STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1916, Page 11

STALLS GOSSIP.

MIMES, MUSIC AND MOVIES.

Mr J. Brennan, the clever monologuist with the Pink Dandies, is going into active service.

Mrs. Winter Hall (Miss Katie Young) is playing the accompaniments for Madame Slapoll'ski at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney.

"Twin Beds" evoked a clerical outcry in Sydney. Mr. Hugh J. Ward com"mented thusly: "When it is necessary to stage plays as bad as the people who haven't seen 'Twin Beds' appear to think it is, I shall give up management and spend my time fishing in the harbor, where there is more scope than in the old millstream," * # #

"The Pioneers," the Australian £IOOO priZR novel, is being filmed by Franklin Barrett. Gosford (N.S.W.) " has been selected as the location, and a company of picture-players has been camped there for some weeks. The. cast includes Charles Knight, Lily Rochfort, Winter Hall, Irve llayman, Martyn Keith, Fred Xcilson, Will Dyer, Nellie Rose and Alma Hock Phillips.

The "Dick Whittington" chorus girls at Sydney made another distribution of cigarettes to the wounded soldiers at a recent Saturday matinee, when about 40 returned heroes were present. One legless warrior expressed his appreciation of the donors thus: -'I ainf got no legs myself; but that's not saying I don't appreciate others—'specially bosker ones like those."

The growth of the Triangle Film Corporation service has created quite a sensation in the American screen world. The vice-president of the corporation recently issued a statement in which lie said, "When it is considered that the company was not organised till the middle of July, and made no attempts to secure contracts till September, and now it supplies over 5000 picture theatres exclusively, there is every reason to be satisfied with the progress made."

Xext year promises to be a prolific time for British pictures. Among those promised are "Justice," by John Galsworthy; "Sally in Our Alley"; Oscar Wilde's "Lady Windermere's Fan"; "The Second Mrs. Tanqueray"; Zangwill's "The Bachelor's Club";'and "The Old Maids' Club"; "The Old Folks at Home"; "Tim Vicar of Wakefield," in which Sir John Hare will play Dr. Primrose; Chevalier's "The Fallen Star"; "Shirley," by Charlotte Bronte; and "Profit and Loss," tt Criterion Theatre play. * w «

A performance of a unique kind tool; place at Her Majesty's, Melbourne, recently, on the conclusion of the TTednesday afternoon matinee, when a number of children who take part in "Mother Goose" appeared in scenes from the pantomime. The clever youngsters arranged, produced and enacted the whole or the performance themselves, and their interested and delighted audience included the principals of "Mother Goose," who saw themselves imitated with startling accuracy, with all their marked mannerisms reproduced. * * # Xo writer of modern pianoforte music wrote more fascinating compositions in their class than Paul Waclis, who died at his residence at Saint Mande, France, on July ti. Waclis was born in Paris in 1851. At the Paris Conservatoire he became a pupil of Cesar Franek. Marmontel Victor Masse, Dwprato, and others. His early ambition was to become an organist, and he carried off the first prize in organ playing. Later he became the successor of Saint-Saeua and Tissot at the Church of St. Merry. His treatises on "Improvisation," '-Plainsong," ''Harmony'' and "Counterpoint'' show the thoroughness of his musical preparation, and tlie seriousness of his bent. In 1900 he became an officer of the French Academic, and later "Officer of Public Instruction."

"Passing through the stage door of a theatre recently," says a 'London writer. "I saw hanging up near the notice-board a. list nf the dressing-rooms, ranging .from 1 to 20, but No. 13 was missing. learned then for the first time that Xo. 13 lias little vise in a theatre; the players will have none of it. There is no Xo. 13 dressing-room at Drury Lane Theatre, and of a score of others—including Daly's. His Majesty's, the New, Hay-market, Gaiety, Palace, ete. Most superstitions o*' the theatres have weakened: that associated with 13 has gained strength. Actors are no longer superstitious about whistling in a theatre. It is no longer considered a horrible omen if a piece of soap falls on the floor, nor do women turn pale if you wish a new play 'good luck.' Xo. 13 has absorbed all the bad inHucneo.''

Sir J. M. liarrie has written another short play. "The Fatal Typist," which seems to have been excellent I'oolins, and was delightfully played by Miss Gladys Cooper and Mr." Herald du Manrier. Appearing in front of the curtain', Mr. Hu Manrier explained that the playlet had been typed by a man (all the women being busy with munition work), the oarts had become mixed, with the result that Miss Cooper had learned his part and lie Miss Cooper's. Craving the indulgence of the audience, and imploring those present not to mention the mistake to Sir .T. M. liarrie, the two accomplished players went through a stage love scene, reversing the characters. Miss Cooper was immense as a dashing military lover, fondling the "little soft, white'hand'' of Mr. Gerald du Manrier, the coy Lady Kanny, who simpered and coquetted in the most approved maidenly way, to the huge delight of the onlookers. The play ended after tl bashful confession of love hy the "maiden." with the "timid" Mr. d'n Manrier sitting on the "manly'' Miss Cooper's knee.

