Stage & Screen

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12093, 21 March 1925, Page 7

Stage & Screen

Theatrical Pars and Movie Notes

STAGE JOTTINGS When J. O' Williamson, some months ago, started an. all vaudeville entertainment in the principal theatres of the yarious centres, which displayed a_ spontaneous enthusiasm for this variation in the company’s itinerary, the initial programme was submitted by an aggregation of rare artists with world-wide experience and reputations, and it was only natural that they left their audience expectant of similar high-class ' entertainment in the future That expectancy has been realised in the programmes submitted at just long enough intervals, and it ia reported l that the company opening in the Grand Opera House to-night ranks with thoi very best in vaudeville. 'Mr i A. -R. Shepard is general director of the New Zealand tour, Mr W. A. Low treasurer : an'd -the indefatigable "Watty” Monk touring-' manager, Jo I in Moore, the inimitable Scotch comediap, person and Roslyn, Jenny Roy and tJie> v 'CyßlinfcN.ewmans have been experiencing gf-good run in Auckland this week, after.’tt^ri,successful appearance at Wellington." y '. George ■ Storey and his- popular Revue -Company have' had a great welcome back to the capital city, upd if, oh Monday pjght, their new - pypaupfciofi exceeds the pulling power of the reype now closing, the roof of js likely to be Up dSpger. There.are .several new and astonishing turns in the vaudeville part oh- the’ programme, and the public is enjoying . the excellent ■ fare immensely. Fullers* Bleven W.onaers end their Wellington seasgn tomigbt. ‘ Gayle Band Box fipyue Com--pany, from the States,' at present at Christchurch, opens in Wellington ion Apajl 13th. Walter Cornock and Billie .Bqyje are said to be fiyst-class comedians. The musical numbers are - bright and sparklink, while the dressing ip of the high standard aesqciatpd with hlr Wyer’s show*. The popular Jim-Gerald Revue Company, which had to extend- its last ptay ip Wellington, finishes at Bunedin shortly. It then goes to Auckland, and Will-be back ip Wellington about June. Alice Hollander, the celebrated vocalist, is fluei in Wellingtomnext Week, with -her own ..pianist,- Mr Sandforci. This important turn is now nearing the end of* its OhWstefnirch Reason, which has been wonderfully successful. Vaudeville audiences (Jo net.,as a rule care for classical piusi®,- but Mr Sqndfqrd B?S pepp meetipg -with greotfteucpees in. this respect. All are /pleased to hoar tthiit daiqty fsKpirp phi] won, the* Wellington'girl who ■got' her ftut 'big phanpe ‘with' the Hum.phrejr, Bishop Cpropppy, is now ih Lpn'don. studying further tor a stage career. ■ • «ThV : Grand Hotel,'*; with Stiffy wd Mo as bell-boyp, is still going strong. , Vaudoyillo to-day ..relies oh priglnality, andi to the . man or woin a p who presepts an act of originality goes the palm. The Daros appearing here with the company of super-vaudeville from' J. C. Williameon'p theatres, made their debut in London on Boxing Day, .1921, wnd their discoverer, Nat Day, had their booh of engagements filled within, a' couple of freaks’ for Wo'years’ . .solid work, inclpdipg seasons- at the Lopdon Coliseum and Alnambra. Since their first appearances in vaudeville, the Daros haye been con, stantly working in the biggest theatres in Bngland, South Africa, and on the Continent. The onlv time they were not working was wh®u en route to Afrjc* and Australia. - .. h

