Variety (January 1919)

CABLES IN PARIS Paris, Dec .15. A Theatrical Home for Girls has been founded in Paris by Rev. A. Cardew, to supplement the one man' aged by the Salvation Army before the war. It is a pleasant resort, run on modest conditions, with 50 frs. per week for board and lodein^s. There are at present about 45 girls living there. The majority being dancers from the Casino de Paris. It is at 12 Rue Deperrc. "La Maison de Danse" by the late M. Muller, in collaboration with Noz- iere and Paul Reboux, is being re- hearsed at the Theatre Rejane, with Mile. Polaire in the role she created before the ,war. Objection is voiced to the proposal ^ of the Comedie Francaise administration to raise the youn^ actor Le Roy to the . grade of societaire, whereby he will take a big share in profits. Le Roy obtained a first prize, with others, at the Conservatoire, and debuted Dec. 13, 1908. He was not mobilized, on account of poor health, in 1914 and it is thought the powers that rule the House of Moliere should wait till his companions now in the army return to their iield of labors and prove their talent also, before any change is made. The matter will probably be arranged by the nomination of two new socie- taires. It has been the rule not to grant this position to the actors and actresses of the Comedie Francaise un- til they have served many years in the theatre. A new show is due at the Grand Guignol, still under the direction of Choisy, and will comprise six acts by young and new authors—^Jean D'As- torg and Palau, an actor of the Palais Royal. "Le Dit des Yeux du Monde" by Paul Meral, danses by G. P. Fauconnet, music by A. Honegger, is the latest effort of the out-of-the-way Theatre du Vieux Colombier. It is a poor at- tempt. Moreover the production did not seem ready, and the prompter alone know the script. M. Choisy is keeping up the reputa- tion of the Grand Guignol by his new program. It is one of the most hor- rible, and highly recommended to those with weak nerves. The first blood curdler is a drama, "The Man Who Killed Pain." A physician has ren- dered his wife immune from suffering, and she has even no grief at the death of her child. Experimenting further and to be certain the poor woman can feel no corporal pain he strangles her. This horror is quite mild for the house, but as a reaction there is a risky farce "My Foster Brother" which needs to be describing only in a corner. The third item is another drama in two acts, "Le Viol." An assassin has committed a rape and to escape justice feigns insanity. He is committed to a lunatic asylum, and placed in a cell with a real madman, who is also blind. This maniac im- agines someone has stolen his sight and repeats all the time "You have taken my eyes, I will have another." He knows his companion can see and expresses his intention of appropriat- ing one of his eyes. The criminal dare not call for assistance as he realizes he would thus expose his former pre- tense. The blindman follows him •at'oifhd the celT,'arme>rwith a piece^^^o iron; there is a struggle and the two fall to the ground. The murderer be- ing the weaker of the two, and afraid to raise an alarm, has one of his eyes torn ''out by the blind maniac. This sort of entertainment attracts a cer; tain public, and there are ?vcn in these days some folks who seek amusement amidst such atrocities. The former co-director of the Opera Comique, M. Ghesi, whose resignation has not been officially explained, is credited with the proposal of forming in Paris a big lyrical enterprise. The version of "Lysistrata" written by Maurice Donney many years ago is to be revived at the Maringy in Jan- uary. There has been some trouble with the author and Jacques Richepin who is also preparing a version for his wife, Cora Laparcerie, for the Ren- aissance Theatre. Jacque's attempt will certainly be more risky than even that of Maurice, and therein lies the point of dispute. The Society of Authors has been asked to act as arbitrator, and its first step is to forbid the pro- duction of Richepin's version at the Renaissance because the author is hus- band of the managress. According to the-treaty between that theatre and the society the