The Stage

Otago Witness, Issue 3775, 20 July 1926, Page 72

The Stage

BOOKINGS.

PRINCESS THEATRE. Fullers’ Vaudeville nightly. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. July 13 to 24.—Futurists Company. July 28 to August 2.—“ Lilac Time,” musical comedy September 2 to 6.—J. 0. Williamson (pencilled). September 1 to 18. —Muriel Starr Company. September 20 to October 9. —Dunedin Competitions.

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Bv Pasquin.

The Con Silk Stocking Revue Company was the principal attraction at the Princess Theatre last week. “Nicey, Nicey,” was the title of the revue, and it fittingly described the appearance of the Winsome Brunettes, as the chorus is known, and the other female members oi this bright company. The performance was a well-balanced one, as regarded vocal items and patter, and nothing wat overdone. A great deal of fun centred round a vocal item entitled “In the Year 2010,” which depicted the- decline of the power of man and the dominance of the fair sex. All the songs were well sung. The humour, although a prominent feature was not overdone, and was not unduly laboured. Pic and Alf, on the vaudeville side, gave a pot pourri comedy, in which they featured an upside-down dance The Cycling Brocks are a pair of smart performers, and they do wonders with bicycles of various sizes. Blondi Robinson, the whimsical comedian, styles himself “just a fool.” Apdale’s Circus, which includes the well-known monkey comedian Mutt, was responsible for an unusual turn At its season, which commences at His Majesty’s Theatre to-night for six nights and a matinee, the English Futurists Revue Company will present a new form of entertainment which is at present the. rage of London, known as a Cabare: Show. G.W. Desmond and Cyril North-cc-te will be remembered as principa' comedians with the late Sydney James’3 Royal Strollers, who toured the Dominion a few years ago. Gus Dawson is already known to Dunedin audiences, together with Eily Dalgleish, both late of the New Zealand Diggers. The company also includes Georgi Corelli (operatic tenor), Ira Love (Chariot’s Revue, London), Winnie Edgerton (soprano), Barry Ross (barotone), Gladys Thomas (the singing conductress); also the dainty “Cabaret Kittens” ballet and the Futurists’ Jazz Orchestra. Nothing to compare with the unaccompanied singing of the Don Cossacks Choir has been heard in Dunedin in the past. The choir concluded its brief season on Monday night, when, as on the previous evening, those present were given a musical treat. The choir drew fairsized audiences, but not nearly as large as they should have been, considering the unique opportunity offered. I understand that Mr Alf. Linley is bringing a coon revue company and a jazz band from America, and that it will comemence a tour of the Dominion in September next. Allan Wilkie will take a flying visit to London before he reorganises his Shakespearian Company. Since the fire which destroyed all his property occurred, Mr Wilkie has received many offers of help, including fIOO and the offer of a wardrobe from J. C. Williamson. Estelle Rose, the well-known vaudeville star, was quietly married to Alec Kelleway, the actor, in Melbourne. The bride, who gave her name as Esther Rosenthal, is the daughter of Mr Max Rosenthal, an actor at present appearing in New York. Mr Kelleway was born in Capetown, and has appeared in many musical productions in Melbourne. He had a leading part in one of the revues at the London Hippodrome, and is well known in England. Miss Rose came to Australia tor the Tivoli Theatres some years ago, and recently she had been starring at the Bijou Theatre, where Mr Kelleway has also been in revue. John Drinkwater is dramatising Thomas Hardys novel, “The Life and Death of the Mayor of Casterbridge.” This novel was published by Hardy in 1884-5, and ranks among his best productions, although it is by no means one of the best known. The Mayor of Casterbridge enters the story as a nomadic labourer who sells his wife, under an ancient English right, at a fair. He wanders through the countryside, and eventually is reunited with his wife and becomes the Mayor. A father, a mother, three of their children, and the children’s uncle took part in a performance of “Hamlet” at the Lyceum Theatre, London, recently. They were: Lewis Casson, Sybil Thorndike (Mrs C'asson), Mary Ann, and John Casson, Russell Thorndike (brother to Miss Thorndike). Miss Thorndike played the Queen, Mr Casson took the part of Fortinbras, Russell Thorndike was Hamlet, and the three children “walked on.” Before the play began Mr Casson went to his children’s dressing-room and gravely wish"'! th«*n good luck for the afternoon. The per-, formance drew a full house. The latest development in a dispute between the Birmingham authorities and George Robey, the famous comedian, was the confiscation by the police of a poster outside the theatre at which Robey was appearing. The poster displayed portion of a Treasury note, including the King’s head, facing a portrait of Robey. The inscription read: “Two G.R’s. We’d like to see more of them.” The dispute began last November, when, in addition to portion of a sketch which Robey produced, the Birmingham play-liccnsing justices censored one of his songs. “I stopped. I looked, I listened.” Robey protested that he had sung the song all over the country for ten years. The sketch, he said, had run for six months in London without interference.

