THE DEADHEAD'S DIARY

NZ Truth, Issue 985, 11 October 1924, Page 15

THE DEADHEAD'S DIARY

As previously announced by the J. C. Williamson management, they will present to Dominion theatregoers at regular intervals, new and complete companies of the world's entertainers selected from the leading English, American and Continental theatres. Following on the success of Bransby Williams and Co., the second complete organisation is headed by another English star, "The Prince of Vaudeville," Hetty King, described as the "world's most famous male impersonator." The company supporting this artist includes Edna Thomas, a London singer of plantation songs and negro spirituals. Donald and Carson are a Scottish comedian arid his'bonnie .lassie. A pantomimist and juggler is Ed. La Vine, who supplied the big comedy act at the last panto; at the Lyceum Theatre, London. Holloway and Austin present an act on the wire billed as "Away from the beaten track." Roman sports and pastimes "as they were not," is the act of Laveen and Cross, who present- burlesque poses on" famous sculptors and painters. Dudley Dale is a. cartoonist and dancer, and Harry Jacobs is musical director. The company will open m Wellington on October 19. «

Haying toured the South Island exhaustively, the troupe of ten composing the Pisk Jubilee Singers commence a week's tour m I-lawkes Bay next week, before opening m Wellington on October 20. The Fisk Jubilee Singers originated m 1563, and" now- claim, to be the oldest touring company m the world. In the intervening years the name has been billed through every clime, and it is estimated that the favorite "Steal Away" has been sung by these people 16,000 times. The present band of Singers are excep-tionally-well trained and the melody and sentiment of their plantation hymns and the old. plaintive cottonfield songs are reminiscent of the first troupe of Jubilee Singers. After a ■week m Wellington .the company will flo the smalls m the district and Manawatu.

Romance is not confined to" the age of top bootsand s\jyshing; plumes, it is the keynote of the thrilling drama of the stage, "More to 'be Pitied Than, Scorned." t : : : : t ""Vengeance of the Deep" promises to be a genuine novelty. Most of the exciting incidents take place on the bottom of the ocean. It is interesting to know how tho beautiful film actresses choose their dresses for their, most important scenes. When Carmel Myers, m 'Poisoned Paradise," was told to dress herself suitably m order to call upon the hero, and induce him to visit her villa, she selected a close fitting:, clinging gown of black velvet, with long sleeves and a high neck of black lace, and a close fitting hat adorned with black jet and a draped veil." She considered this costume appealed by its very restraint. After an absence of eighteen months m New Zealand, Nat Phillips and Roy Rene, better known as Stiff y and Mo, are back m Sydney. During their tour- of N.Z. the popular comedians appeared for seventy consecutive weeks and broke records m every city m which they appeared with the Fullers.. It is interesting to note that this clever combination has been m existence for over eight years, and during that time . have not lost more than eight weeks. In a recent drilling centre of ' England, the Sergeant Major, one of those gloriously gruff and amusing people we got to know m the war, m desperation told his men to- put- their rifles m a heap and' go and see' Hetty King use hers at the local music hall. "She may be able to learn. you, for I can't," was the. final touch. Hetty King, the star attraction of J. C. Williamson's No. 2 Company of Entertainers, has been doing soldier studies for so many years that she can handle a rifle at flouble time, doirtg all the movements twice as briskly as is normal. Her delightful, military characters have been created by standing near parade grounds and copying every movement and characteristic of the soldier. In "How to Educate a Wife" Monte Blue tries to subdue Marie Prevost, but finds it is harder than it looks. Pauline Frederick, the famous screen star, who is to visit New Zealand under engagement to Mr. E. J. Can-oil, will be seen shortly m her latest Mas-' ter Picture, "Let No Man Put Asunder." She is the first of the great movie stars to visit this part of the world. She is shingled, she is fair, she has personality. The first of the Famous Forty Pictures to be released at the beginning of the coming year will be "Manhandled," with Gloria . Swanson. "Manhandled" is a simple human story of a young girl behind a counter m a big department store. She comes to the realisation that just as merchandise is sold at bargain prises, from over handling, so do women pay the price of reputation for the same reason. The story has been cleverly conceived and is one of the finest dramas that will be presented m the coming yeai\ • There has been speculation as to the player to fill the screen role of "Peter Pan." Finally the question was placed before Sir James Barrie, who viewed screen tests of more than one hundred candidates for the role. The result of this exhaustive search is contained m the following cable: "Hiclts, Famfilm, Sydney. Sir James Barrie personally selects Betty Bronson, seventeen -year-old New Jersey girl, to play 'Peter Pan.' Almost unknown m the screen world, but La'sky Brenon and others declare her to be ideal choice for the role."