Stage & Screen

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11685, 24 November 1923, Page 13

Stage & Screen

Theatrical Pars and Movie Notes.

THE STAGE “If Winter Conies’’ has pleased theatregoers, and the “Cat and the Canary,” to be presented to-night, should show t)ie members of the talented JO. W. Company at their best. “The Oat and the Canary” broke all known records in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Auckland, and Christchurch. It was for this production that the present company was organised, and the artistsi were specially engaged by Sir George Tallis to portray the special types of character created by the author. Although the dramatic situations are numerous and intensely interesting, there are so many laughs in "The Cat and the Canary” that its comedy scenes alone would assure its success anywhere. Patrons of the Opera House are loud in their praise of the performance of Miss Isobel Wilford (daughter of Mr T. M. Wilford, M.P. for Hutt) in the rather difficult character of Effie in “If Winter Comes.” Miss Wilford showed a fine understanding of the part, and a marked improvement in all the finer points that go to make finished performers. ,With study and application Miss Wilford should go far in the profession she has chosen, and her many friends in Wellington and elsewhere will wish her the best of luck and continued success. Mr A. J. Tait has taken over the management of the New English (“If Winter Comes”) Company, replacing Mr Alex. Wilson, who is to take over the business management of “The Beggars’ Opera” Company. A wonderful singer; a true artist. It is sufficient to say that Lipkovska, the great Russian singer, now touring New Zealand under the management of Mr E. J. Gravestock, is all that has been claimed for her —and more. It may truly be said that die came, the publio heard, and the conquest was hers. One could sing paeans of praise to Lipkovska as a'coloratura soprano of unusual beauty, but at the same time it must not be forgotten that the charming Russian lias more than a carefully cultivated and an exquisitely modulated voice to recommend her. Lipkovska is an unusually clever woman with a wonderful eye for effect, and a fanciful imagination which ihe confidently lets run riot in the delightful costumes which she dons luring a recital unique of its kind. Lipkovska in conventional evening attire, Lipkovska the snow maiden ushering in spring after the long ireary Russian winter, and Lipkovska, > dainty exquisite Early Victorian maid trilling—with rare delicacy and i due sense of decorum for the period >f antimacassers and! horsehair ■ sofas—' rf the lad who “one day in the month )f May” helped her ower “a very high md awkward style,” is always just Lipkovska—a sheer delight. ’ It is to be sincerely hoped that Mr Sravestock will be able to persuade >ur charming visitor to afford Wellington music-lovers another opportunity if hearing her lovely voice and rf feasting their eyea on the beautiful ind ravishing costumes in which she 10 appropriately garbs herself. At His Majesty’s the Fuller proprietary is presenting a splendid bill of fare, which includes revue and vauderille. The programmes are diversified, ind some of the items are a long way ibove the ordinary. George Wallace’s talented company, ,led t jby the clever, romechan, ■ have put on some bright •hows, and with smart dialogue, hunorous situations, catchy songs, lively ihoruses, and tip-top dances of the six Rascals—well, what more could he isked for? ~Lin Smith’s wonderful jazz hand—jin Smith pianist, Sammy Cope drumner, Paul Jeacle saxophone, Dave tferedith trombone, and Arthur Kerlick violinist—is at last in Wellingon, opening at Hie Majesty’s on Monlay. It is said to put all other mulieal jazz combinations right in the lhadow, and in Sydney it created quite i furore. ‘*l have heard jazz before,” vrites Mr Walter Fuller, “but I have »ever heard jazz music such as Lan imith and his merry men play it.” Hugh P. Ward, elder son of Mr and Urn Hugh J, Ward, was married to Hiss Muriel Holdaworth, of Darling Point, on Wednesday, November 21st. the marriage was celebrated at St. (Janice’s Church, Darlinghurst, Sydley, and the reception was held at the lonie of Mr and Mrs Hugh Ward. Joe Valli (comedian) and Stan Lawon (woman impersonator), recently of she Diggers, have arrived in San Franosco. Brightie and Cairlyon, old favourites m the Fuller circuit, have a commerrial business at Bondi Beach, Sydney. Edward Branscombe’s Westminster s!ee Singers are making a farewell tour if New Zealand. “The Beggar’s Opera” will open its tour at Wellington on Deoember Ist. Those comic celebrities, Stiffy and Ho, have been appearing in many splenlid revues in Dunedin, and are now Irm favourites. At latest, Mr Tom Walls, the chief jomedinn of the Australasian “4rca liaiw” Company, was producing a rerue, “Our Liz,” at the Chiswick Emjire (England). Wilkie Bard and Wee Georgie WaTd ire both playing the Keith circuit, U..9.A. “I predicted it, and it has arived (writes James Glover in the Lonlon ‘Stage’)—‘The Blue Hungarian Sand’ at the Grafton Galleries, an orJiestra of eleven ex-enemy aliens in the •mploy of a British concern run by .hree British ex-offioqrs.” Yes, but ihe Musicians’ Union is after them, and ts outski for the Hungarians. Mr Walter Monk, who has been ■head of Williamson’s “If Winter Monies” Company, has gone on to Vuckland to pave the way for Lady Torbes ■ Robertson’s tour of the I)o----ninion. Mr Alex. Wilson replaces Mr llonk with the “If Winter Comes” Company. Rice and Elme, specially engaged >y Sir Benjamin Fuller while in America, are to appear in New Zea and soon. They are horizontal bar irtists and comedians, and have a big wputation in England and America. Jim Gerald, soon to he seen in Welington with his revue company, has >een engaged for the dame part in the >ig Fuller-Ward pantomime at Sydney.

