The Deadhead's Diary.

NZ Truth, Issue 507, 6 March 1915, Page 3

The Deadhead's Diary.

i t "Truth's" London correspondent reports: "It's a Long. Long Way to j Tipperary" is sung m a thousand j music-halls c.very night. It is even In- | tro'duced into classical -music, and the effect produced must be similar to seeing a man m evening dreSs wearing a 'sporting coat. About 1,500,000 copies of the song have been sold- since the war began. The .author, Jack Judge, has made a fortune, m royalties. "Belgium" will' make-. us remember the ori- j gin of the war, hut "Tipperary" embo- i dies its spirit for us. The pantomimes have a distinct "Tipperary" rtavor. To crown all. there is a German concentration camp m the district of Tipperary. That is poetic justice. ■> -„..'.* .*."'• * * .."Spotlight,", a Sydney critic, writing of Dorothy Harris, In George Willoughby's panto., says: "As the principal .boy m 'The Babes, m the Wood' Dorothy . Harris is very .artificial. She has a captivating figure, but m this respect she would appear to even better advantage if' she didn't wear stays." Many of Daisy Jerome's admirers call her "Crazy Jerome." She ;s a big feature m the panto. But she isn't by any means the whole pantomime (says the same critic). Beaumont Smith's dramatised version of Ethel Turner's boqk "Seven Little Australians" ds a simple play for children, With.no thing .like the mysteries of the "Blue Bird" or the sensations of "Peter Pan," but rather tame for grown-ups. The simply furnished sitting-room of Dr. Wallace, Sydney, serves ns the scenery for the -four acts 'of the piece. The Wellington season opened last Saturday afternoon with a matinee, when the Grand Opera House was crowded, and the treasurer was gratified with another good house m the evening. Several matinees were given during the week m addition . to the evening performances. In "Australia,- the play ,was confined to afternoon performances, "The Glad Eye"/ or "The Chaperone" being played In the 'evenings by Mr. Smith's comedy -company. It was doubtful- whether Wellington could run two, shows m the same theatre on the same day for every day m the week. Little Cecil Haines, as "Suds" m the "Seven Little Australians," is a n.al hard case. She plays tho part of a' little trick of a boy. "Where did you get that black eye?" sternly, asks father. "Oh, 1 woke up with it," says "Suds" dryly. At the conclusion of the play on Saturday night she recited "The Handy Man" most eloquently. and dramatically for. a youngster. She has been given ovation upon ovation during the week and enough boxes of chocolates with which to start a. lollie shop. »■? .#■ ■ # ; ' Harrington Reynolds, who won the hearts of the > ladies when last here playing the good priest In "The Rosary," is to be seen again wearing clerical garb as Rev. Dr. Wallace, D.D., a widower left with half-a-dozen little ones. His generosity extends to providing a cup and saucer for another, youngster .who has also lost her mother, thus constituting "The Seven Little' Australians.". Mr. Reynolds, interprets ;"his reverence" as to the manner born that on Saturday night he took the opportunity, afforded him when auctioning a-birthday. cake which had been given by "a little boy to the Belgians Fund, to state that when he stepped outside the character of a Doctor ot Divinity- he enjoyed a whisky and* soda as well as cake. •■•..■ # ■ * ■■■'*; The recent pathetic appeal n>ada by the cableman for food and funds 'for the starving Belgians has opened? the pursCs and pockets; of play-goers again. In Wellington, the "Magpies" at Fullers drew down a deluge of coins upon the stago .nightly, as Lou Vernon sang "Throwy throw, throw," to the old lamillar ragtime of "Row, row, row,'* At the Grand, Beaumont Smith's companies likewise have been busy catching silver showers for tho same worthy object. On Saturday night a birthday . cake was auctioned and knocked -down; to Sir Joseph Ward's bid of six .guineas. Sirjoo de- , sired the cake to be handed back to the little boy who had unselfishly given it to the Belgian Fund Instead of scoffing It like boys generally do. ' # * #--.'■ The curly-headed baby of "The Seven Little Australians," a; tot of about 6 years, named Esma Cameron, before the curtain rises on the play, steps to the footlights and bids the audience' rise while she renders the National Anthem On her violin. Altogether the youngsters of tho company are a clever lot, noteworthy for tho natural ways they fill their parts. * * ■ • ■*..■•.' "Babes m the Wood" will leave Sydney next week for New Zealand and will commence its Dominion tour ut Dunedin. The company will proceed North and finish tho tour at Auckland. .# ' • ' * Charley McMahon has disposed of his interest In his Wellington picture show. to Mr. R. J. Paul, who took possession last Saturday. The new pro-

