THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XXXV, Issue 46, 24 July 1915, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

[By Prompter.]

THE bill at the Opera House this week is a satisfying document. Montamba and Wells are putting up a reoojxl of aorobatism that astonishes everybody who* sees the turn. One item is quaint. The pair pile furniture up to a height of 30 feet with a couple of chairs for a summit of the mountain. Then they fall backwardis to the stage doing a couple of flips on the way. As carpet tumblers they have my sincerest admiration. The Rosie Rifle Club .are a pair of people who are adept with their weapons. Mr Rosie hangs glass globes on his head and uses a pair for earrings while Miss Rosie shoots them off without taking any of the ears. Other amazing antics with guns are performed and each performer comes out of the ordeal in one piece. Arthur Douglas, the Scots comedian, manages to .amuse his audiences- with his Caledonian wit, humour and! vocalism. Victor the Great is the ventriqxiiloquist who mislays his voice in all sorts of odd places and 1 finds it in others. "Baffling Baker" has a conjuring turn which includes much good clean sleight of hand work and a brace of cabinet disappearances. The vanishing act is particularly effective. Miss Jessie Millar either blows the cornet or plays the pianoacoordeon. She is very much above the average as a musician and artistically considered gives one of the finest turns on the bill. Sister Dolly sanw a new ballad composed by an Auoklander. "My Maori Huia" went very well indeed. Congratulations to composer and singer.

Charles Chaplin and his dog are food for a long length of merriment at the Queen's Theatre. The famous comedian is seen in various postures of self-defence and is even more picturesquely 1 ahsurdl than Uβuail It is difficult to realise when one sees Chaplin at his best that he is in private life a most seriously disposed person, nnueh given to intellectual study and taking a deep interest in theological works. Mr Chaplin was intended for the Church but owing to the death of a relative he had to earn his own living. Am Eclaire "industrial" film gives a wood notion of the care exercised by the French in breaking andl traming horses. A splendid drama is "Romance of a Night," followed with the acutest interest. Equally fine is a Cinee drama, ''Jenny a tender tale of love and devotiom, fragrant with the virtues we all so admire and so very seldom practice. The Universal Gazette covers JNew Zealand cities excellently, and includes records of the Dunedin Oarnival for wounded soldiers, H.M..IN.Z. Hospital Ship Maheno arriving at Port Chalmers, Waiwera House, which is to be used as a soldiers hospital Friday's Auckland demonstration to sick soldiers, and other topics of very great interest to everybody.

Henry Arthur Jones' vivid drama, "The Middleman," done into pictures with Albert Chevalier in the lSigrole. is the big film story now being told at the Lyric It is as all are aware an attempt to set down the real relations between the and the worker. It is vividS spectacular and ruthless m its contrast between the W of the rich and: the existence of the poo • Nobly playedi, as it certainly is, it &SSLfc'-"«E

"Three Suitors and a Dog" shows delightfully how the friend of man can often be an enemy. There ie a deal of quaint humour about the dog. The latest Gaumont Graphic is mainly military, and of wide interest. The arrival of the Willochra at Wellington and subsequent festival happeningk in the capital is one of the most interesting record® that has been recently shown. It gives a good view of the disembarkation, the landing of the sick and wounded, the gigantic crowds in the narrow alleys of the city, and the besieging of the Town Hall by the people anxious to pay tribute to the brave. © @> @>

A particularly fine Southern States slave drama, "The Slave Girl," is being pictorially, told at the Globe. It revive®' , the brutal days of the.traffic in human beings. The child of a slave owner and an octoroon woman has been beaten to death, and the slave owner captures a white chid, substitutes her, and brings her rap in slavery. She is bought by a kinder owner, and. the son falls' in love with her. The octoroon woman, out of jealousy, "gives the show away," the young planter arrives just as the white girl is being 'sold again, the wicked slave man is given ten minutes to "<>et out of the country," and all ends happily. The old time costumes are reproduced, andl there is much brisk, clever arid effective work, including a brush with Indians. "Ambrose's Fury" depicts the well known Teutonic comedian

dashing through the scenery in a bathing suit and many other ladies and gentlemen falling in and! out of houses, being hit in the countenance with food and 1 shot at with revolvers. A Vita comedy is "The Curing of Myra May," containing sparklets of fun and some smart acting. The latest Pathe War Special has many notable military features. "Love Will Out" emphasises the impossibility of keeping the rosy god locked! up indefinitely, and has a charm all its own. "The Haunted Attic" is a stupendously funny production exhilarating in its trickineesi.

