STAGE AND SCREEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 August 1928, Page 9

STAGE AND SCREEN

The first appearance of the VanbrughBouuicault company at the new Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, last week was marked by the production of "The High Road," by Frederick Lonsdale, author of "Aren't We All?" aud other successful plays. Irene Vanbrugh appeared as Lady Minster, Dion Boucicault/as Lord Ci'iiivle. • .> -

"Remember your consonants—let them ring out Hko pistol shots!" Thus Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson at a gathering recently addressed by him in Lonrlou. "It has been forgotten," he added, "that the letter Mi' in words like 'which,' 'when,' 'where,' and 'whilo' is a very trenchant sound." Leon Gordon's Wellington season has been all too short, for after a few nights of the thrilling play, "The Trial of Mary Dugan," tho court was cleared for tho boudoir scones of "Scandal," that snappy Cosmo Hamilton play that suffered nothing by revival. Mr Leon Gordon's art is most versatile, for it is a far step from the rolo of persecuting counsel in a murder play to that of pseudo husband to a spoiled society girl. Ho plays both with consummate skill and too, has tho assistance of a charming lady in Miss May Collins. Mario Tempest ,the brilliant comedienne who had such triumphant tours in Australia and New Zealand, .has arranged with Alban Limpus and Barry O'Brien to appear in London in "Passing Brompton Road," a new play from the pen of Jovan Brandon-Thomas. The Williamson Royal Comic Opera company is playing at Christchurch tonight to mark the re-opening of the Theatre Royal. Miss Beppie de Vnes has been acclaimed in the south for the same undeniable talents and fascination that won for her so many friends in Australia and in the North Island. The company will play "Student Prince" and "Pompadour" in Christchurch in a theatre that has been undergoing extensive alterations so that the full benefit rf the lavish Williamson presentation may redound to patrons. Seldom have such magnificent productions been staged in New Zoaland as the Royal Comic Opera selections, and it was indeed a happy choice by the firm to send Miss de Vnes, James Liddy, Arthur Stigant, Frank Webster and co-stars across to us. The company appearing in "When London Sleeps" at the Grand Opera House, Sydney, numbers several New Zealanders in its ranks. Jack Mayer is one of them. The possessor of a fine baritone voice and an excellent stage presence, Mr Mayer has to his credit eight years' touring experience as a musical comedy artist in his native counIn Sydney ho appeared with: Maurice Moscov'itch in "The Ringer," and with Louis Bennison in "The Road to Rome. He ajso took Frank Neil's part when the actor-manager moved to, Melbourne. MiMayer is quite successful in his present part, that of the Hon. Bertie Broomhead, an unsophisticated scion of the lauded aristocracy, who is "up in London seeing life," which, of course, means seeing tho wrong sort of life. Picturesque haunts of sailors on shore leave in the romantic atmosphere ot those ports of the world of which everyone has dreamed—in the Argentine, Holland, Panama, China, the Philippines, and obscure harbours of the Old World —form the background for "A Girl a Every Port." Besides carrying with it all of the glamour and romance of the average sea tale, it is filled with thrills and comedy situations, and has the unusual distinction of having eigbt_leading women ; one for each port. Victor McLaghlen is featured in the leading Tho screen version of Alexandre Dumas's famous novel, "The Count of Monte Cristo," will shortly be released in Auckland. In the title role is seen John Gilbert, giving a wonderful performance, and associated .with him, as Mercedes, is Reriee Adoree. Estelle Taylor also has a prominent, part, while Monte Cristo's three deadly enemies, the three men who were instrumental in confining him in the dreadful fortress of Chateau D'lf, are all made realistic villains. Tho story of "Monte Cristo" is primarily one of revenge, and is told with power, subtlety and intense drama. Romance is permitted to appear, but for the main, it is concerned" with Monte Cristo's .relentless pursuit of vengeance. George Bancroft plays &e part of a detective, forsaking his usual semi-vil-lainous role, in "The Dragnet," his latest picture.' It is interesting to note that ten detectives from the Los Angeles police force were used as extras in the production. Following "The Dragnet," Bancroft will star in "The Docks cf New York," an original screen story by John Monk Saunders. Josef von Sternberg will direct. Dolores del Rio has just celebrated her twenty-second birthday and the formal receipt of her divorce decree from James del Rio. Dolores's three years in Hollywood have been spectacular as careers go, even in that magio city. She has made 13 pictures and is a star, under contract to make six more pictures for that company in tho next-three years. She also has a contract with a.phonograph company to make records with her soprano voice, both in English, and Spanish. After . completing her present picture, "Revenge," she expects to take, a'holiday in Europe. Ronald Colman is shortly, to start work on "The Tale of Two Cities. Maurice Costello played Sidney Carton, Colman's role, for Vitagraph in a production made many years ago, with Norma Talmadge.