The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 510, 27 March 1915, Page 3

The Deadhead's Diary

Pansy Montagu, the Australian "altogether" model who was discovered by a former artist of Melbourne "Truth," and introduced by him to the Australian footlights m a scanty costume of white chalk, is now m Noo Yark, wondering why the 'Murkans don't work themselves hoarse over her stunt. In proper England Pansy caused the London County Council to raise merry Hades when she sought to wear similar garments m the London music halls.

Richard Weathersby, speaking of Miss Gladys Moncrleff, the soprano who was here recently with the Opera Co., expressed the opinion that the young Brisbane singer has a brilliant future before her. "Miss Moncrieff is not only a brilliant singer," remarked Mr. Weathersby, "but she has also the gift of expression and a nice appreciation o£ detail that counts for so much m a characterisation. Moreover, Miss Moncrieff is ambitious and a hard worker. There is no doubt whatever that she will make a name for herself." Other pros., perhaps jealous professionals, venture the opinion that ' the gay Gladys is not strong enough to stand the pace of a popular prima donna. Time will tell.

Richard Weathersby, the producer of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, says that at a certain small town m New Zealand the company visited recentlythere seemed to be just a little uncertainty amongst a few- of the . inhabitants as to the nature of the company's offerings. An argument was m progress at a local boardinghouse. "Look here," said one of the "paying guests," j "this Gilbert and Sullivan sort of plays don't suit me. They haven't even got a waltz, and no musical show is any good that can't be used for dance music." "Well," said' another, "for my part I don't see any originality m these plays. I saw a couple of them m Melbourne and the jokes were all old. I'd heard them done to death years before." ' :: :: >: •the conclusion of Florence Young's Co.'s recent tour of New Zealand with "The Climax" ended rather m a "denouement;" The Wellington season proved very discouraging to the treasury, Florrie became indisposed and the show did not show oh the last night announced to show, but m lieu thereof Reginald -Roberts and Claude Bantock showed before the Beak, it appears that the management provoked a mercenary dispute with "Jimmy" Matheson, -the advance, anent the ghost which didn't walk, and James immediately booked up "Bobby" and "Banty" for an unrehearsed performance before Magistrate Riddell on the last day of the season. Messrs. Stephenson and Linley had directed the company right through the Dominion to Auckland, where their contract terminated. Neglect was alleged against Mathewson, but the charge was not sustained, and his Worship awarded him £11 19s and £3 11s costs on his bill of £19 13s Sd against the co.

As was to be expected, the PlimmerHall patriotic project gives promise of being flag-wagged to desperation, if nothing more torrid. It is a great pity this sdrt of thing is necessaryj that the need exists: for speechifying, auction - eerlng.'and the repetition of ''Gbrsave" on brass bands and pianofortes at double forte somewhat Interrupt, if they don't actually dislocate, the continuity of a good play like "Lady Windermere's Fan." The only redeeming feature- of the annoyance Is that Is done m the interests of a good object, to help the ruined Belgians. -On Saturday night, a hnnd-paintcd souvenir programme was auctioned by Mr. A. G. Wallace, who relieved the monotony of the bidtaking by a little comedy of his own. Being first knocked down at £10, it was sold again and again at £5 a time until the sum of £75 wa? realised. If that kind of performance is repeated every night of the tour through the Dominion, the Plimmer-Hall Co. will have beaten the Salvation Army's self-denial record.

The little venture into business on their own account by three old principals of J. C. Williamson's Royal Comics, appears to have encountered the usual trials and troubles which are Initial and inevitable to most new enterprises. The indifferent patronage bestowed on Florence Young's Co. pretty well all over New Zealand must surely indicate that Florrie's fame or Roberta's reputation were not the "mustard plaster" that perhaps they imagined when with "The Firm." Both Miss Young and Mr. Roberts are still m good voice, and "The Climax" was rather a good little play of its kind. But neither Florrie, Bobby, or Banty, or the whole Co. put together, could "draw." Was 'The Firm's" hall-mark required? After all. prestige counts. No doubt the talented trio have learnt by now that to paddle their own canoe is altogether a different class of travelling to first saloon on a J.C.W. liner, with "Dick" Stewart, Harold Ashton, or somo other experienced skipper aboard. And to make the passage all the roughor, "Bobby," who was therecognised admiral of "The Climax." was roaring nnd boiling over like a Rotoruft geyser nearly the whohe of the tour.

