FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19794, 18 February 1928, Page 15

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

. I********** [By LOITERER.]

Jottings on fira people of the Stage and Screen j csv and on the latest recorded Music. A

London will see * Cradle Snatchers this month. Over there they will call it ‘ Sauce lor the Ganders.’ ‘ A Cuckoo in the Nest,’ the now English farce, after a successful run at Sydney, lias gone to Melbourne. News comes that Erica Morini, the brilliant Polish pianist, will not visit these parts until next year. E. J. Carroll as directing her tour. Mr E. J. Tait, managing director of J. 0 Williamson, Ltd., is arriving by the Aorangi next week on a holiday visit. Mr Pirie Bush, the New Zealander, who was last here with the Bence Kelly Comedy Company, is in ‘The Trial of Mary Dugan,’ in Sydney, with Leon Gordon. ‘ Tiie Road to Rome,’ which was a failure in Australia with Margaret Lawrance and Louis Bennison in the leads, has just closed a year’s run in iN'ow York. Over there Jane Goad was in the lending role. Mr Harry Muller, representative m the United States tor J. C. Williamson, Ltd., accompanied by his wife, has been on a short business visit to 'Wellington. Mr Muller is a New Zealander who has been in America for the past two and a-half years, located in San Francisco. He left for California via Sydney last week. _ Feodor Chaliapin, the Russian basso, who was in New Zealand last year, made his first appearance in Spain last month, at Barcelona, in Moussorgsky’s opera ‘ Boris Godounov,’ which was conducted by Mr Albert Coates. lu their short season at tho King’s, Hammersmith, London, tho Carl Rosa Opera Company made two .important additions to their repertoire—‘ The Valkyrie,’ second work in Wagner’s stupendous ‘Ring’ cycle, and Verdi’s almost forgotten ‘ Masked Ball.’ Tho rumor that Lilian Davies, famous English musical comedy star, is coming to Australia, was confirmed by J. C. Williamson, but she will not play in ‘The Desert Song.’ Her plays will probably be 1 The \ agabond King ’ and ‘ Prince Charming.’ E. J. Tait, managing director of JC. Williamson, Ltd., and of J. 0. Williamson Films, Ltd., has arrived at Auckland on a. business trip to the dominion. Mr Tait has taken a keen interest in the Williamson-Melba Grand Opera Company, and gives the assurance that never before has such operatic talent and such a comprehensive repertoire been secured for presentation in this part of the world. ‘ Archie,’ the musical comedy soon to be seen in New Zealand, will be played by all the favorites who were seen here last year in the Fuller show's in ‘ Ladv, Be Good’ and ‘No, No, Nanette.’ Elsie Prince, it is said, has never appeared to better advantage than in ‘Archie,’ in which she has an ideal part. Together with Jimmy Gwiden, she is heard in a -series of splendid song hits, including the wellknown ‘ Cairo Moon.’ Tho caste includes, besides, Georgje Willoughby, Nellie Deane, Leonard Rich, Nellie Dennis, Elsie Parkes, Royston M‘Donnell, Harry Burgess, Gladys Devereux, Murial Edgar, Marjorie L’Strange, N.ita M‘Evoy, and Jack Smith. Josephine Head, Albert Hugo, and Romana, who came direct from the famous Folies Bergeries, Paris, aro coming to New Zealand with the specially selected company to appear in ‘Tip-Toes’ and ‘Queen High.’ For some years these dancers have amazed theatregoers, and their reputation is now world-wide. They introduce danco novelties never previously seen in this part of the world, and when it is said that the three dancers are credited with providing one of the most sensational acts ever seen on the Parisian stage, something out of the ordinary may with confidence bo expected.

