THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

Campaign Against Broadcasting. A further step in the campaign against •he broadcasting of plays from theatres lias just been taken by the Theatrical Managers' Association. England. which has asked its members, including the controllers of a hundred leading theatres in the provinces, to refuse to book any plav that has been broadcast, and to make all future contracts conditional upon the play not being broadcast. Most of the provincial managers have promised To take this step, and it is expected that »>thcrs will follow their example. The Society of West End Theatre Managers lias also reaffirmed its decision against theatre broadcasting. 1 'lay era ft s, Ltd.. who control "Patricia." the plav at His Majesty's Theatre. London, of which the second act was broadcast recently, have received letters from Mr. .John Hart, controlling several North of England theatres, and Mr. Philip Rodway, controlling two Birmingham theatres, stating that they intend to carry out the association's request. It is claimed, however, that scores ol letters have been received lioin listeners-in .stating that they intend to see the play as the result of hearing the broadcast. The president ol the 'theatrical .Managers' Association stated:—"Tin; replies received show that there will be a general refusal of the big provincial theatres to accept a. play that lias been broadcast. The provinces will become almost closed to a broadcast play. We admit that if a plav is broadcast there may be a temporary advantage to that one play, but it it became the custom to broadcast plays it would be ruinous to the theatres. People would hear their plays from the fire.Mdc. In this new move the whole theatrical world will stand together. Plays and Players. Mr. John Farrell, manager of the tour of Mr. Dion Boueie&ult and Miss Irene Vanbrugh has just received a handsome silver cigarette casket lined with greenstone from Mr. Boucicault. It bears the inscription: "lo John tarred, souvenir, N.Z.. 1924. From Dion and Irene Boucicault." Mr. Mark Hambourg. the pianist, having sprained his left ankle, could use only his right foot for the pedals when he played on an afternoon a few weeus ago at the 'Queen's Hall, London. He was carried from his house at. Regent s Bark to his motor-car, and at the hall was wheeled on to the platform in a bath chair, while the audience cheered. Later, Sir. Harnbourg motored to Maidstone to play at another concert. Fuller's Vaudeville and Revue has already become a family resort at- its new home in the King's Theatre, where it. is being presented exactly as formerly in the Opera House. On Monday, for bis ninth week in Auckland, Mr. George Storey will present another screamingly funny revue entitled "The Prince of Ostein!." which affords the popular little comedian even .more opportunities than usual for funmaking. In the vaudeville section several j new actors will make their appearance, j including Maxwell C'arew, the famous impersonator, and \ ictor Burke, a baritone of note- • Isadora Duncan, the famous dancer. ; •who is living in Berlin, recently declared that, she was at- the ond oL her resources, did not know how to pay her rent or ; where her next meal was coming from, and threatened, in order to raise money. : 10 publish 1000 love-letters which she re- j reived while in her prime. "I have no j compunction about publishing the love- j letters." she stated. "I have dir'.overed ; Since I fell into trouble that 1 have no friends. Nobody sticks to yon when you are in difficulties, so why should I hesitate about- publishing these letters '! They are going to ruin a lot of families, but why , should I worry V There must be very many who so far i have not had an opportunity of hearing j the delightful singer, Miss Ethel Osborn, i who comes to say good-bye, to New Zea- : land audiences in a series of concerts com- ; meneirig in the I'own Hall early next ( month. Those who have heard her will , remember the wonderful range and de- j lightfu! purity of her voice, but since she was last here Miss Osborn has acquired much greater experience and t lie voice has improved wonderfully. Ihe range now extends to a legitimate B flat altissimo, and there is no record of a voice ex- . ceedim- this for over a century and a hall, j Allied "to this is Miss Osborn's charming j personality. which has made a host of I friends throughout the Dominion. Very ; interesting programmes are promised. | In rc .~-pon.se to many requests from j clergymen fhat during Hie performance of the "Wandering Jew at the New Theatre. London, curtain calls should be ■ avoided on account oi the solemnity cu , the subject, Sir. Matheson Lang decided, to omit them wherever they obtruded on the story of the pia-y. ''The question of; curtain calls is one which must always occupy the attention of both actor and manager," said Mr. Lang. "ft is true thai they sometimes completely destroy, the smooth running of the play. It, is so in 'The Wandering Jew.' At the end. of'the first act the heroine lies dying on j her bed, and the Jew, who has just spat i oft Christ, has been cursed with eternal fart hi v life. It is a solemn occasion, j What therefore could be more out of place i than for the heroine to rise from the dead and walk in front of a curtain to bow j and smile to the audience?" " A.lice O'Brien." the leading part in j "The O'Brien Girl," Hugh J. Waid's brilliant musical comedy to be staged at J the Opera House on March 1. will be j played by Miss Mamie Watson, a fascin- | at ing English star with the longest of sue- j cesses to her credit. Mr. Ward scoured ( the whole of England and America before he selected Miss Watson for this import- I ant role. " She is an ideal type," says j Mr. Ward, " and one of the most charm- j ing personalities I have ever seen on the j stage. She. has had great, experience in j musical comedy and is well equipped for j this class of work. She has a pleasing voice and is a delightful dancer, and will I undoubtedly become a firm favourite in Auckland. For two years preceding her Australian tour Miss Watson was leading { lady with Mr. Seymour Hicks at the Gaiety Theatre, London, where she won I many triumphs." Three productions will; be staged during the Auckland season of Hugh J. Ward's Company of comedians: " The O'Brien Girl," " Tangerine " and Little Nellie Kelly." While Barrio keeps a four years' stage silence. While Bernard Shaw is seldom in the bill, while Pinero, Jones, Sutro, Carton. and other stalwarts write but occasionally, there is a clear field for the dramatist who wishes to seize fame. Last year the competition was between Somerset: Maugham, who won with "'Our Bettors,'' and lost with " The Camel's Back" ami John Galsworthy, who lost with "The Forest'' but lias done better with "Old English." Perhaps in 1925 neither will carry off (be prize. There are. it it must be remembered, many other play- 1 wright.s of note, however little we have heard of them during the past year. A. A. Milne, John Drink water, St. John Ervine. K. Munro. Arnold Bennett. Edward Kuoblock and Monckton Hoffe are a few of tlio.se v. ho may startle as i any r moment. Frederick Lonsdale, whose "The F'ake." won a fair measure, of success a little while ago. has a number of New York triumphs awaiting their trial in . England. And then there are 1 Harry Wall, the author of "Havoc." and ' Noel Coward, whose, comedies are becom ing a (uit.