The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 3

The Deadhead's Diary

The 'principal boy" at the London Drury Lane pantomime, Miss Feone Rogers, an American actress,. has deemod it wise. suddenly to book a passage for New York. The lady has .been voicing pronounced pro-German sentiments, and naturally the caste would Dot have her as a colleague any more. She boasted of writing to German officers. So, back to New York; J. C. Williamson's Gilbert and Sulli- . van Opera Company's departure for England has been put off till a later boat to enable a brief farewell season m Melbourne to be given. Someone asked Muriel Starr whether she had a leaning towards any other career than that of the' stage, and whether at any time she had wished she had never become an actress. "I won't say that at some time or other — m moods of depression, for example — I have never wished I had not ' gone on the stage," said Miss Starr. "But under any circumstances I could not imagine myself m any other walk of life. Imagine me standing behind the counter and selling yards of cloth or ribbons, or trying hats for people. I should lose the firm all its customers. As regards sitting at a typewriter and pounding out letters. I might just as well take a place as cash girl m a store. I never. count my change because I am a terror at adding up figures wrongly. No," declared Miss Starr, "I consider that I would be a hopeless failure at earning my living at anything else but acting, because I think I am the most unbusinesslike person m the worid." . :» n :: Margaret Linden, actress, recently got a verdict for £100 against Manager George Musgrove for breach' of agreement. Seems that Margaret was engaged to play Sophie m "Madame Dv Barry" at £7 per week, for a. term of six months. .On account of the war, she accepted £5 5s per week after two weeks, and later was told that her- services were no longer required., She was playing with Fred Nibloin "Never Say Die" when she answered Mr. Musgrovo's advertisement for a ' dramatic artist. The defence was that 'the war bad broken all theatrical engagements, but the Judge gave Margaret her verdict for £100. ' William Anderson's Dramatic Company had a bad time at King's Theatre, Melbourne, ona recent Saturday night, when a new Australian play — "Sunny Corner" — was staged for the first time, Temple Harrison was th^e author, and as he had considerable melodramatic experience and is no novice at the game, one wonders why this play received such a hostile reception. The actors and actresses had such a bad time that the latter melted into tears, so Temple bravely took the stage and • said that it was a good play if the audience would only ; listen to it." There, is a deolded opinion over Yarra way, that the unpopularity of some of the people connected with the theatre, was the cause of the* disturbance, and- that the new- drama did' not receive fair treatment. : t s 1 . ' ' : x . .. Gaby Deslys, the Parisian dancer whose flirtations with ex-King Manoel was tij.e great sensation some few years ago, apparently is becoming quite staid and respectable. Her mother- now accompanies her .to the music halls. Her views were a trifle stormy when she first burst into fame.- She publicly advocated the "free life," and confessed herself unable to understand how normal people could- tie themselves down to such a thing as marriage. She used to dance rather- entrancing!}' with Harry Pilcer, an American. This dancing companionship, is.'. now. definitely ter-. mlnated. > Harry Pilcer has got, a^new partner, and Gaby D.eslys is how about to appear m a revue by the versatile Sir James Bari;le. .When Harry Pilcer began his new dancing companionship', Gaby Deslys appeared m a box : w ( ith hex mother to applaud 1 her old colleague. . . ... • , Miss Gladys Cooper the actress who went to Franco to cheer up -the soldiers — and she did it right well— -has had a libel case against the "London Mnil," which is 'always flgurivig m libel cases. The "London Mail," which is a scurrilous weekly, made up mostly of "tripe," must not be confused with the prosperous ha'penny " Daily Mail." Glndys secured a verdict for- £1200 damages, but, judging by the look of the rap. she will be lucky when she gets the cash. The paper .referred to a "scandal m theatrelnnd," about a lady known by all and admired by all, m connection with a man known by all, etc. A second man was mentioned, "since tragically gone." The paper also referred to (.ho publication of piclures Hhowlng complete domestic bliss, and asserted that sho was never really happily wed, as s>he rushe-d to a registry office against everybody's advice. The friends of Gladys "Cooper at once saw th* slgnflcn nee of the innuendo, and a Jury has ngrccij. The first man was Dennis Kadio/with whom Gladys Cooper usually acts. The second name referred to a prominent airman, who has since lost his life. The "publication of pictures" referred to the millions of picture postcards of Olndys Cooper, who is one of tiie most beautiful women on the stage, m which nh» is photographed In nil positions, one especially well-known photograph containing the portrnits of her husband and beautiful little daughter Joan, who bears a strong resemblance to her famous mother. Jt :'i :: Captain Oswald Watt whose little flutter In the .Sydney Divorce* Court with the athletic Ivy Schilling as co-respon-dont, caused a mild sensation m Sydney a year or so ngo. has suddenly bocome famous. Oswald was n highflyer In more senses thnn one, and ah an airman he. hns covered himself with gory. Ho learnt to fly at Aldcrshot, and when wnr broke out he offered his services to France, and was accepted with thanks. For hlx brilliant services to Franco he has been decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor. General JofTre taking twenty bars' r«i«t from enticing Or.mans to place it on his chest, while hlfi brother nlrmcn did a triumphant fly overhead. Oswald was born In Sydney, 35 years ago, and Is a "squattah' whon he 1b nt home In Australia. He was an honorary A.D.C. to Sir Harry Rawnon. Hln wife wns the. daughter of a Melbourn* Judge, and after obtaining her divorce from him mnrried a military man In Fvnglnnd. i Ivy Shilling, who ha* dropped the ' German-like c out of her name, is doIng her Ju-jltflti danc* with Fred Leslie In the "Allndin" pnntomtme at Birmingham. Fred Is also lifting up his voice In the classic ditty, ''Sinter Suplc'r Hewlnc Shirts for Soldier.*." It *a.vb PomethlnK for the Australian stan-iio* that they could got n. placn at all m thene very bad tlmei for Btogc people In England.

