Films and the Stage.

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 42, 13 November 1926, Page 23

Films and the Stage.

After seeing the playing members of the National Repertory Theatre Society in comedy-drama' and trage tv, it will be extremely interesting to see how they come through the difficult test of modern comedy. "Ariadne or Business First” is one, of A. A. Milne’s latest playwrights of the day. A specially that this author is one of the foremost playwrights of the day. A specially chosen cast under the direction of Mr. Deo du Chateau, which includes Mrs. E. J. Fawcett and the Misses K. Stocker, Constance Morice, Louise T'itzherbert and Messrs Vivian Rhind, P. B. Broad and W. S. Wauchop have been, actively rehearsing the comedy f°[ some time now, and a smooth and finished performance should be assured “Ariadne or Business First,” being just on the short side, will be preceded by the late Oliphant Downs’s fascinating fantasy “Tlje Maker of Dreams,” in which Miss. Ibyra Baldwin and Messrs. Norman Byrne and E. S. Baldwin will be associated. The presentation of these plays will be up to the verv best standard possible within the limitations of the Concert Chamber and the season will be for three nights, namely, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week Mr. William Beck will be in charge of the scenery, and Mr. Leon de Mauny will arrange the entr’acte music. The box plans will be opened at the Bristol tomorrow.

An “unshingled” actress. Zillah Bateman,'who is to appear in “The Unfair Sex,” Eric Hudson’s comedy, to be produced in Wellington next week, is one of the few unshingled actresses on the stage to-dav, though the efforts of Charles-B. Cochran, the famous London producer,. will probably’ lead to many beautiful ladies neglecting the hair, dresser for the future Miss Fay Compton is another of the very few stage ■ favourites who has refused to be shorn of her tresses. •

Puccini's* last opera, “Turandot/ scehis to have won great popular success in Germany. The work was recently produced at the Dresden Opera with’ so much eclat that this theatre has, as the result, re-established its renown, after a"period of depression following- the war. The Turandot of the Dresden cast w>r, Miss Anne Roselle, the New York soprano, who is said to have sung brilliantly, and filled the role with a commanding stage presence. The audience included opera directors from many cities in Europe, theatrical managers, critics, singers, and actors, and the scenes attending' this premiere recalled those of the time when Dresden was in the height of its artistic fame under the direction of Schuch and Seebach.

Four of London’s most pronounced successes during the past two years will be seen for the first time in New Zealand in the near future, when Mr. Joseph Cunningham and his new English .comedy company headed by Miss Zillah Bateman will present "The Unfair Sex,” “Eliza Comes To Stay”, "The Sport of Kings” and “Outward Bound," in the cities and important provincial towns. The whole tour is limited to ten weeks, as the company is due to open in Melbourne on February a of next year.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s world beating picture success, “The Big Parade,” which is now in its forty-sixth week on Broadway, New York, and is still going great guns, will be released very shortly throughout Australia, and in Wellington and Auckland, almost simultaneously. “The Big Parade” is regarded on all sides as the finest thing ir war pictures ever achieved in screenland. Metro-■Golr'wvn-Mayer is certainly bringing to th. Dominion some remarkably big picture successes. Their first releases for 1927 will include “The Big Parade,” Blasco Ibanez’ record breaking story, “Mare Nostrum” (Our Sea); “The Scar-

let Letter,” and, later on, “The Merry Widow,” “Old Hcidlebcrg,” “Bardeleys the Magnificent,” and the noblest Roman of the picture world, "Ben Hur.”

Frank Bradley, who appears with Joseph Cunningham’s New English Comedy Company is another exemplification of the. artist who has to go abroad to receive proper recognition of his talents. Mr. Bradley, who is an Australian, went to London when in his early twenties, and almost immediately met with success with the late Albert Chevalier and Eva Moore in “Tlie Marriage of Mayfair” at Drury Lane. He played for eighteen months with Cyril Maude and thereafter starred with Evie Green in "The Duchess > of Dantzic,” playing the role of Napoleon After the war he again donned his “civvies” and played at the Loudon Coliseum in a sketch called ’Unearthly,” written for him bv Cecil de Mille. It is said lie gives a fine performance, in "The Unfair Sex.” which is due in Wellington next week.

