The Deadhead's Diary

NZ Truth, Issue 915, 9 June 1923, Page 15

The Deadhead's Diary

Mr. Andrew Hodge has had a most varied and Interesting career, and his adventures, if put into book form, would satisfy even the most ardent boy enthusiast for wild life. He has not always been an actor by a long way. A sailor for twelve years, he afterwards travelled extensively m India, China and throughout the Bast. He worked m the salmon fisheries, m Alaska, then became a timber-lumber-er m British Columbia, afterwards appearing as a cowboy m Texas. He also appeared m many of Bill Harfs pictures, being well known as a daredevil stuntist m the saddle. Mr. Hodge never talks of his adventures, as, m private life, he Is one of the mildest of moo.

It Is about two years since Emelie Polinl toured New Zealand with a couple of dramatic successes, "De Luxe Annie" and "Eyes of Youth," and during: her present tour four other new plays will be staged In "My Lady's Dres?s," "The Lie," -French Leave," and "The Flaw." Supporting this popular star is the brilliant actor, Mr. Frank Harvey. Miss Pollni considers that "My Lady's Dress" is the most strenuous piece m which she has over appeared. In this dramatic novelty she has to play seven distinnt characters, and from the rise of the curtain to the end of the play she is almost continuously on the stage. The strain on the actress is considerable, but she prefers to, bo fully occupied, so that she can maintain the concentration she requires for the best results.

The second production, Arthur Henry Jones' famous drama, "The He," tells the story of a sister's self-sacrifice m taking the brand of shame m place of her younger sister. The -story is full of strong dramatic action, with plenty of scope for Miss Pollni. As she has done with past roles, the earnest and gifted actress has made a deep study of the new character. It will afford her just the opportunity she delights m, enabling her to unfold the development of a young girl filled with all the dreams ancV hopes of a beautiful maiden suddenly confronted by the darker 9ide of life and embarking upon a course of action that calls for supreme self-sacrifice.

:: :: :: Jean Qerardy, the Belgian 'cellist, carried all before him m his Australian I'tOUr. His Sydney season was extonded and the Melbourne season looks at the time the last Australian mall left as though it would be extended indefinitely. Beautiful as was M. Jean Gerardy*s playing when he was m Australia and New Zealand before, It is eclipsed by his playing now. After Visiting Adelaide and Perth M. Gerardy will come over to New Zealand to commence his season In Auckland m July. Owing to English engagements the tour will not be ft long one, as he Is due back m England m September. M. Gerardy will bring with him Miss Essie Ackland, the young Australian contralto, who has been hailed as Ada Crossley's successor, and Mr. George Stewart McManus, the brilliant American pianist

Miss Lily Molloy. one of the newFuller actorine Btars, confesses to an unusual hobby. She possesses a most fearful and wonderful collection of stockings of every hue, variety and texture, which she has gathered during her visits to different parts of the globe. Of course, Miss Molloy never wears them, except m some of her comedy characters on the stage, but unusual colorings fascinates her. The result is that the talented young comedienne can ncv«- nass a shop m Which anything out of the ordinary is displayed without adding to her collection.

:: :* :: One of the most attractive acts appearing on tho Fuller Circuit is the Royal Grand Opera Singers, a talented quintette, comprising Signor Carl Martini (tenor). Mlhs Joyce Hadley (scprano), Miss Fanny Wo°d (contralto), Signor Paynne and Charles Melvin (basso). This act was much fppre?ia ted at His Majesty's during the past few weeks, their chorus work being brilliant, whilst the solo work loft nothing to be desired. Carl Martini the tenor, has the makings of ?" «£ll«mt voice. He Is onyyoung yet, but is able to manage all tho bg tenor arias, his voice being heard to advantage m the quartette from Rlgoletto" Miss Joyce Hadloy is a brilliant soprano, finding no 1 " hlttinc- top C's without effort, whilst Miss Fanny Wood is the P° s . sess< "; <\ f a rich velvety contralto, which | is most enjoyable m solos and a decided acquisition In the chorus ensembles.

A. S. M. Hutchlnson, -whose novel "If Winter Cornea" Is one of the wortci 3 biggest best sellers, recently mentioned how he came to write the story, the dramatisation of which is being staged by J. c. Williamson. Ltd. "All the characters representing Effle," he sa» Q . "were m my head yoars bofore I wrote about thorn. They Just moved m my brain from 1915 to 1919, doing nothing. I write from character," ho explained, '•not from plot." After the war. m which he took part with the Royal Engineers, later with the Canadian Corps, he started out to write the book.