Madame Eleanore Cliadupeg, mother of Pola Negri, the famous film star, announces the engagement of her daughter to Rudolph Valentino, the popular screen “lover.” It is expected that the wedding will take place in Paris next April. Valentino, the “flappers’ idol,” has already been married twice, his second wife, who recently divorced him, being Winifred Hudnut, daughter of a millionaire. At one time it was reported that he would marry Miss Gladys Cooper, the English actress. Pola Negri, whose former husband was a Polish count, was at one time expected to marry Charlie Chaplin, and, later, W. T. Tilden, the teunis champion.

Mr Maughan Barnett, Auckland city organist, who is on a visit to England, gave a highly successful recital at the Westminster Central Hall, London, in April. The verdict of the Musical Times was as follows: “Mr Barnett gave ample proof of sound musicianship, brilliant technique, a thoroughly artistic temperament, and an evident desirt to please more than one element in his considerable audience. Such adaptability, because rather rare, was welcome.” Mr Barnett’s programme included his own “Berceuse” ind “Fantasy on National Airs,” the .atter, according to accounts, nearly bringing down the house. Toward the end of May “The Farmer’s Wife,” at the Court Theatre, London, passed its 1000th performance—one of the •most remarkable successes in London stage history. “ Rose Marie ” has passed its 500th performance at Drury Lane; “Is Zat So?” at the Apollo, its 100th; and “ R.5.V.P.,” at the Vaudeville, its 100th. The harpsichord used in “ Sweet Nell of Old Drury,” at the Nellie Stewart revival in Sydney was the origin-1 instrument of the first production in Australia. It has been stored in Melbourne for 20 years, only being taken from its wrappings on the infrequent occasions when the play was revived. Could it speak it could tell of the great triumphs of the past in which it has shared. Denis Kehoe and his company are again touring New Zealand with “ The Man from Toronto.” Mdle. Stuart, the delightfully graceful danseuse of the Pavlova company, is leaving at the end of the Australian tour, when she will go to San Francisco to be married. Mr Harison Cook is to judge the vocal section at the Wanganui competitions. The other judge- are Mr Bernard Page for instrumental, and Mr Stanley Warrick, for the elocutionary sections. Mr E. J. Gravestock announces that he has now definitely arranged for Backhaus, known as “ the world’s greatest pianist,” to commence his New Zealand tour in Auckland on August 3 next. Backhaus is at present playing in Sydney. Miss Marie Ney, the successful young New Zealand actress, now playing in the “Rescue Party” at the Comedy theatre, has divulged the secret of her engagement to Mr Maurice Brownlie, a prominent member of the All Blacks football team. Although the engagement took place, by post, some weeks ago, no one at the theatre knew anything about it at the time, until some one noticed an engagement ring on Miss Ney’s finger. She then confessed. The Daily Chronicle savs that Miss Ney first met Mr Brownlie, who is an old friend of her brother’s, in London during the All Blacks’ tour in this country last year. “He called on me with -n Introduction from my brother. It was almost a case of love at first sight, but I did not see so very much of him over here, and the engagement resulted from correspondence we had had after he returned to New Zealand. Personally, I am not fond of sport, but naturally I became a little interested in football after watching him play over here.” Miss Joan Kingdon, who toured Australia and New Zealand with Mr Seymour Hicks and Miss Ellaline Terriss, is to be married shortly to Mr Roland Johnson, an author and lawn tennis coach. Miss Kingdon is understudying Miss Fay Compton at the Haymarket in “This Woman Business.” The engaged couple met in rather remarkable circumstances last October, when both were travelling by the same train from the Riviera to Paris. The story goes that the English girl, who was travelling alone and was being worried by strangers in the compartment, who would persist in talking to her, although 6he had told them their attentions were unwelcome. Then a young Englishman, chancing to pass the compartment, saw what was happening, and constituted himself a rescue party. A week later the two again met in London, and they became engaged. “I was much relieved v hen he came to my aid in the train,” Miss Kingdon said. “He was wearing plus-fours, which seemed to mark him out as an Englishman, and that gave me confidence. I discovered afterwards that he vas only travelling as far as Dijon, but ho changed his mind, and escorted me home to London.” • It is announced (writes our London correspondent) that Ida Molesworth and Tqmpler Powell have acquired for production in the West End “Twelve Miles Out,” a notable New York success of 1925-26. It is a melodrama by William Anthony M'Guire, and teils of the bitter struggles of a rum-runner and a “hijacker” for the love of a prohibitionist’s beautiful wife. Like “White Cargo,” it has onk one female character. Sir James Barrie, it is recalled, once whimsically, yet withal modestly, remarked: “I wish my plays were better written. The only reason I don’t write them better U because I can’t.” The famous dramatist, indeed, is never satisfied with his work, and is ever alert to give it a little extra polish. His comedy, “Mary Rose,” has recently been revived at the London Haymarket Theatre. During one of the rehearsals Sir James pulled up one of the actors who had used the word “inexplicable,” which was, of course, in his part. “I don’t like that word,” said the author, “I can’t hear it plainly. Cut it out and use 'unfathomable’ instead.” Which was done, and the alteration remains. The faculty bf thus feeling how simple words would affect an ordinary audience shows the born playwright. The dog in “The Misleading Lady,” at Sydney Palace, was a bit bored with the proceedings on the opening night (writes a Sydney Bulletin correspondent)• Jta

