STAGE JOTTINGS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12181, 4 July 1925, Page 13

STAGE JOTTINGS

Long Tack Sam and vaudeville at, the Opera House have .been a strong draw this week, and as the last nights are announced there should be crowded houses to witness the truly remarkable performance of these wonder-men from the Last. Some of the feats have a tinge of sensationalism, as, for instance, when a smiling youth dives through a ring of sharp-pointed Chinese knives. Long Tack Sam himself gives varied and mystifying turns. Final matinee today. At the popular His Majesty’s Gayle Myers Band-box Revue Company hold the boards, and the last production a matrimonial tangle called *One Nigh't” is truly a rapid-fire comedy. The company is a strong one, and the programme presented is an excellent one. George Castles must be heard to be appreciated. His voice has greatly improved. Torzilla (harpist) is another brilliant artist. Walter Vernon is one of the cleverest ventriloquists ever seen in Wellington. Queenie and David Kaili are fascinating entertainers from Hawaii, and the rest of the vaudeville company consists of clever performers. .Matinee to-day, at which the children will he well catered for; and a change of programme on Monday. Reg Scott, the popular baritone, late of Dunedin, is now in Wellington, and Is appearing at the popular Queen’s Theatre, where the marriage story, "If I Marry Again,” is being produced. Moran and Wiser, the hilarious hatepinners from New* York, with the Long Tack Sam Company, at the Opera House, provide an uproarious turn, in which members of the audience play a prominent part. From remarks recently made by Sir Benjamin Fuller, it would appear that some high-class vaudeville turns are booked for an early tour of the Fuller circuit in New Zealand. Mr W. Burton, New Zealand representative of tne firm, has no definite details beyond tbe fact that some of the artists will draw about the highest salaries ever paid to vaudeville performers this side ox the Line. An offer recently made to Miss Batbie Stuart, of Auckland, who took one of the leading roles in "The Adventures of Algie,” received a tempting offer to tour New Zealand in connection with a "movie” venture, but promptly declined. A clever girl, who will yet make a name for herself in Australia and New Zealand. Dorothy Brunton, the Australian musical comedy star, whose exquisite artistry is seen at its best in "Little Jessie James,” made her farewell appearance in Melbourne recently. When Miss Brunton arrived in 1923 to open under the auspices of Mr Hugh J. Ward, she intended to 6tay a year only, as she was already booked for 1925 by a leading London management. By arrangement, however, this contract was deferred for 12 months to enable her to remain longer in Australia. When Long Tack Sam and his company of entertainers was last in New Zealand he was presented with a British bulldog. His two daughters, Mina and Poldi, who are with him on this tour, both took a delight- in the dog, and the tiny puppy received the time of his ,life> "Prince,” as he has been christened, returned to China with the family, and when Frank Long Tack Sam was born took a keen delight in watching over the little fellow. So far the pet has cost the famous Chinese entertainer over JBIOO in travelling expenses, but the family is satisfied that he is worth it. The father and two sisters of Mile. Gaby Deslys, the actress, who died five years ago, are taking steps to press their claim to a large share of her estate, according to the Hungarian laws of inheritance. Gaby Deslys was born in Moravia (then part of Austria) in 1884. Her real name was Hedwig Nawratil. |be was brought up in Hungary, near Budapest, and afterwards became a leamstress in Vienna, then & dancer in iraall cabarets. She was later adopted by a Mme. Caire, at Marseilles, ana became a naturalised Frenchwoman. Except a legacy to her dancing partner, Mr Harry Pilcer, she left all her wealth to the city of Marseilles, which is disputing the relatives’ claim. At first the French authorities would not believe that the Nawratil family had anything to do with her, but there is now no doubt that Gaby Deslys was Hedwig Nawratil. At thfi time of her death it was reported in Paris that Gaby Deslys left about *6200,000. The clever work of Elsie Parkes in "’Little Jefssie James,” says the Melbourne "Herald,” leaves the impression that she will make steady advancement in musical comedy. When a girl, Miss Parkes went to New Zealand with her sister Lizette, and understudied that artist, who has now left the stage. MUs Parkes played the ingenue role in "Old Lady 31,” and some sparkling performances in comedy have been given by her. "The Bat” provided her with a good dramatic role. But in future Miss Parkes iutends to devote all her time to musical comedy. The heart of London’s shopping district is pictured in "The Lost "World,” which is shortly to be released in New Zealand by First National Pictures. This sequence of the film shows a brontosaurus of the prehistoric era ten million years agq reincarnated and running amuck in the English metropolis. The picture is an adaptation from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s sensational novel of the same title. Bessie Love, Lewis Stone, Wallace Beery, and Lloyd Hughes head the human cast of the picture. No musical comedy of recent years has embodied such faithful relation of song to story as has "No, No Nanette,” about to enter its eighth week in New York, and now being prepared for early presentation in Melbourne by Hugh J. Ward Theatres. In that relation lies the secret of much of the popularity of this show*. For when the dialogue is broken and a song comes, tho song actually carries on the dialogue without a perceptible break. In grand opera one expects the music to follow the trend of the plot theme. To have it not do so would ruin the effect. But in musical comely producers have become careless and the public has grown half-accustom-ed to have the thread of the story broken short while, a song, which has little to do with the story, is 6ung. Not so with "No, No Nanette.” Every song, and there are plenty of them, helps to build up suspense or add to the general merriment. Lily Bernand, of the Veterans of Variety, a troupe of old-time stars engaged by Sir Benjamin Fuller for a tour of their vaudeville circuit, was in 191 C billed ' as Lovely. Lively Lily Bernand. To-day ehe has three daughters and four grand- I children, but she remains buxom and fresh-looking. In private life she is Mrs I Arthur Slater, and her husband, who l figured in the original production of i "The Relle of New York” in. London, is I a member of tbe same organisation. She is a great-granddaughter of the late Robert Stevenson, inventor of the locomotive, and is keenly interested in all kinds of machinery. One of her daughters married Count. Pogatny. the artist, and is now in America. Another daughter is playing at the Lyric Theatre. London.

