STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1915, Page 11

STALLS GOSSIP.

MIMES, aiUSIC AND MOVIES,

Maud Allan, the classical dancer and posturist, is posing to the cinema at' I»3 Angeles.

Paul Dufault has ibeen touring Canada with immense financial and artistic success.

Although the late John Bunny earned a fabulous salary, his estate is said to have realised only £I4OO.

That popular favorite of the fair sex, Maurice Costello, has added another success to his banner. This time it is in a play, entitled: " The Evil Men Do." * * * *

" The Radium Thieves " ifi the title ot a new picture success. The action of the play takes place in an American hospital. The soenes are said to be very realistic. It was about time that radium was (made the medium of a big rob/bery scheme; nearly every other mineral has had its chance,

The Kalem Company is making a move into the higher branches of photodrama. In order to do this, four new companies of well-Jcnown actors and actresses axe being constructed. Mr. Arthur Sliirley, who visited New Zealand with several dramatic companies, has been engaged to play the leading parts in the melodramas. * * * *

Cyril Keightley, who is well known and popular In the dominion and also in - Australia, principally on account of his brilliant work with George Rignold, Kydle Bellew, Nance O'Neill and the J. C. Williamson forces, and in England, by reason of his artistic work in some of the Dniry Lane productions, has joined the army of screen players. Mr. Keightley will work as the leading man with George KJeine, and will have as support two well-known stars. The handsome Cyril is the husband of Ethel Dane, of "The Glad Eye.' * * * *

Mae Marsh, who is now spoken of in the same way as Mary iPickford, is another popular favorite who is having plays written for her, and by the latest malls comeß news of her success In the first play of that class. Miss Mar&h has for her leading man Robert Harron, who has been a star in the spoken drama for many years. The name of the new'attraction is "The Outcast," a story of the underworld. * * * *

Mack Swain, known to these parts as "Ambrose," had a very narrow escape from drowning a few weeks ago. It is only since he has joined the Keystone Company that he has learnt to swkn, and while tho .party was swimming ashore, after the picture of an aquatic comedy had been filmed, Mr. Swain was missed from the party. The distance to the shore was scarcely a hundred yards, and Mabel Konnand, with a few others, immediately dashed out to sea again, and fished "Ambrose" out.

Picture-goers who saw that fine film,

; ' Woman," which was screened at the Theatre Royal this week, were Impressed by the clever acting of Signorina Francesca Bertini. The Caesar Film Company, of Rome, has decided to star this gifted young actress in several modern society dramas. The first to be shown here will be a story of ItalianAmerican life, entitled: "The One Between," which gives Signorina Bertini full scope to display her emotional powers. * * * *

The news that Do Wolf Hopper, the famouS American comedian ; has consented at last to act for moving pictures was regarded as sufficiently important news to be wired all over the United States. After refusing for several years to act before the camera, Do Wolf Hopper has at last surrendered. He will receive 12f3,000 dollars a year. Hopper's first professional appearance was made in "Our Boys," in IS7B, since when he has starred with the best companies in the States. Over £25,000 per annum is a fair living wage in these times of financial unrest.

Mr. George Stephenson will be sending a strong comedy company through Xew Zealand shortly. He has already secured the theatres for the race dutts at Napier, Hastings and Gisbome. It is expected that the tour will commence in Wellington, at the Grand Opera House. Mr. Stephenson will be remembered as the manager who brought the Stine-Evans' combination company through here, and later on the opera company, headed by Edward Lauri and Miss May Beatty, while quite recently the Humpty Dunvpty Pantomime Company toured under his direction.

Tlie Duncdiu Star enthuses over a genius it lias discovered—the peer of Genee. almost—a dancer wlio lias attained the skill and dexterity of surli as Isodore Duncan here in New /-e»land, and no one knew it. Incidentally, the Star says: "We have no hesitation in declaring our opinion that Miss McLaren is a wonder, and. although only nineteen year,* of age, already in the front rank of the descriptive dancers who acknowledge Adeline Genee at tile leader. We do not propose to institute comparisons as between Adeline Genee and Polly McLaren, nor attempt to state the points of similarity and divergence between this rising artist and other famous dancers. Let us rather thank the gods for each in turn."

