Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 66, 14 June 1912, Page 12

Plays and Pictures.

Referring to the opening in Christeliureh of Carrie Moore, "Asper" writes:— "New Zealand knows her onl.v by reason of tho amazing ropntation which she has built for herself in the Commonwealth and in England, both on and oil' the stage. Amongst actresses who know tho uses of notoriety she stands alone, so far as Australia is concerned. On and off the stage she walks nonchalantly in the fierce light which beats upon a star. Behind publicity there is much good work of the best type found in musical comedy. She- is the first of tho musical comedy leaders in this part of tho world to drift into vaudeville, and her venture has been so entirely successful that one can quiet believe she will not be the last." » - « Ben Fuller, general manager of ihe Brcnnan-Fullor combine, is altering tilings somewhat at the Sydney "Nash." Ni'\v brooms sweep clean, says the maxim, but Ben seems to have got just a bit too busy in the cleanup. AVriting in "Footlights," Martin Brennan says: "The cheese-paring methods now being introduced at the National bid fair to bring this house down to tho level of somo several months ago, when the programmes were not up to metropolitan standard. The latest move, which is intended to call for larger profits, is responsible for a wholesale slaughter of tho staff. Several have already received their quietus, including tlie commissionaire and doorkeeper, and others leaving include Hal Dyson, tho conductor; Jimmy Craydon, stage manager; a, member of the. orchestra and the mechanist; whilst others are also expecting the week's notice. Regarding Jimmy Craydon, ho is looked upon as. one of the finest vaudeville stage-managers in Australia. In bis present capacity lie doesn't get too much, Lord knows, but there is somebody who will be found to do it cheaper. Jimmy evidently gets too much money." * * * The paste and scissors artist has crave doubts whether tho following par rightly belongs to the feature under which' ho has inserted it, or whether lie should have handed it over to the sporting editor to be placed among the items of "Sport and Pastime," but anyway here goes. "Writing in the "Bulletin," "0.P." says: Went to see "The New Woman" recently at Perth, with Lizettc Parkcs, who lias been boomed to a standstill, playing tho lead- Managerial affidavits that Lizzio bad improved out of sight since her appearance in ihe city a year ago were liitored. in all directions. After careful examination, I figure it this way: According to the weight for age scale, three-year-old fillies should improve. 1-1 lb. in a year. That being so. Lizzelte should ho within 31b. of Beatrice Day; but if I were a weight-adjuster the latter would have to concede Lizettc ab least 281b. Of course, I may not havo seen the hitter's true form. They occasionally run in and out. But on the form she's shown mc, I'd be justified in lotting her in with 7.4. m • "» The greatest, master of modern advertising might be found in C-ruick-shank, the Melbourne sketcher, who has control of affairs for Pansy Montague, "Tho Modern Milo." His biggest and brightest hit in England was to have the lady pose in English parks, against a background of nothing more than trees and sky; to tho infinite delight of nursegirls, lovers of art, the human form, free shows, and the unusual. Private advices received in Melbourne set out that tho same idea has been carried further afield, negotiations havng boon completed for her to pose in the Champs Elysees, Paris. « * w She: So you rue sure that your new play will he a success? He : Positive ; why. oven tbe manager blushed wh-'i! ho read it. * * * "Goo" in tho "Bulletin": Visiting the differcni melodramas of Melbourne and Sydney, I have noticed that all pictures of London, or relating in any way to London, proclaim it the wickedest of cities. If I were to educate myself on these dramas, I would have a bad opinion of the place. I wouldn't trust my best girl there, nor would I give it- credit for anything in tho way of kindness, or—or, purity. It is painted as a place where the one and only recreation is chasing women and deceiving them. It is represented as the home of hoaihc.ns and wine, whore men get blithered and maids get lost. Tlie. villain drags or decoys his victim to London. He drugs her in London, and snatches kisses from her protesting lips in London. He turns her out into the London street or the London snow, or on to the Thames Embankment—all women become lost or get turned out in poor old London- And all the clubs in Loudon are painted as a warning to the whole world of women about to go there. Tlie hero (God bless him!') always rushes from his innocent little country village, whero tho hawthorn blooms, to London to save his gur-r-rl. And while he's there saving her, he is tempted ]•"> tiirn-s a day. Is this poor old London being slandered? % m * Melbourne playgoers havo been marvelling at the workmanship of tho costumes in the Asche-Brayton production of "Kismet." Many of them were made in the East by native craftsmen, who for generations havo been tho fashioners of costumes, transmitting their skill arid the secrets of their art from father to son. Mr. Ascho, as Huji, tho beggar, wears a robe in nne scene that is so heavy that only bis big frame and

groat physical vigor allow of it being . worn in comfort. The cloth is woven with gilt wire, and worked on with .; enamel and coloring with such skill that it scintillates and g'nUcrs as if with the light of hundreds of precious stones. Tho secret of the work and the dyeing of the. cloth have never been discovered. The robe is valued at over £'500. Some of the dancing girls' dresses, tuo, are the "real thing." The silk is so tine that I lie whole of the costume can be compressed into a teacup. * * * There is nothing like flesh to change the luck of a theatre. The Aldrych, although a well-appointed and up-to-date | house, was long the unluckiest in Lnn- | don. All sorts of entertainments were* tried in it, but in every case tho shut-1 , ters had to he put np after a. week or so. Presumably, there was a dead Chinaman in the basement or the builder had broken a mirror and killed a eat. Rut "Proud Maisie," a Scottish historical drama, has turned tho tide. Everybody is flocking to see the handsome Miss Alexandra Carlisle in the title role and a kilt. The kilt is brief, and there is a fair amount of Alexandra between the dead finish of tho petticoat and the beginnings of the stocking. Tn early Reform Rill times Sir Charles Wethorell used to burst his braces with rage whenever he got up in the British House of Commons to oppose the measure, and it was said that his only lucid interval was tho one between his waistcoat and his pants. There are four lucid intervals at the Aldrych—three b<'tween tho acts, and the fourth about tho leading lady's knees-—"Bulletin."