In “The Untamed Lady” Gloria Swanson returns to the type of picture that first brought her into screen prominence. The story and exciting comedy-romance, with a de luxe society background, was written especially for the Paramount .star by that widelyread fiction writer, Fannie Hurst. The plot hinges on the determined attempt on the part of Gloria's finance to tame her, and develops a host of humorous and thrilling .incidents. Larry Gray, remembered for his fine work opposite Miss Swianson in “Stage Struck,” is again her leading man.

Most of us will remember Frank Freeman for his interpretation of juvenile lead in lan Hay’s comedy, "Tilly of Bloomsbury.” That'was back in 1920, and after the New Zealand tour he played Baldassare, the bandit, in practically the whole of the Australian season of “The Maid of the Mountains.” Mr. Freeman is now in the Galsworthy play at the Ambassadors in London, “Escape,” under Leon M. Leon's management, and afterwards he is to play in a new piece from the pen of the same actor-producer.

The' Stanley McKay Pantomime Company will return to New Zealand in December. The company includes Misses Ruth Bucknal, Maudie Stewart, Laurie McLeod, Yvonne Marella, May Brooke, Zctta and Marjorie Abrahams, Messrs. Walter George, Frank Perryn, Arthur Meredith, Ernest Barraclough, and Arthur Harrison, and the Eleven Rascals. Mr. Walter George’s little revues, which he gave on the Fuller circuit, “The King of Dunnowhereski,” “The Orange Girl,” “My Geisha Girl," will be produced, as well as several pantomimes.

Dick Barstow, whose amazing toedancing is making such a remarkable sensation in “Mercenary Mary’’ at the St. James Theatre, Sydney, is a Seattle Ixiy, and first entertained the people of his native city by performing as a toe-dancei in the guise of a girl. Ultimately he tired of the deception and appeared in the garments of his own sex, with results that enormously enhanced his value. He and his sister were engaged on the Orphetim circuit, and as headliners toured the United States They ire both very young and still have two or three vears to go before reaching twenty.

The British film industry has gained a brilliant recruit. The Hon. Ivor Montagu, voungest son of Lord Swaythling, has now definitely identified himself with a sphere of activity which in England is urgently in need of such fresh blood. Mr. 'Montagu seemed destined to follow the career of zoologist, at which he had alwavs revealed marked qualities. The results of his recent mission to Russia on behalf of the British 'Museum—he is still in the enrlv twenties—have been highly ap nraised officially. But Mr Montagu’s interest in the kinemn. revealed in his university davs, developed w’ z -n he founded the Film Society, which made available for a rapidly increasing now nnb'ic arresting e->-nmnle« of advance? kinema art from all narts of the world Anart from the work involved in the preparation o f the <sr>r-'H-’<s filnxs |\r■'Tontaen’s first official commission was t’m gditm-r r ,f “The Waltz Dream.” which he ,pd with liveliness of idiom exact!’ suited to his suhioct Since then ’•« has dea't with various other films n--’ is at present engaged on a new frit Is’film, of which much is expected.

The excellent serial, “Hurricane Hutch” —the eleventh episode of which will be shown at the Artcraft matinee this afternoon—is undoubteily the best serial seen for many a long day. Consequently it is attracting excellent i..atinees each week, as each episodeincreases in exciting situations and thrilling action. The theme of the storv throughout is one cf absorbing interest. It will be shown this afternoon in conjunction with the Univer-sal-Jewel feature, "Combat.”

Romance, thrills, comedy and mystery all these are incorporated in “Black Paradise,” the Fox Films production featuring Edmund Lowe, Madge Bellamy and Leslie Fenton now showing at the Queen’s Theatre. It is something new in the way of a story, something that is not purely a detective yarn, not yet the story of a crook, but into which each element is blended in a way that will hold the attention of the audience from start to finish.

