THE STAGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16496, 5 August 1921, Page 6

THE STAGE.

NEWS AND NOTES. (By THE LIMELIGHT MAN.) There is a likelihood that next year New Zealand concert-goers may have the pleasure of being able to hear Madame Rosina Buckman, who is understood to be going out on a concert tour with her husband, Mr Maurice D’Oisly, says a London paper. Quite a feature of the “ Cliu Chiu Chow ” performance is the camel, which created a great deal of interest (says a contemporary). During the last three or four days, the beast has not eaten anything, probably as a result of the cold experienced. The experience of “ o ir boys ” who had to do with camels in Egypt suggests that when a camel goes off its food'there is nothing further to do. but to wait for it to lie down and die. The camel in question came from North-western Australia, and as it proceeds further south the conditions will become colder. It is not expected that the beast will live long enough to complete its tour and return to its native land. The camel was recently walked to Napier from Hastings in order that it might secure exercise.

Early this month (savs the “ Fuller’s News.” which is published at Auckland), it is the intention of Ben and John Fuller to screen, at the commencement |pf the programme “ The Fullers’ Australian Gazette.” This will take the place of the customary overture, and it will commence at 7.45 p.m., and last until patron- get comfortably seated. Sir Benjamin Fuller has just completed arrangements with the Pathe Film Company for a new and exclusive series of Gazettes weekly. The Gazette will change weekly, and will not be shown in any other theatre in New Zealand except the vaudeville theatres under ihe dirotion of Ben and John Fuller. The opera House is equipped with a fine prodimino- plant, and the Gazette will be shown under exceptional conditions.

Smoking in theatres is not very general in Australia, exeunt in open-air places; but at Fullers’ Empire Theatre. Brisbane, a vote of patrons -was taken on the question whether smoking should be permitted or not. A majority decided upon giving it a trial for a month, and the “No Smoking” signs were taken down. At first patrons were slow to make use of the privilege, but gradually thov acquired the new idea. As the theatre is well ventilated, the new practice is a pleasure to those who indulge in the pi]>e. without being offensive to non-smokers.

Howard Vernon, whom Australia knew and loved as Ko-Ko in “ The Mikado ” and the Grand Inquisitor in •‘The Gondoliers.” has taken his last call (says the Sydney “Bulletin”). No finer exponent of Gilbert and Sullivan has been seen in the Commonwealth, and yet he was wholly an Australian product—born in Melbourne on the site of Scott’s Hotel, and bred in classic Collingwood. When he retired from the stage a few years ago he had survived practically all his contemporaries except Genevieve Ward (still on deck in London), with whom he played

“Macbeth” at Melbourne Theatre Royal in 1884. Vernon, who married Vinia Deloit*e, one of the Three Little Maids (the others were Aggie Thorn and Dolly Castles) in a 1907 revival of “ The Mikado,” was eeventy-six when the curtain fell.

A Sydney “Bulletin” correspondent writes: How do actors manage to appear clean? For disgusting uncleanness let me recommend a dressing-room in a well-known, high-priced Sydney theatre. 1 was called behind the scenes to attend one of “ the profession.” who had met with a minor accident. In his dressing-room (shared by three) was only one small towel—damn and filthy with wash-dirt and greasy “ make-up.” Fortunately cold water was in plentiful supply, and 1 happened to have two handkerchiefs with me. The actor’s wound had been bandaged with a strip torn from an actress’s under-garment. Mind you. the three men in question were leading folk in the show; what the conditions,were in the chorus dressing-rooms my surgically aseptic imagination balked at. T object to paying 3d for an advertisement programme, but will willingly donate a like amount to a fund for providing human mummers with the necessary commodities of cleanliness. News has been received in Melbourne of a wonderful concert given bv Dame Clara Butt and Kennerlv Rumford in London prior to their departure for Australia on a concert tour under the direction of J. and N. Tait. The concert took place at the Crystal Palace, and was attended by an audience numbering 20,000.

A strange thing is happening in America. A pla** has been put up for a run in the Union Methodist Church. West Forty-eighth Street, New York. An electric sign indicates the attraction—Shakespeare’s “ Comedv of Errors.” Pews are booked like theatre boxes. Matinees: Thursdays and Saturdays. Although there have been many failures of late in the London theatres, there are many considerable successes. One of these is “ The Charm School ” which, at the Prince of Wales’s Theatre, has passed its hundredth performance. Another clean and wholesome play, “ Paddy the Next Best Tiling.” has been acted for the 400th time at the Savoy. Mr Robert Courtneidge has four companies on tour with this piece, and others are proceeding to the colonies. The actor has acquired a reputation for long life. Mr?, Kendal, the English actress, recently nassed her seventysecond birthday, nlthou li she looks ten year* younger. Miss Genevieve Ward also reached the of eighty-four recently. Miss Ward, however, is not the oldest of England’s actresses. Mrs Calvert was born in -the same year, 1837 but on January 2, and Mrs Calvert’s son is now, at- the age of sixtyone—having achieved reputation as an actor and producer—about to embark upon a new career as a teacher for the stage. The plover, indeed, loads an active life, and generally lives long. Viscount Sandhurst the Lord Chamberlain. has raised an obieotion to the of Mr Oscar A ache’s new plav, “Mecca.” on the ground that it may offend the religious feelings of Mohammedans. “ The obieotion is perfectly absnrd.” said Mr Morris Gest. who produced the nle ■" in America. “ The nlav Win an enormous success in America. The plot hano-s on the word ‘Moron.’ and if the title has to be charmed a loss of irmnv thousands of pounds will result. Thousands of Mohammedans have seen the plnV and all have been delighted. Tt is a strange thing that the. then Lord Chamberlain bn- 1 no objection to the titles o<* otherreligions pin vs, Buch as “ Toseph and his Brethren ” and “The Sign of the Cross.”