho Auckland Amateur Operatic Society. Mr Trozise then has engagements in tho South Island to produce ‘Merrie England.’

Miss Vera Pawley, tho Australian girl who holds the 100 and 50 yards swimming titles of Australia and Now Zealand, is a promising dancer and singer, and was recently persuaded to take part in a rehearsal for ‘ Rose Marie.’ Such a favorable _ impression did she make that she was given a part in tho chorus and ballet on tho same night, and is now a regular member of the show.

Heifetz, the violinist, at present on a tour of China, Japan, and Java, will commence a season in Australia in May of next year. He will reach New Zealand somewhere about the following July. Ho is not bringing a pianist with him. Mr Joseph Hislop, the famous Scottish tenor, will also be in the dominion next year. Lately ho has been singing in opera at Paris, in grand opera at Stockholm, and in opera at Brussels’. Probably a pianist will come out with him. Mr Frank Hutchens, the well-known pianist, who has been on a trip to America, has returned to Sydney. He found time to see a good deal of New York, and was amazed at the musical activity to ho witnessed there.

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have definitely arranged to bring out another grand opera company nest year. Mr E. J. Tait, on Ids return from England, made the announcement, and stated that Mr Nevih Tait is now in Milan making the preliminary arrange in cuts. Already the J. C. Williamson organisation is getting ready to commence work on preliminary details. Negotiations have been in progress for some tithe with prominent artists abroad, and when Mr Frank Tait leaves shortly for Europe he will co-operate in the organisation of this huge enterprise. The opening date in Melbourne of ‘ Katja ’is still indefinite. Miss Mario Burke is still not well enough to be removed from Muswellbrook to Sydney. Mr W'arde Morgan is still seriously ill, but has been Transferred to Sydney. His place in the production, when it is staged again, will bo taken by Mr Claude Flemming, Otherwise the cast will be practically the same os in Sydney, where the musical comedy broke all records.

Tho late Herbert .1. (“ Bunny ”) Bentley, who died recently at Auckland, played with a number of famous English stage personalities, including Sir Charles Hawtrcy, Sir Herbert Beorbohm Tree, and Mario Tempest. Ho was imported to Australia, and for many years ho played tho juvenile leads in prominent plays for J. C. Williameon, Ltd., and other firms. He will be remembered particularly for his work in ‘ Monsieur Beaucaire.’ In Auckland Mr Bentley concerned himself with occasional productions. He was responsible_ for an exceedingly successful production of Somerset Maugham’s ‘Jack Straw.’ He also produced ‘ Bill Stoney,’ one of the best productions by tho Auckland _ University students. Mr Bentley will have a lasting monument in the Auckland Little Theatre Society. He was tho principal organiser of tho repertory movement there, and it was owing' to his indefatigable efforts and liis_ knowledge of stagecraft that tho society started its career with marked success. He produced the premier production, ‘ Fanny’s First Play,’ by Bernard Shaw, and was responsible for the second season’s production of a triple bill.

Vaudeville patrons will read with delight (says a Wellington journal) of the return to New Zealand of the Veterans of Variety. Wo all remember the enthusiasm created by these old stars on their appearance some time ago, when we were taken back a generation or so by the famous old sayings, tho old songs in tho old way that made the veterans great in tho years gone by. _We all recall Arthur Slater and his spirited whistling songs, George Campbell in ‘ The Man that Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo,’ Lily Burnand, tho vivacious star of the old music hall days, Florence Hinton in ‘ Good-bye Mignonette,’ and Jake Frcidman, tho irresistible little comedian. These wonderful young-old timers commenced fho Wellington season at His Majesty’s Theatre on Wednesday, September 8. Plavgoers will bo interested to learn that Maude Fane, who has innumerable friends and admirers all over Australia and New Zealand, has been reengaged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and will return shortly. No announcement has yet been made by tho firm as regards the role in which Miss Fane will appear on her return, but it is understood that it is something in the nature of a surprise. The popular young artist, it is stated, made a special trip to Paris for the latest fashion creations, and will bring back with her a ravisliing selection from tho last word in fashion.

