STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 March 1916, Page 6

STALLS GOSSIP.

Abie Barker, whose Rab in "Bunty Pulls the Strings" will always be a pleasant recollection, has been engaged by George Marlow for his revue "You're the One." # * » The Canadian tenor, Paul Dufault, is to open his new tour at Dunedin at Easter. Shipman has engaged Miss Florence Leapini, a well-known Christehureh violinist: Miss Pauline Bindley, and Mr. Harold Whittle to support the famous tenor. #■ » • The death of George Edwards recalls how he soli "Dorothy" for a song, and how a song—"Queen of my Heart"— nude a fortune for the piece. The death of Lewis Waller recalls the case of "Monsieur Beaucaire." That play, when "tried on the dog," at Liverpool, was a dead failure. The "dog's" verdict was wrong. Produced as a mere stop-gap at the Comedy, "Beaucaire" proved a big and instant success. It ran for some 400 times, and had the crowning triumph of a royal command performance at Sandringliam.

"A Lady in a Hat" writes to the Melbourne Age:—"l have ii'ead with some amusement and much seron 'Patron's' letter on the subject of women's hats at picture shows. I also have a suggestion to make to management of these entertainments, which I should like to bring under the immediate notice of this particular 'Patron,' whose 'gentlemanly instincts' cause him._- so much distress. Instead of the 'all ladies remove their hats' being flashed on. the screen, I should substitute the following: "All men go to the war.'"

In all probability the "Under Fire" Dramatic Company will commence a tour of Xcw Zealand in Auckland at Easter, 'lhis is a real old-time blood-and-murder war melodrama.' depicting an invasion of America by the Huns. It was written as a sort of "wake-up" message to America, and had quite a successful run in Xew York. Miss Lizette. Parkes and Mr. Frank Harvey are playing the leading roles— next to those played by gunpowder and red (lures.

Miss Genevieve Ward is probably the oldest actress now on the stage, She can give Sarah Bernhardt a good seven years,.and is ten years older than Miss Ellen Terry. Miss Ward is, indeed, a miracle of youthfulness. Xo one who sees her at the St. James' Theatre or walking near her home at Regent's Park would imagine she is nearly 78 years of age. Her wonderful eyes are still full of life and her face, still, expresses a strong and. active will (states an English writer).

It is a pity that the recent historic interview at Los Angeles between Sir Herbert Tree and Charlie Chaplin could not be filmed for the delight of London. Sir Herbert, is playing in California in "Oliver Twist," and persuaded the lord of kinoma farce to appear for one n'.ght in the part of the Artful Dodger. Tt must have been a wonderful sight—Sir Herbert Tree, with magnificent geniality, overcoming the- reluctance of the little man to return to the ordinary, stage. One wonders whether Charlie coyly poked Sir Herbert with his wobbly cane and tried to shuffle off on his apple-pie feet. The, performance was in aid of the British Red Cross, which Charlie has already helped with a gift of several hundred poun-1 i from his princely salary. •-

Mdlle. Sari Petrass. the Hungarian comic opera actress, whom a New York cable recently stated had been executed at Buda Pcslh us a British spy, was well known on the London musical comedy stage only a year or two ago. A native of Hungary, site made her first appearance at liuda Pesth. whither the late Mr. Geo. Kdwardes made a special journey to engage the beautiful Hungarian with the lovely voice, Mdlle. Petrnss did not know a word of, English, but so confident was Mr. Edwardes of the future triumphs of his discovery that he engaged a governess to teach her the' language for three months. The artist studied English for another, six months in London before she made her first appearance, and scored a big success at Daly's in "Gipsy Love."

London Musical News points out that the hand of Death in the past year lias been laid heavily on men distinguished in music. The list includes Dr. Cummings, the octogenarian all-round musician; Alfred d'Ambrosio, the composer; H. Lane Wilson, the composer-singer; Ernst do Mun'ck, the 'cellist; Entile Waldteufel, the French waltz king; Alexander Scriabin, the Russian master; Neil Forsyth, the Covent Garden manager; Carl Goldmark, the Hungarian composer; Sergins Taneiev, the composer; Lady Barnby; Rafael Joseffy, the Hungarian composer; Marshall Hall, the Australian professor;. George Edwardes, the Gaiety impressaria; Henry Bird, the veteran accompanist; Theodor Leschotitzky, the teacher of Paderewski; Edwin Greene, composer of "Sing Me to Sleep"; Lord Alverstone, who was president of Trinity College of Music from 1803 to 1807; and Charles Edwards, examiner for Trinity College of Music. The latter visited South Africa twice, and Australia and New Zealand five times, thus becoming well known in these Dominons. His death occurred suddenly at Nottingham on 3rd December, while examining there for the College.

Sydney picture patrons have been pleasantly surprised by the attractiveness of the entertainment at the Theatre Royal, in point of presentation. Mr. Hugh J. Ward, of the J. C. Williamson directorate, has certainly given moving pictures a big uplift in this respect (says the Herald). At the Royal, the house lights are not extinguished. Roseate light is diffused through globes throughout the theatre. Again, the screen does not stare blankly at people us the house is Ailing. Curtains are drawn across it, and on the stage fountains play and cool floral decorations — roses and wisteria—on a latticed frame, please the eye. The boxes are also latticed, and palms and other pot plants (ire artistically arranged to bridge the space between the real and reel life. A concealed orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Rlapoft'ski, also plays music that is tuneful, without being- trashy. The whole. ■ ■surroundings are, therefore, as enticing as skilful directors in the theatrical art can contrive them. When the time comes for the screening to begin, the white lights of the auditorium are dimmed and extinguished. The roseate lights remain, and the mind is subtlely prepared for the story on the screen. The ■ transition is hot violent, as has been the custo®. ' '