New York Clipper (Feb 1923)

THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 21, 1923 FOJtEICfi NEWS •nroiTD BE SURPRISED" IMPROVES London, Feb. i9.—"Ybo'd Be Surprised" ; Ib3 scttlea'down nicely at the Royal Opera : House. Covoit Garden, where it seems : likely to stay for quite some time: Jean . Bcdmi has dobe very good work in the ■taging of the productioD, and Seymour Felix IS to be_ given lots of credit for the which be has put on the dance nnmbers. The book, by W. K. Wells, is not' quite as good as his "Chuckles of 1922, which sfioiild contain more humor and show to better^ advantage the pfeople m the caist. The opening scene is at the Cunard Xittt Pier, New York" City, where seva^ of the principals are introduced, featuring Jack '£d«rarda, a dancer,- in- the scene. ' Altna'Adi^ is the leading lady and is dis- covered in the second scene in a "Lovable ^es" ntnnber, m which she is assisted by Hlarry Welch. The following scene is in Cential Park, N. Y., where George Robey is seen as a puicenon, with the fun divided betweoT RobcT, Miss Adair, Jack Edwards, William E. udkA and Ethel Roseverc. The -Savoy HaVani'fBand furnish the ■next bit under the leailership of B'.-L. Ral- ton. Thia organizatioh has become Lon- don's, favorites. . Miss Rosevere does a "^Jama Blues'* mmiber. with them. Fol- lowing a bit in one by Edwards, a scene called '^ild-Cat Arizona" is ^en, which serva to introduce the Russian dancers, which include Lvdia Leonide Massme, Ly- dia Sokolova, Ninette de Valois, Leon Woizikovsky and Tadeo Slavinfky. Their scene was disappointing to some extent and not quite as effective as they were at die Coliseum. A phonograph scene with' m dnet by Alita Adair and W. E. Coolf eonclnded the first half, with some solo dancing by Ninette de Valois. ^ Hairy Welch was given his inning with a rcstaniant bit, which opened the second hal^' in which Welch was supported by[ Lon Hascall and Audrey RidgewelL ^'Zoup" was featured in this.' One of the big comedy hits of the show, if not the biggest, was scored by Handers and Millis,:who struck a note new in eamedy to English audiences. A pleasing sceoe called 'The BInffera' At Home" hcoi^fat Robqr, Adair, Fox, Ridgewell and Welch into view. There are several other scenes in the ■how which wait welL Alma Adair, Jade Edwards, Lew Weloh, W. E. Cook, Ethel Rosevere and Handeils>«^ MiUis, also the Savoy .Havana Band are- the hits of the show. Robey -was disappointing on the whole. PAVIUON CHANCES POUCY LoNsoK, FA. 19.—The Pavilion Theatre in WUtechapel, known as the Jewish The- atres is to discontinue its policy of Yiddish prodnctiona. Coimcillor J. Rosenthal, own- er of the house, has made an agreement with J. T. Grein, the . dramatic critic, whereby the latter will'produce plays at that house with a repertory company, somewhat similar in style to the one at the "Old Vic" The house has a seating capac- ity and it is planned to charge 2/6d for a iMat in the stalls. The project will be started in Jtme. NEW DER SIGNERS SHOW LomoK, FA. 19.—Bromley Challoner has proented a new farce by Earl Der Biggers, the American author; at the Court Theatre, called "Tliree's A Orowd," to succeed his "Wben Kni^ts Were Bold." "Tliree's A Gfowd" was originally tried oat in America some time ago. In the cast' of Challoner's production are seen Marie Heminsway, Enid Cooper, Dora Barton, Ndlie-lBouvcrie^ -Eric Lewis, Oiaries Ren- yoo, J. B. Tozcr and Bromley Challoner. HUTCHINSON WRITES NEW ONE LoifflON, FA. 19.—A. .S., JL Hutdiin- son, author of If Winter Comes," las ffisposed of the ri^its to a new. jpUy. to. Owen Naies. The title of the play is "SaoK Talk of Alexander," and it will prdably be produced^ in. Antmmi. , SYBIL THORNDYKE REAPPEARS London, Feb. 19.—Sybil Thomdjfke made her reappearance at the Criterion Theatre in a new play Herbert Far- jeon, the newspaper critic, and Horace Horsnell, called "Advertising April."" The vehicle is ideal for Miss Thomdyke for it gives her plenty of opportunity to display her versatility. The story deals with a motion picture star whose husband acts as business man- ager and press agent for her. So enthu- siastic is he over any prospect of getting space for her, that he actually goes to the extreme of wanting her to divorce him and many a 'Duke, so that the newspapers would keep her name in print. While in the past she didn't object to publish-'r' ing the story of one'of her admirers cUmb-'- ing;through a window to declare his love., for'her, she balks at this stiuli. They com&. to.' an understanding which' makes' him a better husband than a "stuntisL"^ Miss Thomdyke makes the movie star a lovable creatnrc, while Frank Collier as the enterr' prising husband is amusing