Miss May Duprez, who declared that she would retuse to say the words, “You go to hell!” in the revue, "Jollj'' Dutch,” was as good as her word at tlie first production at the Grand Theatre, Fulham, London. When she came to the phrase she substituted the words “You go—anywhere you like!” Later she appeared before the curtain, andaddressing the audience, said she did not consider the word in dispute was

necessary, and she was not going to say it.

Nat Madison, who appears with his father, Maurice Moscovitch, in “They Knew What They Wanted,” at the Criterion Theatre, has to thank himself for his prominent position in the theatrical world. His father had experienced so much of the bitter disappointments and hardships of a young actor’s life, that he determined that his son should be spared it, so be sent him to the University of Lausanne to study as a medical student. Nat patiently studied for two or three years, and was quite content with his lot until lie made a trip to London, and saw his father act. y-The inherited love for tin? stage got the best of him, and he announced his intention of becoming an actor. Naturally Mr. Moscovitch was annoyed. He told his sou that lie could go on the stage if he wished, but he could expect no assistance. Nat Madison didn’t ask for any He started as a concert singer at 30s. a week. Two years later his father saw him in musical comedy, mid, seeing that he had talent, he admitted him as a member of his own company.

‘The Vanishing Race” and the Paramount Red Indians have just completed an eleven weeks’ run a* the Prince Edward Theatre, Sydney. The Press and tlie i üblic have been unanimous in their praise of the picture, and it is only with the urgency of the booking of the Indi, ns in other cities that the picture has now been taken off at the Prince Edward to keep dates in other cities within the time limit of the red men in Australia. “The Vanishing Race” has had more consecutive record weeks than any other picture at the Prince Edward 1 eatre.

Salerno, the juggler , with the J. C. Williamson Vaudeville Co., practised the billiard cue trick for over ten years, often giving up in despair, but always returning to his self-imposed task with a greater desire than before he accomplished it. The pistol he uses is an ordinary revolver, adnnted, of course, for firing billiard balls, and blank cartridges are used. Often in the experimental davs the pistol backfired owing to the weight of the ball, and on more than one occasion pieces of copper from the cartridge had to be removed from Salerno’s face. Eventually he realised his ambition and mastered the trick.

May Beatty has been approached to go into vaudeville in America, but prefers to wait until she sees at first hand the conditions in that branch of the theatre in the United States. While preferring production to vaudeville,' the latter class , • , . . . . , , of work is not new to her as she has appeared in comedy sketches in leading London music halls.

Norman MacOwan, the Scottish actor, who is appearing with the Dion Boucicault Company at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, is part author of the dramatic version .of De Vcre Stacpoole’s wellknown book, “The Blue Laj 0011 - «« whose stage name is Violet Sterne, is also a memof the 6 company> a nd appeared as the Countess o f Brocklehurst in “The Admirable Crichton.”

Paul De Bur, who'is now appearing at fullers’, is known throughout the world as "the paper king.” Paper is dis specialty. Ballet girls 1 He can mrn them out in dancing rows of a dozen. He can-turn out Charlie Chaplins by the hundred, and turn theta out joined up iff circles. ' And he can •" turn out the most intricate designs, with whatever reading is desired. To De Bur it is.-easy, He: can Cut his papers behind his back, and brings forth a wonderful design. His is one of the most novel turns on the stage.

The Empire Theatre, Sydney, which will be the largest of any in Australia, is gradually growing into the spacious edifice which will seat nearly 3000 p.ei sons. The object of the company i making these arrangements for accou modation is to be.able to show the most costly productions at popular prices. The company’s producer, according to Mr. Rufe Naylor, has already secured the rights to several musical comedies, which he hopes to produce in earlv 1927.

