TWO VOICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1938, Page 5

TWO VOICES

“ALICE IN WONDERLAND” ON THE SCREEN DISNEY MAKES A CONCESSION TO ENGLISH EARS. SPECIAL SOUND STRIP TO COST £6OOO. Walt Disney, whose strongly American speaking Snow White has distressed some of his English admirers, has consented to make a concession to English ears, states the London correspondent of a Sydney paper. When he does his full-length cartoon picture of “Alice in Wonderland,” a special English sound strip will be made at a cost of some £6,000. Alice, as American audiences will hear her will speak with the tongue of Shirley Temple or Jane Withers. But Mr Disney has discovered that the English have certain sensitive prejudices concerning Lewis Carroll’s famous fantasy. So he will engage an English girl for English audiences. In addition he will be equally considerate in dealing with the Mad Hatter. The American Hatter will be broadly and comically American; the English Hatter will, it is understood be a Cockney, although there is no evidence that Lewis Carroll had Cockney speech in mind. A CROONER IN “THE MIKADO.” Another English classic which will need careful safeguarding continues the correspondent, is Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Mikado.” Although this is being done under English supervision, the actual producing company and the director are American. English artists have been engaged for the majority of the parts, but Nanki-Poo will be sung by Kenny Baker, a crooner who appeared in “The Goldwyn Follies of 1938.” This suggests some peril. More perilous still is the suggestion that more pep will be put into the dialogue. The word “pep” must be circling around the shades wherein dwells the prickly soul of William Schwenck Gilbert. It is difficult to imagine what Gilbert would have done in the flesh to anyone who suggested pepping up his polished lines.

Ruth Draper's Earnings. Ruth Draper, American stage artist, collected £5OOO for 16 nights work while in New Zealand, according to the “New Zealand Observer.” Miss Dra- ■ per’s contract stipulates that she is to '■ receive 70 per cent of the gross takings of her performance. Prices charged to see Miss Draper were 10s and 7s ■ 6d for reserves, 5s for back stalls, and 3s for gallery seats. It is said that before she left New Zealand Miss Draper contributed to the Government exchequer, £llOO income tax on the sum earned during her three week’s season, while amusement tax paid at the box office amounted to more than £lOOO. It is therefore seen that theatregoers in supporting an artist of Miss Draper’s calibre do their part in maintaining the finances of the country. Miss Draper appeared for two nights in Dunedin, three in Christchurch, five. in Wellington and six in Auckland.