The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 604, 13 January 1917, Page 2

The Deadhead's Diary

Gerald Harcourt just played "Lively" as it should b© played m the Royal Dramatic Cq.'s production of "Sunday." ' ■■-. : :: '.- " :": :: ■• ' . "So Long Letty" holds the Theatre Royal m Ghristchurch just now and is doing biff business. "To-night's the Night" and "High Jinks" follow. Another change of management -at the KTng*a Theatre, Wellington,- is reported. The King's job seems to be a kind of "Village Blacksmith" engagement- — "Week m, week out" :: :: :: The "brainy boys" down at the head office of the New Zealand Picture Supplies, Ltd., now regard "Deadhead" as a prophet with honor m his own country* , --s :.';'■ ■ '■ :: ■"• :: . . Harold Carr, the live- wire picture showman, is again m Wellington, after a somewhat torrid time m Pahnerston North. He still wears the famous "regal" smile. . :: ; :: H '.. ■. Love and conscription are very much alike. They level 1 all ranks and not only lay the shepherd's , crook beside the sceptre (as the poet hath it), but m Wellington it appears as if conscription is shortly going to change somebody's abode from the'grand home of a general to the hutment of a private. Harry Little, the well-fed baritone appearing at His Majesty's, Wellington, should have a heart to heart talk with little Dora Oberman, on the same bill, and ask that lady V she can put him next to a few good songs. 'Andsome 'Arry's present repertoire seems to consist only of very tripey flapper-food m the song line. »: :t :i Mr. Handricks, whose sojourn m Wellington with the "combine" finished on Monday last, will be m charge of the Zealanctta Hall, Palmerston- North, for some time. Six weeks ago the Zealandia Hall, was one of the forgotten places of this island, now it , is historic, and as an advertiser puts it, "unforgetable." But that's another story. : '. .:: ■.■.. .. :» '■ ; ' »x •'• The Royal Dramatic and Comedy Co;, with the Sullivan Bros, at the helm, play In Duriedin until the 19th. On the Saturday and Monday, January 20 and 22, Invefcargill will be treated; and the company hits Gore on the 23rd. After that it will work its way to Wellington. • ..'■■• The Royal Dramatic and Comedy Co. now m Dunedin promises to giro the high-priced companies a knock "by touring New Zealand with good stuff on the 4b, 2s 6d and Is scale. It is understood that the company's operations 'will be confined to this country for a considerable period and, judging by the class of play being put on now, it Should be supported better than ever when its merit becomes known. : - ... ■It '', . 81 . - ll : ■.; ■ It is quite likely that the next J. C. Williamson attraction to play at the Wellington Grand Opera House will be "Damaged Goods." There are only four characters m Brieux's play. Mr, Scanlon, a new arrival from South Africa, who will play the role of the doctor, and Lewis Wllloughby will play the part of the very, much 'damaged husband. Sydney Stirling will be the irate father-in-law, and Gertrude Boswell the nurse. ■ . \ »!■••■ •■. -:: '..• -. :: -. '>r ■''■ The effect of war on a fellow's nerves was manifested during the production of "Sunday" at the Christchurch tre Royal last week. When a revolver was fired on the stage, a returned soldier m the dress circle fell forward m a faint and had to be carried out. His trip through the thickest of the mill when German iron filled the air was nothing to him, but it left his nerves m such a state that the explosion of a toy pistol crumpled /them up. That's war. li V :i II -Madge Surtees, who played Sunday m the comedy drama of that name, bids fair to earn herself a place on the top of the tree. Tittell Brune played the same part m New Zealand about ten years ago, but her fault was that she could not master the essential "fiapperising" which comes natural to Madge Surees, whose real and mannerisms necessitate a minimum of theatrical effort m the portrayal of a character like Sunday, who might have been Madge's twin sister. Arthur Homsley, an English comedian now appearing at His Majesty's, Wellington, introduces the conversational film. Whilst a moving picture shows the doings of the Black Hand Society. Hemsley appears not only m the picture, but m the flesh as "Bullethead," chief of the desperate gang. In the picture, "Bullethead" is seen m the most extraordinary predicaments. Outside the picture "Bullethead" directs his own operations. Synchronisation of voice and action are perfect, and the idea is as well worked out as it is ingenious. To mention only two illusions — a box of matches is apparently thrown from the stage on to the film, and a coin from the film on the stage. In this year's pantomime, "The House that Jack Built," the J. C, Williamson management has given particular attention to tho inclusion of as big a variety of features as possible. Tho varied rtcope of the pantomime," which is In two acts comprising • eighteeu scenes, will bo Indicated from tho following list of features: Building- a chicken-house, the animated dolls, the procession of vegetables, dance of the emotions, the uproarious telephone scene, the minstrel show, tho haunted mirror, the terrifying "tanks." the Allies and the Anzacs, the Bacchanalian banquet, the graceful skating girls, the comedy duel, the wonderful Jingle Johnny, tho ballot of seasons, the- deck of H.M.A.S. Australia, ihe children's animal dance, the Palace of Empire, march past of tho Allies. Ritchie's Reckless Rough Riders, and patriotic and naval and military pageants. Edmund Breeze, tho rugged picture star, is a "grafter" — not In the American sense of the word, but the Now Zealand. He Is about the hardest worker at hard worU wr have «oen. lie can fell a tn-o with the bet*t c>r theni: pick and shovel arc not unknown Implements *••> him, and he can Klvo many a whurfalih* lumper poims In liflifssr and puahiuK. li« cum haul timber, use n punt pole, row a boat In the open sea (not S.u easy as it louk.s). take a trick »t thr> wheel, and can «k> Just about any old. Job that cumtw aloriK. And he Uoexn'r do i? like Uw» ueiKil picture ncW«»v bu( an If !>«< wi-rc used to I' anil HiuHl It. it 1* .Hfllculi to nuesH hIM :»«s<», for hl« fnfe und his llft;»r< v don't ai!TfM». And It In said that Urvesti* dots all thn übovr things, und .tome moro. not only In front «,»f the camera, Imi for th« fun at It and .to Uffp Ut. H!s flr*i picture knocked him jiiit, co h«,' Ret to and "physical euKur-t-4 1 ' til! ho can uuitf'.uy ihcifi ul! iiu\v.