GREENROOM GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1360, 18 May 1916, Page 34

GREENROOM GOSSIP.

Walter Bentley is closing liis dramatic studio, and is commencing to teach under the management of Andersons, Ltd., at the Repertory Theatre, Sydney. The dramatic and picture acting are to be the chief features. * * * * J. Hartley Manners, the author of “Peg o’ My Heart,” is said to have already made considerably more than £200,000 out of the royalties on the play. Mr. Manners was in Australia many years ago with Charles Cartwright, and played in “Forget-Me-Not,” “The Ironmaster,” and other pieces produced by that entrepreneur. • • « « The Dream Girl singer in “Mother Goose,” who floats over the stalls when the auditorium is darkened, had an unpleasant experience in Melbourne early in the season. A young man reached up and caught her by the foot. Anyone attempting it after that would have received an unpleasant shock. A copper wire, insulated from the girl, but “live” to anyone touching her foot or leg, now affords the desired protection. Nobcdy impudent enough to make a grab at the girl could hold on. • • • What has become of the stage super? The the Adelphi advertised for male supers, and only two applied, while “extra ladies” swarmed in hundreds at the stage door. All managements discover a scarcity of men and returned soldiers are now remusiticned to fill the vacancies. The Marlow management will be glad to give Anzacs with spare time on their hands another kind of military job in the forthcoming production of “Richard HL, for which 50 knights and soldiers are needed. ■r- * * aft “The most remarkable last-night performance I have ever seen.” The description was applied by Harry B. Burcher, the producer of “So Long, Letty,” to the concluding performance of the musical play when it terminated its 16 weeks’ run at Her Majesty’s, Sydney. “I have never seen a more demonstrative farewell anywhere in England or America,” added Mr. Burcher. “The 16 weeks’ season was, in every way, remarkable, and had a fitting ending. The audience stayed in their seats for over a quarter of an hour, taking part in the demonstration, and accompanying the presentation of heaps of flowers with cheers and applause. Even the ladies of the chorus were laden with floral emblems of goodwill, and the enthusiasm was simply electrical. It was, indeed, a memorable night.”

The latest recruit to vaudeville from what is known as the “legitimate” stage is Nan Taylor, the clever actress who played Aunt Susie in Graham Moffat’s “Bunty Pulls the Strings.” Miss Taylor was acquired by Mr. Ben. Fuller as a Scotch balladist, and she is at present appearing in Dunedin. * * * » Melbourne playgoers and picturelovers are looking forward with keen interest to the innovation to be introduced by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., at the Theatre Royal shortly, when the * world-famous production of “The Birth of a Nation” will be screened. The greatest of all picture makers. D. W. Griffiths, produced “The Birth of a Nation.” Eight months were occupied in taking it, after six months preparation. D. W. Griffiths t made his reputation by this picture, ’ which represents a capital outlay of ; over £lOO,OOO. In it are used 18,000 ■ men and 3000 horses. In America ' it has run for over 12 months, the , prices of admission being those charged at regular theatrical attractions, the highest priced seats being eight shillings.