throughout. The others. in the cast are more ^n - capable. ,'' WANTS BAN ON JAZZING CLASSICS Pabis, Feb. 12. —In a circular letter sent out by the Society of Authors, Arrangers and' Publishers of Music to the directors of all the dancing teas and restaurants and all the important dancing establishments of Paris it is urgently requested by the So- ciety that the orchestras in these resorts be restrained'from using the classic music of the masters for ofie-steps and fox trots. Brigantt one of -the more popular French composers, says, T cannot understand the bad taste—it is an American taste, of course—which petinits -Chopin's Funeral March to .be made into a tango and pmnits a shiminy to be done to the music of Beethoven's Pathetic Sonata or the Mar- sellaist" PLAN CHAIN OF JEWISH THEATERS London. Feb. 19.—A chain of Jewish- theatres throughout xbe provinces are be- ing planned for organization fay Paul Davidson, an impresario. The venture has the support of Israel Zangwell and other prominent Jewish writers. The first the- atre of this kind is to be established in Glasgow, and the second in Leeds. CARTOON BOOKED IN~VAUDEVILLE London, Feb: 19.—Tom Webster's "Tidiy" cartoon, which was shown to their Royal Majesties' at the Command Perform- ance held at the London Hippodrome re- cently, has beea booked in all the vaudeville bouses here and is a big feature on the bills. Webster is a cartoonist with the London Evening News. THREE 'V WINTER COMES" CO.'S London, Feb. 19.—There will be three companies of "If 'Winter CcHnes" playing withm the course of a few weeks. The first one is to be seen at the St. Jaipes Theatre with Owen Nares in the leading role; another has been booked solid for one year in the provinces; and the third is going to Australia. PAY DOING TWO ACT London, Feb. 19 —Frank Fay, formerly of Fay, Coley and Fay. is now working, in a two act laiown as Fay and "the httle lady from Dixie." Their offmng has ap- peared three times at the Coliseum in the coarse of a few months, and is booked up for some time ahead, having created much popularity. «THE DANCERS'* IS GOOD London, Feb. 19.—Sir Gerald dn Mau- rier presented Ills production of "The Dancers" at the Wyitdham Theatre last -week. .Be«des Sir Grerald himself, the cast, contains the nameis of Dorothy Dix,, Audrey'Carton, Basil Foster, and Nor*, man Poises. DONT UKE "ANNABELLE" London, Feb. 19.—The reappearance oi Marie Tempest on the London stage, after an absence of eight years abroad and in the provinces was marked by something of a riot. Miss Tempest opened last week in "Good Gracious Annabclle," an American play that had found favor when tried out in the provinces by Miss Tempest but which, was very coldly received by London audiences and critics. The premier oc- curred at the Ehike of York's Theatre'and on Miss Tempest's initial appearance she received a heart-warming ovation. At the final curtain the actress came out to make a speech and it was then that the disturbance occurred. ■^Vhile Miss Tempe's'r'Was" expressing her- gratitude over the reception accorded her certain of the gallery gods indulged in their most popular English indoor sport of "passing the bird." One exclaimed. "We liked you, but not the rest" An-, other harsh voice shouted "Graham "Browhe"-_which evoked cries of "Rotten" accompanied by the sound of raspberries. Browne is Miss TempestTs.Jiusband and had skilfully interpreted : a Tdifficult role in the play. At this jtmcture the actress indicate that she would say no more and the curtain was rung down, but her ad- mirers and sympathizers in the audience took up the cudgels for her and the theatre resounded with dieers and cat- calls. The jeerers were finally shamed from their position and prolonged cheer- ing broke out, the curtain was again rung up and Miss Tempest concluded her speech. The London criticisms were decidedly unfavorable. The Morning Post says that the play is a "naive and inapt mixture of the sweepings of a score of American iarces that have failed to anniise and of as many American sentimenbl pieces that have failed to move." According to the Daily New critic, "The play is be- neath criticism and I do not propose to waste space on it." « ISADORA'S HUSBAND DISGUSTED Bebun. Feb. 19.—En-route to Russia, Serge Esselin, Isadora Duncan's husband, stopped long_ enough in Berlin to give his version of his marriage to the dancer and how fae_ -was dis-iHusioned in America which did not appreciate art, nor prove wonderful in its prosper!