Variety (March 1916)

CABLES PARIS NOTES Paris, Feb. 20. The Olympia has engaged Polaire and her troupe in a revival of the sketch, "Ma Gosse.' »» The Alhambra now changes its pro- gram entirely every fortnight, some of the local acts playing only seven days (nine performances). The musical critics will not let Frau Lou-Tellegen (nee Farrar) forget her movie digression. They cannot forgive her apparent lack of dignity, and she seems to have earned the awful cap- tion, "From Movies to Opera." How- ever, Frau Tellegen is probably better able to dispense with opera than opera is to dispense with Frau Tellegen. Pierre Frondaie has made a play from the book of Claude Ferrere "La Bataille" which will be presented at the Theatre Antoine in March. The lead- ing lady will be the adaptor's wife. Antoine, formerly director of tht Odeon, will soon be seen in vaudeville, having been engaged to play in a sketch at the Concert Mayol, under the man- agement of Dufrenne. He will be sup- ported by Jane Marnac and the comic, Girier. The brothers Voltera, now tempor- arily in charge of the Cigale concert hall, have taken over the Gaite Roche- chouart. Mme. Varlet, who formerly ran this popular little resort, is retiring from business and the new managers will begin their lease in September. The brothers were formerly program sellers at the Olympia and the Al- hambra. Rouche, the new director of the opera, is credited with making radical changes at the national academy of music. One which the subscribers object to is a rule forbidding them to go on the stage during the intervals. This little visit behind the scenes has long been a privilege of subscribers to the Opera, and Rouche may have to make an exception if he wishes to keep them. Emile Mas, an authority on the Com- edie Francaise, is now on the staff of "Excelsior," in which he will continue his daily reports concerning that the- atre, his former journal "Comoedia" not having appeared since the outbreak of the war. There was a storm in a tea cup at the Corned ie Francaise during the re- hearsals of the revival of F. de Curel's "La Figurante." Berthe Cerny, the leading lady, got the pip with the new administrator and left the theater. It is reported a cabinet minister's wife had to interfere, in order to entice the actress back to the fold. Danancier and Tenot, temporary managers of the Theatre des Varietes, had arranged with Jean Fabert to mount an operetta "Flup," by G. Du- mestre, music by Joseph Szule. It was played in Brussels, and is suspected to be of German origin so the production has been postponed. Lassailly was en- gaged as chef d' orchestre, but "Le Dipdon," a musicless comedy, is to be revived instead. "Tante d'Honfleur," produced at the Varietes theatre a few years ago, will occupy the stage of the Ambigu, with Albert Brausseur in his original role. Beretta, having made money with the present kind of cafe concert shown at the Olympia, has cast his eyes on the Folies Bergere, and is still negotiating with Dumien and the Isola brothers. He was also on the point of getting the Alhambra until the end of the war, but the deal fell through at the last moment Hennequin's amusing farce, "Coralie 8t Cie," hat been revived at the Galte. Mary Garden is now playing at the Opera Comique, which theatre is open four times weekly. The Bal Tabarin has emerged from the darkness, in which condition It has remained since the outbreak of hos- tilities, and is now a skating rink. The public ballrooms are not yet tolerated by the authorities. The Salle Wagram is a refuge for Belgian soldiers from the front on furlough in Paris. Farabonl, the Italian dancer, who was appearing at the Casino de Paris, in which enterprise he is also inter- ested, has been mobilized and with- drawn from the present vaudeville show. Anna Thibaud it now on the program. VAN HOVEN The above gives an Idea of VAN HOVEN'8 success in Europe. His trip to the U. S. A. In April will only be for a short visit to look after his business interests. Any of his friends wishing to meet Van Hoven during his U. S. A. bookings can always reach him through his attorney, KOB> ERT G. MOORE, 80 Broadway. New York City. GRAND GUIGNOL BILLS. Paris, Feb. 20. Five plays comprise the new pro- gram at this little house of shudders. "L'Experience du Docteur Lorde" in two acts, by P. de Wattyne and Han- swyk, is founded on a