managress cannot pro- duce her,own plays, or those of her family. There is a precedent, for Jacques Richepin (son of Jean) has already had a somewhat risky play, produced at this theatre. Donney can- not forbid his colleague calling his work of "Lysistrata" any more than he could prevent him use the title of Shylock, but there will be a difference between the two versions, which will be mixed up by the average playgoer, Donney alleges Richepin's policy is unfriendly and has cited him before the Society of Authors. The secret of this storm is that Mme. Laparcerie wished to revive Donney's version, which she once played, but the author refused, whereupon she commissioned her husband to prepare his version, witli plenty of dress—or undress. The Punch and Judy repertoire created by Gaston Cony is now ac- cepted by the Society of Authors and Composers, Cony having been admitted a member of that big trust, The So- ciety has for some time endeavored to control the scenario branch of the pic- ture industry, and having so far failed is apparently contented to increase its power by the Cony repertoire of the French guignol. Among the societaires and meinbeis of the Comedie Francaise who are shortly to retire, in addition to Mme. Blanche Pierson (who has applied for her pension) are Mmes. Lara, Fayolle, Dussane, Faber, Lherbay, Bretty, de Chauseron and Mr. Falconnler. It is considered there are too many now employed and those entitled to pen- sions will be considered favorably. Mme. Dussane, however, is still too young, though connected with the House of Moliere for the past 15 years! Mr. Desjardins has been engaged for the roles held by Paul Mounet, who is very ill. Mile. Vera Sergine has also been approached, but at present does not find the offer to enter the Comedie Francaise sufficiently tempting, par- ticularly as the administration cannot assure her speedy nomination as a societaire, and thus become entitled to part of profits. DEATHS IN PARIS. Will Mayne, composer, died in Lon- don, Dec. 1, aged 48 years, of con- sumption. Lou Romah, gymnase, (late of the Boisset troupe), died in London, from influenza., , Mr«. J. Athot (Boden and Bell),died at Liverpool, aged 25, from influenza. Variety at Royal, Edinburgh. London, Dec. 31. The Royal, Edinburgh, is presenting a season of variety. NEGOTIATING FOR DRURY LANL. LOrtdoh, Dec. 31; ' There is an indication the J. L. Sacks management will obtain the managerial control of . the famous Drury Lane Theatre. Sir Arthur Col- lins, who but recently celebrated his 21st anniversary as manager of the house, seems to be in accord with the plan of those at present negotiating with him for the theatre. J. L. Sacks, Ltd., now has attrac- tions at two of the most famous of the London theatres, the Gaiety, (''Go- ing Up") and the Empire ("The Lilac Domino ). If negotiations for the Drury\Lane are finally consumated and.^acKS take over the house there will be a period of renovation. The entire interior will be rrpped out and a new stage and auditorium replacing the one now standing. The Drury Lane is the old- est standing playhouse in London, ^t is approximately 200 years since the house was first opened. The current attraction is the Christmas panto "Ba- bies in the Woods," which opened Box- ing Day. The previous attraction there. was the Sacks production of "Shang-- hai," one of the most artistic of the year, but not a financial success. It is believed, however, that the show will clean up on tour. Associated with J. L. Sacks are two Americans, William J. Wilson, the pro- ducer, who has scored tremendously here with the Hippodrome revues he staged and who produced the trio of Sacks productions to date, and Arthur Voegtlin, formerly of the Hippodrome, New York, who acts as American rep- resentative for the company. LONDON'S DAILY MATS. London, Dec. 31. Most of the theatres continue giv- ing daily matinees and business is enormous everywhere. ''NIGHT WATCH" THRIUIN& • London, Dec. 31. Charles Corcoran presented at the Oxford Dec. 23 Michael Morton's adaptation of "In the Night Watch," a melodrama with thrilling situations and a realistic naval engagement W4th a crjiiser torpedoed. Madge Titheradge, Challard