Paul Dufault, the gifted French-Cana-dian tenor—the finest interpretative artist we have heard—is actually coming again to Xew Zealand. It was rumored last year that he might revisit Australia, but with the greatest war in history raging it was not all certain that such a tour could be arranged, and. moreover, Mr. Dufault has lieen coming into his own in America since he was last here. His tour in association with Miss Felice Lyne was a great success, and lately he has enjoyed a boom tour in Canada, where nis lingual gifts would naturally stand him in good stead. Mr. Fred. Shipman says that during t!>» week that Dufault was leaving America 'm time to arrive in New Zealand about April 20, and that the tour of Austraasia would commence at Dunedin at Faster (April 25). Mr. Dufanlt will be supported by Miss Pauline Bindley. the clever Bendigo soprano, who was a member of the company that supported the tenor two years ago, and Mr. Harold Whittle, the distinguished pianist and accompanist, of Sydnej, " >•

A writer in Munsey's Magazine gives the Charlie Chaplin craze five years of life. Then he will be as theatrically dead as last year's leaves, * » #

After an absence of tweive months from the stage, Miss Lizettc Parkcs is appearing a s leading lady with ine "Under Fire" Company in Sydney, replacing Miss Charlotte Ives, who is returning to America.

Bessie Barriscale, who has leaped into popularity by reason of her great talents as a comedienne, and of her pretty face, was at one time an exponent of Shakesperian roles. She began her career »s a child in the part of Maximums in "A Winter's Tale." For many years she travelled through America playing Shakespeare's heroines, depending upon her youth and charming manner for success. * « #

Some little time ago that popular actor, Allan Doone, produced a pleasing drama, entitled "The Burglar and the Lady." Since then it has been made into a screen attraction, with James J. Corbett.in the lead. Corbett was at one time the champion heavyweight boxer of the world. Corbett lately made a hit in Australia, but his American contract did not permit of his paying a visit to these parts. But the picture version of "The Burglar and the Lady" is to be shown through the Dominion, * # #

Perhaps one of tlie prettiest stories ever told on the screen is "Rose of the Ranche," and it was started as a historical educational lilm. In America some time ago a law was enacted which called upon all the Spaniards in California to register their land. Many of them refused to do so. This led to bands of freebooters "jumping" the property and registering it as their own, and later on claiming it under the law. It was while the author was delving for particulars of some of the farmlands so fraudulently obtained that he happened on the story. It was true, and carried conviction in every line. The historical research part was laid aside, and the scheme was made into the drama "Rose of the P.anche." The Famous Players filmed the drama.

As Australian film production grows, no doubt the practice of engaging popular stage stars for the picture, 'inaugurated by the new Australian Famous Features Company, will become the rule. The first production of this concern is "The Martyrdom of Xurse Cave)!,' 1 in which Miss Vera Pearce and Mr. Harrington Reynolds are engaged. Miss Pearce has already had experience in films in "The Shepherd of the Southern Cross," pioduced a couple of years ago, lint her stage work since then" has given her greater confidence, and this is radiated in her screen portrayal of the martyred nurse. Other players in the film arc Mr. Harrington Reynolds. Mr. C. Post Mason, and Mr. Kouald Stavelev, all known to Xew Zealand plavgoer.-* and Mr. George Portus. who is one of the best-known of those who "go ahead of showes." * * *

llr. Dion I). T. Boucicault, chief executive ollieer for manv years for that Napoleon of the theatYc' Charles Frohmaii, who was one of the I.usitania's •victims, lias taken a London theatre on his own account, it is reported, and will '•produce" for himself—and the leading dramatists. The Sydney Daily Telegraph, commenting on the announcement, brackets Mr. Boucicault wi/h Mr. ■'. f. Williamson and 'Mr. George Rig"old as the outstanding theatrical celebrities of their day, and says: ''lt is true that to many 'nothing of to-dav is comparable to what was vesterdav: equally true that tastes change, aiid that the play that made father roar or sent him home a sadder and a wiser man leaves son bored or inquisitive as to where the laugh comes in. But allowing for all that and for whatever else may have to be thrown in, Mr. Bomieault must be adjudged the prime -producer' of the politer drama within living Australian memory. In its palmy days the Brough-Boueieanlt Company was as near perfection in the presentation of farce and comedy as could humanly be wished. It had Anson, Tifhcradge, Cecil Ward, Mrs. Brough. Baltic Brown, Mrs. Romer, and Brough and Boucieault themselves. One remembers ill'. Boucicault's Frenchman in 'The Amazons,' his sympathetic friend-of-the-house in The Second Mrs. Tanqneray,' and a score of other fine individual performance*. But ever above these one reflects on the fine (and perhaps hereditary) stagecraft that led up to brilliant representation of tine old-time plays, in which rehearsal and constructive stage management and the instruction of individual players more or le?« ; ta!p:>.t:d catntod for a'll.'i