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Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

POPULAR COMEDIENNE.

SUCCESS IN NEW YORK. The English comedienne, Miss Gracie Field’s appearance at- the Palace Theatre, New York, early last month, was hailed by audiences as an international event, in ■’ which London’s popular heroine revived the good old custom of “hands across the sea.” The following are extracts from a report in a London paper: —They see in Miss Fields a happy combination of singer and comedienne, bringing, in the words of one critic, “a unique experience to American audience.” Her o-ay, sweeping, rowdy entrance, with that confident little whistle with which ehe acknowledges the audience’s applause, has already won the hearts of all who have seen her first appearances here. Coming on the stage at that breathless moment known to professionals as “next to closing,” Miss Fields is most appreciated in her character songs. To Americans “The Co-op. Shop” is given with that personal touch which catches on so quickly with music-hall audiences. The o-eneral opinion is that the Palace is something of a floral festival, with the English comedienne holding easily first place in the hearts of all. present. Sh'e faces a severe test'in singing “A Cottage for Sale,” so familiar over here as to border on monotony; but Miss Fields’ introduction of incidental acting gives a fresh tone to an otherwise familiar piece. The Palace “bill,” say the critics in a unanimous chorus, ranks as one of the best the season is likbly to produce.

DOING WELL ABROAD. NEW ZEALANDERS IN ENGLAND. Mr. Douglas Stark, formerly of the Post and Telegraph Department, and well-known in Wellington amateur theatrical entertainment circles, writes from London that he gives the palrn to Noel Coward’s “Bitter Sweet,” now in its second year. He met Will Fyfe and his wife, Shayle Gardner and Marie Ney. Mr.. Gardner ,was helping an Australian pianist, Roy Shepperd, who has been studying under Cortot, the French virtuoso, who was so struck with Mr, Shepperd’s talent that he gave him a series of lessons without charge. Mr. Stark also met Manuel Hyman,formerly: of Wellington, who .has been doing some musical synchronising in pictures at Elstree, and is now musical director at the Hungaria Restaurant, a West End society rendezvous. Other New Zealanders in London were Lance Fairfax and Joe Brennan. . One cheerful , sign in London, said Mr. Stark, was to see the queues outside the legitimate theatres alongside the “house full” sign, showing that the talkies had. riot altogether their own way in the metropolis. / ' . : Mr. Stprk was intending to pay a visit io Glasgow. before leaving for America, where he intends to try his luck upon the stage. > ~ . ~ 1 ’ : SOME FUNNY LINES. . BRITISH TALKIE EXCERPTS. . British “talkies” in the lighter vein seem to be establishing a definite superiority over the -American product, says a London paper.' “A Warm Corner,”. in which Leslie Henson and a brilliant cast are to be seen, will doubtless be acclaimed by the public as one of the funniest of screen farces.' Apart from intimating that Leslie Henson takes the role of a wealthy cornplaster manufacturer, who has been involved in a scrape with a grass widow on the Lido,' one cannot attempt to sketch the twists and . tangles of the plot. Here are /some of the amusing lines:—; ; _ ?.. “I want to show you pur diningroom table, Count, brought over by trie Mormons in 1066.' Belonged to William the Concubine, I' belie,ve.’’ “Oh, I’ve been to Venice, you know. We didn’t see very much. All the time we were there half the streets were flooded.” “T see, you are thinking of that little grass widow you met on the Lido.” “Yes, and, believe me, there was a snake in that “I say,'is your wife with you?” “Yes, in most things.” “You are not married?” “Not slavishly I/’ ; . “The management requests me to ask you if-you would care for some music?” —“Do you play anything by request?” —“Yes, sir.” —“Well, go and play pingpong!” “What’s the use of 36 bathrooms with only one Saturday night in the week!”

COMING ATTRACTIONS.

UNITED ARTISTS’ STUDIOS.'

The elaborate and beautifully-pro-duced Announcement Book of United Artists’ for the ensuing, year contains a review of the 19 big films for the season 1930-31.

