STAGE AND SCREEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 February 1928, Page 4

STAGE AND SCREEN

Miss Marie Ney (Wellington) lias been playing the principal parts in the Robert Atkins Shakespeare Company’s season- at Cairo, which was the result of a special invitation by the Egyptian Government. The Cairo correspondent of “The Morning Post” states that the season has been a great success, and that Miss Ney lias established herself as a firm favourite with the Cairo public. Dame Nellie Melba, has joined J. C. Williamson Ltd. for the grand opera season which is expected to begin at Melbourne at the end of March. The company will be known as the MelbaWilliamson Grand Opera Co. Melba will not sing—except once or twice for charity or special occasions. Her .chief work will he producing, the choice and direction of the chorus, and attention to the hundred and one details of perfect organisation. Miss Jocelyn Yeo Dixon, daughter of Mr and Mrs J. Yeo Dixon, who left New Zealand five years ago to study dancing, was selected as the solo dancer for the Christmas puntomhne, “Queen of Hearts,” at the Lyceum Theatre—a very great honour in view of the keen competition. Miss Dixon, whose stage name is Jocelyn Yeo, has been trained entirely by M. Stanislas Idzikowski, the famous dancer of the Russian ballet, and has herself had the honour of being the first New Zealander to be engaged .by M. Diaghileff for ,liis Russian Ballet Company. Miss Dixon’s first engagement in England was in Idzikowski’s corps de ballet at the Coliseum, and she was also in Madame Karsavina’s company. Direct from the Follies Bergeres, Paris, have come Josephine Head, Albert Hugo, and Ramona—the three sensational specialty dancers who are' now a feature of the musical production, “Queen High,” at Melbourne Theatre Royal. For some years these dancers have been featured in the big revues throughout Europe, and at the Follies Bergeres a special scene was introduced for their turn. This scene was entitled “The Diamond Fan,” the background being, a huge fan upon which were posed six lovely girls. Miss Head is said to be the best-figured dancer on tho Continental stage. She was specially selected by Charles B. Cochran to appear as Ariadne in his big revue, “On With the Dance,” at the London Pavilion. The death took place in Sydney recently of Reuben Hobbs, who' was well-known in New Zealand as an “escapologist” and a handcuff king. He was born at Reefton. His widow and three children reside in Whangarci. A conversation which tho King and Queen had with Mr Fred Kitchen, who conducted the orchestra at Balmoral when “The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands” film was shown there, was related at a conference' of musical directors of Scottish cinemas in Glasgow. The King told Mr Kitchen that he had been particularly struck with the wonderful effects of ships’ bells introduced by the orchestra. The Queen said: “I don’t know how you cinema musicians manage to carry out each scene and situation so successfully. I am perfectly sure films would be very poor entertainment without good anisic.” An Indian shortage was discovered at Hollywood recently when Wallace Fox, directing a drama. of the wide open spaces, sent out a call for redskins and met with few responses. “Miss New Zealand,” Dale Austen is now at Culver City where she will he given her first chance in motion pictures.

Lewis Stone, co-starred with Norman Kerry in "The Foreign Legion,” will next play the male lead in “Freedom of the Press.”