Jackie Coogan's latest picture is laid m a mythical Balkan principality, looked somewhere near the present CzocNj-Slovaklan republic. It is being adapted by C. Gardner Sullivan and Eve Unaoll from "lion* Tjlve tho King," by Mary Roberta Rlnchart.

Miss Stella Power, who is touring Australia and New Zealand under the directipn of Mr. 33. J. Gravestock. startled the audience In Melbourne a: one of her concerts recently with a G m alt. To the uninitiated man or woman this means nothing. It certainly does not affect the price of commodities. To the musician, however, it discloses a phenomenal range. In most singers this particular G is at dead as the deadest Trentham. E in alt, two whole notes lower, is as high as most soprano music goes. In cadenzas and certain coloratura music the singer is not circumscribed by the actual music, but may range at* her own sweet will and try the vocal mountain tops.

Certain critics abhor these higl^ notes except where erpressly written They are to them anathema. In otlu'( words, if a singer gives a high F tlu critio responds with a low growling D . "It came naturally to me," explained Miss Power. "In fact, I used to sing F in alt at the Conservatorium. Melba used to ask, "Where ia tho gir who sings the F in At that timi she d-id not know my name. A. critic said that Dame Melba would not approve of my singing these top notes, smiled the singer gleefully. "He littlr knew that the last advice she gave me was, 'Give them your F*s, Stella: they'll love them.' " So Miss Powoi has gone one better and given them G'si — so many people drop them. It appears that no one goes beyond G. It isn't done. Also very few ballad? or music hall songs call for the exercise of G's. So it is to Miss Powc you must look to hit the high spots.

Mr. Herbert F. Wood, otherwis "Tony," who has resigned the pos! tlon of secretary of the Wellingto Orphans' Club after eight years' service, was handed kudos and a pleasing parcel by thlt club's executive at its Inst korero. ' Orphan Batt spoke m hJffh praise of Orphan Wood's popularity and qualifications, and of hh untiring efforts towards the advancement of the club. Tony was pleased with his new suitcase and pocket wallet, whilst Mrs, Wood was presented with a travelling rug.

Moißelwitsch, the Russian pianist, when In America, visited a family no) far out of Philadelphia. Among thoscwho gathered to greet the pianist was a little old grandmother who. to the horror of her relatives, asked him to play "My Little Grey Home m the West." Moiseiwltsch didn't faint or oven get annoyed. He sat down -with infinite good humor and tact, and play> ed the old tune as if it had been written by Chopin. The gratitude of the old lady was delightful to see.

Claude Flemmlngr, appearing aa Sir George Paddock m "The Arcadians" at Melbourne, has a perpetual grievance against the printers. They will not spell his name correctly. Mr. Flemmlng is very particular about the two m's m his name, but on almost, every occasion one of them Is dropped out. The printer appears to con>:der that no one of the name of Flemmim? should spell his name with two m's, so he takes It upon himself to throw one overboard. This is done so consistently that If Mr. Flexnmlng were not an actor who believed In the long arm of coincidence, he' would be af tho opinion that there was a genera' conspiracy to mutilate his name and wound his dignity.

AgTien Dobson, who Is making- a big hit with Fullers' dramatic players on tho other side, ia frequently asked to;' advice regarding going on the stago and she believes that the life to • woman who has any ambitions, and any womanly feeling In her, makes her a broader-mlnd-ed and better woman than the averago life led by n. girl could. Why? Because there are such a varied round of parts to be played, and each part generally possesses an atmosphere all its own, provided the artist takes the trouble to study it carefully and comprehend tho typo to bo portrayed. As a training for the stage, \fi.ss Dob.son knows no better medium than a stock company, for there is a now piece each week. wMch moans constant concentration oa one's work to get through the dally rehearsals and the night performances.

Norma Talmadge has just finished her work In "Ashes of Vengeance," a Biiectftcular historical romance of the Franco of tho time of Charlos IX. Glffnntic sets have been built for this production, including: a whole Parisian unnrtor of the Sixteenth Century, three chateaux and a reproduction of the Louvre ballroom.

Buster Kcaton'a "The Three Arcs" {s bclnff edited and assembled for relon so. For this production Buster built a reproduction of the Colosseum m Rome. It is called the moßt pretentl«tuM comedy ho has attempted, and takes the poor married man down through the agea from caveman day* to 1928.