STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 11

STALLS GOSSIP.

"' THE MIKADO." -A Candid Critic" supplies a few notes on tlio production of this opera by the New I'h mouth Operatic Society. The performance on Tuesday night was good, and it sensibly and visibly improved on 'Wednesday and Thursday, when most of the defects noticeable at the lirst performance were eliminated. 1 say "most of." for there were some incidents that were unpardonable, even m an amateur show. ''The Mikado" is not an opera to be hanky-pankycd with, so why on earth was Mr. Clark allowed to introduce a visibly inade-to-order-and-ell'eet verse into that beautiful solo. "A Wandering Minstrel"? Again, where was the necessity for local allusions? These were crude, and distinctly out of place; there was certainly no humor in these in a Japanese atmosphere. The libretto of any of Gilbert and Sullivan'* works is quite good enough for the playgoing public without amateurish efforts at embellishment. The responsible persons grievously erred in this respect. I was much impressed with Mr. [laslam's performance as "Ko-Ko" until lie came to "The Flowers that Bloom in the spring." and his following solo, "Tit Willow." Mr. Ilaslam rendered these as if he were a comic vocalist on,'say, the Fuller circuit. He was forcing humor, and entirely forgot the delicious subtlety of the verses. I wonder if Mr. Ilaslam ever heard that prince of operatic comedians, Howard Vernon, sing "'Tit Willow." I'm afraTd not.

Mr. MacDiarmid was distinctly good as tlic Mikado, but Mr. Gray was rather too pompous and rigid as Pooh Hall (he should have let hmself relax more). What is Miss V. Gilbert doing on the amateur stage? As Peep Bo she was delightful. Shi' was Peep 'Bo to the T.Y. Writer has seen ''The Mikado" more times than he cares to remember, and Miss V, Gilbert's performance ranks among the best he has witnessed. As Yum Yum. Miss T. Gilbert was scarcely demure enough, but little fault could otherwise be found with her performance, and the same can he said of I'ltti Sing (Miss K. fßemietl). The "three little maids" sang and acted most pleasingly, and were good. Miss Maud Peart, in the thankless part of Kalisha, interpreted the role to perfection. Fortunate, indeed, was the Society to have her services.

There should bo no interpolation in a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, but that of the ballet at the end of Act I. must be forgiven. It was excellently arranged and performed. The work of the chorus was, in the two finales esperially, very effective, the voices being well balanced, and the orchestra's work redounded to their credit. MIMES, MUSIC, AND MOVIES. While having supper at a cabaret in Now York one night, and the orchestra were playing "Tipperary," someone asked Mr. Hugh .J. Ward if he would dance, "Not to that tune," answered Mr. Ward. "I know too many fine fellows who are dying to it." * * * *

It had been the gossip of the wings and the dressing-rooms that the gilded nut of the cast was at last going to the I'ront. When the chilly cynic of the company heard it he said: "Going to the front, is he? Have they made him acting manager, then ?''—London Opinion. » * * *

Chester Conklin, lio of the enormous moustache and the baggy pants and peaked cap, who is always bubbling over with fun, is in a class by himself. His one ambition in life is to make people laugh. Ho was born in Osklaloosa, lowa, and lie used to cry as a boy whenever that amisaton was hurleTi at him. When he grew older he learned to take Osklaloosa as a huge joke, and set sail for the larger towns of America. He began work on the stage as a baggage man and actor combined, and soon he developed a style of comedy that made people laugh. It was mostly in little touring companies that he became a real actor, that is, an actor who bad to study anything from 30 to 40 sides one day and play them the following day, get very little money, and scarcely any food. Since he became a picture performer he has gradually increased his salary, and in a few years' time, he says, he will bo able to buy a farm, and employ the best of farmers to look • after it on a salary, while he smokes fat cigars and banks the profits.

Evelyn Thaw was a lady of the ehorua when Harry Thaw, scion of a Pitsburg millionaire family, married her. If he had not married her he would have had no reason for shooting the great New York architect, Stanford White, he would not have had to pour out money in years of legal lighting to regain his freedom, and Evelyn Nesbit (for Mrs. Thaw has gone back to her first name) would never have become a theatrical star of "the first magnitude. But as Thaw did shoot White, it now happens that with the revival of the legal issues of the case and the decision whereby Tlriw regains freedom, Evelyn Nesbit become a theatrical record breaker in America. In Toledo the previous highwater mark in booking had been touched by the vaudeville star, Eva Tanguay; in Cleveland it was reached by Sarah Bernhardt. Evelyn has beaten both. The lady is also playing for the camera, and at present there is a "movie" beiug shown in Sydney, "The Threads of Destiny," which features her. The picture should appear here later on.

Who is the most famous man in Britain? (asks the Ladies Pictorial). You would immediately cite the names of the King, Lord Kitchener, Sir John French, Mr. Lloyd fieorge. And you would not receive -the prize, for your answer would be wrong. The most popular man in Britain is the best-known actor in the world. Over twelve million people gaze on his face every day throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and America. He has succeeded to the throne of the exuberant Bunny. He is a cinema actor, and his name is Charles Clialpin. How strange is Same. In America there are said to be Chaplin ties, Chaplin shirts, Chaplin cocktails, Chaplin yachts, and Chaplin clubs and societies. One American city rejoices in a Chaplin Street. Yet this genius is quite a youth, under twentyiive, and two years ago was the unknown member of a troupe of music hall knockabout comedians. To-day his income is terrific. Toole left a fortune of £70,000. Charlie must make that almost in a year. Even his feet are insured for £3,000. He was born in Camberwell, and it is but two years since be left for Los Angeles. It shall never be said that we do not appreciate his worth, for only last month 140,000 picture postcards of him were sold in London alone. Yet any day the word may come, tossed from Holland or some other neutral State, that only in the strongholds of Prussian culture are the excel- , lenciea of Charlie Caaolia fully valued.