Gaston Mervale, having given a fair trial of Grand Guiguol, in Sydney, is now of opinion that success can be assured by giving the public nothing but thrillers, and is carrying put that idea by eliminating the comedies from tho bill of fare. He intends presenting several new unci startling “ shockers in tho near future at the Majestic, Newton. Percy Hutchinson and Company, now in South Africa, will begin an Australian tour on March h at the Athcmcum Theatre, Melbourne, then repertoire will include 1 J ho Joker, ‘Cock o’ the Roost,’ and ‘Mr What’s His Name,’ tho Seymour Hicks play. The death is announced in America of Rubi Trelease, wife of Dr Norman Hales, formerly of Wellington, and at ono timo a talented amateur actor, now on the American stage. Miss Trelease visited New Zealand as a member of the Joseph Coyne Comedj Company in February, 1922. There still flourishes an old actor, a famous figure at the Savage Club, Mr Odell. “Mr Odell was sitting m the silent room at the Savage Club when a new and rather objectionable youth who had just become, by some mischance, a member, came into the same room and sat down to read,” writes Mi Cyril Maude.' “Odell ignored tho fact that it was the silent room. Ho laughed and talked with a lew of his friends. The young man got up and ran o ' the bell for the waiter, requesting* him to warn the old gentleman ti be quiet. The waiter went and told Mr Odell, and came back to the young man, who said, ‘What did ho say S’ 1 Oh, sir,’ said the waiter rather enjoying it, ‘he said: “Tell tlm young gentleman if ho comes hero I’ll kick him in the back,” or words to that effect.’ At this the young man grow terribly indignant, and went up to Odell and said: ‘ I hear, sir, that you want to kick me in the back.’ ‘ 1 did intend to do so, sir,’ said Odell; ‘but now that I’ve seen your face, want to touch even your back! ’ ”

SGREENLAND JOTTINGS Owing to the unprecedented demand for “wings” seats at the Criterion Theatre, Broadway, New York, special midnight screenings of this Paramount air epic were held on New Year’s Eye and New Year’s night. ‘Wings’ is in its sixtli month at the above theatre. Approximately 1,000 theatres in Australia and New Zealand will bo celebrating Paramount’s greater movie season, which is scheduled for March. Miss Annette Benson, who plays tho role of the sophisticated society woman Dolores, in the British production, ‘Confetti,’ is ono of the very few English girls, who by sheer force of talent have ivon for themselves big reputations as film stars Miss Benson is essentially an English girl, and the type that tho public will welcome in such an outstandingly important production as ‘ Confetti,’ She has a role designed to give her dramatic powers full scope. ‘ Confetti,’ although its name implies that tho carnival element is uppermost, contains much deep dramatic pmver. The production is to bo released through First National. A herd of maddened elephants charging direct at the camera forms one of the most exciting scenes ever seen in a motion picture. This particular thrill appears ill ‘ Chang,’ the ! Paramount picture which received its Australian premier in tho Atheiuonm Theatre, Melbourne, on January 28. Heilani Deas, an HaAvaiian beauty, Avas selected for the role of tho native dancer in ‘ Two Flaming Youths,’ Paramount’s new comedy film, with W. C. Fields and Chester Conklin. Miss Deas was in 1925 declared to be the most beautiful girl in Ihnvaii. As such she took part in tho Atlantic City pageant as “ Miss Honolulu.” In addition to the usual attractions movie-goers can look forward to a feast of entertainment during Paramount’s Greater Movie Season, Avhicli is to be held during March. Such productions as ‘Chang,’ ‘Shanghai Bound,’ and 1 Noav We’re in the Air,’ will receive their Ncav, Zealand premier during this season. On her last trip from San Francisco tho R.M.S. Tahiti carried with her Robert J. Flaherty, the famous director, and a complete motion picture producing unit of thirty persons, including actors and technicians, to make ‘ Southern Seas ’ amid the islands of the South Seas. This story will be based on Frederick O’Brien’s famous book, ‘ White Shadows of the South Seas.’ The wedding of the Paramount star Adolphe Menjou to Kathryn Carver is to take place in France next April. Kathryn Carver has played _ leading lady to Mcnjon in many of his latest pictures, including ‘Service lor Ladies’ and ‘A Gentleman of Paris.’ Frank Tuttle Avill direct ‘Love and Learn,’ Esther Ralston’s next for Paramount. Lane Chandler, Myrtle Stednian, and Hcdda Hopper are in the cast. Fred. Thomson, Paramount has secured a stable mate for SilveiyKiug, the horso he has used in his pictures during the past fciv years. The ucav steed is of Arabian stock, pure Avhite, and has tho samo extraordinary eyes for which Silver King is noted.

