The Deadhead's

NZ Truth, Issue 976, 9 August 1924, Page 15

The Deadhead's

The first appearance m New Zealand of the Vanbrugh — Boucicault Company took place m Auckland on July 23, when Miss Vanbrugh scored heavily as "Nina" m "His Houbb In Order," and hubby Dion Boucicault (the "Dot" that New, Zealand knew thirty years 'ago) made good as "Hilary." The success of the Auckland season is sufficiently indicated by the fact that the concluding date has been extended from August 12 to August 16 (next Saturday). According to programme, Palmerston. North, Napier and Hastings will'. have 'a cna.rice ' of seeing this finest of comedy actresses and her eminent husband and. talented company; and the Wellington season will- open .on August. 23. Those who saw Pinero's play some years ago will be anxious to see it again, played with so powerful a cast. The Auckland "Star" says of Miss Vanbrugh's "Nina Jesson" that "the climax at the end of the second scene, where she rebels, I was a wonderful piece of emotional acting." Dion, too, is praised; so are Miss Joan Crossley and Mr. C. M. Hallard, who carry the leading "unpopular parts."

On Tuesday evening the Nellie Bramley Company will open m Christchurch'with "Fair and Warmer." A good team — with a good repertoire of excellent comedies and' one drama ("Paid m Full") — the company has won golden opinions m Wellington not only from those who love the old-time legitimate stage \[and who are theretore .chiyalrpusly loyal to a stock company of such merit), but also from the general public. During this concluding week m Wellington a great success has been made of "It Pays to Advertise." Thp capable players forming this company have been reinforced by Mr. Carl Lawson, who baa arrived from Melbourne.

Yet another Wellingtonian has made good away from home— rand m the Homeland. A batch of blue pencilcrossed* papers .from -London, bear tesr 'timony to the success of Esther. Fisher, daughter of F. M. B. Fisher, Who has taken tennis more seriously than he look politics, and has stayed longer m the racquet game. Esther, who bids fair to become the beautiful queen of the piano, has inherited the stlckativeness qualities of her famouß, grandfather, .the late George Fisher, time and again Mayor of Wellington, member of Parliament for the same city, and who rose to Cabinet rank. His son <'i)ahn," Esther's father, . also became a Cabinet Minister. Miss Fisher went to London with her mother, arid has been for years a slave to the keyboard. Her industry, plus a natural musical talent, has won its reward m recognition by th,e leading critics of the Empire's metropolis. The young New Zeolander In her 1924 concert m London confirmed the anticipations of promise glVen at her first concert m 1923. The "Morning. "Post" says she Is "a pianiste altogether out of the common." The "Daily Telegraph" credits her with being an interpreter and her playing as "musical"— a yery flne tribute. Which is good reading. For why shouldn't New Zealand have New Zealand artists contributing its concerts? !! !! !* Ethel Shannon has adopted a baby leopard. The leopard Is already eating but of her hand. It did not take him long to join the ranks. Miss Shannon plays the leading part In "Maytime," an appealing Master Picture based on the popular musical play which toured New Zealand five years ago. :: :: 11 "Harbor Lights," .that famous old London Adelphi drama associated with the name of the ill-fated William Terries, will twinkle from the screen shortly. This celebrated nautical play of Sims and Pettitt lends Itself readily for film purposes. Tom Moore is the dashing Lieut. David Klngsley, Ithe idol of the flappers. ;: j: :: Harrison Ford will soon be seen m "Maytime," a Master Picture. In addition to playing a nineteenth century gentleman, however, he will portray a young man of 1924 with a weakness for chorus girls. 1 : it : : Lois Wilson wears a ring on her third finger. It is said to have been placed there at Christmas time by our fayorlte Juvenile player, Richard Dfx, who will appear shortly m "Quicksands," a Master Picture. (Is this an omen?) it :t- • »s The .role of Ruth Dangan, the erring young English wife m "The Wheel," at the New Palace Theatre, Melbourne, whose indiscretion forms the pivot of the plot, is the longest part Miss Barbara Hoffo has ever esBayed. "She is on the stage," states one writer, "practically during the whole of the play, and her lines are so constructed that more than tho usual concentration is needed to memorise them. [No doubt he means the lines that she speaks.] It is a fine tribute to this appealing young actress' capacity for close application to her work that sho was able to master tho role m the brief time allotted to her for preparation." ' :: :: :: Paramount Pictures are indebted to John Galsworthy, tho popular English author, for one of the curren season's finest screen attractions. It Is "Tho Stranger," which Is the picture title of the book "The First And The Last." In transferring this Btory to tho screen, Paramount has made a picture that has drama and pathos. The cast includes two Paramount favorites m Betty Compson and Richard. j: :i tt "Tho Loves of Pharaoh" Is one of tho finest spectacular photoplays released to date. Tho "New York Journal" says: "Centuries rolled away, and the dead past becomes tho living present when 'The Loves of Pharaoh' was shown at tho Criterion Theatre roconily. Spectators felt themselves not watching a big historic photoplay, but actually participating m a big beroioi

