Variety (November 1911)

VARIETY 15 London, Oct 26. It Is now reported the Laplander act which Mr.-BtoU aaw In Berlin may come to London. It was reckoned too big to present on any ordinary music- hall stage, but I haVe no doubt It could be accommodated at the Palla- dium. It would be no surprise were It presented there. One of the forthcoming novelties, and a departure for vaudeville on this side, will be an operette by Paul Llnke, which Mr. 8to 11 is said to have booked for the Coliseum. Mrs. Langtry is back on the stage here playing in "The Degenerates" at the Coronet theatre, which offers its entertainment at half the ordinary west-end prices. When I announced exclusively that Irene Vanbrugh had been engaged to appear at the London Hippodrome, nearly every paper in London scouted the Idea, though admitting that she had been approached by several man- agers. When I cabled the information the contract had been signed; now, a week later, the papers are out with the official statement. Edmund Gwenn, one of the best character ac- tors In London, will appear with her Monday in Mr. Barrio's "The Twelve Pound Look." At the Palladium this week they have billed "The Imperial Russian Dancers direct from the Imperial opera house, St. Petersburg, embracing operatic, ballet, Russian and whirl- wind dancing." They are a crowd of gypsy-looking folk numbering a dozen, of whom three are girls. They dance after the fashion of Russian troupes who have been seen here for many years, and who must not be confused with the Russian ballet dancers. Whether this particular crowd comes from the Imperial opera house, St. Pe- tersburg, I am not prepared to swear, but I have my doubts. They are Just ordinary dancers, and the young girl who makes a pretence at real ballet dancing Is quite incompetent. Apart from that they are a picturesque lot, and will doubtless do well in towns where the people know no better. Bessie Clayton finishes this week at the Coliseum. Apart from a bad choice of her first dress, the details of her performance are admirable. She will go from the Coliseum to the Palla- dium, and probably (our the provlnceb to follow. Paul Murray is back in harness looking a trifle finer, but as energetic as ever. He claims that he has picked out a real swell complaint, and he does not fear "copy acts." Some funny stories are going around concerning the directors of the New Paragon. They are mostly tradesmen and all Hebrews, with prac- tically no knowledge of the vaudeville business. It Is said they attend the meetings wearing top-hats, and sit around as though they were deliberat- ing upon the affairs of the universe. An agent offered an act recently, and they were agreeable to an engagement until the price was mentioned. The LONDON VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE s ommc ST., wcvsra squabs W. BUCHANAN TAYLOR, iup~.uti*. ("BAYA1D") Mall for Americans and Europeans In Europe, If addressed ©are VARI1TT lh«»*#, will hm promptly forwarded. agent had no sooner uttered "$500" than there was a scramble for the door. The only one left behind was wearing tight shoes. He recovered his breath sufficiently to ask, "Do you mean to tell me they give $500 for one of these actors. Why didn't I learn to sing." Torino re-starts in England at the Canterbury next week. The Dally Mall has attempted to make a star of Daisy Irving. It "dis- covered" her in the "Count of Luxem- bourg" in which she was temporarily playing the part created by Lily Elsie. It took the paper nearly three months to find that she was in the piece, and then it burst forth in a torrent of ri- diculous adulation. One funny line will bear repeating. It was: "She made her success with an; audience which did not even know her name." As a matter of fact Miss Irving had played the part many times, and had appeared In several music halls Including the Alhambra. (The inner history of this attempted "boom" would be Interesting.) It is expected that the new Melville theatre, at New Oxford street end of Shaftesbury avenue, will be opened Boxing night. George R. Sims Is to collaborate with Arthur Collins in the writing of the next Drury Lane pantomime. The Russian Ballet season at Co- vent Garden opened last week with conspicuous success. Karsavina and Nijlnsky have the chief roles. Their ovation was nothing short of raptur- ous. George Edwardes Is going to Vi- enna to witness a cycle of Franz Le- har's works. Among them is one called "Eve," which he intends to book for London, if it meets with his ap- proval. It Is said that J. A. E. Malone has acquired "The Siren" for London. Malone thinks the best thing he saw in America was Belasco's production of "The Woman/' at the Republic, New York. He says he takes his hat off to Belasco. Mr. Malone also liked "Excuse Me." "Rebecca of Sunny brook Farm" is to be presented at the Criterion, Lon- don, Easter Monday next by Klaw & Erlanger in conjunction with Sir Charles Wyndham. They are bring- ing Edith Taliaferro over to play the name-part. Cyril Maude's next undertaking to follow "Rip Van Winkle" at the Playhouse, is an