Dame Clara Butt in her spare moments is an ardent collector of musical instruments. At. her Hamstead home she has an interesting connection of wood in-strumentfi—-otxjes, flutes and clarinets — from all over the world, including native instruments of manv curious shapes and sizes. Her husband, Mr Kcnnorley Kumford, has a loaning toward jugs, and he has a varied assortment in every conceivable mater’ini. fro o lustre-ware to ~ld leather, the leather hailing from

Arthur Buckley, probably the finest illusionist and most expert card manipulator Australia has produced, has just returned to the Antipodes with his wife, and is to appear at His Majesty’s Theatre in Fuller vaudeville. "In every large city throughout the States,” Mr Buckley remarks, "Magic is represented by a club comprising prominent business men. I found these societies always ready to extend a cordial welcome to any visiting magician. Mrs Buckley and I enjoyed many pleasant evenings given in ; our honour by these societies, and- we found that they promote good fellowship among fraternity and are a potent factor in effecting an exposure of spiritualism.”

Mr and Mrs Buckley fulfilled many flattering engagements in America. Here they propose, for a while, working at semi-private functions. Before leaving Australia Mr Buckley was instrumental in Melbourne in effecting an -exposure of spiritualistic mediums that have become historic.

Australia’s best known, minstrel boy is Alberto Torzillo, who, with GeoTge Castles, the famous tenor, is appearing at His Majesty’s Theatre. /Unlike many musicians who enlisted, Torzillo did not immediately get into a soldier’s concert company. Instead he did some hard footslogging in France. * The discovery of a harp in a deserted village got him going l in a way that caused a sensation, first among diggers and then among the heads. Later, when he was in hospital in England, a party of titled English women arranged for an entertainment for sick soldiers. On© of the entertainers brought along a harp that she played just passably. When one of tbe Diggers mentioned that "one of our. blokes can play that thing a bit!” Torzillo-was asked, in a tolerably amused way. to let them hear what he could do. Those who came to entertain were entertained—and amazed. / Miss Julia Arthur, a well - known Canadian actress, who some years ago toured Australia and New Zealand with great success, playing in the George Bernard Sluiw production, "Saint'Joan,” was presented with the freedom of the city of Belleville (Canada), when she played there during April, in commemoration of which she has received a large bronze key- . "A Life for the Tsar,” Glinka’s famous ouern. has been rewritten by orders of the Russian Soviet Government, with all monarchical suggestions eliminated and its name changed to "Scythe and Hammer.” Verdi, Donizetti, and Rossini operas also are bein*r revised, even Mascagni’s "Cavalliera Rustieana” not having the scissors of the censor.” Tho Moon and Morris Revue Company, newly organised bv Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr John Fuller, will soon be at His Majesty’s. The new company includes many well-known artists in Walter George, remembered for his clever Sunshine Plcvers throughout the Dominion, Sidney Burchall. "William Baresford, Claude Holland Lily Foster. Jean Keith, and Lily Denville, Videan and Kirby, clover English burle«quo stars, now appearing on the Fuller cm-uit. recently returned to Australia after tbrpf» and a half years abroad. During their peregrinations they visited Africa. where they nlaved " record season of twentv-six weeks. England, the Continent and the Far Fast. Tn England they motored in thei*- Morris Oxford to each town they played in. and learnt more about a car than they would have if they spent a year in a garage. On one occasion they we**e snowed up and it took five nonnle half an hour to di<* them out. In Paris thrv played at the Follies Bergere, presenting act in French for t>»p first time. Mis« Videan and Mr Kirby will be s«en at Fuller’s Theatre in n* series of sketches in whitch, it is saidfi they btirVsque. Passengers who disembarked at Australian port* from the Diogenes, which arrived at Melbourne recently, Parted reluct.antlv with Elsie Prince. . Madge White. Winifred Dalle. Jimmy Godden, and Charlton Morton, the London .musical comply star* who have cortie out tu Australia under engagement to Hugh J. Ward to appear in "No. No. Nanette.” Each member of the party made many friends, and contributed largely to the pleasure of the trip by assisting in various entertainments. On the programme of a concert on board at Albany, Eism Elsie” n *.• J, w. nersen.»Hty of this bi'illiuiii yuung euwedi-

