THE THEATRE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 29 August 1925, Page 16

THE THEATRE

PEOPLE, PLAYS AND PICTURES

Jessie Bartlett, New Zealand contralto, is making several appearances around some of the Sydney suburban concerts of late. For some time this talented vocalist was particularly successful in broadcasting.

Marie Burke has achieved a notable success in “Wildflower” at Melbourne. It is understood that “The firm” are at present making arrangements for other musical comedy successes that would be suitable for Miss Burke.

The Te Kuiti Operatic Society is busijy rehearsing Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Patience” (for production in November.

“The Farmer’s "Wife” is one of the most successful plays in London. \\ hen the . last mail left it had reached its 600Jh performance.

Two important artists who will visit Australia in 1927 are Dussolina Gianim, a soprano who has made a rapid rise to fame on the other side of the world, and Richard Crooks, a young Irishi-American tenor. _ This singer’s professional career did not begin i n earnest until 1922-23.. He is making rapid headway, and some regard him as a second, John McCormack.

In. Melbourne. “No, No, Nanette” has proved, a huge success, and the Hugh J. Ward Company considers it the best musical comedy the company lias had. It will be the next Ward production to be sent to New Zealand.

Mr. Haagen Holenberg, the eminent Danish pianist, is due to arrive in Wellington early in October, on an extended) recital tour through New Zealand. Mr. Holenberg is a pianist of great; power and. brilliancy, and is possessed of a wonderful technique.

Mr. William Heughan, the Scottish singer, gave three final concerts in Sydney last week. He proceeds, via Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and the Fax- Fast, to America.

Ella Shields, whose popularity is still as big as ever, has secured several new numbers with which she is meeting with very big success in London and its environs.

Master Pictures will release through, out Australia and New Zealand Ernst Lubitsch’s latest special production, for Warner Bros., “Kiss Me Again,” a comedy-drama of domestic love and life. 'Mari© Prevost, Monte Blue Clara Bow, John Roche, and Willard Louis head the exceptional cast.

Pauline Garon put in two years at hard labo.ur on the stage before Paramount signed her for “Adam’s Rib. She is 5ft r lin small, weighs 1051 b. She is being featured by Warner Brothers in a forthcoming Master picture, “Rose of the World,” with Allan Forrest,

Mr. Albert H. Baile, -who concreted the 1924-25 tour of the Newcastle Steel Works Band, has announced Ins intention of conducting a second world’s tour, which will begin in September. The band will be known as the “Australian Silver Band,” and Avi.ll compete for the £2OOO gold shield at Belle Vue, Manchester, the Empire championship contest at Halifax, England (both championships von by the Newcastle Steel Works Band in 1924), and the Crystal Palace (London) championship and 1000-guinea trophy.

Howard Chester, said to lie a New Zealander, is touring the East with a revne company. He is said to be identical with Mr. Charles Howarde, a son of a well-known performer of the 90’s. ‘

“Rewi’e Last Stand' ’ had an exceptionally hfig season in Auckland. It augurs well for future productions by MaSari Wiao* Flilims, Ltd., the purely Auckland province company who glaunely enabled .the picture to be made. Definite dates have not yet been fixed for Hjawera, but will be shortly.

Than George Gee no more popular comedian has been seen in the Dominion for many years. Mr. Gee came originally engaged by :the J. C. Williamson firm for six months. He has stayed five years, and looks like stopping i n Australia indefinitely. His first success was in “The Lilac Domino,” in which play his extraordinary dancing capability and refreshing eccentric humour instantaneously placed him in the front rank of popularity. In “Kid Boots,” the coming new J. C. Williamson musical play, lie will be seen as the golf caddie, Master Kid Boots.

Noah Beery, one of the best known ebaratlter-actorfti in •sifeht drama, recently signed a new contract with Famour Players, giving Paramount 'the. exclusive control of Berry’s screen activities for a period of years. Beery- is at present at work on Zane Grey’s “Wild Horse Mesa,” but will appear in tlie screen version of another of Zane Grey’s works at an efirly date—“ The Thundering Herd.” This picture Ims been booked, fop the De Luxe Theatre in Wellington, and the Strand Theatre, Auckland, as tbs special Paramount Week attraction for those two theatres

Theatre-goers are looking forward to the local production cf “The Toreador” musical comedy, with its tunefn] choruses and so’os. Under the experienced producer, Mr Theo Trezise, it should be well up< to last year’s standard. Mis Wildish, who plays the part of Teresa, n Spanish revolutionary, has played the same role in other societies, and is reported to be equal to the professional standard. Miss Machin, who was so successful as Mnrv in “Our Miss Gibbs,” has the part of Susan, a florist. It is a part that suits her even better than Mary. Of the men, the leading comedy part of Sammy Gigg is in the capable hands of Mr R. Vivian, who is well known to local audiences. Mr Hessell has a fine baritone voice, and takes the part of “The Toreador,” and some very fine so’os fall to his lot. Mr Ollerenshaw has arranged for a complete orchestra of 12 instrumentalists, who are now in active rehearsal. The season is of five nights.

“The Dressmaker From Paris,” an early Paramount release, is said to be the very last word, in faslnon films. Fourteen mannequins chosen from world centres of wealth and fashion tor their surpassing beauty wear luxurious gowns and costumes, created specially for the picture by one of the foremost designers of Paris, brought expressly for this purpose. “The Dressmaker From Paris” also brings back to the Screen, Leaifarioe Joy,, who has been res tin for some time after her strenuous work in “The Ten Commandments.”

