Variety (January 1914)

VARIETY "PARSIFAL" NOW RELEASED: SPLENDIDLY SHOWN ABROAD Productions of Wagnerian Work Enthusiastically Received in Berlin and Paris. Copyright Expired January 1. (Special Cable to Variety) Paris, Jan. 7. Wagner's great work, "Parsifal," on which the copyright expired Jan. 1, was immediately produced at the Paris Opera House. It has been in rehear- sals for the past six months, every- thing being ready for public perform- ance for the first days of 1914. The "repetition generale," or so- called press show, was given Jan. 1. Many tried in vain to attend this New Year's day inauguration. The pre- miere, Jan. 4, also attracted a tremen- dous crowd, musicians coming from everywhere for the ceremony. All declare it is beautifully mounted and well sung. M. Franz, in the title role, was particularly good, the re- mainder of the principals being com- petent. M. Lestelly was Amfortas; M. Jfournet, Klingsor; M. A. Gresse, Ti- turel; Mile. L. Breval, Kundry; Mile. Delmas, Gurnemanz. (Special Cable to Varietv.) Berlin, Jan. 7. "Parsifal," at the Royal Opera House, is splendidly performed and proves the event of the year. The number of performances is limited and the series was all sold out in advance of the premiere. SCENICALLY GOOD. (Special Cable to Varibti.) London, Jan. 7. The Alfred Butt-Gus Sohlke revue, produced at the Manchester Palace, is a scenic success, with other bits promising. It ranks well with the other road shows. BEST HOUR REVUE. (Special Cable to Variety) London, Jan. 7. At the Pavilion, "Alice Up-To-Date" is pronounced the best hour revue ever presented here. It is very successful. 8-ACT AFTER BIG SHOW. (Special Cable to Variety. ) London, Jan. 7. Vardon, Perry and Wilbur sailed Jan 6 on the Kronprinz Wilhelm to secure a big musical show for presentment in England. NOVEL SET TO MUSIC. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Jan. 7. "Francesca da Rimini," taken from Marion Crawford's novel, was pre- sented by Albert Carre, as a musical work in three acts, at the Opera Comique last night. The music, which pleased, is written by a new composer, Franco Leoni; the libretto is by Marcel Schwob. It met with only a fair re- ception. The principal robs are held by Francell, Boulogne, and Mile. Davelli. On the same bill is a short opera, "La Vie Breve." Carre assumed the management of the Comedie Francaise, Jan. 1. AT ALHAMBRA, PARIS. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Jan. 7. At the Alhambra, Hearn, billed as the American millionaire (he gives away money orders), also Singer's Midgets, are successful. Vasco, good; Thurber's couple, also the Breens, did nicely; Berzac's Animal Circus and Jack Johnson did not appear. SHORT RUN EXPECTED. (Special Cable to Variety.) Paris, Jan. 7. To terminate his season at the Renaissance, Abel Tarride mounted at this house a comedy by Marcel Gerbi- don and Pierre Weber, "Un Fils d'Amerique" (originally announced as "Pascaud et fils"), which met with a pleasing reception, though only a short run is expected. It is played by Hugette Dastry, Su- zanne Desprez and Tarride. NEW OPERA COMIQUE. (Special Cable to Variet..) Berlin, Jan. 7. Waldemar Wendland will shortly have produced by the Deutsche- opernhaus, Berlin, his new opera comique, "Der Schneider von Malta." CISSY FITZGERALD HEKE. A long ago London Gaiety favorite, Cissy Fitzgerald, who became famous while at Daly's, on Broadway, some years ago, through her wink, has re- turned to New York for a visit. Miss Fitzgerald retired from the stage awhile back to open a shop at Brighton. SELLS LLOYD A SONG. Chicago, Jan. 7. ^farie Lloyd has purchased from Frida Hall the singing rights to all countries of Miss Hall's song, "Oh! Oh! What She Doesn't Know." LITTLE MISS HAWKINS IN ACT. Little Iris Hawkins, the diminutive English comedienne, who was one of the few hits in "Hop O' My Thumb" at the Manhattan opera house, is go- ing into vaudeville. The show closed its 34th street run Saturday. Miss Hawkins was especially im- ported from London to take the title role in the pantomime. Much press matter was secured for her. The vau- deville engagement will be engineered by Alf T. Wilton. It does not appear to be a certainty the "Hop" show will go on tour over here. Another week of resting will be tfiven the company, it is said, before a decision is made to start out. DOING WELL IN BERLIN (Special Cable to VAjuvrr.) Berlin, 'Jan. 7. At the Wintergarten, Willy Pantzer, Charlene and Charlene, Robert and Dog, Paris Trio, Robert Steidl, Wyito and Whyss, Han Ping Troupe, Bow- den