story by C. Berger. Dr. Lorde and Prof. Derval are rivals, but in science and love. The latter is a materialist and a public idoL He married the woman Lorde wanted. Derval'a nephew is an assistant of Lorde in the operating room, and to be avenged he makes an uncanny ex- periment of transferring the soul of a criminal to the young man while in an intoxicated condition. The oper- ation succeeds and terrible murders are committed by Dcrval's nephew. Lorde has proven his thesis to his rival's detriment, but is a victim of his own handiwork, for the homicidal youth also kills the doctor. The remainder of the program is made up of short sketches of the usual class seen at this small theatre. HITCHCOCK NEXT MONTH. London, March 1. Walter Howard presented at the Prince of Wales', Feb. 26, his own melodrama, "The Silver Crucifix." Alfred Paumier, Annie Saker and the author-manager all scored. It will run one month, to be fol- lowed by the new Raymond Hitchcock production. ALHAMBRA'S STRAIGHT BILL London, March 1. The Alhambra is playing a straight variety show pending the production of the new musical comedy schedule for some time in March. Odette Myrtil scored strongly when opening Monday. SHIRLEY KELLOGG WON. London, March 1. Shirley Kellogg of the London Hip- podrome was the winner of the annual popularity contest for the Pelican Cake. The entries were from musi- cal comedy, pantomime and revue. Miss Kellogg was the winner by sev- eral hundred votes over her nearest rival. SUCCESSFUL REVIVAL. London, March 1. Arthur Bourchier successfully re- vived "The Arm of the Law" at His Majesty's Feb. 28, supported by (Miss) Kyrle Bellew. PANTO COMING OFF. London, March 1. The Dniry Lane pantomime will be withdrawn March 11 and be succeeded by "The Birth of a Nation." Hall Calne's "Pete" Revived. London, March 1. Matheson Lang revived Hall Caine's "Pete" at the Strand Feb. 24, with Hutin Britton and himself in their original roles. Two Nightly at Marlborough. London, March 1. The Marlborough theatre has re- verted to variety, playing two shows nightly. IN LONDON London, Feb. 14. C. B. Cochrane having resigned from the management of the Empire, Alfred Butt has appointed Maurice Volny his general manager. Tom Reynolds be- comes stage director for the Palace and Empire theatres, and Clarence Hurst, formerly associated with the late Lewis Wallerfi succeeds Maurice Volny as manager at the Palace. The London Coliseum pays a divi- dend of 20 per cent, per annum for the six months ending Dec. 31. Mrs. Oliver, widow of the late Will Oliver, will carry on his agency busi- ness in accordance with her husband's wishes. In consequence of the number of mo- tor-drivers at the front, the supply of drivers for taxicabs is extremely lim- ited and there is great difficulty in se- curing a cab after the theatres close. To meet the difficulty Walter Knight, who has resumed the run of L'Enfant Prodigue at the Kingway theatre, un- dertakes to fetch all purchasers of boxes or four stalls and take them home again in fast motor cars. Pierce and Roslyn, who have been successfully touring the Moss Empires, have been re-engaged for three con- secutive tours. They open at the Al- hambra, Paris, Feb. 25, for two weeks and sail for South Africa (March 11). Sir James Barrie has completed the new play, which is to follow "The Ware Case," at Wyndham's. Gerald de Mau- rier and Frank Curzon will produce It about the end of March. Drury Lane, the national theatre, is the first legitimate theatre, not playing a revue, to permit smoking. In future smoking will be allowed at evening performances only. Otho Stuart has taken the Court the- atre and will shortly produce a new play, entitled "Kultur," by Rudolf Besier and Mrs. Hugh Spottiswoode. BURLESQUE TO REVUE. The revue to be presented for the first time at the Alhambra, London, in June, will have as principal comedian Frank Dobson, an American. Mr. Dobson for several seasons has been playing opposite Billy Arlington in "The Golden Crook," a burlesque organization on the Columbia Circuit The engagement was entered through Charles Bornhaupt, who recommended Mr. Dobson to a representative of Oswald Stoll lately over here and during the time the "Golden Crook" company appeared at the Columbia. New York. E. F. ALBEE SOUTH. Monday E. F. Albce and Dr. Lauder left to spend three weeks at Palm Beach. SHADES OF NIGHT