One of I in- rit-lipst actresses in England is Miss Lillah McCarthy, the wife of -Mr. Granville Barker. Under her father's will she came into a fortune some time ago of £50,000. * * * *

An Australian photo-play, 'The Loyal Rebel," is having a successful showing in Sydney. Figuring in its action are Mr. Reynolds Denniston, Mr. Charles Villiers "and Miss Maisie Carte (a Wellington girl). * $ * 4

Sydney Sun says it would be easy to stage a heavyweight comedy on the Australian stage just now. Lincoln Plmner, Tom McLarnie, John Webster, Shep Cam]) and 'Hob Greig have an aggregate weight of over 11001b, and they are all available. * * * a

Another young Australian singer, Miss Vera Leslie, is coining to tiie front in London. She is a pupil of Madame Amy Sherwin, the Tasmanian nightingale, anil when she sang recently at the Steimvay Hall she was accorded high praise "by the leading critics. * » * i

Madame Sarah Bernhardt has cancelled her projected American tour. During a performance for the cinematograph she found she was unable to use her artificial leg sufficiently well to enable her to walk. So, it is stated, she has abandoned her intention to reappear on the stage. * • » *

When Fred Mace arrived at the Keystone studios in Edendale, California, he expected to have a few days' rest before opening with Mack Sennet's company on the following Monday. Mr. Sennet could not see why good 'light should be wasted, and thirty minutes after Mace walked through the big gate he was made up and ready for work. The original Keystone four are now reunited— Mack Sennet, Mabel Normand, Fred Mace and Ford Sterling. « * * *

A policeman who chanced to turn a street corner recently was almost frozen with horror to sec a girl stab an elderly man. About to rush to the scene, the officer obtained a glimpse of the girl's face. With a shrug of his shoulders, he proceeded on his way. "These moving picture people sure do fool a follow," he muttered disgustedly. The girl who did the killing was Ormo Hawley, one of the Lubin Company's star actresses, who is as well known to the "Force" as are the names of the streets of their beat. » * * * .

An amusing incident occurred in Sydney recently, when a dear old lady, filled with indignation against the "shirkers," stopped outside a picture theatre and glared short-sightedly through her spectacles at the profile model of Charlie Chaplin outside. "There's another of them," she exclaimed in shrill tones to her astonished niece, waving her umbrella emphatically. "Six months' training for that young fellow would make a man of him!"

Says ''Yung" in the Bulletin:—Final results of the eight-months' ballot for the most popular "movies" actress, conducted by a Yankee picture-show magazine, give Clara Kimball Yoilhg 442,340 votes. Mary Pickford, who was leading right into the straight, passed the post fiOOO votes behind. Alice Joyce finished in the ruck, with Mary Fuller and Blanche Sweet. The winner witt be best remembered in this corner of the world for her appearance in ''Hearts in Exile." * * * *

J. 0. Williamson, Ltd., have initiated a beauty competition in connection with their pantomime production, "Mother Goose," at Her Majesty's, Melbourne. Applicants for inclusion in the chorus are invited to forward their photographs to the pantomime producer, a selection being made of those attractive enough to compete. The winners will be given engagements for the complete tour of the pantomime throughout Australia and New Zealand, extending over about tea months; and they will be einematographed and displayed on the screen as the "pantomine beauty show." » * * *

Mr. Hugh D. Mcintosh has leased Miss Lizette Parkes, Miss Olive Wilton and Cyril Mackay to another company he is interested in, entitled 'Modern Amusements, Ltd, This company has formed a very strong dramatic organisation, which opened at the Brisbane Tivoli on October'l6 in Eugene Walter's powerful play, "Paid in Full." The repertoire will include "The Lion and the Mouse," "The Third Degree," and "Raffles." Miss Wilton recently fell a victim to the measles, and her place was taken by a young Australian girl, professionally known as Clarice Hardwick. So uniformly excellent was her performance in "The Barrier" under the circumstances that she was immediately engaged to go to Brisbane to understudy Miss Parkes and play responsible roles. » * » *

The pictures of "Neptune's Daughter" were made in Bermuda by Miss Annette Kellerman and 200 specially selected artists, with hundreds of supernumeraries. Some of them were taken in real submarine caves, illuminated for the occasion with concealed electric lights, and some of them were taken under the water. In these latter turtles and fish can be seen swimming around the human beings, struggling there, for one of the "thrillers" is a fight for life at the bottom of the aea. The plot is a delightful and / fantastic one, affording Miss Kellerman ample opportunities to display her amazing versatility. "Neptune's Daughter" will shortly be seen in New Plymouth. * * e •

Performances of opera in the open air are said to be practically the sole form of musical diversion that has been provided for the Parisian public during the past slimmer. Every alternate afternoon, says Musical America, large crowds gathered in the Tuileries Gardens to hear the music of their favorite operas sung and played by the singers and orchestra of tho Opera Comique. There was no "dramatic action," of course, but the performances were of a high order of excellence, and they have had a wholesome effect in entertaining and inspiriting a public deprived of its usual pleasures. Bordeaux's scheme was more extended—an open-air theatre with a seating accommodation for 20,000 persons. Performance of opera and ballets were included in tho scheme, the singers, chorus, orchestra and dancers being principally recruited from Paris.