The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 569, 13 May 1916, Page 2

The Deadhead's Diary

Harry Sweeney, the brilliant young juvenile actor last seen here with the Glad Eye Company, appears as Feldwebel, a German captain m "Under Fire.' 1 t» :s a i Old John Fuller has again demonstrated what a shrewd bird he is as a showman, when he booked the two Yids, Jack Cook and Louis Handman. who found themselves m the dook at ! the Auckland S.M's, Court, charged with stowing themselves away on the Dongarra. Billed as "The Stowaways" the "act', was responsible for one of tbe bigrgest Monday night crowds ever accommodated at the Auckland Opera House. s: ".■■■■•.::•■■■ :t Next week's big flhh at the King's wijl bo another Famous Players production, "The Morals of Marcus," adapted from the famous novel and play by William J. Locke. Locke is amongst the first five English novelists, and nowhere has he given better play to his whimsical humor than m the above work. Marie Doro is m the lead as the beauteous "Carlotta." There are four acts of delightful comedy- drama and romantic adventures galore. •.'.' •; -::.■/■ :: ■. : : :: -. A new light comedian, Louis Kimball, makes his first appearance m New Zealand, m "Under Fire," He has an interesting record of comedy successes In America, as he played the lead m "Brewster's Millions" throughout the United States, the comedy lead m "Baby Mine," and Jimmy Gilley m the principal touring company .yith "Bought and Paid For." Fresh, bright and breezy, Mr. Kimball has a personality and youthfulnesß that reach over tho footlights and immediately put him on good terms with his audience. In "Under Fire" his role is that_ or a humorous American war corres-' pondent, and he has many laughterraislng lines to deliver, :i :: :: George Barnum, the producer of "Under Fire" has to his credit the brilliant achievement of having produced for the J. 'C. -Williamson management no fewer than ' '"' under six months. Each been characterised by tiawless technique and remarkable attention to detail that denote the skilled producer. Mr. Barnum, who was born m New York, was Intended 'for a naval career, but /after attending the naval academy fpr over two years, he experienced & predilection for the stage and joined a stock company. ; From acting he graduated to producing, and for 20 years was associated with. the Belasco, Harris and Frohmann managements. He staged many important productions m New York for H. B. Harris until that manager perished m the Titanic. »» '''', '-' There is some strong meat m the fllmN line m store for patrons of the King's Theatre, Wellington. On May 22 the first Tom Inoh— Triangle picture will be released. It is entitled "The Coward" and is a 6000 ft. American Civil War spectacular drama. The motive of the play ia a fiery old father who shames his qoward son by going to the colors m his stead. There are some amazing battle scenes. ; Following "The Coward" the biggest picture yet made by the world renowned London Film Co.. "The Christian" will be shown. This pioturisation of HallCairie's famous novel is 8000 feet m length, and provides a complete evening's entertainment. Derwent HallCame, the novelist's son, takes the part of John Storm, and Glory Quayle Is featured by Miss Elizabeth Risdon. This picture should be a riot amongst the ladles. :: t« s: Fancy singing a cow to sleep! Jack Martin, an American, cowboy comedian, who will shortly tour the Fuller time m New Zealand, has done it hundreds of times. Cattle, of course, do not possess ears attuned to grand opera standard, and It would be useless to attempt to make a restless cow sleep by warbling slabs from n Travatoro. Suburban people with the habit of keeping a cow should learn Jack Martin's "Cowboy Lullaby." This Is warranted to' pure the most aggravated form of insomnia among cattle but, according to the cowboy* the words should be sung softly and croonily to obtain the desired effect. In the cattlb country m America the cattlemen have proved over and over again that music hath charms to sooth the savage beast, and Jack Martin waxes quite sentimental as he recalls the words of the ; "Cowboy's Lullaby." "Now. lazy cattle, don't heed any rattle; Lay quietly down until morn, For if you skeedaddle I'll jump m my saddle • And hedge you as sure as you're born." Another name for the song is "Putting the cow to sleep," and the cowmen warble It as they slowly patrol round tho big herd of a night. The Idea/is to give the cattle confidence and prevent them stampeding. : ; : : s s Mr. Peter Dawaon. tho celebrated baritone, who Is starring with signal success m tho Hugh D. Mclntosh theatre, m Sydney, recently talked to an interviewer about New Zealand. He »aid, "Despite all «c hear about the Dominion's advanced legislation, tho country is essentially conservative, and regards every new thing with a good deal of suspicion. Very loyal to the old loves Is New Zealand. Sintr any song endwired by memories and you're right. Appeal to any good old-fashioned British sentiment, and the people are with you cordially. It's a cheerful country, even when It Js m appearance a trifla dour on top. Everywhere 1 wont I received such hospitality, such unwavering kindness, as It wanna my heart to remember. They'll stand anything from iho «tninger who seems inclined to play the mime; they oven stood my golf. Prohibition? Well, my oxporlt-nce is that New Zealand In the matter of liquor In dally use l« pretty much tin a level with, other decent countries. DrunfomnesA «« becoming unpopular, because tins feeling ot nil «oud clUzenH is against It, Some queer things happen. Tho ono placo m the Dominion In which I had to doviao sublie schemes to dodge the 100- lavish and Indiscriminate hospitality of tho good men with a bottlo of that Scotch stuff was To KulU. which la what you call absolute prohibition. Ono Journalist friend said to me, 'Don't go there. Peter, you'ro too young to risk it • He knew something, ihnt follow. If you refuse to drink whisky In To Kuitl tlujy'U run it In on you as a lm»r-Wtt*n, The move you mU the more they think you want: it « almost uncanny. -Hut U»e N«*' urn tfrcut chap*. TUoir Hindnous In more than skhtrdtH»t>. Tboy roally like to make \n>o\>U- happy. -\« a KcjH'ral rulo, thi» briphu-r «nd f?nyi>r a Hhow I*. thti b<«tt«r Nt*w Zealand will like It. Klght through v pood part iif n)v pwn tour 1 «uffor«.'<l from U»« comm'tlilon of v party of Wolllntrton anmuntrs who w>»« out with The Private «$ r cT«tnry' «r ono of those old farce eomfdlea. -In Uotoroa a fellow showed nuj thirty poems hv Had wrltti-n to a Ktrl m ib«» TlvoU l-'olllea- nt,<t bad Ktuff. clllum 1 advUftd him to try Die poctpa vn ftnc' ut t!i« fntnUy "uouklicn." und h« wtld lu-'d think hard about It. 1 lu»i»" tt«.t did. because 1 lovo to llv«?n up ih«? family i»rv»H, (Hv<» my lov<« \u 7««?»U\Tid, BViywivy. I «nv»n»t St." <\U»K«d thai S'ct^r, on cottctudin^ hl« TSvoll contracu, Intcuda to go homo and cnthiL

