THE LORGNETTE

Observer, Volume XL, Issue 26, 28 February 1920, Page 6

THE LORGNETTE

"(By Pbomptee.j

nnHERE is novelty in heaps at ■*- Fuller's Opera House this week, and a number of new-comers whose reputation has preceded them. Keeley and Aldous, from the London halls, are doing a novel singing and dancing stunt full of merriment and movement. Few banjoists one has seen in Auckland have attain-ed the perfection that Louis de Blois exhibits, and as the "jo" is the recognised vehicle of the merriest music, Louis is more than welcome. His battery of banjoes is the envy of the amateur tinkler. De Sylvia is a new hand, too. Is an expert on roller skates, and in the circumscribed area of the "boards" produces some bewildering effects to vociferous applause. Eurasian, the Indian magician, brings to the boards the unexplained mystery of the fabled East. His work is done with a grace, dexterity, and charm that proclaim him master of his fascinating craft, many of his illusions being not variations of old devices, but original additions to the lore of the magician. Maggie Foster, the violinist, charms all ears with her contributions, and the Falvey Sisters continue to give their very excellent turn. Celia Mavis, the comedy artist, has a pot pourri of novelties, and the Charlebert Brothers, with Harry, are quite wonderful tumblers. La Belle Marie, the lovely trapezist, continues to astonish large audiences, and there is good music.

At the Queen's Theatre interest and entertainment for picture patrons of all ages are provided in "Cupid Forecloses." The part of the heroine is taken by the popular little actress, Bessie Love. • Those who have read the novel by Florence Morse Kingsley, "Hurrying Fate and Geraldine," will appreciate the pictured version. As a matter of fact, this is one of the quaintest and most charming pictures seen at this favourite house for quite a while, and Bessie Love, who is so much admired, makes a great deal of it, and is richly supported.

At the Princess Theatre Charlie Chaplin renews his acquaintance with Auckland admirers in " Twilight Sleep." An additional attraction is provided hy Leonard Doogood, ,'Chaplin'e understudy, who appears in "Charlie Arrives in New Zealand." An emotional drama, "The Lie," is also included in the programme, the leading part being taken by Elsie Ferguson. A special feature of this week's programme will be the continuation of the musical items by Preboni Hanson. Mr. Chaplin's understudy played the film in which he is seen in public on his. arrival in New Zealand, and most people who saw it done believed that the genuine Charlie was inside those clothes.

At the Tivoli Theatre • the chief attraction this week is a Thomas H. Ince release .entitled, "Greased Lightning." The principal role is taken by Charles Ray, assisted by Wanda Hawley and Willis Marks. The picture is a romance in which motor-cars play an extensive part. Charles Ray is seen as Andy Fletcher, a youthful mechanic, whose love is divided between the banker's daughter and a swift motor-car. He uses the latter to win the girl, and is also instrumental in saving his prospective father-in-law from being robbed. The pro-

gramme, includes a Briggs' comedy, a Burlington travel 'series, showing spectacular pictures of the Swiss Alps, and also the Australian Weekly Gazette. The entertainment is made more attractive by the music played by the Tivoli orchestra.

At the National Theatre the new programme is headed by "The Wonderful Adventure," - a William Fox picture, in which William Farnum plays the leading role. The story deals with the downfall of John Demarest, a wealthy New York contractor, who is infatuated with a beautiful mystic, Mazora. He becomes addicted to the use of a powerful drug. Unable to maintain his position in society and his morality in the home, he hires, a double to impersonate him. Many difficult complications ensue. In this play William Farnum, the eminent American player, is seen at the acme of his form, and the company which he leads is a very fine one.

At the Strand Theatre a subject of much popular interest is treated in interesting manner in "An Experimental Marriage." The heroine, an up-to-date young woman, decided that the ordinary type of marriage will not quite suit her ambitions and influences her lover to agree to a very novel matrimonial system. They shall be married only for week-ends, she plans, and each go his and her own way all the week. In practice,/ however, the plan does not work well, for the husband, taking full advantage of his liberties, promptly falls in love with another girl. The leading parts are taken by Constance Talmadge and Harrison Ford.

