FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19616, 23 July 1927, Page 18

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By LOITERER.]

Commencing on Monday, George Wallace and Ills company will stage an entirely new production under tbo title of * Some Night.’ In this 119 cleverly paints an Australian typo after Dennis’s ‘ Sentimental Bloke.’ Mr Wallace rarely burlesques; often enough a little lovable human touch comes into his work. In ‘ Some Night ’ho plays tho part of “Dreadnought,” the world’s worst policeman, and in this it is said ho introduces an altogether new lino of comedy, which, no doubt, will meet with the approval of tho Fuller audiences. “Dreadnought,” trying to preservo peace in Harmony row, is said to bo one of tho biggest comedy scones that Mr Wallace has yet portrayed. Tho musical and dancing items throughout the show are of a very high standard, and the entertainment as it will be presented should prove to ho one of tho most popular yet seen at tho Princess. Crowded houses have been the rule all the month at Fullers’, which is only natural, seeing that George Wallace has been the ranch-advertised headliner. Different revues each week (mostly from the comedian’s own pen) have been a big attraction, hut it is unnecessary to find any reason for the phenomenal business other than the presence of George _ "Wallace himself. "Wallace is a personality that grows on one. The more one sees of him on the stage tho more one wants (0 see him. He has no tricks, he has no particularly clever patter; but he knows to a nicety the true spirit of burlesque, and he uses that knowledge in the writing of all his little revues. In addition, he has a true sense of and it is this, cleverly employed, that makes most of his comedy ring so true. Miss Imclda Faina, a Wellington pianist, who, on the advice of Benno Moisicvitch, went abroad to study, spent two years under Mario Prcuteur (for twenty years principal assistant to LHchiltchky), and is now under the cele-brated-Professor Wnrchcr, ol_ "Vienna, Miss Fama, who, by tho way, is a sister of Mr Tauo Fama, recently met Backbans, Avho, she says, sends his best wishes to the many friends he made, in New Zealand.

New Zealand theatregoers wifi rise and say something _ highly complimentary to the artists in ‘Tip Toes’ when this dancing musical comedy comes to the dominion. Floie Allen, who has many enthusiastic admirers in Now Zealand, soon found her way into the of the people when given her chance in' tho principal role. Elizabeth Morgan, the leading lady, became indisposed. Floie Allen was given her chance, and she danced into popularity in a night. Olsen and Johnson are included in tho cast, and their turn is described ns “ a perfect scream.” Gus Bluett, Henry Penn, and Jack "Wright are in prominent parts. One of the big features of this production is tho brilliant dancing of Gerardo and Enid Adair, the famous London stars, who provide /i breathless specialty dance. Heifetz, who is making his Australian and New Zealand tour under the noted J. ami N. Tait management, introduces another talented _ musician _ to _ these shores in his; series of recitals in_ the dominion. His accompanist and pianoforte soloist, Tsador Achron, is a Russian musician, who, like Heifetz, migrated to secure fame and fortune in the United States. “J always like the Tsador to bo mentioned,” said Achron to a newspaper man, “for the reason that I have a brother, and that fact has caused many amusing mistakes to ho made at various times. My brother Joseph is a well-known composer, and Heifetz plays several of his works in his present recitals.” Some Australians and New Zealanders nro doing well in U.S.A. Harry Plimmor is on tour in ‘Pickwick,’ Reynolds Denniston is running a Chicago theatre, Boh Grieg is in ‘The Student Prince’ in Now York, Harry Sweeney is in ‘ Lucky ’ at tho Now Amsterdam Theatre in tho same city. Ethel Morrison, Esther Mitchell, and Harry Radcliffc are also well placed. Although the celebrities of the concert platform receive enormous fees for their recitals, Heifetz, _ the worldrenowned violinist, who will give a recital in Dunedin on Saturday, August 20, onco cheerfully played a. complete season without remuneration. It was in Palestine, where Heifetz' was asked to visit the communities of Jewish settlers. Heifetz did so, and was so impressed with what he saw that lie went from village to village, from colony to colony, playing his violin to audiences of humble people whom ho moved to fears. Thus in ft new Palestine, becoming onco more a land of milk and honey, the young master played to tho children of Israel, and firmly declined to accept any remuneration. It was a most gracious act, and will long bo remembered by the grateful people. Tho Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company, which will commence its Dunedin season on July 30 with an elaborate presentation of ‘ King Henry Vlll.has been drawing unprecedented attendances during the present season at Wellington. 1 King Henry VITL’ is sumptuously staged and costumed, in beeping with the glittering splendor of tho Court of the Tudor period. W 7 hen Mr Wilkie went to England last year to purchase new stage equipment for his plays, ho found it much more difficult to obtainstage armor, swords, jewels, and other equipment essential to Shakespearean nrodnetions than he imagined when he left Australia for London. Ho was under the impression that lie would find such material as easily obtainable as was the case in pre-war days-. Under this delusion he advertised in the stage newspapers, stating liis requirements, without one single response, and finally had to adopt tho expensive method of buying direct from the manufacturers. This Mr Wilkie attributes to the enormous increase in the cost of theatrical productions, so that, whereas formerly these properties were specially designed and manufactured for each production, they are now almost invariably hired. Under these old conditions, once finished with, the properties were thrown on the market, and consequently there was a largo accumulation of Shakespearean properties and wardrobes always available. Regarding the production of ‘King Henry VTTI..’ however, Mr WilIde says he was extremely lucky, as he was able to purchase the complete wardrobes used by Sir Herbert Tree in his production of tho play, which was considered one of tho finest over staged in London.