George Barnum, producer of "Under Fire" is a firm believer m not disclosing stage secrets that dispel illusion. His effects m the war play are said to be the best that he has devised. "What I want from tho public is forgetfulness that they are effects," he says. If you print how they are got it would be m the minds of your readers when they saw the play. It would only spoil their enjoyment.

: : : : : : New York "Dramatic News" thus records the success of Fred Niblo, who has become a great favorite both on and -off -the stage, m the big city: "Fred Niblo has made such a real hit m 'Hit-the-Trail Holiday that the song writers have written a selection and have dedicated it to him. He is deserving of the honor, for there is not an actor on the stage who enjoys more popularity than he does." Then again Fred, who is a pretty shrewd pea, might have commissioned that song writer to write that selection, but avaunt such base suspicions!

:: s: :: David Griffiths, producer of "The Birth of a Nation,", the biggest motion picture so far conceived and manufactured is hard at work on another monster production to be called "The Mother and the Law." Griffiths is spending money like water on this film, a,nd his latest wheeze is to. swear the stars and camera men into secrecy, while certain scenes are being enacted and photographed behind locked doors. The secret stage settings took six months to build, but there is no truth m the story that the carpenters and property men were done to death immediately after their work was accomplished, so that the secrets would be kept. ■•■.'.

:: :; :; Carlton Stuart was called a big brute > from the gallery m one of Ms scenes m "Under Fire" recently. He admits that he wanted to convey that impression. As Major von Brenig In the play, he is the commander Who leads the invaders into the Belgian Inn, and after .posting the proclamation, sternly orders the innkeeper (J. B. Atholwood) to be shot. Mr. Stuart gives no exaggerated representation of "frlghtfulness," he merely speaks and acts with precision, as a part of the German military machine. His handling of tho alight German accent m the fluent English allotted to him is excellent, and what ho says m German is correctly delivered, -

n :: :: While Ben Fuller was In 'Murka he cast his eagle eye round for a comedienne to step into Daisy Jerome's shoes. His selection was Miss Madge Maitland, who has now, opened m Sydney and made good. Her's is the highest-salaried single turn that has been taken from the United States for some time. Mis 3 Maitland is announced as ono of the big headllners m the States, who depends for her success upon personality and versatility as a comedienne. Her powers of mimicry are one of her accomplishments, and she makes a feature . of character work. American artists m New Zealand who had been on the same bill with her said that she should be ."a riot" here, and her Sydney showing certainly lived up to the prophecy. Ben booked Miss Maitland solely on her reputation, and he never saw the lady till he met her on the Sydney boat at 'Frisco. :■"-•'..

Miss Emma Temple, who appears as the mother of the English Johnnie m "Under Fire" has a sincere little sketch depicting a mother's conflicting -emotions. When. war is being discussed, her son, a typical youth- about town, says that If England goes to war, tie Is off to Havana for a health trip. His mother is shocked. "How can you say that, Guy?" she exclaims, and upbraids him. Then of a sudden it is announced that England is m the war and that every man is needed. Captain Redmond of tho Irish Guards is present when this statement is made. "I must be off to the war office," ho says. "Every man is needed." "And I'll go with you" comes the surprising expression of determination from the Johnny. Now his mother Is torn between love for her boy and his duty to himself and his country.- The scene strikes home to every .mother. Mlas Emma Temple is simple and womanly In It. Always Miss Temple can be relied upon for convincing acting, In "Under Fire" Bhe plays with discretion and effect, and the discerning play-goer finds her work artistically satisfying.

The. most stupendous picture production ever made is acknowledged to be "The Birth of a Nation," presented by J. C. Williamson. Ltd.. at the Theatre Royal. Sydney, for the first timo m Australia on Easter Saturday night: "The Birth of a Nation* holds a unique record. In New York it had the longest run of any attraction ever staged m that city, and the prices of admission wero those charged for the regular theatrical attractions. Not only does the picture present a series of gigantic spectacles, m which figure over 18,000 men, and 3000 horses, but there is a story running throughout of lovo and romance In tender and stirring mood. All the most vivid phases of the Americau Civil War are depicted, including enthralling spectacles of war and tho swing of battle that ebbed and (lowed throughout tho States when • the red demon of war was let looae, and the frengy of hate between iho North and South swept over tho land. Tho world's greatest picture producer, tho famous D. W. Qrltflthß, who is said to be moderately paid at £ 20,000 per y#uv took over n. year to make "The Birth of a Nation," which oost over J2 100.000 to produce. It makes a complete evenIng's performance, and the dim will bo one of the J. C. Williamson attractions to tour New Zealuml m tliu future.