The Princess star picture is_an American pictorial revival of Lytton's "Money," accurately done as far as the American actors know, and giving a remarkably funny American notion of British aristocrats. The baronet looks like a suburban greengrocer, and the- ladies like "lidies " The comedy element is well brought out. The story shows the dlevotion of relatives to a rich man who is going to die, but who does not leave, the crawlers jus money, handing it to the only rela-

tive who does not fawn on him. The malevolent methods of the crawlers to obtain the cash are exceedingly well shown. A fine record of the bombardment of the Russia.n town of Sevastopol by the Hun cruisers Goeben and Breslau gives a good impression of modern fighting ships in action. "In the Gardens of the Czar" has a great deal of romantic interest, now that Britain is so closely associated with the gigantic

ally, and will be frnind of educative and emotional value. "Rachel," a Kalem drama, is done with the exactness of detail and regardlessness of expense characteristic of the American firms' work, and , , each incident might be torn from the Book of Life. "When Gold is Dross" is a picturesque expression of the simple truth that if you had ten million sovereigns in the Sahara desert and no tucker or water you'd swa-p the gold for a meal. A splendid record of last Friday's woundied soldiers' home coming is of intimate and personal interest to tens of thousands of people. To-day (Thursday) Charles Chaplin wall be seen, on the screen in "Charlie the Champion."

Alex. Patrick, the young New Zealand actor, seems to be getting on in New York. On a recent date he was the leading man in a Belasco production of "Marie Odile," with a Miss Frances Starr as the principal lady.

—That, speaking in a warlike manner, it is not yet decided who will foe top of the Pole. —That all the niatione are most eager to buy cotton. Naturally it is used' for the machine guns. —That when the local German threw a brick through the window there was no baby in. the room. —That Father, McAuliffe, an Australian chaplain,-grabbed'a gun and led a charge. Do be Major GiWam! —That a satirist believes that Auckland can have all 1 the military camp she wants , if she changes her name to "Otago." —That the Petrolier officer who assumed an engaging limp on "Wounded Day" is certainly suffering from the silver bulet. —That Australia is offering tihe King double reinforcements. The constant stream of New Zealanders to Australia makes this easy. —That the Welsh miners are still striking. Kaiser Bill, finding the Iran Cross inadequate, will decorate them with the Black Diamond. —That most of the wounded! soldiers desire a physical impossibility. How a soldier can go "back to the front" beats us. Ask the surgeons. —That when local managers read "Great activity in the Eastern Theatre" they exclaimed with one voice, "Wonder if the property is for sale?" —That many wounded New Zealandl soldiers returned to the Dominion! find that bullets are much easier to overcome than heart affections. —That an audit of all New Zealand) Patriotic Funds is to be legalised. Mr Massey has not yet nominated the inevitable Royal Commission. —That New Zealand' hais gained many prizes for products at the Panama Exposition. In years to come these good's may be sold in New Zealand. —That an aviation school is suggested for Auckland. A suburban correspondent assures us there are hundreds of (high-fliers available at Remuera. —That the motorists-are,crying out that they want to bex taxed. But a squattocratic government will surely never be guilty of such an injustice. —That intended recruits who are physically unfit are to have a certificate saying so. In future they will therefore belong to the "line" regiments. —That the Commission of Enquiry into the Trentham camp is proceeding. It will be proved' that the Costs Brigade have not in any Way Suffered. —That according to Hun, reports the enemy in Gallipoli "is fleeing. . An old soldier declares 1 that the insect here named! is not the one that employs the soldiers. That the National Reserve is not at all satisfied , with the Russian campaign. The Reserve declares that guns, more guns, and still more guns are the solution. —That farmers are in despair. There is so much grass that they have almost nothing to growl at. And so—up goes the price of butter. Look for the hook-noise behind the fainner. That terrifying events absolutely chase one another. Last week Marshal French moved a million and a half men- amd now Mr Harris, M.P., will spend the week-end in Auckland.