epic. Through the movement of thousands of people, through the rumbling of the empire, there; ran a story so humanly Interesting that the scenes and settings were forgotten In the thrill of the personal romances. The story deserves the' setting, the settings deserve the story. "Wesley Barry has a wonderful collection of— freckles. His next -Master Picture to be screened is "George Washington, Junr." William Archer, England's foremost dramatic critic for many decades, once wrote that "true drama must portray a clash of wills." "His House In' Order" fills this requirement, and probably a better part was never written for a modern actor than Hilary Jesson. No wonder Dion Boucicault, who plays it/refuses to be "puffed" with ridiculous and high-sounding adjectives m the play. "If x we cannot draw audiences on our merits, . superlative descriptions of our talent, paid for at ad much an Inch, will not do it." But his histrionic merits and those of his wife, Irene Vanbrugh, are so outstanding that the management is saved the expense. :: :: :: David Wark Griffith has signed a contract to. produce for Paramount. D. W. Griffith is claimed to be the greatest living individual producer, and since "Intolerance" and "The Birth of a Nation" the, world has looked to this man for the really big things m the art of the screoni and they have received from him m the last ten years some of the most vital documents that have been offered m silent drama. It will now be interesting to watch for the outcome of the alliance' of the great production genius with all the up-to-dateness of the Paramount Studios. As yet no particular task has been .assigned him, tout his first effort m his new atmosphere should | be one of the events of modern screen! art; if it 11 "Dot" (Dion) Boucicault, with, his brilliant and clever wife, Irene Vanbrugh will follow up their present prosperous Auckland season by opening m Wellington dn August 23, with "His House In Order." A decade ago the Brough and Boucicault Company was rehearsing "As You Like It" at the Bijou, Melbourne, m anticipation of a successful Shakespearean season following "Much Ado." Audrey was m the hands of a buxom member of the company who was restive, under "Dot" Boucicault's / drastic methods of stage management. "Dot," although a very small man, was Nero, Legree, and all the rest of them -when handling a bunch of weepf ul women at a rehearsal. "Gallantry," said he, "goefo with bad art." On this particular occasion be got out after Audrey's impersopator with such vehemence that at length the sobbing woman landed him a stunning >box on the ears. Boucicault assumed a studied calm. "Hand In your part," he said. He took over the script, and passed his assailant anotker. "Here," he said, "we'll ihake a little change." The part the lady now held was that of Charles the Wrestler. ■•'. :« 11 11 Eddie Russell, the clever young New York dancer, who lately joined -the cast of "Mr Battling Butler" at New Princess Theatre, Melbourne, tells a good story of a hard-up actor importuning, a tight fisted American theatre mahager'for an advance on his salary. The manager had a glass eye he was inordinately proud of because it matched the other so well that few people Buspected that it was, artificial. After refusing flatly the actor's request for a draw, he gave him a sporting chance to get the money by inviting him to guess which of his eyes was the counterfieit. The Thespian, after a brief keen look at the manager, promptly said: "The left one." Well, you get the money," was the rather grudging response, "but how did you pick it?" "It has more sympathy m it than the right eye," said the actor as he 'picked up the cash. tt :: ; t Theatrical managers m London are perhaps running true to form m the way they are catering for the expected millions— not yet materialised— that the moat brilliant season London has ever had" might be attracting (writes our London correspondent). The old accepted axiom m such circumstances is "why spend money on hew stuff when the old will do the business?" And they are observing that axiom with sincerity. At the present moment there are three grand opera companies all trying to attract business with the old round of German and Italian works, one, the National Opera 1 Company, with the usual leaven of Australians m the cast such as Fred Collier, Elsie Treweek, Eda Bennie, Browning Mummery, the other two being the old favorite Carl Rosa and the "Royal Opera" at Covent Garden. Then there is the Gilbert and Sullivan season at. the Princess Theatre and quite a number of other revivals headed by the "Merry Widow" at popular prices, with George Graves at the Lyceum. * :: t: tj Motion picture players will appear at last before the public as they really are. Known to millions of people through their screen plays, many players pass unrecognised among crowds owing to changed appearance off the silver sheet. Coloring m oomplexions, hair, and eyes, not registered by black and white photography, account for these alterations m appearance. The perfection of the color process used m filming Zane Grey's "Wanderer of the Wasteland," as an Irvin Willat production for Paramount, will make It possible for the public to see their favorites on the screen m colors true to life. Flesh tints, hair and* eye colors are all shown exactly as they are m daily life. Among the players who will appear m "Wanderer of the Wasteland" are Jack Holt, Kathlyn Williams, Noah Beery,, and Blllie Dove.