THE THEATRE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 May 1925, Page 12

THE THEATRE

PEOPLE, PLAYS AND PICTURE'S,

For six weeks during the filming oj “The Air Mail,” Paramount maintained ii regular daily mail service between the deserted town 01 lMiyome and the nearest railway station, at tioldfieid, eighty miles away. In addition to mail tliey brough in all of the required fresh provisions. \\ arner .Baxter, one or the featured players in me picture, and two other certificated pilots, took turns with the flights.

Paramount’s “Peter Pan” has elevated another girl to stardom. Following swiftly in tne footsteps of Betty Bronson comes Alary Brian, who heads the cast of “The Little French Girl,” which Herbert Brecon is producing.

Universal has purchased a special production, “The Home-maker/’ by Dorothy Canfield. This was one of the “best sellers” of the last six months. The author is extremely well known in America as the translator of Papini’e “Life of Christ.” Several of her novels have already found their way to the screen.

Allan Wilkie has recently added “Two Gentlemen of Verona” to his Shakespearian repertory, which now twenty-one of the poet’s works. The actor-manager has made out a programme wherein he intends to produce two more plays annually for eight years, aiid in that way to reach the goal of his own ambition and of the public desire to stage the entire list of the bard’s creations. The new two productions he has in view are “Measure for Measure” and “Coriolanus.” It is considered probable by the Adelaide and Melbourne Press that “Two Gentlemen of Verona” lias not been staged in Australia since the sixties. It is rarely performed in England in the regular way, though doubtless it has found a place at the Shakespeare Festivals.

Franz Lehar, author of “The Merry Widow” and Gipsy Love,” is to have his “Frasquita” presented in London soon, with Josie Collins in the title role.’ The score is a brilliant one/and includes a waltz song, with castanet effects. Lehar is putting the final touches to his next operetta, “Paganini,” the “book” of which is founded upon incidents in the life of the famous violinist. For his next work.Lehar has chosen the play “Romance,” which had some success in Sydney and Melbourne with Madge Fabian in the principal part.

Australia’s old theatrical friend, Robert Courtneidge, has got hold of a very big success in lan Hay’s comedy, “The Sport of Kings,” which he has been running at the Savoy, London, since September last, says Melbourne Punch. In the cast is daughter Rosaline, who hails Sydney at her birthplace. Cicely, the elder Courtneidge girl, is nowadays a star of revue. With her husband Jack Hulbert, she is drawing crowds to the Appollo jn a mixture called “By the Way.”

“I don’t think that the motion pictire will ever supplant the drama,” said Air. Guy Bates Post to a Alelbourne interviewer. They are totally dissimilar,’ and their appeal is quite different. Moreover, the film scenario, as a rule, is an ephemeral creation that is not to be taken too seriously from the point of view of dramatic value. The motion picture has, to a large extent, created a public all of its own, but there as many people to whom the spoken word on the stage can never give way in preference to the silent shadows on the screen. As a matter of fact, drama js as popular as ever, jf not more so, and the standard is getting higher.”

A peculiar feature of “The Green Goddess” is that there is only one female character in the play who speaks. This is Lucilla Orespin, played by Nell Carter. One other female role is that of the Ayah, represented by Miss Isabel Wilford, who, however, is eloquent in her silence.

Frank Tuttle has completed the production of “A Kiss in the Dark.” It features Adolphe Menjou, Lillian Rich, and Aileen Pringle. The story is based on Frederic Lonsdale’s stage hit, “Aren’t We All?” in which Cyril Maud scored a tremendous success. The screen adaptation was written bv Towsend Martin, who also prepared the script for Bebe Daniels’s latest film farce, “Miss Bluebeard.” “A Kiss in the Dark” was filmed partly in Cuba, the director taking a company of nineteen players and studio technicians on location in Havana, where they secured many beautiful tropical backgrounds.

A new theatrical company has been formed in Melbourne with a capital of £25,000, and registered as Australian Musical Production Pty., Ltd. The company has obtained the performing rights of Australasia of the revues, “Snap,” “Puss-Puss,” and “Pot Luck,” which have bee n successful at the Vaudeville Theatre, London. Those revues have been composed by Kenneth Duffield, of Adelaide, in collaboration with Dion Titheradge (another Australian), who • lias written the sketches and many of the lyrics. A lease of the Palace Theatre has been obtained from Hugh J. Ward Theatres, Ltd., and the company will present as its first production the revue “Snap” at au early date. The cast*, will include Kitty ' Rekly ands£>Howett Worster.

Betty Balfour in “Squibs’ Honeymoon,” her last “Squibs” picture is drawing crowds to the picture theatres on the Paris boulevards. The press unanimously praises this film for its particular gaiety and clever production.

Those who . have flown in an aeroplane, those who have vet to make their first flight, and those who have vowed never to risk their necks in one, will find an overflowing measure of mii-tli in “Going Up,” Douglas MacLean’s screen adaptation of the musical comedy success. The funniest moments of “Going Up” come as they should at the finish, when Mr. George MaeLean, posing as the celebrated aviator author, is forced to fly a machine against a famous French .aviator.

The great Anglo-laughing success (presented by arrangement with Geo. M. Cohan) “So This is London,” tells how an American family thought it knew all about the English; the English family though it had nothing to learn about the Americans —until Cupid took a hand and threw them both together. It is said to he the funniest play in years.

Coming along this wav shortly, under the direction of the big firm of J. C. Williamson Ltd., the actor of universal fame on both the stage and screen, Thurston Hall, will be seen --ogether with his own company in the big Anglo-American laughing success, “So This is London,” This play will

serve to .introduce the local theatregoers for the first time Gladys We lister, Leslie Barry, Reginald Carrington, associated with whom will he an exceptionally interesting cast, including Mary MacGregor, Aisla 1 Grnhame, Madge North, Joan Crosslev, Muriel Crane, Carle-ton Stuart. Felix Bland, Kenneth Brampton, Herbert Leigh, and Roy Steyne.