pi-H-tdi* lias had an interest m the Britauniu. and previously was "mine host at l.llenheim, .Hawera. and Paekakariki. -Mr. Carlton, who has a line reipiiiation as a live showman, has been j installed as manager. The New Thea- { m- was' the first of the continuous picture shows m New Keulaaid, and proved a grand success from the opening day. Charley. and Ted Donnelly have ; l.cen 'smoking .fat cigars ever since. "Where to now. Charley?" 'Sydney;" | l.« said. Hurt explained the inexorable ,itv.- of". the "survival of th-- fittest"; a small house cant do much against the Picture' Trust, which now controls the best ilieaiies and thebest programmes. When reminded that the New Theatre always -received a, fair share of public patronage, "Oh,, yes," admitted Charley, but added m bis inimitable style; "unless there's a thousand or two a year m it, it's no. good to me." So Charley, is oft to Sydney to add another continuous show to the scores, already there busily diverting the nimble thrummers and saxpencea from the poor clergy's coffers. Before he leaves New Zealand, however, he intends relieving. Brother Joe at Auckland to enable him to have a well-earned holiday. *. * # The new talent at His Majesty's. Wellington; Uiis week comprises the Ra.nde.ll Jackson Concert Co. and Jimmy Teddy, champion jumper of the world. Thejjackson Co. number five, two ladies and three gents* and. according to the managerial announce .ment, are "recognised to be the best available expression of British entertaining ability, being the leading entertainers for ten consecutive seasons at Margate, England's greatest seaside resort." While not prepared to endorse such celebrity, "The Deadhead" can, testify that the quintette provide a most refreshing change m His Majesty's programme. There's an absence of ragtime; new songs and comedy; are their? strong; forte, and their evening dress and smartness bestow the necessary refinement upon their work that when' a tall, lank comedian makes merry m song over the murder of- his mother-in-law and an annoying organ-grinder, his bloody deeds appear to have been of recent, date, for the public good, and quite all right. *■ * * James Teddy, now nightly hopping over hurdles, fences, and chairs at His Majesty's,* Wellington, is a veritable British kangaroo, and no doubt can hold the championship of the world against any politician m this country. His high jump, feet together, measures Oft Din, and long jump from a, 30ft high platform. 60ft. Over a circle of chairs, on Monday night he recorded 54 separate and continuous jumps, each about 3ft high, and seemed capable of another ,54 if challenged. * .- <* * Writing of Fred Dyer, the Singing... Boxer, who is to appear at His Majesty's, Wellington. .on Monday, "Auckland Truth" says: An interesting and clever item _.<. the exhibition by Fred Dyer of training mctnods adopted by famous boxers, and, incidentally the artiste, who claims to be welter-weight champion of Wales, with an unbeaten record m over 200 fights, indulges m shadow sparring. But Dyer is versatile and possesses a passably good baritone voice, but his best item this week is his impersonations of a London swell and a coster at a boxing contest. . It Is one of the best thorc is on the programme. -* '• .#. ■ *. Miss Nellie Stewart added to her long list of triumphs at His Majesty's Theatre on Tuesday night, when she reappeared before a packed house In tho great historical play "Dv Barry."' which "Is the story of Ayfascinating little milliner who' rose to fame and fortune at the Court of. Louis X.V., m the tempestuous days" of he French Revolution, The character of Jeanette Vaubernier (afterwards "La dv Barry") Is played by Miss Stewart.'and though it Is not always wise to make comparisons, "Truth" ventures to declare that she Is a greater success In that part than as Nell m "Sweet Nell. of Old Drury." Supporting Miss Stewart is a capable company. To follow are "Dorothy o' the Hall" and "Sweet Nell of Old Drury." , ' _^