Coming attractions from United Artists’ studios will be Gloria Swanson in “What' a Widow;” Ronald Colman in “Raffles;” Jeanette MacDonald in “The. Lottery Bride;” Eddie Cantor in “Whoopee;” Walter Huston in D. Vy. Griffith’s “Abraham Lincoln;” - Harold Bell Wright’s “Eyes of the World;” Norma Talmadge in “Du Barry, Woman of Passion;” Mary , Pickford in “Forever Yours;” Chester Morris in “The Bat Whispers;” Ronald. Colman in an original stor yby Frederick Lonsdale, the title of which will be announced later; Evelyn Laye in “Moon Madnes Douglas Fairbanks and ,Bebe Daniels in Irving Berlin’s “Reaching for the Moon;” a hig production featuring'Walter Huston and Dolores Del Rio; a second film as yet untitled for Gloria Swanson; a De Sylva, Brown and Henderson production; Joan Bennett in “Smilin’ Through;” Charlie Chaplin’s picture, “City Lights;” Howard Hughes’ sensation “Hell’s Angels” and Al Jolson in “Sons of Guns.” DIRECTION BY RADIO. A FILM INNOVATION. Radio telephony, rapidly becoming an important factor in all branches of endeavour, has finally been extended to the direction of motion pictures. This new method of controlling the movements of actors, cameras and atmospheric effects was employed recently during the filming of the sea sequences of "“The Spoilers.” To provide “offshore atmosphere” for the picture, a large fleet of vessels, including a 6000tbn steamer, two smaller steamers, a three-masted schooner, and many large lighters were employed. The sequences were to depict the famous landing of the miners at Nome, during the early days of the gold.rush. The movement of the ships at sea was controlled by a radio telephone, operating under the call OX AR. The transmitter for this station was at Director Carewe’s hand at all times during the .filming, enabling him to .handle this prodigious scene with consummate ease.

POLA NEGRI SEEKS DIVORCE. ANOTHER ROMANCE CRASHES. Princess Serge Mdivani, otherwise Pola Negri, the film star, is .tired of married life, writes the Paris correspondent of the London Daily Mai,l. She has entered a second suit for divorce against her elegant young husband, whom last year she said she adored, after withdrawing divorce proceedings. She has left her magnificent country home at Seraincourt, near Melun, some 20 miles from Paris, for a flat in the Parc Monceau quarter of Paris. The wedding of Miss Negri and the prince took place in 1927 in the tiny town hall village of Seraincourt. The entire village turned out for the ceremony, and sporting guns were fired into the air in honour of the smiling arid happy couple. An army of cinema operators filmed them as they left—the princess wearing a priceless ermine cloak and jewels that would have surprised an Indian rajah —for the adjoining chateau of Seraincourt. An elaborate reception was held on the sunlit lawns bordering the lake. There was a sensation in film circles last year when a report was spread that Miss Negri and her prince husband were no longer in agreement and that divorce proceedings had been started. Both the prince and his wife assured me in December that they had kissed and. “made it up,” and they suited the action to the word in their luxury '.suite in a fanious Parisian hotel, employing terms so endearing as to disarm any sceptic. , Now the temperamental Pola says that all is over. “I am determined,” she says, “to get a divorce. I hope the case will go through speedily, and I assure you I shall be happy on the day judgment is pronounced.” Miss Negri was first married to Count Domski, a Polish officer, in 1920. She divorced him within a year. She has said that the two great lovers of her life were Valentino and a Polish artist, who also died, whom she knew when she was an unknown Polish girl.

Prince Mdivani is a Georgian, and he has stated that his father was an aide-de-camp to the late Czar.

WELLINGTON GIRL ABROAD.