Probably the greatest, fastest and most exciting legitimate ever seen on anv screen is woven into the story and action of Ha void Lloyds latest feature comedy, 'Girl »ny. Thrills and dramatic tension, as well as lauo-hs galore are mingled together to help make this wild pursuit with Llovd as tli e central figure. Lloyd plays the role of a small tow n tailor s apprentice in “Girl Shv,” who is painfully bashful whenever he is m the presence of the fair sex. Jobna Ralston is seen playing opposite him.

There ,iis 200 people concerned in the coming J. C. "Williamson musical comedy production ; “Kid Boots, which the big firm claim to be the most elaborate production of the kind ever staged in Australasia. There are .M characters in the cast, 12 big scenes, and 38 musical numbers, together with an impressive collection ol ballets, dances, and specialties. Some idea of the elaborate scope or the presenta t-ion is afforded' by- mention of the fact that the chorus and several of the lady principals change their costumes no fewer than 14 times.- One group of show girls wear 16 different frocks _in the play.. It is said that no pantomine ever presented such a least of frocking.

Warner Brothers (annumneed that directors have been assigned for the connpannes which will. make ‘ ‘Hogaai’e Aliev,” “Compromise/’ and “The White Chief/’ three of the Warner Fiortfcv which will be released next season. Warner Rrotthens -will send a Whaling expedition to the coast olf Java te film) scenes for “The Sea Beast,’ the John Barrymore starring vehicle which the company announces will be produced las the most elaborate starring offering so far attempted by the organisation. Two ships have been chartered, .and when arrangements are complete a company of several hundred persons will set out from Los Angeles for the fishing ground's, -where the isea mammoths are most .plentiful.. The expedition will ultimately bhe great whiaili.ng fleet off the coiast or Africa.

An American film producer hais lu,s eye on Josie Melville as a screen star. A well-known picture identity who was in Australia' some time ago saw Josie in “Sally.” An offer has been made to the heroine of “Kid Boots” to forsake the .stage for the (screen, and take qp a big engagement at one of the leading studios in America. But Miss Melville says that even if she could — for She is under contract to J. 0. Williamson, Ltd.—she doesn’t know' that she -would accept.

If plans do not go laistray, you will see Norma Talmadge and Thomas Meighan (as constars in a. picture to be made some time next winter. Tommy probably will not renew his contract with Famous Players-Lasky because Normals husband, Joseph Schenck, lia.s offered him ten thousand dollars • a week for hiis services, just double amount of his present salary. The name of the picture co-starring Norma and Tommy will be “My Woman.”

Lovers of George Gibbs’s popular works will be deLighted to learn of the advent to the screen of “Sackcloth and Scarlet,” which was released in New Zealand by Paramount recently. Alice Terry, who will be remembered for her great work in “The Four Horst 1 men of the Apocalypse,” plays the .leading role. She is supported by an all-star cast of nlay.ers.

“The figures presented to us in relation to Hie cinema industry were bewildering in their immensity.. Carefully tabulated returns of attendances have been kept, and these showed that in England there are no fewer tlhlam 1,076,675,000 'attendances at picture shows in the course of a single year. In the British Isles there were .approx innately 4500 theatres with a- mean seating capacity which, affords accommodation for one in every thirty-seven of the population. On the basis of these figures the entire population of blue U nited Kingdom visits picture shows approxiiniaibely once every fortnight. About 5000 new 'subjects’, were issued each year, and some 70,000,000 feet otf film were running through the projectors of the country each week. ’ —'Report of National Council of Public! Morals. -

Mary Bickford has just completed heir first picture, for 1925. It is “Little Annie Rooney,” ,a.story of the New York slums. Final shots on the picture were made recently, and Miss Piickford at once stated the work of editing and titling which she supervises. carefully. Work on her second picture for tlio year, “Scraps/’ is already under way. it is the story of a baby farm in the marsh lands of the Middle West. It deals- with a group of unfortunate children of which Mary, of course, is the leader. Many comedy touches relieve a somewhat sombre atinaapheie. Miss Fiokfo-rd expects to make a third picture this year.

Douglas Pa.irbd.nks has formed the hialbiifc of presenting at least one innovation in each photoplay. In “The Thief of'Bagdad” he gave ns the cloak of invisibility; in. “Robin Hood” he introduced a bow land arrow.. Now comes “Don Q, Son of Zoirro,” and'in it Mr. Fairbanks presents a. novelty in the mature of an Australian stock whip. With this device, used a« a weapon of defence and offence, lie presents an entirely new bag of bricks. To prepare himself adequately for these stunts, Fairbanks pUkeed himself in the hands of that expert of whip manipulation, “Snowy” Baker, renowned- athlete and isportsmain of Australia,. For many months “Snowy” Baker was Fairbanks',s iinstructor, teaching him ail the rudiments of whip-popping and helping to perfect his skill through practice with the star. In the hands of ia novice, an Australian, stock-whip iis very dangerous (to the novice), but in the hands of an expert it becomes an almost .■invincible weapon, as Fairbanks goes to some length, to demonstrate in several scenes in liiis new picture.