The Fuller grand opera season opens at the St. James’s Theatre, Sydney, on March 10, with ‘ 11 Trovatore.’ In the repertoire of the new musical comedy company which is shortly to visit Dunedin under the direction of Sir Benjamin and John Fuller is the very latest London success, 1 Archie.' The acclamation by Sydney critics of tins production as “the best yet was unanimous. One and all viewed it as a delightfully bright and breezy trifle with, as one critic puts it, “ something better than a flimsy motif, a plot actually possible of sequential following. The play, rich in solo and lively concerted numbers, features gay ami picturesque ensembles at other junctures than curtain falls. Miss Elsie Erince, now an accredited Australian favorite, is to portray her Sydney created role of the flighty wife of the central figure of the story. The duet, ‘Cairo Moon,’ sung by Jack Morrison (Archie) and Miss Prince, topically treats of the life and habits of Scotch, Lancashire, French, American, Cockney, and Australian people. As a gem of skits in musical comedy it won as many as six encores nightly in the New South Wales capital. Many followers of grand opera will be interested' to hear again the singing of the baritone Scamuzzi, who was with the Gonsalez company in Australia jn 1916 (says the ‘Argus’). He will return with the new company ot the Fuller management. Among the parts in which Signor _ Scamuzzi did well on the previous visit were Renato in ‘ Un Ballo in Maschera,’ Schaunard in ‘La Bohcme,’ and Tomo in i Pagliacci.’ Two other engagements, in addition to the long list announced earlier, are those of the r umagalli and the lyric tenor Garuti. Signor Fumagalli will sing the impressive name part in Boito’s 4 Mefistofele, with which his name has been associated in productions in Italy and America. With his engagement this opera lias been added to the repertoire of the company ‘Manon’ may bo included, as one or Signor Garuti’s chief roles is Des Gneux. Ho sings Count Atmaviva in ‘The Barber of Seville,’ and Alvino in ‘Don Pasquale.’ Madame Alpa, a noted Hungarian soprano, who is at present visiting New Zealand, will give a concert iieie on March 3. , T , Owing to the success of Hose Marie,’ the musical play brought to New Zealand by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Mr Bert Boyle, representative in New Zealand for the firm, has been compelled to recast the southoin ipoition of tho dominion tour, which has also been slightly extended. The Wellington season will end to-night, and the Christchurch season will open on Monday, February 20, and extend to March 9 instead of (as .previously arranged) March 3. The company will then move straight on to Dunedin, which’will be played on March 10, the season extending to March 21. Invercargill will be visited on March 22 and 23 and the company will then return to Dunedin on March 24, playing at the southern city on the Saturday, with a matinee performance as well. Oamam will he .played on March 26 and Timnru on March 27 and 28, thus concluding what bids fair to prove one of the most successful tours over accomplished by a J. C. Williamson company.

From London the marriage is announced of Mr Dion TMeradge , to Miss Madge Stuart. Mr Titheradge is a versatile actor and author, who belongs io th© well-known Anstrnlian family, and has had much experience in England and America. Violet Elliott, who was here with a pantomime company some time ago, is on» of the hits in the new musicalcomedy, ‘The Film girl,’ at Sydney Empire. „ . Murray, who performs feats similar to those" associated with the name or Houdini, has been engaged to appear on the Tivoli circuit in Australia. About twelve months ago ho performed a stunt in London that held up the traffic in Piccadilly Circus for nearly fifteen minutes. The crane on the top of the new Swan and Edgar Building, 150 ft above the ground, lifted Murray feet first and well trussed up in a strait jacket, into the air. For fourteen minutes li© struggled with his bondsj then he removed his strait jacket) swmm himself upwards until he could reach the chain, and released his feet. A moment later and he was lowered to the roof, amidst the cheering of the enormous crowd that had collected in the street below. Ho has given performances all over the world. Another musical centenary falls tms year—that of Franz Peter Schubert, who 'died in November, 1828, just twenty months after his contemporary Beethoven shook his fist at the skies and breathed his last (says a writer in a contemporary). It isn t certainly known whether they ever met, or whether Beethoven realised that here i»s a composer whose promise was almost as great as Ms own. Schubert was the usual precocity. Ly the age of twelve he had turned out songs, sonatas, overtures, and masses in abundance. His songs, many or them glorious, numbered nearly ow. He died in obscurity, at thirty-one leaving fifteen operas, seven symphonies, and a bagful of concertos m manuscript. _ , .... Plavmg in fl. ma/tiiis© of th© drama, with a strong love interest, ‘The nfine Forty-five, Miss Muriel Martin-Harvey, daughter of the famous English actor, Sir John Martm-Harvey, was handcuffed in the second act. The key fell out of an actors pocket, and was lost, and she could not be released. An understudy therefore played her part for the rest of the play, while Miss Martin-Harvey _ was eventually released by a locksmith. Cyril Richards and Madge Elliott, the Australians, who are starring in the musical comedy, ‘ Lady Luck, in London will take their own company to Australia in September, where they will present two musical comedies under contract to the Fuller management. Madge Elliott is best remembered here as a, dancer. Sho was last in Now Zealand as lead in ‘The Cabaret girl and 1 A Night Out.’ Cyril Richards is a splendid dancer and light comedian. After years in Australia Miss Elliott and Mr Richards left to try their luck in London, and have been very successful over there.