C. France, A. George, Dennis Wyndham and Harry Wenman are excellent. CAPITAL "CINDERELLA." London, Dec. 31. ' The Lyceum's "Cinderella." opening Boxing Night is a capital production with plenty of comedy, contributed by George Bass, Tom MacNaughton, Dave O'Toole, Arthur Nicholas, Broth- ers Shank, Nancy Gibbs, Slice Lloyd and Beckman. INCREASING MUSICIANS' CHARGE. London, Dec. 31. It is rumored a strike of musicians of the variety theatres is impending as a consequence of the action of the Right Society, which has increased the tariff to $10 annually to each member of an orchestra for the right to play music controlled by the society. AT THE COLISEUM. London, Dec. 31. At the Coliseum the Russian Ballet is presenting "Children's Tales," ar- ranged from fairy stories. The other features are Arthur Prince, Paul Gordon, the Marcells, Alice O'Brien, Elvin Hedges. This week's features at Victoria Palace include Harry Tate, Albert Whelan, Talbot O'Farrell, Cruikshanks. Trying High Class at Lyric London, Dec 31. At the Lyric, Hammersmith, Nigel Playfair is endeavoring to establish there a high class artistic, theatre. He is presenting a child's revue panto- mime, full of fairy lore and adven- tures. IN LONDON. ~ .London, Dec. A..-. A syndicate has been formed con- sisting of Norman J. Norman, Leon Zeitlin, and William Holies to present a new musical play entitled "O, Don't, Dolly," an adaptation of the farce "Betsy," which had a big run long ago at the Criterion. The book is by Max Pemberton and Eustace Ponsonby, with music by Georges Dorlay and Kennedy Russell. It will be "tried out" at the Pleasure Gardens, Folkestone, during the first week of the new year and the cast includes Lennox Pawle, Norman Williams, W. S. Percy, PhylHs Black and Miss Ethel Baird. The syn- dicate is called Musical Farces, Lim- ited, and is adapting other famous farces into musical plays. Grossmith & Laurillard will present "Oh, Boy," renamed "Oh, Joy," at Man- chester on Dec. 16th. The cast In- cludes James Powers, Lucien Mus- siere, Tom Payne, Hal Gordon, Fred Russell, Billy Leonard, Helen Ray- mond, Diana Dunind, Dot Temple and Beatrice Lillie. Garrick, "By Pigeon Post," with- drawn fourteenth, theatre reverts to Charles Cochran. Van Noordan of the Carl Rosa Opera Company, proposes building an opera house in London with a school for the training of young singers attached. The highly patriotic children's play, "Where the Rainbow Ends," will be given at matinees at the Victoria Pal- ace commencing on Dec. 21st j^ George Robey is starting on his greatest begging campaign with the King and Prince of Wales heading the subscriptions. It is his intfention to raise £80,000 for the Sailors and Fire- men's Union in addition to the £20,000 he has already raised for this object, Robey contributing £1,000 out of his ' own pocket. It is proposed to endow a completely furnished house which has been presented to Robey for the use of convalescent seamen and fire- men, accommodating 100 invalids. PEACE PAGEANT IN ItABES." London^JDec 31. The holiday production of "The Babes in tie Wood" at Drury Lane, Dec. 26 (Boxing Night), is an old fashioned pantomiiAe containing a * pageant of peace. It is the most glor- ious spectacle evet presented, show- ing emblematic figures of the allied nations, accompanied splendidly by a harmonized fantasia of the Entente national anthems. There is a strong company. RENEE KELLY BACK. London, Dec 31. Renee Kelly has returned to "Noth- ing But the Truth" at the Savoy, after eight months' rest owing to a nervous breakdown. POLAIRE IN REVIVAL. Paris, Dec 31. The Theatre Rejane management re- vived Dec. 24 "La Maison de Danse" by P. Reboux, Noziere and the late Lt. N^uller (who was killed in the war), [t met with a successful reception. Mile. Polaire appeared in the role she created at the Theatre du Vaude- ville some years ago. Harvey Goes into Scala. «» London, Dec. 31. Unable to secure a West End house, Martin Harvey will present Maeter- ■Hnck's - "The- Burgomaster «{ Stile— mond," at the Scala. Allan Ayneaworth RecoTerad. London, Dec 31. Allan Aynesworth has recovered from the influenza and joined Tails Up" at the Comedy, appearing in sev- eral new scenes. . -Y