STAGELAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 251, 21 September 1929, Page 7

STAGELAND.

(Bv “Jack Point.”) Tho Operatic Society are encountering trouble with the libretto and band parts of “High Jinks,” in that it is not yet definitely known whether they will be available for use by the socioty. As things aro at present it will mean a tremendous amount of energy if the tuneful musical farce is to be staged in Show Week. It will bo most disappointing if another November goes by without the amateurs’ customary offering. The “Rio Rita” company aro still at Auckland. “Miss Hook of Holland” will bo produced by the New Plymouth amateurs next week for threo nights. The Hawera amateurs finished last evening in “Going Up.” Leon Gordon opened at Sydney last Saturday in “It Pays to Advertise.” The widow of Louis Bennison, who committed suicide in America recently,_ was Bessie Barriscole, one of the pioneers amongst motion picture actresses. Ley land Hodgson, Marie La Varro and Hugh Steyne aro appearing at tho Melbourne Tivoli. A year or so ago their names Loomed large in the legitimate theatre. It is a sign of tho times and tho popularity of tho talkies. Theo. Tresize has been appointed producer for the Napier Amateur Operatic Society’s musical stage play, “The Sunshine Girl,” which is to be stuged about tho end of November.

Cecil Haines, hero in “The Masquerader” with Guy Bates Post, is in the newest Edgar Wallace show in London. Her mother, who went to visit her about a year ago, is now back in Sydney. Harry Burgess, who plays the role of tho Kinkajou in “Rio Rita,” has been on the stage since 1901. Ho came to Australia via China and Japan in 1913. Mr Burgess has been under the Puller management since 1916.

Lance Fairfax, who has tho leading role in “The Desert Song,” was in Napier 6ome years ago with the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-operative Association —in tho accountancy department. His real name is Lance Fairfax Jones.

Evelyn Laye, who has been appearing In the musical play “Tho New Moon,” at Drury Lane Theatre, London, has acceplej an offer of £IOOO a week, with a guaranteed minimum of £IO,OOO, to make a talking film in California next February. Miss Laye has been one of the best half-dozen musical comedy draws in London for some year» now. Gladys Cooper has retired fnom the London stage, though not indefinitely. “The Sacred Flame,” Somerset Maugham’s play in which she scored her last success, was withdrawn at the same time. Last year Miss Cooper married Sir Neville Pearson. “The Desert Song” opened at Wellington on Wednesday. The South Island will bo visited before Palmerston North. The prices of admission in the city are: —Dress circle and reserved stalls, 10s; stalls, ss; gallery, 2s. Early door stalls and gallery, Is extra (plus tax). A London critic writes of “The Tiger in Men,” which marked Margaret Bannerman’s first London appearance since her roturn fnom Australia and New Zealand: “The trouble with the play, which concerns an expedition to tho Malayan jungle, is that one always feels and hopes that tho big thrill is coining, but it never quite does so. Miss Bannerman plays the girl, who is rather an obstinate, opinionated person, with a quiet sincerity that is appealing, and 6he looks beautiful—perhaps just a trifle too beautiful and tidy for the Malay jungles.” The play is being staged at the Adelphi. It wa6 the first time Miss Bannerman had appeared at that theatre since 1915. In those far-away days she was a chorus girl in the musical comedy, “Tina,” A Melbourne correspondent writes: Gustave Slapoffski, the Gilbert and Sullivan expert, performed a remarkable feat for a veteran of 78 the other night in Melbourne. He conducted the new Victorian Profcssional Orchestra at the Auditorium and in the interval slipped over to the Regent to wield the baton there. Climbing tho steps of the dais he staggered and fell, but revived shortly afterwards and after doing his Regent turn, went back to the Auditorium and finished that programme. Ho had been knocked down by a motor car in the morning and taken to his home in a severely bruised condition. The music of “Tho Desert Song” is by Sigmund Romberg, composer of “The Student Prince,” “Princess Flavia,” “Maytitine,” etc. “Maytime” was presented here in 1918 with Gladys Moncrieff, Reg. Roberts, the late Florence Young, and Leslie Holland. The cast for tho New Zealand production of the “Song” is as follows : Sid El Kar, Herbert Browne; Mindar, T. H. Soott; Hassi, Sidnoy Wheelor; Neri, Maud Pomeroy; Hadji, John Ronald; Benjamin Kidd, Herbert Mundin; Pierre Birabcau, Lance Fairfax; Captain Paul Fontaine, Sidney Burchall; Azuri, Sonya Rosova; Lieutenant La Vergne, Ronald Pometoy; Lieutenant Du Bassac, Robin Blair; Margot Bonvalet, Romola Hansen; General Birabeau, Cecil Pawley; Susan, Renee Murphy; Edith, Eileen Percival; Ali Ben All, Douglas Herald; Clementina, Maud Zimbla. Bobby Howes, the comedian, ' who is playing the name part in “Mr Cinders” at the London Hippodrome, is to receive a salary of more than £530 a week to appear in a New York musical comedy next year. “I am the luckiest man in London,” Mr Howes said to a reporter. “Four years ago I took £lO a week to get a chance to be seen in the West End of London in ‘The Five O’clock Follies,’ tho teatime pierrot show.” “Rose Marie” is being revived at Orury Lane, London, with Edith Day in the role she created, and Clarice Hardwicke, the well-known Australian musical actress, in her original part of Lady Jane. “The New Moon,” which the Williamson firm probably wisely shelved until Christmas, was not the success that was anticipated, so “Rose Marie” was brought out again to save the situation. Writing from London a Hamilton resident stated: “The New Moon,” at Drury Lano, is a good, but ordinary revue with a plot. It is well dressed, acted and lighted, but the music is not catchy and tho voices are not convincing. . Leslie Faber, the actor-manager, died in London recently from heart failure at tho ago of 49. Mr Faber, the young son of a former Consul-General for Denmark, made his first stage appearance as a member of Sir Frank Benson’s company 31 years ago. Ho had played in “Outward Bound,”/‘Tho Importance of Being Earnest,” “Havoc,” and “The Great Adventure.” Last year he became associated as an actor-manager with Ronald Squire, their first enterprise (in conjunction with Lady Wyndham) being the presentation of “By Candle Light” at the Criterion. It is the play with the longest run at present in London. In 1915 Mr Faber gave up a large salary in “Diplomacy” in New York to join tho Army. Ho won the Military Cross, became a major, and was taken prisoner by the Germans in 1918.

One of the Westminster Glee Singers is Ernest McKinlay, of Dunedin. Before tho war Mr McKinlay had already gained a reputation as a very fine tenor, and when the New Zealand Divisional Concert Party was formed, under Lieutenant D. Kenny, his services were quickly utilised. Oil returning from the Rhineland after peace had been declared, Mr McKinlay placed himself under tho charge of that very fine artist and tutor, Plunket Grcon. On returning to New Zealand, he was compelled to spend a year in hospital at Narrow Neck; but in 1922 ho went to Australia to undertake oratorio work at Sydney and Brisbane. He also went on a picture circuit and, at Perth, joined up with the Westminster Glee Singers, who were then on a world tour. With the singers, Mr McKinlay toured the East and South Africa before going to London in 1925 for the Wembley Exhibition. Ac ; cording tio tho New Zealand tenor. Maori music is becoming very popular in London. On five occasions he sang at garden parties at Buckingham Palace, and on one occasion Princess Mary, while congratulating him on his singing, told him that sho was very fond of Maori music.