He is a truly great artist, and his character impersonations rank among the best ever seen in Australia or New Zealand. The Musical Blanchards, in association with Mr George Dean, well-known entertainers for many years, have arrived from Sydney on a tour of the Dominion, in conjunction with pictures. Mr Dean is an experienced English artist, with a nice gift for singing and acting (he was with the Fullers thirty years ago and again very recently), and the two Blanchards specialise in musical instruments, hells, xylophones, eto.

The drama “If Winter Cornea,” founded on the well-known novel of the same name, attracted large audiences at the Opera House. Led by Mr Garry Marsh, and supported by such reputable artists as the Misses Ailsa Grahnme, Jane Savile, Isobel Wilford, and Messrs George Blunt, Sidney Stirling, J. B. Athohvood, Reg. Wykehaim, Arthur Cornell, the strong' cast provided many thrilling and emotional moments for the audience. To-night “The Oat and the Canary” will be staged, and as this drama proved, a recordbreaker in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, and Christchurch the Wellington eeaeon should be a highly successful one.

Richard Hatteras, who was the good Sultan in Oscar Asohe’s production of “Cairo,” is now a member of the Bmelie Polini Company, and will appear in the forthcoming production of “De Luxe Annie” at - Her Majesty’s. His role will be that of Hal Kendall, which gives him good opportunities for virile acting. Oscar Asohe has carried production to such a fine art in .“Iri®,” according to a Sydney paper, that he -has oven trained the canaries in the second act to sing lustily during the first fifteen minutes while the dialogue deals with “unconsidered trifles,” and then bo quiet during the love scene. Then it is that the single bird in view of the audience devotes himself suddenly to the ehiokweed in his cage and ceases to interrupt.' Who is Josie Melville’s understudy in “Sally” ? Pearl Osborne is the little girl who stands by to step into Josie Melville’s shoes if "required, but so far she I'.ns never had the chance to ' play Sally. Throughout the six months’ run of the piece in Sydney, its two weeks in Brisbane, and its three weeks’ in Adelaide, Josie has never missed a performance except on the night at Melbourne Theatre Royal recently when, owing to a strike of the Stage Employees’ Union, there was no performance. Like Josie Melville, Pearl Osborne first came into prominence in “The Passing Show,” though. at the age of five, she played “Goody Two Shoes” with success. Pearl Osborne hopes to play Sall-v some time, though, she says, she could never hope to be as good as Josie Melville. “Still,” she added, “it’s a great thing to pet the opportunity in a role like Sally. ’ When “The Beggar’s Opera” conies to New Zealand, where it will tour Under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, the role of Captain Maoheath, the amorous highwayman, will." be played by Hilton Osborne, who ap-J peared in that role ,in “Polly,’* thoj successor to “The Beggar’s Opera’’ ini London. Mr Osborne's commanding presence and fine voice should make Maclieath an impressive character. Pauline Bindley will be Polly Charles -Maitland; Hallard, who convinces judicious critics of his brilliance in “Belinda,” has bad a record that any actor might well be proud of. He started with F. R. Benson’s Shakespeare Company, and he has probably acted with every actor-manager of note in Great Britain during the last 2o years. He Appeared with Fred -Terry and Julia Neilson for two years, and he was for five years in the late Sir Herbert Tree’s company, undertaking a variety of parts, including Gecko in “Trilby.” He has also toured under his own management with Nina Boucicanlt, a sister of his present manager, Dion Boucicault, and 'he has probably appeared in more dramas of high merit than any other English-speaking actor in the world. Some of the plays in which he has been conspicuous are “John Bull’s Other Island,” “The Marriage of Kitty,” “What Every Woman Knows,” “Madame X,” “The New Sin,” and “Romance.” Dion Boucicault, who gives another of his fine character studies in “Belinda,” has charming recollections of the late Robert Brough, with whom ho was associated for a long period, commencing in the late ‘ ‘eighties ’ of last centiiry. “Robert Brough,” he mentions, “was an actor who knew his business, and who understood the urbanity went a long way in smoothing the troubles of life. Once he was pursued —‘pursued’ is the word—by an amateur dramatist who wanted an opinion on his play. We had all read it and pronounced it hopeless, but Brough, true to his promise, read it for himself, and it was only in a whimsical note to the author that he revealed what it cost him: ‘Dear Sir, I have read your play. The doctor has ordered me absolute quiet.’ Emelie Polini, whose return to Melbourne, in a series of new plays, may be expected this month, is* the sister of the celebrated actor. Owen Nares. The Polinis are of Italian origin, and whilst Emelie has been achieving a record of success in Australia that few of her predecessors have approached, Marie Polini has been doing good work in many ways. Seme of her best successes were achieved in “The Silver King,” “The Thief,” “The Marriage of Kitty,” and “John 'Glayde’s HonNew Zealanders may have heard of the Humphrey Bishop Comedy ana Dramatic Company, for it has toured among the many countries of the world, India, Burma, Malay States, China, Ceylon, Java, Australia England, i\nd Africa. Now this bright little company has decided to include New Zealand in its world trip of sight-seeing, and incidentally produce some of its musical plays. The tour will begin at Auckland at Christmas time. Many people have heard the funny songs of Will Evans on the gramophone. This comedian is on the Mongolia, bound for Australia. Four people accompany him to play “Harnessing a Horse” and his other sketches on the Musgrov© circuit. Let us hope ho comes to New Zealand with his amusing turn, “Building a ChickenHouse.”