An interesting story of how "Chu Chin Chow" came to be written was told by Mr. Oscar Asche at the dinner" of the "0.P." Club. In 1915, he said, he and his wife were in Manchester. The golf course was in the occupation of the military, and it rained. They were faced by a week at Manchester in the rain, and to pass the time he set about writing a pantomime on "Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves." In London he showed the pantomime to Freddie Norton, who entered into the spirit of the joke and wrote the music, Percy Anderson designed the costumes, and Joe Harker provided the scenery. He took the pantomime to Daly's and they never looked at it. He sent it to several other theatres, and they all said "No good." He then took it to His Majesty's and they said they would produce it if he and his wife took part. He replied, "We don't play pantomime; we play Shakespeare." The retort -was, "There is always a chance to rise." (Laughter.) And go "Chu Chin Chow" was produced.

Mrs. Cyril Bell, better known as Mrs. Robert Brough, has returned to Australia with her husband after nearly five years' absence in London. Mrs. Bell was for nearly three years at the Royalty Theatre with Vedrenne and Eadie, who, like most other theatrical managers, once the first gallic days of the war were over, played to colossal business. Somerset" Maughan's play, "Caesar's "Wife," was one of the outstanding successes. Miss Fay Compton was the leading woman in this play, and Mrs. Bell considers her the cleverest young actress on the English stage. Miss Marie Lohr is now well afloat as an actress-manageress, and, after some failures, has been very successful with Robert Hichens' play, "A Voice from the Minaret." "Neither of these plays," said Mrs. Bell, "would do any good in Australia. They are too quiet and too talky— talky for this country. But in "Tilly of Bloomsbury" the J. C. Williamson firm has secured a play that is, in my opinion, bound to be a huge success in Sydney. In London it played to colossal business, with Mary Glynn, Arthur Bourchier, Allan Ainaley, and Marie Illington in the leading parts. The play is.full of brightness and laughter, and goes with a mighty swing. I renewed an old friendship with Dion Bqucj-

cault, and played with him and his wife, Irene Vanbrugh. in "Trelawney of the Wells," "The Land of Promise," and that beautiful, but. too sad, play of Barrie, "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals." Mr. Boucieault- looks . remarkably well, although he has .aged, of course. Miss Vanbrugh acted, as ever, perfectly. She is. I consider, quite th© finest actress of her years in London. "Trelawney of the Wells" was played to excellent business. It is wonderful how these old plays last. Did you know that Fred Terry and Julia Neilson are still touring with "The Scarlet Pimpernel," and making lots of money out of it, too ? Against the tremendous successes achieved in London of recent years there are certain drawbacks. Rents are so colossal that unless a manager achieves an enormous success he is simply working for the landlord."

In a recent letter from New York Mr. Harry Cohen states that on Friday, sth December, a benefit performance in aid of the actors' fund was given in every New York theatre, the result being expected to approximate £400,000 At the moment of writing Mr. Cohen was expecting to sail for Australia in a few weeks with the "Scandal" company, selected for an Australasian tour, but the hold-up of the Niagara at Sydney has delayed the venture.

Mme. Ada Crossley's retirement recalls to the mind of a musical writer in England a rather exciting episode of the Leeds Festival in 1898, the last that Sullivan conducted. "Elijah" was selected at the opening concert, and Miss Clara Butt had been engaged for the contralto part. At noon, the hour of commencement, she had not arrived, and on sending round to the Queen's Hotel it was found that she was not ready, being under the impression that the concert did not commence till 2. The Festival Committee were sadly flustered, but not so Sir Arthur, who had espied Miss Ada Crossley in the audience. At his S.O.S. summons she came to the platform and sang through the first part, thereafter yielding place to her laggard rival. Oddly enough, the change of singers was only remarked by a few of the audience, the majority imagining that Miss Butt had sung throughout. It remains to be added that Mde. Crossley numbers among her treasures a diamond brooch which Miss Butt gave her as a souvenir of the episode.

Mr. Brandon Cremer, the wellknown producer, has resigned his position with the Fullers owing to ill-health, and is leaving Australia shortly for England. His successor will be Collett another experienced actor and producer.

Driven into exile by the Red Terror in Russia, a troupe consisting of som,e 35 Russian dancers and singers has arrived in England to appear in a series of matinee at the Queen's Hall. The troupe, under the leadership of Serge Borowsky, late leading baritone of the Moscow Opera House, is stated to have created a sensation in the musical circles of Paris. The performance includes folk dances in the national costume, and selections by a balaika orchestra.