—That sooner or later the Allies' bells will ring the Darda-kneMk —That Coalition is coming. So, dear brethren, is the end of the war. —That with butter at Is 9d per pound, the fall of Greece is watched for with increasing anxiety. —That although not all the soldiers hafve been happy in caanp, many of them are now in transports. —That the population of Berlin is noiw restricted to a gallon and a-half of beer .per head a diay. Cruel, cruel war! —That there is a decline in the birth rate of Germany. In fact, it's a pretty poor "Faderlaind" at present. —That someone advertises an "adult home." Evidently these weatherboard shanties do grow whiskers in wet weather. —That vide Australian news, "Farmers want Reform," But at present Mr Massey can't possibly go to Australia. —That despoilers of Auckland's unique volcanic mountains have a precedent. Hill 60 has been levelled to the ground. —That the Kaiser has personally lost five million pounds over the war. Sovereigns will be still scarcer in Germany later on. —That Wall Street declares that the war will be all over in October— but it neglects to name the area which it will be all over. —That if the advertiser who requires "any number of tanks" will apply to the police, no doubt he will be able to replenish his stock. —That the public knitting fever has died down. In the absence of effective organisation the ladies have evidently got the needle. —That Germany will make Britainpay £200,000,000 war indemnity to Turkey. Lots of people say the Huns have no sense of humour. —That General Smuts, the bright African soldier, has a relative in Wellington—but he didn't mention it dturimg the South African war. —That many firms at present declare, "Accounts Collected Anywhere." Some silly people declare that the days of miracles are past. —That soldiers who have been short of stationery have sent notes on playing card®. Are we downhearted No! But we have the pip. That in one British regiment just gone to the front there are seven peers. The share lists of British breweries will need much revision. That one must go to the Auckland College Council to hear fresh news. It is understood! it is discussing a new site for a university college! That it is absolutely untrue that the U.S.S. Co. is "agin the Government." It holdis the Cornucopia, and! the Ready Reckoner is most kind. —That the price of meat has risen. This is due to the wicked persistency with which the grass grows. Couldn't someone invent a, grass exterminator ? —That the shortage of labour for next harvest will be great. But it the farmers wain* any help gathering the gold crop—will they kindly drop a "note?" —That Maori soldiers at Narrow Neck have a quaint fashion in headgear, but from observations one is disposed to believe that few go without a "nightcap." —That frequent applications from Auckland for a military camp are inducing the "military authorities to make urgent search of maps tor the situation of this interesting city. —That a suburbanite reports that a hundredweight of coal recently purchased by him was 112 lbs. He re watching the papers ior the report of a coal merchant sent to Avonclale. Most thoughtless!

The King's Theatre has been showing a splendid pictorial record of the tremendous welcome given ;to woundied soldiers ex Willochra at Wellington, and other historic films of equal topical interest. In "Guzzle Rivals Jonah," that clever comedian Sid Chaplin endeavours to outvie all his previous attempts* at absurdity. Curiously all comedies based on caricature gastronomy are more amusing to the public than anything else. To throw a jam tart in the face of an actor is to cause uproarious merriment. Sid Chaplin is supported by comedians hardly less absurd l than himself, and he is evidently making a bid' to oaitdb his illustrious brother. A series of pictures bringing the great international struggle uip to last mail day attracts keen attention. Dramas'of exceptional heart power are included in a well-balanced programme, and the explanatory comments , of the ladies in the audience is the best proof that the details of the love stories are followed with surprising relish. Other lightsome comedies, scenic, industrial and educative films plump out a programme that is entirely satisfactory. ®> @> ® Germain theatrical papers are advising American variety • performers that they are not desired just now, and warning them to stay away in order to give the many idle native entertainers a chance of employment. ®®® , . AH picture actors make-up almost precisely as they do for the stage, with this exception, that instead of deepening the colour on the flesh groundwork, chrome powder is used. This gives the actors a rather livid appearance when at work, but is favourable to the best photography.