Although Lorna Pounds does not claim to be a quick-change artist, some of her split-second character transitions in “Rickets” are effected with amazing speed. In all, Lorna, makes eight changes of costume during tho performance of tho sparkling Hugh J. Ward revue at the New Palace Theatre, Melbourne.

THE FILM WORLD The following coming Paramount features are listed among the big attractions for 1924: Heralded by one of the greatest moving pictures of the present advanced age of the cinema is “The Covered Wagon.” This picture has been hailed as a masterpiece throughout the world, and will be presented in New Zealand possibly early in 1924. It i® a story of the days of the American pioneers, and will therefore have a special interest to all New Zealanders. This story was made by James Cruze, one of the foremost of motion picture producers, and it is said to be a masterpiece. It is interesting to note that this picture has been screened before tho governors of nearly every State in which it Jins been shown. It was screened before the late President Harding at White House by special request, and recently it was shown to members of the New South Wales and Victorian Parliaments ■ “Hollywood” also may he said to he one of the greatest pictures of the day. In fact, it is the remarkable picture of its era, in that everyone of note in the film .world of Bollywood has a pairt in it. The cast includes some one hundred aud twenty stars, who each have an individual role. This picture is interesting not' only as an entertainment but for the fact that never again will it be possible to gather together in this manner the whole of the people of the present existing movie world. “The Cheat” will be the Pola Negri’s second American-made picture. It will be remembered that this picture was produced some eight years ago with Serene Bayakawa and Fannie Ward. It was a great success, but the critics declare that from an artistic and productio'n point of view this present Paramount ‘version may be listed in the category of 1924’s big pictures. Credit must go to Zane Grey far another big offering. “To the Last Man” is a Western drama produced in such' a way that the reader of the popular author will recognise at once the style of the play. It is interesting to note that this picture is the first and only picture that has been produced under Zane Grey’s personal supervision. Getting down to society stories, You Can’t Fool Your Wife” is declared to be the veiy essence of screen society drama —condensed into a fine story. Betty Compson, who will always be remembered for her histrionic work in “The Miracle Man,” offers in “The Woman with Four Faces” another work that is reminiscent of the former. This is a story of the suppression of the drug traffic in America. Other pictures that are included m this comprehensive Paramount list are: “Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife,” with Gloria Swanson; “Homeward Bound,” with Thomas Meighan; “Lawful Larceny,” with Nita Naldi, Hope Hampton, and Conrad Nagel; “The Law of the Lawless,” with Dorothy Dalton and Theodore Kosloff; Gloria Swanson in “Zaza”; “The Silent Partner,” with Owen Moore. “Wandering Daughters,” the stair feature- at the Empress this week, prove© that the modern problem is wandering daughters rather than wandering sons. The picture tells of two ultra-modern girls who have the jazz craze, and contrasts the manner in I which their respective fathers deal | with ‘the problem. The father of ‘one iseeks to humour his daughter, so that ! ultimately she will realise the folly of 1 exaggeration for herself, while the ; other uses stern repressive measures. ‘An artistic and costly production, \ combined with a cast including Mar- ? write de la Motte, Marjorie Daw, at O’Malley, and William Mong are i guarantees of good entertainment. ! Accustomed as we are to expect a ! fine' performance from Norma Talmadge, one of the most popular