LE MOUNIER, ATHLETE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1570, 27 May 1920, Page 37

LE MOUNIER, ATHLETE.

COMBINES STRENGTH AND ARTISTRY.

Artistic, humorous and sensational is a summing up of Le Mounier’s act, which is exciting keen interest amongst patrons of the Opera House. Mr. Le Mounier, who is making a special feature of jiu-jitsu demonstrations, is an example of healthy athleticism, his feats being characterised by gracefulness and ease of movement as well as inordinate physical strength. Like Sandow, who did more for physical culture and the benefit of the body than any other man, he believes in developing strength on artistic lines. “There’s nothing artistic in brute strength,” he tells you, “it is the brain that governs the body, and concentration of the brain gives one the power to perform difficult feats.” And so this exponent of strength doesn’t believe in distorting and deforming the body just to make a muscular display, but he prefers to demonstrate his power by a scientific exhibition of holds and counter-holds in the art of selfdefence, showing his supreme command over the body as the result of physical culture. Mr. Le .Mounier was wounded three times while serving his country at the front, and while on furlough gave exhibitions at various places—Bath, Bristol and Manchester—and he also by special invitation appeared in Paris at the Olympia in posing acts, jiu-jitsu and feats of strength. At Le Havre he was engaged in a contest with Georges de Relawyski, holder of the middleweight wrestling championship of the world, who was attached to the English Army as physical culture instructor. Needless to say, the audience of soldiers were keenly interested, and Le Mounier has it to his credit that the Russian champion didn’t throw him once. Mr. Le Mounier’s measurements are as follow: —Weight, 12st. 71b.; height, sft. Bin.; biceps, 16% inches; chest, 44in.; waist, 31in.; thigh, 25in.; shoulders, 54in.; hips, 42in.; forearm,

13%in.; neck, 17%in.; calf, 16in.; expansion, 11 inches. He has had several engagements with the Fuller proprietary, once in partnership with Franz, their feature “stunt” being done with a motor car. This time he has built up an act by himself, and in enlisting volunteers from the audience to prove the efficacy of his holds he adds considerable interest, not to say amusement, to his performance, though he makes his “throws” as gentle as possible. His cabinet setting and oriental background make a most attractive introduction, and in arriving at the artistic note he has the co-operation of his wife, Miss Norah Burke, who has her place on the programme as a singer with a particular charm of her own. Her daintiness makes a general appeal and her frocking is similarly noticeable. Miss Burke is an English artist, and has appeared prominently in musical comedy, pantomime and revue, playing the lead in “Yes, Uncle,” with Grossmith and Laurilland’s Company on tour, while she also had long engagements under Frank Curzon’s management. This is her first incursion into vaudeville, and she undoubtedly is a graceful adornment to her new avenue of entertainment.

Mr. Nevin Tait has bought the rights for Australia of the musical comedies, “Firefly,” “Adele” and “Louisiana Lou,” in addition to the comedy, “Tea for Three,” by Roy Cooper Megrue. < 0 • » A movement is on foot to revive the Wanganui Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society. In connection with the official Commonwealth and State Governments’ gala performance to be tendered at Her Majesty’s, Melbourne, by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in honour of and in the presence of the Prince of Wales, there will be introduced a number of special attractions suitable to the occasion. Miss Amy Castles will go to Melbourne specially to take part in the performance.