STAGE FROM THE STALLS

Southland Times, Issue 17482, 24 July 1915, Page 9

STAGE FROM THE STALLS

MUNICIPAL THEATRE BOOKINGS. July 26 and 27 J. C. Williamson, Ltd. August 12 —Dickenson. August 12— J. C. Williamson. August 14—Dickenson. August 22 to 2S —Competitions. Sept. 2 and 4 —Allan Doone. S«g)t. 11 and 12— E. J. Carroll. Sept. 15, 16 and 17— E. Uranscom.be. October 12 and 12— J. C. Williamson. December 10 and 11— G. Stevenson. ZEALAND!A HALL. Fullers’ Pictures every evening. THE LYCEUM. Hayward’s Pictures every evening. POPULAR PICTURE PALACE. Continuous, 2 to 5, 7 to 10. It is not unlikely that Muriel Starr will lengthen her stay in Australia, prior to returning to America, to permit of another appearance in Melbourne. Should tlie visit he made the. popular star will he seen in her latest successes, “Under Cover" and “The Law of the Land." From “Potash and Perlmutter," at Melbourne Theatre Royal: “Twenty-two dollars has he charged for sleeping-cars, and he was recommended as a wideawake salesman! No wonder he can’t sell goods—he sleeps all the time.” Another: “Cost you seven dollars for a dinner? What did yon eat—goldfish?” Mr Arthur Stigant, of the “Cinderella’’ Company, is declared to he the most artistic dame who has yet appeared in pantomime in New Zealand. Marie Eaton has achieved something of a grand opera success in “'The Girl on the Film” at Melbourne Her Majesty’s. The clever young Australian’s singing in the role of Signorina Gesticulata, the Italian cinema actress, is one of the features of the piece, her top note putting the finishing touch :o a remarkable performance. Miss Eaton, it will he remembered, has already up - peared in an operatic role, that of the suspicious wife in “The Secret of Suzanne,” which preceded the Genee per - formance. Her fiery acting and brilliant singing are one of the most enjoyable features of “The Girl on the Film.” E. J. Carroll, who brought “Runty Pulls the strings” to >tew Zealand, and also “The Rosary,” has gone to America to see if there is any new attraction to be picked up for Australasia. The mock court presided over by Barry Lupino (prosecutor), Jack MeArdle (judge) and Arthur Stigant (vendor), comedians in “Cinderella." realised just on £IOOO for the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund.

The methods of a producer in obtaining- certain effects arc not always appreciated or understood by people outside the ■ business. George Harmup the producer iif "Potash and Perl mutt er" at Melbourne Theatre Koval rang up a furnish,trig house and mentioned his reuuirements for the third act of the play. "T want a red carpet.” said Mr Barmin, “a showy sort of pattern on it, and green furniture." "Red carpet and green furniture!" exclaimed the head of the tiepart meat. 1 mpossible!" "That's Just what T want,” calmly responded Mr Barmin. ".lust send it along." The producer enjoyed the situation, when the amazed head of the department came along himself, and it was explained to him that the .scene, which depicted the home of the Potashes, laid to be characterised by gaudy taste and showy display, with every evidence of the overexpenditure of money. Then the head of tile department realised that ordinary house furnishing and furnishing a scene on’ the stage are entirely different propositions. Mr Karrie Marscliell. who is well - Unown in Dunedin, lias written some capital verses on the war entitled "Kidd from Timaru.” I-lvery line vibrates with life. As a recitation it lias already made a hit on the vaudeville stage. Mr Harold ParUes who was here with “The Blue Moon" Company some eight years ago and who is now on the l-Tilier-Brennan circuit is reciting the poem. Wilson Barrett, the celebrated actor, used to toll an amusing story against himself. At a time when lie had a lot of workmen redecorating his private residence, thinking to give them a treat, lie asked if after work one evening, they would like to leave seats to go amt S“e him play in "The Bights o hondoii, at the Princess Theatre. They said they didn't mind if they did. and being complimentary tickets, all went on a Saturday night to see their employer's performance. At the end of the week Burroti’s eye caught sight of this item against’each workman’s name on the pay sheet: "Saturday night. Pom- hours’ overtime at Princess Theatre, eight shillings.”

