STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1915, Page 10 (Supplement)

STALLS GOSSIP.

MUSIC, MIMES AND MOVIES. Miss Violet Page who was here with "The Man Who Stayed at Home" Company, is leaving for England at once, to join her husband, Mr. Hugh Buckler, who lias been wounded at the front.

Muriel Starr, supported by Charles Millward, commences her last New /ealand tour at Wellington on Monday. "Bought and Paid For" is the opening attraction, and two other new plays, "Nobody's Widow" and "Under Cover," will be presented during the season. * * #

Mr, Lewis Willoughby, who plays the part of the Russian, Boris Andrieff, in "Potash and Perhnutter," was married recently to Miss Gwen Burroughs, who visited New Zealand with Miss Ethel Irving, playing the part of a French maid in "Lady Frederick." Miss Burroughs is at present playing in Melbourne in an American piece, "Kick In." * « »

"So Long, Letty," an American musical comedy, will be the Christmas production at His Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. This will make three plays of purely American origin to be played in Willia,msonian theatres at the one time. After all, Williamson was an American, but he made his name in English plays. The order appears to have been reversed entirely. * » «

A cable message from London appearing in last week's Sydney papers stated: "Mr. Arthur Adams' play, 'Mrs. Pretty and the Premier,' was accorded an excellent reception on its production by Arthur Bourchier, whose impersonation of the Labor Premier, splendidly characterised, was probably one of his greatest successes. Miss Ivyrle Beltew proved an admirable heroine." « * •

The Royal Comic Opera Co. op - ns a thirten nights' season ;n Auckland on Monday. "Gipsy Lov?" :■) the first attraction, and then follow in quick succession "Our Miss Gi'bbs," "Paul .Tones." "The Quaker Girl," "Ma Mie Rosette," and "The Dancing Mistress." The company include, among other sterr.ng artists, Misses Ethel Cadman, Minnie Love, Maggie Moore, Addie Lennard, Ethel Bennetto, Ivy Dawn, Mrs. Geo. Laavi and Miss Florence Young; Messrs Derek Hudson, Reginald Roberts, Phil Smith, Leslie Holland, Claude Bantoek, Charles Albert and John Ralston. * # #

David Bispham, the American baritone, is appearing this season in Amerca in the one-act "Adelaide," in which he figures as Beethoven, greatest of all composers. It was written by Hugo Muller about ] 862, and has long been a classic on the German stage. Its romantic story i» founded upon fact—the attachment of tlie great, composer for the Countess Julia Guicciardi, to whom the "Moonlight" sonata was dedicated. Pictures of Bispham show that in personal appearance he presents a fairly faithful portrait of the likeness of Beethoven.

Some of the most realistic war pictures that have ever been released were shown in Paris just recently, and in a short time will no doubt be shown in the Pathe Gazettes throughout the Dominion. The first instalment shows actual scenes in the trenches during an assault by the French grenadiers. General Joffre's forces are seen throwing hand grenades into German trenches, and the resulting explosions, with loss of life and property, are clearly shown. Following one of these explosions a horse is seen blown into the air and landing on the topmost branches of a neighboring tree. # » •

The American drama "Under Fire" and ditto comedy "Twin Beds" will be produced by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., in Sydney this week. "Under Fire" is a war drama, written by a French playwright, Roi Megrue. "It is a strong proBritish play, and it has already been secured for Drury Lane. This reminds me that everywhere I encountered strong pro-Ally sentiments, and this in spita of a vigorous and subtle Press propaganda by enemy-snbsidised papers. As an illustration of this, I may mention that General Sir Sam Hughes, of Canada, recently stated that he had received over 6000 applications from Americans to serve with the Canadian forces," states Mr. Hugh J. Ward. * » •

"The Dancing Mistress," to be included in the Royal Comic Opera Company's tour, has the grace of movement of a Genee dance. Dialogue is generally the weakest thing in musical comedy, the impression remains that the authors in spare- moments drop smart sayings into a bow and pull them out at random for the construction of conversation. "The Dancing Mistress" has light popular music, smart action, graceful solo and ballet dancing and striking costumes. With "Ma Mie Rosette." "Paul Jones," "Our Miss Gibbs" and "The Quaker Girl" added to "Gipsy Love'' and "The Dancing Mistress," the J. C. Williamson firm are going to give New Zealand theatre-goers a rare treat. * # #

The attractions to be presented by Wirth's Circus and Menagerie this year include a number of acts never previously seen in New Zealand. Hilling's troupe of performing seas and sea lions are unique. One seal, "Mascot," rides upon horseback, and whilst the horse is galloping he balances a baton on his nose, holds a ball in perfect poise, juggles hats, plates and five-torches, etc. Another, "Captain," is a tight-rope performer. The group also play musical instruments. Then there are the four Ernstoniaus, tfapeze artists, and the Loretta Twins, two ladies who do a special act on the triple horizontal bars. Miss May Martin Wirth is the star act of the combination. Miss Wirth's wonderful riding abilities have been acclaimed in the older world. The North Island tour opens in Wellington on January IT.