stage owner had to give it a shove along from behind as he sent it off on the scent. Dogs are usually indifferent aetors, although the type Guy Bates Post used in “ The Masquerader ” and Charles Arnold's Newfoundland employed in “Hans the Boatman '*'* were regarded as embellishments to the pieces in which they appeared. I remember a dog, borrowed for a play staged first in Auckland, which made a hit. An angry stage father placed the hound in the garden to separate an enamoured juvenile from the imprisoned girl. Contrary to the author’s intentions, which were that the dog should recognise the juvenile as an old friend, Towser growled biliously at the form which appeared on the top of the stage wall at the opening night’s performance. There was a significant delay, which caused the house to titter, and the impassioned youth decided to chance his luck. The next few minutes were the most exciting in his theatrical history. The curtain descended amidst the appreciative roars of the audience as the juvenile dashed off at the o.p. * entrance, with Towser cleaving to the seat of his pants. What Strauss is to Germany and Austria, Sibelius is to Finland. Cable despatches from Finland indicate that the sixtieth anniversary of the birthday of Sibelius was the occasion of almost national rejoicings. The President of the Republic of Finland bestowed upon him the Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, Parliament voted an increase in his pension from 50,000 to 100,000 marks. He has, by the way, already enjoyed a pension for 10 years. A national subscription raised 270,000 marks, of which 150,000 was dffered for the immediate use and the remainder invested. This, apparently, is one of the few cases where, during the lifetime of a genius, great work is practically rewarded. “Loose Ends,” by Geoffrev Warren, is a very interesting play which had its first production at the Duke of York’s (writes a London correspondent,). “ Geoffrey Warren ” is in reality Dion Titheradge, who, in addition to writing the piece, took the chief role himself and won eulogies. The play deals with a set of cynical degenerates of cocktail habits, including a fashionable actress, an Etoncropped girl half-ashamed of her faminity, and a man who has served 15 years for a murder. It is on serious lines, the question as to the justification of the murder is dealt with in a very interesting way, the characterisation (with two Striking,exceptions) is sound, and it would take very little to make it a very fine play. Mr Titheradge was called on to make a speech on the first night, and facetiously announced that “ the author is not in the audience.” It saj;s something for the toleration of the critics that, although in this as in a previous effort the author introduced an offensive caricature of a journalist, all the newspapers have been more than generous in their appreciation. WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. (By PErEB Pan.) July 15. Dear “Pasquin,”—The music of Schubert, employed to add to the beauty and attractiveness of “Lilac Time,” is pleasing the ears of crowded audiences at the Grand Opera House nightly. A huge race crowd was present last Saturday night, when the initial Wellington presentation was made. And the play, with its charming, old-time dressing and its singing aplenty, has evidently caught on. Despite cold nights, each performance has been seen by delighted crowds. Schubert’s “Marche Militaire,” “Moment Musical,” “Cradle Song,” “Serenade,” and “Hark, Hark, the Lark” are incorporated in the play’s action. Much of the success of the singing is due to John Ralston as Schubert himself: honours are high with him. Claude Fleming dominates most of his scenes, too, and Adele Crane is a winsome heroine. Beryl Walkley, who unfortunately lias no singing to do, is cast as a tempestuous Spanish girl driven by jealousy to broken-hearted volubility. The other singing parts are in capable hands. To-night the Don Cossacks give the first of their return farewell concerts. The booking is a splendid indication of the place in public opinion that this famous choir has gained. The members leave at daylight on Saturday for Home, so there will be no return season beyond the two concerts being given here. A feast of unaccompanied choral singing is expected, standing out as unique in spiritual intensity, control of volume, and sweetness. The British war film “Ypres’ will have its initial presentation at the Grand Opera House on Monday night next, when this tale of the salient’s tragedy and comedy will be sure to attract hundreds of war-interested people. An estaminet prologue precedes the film. Signor Lucien Cesaroni gives another of his costume recitals in his jstudio on Saturday night, assisted by some of his students. The night will be Mozartian in nature. Elton Black, a dashing Scottish comedian lias entered into revue, as have other vaudeville performers, and while the performance is good, perhaps his admirers would prefer him in straightout vaudeville work. The programme is amusing, the first selection on Monday night being the absurd “Angelina’s Wedding,” in which there is fun in abundance. The Taylor-Carlton Pierrots improve every week, and are in tip-top form this week with attractive novelty items ranging from nonsense to really good classical stuff. A local band of artists is presenting the revue “Ah-ha” in St. Anne’s Hall • tonight—a sparkling two-act comedy brimful of comedy and jcatchy musical numbers. Mr L. D. Austin, the well-known Wellington conductor, lias gone south under engagement. His place as the De Luxe Orchestra leader lias been given to Miss Adele Bryers, a popular musician.