FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 20422, 1 March 1930, Page 21

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

[By LOITERER.]

Mr Ernest Lotinga, tlie London comedian who opened his New Zealand season at His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, last Saturday night, must have been delighted with the reception ho had from the first New Zealand audience before which he has played. The piece presented was ‘ August, 1914,’ a screamingly funny comedy-farce in nine scenes, ancl it proved to be a real masterpiece of amusement. With Mr Lotinga comes a remarkably strong company, several of whose members are new to New Zealand. The fun in ‘ August, 1914,’ is of a boisterous nature, and should make a particularly strong appeal to New Zealand andiences._ It is essentially English, as its title implies, and it comes as a welcome relief to the surfeit of American productions, dramatic, musical, and comic, which have occupied the boards of New Zealand for such a long time. When first produced in London, 4 August, 1914,’ was voted one of the funniest comedy-burlesques ever produced, and it is safe to say that it will be as popular in New Zealand as it was in the big metropolis. After the Auckland season a provincial tour will be undertaken, the Wellinrton season opening in April, with a comprehensive South Tslmd tour to follow.

It is almost certain that the remarkable boy violinist, Yehudi Menuhin,.who has startled the whole world by his wonderful performances, will be heard shortly in Australia under the management'of J. and N. Tait, and, it is to be sincerely hoped, in New Zealand. Yehudi Menuhin has been acclaimed as the greatest genius the world has ever produced. He has been described as the world’s greatest musical phenomenon. Twelve years of age—an ago when the cleverest child players are but learning the rudiments of violin playing—he electrified the world’s beat critics by his playing of the three great concertos of the three great composers —Each, Beethoven, and Brahms. He seems to know by instinct all that other great violin virtuosi have taken years to learn, and his technique astonishes in the same degree as his emotional powers.

The inquiry is continuing iuto the strange claim of an Hungarian family, named Navratil, to the estates of the French dancer. Gaby Deslys, who left her fortune to the poor of Marseilles. The Hungarian family claims that Gaby Deslys was their daughter, and that, therefore, the money she left belongs to them. M. Aneline, who is inauiring into the claim, states that two people testify that Gaby Deslys was known as 44 Gabriello Cairo,' and_ that she was born at Marseilles. A witness who did not lose sight of her from her birth to the day of her death, has declared that, except for a little English, she knew no other language than French, which she spoke with a slight Marseilles accent. An important witness is Harry Pilcer, the dancing partner of Gaby Deslys. He first made her acquaintance in New York in 1913, and had frequently visited the 4 Caire family, and had noticed the affection which united the .amily He. too, affrras that his dancing partner spoke only French and a little English Letters written by the daughter of M. Navratil, who was an artist, were shown to Harry Pilcer, but he did not recognise in them the handwriting of Gaby Deslys, but he handed to the magistrate a letter yhich he had received from his partner, and the handwriting in this, it is alleged, does not correspond with the other letters produced.

Jottings on flie people of the Stage and Screen and on the latest recorded Music.

William- Iloughan, after a short tour of parts of Canada, has gone to Holly wood to make talkies.

Kitty Reidy, an Australian girl, is principal girl in the pantomime 4 Puss in Boots,’ at the Lyceum Theatre, London.

More revivals promised to Sydney after 4 The Belle of Now York,’ are ‘The Country Girl,’ 4 Gipsy Love,’and ‘ Our Miss Gibbs.’ If these do well, then 4 The Girls of Gotten burg ’ may follow.

Gladys Moncrieff went back to her native Cairns recently for the first time since she mad© good on the stage, when 4 Rio Rit.a T was touring the north. She was given a public reception and a garden party, and, finding herself incapable of making a stereotyped speech, she charmed her old friends and new by saying: 44 1 can’t speak to you, so I’ll sing to vou instead.”