When "The, Masquerader*.’ was produced in Melbourne several years ago, the part of Peggy, the little niece or John Chileote, was cleverly played by Miss Cecil Haines, a young New Zea- . lander. Her exceptional ability was one of the most noteworthy features of the play, and a brilliant future was predicted. Miss Haines has since played the load in "The Seven Little Australians,” and other productions* and is still in her "teens.” In the recent production she appeared as Robins, the faithful servant girl. It was one of the finest characterisations in the play. . Heifetz has started upon a tw*o years’ world tour, that will include Australia. Ho is just making a beginning in London and Paris. . Later he will tour Britain, Germany, aud Scandinavia. The beginning of 1926 will; be devoteu to France, Italy, Spain. Then will follow Northern Africa* Japan, and China, and, finally, Australia and New Zealand, via India. The theatrical firm of - Messrs*. Evans and Salter, of New York, are making arrangements for the: tour, of .celebrity artists to Australia 1 and New Zealand. Mr Jack Salter, who is managing Madame Galli - Curci’s tour,' stated that it was anticipated that Tita Schipa’, the famous lyric tfenor, would, visit New Zealand in about two years* time. "Schipa has" proved aVvonderful success in the United States, and is a splendid concert sin tr er.” stated Mr Salter. He was fully booked for the; next rifo year§, including a season at .Milan, and he woiild not be able to come until the spring of 1927. "Another, of our artists who will eventually .appear in Australia and New Zealand is Josef Lhevinne, a young Russian pianist who has an excellent following in America and in Europe,” said Mr Salter. "I cannot say exactly when he will go abroad.” Mr Jack Sait* r tpoke the other day of the great strides music had made in the United States during the past few years. He considered that New York was unquestionably the hub of the music world The smallest towns made guarantees to great artists, and the money was always forthcoming. They did not spare, money to get good music. "Yes. the Americans really love good music,” he said. "They do not go to hear great artists because it is the proper thing to do. No, they are sincere about it, and really love it. This is proved by the fact that people hear these artists season after season. Many countries,” said Mr Salter, "were apt to judge the Americans wrongly. Tbe older countries with tradition could not understand the peculiarities of its youth. The Americans did not reserve their emotions. "When they were happy they expressed themselves unreservedly-. "Last year a young Californian singer, Lawrence Tibbett, achieved a success unique in the history of the New York Metropolitan Opera House,” said Mr Jack Salter. Tibbett sand in California, but his . voice, did. not attract, very much attention. He was ambitious, howeverfi and went to New York with, his wife and -two.’.little ‘babies; lo do this he had to raise money on an insurance policy. For a time he sang in the churches to increase his repertoire and his experience. Then he obtained an auditon at the. Metropolitan, and for a year took secondary parts. -He did not have the chance to shine. Then the great night came. He was given thej part in a revival: of■ an opera, and the

audience went mad over him. So great was the enthusiasm that the opera was interrupted, for 25 minutes. "Tibbett did not expect the success,’’ said Mr Salter, "and went away to liis dressingroom. He could not understand why the people were - raised to such, great heights of enthusiasm. He • was, made famous in a night.” Sir Johnstone tells this story of Whistler and AVilde in "A Player Under Three Reigns”: "On only

one occasion do I remember him being 'gravelled for lack of matter/ and that was when a newspaper reporter stated in the Press that "whistler and Oscat Wilde were seen on the Brighton front, talking as usual about themselves.' Whistler sent the paragraph to Wilde with a brief note, saying: ‘I wish these reporters would be accurate; if you remember, Oscar, we ivere talking about me/ Wilde sent him a telegram, saying: 'lt is true, Jimmie, we were talking about you, but I was thinking of myself l / But Whistler got his revenge, for some time after he was invited to Oscar Wilde’s wedding, who, ns the service was about to begin, recei\ed a telegram from him, saying; ‘Am detailed;