An important development in vaudeville in Sydney during the past month was the resignation of A. B. Davies and G. T. Eaton as directors of the Fuller firm. When the Full-er-Brennam amalgamation was effected, Ben. J, Fuller became govern ing-dh-eotor, and associated: with him as directors were Messrs Davies and Eaton —who acted in that capacity with James Brennan before the amalgamation, and who afterwards remained on more or less as representaibives of the Breninan side of the partnership. They have been replaced .as directors by (1) William J. Douglas, for a long time Ben. J. Fuller's fight hand man in Sydney, andi (2) a prominent Sydney business man. Mr Fuller, of course, retains hie position as governing-director. Briefly, the effect of the rearrangement is to place the affairs of the circuit more than ever—if not absolutely—in- Ben. J. Fuller's keeping. And "in more able hands, "The Theatre Magazine" considers, they could mot possibly be.

The management of the Richard Wagner stipend' at Bayreuth Jias subscribed to the German war loan to the extent of 52,000 marks. The sum of 27,000 mark® has been given from this stipend for the purpose of aiding opera singers who are without engagement during the Avar. There are necessarily many such in Germany at present, particularly in the smaller provincial towns.

Haydn Beck, iJhe violinist, is back again in the Dominion. He was studying in Belgium when the war burst over the border. Beck went to London and studied there for :a while. A tour of the Dominion will probably follow. _ According to "Miisical America,' one shuddlers to think of the tone pictures the Futurists will doubtless undertake to paint of various episodes in the present war. A feature of one of their concert© in London last spring was a musically illustrated word poem on the "Siege of Adlriamople," of which Sag. Marmetti, the concert giver and chief noise instigator, was the author. The "Observer" thus described the

performance at the time: —"With a hammer and a piece of wood he (Marinetti) gave an excellent imitation' of a machine gun which punctuated Mβ words, and! with dynamic gestures as well as a vital expenditure of elocutionary passion he marched' through the hall and concluded his poem by the beating of a big drum, which boomed like guns heard, across the hills, and which, he explained, was the siege cannon. When Sig. Marinetti sings of the sea (if he could bring himself to sing of anything so' old-fashioned) it will no dbubt be with the aid of a fire hose."

Mr Chas. Frohman, who was drowned , in the Lus'itania outrage, was a man of strong determination and believed that his "say so" was beyiond dispute. Gome years «i.go, when William Furst, the composer and orchestra leader in one of the New York theatres, who was also accustomed to having his own way, was working over a new production at a stage rehearsal, Mr Froihman remarked: "That's too< loud, Billy. Too loud." "Can't help it, Mr Frohman," replied Furst. "It's forte." "Well," observed' the great man imperturbably, "make it thirtyfive."

"In, the early days of my career," says a prominent teacher in the "Musical Times," "I held firmly to the faith that there could be only one right way to obtain certain effects in piano playing. But years of close observation have, convinced me that after all it is not the means but the results which count. I have witnessed great pianists produce a tone of ravishing beauty by holding their hands perfectly level over the keyboard!, and I have heard, tonal effects of equal charm produced! by the rounded raised holding of the hands. So you isee it is all a matter of the individual. Our hands differ —we must hold them differently according to their ■peculiar form. Therefore it is wrong to lay down a set of rules to cover all cases. Just as one vocal method is impossible for all singers, go I believe there is no scientific formula to guide the pianist. The greatest problem of the teacher to-day lie then the study of personal equation."

It is stated that Miss Inga Orner, a Norwegian lyric sopranoi, who has enjoyed successes at, the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and at Oovent Garden, proposes to visit Australia and perhaps New Zealand. She was l to finish a concert tour of the United States at San Francisco on June 6, and in a letter to a friend in Australia recently she stated that she hoped to continue on to the Commonwealth. Miss Orner is said to Jiaye a beautiful voice ranging to F in altissimo. She once understudied Madame Melba in Marguerite j!n "Faust" and Juliet in "Romeo et Juliette."