The east coast of Africa, admittedly one of the most romantic spots in the world, is the colourful background for the thrilling action of the major part of “Sea Horses,” Allan Dwan’s spectacular sea melodrama, now playing. The story, which was adapted from the exciting novel of Francis Brett Young, details the thrilling adventures of a lovely, cultured English girl, who comes to one of the seldom visited ports on this coast in search of her handsome Italian husband. Matching the story in strength is the powerful cast of popular players, which features such favourites as Florence Vidor, Jack Holt, George Bancroft, and William Powell.

Svd. Chaplin has' unearthed a new find to plav. in his comedies, Doris Hill. She : s a cousin of Eugene Hill, the world-famed dramatist, and appears for the first time in the Master Picture, “The Better ’Ole.”

Eva Novak, the movie star, who, with members of her company passed through Wellington some twelve weeks ago on her way to Australia under engagement to Australasian Films, has now almost completed “For the Term of His Natural Life.” For weeks they have been roughing it in Tasmania on the actual spots mentioned by Marcus Clark in his famous story, According to Miss Novak and the members of the company, they have had a wonderful time, everyone being only too eager to help them ■ infeeling at home.

Rugged pitched battles are one of the features of the picture “Combat,” a Universal-Jewel, which is now showing at the Artcraft Theatre, with House Peters in the starring role. There are two thrilling fights which alone stand out as sufficiently thrilling to be the climax of the story.

The stark realism of “The Volga Boatman,” Cecil B. De Mille’s new per-sonally-directed feature, which is to be shown here shortly, is destined to make it one of the most talked-of pictures of the season, in the opinion of many critics. Presenting for a background the maelstrom of Russia in revolution, De Mille has woven in romance, melodrama and humour with a deft hand, capitalising on his sense of the spectacular without losing the human touch. A startling contrast between the splendour’of the aristocracy and the sqhalor of the peasants is brought out in the picture, which follows the experiences of three leading character—a prince, a princess and a Volga Boatman— through the Russian revolution.

Robin H. Legge writes in the “Daily Telegraph’’: “Now that Dr. Malcolm Sargent has undertaken the conductorship of the D’Oyley Carte opera season, it is devoutly to be hoped that, he will be enabled to "stop, at any rate to a large extent, the torrent of applause that greets everything that occurs in the Gilbert and. Sullivan opera'performances.' For years the - constant interruption of the flow of the plays by this utterly tasteless abuse of a privilege has compelled many enthusiasts to steer clear of the performances.”

“Mare Nostrum” (“Our Sea”), long heralded Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, which is to be released in New Zealand shortly, is the second Blasco Ibanez story Rex Ingram has produced for this company. The first was the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” which swept Ingram to fame along with Alice Terry and the late Rudolph Valentino, who' enacted the leading parts. Miss Terry and Antonio Moreno are featured in “Mare Nostrum,” which -was filmed in Europe actually on the waters of the Mediterranean, known to the Latin races as "Our Sea,” and is a story of thrills and adventure on the troubled waters of “Our Sea” during the recent Great War.

Fra n z Leliar, the composer of "Tlie M'er r y Widow," is repre sented by a musical number in “Katja,” now running at the Thea tre Royal, Mel bourne. The sone is entitled “I’m a Real Bad Lad to night,” and is sung by Cecil Kel laway. It lias typical L e h a r swing and melody

Warde Morgan, the “Katja” company tenor, who after the railway accident at Aberdeen (when the company were on the way to .open at Brisbane) was regarded as never likelv to walk again, was in a box at the Sydney Royal to see “Aren’t We All?” When a' few nights earlier he was present at “Mary Rose” (the Barrie play) the audience cheered him. He has one leg supported by straps, and has to use crutches. Warde Morgan is an English .artist, and a good one at that, according to visiting theatrical friends who have seen him play and know him personally.

Barry Lupino English panto mimist and musical comedy stai so well remember' out here, is no'' doing a double ac in English yaiide ville. Hicpartni’ is Jennie Gregson, now said to be one of the finest “feed ers” in Great Britain.