Hary Farrow, the well-known Englisht comedian, who will make his first Australian appearance as the dame in, the J. C. Williamson "Mother Ooose* pantomime, made his first appearance in a travelling pantomime. This was a most ambitious pantomime, for no fewer than twenty-six names appeared in the east. "Of course, it tooß tTie six people in the company, including myself, all our time to carry the lengthy cast 011 our shoulders," explained Mr. Farrow. "I played seven parts myself. They were small ones certainly, but they kept me busy. 1 was some quick-change artist in those days. You see, it takes some doing to follow one's appearance as the Demon King with a plausible counterfeit of the Queen of the Fairies —my favorite pantomime role in thoise days! For my seven performances I received the handsome salary of £2 per week, felt myself rich on it! I never bothered to think what the audience's opinion of the show was. I only know that we. escaped mortal injury at their hands

"Bunty" is atill pulling the strings in Melbourne, and is receiving a happy reception. The "Bunty" of the revival Is Miss Jean Clyde. » * • It is claimed that Allen Doone not only writes all the words and music of his songs, but also that he writes most of his plays. Truly a versatile and accomplished actor. * » #

Caruso earned £21,000 for a run of fifteen nights in 'Buenos Aires this sensou. He was engaged for seven nights at £I4OO a night, and sang so deliciously that the management extended the contract for another eight nights at the same fee. »■ * •

Australian journals are rather prompt to seize on notable New Zealanders and claim them as Australians —Alfred Hill, for instance; and not long since the Sydney Theatre referred to Rosina Buckman and Nora d'Argcl as "talented Australian singers." The latest instance is the claiming of the ex-Aucklander, Walter Kirby, by Melbourne Punch as "the famous Australian tenor."

An actress new to picture fame, but one who it is thought is bound to become a public favorite, is Miss Diana Kareen, now attached to the Pasquali Company, A gipsy drama has been written for this young lady, who is said to possess much histrionic ability as well as charm of manner. The play is entitled "Souls Aflame," and depicts many quaint and startling episodes of the true life of the Zingari. A realistic, forest fire is ineluded in this play of gipsy life.

Motion pictures are without doubt the favorite pastime of the people the world over, and patrons have- their favorite actress or actor in a much more acute manner than when the spoken stage was the only means of seeing plays. Lately, in Sydney, a paper started a popularity contest, each reader of the paper having the opportunity of registering four votes. The first day saw a count of 25,000 votes recorded, and the second day tile total was raised to 250,000. The contest is proving a bigger attraction than an election. # • •

George Titheradge, whose health has been very unsatisfactory of late, has entered a private hosiptal in Sydney. This year of war marks the 50th year of that fine old actor's connection with the stage, and on December 10 the theatrical profession and managements of Sydny united in celebrating his jubilee by a complimentary souvenir performance at Her Majesty's Sydney. It was a day of importance in theatrical records, for it marked the absolute farewell to the theatre of au actor whose talents have set him high in the annals of the Australian stage. #» ■ •

The Cine Journal publishes the following, which shows the temper of the Huns:—-"At Pekin last week, twenty Austrian soldiers belonging to the Austrian Legation entered a picture theatre, the proprietor of which is of British nationality. Some Alms dealing with the sinking of the Lusitania were being shown. Before it was possible to summon the police, the Austrians broke into the operating box and smashed the projector. The proprietor of the theatre has delivered a statement to the British "Legation with a view to securing an indemnity.

The producing of films is not oil such a large scale in London as in some parts of America, but a producer can manage to get extra people almost free of charge. All he does is to let it be known that a moving picture will be taken of some place in a suburb and the crowd rolls up to have a view. Then when the act (which has been rehearsed in a studio) is sprung on the unsuspecting onlookers all in the vicinity are interested in seeing the actors and actresses playing their parts. In one or two instances some of the crowd have interfered with the performers, sometimes with great effect. The camera, of course, is artfully concealed in a vehicle of some sort. On one occasion when the villain was struggling with the heroine, a bulky cockney rushed in and tripped the villain up, and shouted, "Run for your life, Missus', I'll 'ang on to 'im." * # *

The English Sketch lias an interview with Hiss Eve Balfour, a New Zealand young lady, who arrived in England some six years ago, and understudied Mrs. Patrick Campbell i.i "False Idols" at His Majesty's Theatre, London. Miss Balfour is now a cinema star actress, and plays the heroine in the film version of "Five Nights," which is being exhibited in flreat Britain. Miss Baifour describes her dress in the studio scene as a Greek costume, not transparent, but of heavy silk, and leaving less of the feminine form exposed than the ordinary evening diess. Miss Balfour considers there is nothing in the play that is in any way inartistic, and describes it as "a milk diet film," and "very much milder - ' than the book. * * *

An interesting incident has just transpired at San Francisco concerning the visit there recently of Madame Melba. Kagtime, the bane of many high-class musicians, has won the Australian diva. Also it lias won Uifa Waldrop, the famous organist, who for several years has made San Francisco his home, and who has the distinction of being the first American pianist to act as accompanist to Madame Melba on a concert tour. While Melba was still in San Francisco, Waldrop, by way of being democratic, performed his own interpretation of how "Cavilleria Rusticana" would sound to him in ragtime. This occurred at an informal musicale at the exclusive Bohemian Club at San Francisco, when Madame Melba was present. The great diva was delighted with the Interpretation of the intermezzo, and soon after informed the musician that she would take him as pianist on a lengthy engagement tour of California and the Dominion oi Canada. • * •

In Australia the siage of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, has long held the record of being the largest in this part of the world. Drury Lane Theatre, London, has been considered the largest of regular theatre stages in England, but the news that Japan can claim to have the largest stage in the world will come as a surprise. Maud Fane, who is to fill the role of principal girl in the J. C. Williamson pantomime, "Mother Goose,' makes the statement, which refers to Tolcio, the capital city of Japan. Miss Fane appeared in this theatre with her own company of entertainers. The theatre has tiers rising one above the other ,and on the stage four different scenes can be set at the same time. The stage revolves, so that each set is presented alternately. "An amusing circumstance in connection with this stage, said Miss Fane, "is that instead of the artist taking the usual little 'skip' to get off the stage, one has to fairljt take a run or a series of leaps, otherwise it would take too long to get into ! the wings. The Japanese are very proud of their monster theatre."