THE STAGE,

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16749, 2 June 1922, Page 10

THE STAGE,

NEWS AND NOTES.

The J. C. Williamson pantomime, “The Babes in the Wood” will commence its Christchurch season at the Theatre Royal at an early date. One of the ballets, now known as the “ Bare Log Ballet.” created considerable discussion when the pantomime was produced in Melbourne. Attention thus being drawn to the ballet some curiosity was evinced as to its effect upon Sydney playgoers. One critic wrote as follows: —“The Babes in The Wood arrived at Her Majesty's Theatre last night. As for the Babes in the ‘ nude ’ who shocked modest Melbourne, sill that needs be recorded is that the ballet of nice willowy young things displayed well powdered bare legs from the top of their short socks to a little above tho knees and long stretches of bar© backs, and that the principal dancer showed a little more of each. Otherwise there was nothing to shock the most sensitive critic or to keep the given-to-blushing young person away from the Pitt Street, house during the extravaganza season.” Air Edward Branscombe. for many year.s identified manageriallv with the Dandies, has completed arrangements for a tour of New Zealand of the Westminster Glee Singers. One of the most delightful concerts ever held in the Town Hall (says the Auckland “Star”) was given by- the celebrated can tat rice. Miss Rosina Buckman and her splendid supporting company 7 . The audience was a large and expectant one, anil awaited with unabated interest the reappearance of New Zealand’s famous prima donna after her phenomenal achievements abroad. Throughout the utmost enthusiasm prevailed, and music-lovers had a Jong and glorious night of perfect music perfectly interpreted. The only thing that could make Dame Nellie Ale lb a more wonderful than she is would be the discovery that she is 71, not 61 years of youth, (says a Sydney paper). The registry of births in. the Government offices. William-street, Melbourne, shows this entry:—Helen Porter Mitchell, daughter of David Mitchell, born at Burn ley-street, Richmond, on May 19, 1861. A new chain of twenty-three theatres has been established in Australia and New Zealand by Mr Hugh Ward, president of the newly formed Hugh J. Ward Theatres, Ltd., who U on his way to London and New York. “ Australian theatregoers,” declared Ward, “ have never had the quality of dramatic art that satisfies their tastes. It is niy purpose on this visit to engage the best dramatic and operatic talent in England and America.” The highest salaried artist ever engaged by the Fuller firm is Air Harry Thurston, tlio English character comedian. Air Thurston was advised to visit Australia, because of the long sea voyage the trip offered, and was practically carried on to the boat a physical wreck. Before he bad reached Colombo, (says the Sydney “Daily Telegraph”), a marvellous change had been effected, and he is now the robust young fellow lie was before he enlisted. Sir Benjamin Fuller seized the opportunity of presenting t-o New Theatre patrons one of the foremost English artiste, and has engaged Air Thurston for a season at the Custlcreagh street house. Australian songstress Gertrude Johnson, who went to London a while back, lias had her ambitions realised with «i bang, ( says the Sydney “Bulletin”). Oil top of her appearances in oratorio and on the best concert platforms came a request to join the new National Opera Co at Convent Garden, and she made her debut last week as “ Queen of the Night” in Alozart’s “ Alagic Flute.” The late lima di Murski used to be about the only one who could take the “ Queen ” role and reach its phenomenally high notes without straining the upper register. The part was originally written by Alozart for his sis-ter-in-law, whose sky-scraping soprano was the marvel of her time.

The Incorporated Stage Society of London was established more than twenty years ago; and during this period it has done a considerable amount of good work for the cause of the drama, in producing “ non-com-mercial ” plays, and thus giving authors a hearing that would otherwise have been denied them.

Representatives of the Better Shows Alovement and of the various theatre interests, such as the producing managers, actors and playwrights, held their first meeting m New’ York on April 17 for the purpose of electing fT5e panel of 300 from which will be drawn the “ citizen’s jury,” which is to pass on plays in New York. The Producing Alanagers’ Association is said to have signed tho voluntary censorship contract, under which all are obliged to accept the verdict of a jury of twelve citizens as to tho character of any play against which complaint is made.

Ola Humphrey, tho American actress who appeared here in 1906 with Chas. Waldron in “The Squaw Alan,” The Christian,” arid ‘‘ The Virginian,” and with Julius Knight in 1908 in “ The Prisoner of Zenda,” and “ A Royal Divorce”— is in the spotlight of publicity again. After her Australian tour she married a Turkish prince—Ibrahim Hassan—who died in Paris in 1914 while her divorce suit was pending. He left her a fortune estimated at LI .000,000, and a New York lawyer now claims that £300,000 is duo to him under an agreement with the princess by which he vra.s to endeavour to obtain a divorce for her. He says that sums realised from actions to he started in any part of the world were to be divided equally between them, and lie is making an effort to collect the £300,000. At the Little Theatre the Grand Guignol plays continue to attract audiences, thanks to the admirable acting of Sybil Thorndike, who passes from triumph to triumph (writes the London correspondent of tho Melbourne “ Argus.”) Among the latest productions is the well-known French drama in which Charles Warner used to act, “At the Telephone.” It tells of a husband who hears the murder of his wife by burglars over the telephone. He is many miles away, and can do nothing. Franklin Dyall, in Warner’s old pan, gave a splendid performance as the husband, while Aliss Thorndike played the wife. “ The Nutcracker Suite ” ■ was the story of a faithless wife (Sybil i Thorndike) who was lured with "her ' lover to a lonely iun. Her© her bus- j band prepared his revenge. The room j resembled tho cell in Poe’s “The Pit [ and the Pendulum.” The ceiling began to fall; slowly, slowly. As the cur- | tain drops the lovers are about to be crushed to death. A curious form of amusement this, hut verv typical of the 1 Grand Guignol. Another clever but morbid trifle is St John Ervine’s “ Progress.” It is the storv of a woman who has lost a husband and a son in the war, wlio finds her brother completing a deadly which is to I make the wars uf the future even more *

horrible than that of 1914-1918. The sister is horrified. The inventor tells lior that she is taking too narrow a view of the problem ; ho urges her to bo broad-minded* She replies that as a bereaved wife and mother she must be narrow-minded. Then the woman loses control of herself. When her brother refuses to turn the plans of Ins invention, she kills him. 41 Progress ” was yet another triumph for Sybil Thorndike. Not content with three new Grand Guignol parts* Aliss Thorndike has been playing Hecuba in Euripides* “ Trojan Women,” and the chief part in the medieval morality, “Everyman.” Such variety of effort is unprecedented among English actresses, and gives the highest protnis© for Aliss Tli#w*<l ike’s future.