screen actresses of to-day, her work in “The Voice from the Minaret” exceeds anticipation. As Lady Adrienne_ Carlyle, the wife of an unfaithful husband, Miss Talmadge portrays the emotions £ Tempting her to desert Lord Carlyle, er journey to the desert, where she meet® the man she loves, and her decision to renounce happiness to keep her marriage 'vows. Eugene O’Brien plays opposite. “The Voice from the Minaret” ie showing at Everybody’s this Some idea of the startling magnitude of the Griffith production, “The Fall of Babylon,” to be seen at the Strand this week, may be gained from the statement that it cost more than £130,000 to produoe, and is presented by a company totalling 125,000. Constance Talmadge, Mildred Harris, Tully Marshall, Seena Owen, Alma Rubens, and Elmo Lincoln head the caste. Motion pictures have begun to invade the lealm of grand opera. At vtlie Empress Theatre next week a film version of Balfe’s famous work, “The Bohemian Girl.” will be screened. Not only are the incidents of the opera shown, but the favourite strains of the score will be played and isung, so that the atmosphere will lie complete. An outstanding feature of this British production is the caste, which includes Gladys Cooper, Ivor Novello, Ellen Terry, Constance Collier, and Aubrey Smith. The picturesque gipsy and woodland scenes reveal artistic direction, as well as the illustration of the Well-Known version, “I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls.”

“Out of the Dust” belongs to the picturesque type of melodrama, dealing with life on tho American frontier in the early seventies. Russell Simpson, whoso characterisation dominate® this drama, plays the leading part. Robert McKiin, as the villain, and Dorcas Matthews, as the young wife, are supporting players. There are two outstanding features about “Stable Companions,” a British racing film, starring Lilian Hall-Davi®. Qne 5 the thrilling neok-and-neck raco, and the other is the introduction of colour photography in the racing scenes. Thus the audience does not merely see the horses flying by, but is actually enabled to follow individual houses by the excellent colour work, which shows the silken coats of the jockeys in natural colours. Amazing situations abound in “Are You a Failure?” the Master picture, which shows how a correspondence course turned a failure into a sucoess. Lloyd Hughes is “the poor simp,” who attempts to follow out his instructions to “conquer fear” and “snap arid sparkle,” while Madge Bellamy, looking more attractive than ever, is the girl who has faith in “the failure” although her patience is sorely tried at times-

“Wee MacGregor’s Sweetheart” furnishes a remarkable proof of how, in Igood hands, the screen oan be made to reproduce “atmosphere” that seems too evanescent to be separated from the words in which it is enshrined. Mies Betty Balfour once more shows herself to be that most rare and precious thing, a young actress with a highly developed sense of humour.”— London “Daily Telegraph.” Oullen Landis, the promising young actor, who has been in much demand lately, plays the lead in “The Man with Two Mothers.” As Dennis O’Neill ho plays the part of a son of Ireland, who wins his way with his wits and fists. Mary Alden plays the part of one of his mothers, and Sylvia Breamer is the girl he admires. There is no villain iri the hackneyed sense of the word in “The Sheik’s Wife.’ The psychology of the sheik whd lam- wife with an

ancient fierceness, and trie© tq dominate her in Oriental fashion, is realistically portrayed, as well as the cliaracter of the romantic and high-spirited French girl. Wesley (Freckles) Barry lias definitely grown up in “A Country Kid,” a master picture, in which he plays the part of a lanky youth, laden with the responsibilities of bringing up two orphan boys. He proves himself as fine an actor in this photoplay as in his former mischievous boy characterisations. . .