, Hairy boy Taft, who is starring on Fullers' .New Zealand tour, has played: practically the whole world with the exception of New Zealand, and his original methods will undoubtedly be greatly to the taste of vaudeville lovers'*in this country. It will be the comedian's third trip to Australia, each time under -a- dif-, ferent management, which is probably a record. The first time he came out was in 1905, under the management of the late Harry Rickards. He then toured the Commonwealth once more in 1914 under Hugh D. Mclntosh* and is now making his third trip under the .Fuller management. Here with the fifth company of Super\audovilJe from J. C. Williamson tinea, tres are the Four -Ortons, the world s latest novelty vaudeville .sensation, a marvellous and unique quartette olcomedians, introducing that awful Orton, '‘The Duke of Dhck/' in reality, the world's olevoresfc trained geese come* dians- ‘ ’ A welhknown baritone, Mr Oliver Peacock, late a principal with Oscar Asche s triumphal play "Ohu Chin Chow* 'till soon be heard ip Wellington in a reper* toire of popular and latest spnge. . Felovis is no slavish' imitator of Cmquevalli. who for many years we knew as a man who lived for his art. To find a successor to him seemed almost im* Possible j his work stood out in. bold re- 5 lief against a background of supreme genius. Hut in the words of the ' .Pjjw Telegraph" critic: "Felovis is a worthy successor to CinquevaUi-" Felovis will be seen here to-night with the F}fth Company Of SuperrVaudeville from *J C. Williamson's theatres. New Zealand friends were pleased to note that Miss Mabelle Esquilant, the well-kneWa contralto, has been engaged to sing the contralto solo in "Elijah" at* the "Old -Vic." Theatre, London. Miss Esquilant recently sang to Madame Guy P'Hardelet, the composes, who considers that she has a very beautiful voice of rich and: even quality, and has con* sequently become very interested in the NewxZsalander.

Ancient and modern; the music of the bast and of to-day. Hayden and Jtovard aija. two . first-class musical entertainers, whose^a r t is greatly appreciated -by theatre patrons, Hayden's beautiful playing on the piano is quite captivating. 'They "U’Osent the contrast ip music. This is skilfully done, by nwi.; singing of . songs and the playing off; music relative to both ueribds.j-There is something catchy in the syncopating songs of 1995, and there is also aomething stirring in those grand old songs like the “Last Rose of Summer," whose perfume seems never to die. These talented people, are with' the Fifth Company pf Super-vaudeville from J, <?. Williamson's theatres, ppening at the )r>era House tornight, Joe Brennan, the Dunedin comedian (welLknown on the vaudeville stage), has scored a success at Capetown Tivoli. The .local "Argus" «ays: ."He i e a worthy successor of Arthur Roberts," and goes i to say: "It was only as an encore that he pave his pantomime of the chairman and candidate at a political meeting, tut he would do well to make sure that is is never in future left out of the prpvramum* The audience loved it.'* A _ couple of well-known artists, Jack Hooker and Dorothy Seaward, who have been leading dancers for years with J. C. Williamson's Royal Comic Opera Company, - present an unusual act of dancing scenes with the Fifth Comoany of super-Yaudeville (appearing here to-night) and selected from the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Sydney apd Melbourne • Theatres. * •

A dainty, little ..Miss, possessing except tional musical gifts, by name j Maggie Foster, now tou*in£ New,Zealand. From jaza to grand opeto, she "thrills with her magic violin., A- G., Frost, who conducted the orchestra with the previous companies °* • *P* .Williamson Vaudeville, will J? e in tbe same capacity with the Fjfth Company of 6uper-vaudevil|e, oren-. ing here to-night. ;T ■ -.* " % <£, & Bortus reporte that the Newcastle Steelworks Band, after a very successful Season in. Christohureh,’ left for the south on Monday, opening: id Dunedin that eveniny ab the Drill Hall. Three •concerts were given in Dunedin, and on Thursday and* Friday the band played at Invercargill. The' bond’s performances have shown it. tc> be a combination ■of players of the highest excellence, controlled by a great conductor in Mr A. H. ?aile. Tfie Hugh J.-. Ward Musical Comedy Company has been drawing big audi•ences at;-the Opera House,^.'Auckland. After a very successful run ''The O’Brien Gifl" was withdrawn and was followed b.v. "Little Nellie Holly," the season terminating on Thursday The Royal Comic Opera .Company will bring its Dunedin season, to' a close today. "The Merry Widow” and “Sybil” were staged, in the early part of this week, followed by ''The Maid of the Mountains," with "The Lady of the Rose” as the final production. Mr William Heughan’s concerts in the south were greatly enjoyed by lovers of music. He owns a splendid voice,' a deep, powerful, resonant bass; almost bewildering in its full force. Mr Heughan is ably assisted by that excellent pianist," Miss Gladys Sayer, and the young violinist of great promise, Mr Hyman Lenzer. Oil Monday and Tuesday the company gave concerts in Timaru; Thursday and Friday, at Oamaru; and on Monday, next the Dunedin season will open.