^. He an- nounced his intention of getting a divorce as soon as he reached Moscow, from which desirable art center he left to marry Miss Duncan for her money and an op- portunity to tra-vel. Now he is thoroughly disgusted with all such things. Last week, Mr. Esselin, broke out in all his Bolshevistic rage while in Paris, which resulted in his expulsion from the country. At the Hotel Crillon, where the dancer and her husband lived, the gendarmes were called in to straighten the affairs of the Esselins at 3 o'clock in the morning after the husband had returned from a rampage in the Monmartre. Miss Duncan was dodging various objects when the police arrived and dragged out the ex- cited Mr. Esselin. Later -Miss Duncan took an apartment at the Hotel dn Louvre. After spending a night in the Paris jail, Esselin, was told to leave the country as his preyioos speeches in America had in- dicated that he was afliUated with Soviet principles. Miss Duncan's fate is unde- cided as yet At one time it -was thought that she too would be asked to leave the country. SHAW PLAY STARTS RIOT Vienna, Feb. 19.—^The premiere of G. Bernard Shaw's play "Arms and The Man" in a Czech Theatre Jiere last week resulted in a riot. For days the press had been a([itating fiercely against the comedy which, it con- tended, ridiculed Balkan soldiers. Serbian students frustrated, the performance, and although the riptefs 'were finally ejected by the police the performance was stopped. BARRING GERMAN ACTS Pasis, Feb. 19.—France and Belgium have joined forces with the Variety Art- ists Federation of England, and have adopted that organization's policy of tak- ing drastic steps towards the elimination of German acts from the stages of the music halls. While no definite'steps have been taken towards concerted action be- tween the organizations of France and Belgium and England, to ban German actors, it is expected that a committee from each of these three countries will meet shortly and the methods used by the V. A. F. in England will be adopted in France and in Belgium. The first action towards the elimination of Gtirtnansf ftofij the'TrdficK "theitVc} took place recently at the 'Olyinpia Tlieatre, . when a. group of persons, known as the Union Independent de Artistes, an unof- ficial organization headed by the singer Georgius, raided the stage of that theatre and insisted on the cancellation of a danc- ing act, Turl Damhoffer, suspected of be- ing of German nationality. In order to avoid further rioting in his music hall, Paul Francke, the manager acquiesced. The members of the organization returned to the same theatre on a later day during the week, and also prevented the appear- ance of the opening act, also said to be of German origin. The members of the union went on stage and told the audience the reason for their rioting and that there were other German acts on the bill which they_ intended to have cancelled. Frandce received letters threatening assassination if he would continue to play "German acts, and after conferring with the poh'ce, an- nounced that German acts would not ap- pear at the Olympia for the present. The group which invaded the Olympia also went to the Nouveau Cirque, rushing the doors without paying even war tax. The orchestra at once played the "Mar- seillaise," while some of the bouse staff lowered the lights and turned the hose on the invaders. The police were called out; but no arrests were made and the rioters finally dispersed from the theatre. The invaders have threatened to return to -the theatre whenever a German act would appear, and repeat their action in any theatre where Germans were on the bni. The result was that no German acts have appeared on Parisian bills since. The same trouble is brewing in Belgium where a large per cent of the performers in the music halls are German. McCORMACK IN GRAND OPERA Pakis. Feb. 19.—John McCormack, opened his engagement last week at Monte Carlo, with unusual success, appearing in "The Barber of Seville" and "Madame But- terfly." _Hc received many felicitations from the Prince of Monaco and various other European notables. Although Americans are not very plenti- ful at Monte Carlo this season, English and Continental society are on hand in large numbers, and the opera is being well patronized. FRED DUPREZ FOR "MUSIC BOX" London, Feb. 19.—Fred Duprez, who has resumed his single act in variety, .and has also been engaged for "The Music Box Revue," which is to be produced here in April by C. B. Cochran. Duprez will appear in the role played by Willie Col- lier in New York. NEW PLAY FOR AMBASSADOR LoNDbN. Feb. 19.—Leon M. Lion and J. T. Grein have engaged Leslie Faber to plav the leading role in "The Coming of Gabrielle." The play will be seen at the Ambassador. NEW CONAN DOYLE PLAY London, Feb. 19.—''Fires of Fate," a new play by Sir Arthur Cbnan Doyle, is to" be produced shortly. Tom Terns will be seen in the leading, role.