Kllen Terry’s great confrere, Mins. Sarah Bernhardt, is going to appear in Ja.ndon daring the summer in a specialiy crealed role of a soldier who lias lost his leg, the “Divine Sarah.” in spite of her age and maimed condition, utterly rotusing to leave the stage. To this; plucky resolve she is following the example of the famous actor of Garrick’s time, .Samuel Foote, who in (lie middle of ids career had to have Ids leg amputated as the result of an accident. Diverse war sympathies caused estrangement between M. Candle KaintSaens, grand opera composer, and lime. Klise Kutscherra, Belgian prima donna, wbo is "court singer" in Saxony and Co-burg-Gotlia. Kutscherra greeted the composer soon after lie stepped ashore a I Xew fork on Ids way to the Panama Kxposilion. "Do not speak to me.” cried Saint-Saens in French: “you are Gorman!” The prima donna and tile composer had been fast friends before tiie war. Kufsoherra’s husband is serving under the Belgian flag. One of the lines in "On Our .Selection.” now running in Sydney. which never fails to evoke a big laugh is Maloney’s (Krnuind Duggan) greeting to Dad on Ids return from Brisbane. "Simre. it’s an honour to shake hands with you dear of face!” This, it is learned, was tirst delivered by accident, when it was so appreciated that Mr Duggan decided to continue it. It is a genuine Irishism. The actor having been detained by a visitor, missed ids cue, and. rushing on to the stage disconcerted, made the mistake which lias ever since been an unfailing laughter signal.

Adelaide Royal is seeing Nellie Stewart in a .series of effective American perversions of lOuropean history. The “Sydney Bulletin” says; youthful, she dominates the stage. Her comedy is a marvel of calculated art; every coo, every gasp, has its effective mission. Occasionally she gels a moment of tragedy, of dramatic lire, and then she shows that she is master of tliat branch too. Nancye Stewart, showing great promise, “doubled” thx'oe small parts in “Du Barry.” and is a pathetic Queen of Scots in. the Mlizabethan dfama. Many hmniuets have been thrown to Tommy Atkins at one time and another, and particularly at such a time as the present, hut none finer than the following from Mr Kennerley Rnmford; “During my travels as a singer 1 have

met many splendid types of men of all nations, but the grandest of the lot is the British soldiers, as 1 have seen him to-day on the fields of Flanders.” Except for a brief holiday at Christmas Mr Rum ford’s address lias been "somewhere in France,” since November last. He returned to London a few days ago, and sang before their Majesties at a concert promoted by his wife Mine. Clara Butt, in aid of the Rod Cross funds, Mr and Airs Kennerley Romford have in great part suspended professional singing dur, ing the war, he attending the wounded at the front and she giving her voice to tlie good cause at home. Air Humford goes back to France. “J low long I shall stay,” lie says, "will depend upon tiie duration of tiro war.” Touching the lighter side of war. Air Romford told of football matches behind the lines contested as keenly as Cup ties, with shells hurtling .through the air not so very far off. He attended a grand horse show which only needed Lord Lonsdale’s but-ton-hole and big cigar to ho an Olympia affair. But best of all the diversions were tlie soldiers’ Saturday evening sing-songs the enemy permitting. He joined in as heartily as the rest, as soloist and in chorus. Of tlie songs he sang the men’s favourites were “Yeoman of England” and “Drink to Ale only"; and of “Tipperary" there was no end—“a very fine song with a very line swing.” said Mr Romford. “Some of tlie soldiers had excellent voices. It was a surprise to me to find them able to sing so well after ail they had come through during the cold rains of the winter months.” Asked how his own voice fared Air Romford had nothing to complain of. He had really forgotten about it out there, hut his friends in London assured him it was unite all right. AVhat lie mainly thought about in occasional moments of depression was home, sweet home. No other sacrifice was worthy of mention.