Messrs. Harry PJlmmcr and Winter Hail deserve special success with their patriotic project for the raising of money for the Belgium Relief Fund. They hnve organised 11 very flne company, and have selected two plays bristling with splendid entertainment. On Saturday night the company made n tlrst appearance at the Grand Opera House. Wellington, where "Lady Wlnd.?rniere's Fun" was presented with all its dramatic episodes. Oscar Wilde's plays are mostly noted for brilliant dialogue, biting cynicism and fine construction; In this one, no less than m his other works, are these features predominant. The cast was well allotted. Beatrice Day was never seen to suit a part better than she did that of Mrs. Erlynne, a sassiety adventuress with a past. Winter Hall, always n powerful player, was fine as the polished, sincere Lord Windermore. It seemed a pity that the patriotic Harry Pllmmer was allotted Urn role of Lord Darlington, a despicable flatterer, sniffing round the young wife of a club pal, alas. j\ part ho portrayed as to the manner born. Another gent, of special ability Is H. W. Varna, who whs Lord Augustus Lorton, n social "Johnny." to whom any lady might (ell a tale, with success. Miss Kva Shnnnhan as l^atly Wlndermero. the young. Inexperienced mother, and Nellie Calvin, n.H Duchess of lierwirk. a garrulous scandal -monger, provided cn~ pnhlr- Interpretations of different types r>r social Indies. There are several other good artist" Hint ••"mplote, jhc cast. The second play, "The. Mummy and the Humming Bird 11 hud not be*n presented when thoao para were written.

Popular music hall gag being fired off at present: — The Glgglesome Girl: "Oh, don't make me laugh, I have a weak back." The Knut: "Dearie, darling, how long have you had it?" The Carissima: "Why a week back." (Roars of laughter). The Knut: "It is just as well it isn't a week end." (The audience goes into hysterics.)

it :: :: Harry Chadivlck, whose ever-lasting smile was one of the main factors of Ulumination of the Christchurch Opera House during his managerial term there, is now facing the footlights m Westralia, with a concertina stunt, which earns him a whole heap of recalls nightly. Harry was also In charge of Fullers' vaudeville show m the old The. atrc Royal, Wellington, for a short term.

Freddie Shipman and Mrs. Shipman have returned from t'other side of the globe. It was intended to bring out Madame Schumann Heink, the celebrated contralto, to sing to us, but on account of the lady being German, the contract was cancelled. Instead of the frau he brought a picture play, previously described m these columns, featuring Annettee. Kellerman as "Neptune's Daughter."

J: :i :: CharlesA. Millward, of "Bought and Paid For," at Melbourne Theatre Royal, has a colored valet, Frank Something-or-other, who comee from Mauritius. Frank is very proud of being a British subject. The other day he entered Mr. Millward's dressingroom with a : newspaper m his hand. His face was beamirig. "I see we have been giving them another beating," he remarked, pointing to the war news. Frank went to see the "Cinderella" pantomime at Her Majesty's. "I liked it very much," he informed Mr. Millward. "It is a good performance for that kind of thing, but rather senseless. I liked Mr. . Lupino, but I pitied him for the senseless things he had to do. He fell down such a lot. Now, I like to see a man behave as a gentleman on the stage, just like you do." "But," Mr. Millward pointed out, "I don't behave like a gentleman m •Bought and Paid For.' I get drunk." "That's right," replied Frank, "you get drunk as a gentleman should."

For some time; past "The Triad" and "The Theatre," tjwo reptile contemporaries that profess to provide cultured criticism of music, drama, and art, Have been endeavoring to smite each other most unpleasantly. "The Theatre," which, by the way, is edited by an ex-"Truth" scribe, put m this up-per-cut: That unconscious comedian of culture, C. N. Baeyertz. accuses Elsie Spain of making "ers" of all her "ors." This Is very painful I and ridiculous. It is strange that Heir Baeyertz, of all people, should lodge this complaint, as he suffers m spelling what he alleges of the English girl m song. ' "The Triad" editor regarded that as a ■foul, so Charles Nalder Baeyertz appealed to 'sHonor for £1000 as recompense for the reflection on his nationality, contending that the .little" par. inferred that he was a German, and, therefore, disloyal and unworthy of trust and confidence; whereas, m truth, his ancestry was Belgian, and there was no suggestion of 'German blood m him. Last Tuesday the horsehair referee awarded the damaged editor Is, so the sensitive Charles Nalder, who unfeelingly criticised the ancient John Fuller's voice as "a pig's whistle," has now discovered that one "bob" is a long, long way from a thousand quid. If Is Is not regarded as contemptuous damages m law, it is very near zero, and the question for serious and lengthy legal argument will now be, Who will pay costs?