Chaliapin has fallen in love with Australia and Australians. Before ho 'eft Melbourne for Sydney he said ho would one day return'to tho Commonwealth and settle down there, “so far away frem the troubles of Europe.” In the meantime the famous singer is investing a good deal of money in Australian securities. Chaliapin is looking forward to his visit to Adelaide, Auckland, and Wellington. On the way out from England he met a nunnwr of people from those cities, and is eager to renew acquaintance with them. The famous singer is an angling .enthusiast and hopes to make many a weighty catch in New Zealand waters.

There is a rumor abroad (says an exchange'l that Roy Bene ("Mo,” of Fusers 1 ) will be the leading comedian, in the next J. C. Williamson pantomime. Miss Stella Chaliapin, daughter of Feodor Chaliapin, the famous Russian sineer, lost a shawl worth £2OO at the Artists’ Ball in Sydney. The shawl is a family heirloom, and as such it has a great sentimental value to its owner. Of pure white China silk, the shawl is handmade, and very heavily embroidered in each corner. The design is one of flowers and leaves, with a branch of a tree worked in. There are small, birds also in the comers, while a small black lino runs through each flower. Inquiries are being made by the police. ' , , Miss Stella Murray, who has Idt London for Ireland, where she has to both social aad ssofessioßal (Sh-

Jottings on the people of the Stage and Screen and on the latest recorded Music,

gagemonts, gave a party before going to meet Miss Evelyn Scotncy. Among those who were present wore Miss Gladys Moncrieff and Miss^Underwood, who is now playing in ‘Yvonne,’ and those two artists, with Miss Murray, provided music for the outer taiiunont of the guests. These comprised Mr and Mrs Leslie Friend, Lady Parsons, Mrs Taylor Darbyshire, Miss Anno Williams, Mrs Harold Graxton, Mr Robert Geddes, Mrs Bernard Myers, Mr and Mrs Mavon Ibbs, and Miss Perry. Wilfred Colton, who was associated with Mario Tempest seasons in Australia and in otljer, countries, has several musical plays to follow ‘ Our Liz,’ which he lias been presenting in Sydney and in Melbourne. From New York I hear (says a writer in the ‘ Argos ’) of a pleasant meeting of several people well known in Australia. They arc liar aid _ Bowden, representative for tho tVilliarnson management, and Mrs Bowden; Allred and Lucy Frith. Robert and Beatrice Grcig, and Ethel Morrison. Many Australian memories were exchanged. Mr Grcig, who has been playing character parts in Sbubert productions for sonic time, has a fresh contract with that management. Several enthusiastic theatre folk, including Sir Johnston Forbes Robertson, Sir Barry Jackson, Sybil Thorndike, Henry Ainley, and others, have decided to run a small theatre movement in London. Promises have been taken near Leicester square, and a theatre capable of .sealing 400 people and with a full-sized stage is being made. It is proposed to stage all manner c-f productions, from cabaret to tragedy, and to serve al'ter-the.-play supper m the stalls. If this example is followed—as it easily may be, for the idea is an attractive one—some of the too espensive cabarets and tho preposterously dear dance chibs which are now altcr-tho-thcatrc resorts in London arc Imcly to suffer.

Mr Hugh J. Ward recently left Sydney on another trip to New York, London, and Continental theatrical centres in search of attractions for Australia and New Zealand. While ho is abroad the St. James Roof Garden, which is being built above the sumptuous St. James Theatre in Elizabeth tstrcct, Sydney, will bo completed, so that on his return the four most palatial .and modern playhouses in Australia, including tho Princess and the Palace in Melbourne, will bo devoted to WardFuller productions. When completed the stately pile of St. James will be a graceful embellishment to Sydney. Rising eleven stories and with frontages to both Elizabeth and Castlereagu streets, it is one of the most impressive buddings in the Commonwealth. The architect responsible for tho plans of St. James and its artistic sclicroe of interior and exterior embellishment is Mr Henry White, tho brilliant New Zealander, who transformed Melbourne’s Princess and Palace into the beautiful playhouses they are. It is generally agreed that Mr White bus exceeded all his previous achievements in theatre construction in the St. James.