FILM NOTES "The Ten Commandments” will return to Wellington next week. It will he shown at the King’s Theatre, and has been brought back to this city in response to a large number of people who were unable to see it during its former visit here. Its reception iii other places than Wellington has been none the less enthusiastic, and, a' big return season is anticipated. *• ~ "The • Ten Commandments” holds the record by long chalks for the number of screenings in the number of weeks that it ha® been showing to the public. Total number of weeks showing is fifteen, and the total mfihber of screenings already exceeds '2fio.. i . "Peter Pan” will bo released in New Zealand some time this year. According to the .critics the film version, which hao been produced by Paramount, does credit to the various stage versions of Sir James Barrie’s great work. "Peter Pan’! is oho of the year’s big film attractions. "Dangerous Money” brings the popular Paramount 1 star; Bebe Daniels, xo the screen in her first starring picture. Bebe’s work in pictures of a lighter order has always been a deligrt to movie fans. In this ‘ offering she essays the role of a young girt who becomes reckless by sudden riches.

At the Empress this week, is a picture of familiar faces and familiar sights! "Joe” is the epic of Australasia! It. is a story bi colonials,: of colonial cit ies, and the glorious free life of Australasia. It was: made by the colonial producer, Beaumont Smith, famous for "The Man from fShOjw River” and “The Sentimental- Blolte,” and acted by colonial actora and actresses. Based on Henry Lawson’s book. "Joe Wilson and His Mates,”. "Joe” is a story of our own life that goes to the heart of things, with the typical Henry Lawson touch. "Toe” is just a colonial inan who marries a colonial girt, and i hey take up a farm section, finally achieving comfort and success after many hard and bitter'strngffles. Incidents are laid in Sydney, nnd include ''The Ambassadors.” The hi sh and country scenes are excellent, while tense excitement is provided by a real

bush fire. Australia's deadliest menace. Arthur Tauchert makes a splendid Joe Wilson, and Constance Graham, Gordon Collingridge, Marie Lorraine, Fernande Butler, and Dunstan Webb give excellent support in this wholesome picture, which breathes a genuine colonial atmosphere. Owing to its great popularity at the Empress last week, “The Mask of Lopez," a thrilling Master picture starring Fred Thomson, will; be shown at the Strand Theatre all this week. Fred Thomson out-stunts all the so-called stunt artists with his horse, "Silver King," in this picture. There is all sorts of action in "The Mask of Lopez," and plenty of laughs. The 'heroine is the owner of a ranch which is being gradually depleted of its cattle by the mysterious thief Lopez. The hero secures a position with the mistress of the ranch, and with the assistance of an ex-convict brings the outlaw and his gang to took after many thrilling adventures. Also screening as "The Challenge," with Bod La Rocque and Dolores Cassinelli, a winter romance of the Adirondacks. It tells of the absorbing adventures that befell a girl who married the man she loved—and of the other man who watched and waited—and laid plans for her unhappiness. A man who is scared to death and protends he isn't has always been made iDto comedy on the stage and still more so on the screen. Such is the basis of "Going Up," Douglas Maclean's latest starring Master picture. Mr Mac Lean and his excellent supporting cast develop this famous musical comedy into a riot of laughter. "Going Up" presents the humorous side of with a few bloodcurdling thrills thrown in for good measure.

