THE STAGE

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1363, 8 June 1916, Page 32

THE STAGE

HIS MAJESTY’S. JOHNSON-WILLARD FIGHT PICTURES. The pictorial entertainment beingprovided nightly at His Majesty’s Theatre continues to attract large audiences, the lemarkable film of the great battle between Jack Johnson and Jess Willard for the boxing championship of the world proving a great inducement to the sporting fraternity to spend an evening at this place of amusement. Willard's defeat of the clever negro fighter is vividly depicted on the screen, and is acknowledged by all who have had an opportunity of witnessing this greatest of all fight films to be a fistic treat that should on no account be missed. The exciting scenes that take place at the venue of this world’s championship battle form an interesting series in themselves, without the twenty-six thrilling rounds of stubborn fighting which atje contested before the negro falls a victim to a terrific right uppercut to the jaw. The clearness with which the much-talked-of encounter is shown on the screen makes the onlooker almost imagine that he is among those seated at the ringside, and the giant fighters give one another no respite during the fierce battle, which lasts an hour and three-quarters. The Johnson-Willard films are to be shown in the various townships throughout

the Auckland province, when it is certain they will induce a continuation of the wide patronage that has been associated with the venture in other parts of the Dominion, OPERA HOUSE. Long before the performance commenced at the Opera House on Monday night every available seat was taken, and a large number of patrons had to be turned away. The programme submitted was a particularly good one, there being a number of artists who were either making a 'first appearance or renewing their acquaintance with the Auckland public. Herbert Brooks, the Mystifier of Kings, held the audience spell-bound, first by his card tricks, in cne of which he distributed a pack of cards among the audience, who, after marking a ,certain number, returned the pack, and were amazed to find the mvstifier holding up their marked card. In the same inexplicable manner cards called for by the audience appeared in a miraculous way from

the garments of the magician, who, with a most lively and disconcerting patter, performed feats of inscrutable mysticism. His coup de grace was that of permitting himself to be enclosed in a stout steel trunk under the eyes of a number of men who were asked to come upon the stage from the audience The trunk was firmly fastened, an outer cover laced on, and placed under a silk cartain in the middle of the stage. After 30 seconds the mystifier, more mystifying than ever, appears, and the trunk, when unfastened, is found to be empty. This feat caused a great sensation on the other side of the world, 'and has been the cause of much controversy, ending in the law courts. But Herbert Brooks, on winning his case, was awarded 20,000 dollars, hence the name —“20,000 Dollar Steei Trunk Mystery.” A most pleasing item on the programme was the delightful dancing of the artistes May and June. A Russian dance in costume was danced with an abandon and sprightliness that displayed great ability. Then followed a dance of fairyLke movements as the dancers pirouetted across the stage in gauzy diaphanous drapings. An Eastern dance was a series of exquisite movements of the body, in which the dancers, in beautiful eastern costumes, performed the languorous, sinuous dance of the East. Armitage and Hine were again received with loud applause, their sketch being a

farce of great merriment, the impersonation of the slavey by Miss Armitage evoking uproarious laughter, while the singing of “The Deathless Army” by Mr. Hine was very much enjoyed. Sadie and Gale gave another of their clever turns, and George Crotty, who sings ragtimes and performs weird, eccentric dances, was received with great enthusiasm. Brown and Sorlie, two American dancers and singers, kept the house highly amused with their humorous patter, and Milner and Story gave another very clever sketch.

“Peg o’ my Heart,” the wonderful J. and N. Tait attraction at the Sydney Palace, was played under unusual circumstances at Hull, England, last year. Sara Allgood, who nightly achieves a triumph in the Sydney production was also the leading lady during the Hull season. One night when the performance was about half over the noise of whistles and sirens shrieking was heard outside. Miss Allgocd, who was a comparative stranger to the city was momentarily at a loss to ascribe

a cause for the commotion, but when the whole audience rose and began to file silently to trie doors, she remembered that the clamour was the prearranged warning of a Zeppelin raid. Sure enough, two Zeps were seen far above Hull in the clear atmosphere, and their appearance settled any chance of finishing “Peg o’ my Heart” that night. As a matter of fact, no cne was left in the theatre- but the little company. Even the orchestra had departed to witness the excitement in the streets.

Mr W. S. Percy, the jolly little comedian who was beloved of New Zealand theatre-goers for two decades, sends along the programme of the new London Hippodrome revue, in which he is at present playing. When “Billy” left these shores to seek the “bubble reputation” in London town, it was confidently asserted by his friends that he would soon make good, and it is gratifying to know that that prediction was well founded. The outbreak of war upset Percy’s plans, and the last heard of him was that he was acting as a special constable in the metropolis of fog and shaded lights. His work in the revue has been universally applauded by the Press, and it is safe to say that now. when he has reached the summit of a stageman’s ambition —the creation of a part in a London theatre —-he will establish in Engand a reputation such as he established in Australasia. ,

An appreciation of our old friend Gil Hoskins, late manager for Fuller’s at the old Alhambra: —A soldier who very proudly bore the proudest title cf “Anzac's oldest inhabitant” was among a party of invaids who returned to Sydney last week. He was arm-ourer-sergeant Gil P. Hoskins, of the Ninth (Queensland) Battalion, who, before the war, was widely known in theatrical circles in Australia and New Zealand. He went ashore with that gallant storming party, which, in the grey dawn of April 25,first gave the Turk a taste of Australian steel, and he was one of the very few men of the party who were practically unhurt at the close of that eventful day. After that he was in nearly every important fight. But it was not until towards the end of September i-'at ms extraordinary luck deserted him. By that time 'he was generally known as Anzac’s oldest resident. Then he was' severely wounded by shrapnel. He spent months in hospital, but he is now nearly recovered, though still classed as an invalid. Sergeant Hoskins has considerable ability as an artist (says the Sydney Daily Telegraph)

and he was officially employed on Gal lipoli in making maps and sketches. * *

Miss Genevieve Ward, the famous actress, who celebrated her seventyn.mh birthday early in May,has been telling an interviewer the secret of the wonderful vitality which has enabled her to emerge from retirement and play a comedy part in “The Basker” at the St. James’, London. She says: “I eat the merest fraction of meat a day—perhaps 2oz. —and live almost entirely on milk and fruit. I do physical exercise six mornings a week, and daily my dog and I take a three-mile walk .Sometimes it is five; but that is nothing.”

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., have arranged with Mr. George Bowles, representing Mr. D. W Griffith, for the presentation of the stupendous picture spectacle, “The Birth of a Nation,” throughout the whole of Australia and New Zealand. The tour will be a thoroughly comprehensive one.

It is stated that Lady Forbes Robertson (Gertrude Elliott) has entered vaudeville at the Victor, a Palace, London. Lady Robertson appeared not as an actress, but as a singer of character and dialect songs.

“There’s nothing stand-offish about the Australian youth,” commented Miss Connie Ediss, the English Gaiety comedienne, who has spread a broad smile over Melbourne by her quaint humour in “So Long, Letty.” “Entering the lift at my hotel the other morning I was greeted with the salute of ‘Hello, Connie,’ from the youth who presided over the rising and tailing destinies of the elevator. My indignant expression of inquiry did not upset him in the least. ‘Well, King Edward called you Connie,’ he remarked in explanation of his fam.liarity. ‘Besides, everyone calls you Connie. You know,’ he added ingiatiatingly, ‘you look just the sort of a sport that one wants to call by their Christian name.’ Well, after that was there anything further I could say?” commented the comedienne.