No doubt a fine reception will be accorded that wonderful juvenile act, Lorna, Lance and Co,, on their return to the vaudeville bill at His Majesty's Theatre on Monday next, these four remarkable children of the stage are all of one family, and the turn thev present is of an exceptionally novel and high-class nature. 1 hey are all clever, but baby Leslie is nothing short of a marvel. This tiny tot is claimed to be the youngest and cleverest jazz drummer in the world to-day. Lorna, his sister, is one of the best impersonators ever seen on the boards, while her brother, Lgnce, has rare ability as a pianist, singer, and dancer Ferna is also a child artist who does her share towards proving that Lorna, Lance-and 'Co. comprise capable and clever vaudeville artists.

Comedy and pathos are subtly blended in the screen version of Alice Hegan Rice’s famous novel, “Lovey Mary,” which is screening at the King’s Theatre. This new attraction from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer is hailed as a genuine triump of laughter and tears, and the storv of the orphan girl will prove a delight to every audience. Hie artistic- handling of the, picture by both director and actors, who show a rare of touch and insight into the beauty' of the original work, gives a production of the highest qualty- First against the background of the orphanage, and then of a poor settlement—the “Cabbage Patch,” introduced in an earlier book bv the author of “Lovey Mary,” there is unwound a human, appealing story of a girl’s love and courage.

Mr. M. T Dixon has been appointed musical director at the new Regent Theatre. Mr. Dixon, who is well known in Wellington, not only as a soloist of outstanding merit, but also aS an excellent conductor, received his musical education in England, com-’ pleting his studies at the Royal Academv. Prior to taking up theatrical work, Mr. Dixon had already made a name as a solo pianist and accompanist, and in that capacity touted New Zealand with Miss Adelaide Van Staveren. The Regent operatic orchestra will consist of 14 selected soloists, and under the able baton of Mr Dixon there is no doubt the musical programmes to be rendered will be quite a feature at the Regent.

Those who remember Rex in the remarkable picture, “King of the Wild Horses,” will be glad to know that the second of his productions will soon be released, “Black Cyclone.” In this attraction he . players the part of a terror.-

“No, No, Nanette,” the musical coniedv, has been done in Paris with an all-English chorus It was a great success at the Mogador and“Heureux pour les deux” (“I Want to be Happy ’> was whistled everywhere. At a Montmarte music hall a skit on it, with the very Parisian title of “Nu, Nu, Nanette,” was played.

Casting has commenced for the Fox special, “Gaby,” the colourful romance of fascinating, scintillating Gaby Desleys, the French dancer, and the prince of one of the most important courts of Europe. Virginia Valh is to have' the name part, while George O’Brien will appear as the prince and J. Farrell MacDonald is to be the American Ambassador. Howard Hawkes will'direct, and if the result is anything like his magnificent production, “Fig Leaves,” the picture will be something of an eye-opener as regards lavish settings and wonderful gowns.

One of the world’s oldest stories, and vet a storv that is always new, is the tale of Cinderella. It was told in Rome in the third century, and two hundred vears before that it was told in Egvpt. All ages and all peoples have known it, but never has it been more charmingly related than by J. M. Barrie in “A Kiss for Cinderella, the new Paramount picture which Herbert Brenon has produced, with Betty Bronson in the leading role. “A Kiss for Cinderella” will be released throughout New Zealand and Australia as a big Christmas attraction this year.

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“Mare Nostrum” (“Our Sea”) is a powerful story of the sea at the lime of the great World War. . Blasco Ibanez is the author and Alice lerry and Antonio Moreno have the leading parts.

The Totem Pole dresses in “Rose Marie” have been renewed three times nuring the Sydney run, and a fresh set is coining from England ior the opening. night in Melbourne. There are 300 pairs of boots and shoes used m the fiv.ion Sixteen American showgirls in Paris were recently stealing the thunder of “Rose Marie” (should it ever go to Paris) with their version of the Totem Dance.

March next will be celebrated as Paramount’s fifteenth birthday month greater movie season.

Dion Boucicault, 'Who is producing Barrie plays in tustralia for the Williamson firm, will rejoin his wife, Irene Vanbrugh, in England toward the end of the rear, in time to launch her in Sutro's new play, "T h e Desperate Lovers,” early in fanuarv.