WAGNERIAN OPERA

Miss Agnes Dhncan, well known iri A 'ellington’s musical circles, who left in May last for a tour abroad, has been enjoying, a remarkable travel trip that has already embraced Italy, via Genoa, Florence, Venice, and Oberammergau; Munich, where she was deeply impressed with the wealth of music provided for a population about equal to that of Wellington and Auckland combined —Wagnerian opera and other entertainments being presented on a lavish scale. In on'e theatre alone, no fewer than twenty ’grand operas were played in six weeks, between the hours of 5 and 11 pm., with, oqly short intervals for refreshments, so that Munich’s adult populace regales itself nightly upon? the best musical fare. Miss Duncan also visited Salzburg, where she heard the ’Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, under Bruno Walter. On the whole, Miss Duncan has seen and heard much that dispels the gloomy prophecy concerning the future of musical art on the Emopean Continent. Germany and Austria have indeed a bright outlook, judging by Miss Duncan’s experience.

I ' ' MEMORIES OF POLLARD’S.

“THE CINGALEE.”’ In the east of the J. C. Williamson comic opera, “The Cingalee,? at Mel- , bourne, is. Charles Albert, who, it. will, be remembered by older playgoers', made'his first appearance as one of Pollard’s Lilliputians, which troupe produced quite a number of notable artist's for the stage. Mr. Albert ha? the unique distinction of being the only one in the present performance who played in the original’ production of “The Cingalee”. in Australia. He is appearing as Myamgah, the Indian servant of Sir Peter Loftus, and also takes the part of the Devil Dancer in the second act, performing the Devil dance which he introduced into the play on its original presentation. . The chorus of “The Cingalee” is particularly strong, and includes several singers specially, selected; to do justice to the fine music. In the ranks is Miss Dawn Harding, a mezzd-cbntralto',weir known on the concert platform in Australia, who has been principal in the Melba Operatic Society, has sung with Fritz Hart’s Orchestra, and is a vocalist of more than average ability. She wants stage experience, and is getting her chance in the Willimson revival. “PEG 0’ MY HEART” REVIVED., *’ ' j AN AMERICAN STAR.. '' ' At Melbourne, Edith Taliaferro, the petite American. star brought out from , the'States to play in “Let Us Be Gay,” -“Road to Romance,” “Coquette,” etc., f>r Williamson’s, is appearing in. a revival of Hartley Manners’ comedy,. “Peg o’ My Heart.” This play has put up a world’s record for comedy; its piquant qharm never seems to pall on audiences, and it offers a most attractive part for Miss .Taliaferro, „ who is _ physically, emotionally, and ideally suited to the role of Peg. Reginald. Wykeham takes the part of Jarvis in the revival; Maidie Hope, Mrs. Chicester; Noel Boyd, Ethel; Reginald Dane (last here in “Journey’s End”), Alaric; H. B. Jameson, (who by the /way is a nephew of the celebrated Colonel E. M. House, the friend of the late President Wilson and an outstanding figure in American politics, who acted for ‘ the States in the Armistice negotiations), as Christian Brent; Leslie Victor, as Montgomery Hawkes; Donalda Warne (here with the New English Comedy Company playing Ben Travers comedies in 1928), as Bennett; J. B; Rowe (romantic lead with Irene Vanbrugh during the last Boucicault season), as Jerry. Gregan McMahon is producing. SLINj PRIMA DONNAS. A STOCKHOLM EDICT. “I am interested in the edict that has gone forth from the director - : the Stockholm Opera House that prima donnas must reduce their weight—principally because there is but little necessity for the prima donnas of to-day to do so,’’ writes a Londoner. “I could of course, name some heavy-weights. I But they are in a small minority, for it is a welcome fact that eminent operatic singers are now for the most part quite slim, and frequently beautiful. One of the most beautiful women of the century, Lina Cavalieri, is an operatic singer—and slim. Lovely, too, is Jeritza. Elisabeth Schumann, Fanny Heldy, Maggie Teyte, Gota Ljungberg, Eva Turner, Eide Norena, Lipkowska, and Pam panini are only some of many famous singers who do not carry an ounce of superfluous flesh.”