AMONG OTHER THINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 111, 13 May 1933, Page 12

AMONG OTHER THINGS

SAMUEL FOOTE, 1720 “THE BRITISH ARISTOPHANES” (By “Le Caqueteur.”) The wife of Florenz Zieglield, the Follies producer, always takes her bath in milk. Just an udder way of keeping clean. 4 ‘Films,” says a welfare officer, “do not have a harmful effect.” This may mean a falling off in the sale of tooth pastes. A French stage beauty has announced her intention of marrying a fourth husband. She is evidently anxious to complete Hie set. ♦ fi » • • As mighty a Roscius as any who has lived by sock and Busmn was that Samuel Foote, who was born in 1720, the same year that the Haymarket, the theatre with which ftis name is mainly associated, opened its doors. The son of more or less patrician parents, and without a drop of theatre blood in his veins, young Samuel was destined for the Bar, but to the dismay of his parents, soon began to display a genius for mimicry which delighted his schoolfellows at the expense of those unfortunates whose peculiarities were parodied by the youth who was later to be known as “the British Aristophanes.” His first, appearance on the stage was as Othello in Macklin’s company, a role for which he was as much suited as would be Gordon Harker for that of Little Eva. He was, in fact, a failure, although his gifts did not pass the critics unnoticed. “Foote has a singular talent for exhibiting character,” remarked Boswell.- 4 ‘Sir,” replied Dr. Johnson, 44 it is not a talent, it is a vice; it is what others abstain from.” Vice or not, Foote’s brilliance in the craft of the caricaturist made him eventually the most popular actor in London and the crowds literally flocked to the Haymarket whenever his name appeared on the playbill. His merciless mimicry and satirical tongue delighted everyone except those on whom the lash fell; even Dr. Johnson expressed admiration for the actor’s genius, at the same time threatening to break every bone in his body if Foote ever dared to ridicule him upon the stage. Though deterred by this particular threat, Foote was seldom a respecter of persons. One evening he encoun teied the Duke of Cumberland behind the scenes. 4 ‘Ah, Foote,”, said the Duke, “here I -am ready to swallow all yuvr good things.” “Indeed,” replied the actor, “then your Highness must have a mighty good digestion, for you never bring any up again.” Foote was greatly moved when his friend Sir Francis Delavale died, but smiled when told that surgeons intended examining the deceased baronet’s head. “It’s useless,” he said. “I’vo known it for years and have never been able to find anything in it.”

A'though jealous of him, Foote admirca Garrick immensely, and installed a bust of that incomparable actor in his room. Garrick was delighted. “Ah, I see you are not afraic to put me close to your gold and silver,” he said. “Well, you see, David,” was Foote’s reply, “you’ve got no hands.” One day Foote dropped a guinea. “Where the deuce did it go?” he asked. 4 ‘To the devil,” suggested Garrick. ‘‘Trust you, David,” retorted Foote, 44 for making a guinea go a long way.” Once while visiting a famous London club patronised by the socially

elect, Foote was approached by a kindly old peer, who observed that the actor’s handkerchief was falling out of his. pocket. It’s most kind of your Lordship to inform, me,” said Foote. “You know the company, better than 1 do.” A fellow-actor made himself a nuisance to Foote by persistently humming the same tune. “The fact is, Mr. Foote,” said th.' actor, when asked vvfty the deuce he couldn’t change the tune, “it haunts me.” “And small wonder,” was the reply, 4 ‘seeing that you are forever muKh ring it.” Although Foote was seldom worsted in a duel of words, a Scotch lawyer who came to London to collect a heavy fee from the actor, scored a direct hit when Foote said, “Being a Scot, I suppose you will return to Edinburgh the cheapest way.” “Ay, you’re right.” said the lawyer, tapping his pocket, “I’m going back on foot. ” Fo'tc could never appreciate ajokaga'nst himself, thougii, Indeed, thenwere few bold enough, even in those days of sharp tongues and sharper swords, to match wits with one whose repartee was h byword through Vac*

theatres and clubs of London. His gnat intellect remained unimpaired even after a paralytic stroke affected pirn while journeying on a health trip to the Continent. The spark of his wit was not outlived by tho spark of his life, for ho died at Dover with a joke on his lips, and was later buried ra the cloisters of Westminster Abbey.

draw the presence of all filmgoers. The old-world settings and dresses are artistically iu keeping with the earlier period of tho play, and Norma Shearer is equally as beautifully gowned when the threads of tho story are continued during tho years of the war. An able cast has been selected to represent the characters. Frederic Match plays op-

posito Norina Shearer in both generations of the story, cast as Jeremy Wayne, and then later as Kenneth, the former’s son. Leslie Howard plays Sir John Cartaret, the lover of Moon yecn and tho guardian of Kathleen, anti O. P. Hoggio is in the role of Dr. Owen, his lifelong friend. Promised attractions coming to the Majestic shortly are “Pack Up You’ Troubles.” with Laurel and Hardy in their latest non-stop rib-tickler, and “Grand Hotel.” one of the greatest features yet filnjeA,