STALLS GOSSIP.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1916, Page 7

STALLS GOSSIP.

MUSIC, MIMES AND MOVIES. ' Maurice Costello, one of the first of the film, idols, has left the Vitagraph, with which practically the whole of his camera career lias been spent. The future movements of Costello are not made known. * » c Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Drew, funmakers under the Vitagraph banner for some time, have enlisted under the Metro Hag. It is announced that tliey will receive a joint salary of £ 14.00" a year from the Metro. * # » _ The most interesting; of the many English liim rclease s of last month was "Caste,"' in which Sir John Hare plays Eccles with great . success. Already | (says a London daily) more than 300 theatres have booked this picture, ' "The Second in .Command," a drama in which Mr. Cyril Maude made one of the greatest successes of his career, lias been filmed by the Metro Company, In the. picture, presentation Francis X. Bushman and Marguerite Snow are seen in the leading parts. * *.fr Miss Lena Asliwell is among the latest of British actresses to play for the pictures. She is acting in the' film version of "Lady Windermere's Fan." Miss Irene Vanbrugh is joining Sir George Alexander in "The Gay Lord Que*"" Miss Vanburgh playing her original part of Sophy Fulgarney. Fifteen thousand pounds worth of film arrived by the Sierra in Sydney on February 29, consigned to one firm. . Such a valuable parcel of films lias nmer before been brought to Australia. The arrangements for the purchase of thefilms—which ace the first of. the Triangle motion pictures—were made •by Mr. Harry Musgrove during a recent visit to America. * '*'-.* British . productions were never better than they are to-day. Even the Americans are beginning -to recognise their dramatic and photographic qualities. One British company is so convinced that it can hold its. own with any American production that it lias just spent £II,OOO in building a new factory with a studio which is said to be the biggest in the Kingdom. Miss Hilda, Trevalyan will appear towards the end of April in a film story illustrating the song "Sally m Our Ally," Miss Trevalyan taking the part of Sally. Ever since the phenomenal success of the song-film. "My Old Dutch," producers have been hard at none constructing song stories. The latest song to be filmed is "Annie Laurie." All these distinctive pictures arc of British manufacture.

History is repeating itself in -the music halls. and many old attractions are being served up in now dross. Tlio latest resurrection U the While-vou-wait Rliyniootor, a gentleman who' devotes his fifteen minutes' occupancy of the stage to the singing of songs composed on the spur of the moment, on suggestions made by the audience. In tiiis connection the Era is tolling a good story. One evening Harry I'ettitt, the dramatist, strolled into a small music hall out I'oc-ldiam way, just as .-. miocy. rhymester was walking to the footlights in search of material. "Xow, ladies and {■•"• nth-men, don't be nervous; any word you like!" ho said. Pcttitt immediately shouted '•Mesopotamia." This \vm a poser for the pro. But, after a moment ov two's silence, lie recovered himself, and, advancing with a tragic stride and a serious air to the footlights, (.aid; ''Ladies and gentlemen, in the whole course of my 'professional' career I have always made it a rule never to touch on sacred subjects." Exit I'ettitt.

Three English operas produced in London (luring the first quarter of 1016 constitute an unparalleled event—even if two of them are of dubious "economic" value. At Christinas there was l.iza r,cliMiami's operatie version* of "Everyman" at the Shafto-hurv The.aire, and this was followed at the* same house by Stanford's sotting of '-The Ciitie." When the n.ail left Dr. Ethel Smyth had both written and composed ■in opera from W. \V. Jacob's story, ''The lloatswain's Mate," the production ol which at the Shaftesbury had been delayed by (he temporary illness or Miss Uosiuii llr.ckinan, cn.st 'for the role of the landlady. Three oilier members of the cast have also been' familiarly known in Australasia at dill'erent periods of iheir careers—namely, Courtico founds (l)omi, the boatswain), who was in Australia for a year in comic onera in the long ago, Kiedeiik Kaualow . (Travel's, the mate), who supported .\]me. Molba during one of her various Australian tours, and Arthur Wynne (policeman), who sail.- character-'parts with the '> Qmnlau Opera Companv. I

-As the cable recently informed ns, Sari I'etrnss. the beautiful .Hungarian aercss, has been shot in Budapest as an English spy. The information was received, via wireless, by residents •;'. Cleveland. Ohio, who were personally acquainted with the famous ? 'tress. She was put to death almost immediately after the cmirt-mailial found her guilty, of utilising he- physical allurementri to inveigle military'secrets from hi'A army oilicials, and 'comiuuni.-atin" them to the lirilish War Ollhv ;,v means of smuggled letters. Kh,. fainled when-the sentence was passed, .i.nd was shot before she had completely r'gained consciousness. I'util she was put to death, the public was unaware that she was even a prisoner, and the official announcement of the execution caused a national shock throughout the American continent, where the actress was universally popular. Miss I'etras.s was not only a reigning favorite of the Hungarian theatre-goers, but of a family or famous Hungarian patriots. When War was declared, the actress was starring in "The Marriage Market.' a Hungarian operetta, at Daly's Theatre. .Yew' York. She immediately returned to lludapest, but, instead of continuing on the stage, began an elaborate round of social activities. She gave ball after ball to military and naval oflicers. Her letters to the Uritish War Ollice, it is said, were sent by way of .Switzerland, in the care of young army officers, fascinated by her beauty. It is believed that she was betrayed by one of her dupis in a fit of jealousy. Her arrest, court-martial and execution were conducted with the utmost secrecy. She denied all charges, but was confronted by several letterssaid to have been handed over to the authorities by the jealous officer. Then she broke down and confessed. Miss Potrass was the niece of Countess Ilka Konsky. She graduated from the Academy of Sxidi Panosy. and almost immediately won popular favor at the Karaly Sxinbaz, the largest operatic theatre in Hungary. Count Paul Esterhazy, recently killed on the battlefield, was said to have been engaged to her. ■She bad many friends in California. ~,,