The revival of "Charley's Aunt'' at the Little Theatre, Sydney, recalls the story that Brandon Thomas, the author, hit upon the idea of the "Aunt" through the great success of "Fun on the Bristol," probably the greatest laughing success known in the early 'eighties, "run on the Bristol" was a prolific, moncvspmncr for the late John F. Sheridan. There we very few of the old playgoers of New Zealand who will not ramember him as the Widow O'Brien, and the fight he had to prevent his two daughters trying to spell the revered name "Obreeon." Another well-known company to make a hit in the big laughmaker wa.s the I'ennan family. wTth Johnny Collins as the widow, Bella Per man and Laura Roberts being the daughters who hankered after the society circle.

" rhe Man Who Stayed at Homo," to be presented here by J. C. Williamson's company very shortly, created much enthusiasm when it was lirst staged in London. The new spy drama" is said to be a brilliant, cleverly constructed piece. The dramatists secure thei> first surprise upon their audience in showing that to stay at home mav be as heroic a proceeding, and as important, as taking deadly Kas ba tiw

trenches. The secret service work is what the hero of the new drama is employed upon, and, from the moment that Christopher Brent (the man who stayed at home) appears in his true character as a secret service agent, the attention of the audience is secured, and the unfolding of the exciting plot is followed with the closest interest. When the debonair " eye-glass idiot" accidentally discovers the wireless installation in the boarding-house, and cleverly puts it out of action, he feels that Brent, the man who stayed . home, is, not only a personal friend, u at"also a friend to the Empire. The subsequent incidents all help to sustain the interest in the new drama right up to the fail of the curtain. # * * *

Biliie Ritchie, who was at one time the star comedian of Fred Karmo'g company of "Nightbirds," is flying into popularity in America; his beat efforts seem to be as the gentleman who has rather too much wine, but is endeavoring to hide the fact by his attempts t» appear quite sober and painfully polite. Many of the American papers plump for BiUle Ritchie a<? being the funniest English comedian that lias appeared in the photo-pipy attractions.

Advice has been received from America that the Wg six-reel star photoplay, "The Spoilers," is to be sent to the Dominion by the first mail which leaves Now York. Amongst the all-star cast in "The Spoilers" are some wellknown actors, notably Frank Clark, the original player of that screaming comedy, "iliuldoonb Picnic," which was the greatest, laughing success of its time, some twenty years ago; Sydney Br&cy, ,who iis well known here as a singer with several companies, and who is also a first-class erieketer, has a big part, as ailso has "Billy" Townsend, who toured these parts with Andrew Mack. * * * *

Whether it is the singing oif th« song, "It's a Long Way to Tipperary," or whether It is purely the outcome of the Stirring times that is causing the boom, Ireland Is, according to the screen plays, coming back to h'er own. Not only has every bit of Tipperary been screened, and its beauties extolled in animated pictures, till it threatens to outrival the wonderful Killarncy, hut there are screen plays galore being written around the old village, and almost without exception these plays are war plays. As a set-off there has been written a stirring Irish play, "Ireland a Nation." It is a story or 1 the exciting times of 1798-1800, When Napoleon's star Was in the ascendant, and England had a galaxy of brilliant Irishmen in its Parliament. .

There is a good story current of Hugh D. Mcintosh, the energetic head of the "Follies." When the company landed in Auckland, Mcintosh, who is inclined to be impatient in his demand for hustle, grenv restive at the delay in passing the steamer's luggage through the Customs. In desperation G. IX Portus introduced him to the principal Customs officer in sight, and Mcintosh proceeded to express his opinions of'the slow "Why." he eaad, with line scorn at the end of his address, "if we were in Sydney this would be through the Customs and on the stage by now." And it was then that New Zealand got back, the Customs officer routing the Mclntoshes with, "Sydney? Where's that?"