Rene Riano (the ,-cccntric dancer, ■who was in New Zealand with .Williamson vaudeville) lias been appearing it the Warfield theatre, San Francisco, at a salary said to be the largest paid at that house since the engagement of Gilda Grey, the dancer.

Fania’s Amusements have secured the New Zealand distributing light.-, of th* recently re.leased British j iytiire, “Nelson,” the storv of one >f Englands famous heroes The film depicts the stirring battles that ma-le <he hero : famous and also the romantic episodes of his life—the struggle between ins affection and. duty to his country lie , picture is to be released in the jominion early in the new rear

A hundred young men armed with whistles and latch keys shouted down the actors in a popular farce with music at the People’s Theatre, in Berlin, with the cry of "No, Jazz! Play Shakespeare No Blues! Play Toller!" I his is in direct, contradiction of time-hon-oured tradition, which ordains that in the summer, or holiday season, only light fare should be played on the German stage

“Meet the Wife” will be housed at the Athenaeum, Melbourne, in the middle of this month, at which time “Is Zat So?” will leave the Victorian capital for Sydney. The latter is a “good comrade” play, showing how two men can be cobbers ” rather to the mystification of all womenfolk’ The women who go learn more about men s sentiments thrn women’s because it’s a he-man piece.

Robert'.Craig, who played “Seven Keys to Baldpate” in Nev. Zealand two or three years ago, and appeared with his wife,-Beatrice Holloway, in comedy ard farce, is playing through the , United States in “The Student .Prince,” a comic opera of some note, founded on the play of “Old Heidlebcrg.” “The Student Prince” was one of the London failures this year.

Lou Tellegen, George O’Brien, and Joan Renee appear in the leads m “The Silver Treasure,” the Fox adaptation of the blazing, tropical romance “Nostromo,” from the virile pen of Joseph Conrad. George O Brien, as Nostromo, the hero of the story, has a part which is well .suited to Ins dramatic and athletic ability, for the hero of the tale is a leader of the cargadores, a man of prodigious strength, and the idol of the girls of the village Nostromo and his band have the trust of the cargo of silver which Sotillo and his bandits are endeavouring to appropriate. Legend has it that whoever touches the treasure becomes obsessed with avarice, and even Nostromo himself does not escape the taint. However, the love of the girl for whom he wanted the silver treasure prevents him from becoming a thief, while his courage and daring enable him to over-power botillo and his gang.

The first name to be announced in connection with the forthcoming Fox attraction, “Mother Machree,” which John Ford is just preparing to direct, is that of Belle Bennett, who has been given the title role. This remark-) able actress made her name in Stella ” anrl as a result of her work in that production was signed by Fox V. appear in several of their new season’s attractions. The-first, in which Miss Bennett lias the lead, is in I lie Lilv ” from the French drama by Gaston’ Leroux and Pierre Wolff, and it is welcome news indeed that she is announced for.the part of the Irish mother in "Mother Machree for no other actress appearing before the camera to-dav is more suited for tins i-o'.e than is Belle Bennett.

May Allison, favourite screen star a few. vears ago, and who has been in retirement for a long time, is to return to the screen under the banner of Fox Films for two of their new season’s productions. The first is “One Increasing Purpose,” from the A. S. M. Hutchinson novel, and the other “The City,” from the stirring plav of the same name by Clyde Fitch. This charming little blonde was a very bright light before her retirement, and it seems that she is destined to resume her place, in the film world by her work in these important pictures.

Lover’s’of fine horses, will get some thrills out of “Kings rf the Turf,” the'- William Fox supreme.* attraction, I which comes on Tuesday for a three nights’ season to the Artcraft Theatre. Some of the most- famous thorough- I breds in the world, including Man o’ War, greatest of them all, and Fair Play, his daddy, appear as characters in this production, which is the life story of a royally bred racing filly. “Kings of the Turf” will be the featured attraction at the Artcraft Theatre for a three days’ engagement, starting Tuesday next.