English adaptation of the French comedy "Papa." Alex- ander Carlisle will play the chief part, that of a girl who is engaged to a son, and eventually falls under the spell of the father's charms. The revival of "Lady Windermere's Fan" at the St. James's was chiefly notable for the fact that Sir Oeorge Alexander was not in the cast. It was a good performance, however, and Marion Terry in her original part had good support from Lillian Braith- waite who played Lady Windermere. Oswald Stoll did a fine piece of business when he opened a booking office (for tickets) in High Holborn. The object apparently is to supply the inhabitants of this densely populated district with facilities for seeing the performances at the Middlesex, Coli- seum, and Palladium. It amounts al- most to a stroke of genius. The Mid- dlesex, the opening of which was fixed for Oct. 30, will seat 3,000. The gal- lery seats (at 4d) are upholstered. Billy Broad, the black-faced come- dian, has done well on this side, con- sidering he came over at a time when there was nothing doing In the book- ing line. It was while over here that he met Tim McMahon, who, after see- ing him 'n one of the suburban halls, engaged him for "The Southern Re- view." Broad has contracted to re- turn next fall. Samaroff and Sonla opened at the London Hippodrome so strongly that on the second week their billing space was doubled. They are Just starting on a provincial tour. There Is not a great deal of power in the new Alhambra Ballet, "1830," but it Is an exquisite story dealing with a kind of "Trilby" plot and dressed In the fashion of 80 years ago. The production, the work of Maurice Volny, is bound to attract a lot of attention on account of Its sheer pret- tlness, but I have serious doubts as to its enjoying a long run. For it, Poldl Muller, who has been appearing in "Sumurun" at the Savoy, was en- gaged. She is a good-looking girl of medium height with strong panto- mimic abilities. I hear that Volny was recently on the point of throwing up his job at the Alhambra. Murphy and Wlllard, who have been seeing the sights in the last few weeks have booked some time with the Variety Theatres Controlling. They started at Portsmouth Hippo- drome, Monday. Niblo and Spencer open at Nuren- burg, Nov. 1. They have booked some months on the Continent. Will Evans who Is to be one of the principal comedians at the Drury Lane Pantomime has struck a new excuse for comedy. It Is all about harm lnf a horse. STARS MAKE UP. Boston, Not. 1. Elizabeth Murray has not sent In her resignation as a member of the "Madame Sherry" company since It opened here two weeks ago. The man- agement had been unable to account for the oversight on the part of the creator of the title role until an In- vestigation disclosed the fact that on the opening night here Miss Abarba- nell, the star, and Miss Murray squeezed each other's hands and slip- ped back and forth a series of verbal bouquets. "Madame Sherry" Is scheduled for a twelve weeks' run at the Tremont, but from present indications, is likely to remain for the rest of the season. LILLIAN ALBERTSON ENGAGED. Fellner ft Dreyfus have signed Lil- lian Albertson for one of their new productions. Miss Albertson, who is in private life the wife of Abe Levy, of race- track fame, has been out of the pro- fession for the past three years. Her last engagement was with "Paid In Full." HOW TO AID ACTORS* FUND. The dues of the annual members of the Actors' Fund are payable Nov. 30 (Thanksgiving Day) when the new fiscal year begins. During twenty-nine years the Actors' Fund has disbursed In charity more than $1,000,000. Every effort Is being made to in- crease the treasury and all are urged to pay their dues at once or become life or annual members. By com- municating with the assistant secre- tary of the Fund, one may learn full particulars as to assisting in main- taining the Home, and in making be- quests. BILL POSTERS RETURN. Boston, Nov. 1. The bill posters' strike is over. It has been on for many moons. A large number of the craft who were em- ployed by the Donnelly Bill Posting concern demanded an increase of wages of $2 a week. The Drivers were getting $16 and the helpers $14. They demanded $18 and $16. The affair was settled Sunday. Mon- day morning the men returned to work. They will receive the old scale for a year and at the end of that pe- riod they will get the $1 increase. The increase is to stand for three years, which is the length of time the exist- ing contract has. "BEN HUR" IN BOSTON. Boston, Nov. 1. The revival of "Ben Hur" is at the Boston theatre. Klaw ft Erlanger are making the production. A. L. Erlan- ger came on here Tuesday. The show is due to remain in Bos- ton for five or six weeks, then hike to the Amsterdam, New York, replac- ing "The Pink Lady" there. After the run at the Amsterdam, "Ben Hur" will go to London. If the business of "The Pink Lady" holds up as well as its managers would wish, "Ben" may be shifted to Philadelphia for a brief stay before going into New York. CnhlaM*d new* nt«rfi<-«« rndfri. That't whs* VARIETY print*.