It was recently reported in a telegram from. Los Angeles that Mr Ernest Ball, the Irish song writer and singer, had died there. He had a heart attack just after going off the stage of a theatre, and died shortly after. Among his songs were ‘Mother Machree,’ ‘When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,’ and ‘A Little Bit of Heaven.’

Jotfitogs on fbe people of the Stage am! Screen and on the latest recorded Music.

“Just a. New Zealander” is how Keith Wilbur, tho mimic, bills hiiuself in London A correspondent states that Mr Wilbur is at the Cheswick Empire, and that the New Zealander got a groat reception. Miss Diana Wilson, hero some years ago in ‘Ligbtnin’,’ and later with Lawronco Grossmith, is appearing in London in a musical version of ‘Lc Lebre.’

Tho Auckland Little Theatre Society gave three performances of ‘The Cassilis Engagement,’ by St. John Hankin, this week. The cast included Mrs M. M'Callura, Mrs W. H. Parkes, Mrs J. M. Goodfellow, Misses Vera Ziman, Ethel Rac, Beryl Nettlotou, Eleanor Miller, Messrs Percy Adams ,Cyril Seaward, Roberts Tole, and E. W. Bullot. Garry Marsh, who played Mark Sabre in ‘lf Winter Comes ’ in New Zealand some years ago, is in ‘ Meet the Wife,’ in London with Constance Collier and George Tnlly. ‘ Meet the Wife ’ was played through New Zealand recently by ‘ The Best People ’ Company. Irene Vanbrugh and Dion Boucicault have virtually decided on yet another tour of Australia and _ New Zealand. They will probably sail in October, and will bo away for over a year. Previous trips to the Southern Dominions havo been so successful that tho decision is only natural. “Wo can ill spare our finest comedy actress,” said the ‘ Evening Standard.’ “One must not, however, overlook tho fact that in recent years dramatists have not provided for her at all well, and her last appearance in London was in material quite unworthy of her.” Sir Johnston Forbes-Robortson announced from the stage of Drury Lane Theatre, in the presence of the King and Queen, that, thanks to a donation by Viscount Rothmcre, the total receipts of tiio performance of ‘The Wandering Jew,’ given on behalf of King George’s Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses, were £7,410. The previous best was £4,628, taken at the performance in 1911 at His Majesty’s Theatre, where tho fund was inaugurated. There appeared on tho stage before their Majesties the cream of the acting profession in England, but many of them played tiny pads. Jack Hul•bert had only four lines to speak; Gerald dn Manner, George Grossmith, and Edith Evans had three linos eacli; Joseph Coyne had not a word to say. Matheson Lang went through all E. Temple Thurston’s impressive play as tho Jew, but in each successive phase of it he was supported by a different leading woman. First there was Hntin Briton, not Gladys Cooper, then Fay Compton, and Edna Best. Such a production is probably unique in the annals of the English stage.

SCBEENLAHD JOTTINGS A new British film, ‘ A Daughter in Revolt,’ was shown in London recently, and proved most disappointing. “It would bo very interesting to know why one of tho big American film companies is distributing this film and another,' ‘ Tho House of Marney,’ which is possibly worse,” says an English writer. “ if either of them is ever shown in the United States—where, apparently, only the worst British films go—it will take a long time to persuade an American audience that anything good for the cinema can come out of England.” ‘ Evening Clothes,’ tho screen version of tho Seymour Hicks play, ‘.The Manin Dress Clothes,’ is shortly to bo, seep in New Zealand. In it Adolphe Monjou scored an outstanding success in London recently. The film is said to provide him with that polished type of humor so suited to his particular stylo. Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer couetmplates the production of a series of two-reel pictures in technicolor, dealing with dramatic incidents from international history. They claim that the pictures will be treated in a, highly distinctive fashion, and that powerful casts with foremost directors will bo employed in their production. Tho Govorpmenfc Publicity Department, in its endeavor to advert iso New Zealand overseas, Inns concluded arrangements for tho screening of Now Zealand scenic films on tho transatlantic liners of the Canadian Pacific Company. The pictures are shown in Auckland regularly, and for some time have won high praise for their superb photo graph,v and excellent production. Reginald Denny’s latest picture for Universal, ‘The Cheerful Fraud.’ is to bo shown hero shortly. It is directed by William A. Setter, and it is tho sixth consecutive" picture, that ho has directed for Donny. Director and comedian are rapidly becoming ono of tho most popular comedy teams in American pictures, even though ono of the pair does not actually appear on tho screen. Lois Moran and Jack Mulhall were quietly married not so long ago. Although Mulhall already has a wife and son, ho was persuaded to take another matrimonial partner for the duration of Herbert Brenon’s latest Paramount production, ‘ God Gave Mo Twenty Cents.’ Jack plays tho part of a sailor, and Lois is tho sailor’s sweetheart. Lya de Putti and William Collier, jnn., complete tho featured quartet. Florence Vidor as "a comedienne is the rare treat offered by tho Paramount picture, ‘ Afraid to Love,’ in which she is starred. Always anxious to demonstrate to the public that she is extremely versatile, Miss Vidor has suddenly switched from powerfully dramatic and emotional roles to light comedy, in which, it is declared, sho is a sensation. Glive Brook is her leading man, and tho cast includes Norman Trevor, Jocelyn Leo, and Arthur Lubin.