Stol, are all going well. JULIUS FRIEND DEAD. (Special Cable to Varibtit.) Berlin, Jan. 7. Julius Friend, author of all the Met- ropol theatre revues, died here this week, aged 51. COSTUMES ARE HELP. (Special Cable to Vabmtt.) Berlin, Jan. 7. At the Wintergarten, the ballet from the Alhambra, London, entitled "Persia," is a success. The costumes by Poiret help materially in the sec- ond number. SAILINGS. Reported through Paul Tausig ft Son, 104 East 14th street, New York Jan. 7, Allan Shaw (France); Jan. 8, Anna Pisano (Princess Irene); Jan. 9, Lou Real (Pennsylvania); Jan. 3, Kremos (9) (Pr. Grant). Paris, Dec. 26. Dec. 19 (for South America), Ohio,J Maria Smits and Partner (Habsburg, from Boulogne). (Special Cable to Variet/.) London, Jan. 7. Jan. 3, Frey Twins (Lusitania). Jan. 7, Vardon and Wilber (Kr. P r . Cecilie). MANAGER-STAGER ROW. (Special Cable to Variet/.) London, Jan. 7. A Ned Wayburn-Albert DeCourville Hippodrome row was started last week, when DeCourville let Wayburn out of the salary list for two days while the latter was rearranging the numbers after the new show opened. Wayburn has a clause in his contract calling for his name to appear on all programs and billing. A lawsuit is pending as a result of the discussion. "RICH GIRL/* FAIRLY. (Special Cable to Varibtit.) London, Jan. 7. •The Poor Little Rich Girl," at the New theatre, has been but fairly re- ceived. "THE ATTACK" SUCCESSFUL. (Special Cable to Variety.) London, Jan. 7. At the St. James, "The Attack," a French play, with George Alexander and Martha Hedman, is successful. Miss Hedman is highly praised. It is her debut here. LESSING-WRIGHT ACT. (Special Cable to Variet f.) Berlin, Jan. 7. Madge Lessing and Fred Wright are arranging vaudeville engagements over here in a singing and dancing turn entitled "Hello Madge; Hello Freddy." KENYON DEAD, GIRL A SUICIDE. Leslie Kenyon, an English legiti- mate actor, known for his participation in several recent Broadway successes, who was to have been in the cast of "A Laughing Husband," died in Miss Alston's Sanitarium, New York, late last week. As preparations were completed for his funeral, Lillian Sinnott, who has also played on Broadway, declared to ;ict mother she could not live without him, and committed suicide by slash- ing her wrists. Kenyon was stricken with apoplexy ten days ago and was taken to the Lambs', from which he was removed to the sanitarium. He had a wife liv- ing, but Miss Sinnott's family" declare she and Kenyon were to be married if he could secure a divorce. MANY "MENDEL BEILIS." The "Mendel Beilis" affair hai worked its way into the United States Court. Frances G. Corcoran, of tne American Play Bureau, Anshel Schorr and the Jacob Adler Eagle Theatre Operating Co., have brought action against Darcy & Wolford (play, brokers), William Fox, Max and Boris, Tomaschefsky, Moses Schorr (no rela- tion to the plaintiff) and David Tierkel tor an injunction restraining them from using the "Mendel Beilis" play. The plaintiffs aver the Beilis production ai given at the Academy of Music, New York, encroaches on the copyright on' the play of that title which the Jacob Adler Co. produced at the Dewey and which was translated into English by Miss Corcoran. The motion will come up Friday, with Jos. A. Seidman appearing for the plaintiffs and August Dreyer rep- resenting the defendants. The Academy version was written by David Tierkel, who is said to have literally taken the Adler manuscript for his English translation. The first production of the Corcoran translation was made at the Harlem opera house this week by the stock company there. Adler copyrighted his "Mendel Beilis" play Nov. 15 while Miss Cor- coran protected her translation Dec. 8. Other "Mendel Beilis" plays are said to have been written. There are eight authors claiming rights to English translations either made or under way. .lames Hallack Reid has written a show which the Mittenthal Brothers produced at the Prospect this week. It will go over the Stair & Havlin time. The Academy version is being shown at the Cecil Spooner theatre this week. Neither is doing much. GETTING ON THE INSIDE. New Orleans, Jan. 7 Tom Campbell has hit upon a new advertising scheme for the Tulane and Crescent theatre. It is nothing less than placing an announcement of the attractions playing the houses on the rasteboards local laundries place inside each shirt. AT ONE HOUSE 43 YEARS. George W. Millard, manager of the Collingwood theatre, Poughkeepsie. N. J., came into New York Tuesday. Millard has managed the Colling- wood for 43 yeara.