Harry Lauder has given more than three cheers this time. Cannie Harry has given £ 1000 to the Prince of Wales' Fund. Also, he Has given his only son, who is fighting with a Scots regiment 'm France. Latest news is that he is now reported to be organising a pipe band to tour the old country to assist recruiting. Apparently the bottom has fallen out of the drama business m Britain. Oscar Asche and the beautiful Lilian are going on the vaudeville stage. Spectacular playettes written specially for them will show very much of Oscar #nd Lil at their best. Melodrama m a city theatre for sixpence would have been something to joke about as an unattainable desirability not so very long ago. but such a state of things now holds sway at the Melbourne Princess, to the gratification of many, including George Willoughby, Ltd., whose enterprising prices, 2s, Is and 6d, are meeting with success. The incomparable Genee has changed her mind, and not. retired from the stage. She is now dancing on her dainty toes m America, and, after a few more farewell seasons — including one m this appreciative country, when the war is over — Genee may retire to the domestic hearth. :: :: . :: Madame Melba has decided not to return to London just yet. She has arranged for a concert tour of Yankeeland, beginning m October. In the meantime she will give some concerts m Australia for the benefit of sundry patriotic funds. John McCormack has just concluded making a huge pile of dollars m the United States, so why should not Nellie add to her bank balance? - ' :: :: :^ "High Jinks," as its name implies, is very frivilous, not to say naughty. Her Majesty's, Sydney, is the scene of "High Jinks," and Mr. Hugh Ward must have produced it as an antidote jo the serious gloom that hangs round nowadays. There is no retribution about the latest musical farce; everybody is unconventional, to put it mildly, and revels m sliding from the straight and narrow path. One lady leaves her spouse, and, afteiyJ.2 months of grass widowhood, intq&£*''him that he is the father of a beautiful babygirl, and he dances ragtime madly m his great joy. Then wi fie returns, and the reconciliation is complete. Then there is an American of many dollars who is ill and m. charge of a trained nurse. Nusb registers as his wife at two hotels, and after he has been "fired" he asks for an explanation of her conduct. Nurse looks demurely at him, and says, "I thought that was what you expected of me." It is all very gay, and of course things never happen like that m real life; it is after having sniffed at a wonderful perfume that the complete demoralisation begins. Frederic Shipman has booked the Grand Opera House, Wellington, for' March 27 to April 2, when he will produce the wonderful photo-play, "Neptune's Daughter," which specially features Annette Kellerma'n, the Australian: • aquatic artiste. The beautiful Annette m. "Neptune's Daughter" has broken' all records m New York and other big- cities of America. It sounds almost unbelievable that a picture, play could pack a Broadway theatre for three hundred nights, but this is the actual record of '"STeptune's Daughter" at the Globe Theatre, New York City. Miss" Kellerman is seen m all her wonderful beauty .-"of form, and clearly displays those marvellous aquatic feats, which have gained her world-wide fame. She also demonstrates that she is a splendid actress, a remarkable dancer, an expert awordswoman, and mistress of a hundred arts, which contribute to the success of the picture, which takes two hour's to produce. Two hundred actors and 500 supernumeraries vy.ere engaged m the production of "Neptune's Daughter." Harry I'limnier • and Winter Hall, two New Zealunder.H, • have specially organised a strong dramatic company to tour the Dominion for the sole purpose of raising money for the relief of the Belgians. The whole of the company's profits are to be handed over to tho New Zealand authorities. The Wellington season opens at the Grand Opera House on Saturday, 20th Inst., when Oscar Wilde's play, "Lady Windermore's Fan," will bo played. "The Mummy and the Humming Bird" will follow. Secretaries 6f patriotic and social societies and clubs are invited to co-operate, arrange theatre nights, and otherwise assist such a worthy object. Mons. Poincaire, now appearing- at His Majesty's. Wellington, is about tho most versatile whistler and mimic that has ever .'appeared m thl«< land. His "imi-ta-ahions" of the notes of the thrush, linnet, nightingale, canary, and other feathered singers are perfect. Likewise his squeal or a pig, bark of a dog, or duck quacks aro sufficiently faithful to deceive a farmer.