Hundreds of pounds’ worth of gorgeous imported gowns, hats, and shoes were employed in a magnificent fashion revue, in the sparkling comedy drama, "Try and Get It,” 1 featuring Billie Bove. to be shown here shortly. The gowns* were from such, celebrated Parisian modistes as Wpfth, Jenney, Jean Patou, Pbiret, Milgrihj, Masgaue, Lanvi, and Premet. I never, know what I am going to do next,” said Mary Carr during the making of "On the Banks of the Wabash,” a forthcoming Master picture. She is entrapped in a burning building, faces a wall of flames, wades through water in the storiq. that precedes the big flood sceije, and participates in a thrilling rescue. Madge Evans, Mary McLaren, James Morrison, Burr Mclntosh, and Lumsden Hare are seen in important wiles, '■Helen’s Babies,” a forthcoming Baby •*feggy Master' picture, follows the story more closely than the average film adap. tation. from a popular book. Baby Peggy 'is positively at ber best in the production. Her acting is perfectly natural and entertaining, and she receives excellent support. BroSl , ar ® to put into proa i I ? oVel i'-fe Harriet Beecher v. «5 ,th O£.°f Uncle Tom’s Cabin." inis book, which was a best seller when grandma was a girl, is "My Wife and I,” and the oldsters of to-day will remember it was read by about everybody who could road, along with "Me and My Neighhour, by tbe same author, Betty Balfour, England's leading mo-j£oli/-^lC7*ur* a ctoess, hias made "Squibs," the Cockney flower girl, a popular screen character. She has presented f *Squibs" as a flower seller, as the winner of a Calcutta. sweep, and we shall shortly see her a ®, * blushing bride, playing tag with a missing bridegroom, through several reels hilarity in "Squibs's Honeymoon." « T i u Pon thrill is provided in Jealousy, "a rattling sea'yarn, starring Matheson Lang, London's matinee idol, Victor Seastrom, the talented Swedish director, and Jennie Hassleqvist, the blonde fllm star. Not only are there storms at sea, adventures with smuggled cargo, a mutiny aboard, and a at sea, but even more exciting are the emotional struggles and conflicts of two men and one woman cast by fate on Jhe same ship. "Three Women" shows how good a picture can be when made under the supervision of a faultless director like Ernst Lubitsch. May McAvoy, Marie Prevost and Pauline Frederick share the tristellar honours, supported by Lew Cody, Marr Carr, Willard Louis, ahd Pierre Gendron.

The "I-don't-care-what-people-think-of-me" mood in which all of us find ourselves at times, is challenged in "Being Respectable," to be shown at the Empress shortly, and shows conclusively -that, /whether we will or not, we are all tightly bound by the bonds of convention —»and that these bonds of convention are constantly saving us many a heart-ache. Monte Blue and Marie Prevost, those favourite screen artists, who have been appearing together in leading roles so frequently of late, are prominent in the cast. Louise Fazenda, Irene Rich, and Theodore Von Eltz are other players of importance. « Sevente® ll m®* l and' a lone woman in a snow-swept trading post in the Hudson Bay country, is > the basis of the story of "Jan of the Big Snows," James Oliver Curwood's latest Master picture. According to latest reports from movieland; Fred Thomson, tlie daredevil Western star, is paying pretty. dearly for his absolute refusal to use a double to stibstitute for him in performing hairraibing stunts. Several broken bones have been Fred's portion of late, but he how appears to be well''on the way to a complete" reoovery. Every picture-goer who appreciates good open-air drama tinctured with romance, will wish him well. Thomson's latest Master picture is "The Mask of Lopez/' showing at the Strand this week. Marjorie Daw suffered a badly lacerated scalp and injuries to her back when her . machine disputed the right of way with another oar. She was taken to a hospital for treatment, hut later removed to her home. She appears with Douglas Mac Lean in "Going Up," adapted from the popular comedy. Betty Blythe studied for grand opera, and were she suddenly forced to face a cold and heartless casting director, would burst into song and earn as mrffcy dollars per silver note as she receives per foot on the silver sheet 1 . Her next Master picture is "The Breath of Scandal," to-be shown here shortly.