The recent London season has been marked by a wealth of revivals. In one week, Mr Shaw’s 4 Arms and the Man,’ Mr Jerome’s 4 The Passing of the Third Floor Back,’ Mr Thomas’s 4 Charley’s Aunt,’ Marlowe’s ‘ When Knights Were Bold,’ and Sir Charles Havvtree’s 4 The Private Secretary,’, were presented. A. A. Milne has adapted Kenneth Graham’s novel, 4 The Wind in the Willows,’ to the stage as 4 Toad of Toad Hall,’ and it is being shown in the English provinces prior to a London presentation. The return to Dunedin of Jim Gerald is meeting with the whole-hearted approval of theatre-goers, for His Majesty’s Theatre has been seating some very large audiences during tho past week. To-night Jim Gerald opens in 4 Oh! Mum,’ and this talented company will also appear in ‘ The Naughty Earl, 1 and 4 Honeymoon Girl.’ Both these shows are absolutely new to New Zealand, Gerald having added them to his repertoire since his last visit to this city The company will complete its season here with these two shows, as it is booked to open at Melbourne on March 29. There is to bo a benefit week for distressed actors at the Savoy Theatre. Sydney, commencing on March 8, and to continue for one week for certain, and longer if the public will give their support. A. C. Winn, secretary of the Actors’ Federation, has the matter in hand, and he is negotiating for some play that will draw the public on its own merits, and he says that there will be at least four big stars in it and ever so many satellites. It will be a dramatic play, but there will be several musical items between the acts. One hundred and fifty pounds have already been received for seats to' be put down as sold, though this money is actually in the nature of a gift. One revival that invites the special attention of low-brows with a musical ear is 4 The Student Prince,’ states a l.ondon paper. . The principals—Miss Marie Burke. Miss Stella Browne, Mr Donald Mather, and Mr Harry Brindle --can really act and really sing. The heartiness of the German student chorus can readily be overlooked the moment they begin to sing, which tbev do frequently and with superb elan. The comedian (Mr George Hassell! is naturally funny in a ripe Gil bertinn manner. The story, being

• Old ' Heidelberg,’ has enough uniforms and sentiment, royalty and romance, tor a dozen musical plays. With such tuneful, swinging melodies, and the best singing in London, 4 The Student Prince ’ deserves a full measure of success.

William Faversham, the famous star, now on his way to Australia to appear under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, has long been recognised as one of the greatest actors of the age, and one of the most popular “ matinee idols ” the stage has ever known. He was born in England, and made his first appearance in London, and, though most of his career has been in the United States, he spends all of his spare time possible at his English home in Surrey. Plays in which he has starred, and which are well known to Australian theatregoers, are ‘ Under the Red Robe,’ ‘Diplomacy,’ ‘The Squaw Man,’ ‘ Leah Kleschna,’ * The Mask and the Face,’ ‘Lord and Lady Algy,’ ‘Jim the Penman,’ and ‘ The Silver Fox. Mr Alfred Cunningham, the English baritone, who established a firm reputation with the original ‘ Scarlet Troubadors ’ cmpany, under the direction of Edward Branscqmhe, has again rejoined his old chief, and is singing operatic excerpts with the Westminster Glee Singers. This brilliant combination, which renectly concluded a return season at Dunedin, and is now touring the Bay of Plenty and Rotorua districts, is to give a series of farewell performances in the Town Hall Concert Chamber. Wellington, prior to its departure for England, via Australia and South Africa. Two new boj sopranos have replaced Masters Douglas Bartrip and Sydney Walls in the juvenile section. These lads have returned to England to take up their studies for their future vocations, fortified'by two years’ travel over almost half the world. Mr Charles Draper, baritone, has also returned to London to fulfil an engagement contracted for in 1927. Robert Roberts and his revue company have done steady business in a small way for twenty-one weeks on end at Manly, with a change of programme every week (writes tho Auckland ‘Star’s’ Sydney correspondent). It is a sound little company of hard workers, and in a quiet way is making a success of its end of the business. Manly has “ got the habit ” now. and they may bo there all the summer. Charles Zoli, who used to be with Mario Burke in ‘ Wildflower,’ is one of them. Arline Paterson is another, and Robert Roberts is a host in himself.

Miss Gladys Mnocrieff, who recently returned under the Fuller management in ‘ Rio Rita,’ has been engaged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for leading roles in comic opera revivals which will in J elude ' The Maid of the Mountains,’ ‘ The Merry Widow,’ and ‘ Katinka.’ Sir George Tallfs, managing director of the firm, says that these plays aro to be revived in response to insistent public demand, and Miss Moncrieff says she is delighted to appear in such a repertoire. It is said that her salary is the highest ever paid to an Australian artist by the Williamson management.

The London season of the musical comedy, ‘ Love Lies,’ concluded last month. With Mr Stanley Lupino, Miss Madge Elliott, and Mi Cyril Ritchard >n the leading roles, the play ran for over a year, and it will shortly' be presented in Australia by the Williamson management, with Mr Clem Dawe in the leading comedy part. It will be produced by Mr Eric Edgley. In London, ‘ Love Lies ’ has been succeeded by another musical comedy, ‘ Darling, 1 Love You.’ and if this finds public favour Mr Edgley has already made the necessary arrangements to secure it for production in Australia and New Zealand.