% featured in the leading roles of “His Secretary,” the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture to be screened at the King s 'Hieatre shortly. The director Hobart Kenlv, has treated a modern version ot the Ur!v Duckling fable with sophistication and • subtley, and has made one of the vear’s most engaging light comedies from a story that depicts the ro malice of a business girl. Her role affords Mi«s Shearer an opportunity of disidaviim her ability as a comedienne, a talent that lias bad no outlet in such dramatic pictures as “He Vho Gets Slaimed” and “The Devil’s kircus. Other plavers are Willard Louis, Karl Dane. Mabe! Van Buren, Gwen Lee and Ernest Gillen.

“Katja, the Dancer,!’ still shows no signs of tiring of Sydney RoyalKatja is Marie Burke, who sang and danced effectively last year in “Wildflower” and “The Cousin from Nowhere.” It is not likely that. Katja will come this way before Christmas. Franz Leliar, the composer of “The Merry Widow,” “Gipsy Love," etc., is represented in this delightful musical plav bv a number entitled ..“I’m a Real Bad Lad To-night.” It has the typical Leliar swing and melody. The writer has a “Katja” score" front Sydney. The rest of , the music is by Jean Gilbert, whose other, outstanding 'works of note are “The Girl in ..the Taxi.” and “The Lady of the Rose.”-—'

"Greater love hath no man .. . No more apt illustration of this precept has ever been given than in _ “Beau Geste,” Percival - Christopher Wren’s story of brother love .'and de- J votion, set against, a background of the French Foreign Legion. ■ An old , Arabian proverb says that “The love of a woman is like the moon which waxeth apd wahetli; but- the love of . a man for his brother is like the Word " and the" Prophet—it endureth forever.’’ “Bead; Geste” is/a Paramount super attraction and, will be presented with an. .elaborately' staged prologue the opening . attraction at the new Regent-Theatre,;: commencing a ceason pf one week dnly.cn; December 3

Under the Williamson direction Gregan McMahon (a noted Repertory Theatre producer and actor) will present in ■Melbourne John Galsworthy s plav, “Old English.” The title rolean eiiditv-vears-old survivor of early Victorian davs—-considered by manv to be Galsworthy’s most masterly character creation, will be played bv McMahon. Tn the cast will be I ilv TiHieradge, who returns to the stave in the role of a penny-dreadful authoress ’and mistress of a Bohemian household The period of the plav is 1900.

The Midnight Frolics are now in Auckland playing to wonderfully enthusiastic audiences, and soon they will be at His Majesty’s Theatre, Wellington. This is a ’show of its own—an all-night show, embracing some of the best-known and most popular aitisls on the vaudeville stage of to-day. Evervone knows Clem Dawe, that tremendously popular young comedian, who on his last night in bydney iecentlv, after the farewell j erformance, was the centre ot hundreds of people, who rushed the stage in an endeavour to receive the last hqndsliake from tins great favourite. Many kissed and iiugged the smiling comedian in their wonderful enthusiasm, and it was a scene not easily forgotten. 1 here are manv favourites in a lesser degree embodied in the Midnight Frolics, and a brilliant New Zealand season is assured this phenomenally successful company

Shelley’s play, “The Cenci,” was revived recently in London, when Miss Sybil Thorndike made a great impression by the power of her impersonation of Beatrice Cenci, a role which is an epitome of tragedy. “Miss Thorndike has courage, staying-power, and well-trained experience,” writes a correspondent. “and brought these qualities to her support in her portraiture of the hapless Beatrice.” The serenity of the end, where the girl, and her • stepmother, Lucretia, awaited their doom for the assassination of the iniquitous Count Cenci, was very touching. The role of Count Cenci was play- I ed bv Mr. Herbert Carter with remark- , able power. His fine voice never found so suitable a medium. He represented the cliaracter as mad, of course,, and his dealing with it from that point of view was the one explanation of the enormities to which Cenci liad sunk.