Plays and Pictures.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 73, 2 August 1912, Page 12

Plays and Pictures.

One of tho leading London daily papers, in commenting upon the revival of "Ben Ilur," at Drury Lane Theatre, expressed surprise that it had not been reproduced sooner, "for," added the writer, "as a play and a series of stage spec!aelos it bts only once been excelled during recent years, and that was by Air. Asdic's 'Kismet.' "

"The Blue Bird" opens in Auckland on August 1-3, uii'l "Siubadthe Sailor" in Wellington on the same dato.

Tiie stage pictures and scenic effects in tlie production of "The Blue Bird" aro said to represent tho acme of tho stage mechanist's art.

Lily Brayton's courtship was short and sweet. Sho was 18 years of age when she joined Benson's Shakespearian Company and met Mr. Asehe. "Yes," tho beautiful actress is chronicled as saying, "I remember our mooting very well. And" —with a sly smile—'T wasn't at all prepossessed in his favor during those first days But you shall judge how quickly I surrendered. Wo went to Cork, and one day we arranged a visit to the famous Blarney Ptono. No, we didn't kiss it. We did something much more memorablo than that. We came away engaged. And this was within a fortnight of our first meeting. In loss than a- year we were married."

Of the many places of pictured pleasure in Wellington, the New Theatre in Manners street remains a foremost favorite with patrons. This theatre is open continuously from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and no matter at what hour of the day ono may dtrop in ; there is always to be seen on the screen something well worth seeing. Got the habit of regular attendance at this hall, and participate in the prime programmes perpetually presented by the proprietors. In short, "Go where the crowds go."

Mesmerist Norwood, recently in New Zealand, gets it where the chicken gets the axe from Sydney "Footlights." Thus: "Norwood has now taken his hypnotic abortion to Melbourne, whore it is to he hoped the enlightened audience will realise what a real fake act is. and treat it accordingly. All the time such a turn is occupying the boards at least three genuine acts are compelled to lay off." m " m Commenting on the opening performance of Margaret Cooper iji Christchurch, tho "Lyttclton Times" says: "Time never varies to a greater extent than in a theatre. With some entertainments Time gallops, with others Time ambles, and with an unfortunate few- it seems to stand still. Two hours, wiih some companies, can crawl, stretch into what appears to ho an eternity, but last iiighb at the Theatre Royal the allotted span passed so rapidly in laughter and twinkling melodies that even tho most reliable watches were sadly doubted by owners who never before had mistrusted them. Miss Margaret Cooper is one with whom Time gallops. While she is on the stage nothing is regretted except the last song, and that because it marks the end." * * * At the King's Theatre, Dixon street, where West's pictures arc screened nightly to (he gratification of large audiences, the programmes portrayed pictorially are. always of the best. A star picture, is shown every week, and a variety of subjects furnish interest, instruction and amusement to the pleased patrons. All the choicest fare in filmic fun, fancy and fascination is served up by the management, and tie result is a succession of crowded houses. * * « Paderewski has been rather shabbily treated in South Africa. To put it mildly and colloquially, he "did not take on." But the artist's cup of bitterness was filled to the brim by tho publication of an open letter addressed to him in a I , return newspaper. "What have you don>' for the wmldr" the writer asked. "What do you do? You play [lie piano. I am told thai, you play the. piano lha-ii. any living pianist: I am not prepared io dispute, that : but, after all. what is there In playing the piano? We had a man hero (he other day "bo could not only play the piano, but 17 other instruments, including the Jew's harp. Nobody made a fuss about him. Jt only cost 2s. to hear him play all his instruments. Tie didn't want tho Mayor to receive him. inr did he charge a guinea for his front seats." Paderewski says that he was disappointed in South Africa. The Union, quite unah.Tshed. replies that it was disappointed in Paderewski.