The Film and Stage

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

The Film and Stage

“ Old Pro

; Mr Dan Flood, the well-known enl x rtainor of Auckland, will leave on a holiday trip to Sydney next 'week. For the opening night of the latest Moscoviteh thriller, “Th.e Silent House,” in Sydney every seat in th) theatre was booked.

J .Tack Hylton’s Band, well known to j gramophone owners, is on its way out I from London for a tour of Australia I and New Zealand. .... I “The Laughing Optimist.” will give way in Sydney to-night to “Mr What’s His Name.” Percy Hutchinson plays the part taken in London by Seymour Hicks. * * * , The Leon Clorilon company is playing . a very short season in Auckland — .four nights of “The Trial of Mary i Dugan,” to be followed by two perI formances of “Scandal.” * * * j ?>lr Godfrey Tearle, the London actor, and Mrs Tearle, who drew ! Ranjit Singh in the Calcutta Sweepi stake sold half of their chance for I £0,700. “The Desert Song,” will be the | next musical comedy undertaken by i the Williamson management. It will ]>robably be done by the Rose Marie Company. * * * “Mr Robert Geddes makes a breezy young lover,” says a London paper in referring to the New Zealander’s appearance in the new musical play. “Marjolaine,” at the Gaiety. “Hallelujah,” sung by May Beatty, is eno of the outstanding hits of “Hit the Deck” in Melbourne. May’s daughter Hinemoa (“Bunny”) gives a middy dance in this show. ]‘at Hanna’s Diggers recently gave a “New Zealanders’ Nnight ” at Perth, where tho company has beim playing for just on six months. Stan Lawson recently rejoined the show. * * * I Mr Noel Coward the writer of the book, lyrics and music of “This Year of Grace,” the revue at the. London Pavilion, is to play the lead in it when it opens in New York. Miss Beatrice Lillie is to play the leading woman’s role. “The. Face at the Window.” will give way at the Grand Opera House. Sydney, to-night, to a revival of another old-tinver, “Robbery Under Arms.” Mr Lynwood a recent arrival from South Africa, will play Captain Starlight.

Marie Burke Gets Divorce. Marie Burke, who was in New Zealand with “Wildflower” and “Katja,” and is now appearing at Drury Lane, London in “The Showboat,” in an undefended suit was granted a degree nisi for th e dissolution of her marriage, on the ground of her husband’s misconduct. Evidence was given that the husband, John Burke, the well-known tenor, had not supported her since 1924.

Poor Season in New York. The New York Sun publishes a review of the present theatrical season, listing 200 now productions and revivals. These are classified as follows:—Hits 36 moderate successes 22, failures 142. Almost half the sue 1 cesses are musical plays.

The “In-Law” of Ex-Kaiser. Alexander Zoubkoff, th<» Russian waiter whose marriage to a sister of the ex-Kaiser caused a sensation throughout Europe, is reported to have signed a contract to appear at a Montmarte music hall. k ll<* will be seen in fancy dances and will !.e l-illed as “The Kaiser’.brot her-in-la w. ” * * * S'trclla Wilson ami James Hay, formerly of thv Gilbert am! Sullivan Opera Company, are appearing in the prologue to the film. “The Garden of Allah,” at th c Regent Theatre, Sydney. ?.Ii s Wilson sings “-Uy Hero,” mid Air Hay’s numbers are “Char-m.-iinc,” and “Laugh Clown, Laugh.” Mr Ward<* Morgan is acting as stage manager of “The Patsy,” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Mr Morgan originally came to Australia with the J. C. Williamsen production of “Th? Farmer’s Wife ” an I subsequently played the juvenile lend with Marie Burke in “Katja.” It was while travelling from Sydney to Brisbane with this (•oinjiany that he was injured in the railway accident at Abeiab eii. After his recovery lie appeared in comedy, musical comedy and drama. * * * Enol Gets £l4OO a Week. l.eon Errol has been booked for a brief tour in the picture houses, says an American paper. He will get £l4OO a week, according to reports, doing an ;;ct of "(•(lies from “Yours Truly.” Amateur Activities. The Napier Operatic Society’s production of “The Arcadians” this week was described by a local paper as “a brilliant, success.” Mr Theo Tiezi e was producer. The Ha worn musical and elocutionary competitions opened in the Opera House on Monday last. There were 77 classes and 650 entries were receiv ed. The adjudicators were: Mu. ic Mr John Bishop, Wellington; elocution, M ,- Farquhar Young Christchui ch ; dancing, Miss E. McKenzie-Forbes, Palmerston North. It is probable that the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society will go into recess. It seems that the band parts of “Katinka,” “’The Arcadians” and one or two other musical comedies

the society had in mind are not available in time-. A Palmerston North writer says: Whiy not a revival of one of the following:—“San Toy.” “Tho Geisha,” “The Cingalee,” “A Country Girl”? They are all tuneful and colour full enough and probably many of thc company know the choruses and solos. Therefore, three months would be sufficient tim e for rehearsing. Theba nd parts and sufficient scenery for camouflage effects should be available.