“The Darling of the Rich” is a title which suggests the story. Betty Blythe plays the part of the girl who has all the advantages and disadvantages of wealth. She is supported by Montague Love and Julia Swayne Gordon.

Hope Hampton plays the leading part in “The Gold Diggers,’ Warner Brothers screen version of Avery Hopwood’s successful play, under Belasco’s direction. “The Gold Diggers” is said to be a laugh from start to finish. Johnny Hines does some fine work in “Little Johnny Jones,” the Cohan play which made “'Give My Regards to Broadway” famous. Johnny looks like a jockey and acts like one. There are some realistic “acts,” a big race, and a game of human checkers at a Derby ball, which is an appealing novelty. Pauline Starke and Jack White, the director, may get married at Christmas time. Miss Starke ie one of the oast in “The Fall of Babylon,” showing this week at the Strand.

Ordinarily, Paramount does not enter the news-gathering field, hut its representatives were in the earthquake area. Thomas D. Cockrane, Paramount’s representative in Japan, was injured in digging Mrs Cochrane’s sister out of hotel ruins at Myanoshiba, but he and his assistant, Robert E. Mclntyre, walked 24 miles to _Kobe, and then Mr Mclntyre walked 65 miles to Tokio to get the film. By the time ho had returned to Kobe the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Australia had sailed, so the film was dropped on board about 100 miles at sea from a seaplane on September 11th. The Empress of Australia arrived at Vancouver, H. 0., on September 23rd at noon. The film was taken off at quarantine and rushed by seaplane to Seattle that afternoon. There it was picked up by an aoroplano and taken to Great I alls, s'ient., during a night flight, leaving there on September 24th in a machine piloted by Eddie Stinson, who brought it to New York in record time.

Another “intolerance” has, reached the screen in the European production, “Monna Vanna.” It ie a production which for massive settings and l character portrayals will stand with the best American film craftsmanship. The interiors of the palaces of old Italy, tho street scenes, canals, and banquet halls, are especially fine. The announcement comes from Warner Brothers’ studio that John Barrymore has arrived on the west coast to play the leading part in “Beau Brummel.” Mary Astor will play opposite Barrymore, and Irene Rich will appear as the Duchess of York.

A novel comic situation is used in “The Pilgrim,” starring Charles Chaplin. Festivities in honour of the new “parson,” Chaplin’s character role, are somewhat spoiled when a precocious youngster uses his father’s bowler liat as a covering for the plum pudding. Unsuspectingly, Charlie pours the sauce over it. Needless to say, when it comes to his turn to serve the pudding, difficulties arise, and the child’s father fails to see anything humorous in the situation.

The casualty ward of a city hospital is an unlikely Spot for domedy, and a man who has only a few minutes ie live does not appeal as the hero of a comedy drama. However, the man whom the doctors said would die recovered, and found he was engaged to the prettiest and most tender-hearted probationer in the hospital He had proposed to her in his delirium, and she had married him to ease his last moments. This is the basis of a scenario by Mary Roberta Rhinehart, entitled “The Glorious Fool,” and Richard Dix and Helene Chadwick play the leading parts. ;

Most people will recollect the sensational murder case, in which John Lee was found guilty, although he pleaded innocent. Three times the scaffold failed to work, and Lee was taken back to prison to serve a life sentence. This remarkable story is now presented in picture form, under the title of “The Life Story of John Lee,” or “The Man They Could Not Hang,” and is due for release in Wellington shortly. Lenore Ulric, the interesting actress, who has taken New York by storm, in her part of “Kiki” in the play of the same name, has just finished- work in the title part of “Tiger Rose,” the film version by Warner Brothers, under the direction of David Belasco.

Rupert (Hughes,. the writer of “The Old Nest,” and “Dangerous Curve Ahead,” has taken a homely and friendless girl for the heroine of his latest scenario, “The Wallflower.” Colleen Moore plays the part of the wallflower.

“Temptation,” featuring Eva Novak and Bryant Washburn, is said to be a story of restipes wives and discontented husbands.

The human weakness of superstition is' the theme of “Seven Years’ Bad Luck,” starring Max Linder. Max Linder is the most immaculate comedian on the screen, and the mirror-like polish of his Parisian footwear is only rivalled by tho gloss on his silk top hat. A oicture which has interested fire brigades everywhere is “The Third Alarm.” One thousand firemen saw it in San Francisco, and gave it hearty applause. These men had seen staggering scenes in real life, and had lived through innumerable dangers, but they were nevertheless moved by the realistic fire incidents in “The Third Alarm.”