There is a possibility that more of Thomas Hardy’s novels are to be dramatised. St. John Ervinc has received permission to dramatise all of Mr Hardy’s books, with the exception of ‘ Tess of the D’Ubervilles,’ which Hardy did himself, and ‘ Tho Mayor of Casterbridge,’ which John Drinkwater will produce in the autumn. Mr Ervino is considering the adaptation of ‘Judo the Obscure,’ ‘The Return of the Native,’ and ‘ The Trumpet Major.’

don ‘Daily Telegraph,’ says with enthusiasm ; “ Pride of place belongs to tho wonderful Brahms variations on a theme by Paginini, as played by Backhaus. In recent times no pianist has ripened as Backhaus. Ho is clearly now in tho very fullness of his art life, and one would have to search long and far to find a player who could make so magnificent a scries of records as ho has made here.” Ono of the best of British ’cellists, C. Warwick Evans, is still making records. His latest issues are all attractive, and include such universal favorites as tho Bach-Gounod ‘ Avo Maria,’ Handel’s ‘Largo in F,’ and ‘Believe Mo If All Those Endearing Young Charms.’ Bracketed with those attractive titles arc Sammartini’s ‘ Grave,’ from his sonata for ’cello and piano, and tho ‘ Avo Verum ’ of Mozart, in J. C. Squire’s arrangement. ■ Ethel Hobday plays tho accompaniments finely. All pianists know Debussy's ‘ Fillo aux Cheveux do Lin,’ and Moschctto and his orchestra have just issued an admirable arrangement of it. Tho delicate, sensitive music is played with characteristic attention to detail, and all those nuances in which Moschctto delights. The reverse side bears a contrasting number, ‘ Chanson ot Danse ’ (Serrano), with curious rhythms and attractive melody. The recording is fully up to standard. The following H.M.V. records made effective illustrations to a recent lecture recital in London ‘ Malagucna ’ (Alheniz), Cortot (piano); ‘Casta Diva’ (from ‘Norma,’ Bellini) Patti; ‘Hungarian Dance, No. 2’ (Brahms), Joachim: ‘ Jota’ (Falla), Tito Schipa; ‘An Printcinps’ (Grcig), Greig (piano); ‘Simon tho Cellarer’ (Hatton), Santley; ‘ Esultate ’ (from ‘ Otello,’ Verdi), Tnmagno; ‘The Huntsman’ (Dan Lcno), Dan Lcno; ‘Thoughts from tho Book For Every Dav’ (Tolstoy). Tolstoy; ‘Laughing’ (Klnnsen), Klausen (H.M.V., E. 325). Still another humorous record of distinction comes to hand. Hero are two numbers of tho famous Nip and Nunky series, given by those two originals, Lupino Lane and Wallace Lane. ‘ A Lesson in Perseverance and ‘Ho Never Told a Lie,’ in which two lectures to a small boy on tho themes of George Washington and Bruce and tho Spider arc u.-ccl to provide many laughs. Tho small boy is nearer to life, and says more irritatingly amusing things than any of his stage small boy predecessors. You will enjoy tho way in which ho turns tho jest against Nunky. Tho return of William James as pianist with Toti Dal Monte revived interest in his Australian bush songs, and supplies of these aro available. Malcolm M'Eachorn has been recorded in four of the six songs which the Australian composer has written, and tho result is well worth while. ‘ Comrades of Mine,’ ‘ Tho Land of Who Knows Where?’ 1 The Bush Night Song,’ and, above all, ‘The Stock Rider’s Song,’ havd freshness and vigor, and the robust M'Eachorn gives them their full dramatic value. This is some of tho best music from the land of tho wattle. Stanley Chappie’s playing of the accompaniments is an added strength.