Variety (August 1917)

CABLES B -B^K IN PARIS Paris, July 17. Maurice Level's "Taiaut," two-act drama, is the important item in Ca- mille Choisy's new show at the Grand Gui 0 nol, but the program of five pieces is up to the usual standard of this mysterious little house. "Taiaut" is the cry used to excite hunting dogs, and they are supposed to play a big role in the wings. A woman is afraid of the brutality of her husband and is on the eve of leaving him. But her lover dies of heart disease in her room, a lonely mansion. It is the husband, suspecting the truth, who helps to re- move the body to save her honor, and he throws the lover out of the window, into the park where wild dogs pre- vail. But the man was not really dead; he had a syncope, as the husband sus- pected. The second drama is entitled "Cath. Gaulden," by E. Laumann. Catherine is a simple minded servant, badly treated by her master, an un- couth farmer in Alsace. She does not leave because she wishes to keep the job in order to raise her child. When the farmer disappears she is accused of murdering him. Catherine protests, but confesses she had a dream in which she split open the skull of her tormen- tor after he had thrashed her boy. The farmer returns without explana- tion as to his absence and hears the story. He frankly declares he does not intend to keep a woman in his house with such nightmares. He beats her and the 1 child, ordering them from the home. In a fit of exasperation Catherine fells him with an axe, as in her dream. It is real Grand Guignol, well acted by Marcelle Barry, and a lesson that mental suggestions may guide our actions on future occasions. The three remaining sketches are comic, to relieve the tension. "Sujet Leger," by C. Torquet is a clever study of the rapacity of human nature. A man has just died and his heirs ap- pear to claim their share. With no will, his sweetheart, his only friend, must go empty handed until the rela- tives find a statuette of an indecent model, and they generously decide to let the girl have it as a souvenir. It is then discovered that the work of art is of great value, and although at first very shocked at finding the Clodion among the effects they constrain the sweetheart to restitute the precious ob- ject. The girl consents, not to offend the family, when it is ascertained by an expert the statuette is only a worth- less copy. Amusing farce nicely played. The character of a fortune hunter who takes all the rebuffs from his future father-in-law is typical. "Un Heritage," is after the same style. A pious couple, estranged from a rela- tive during his life time, claim the es- tate at his demise. It consists of a saloon of immoral fame, which brings in a large income. The sanctimonious heirs are not too proud to own it. Like the Emperor Vespasian they con- sider money has no smell. "Le Jeudi de Monsieur," by Paul Bonhommo, commences the show and is just amusing. The houses now closed in Paris are Apollo, Chatelet, Arts, Rejane, Opera, Medrano. Hertz will present next winter at the Ambigu a new comedy by P. Ve- ber, Gorsse and Guillemaud, the title of which is not settled, but will prob- ably be "The System D." Among the many new expressions coined during the war this System D. is one of the most prevalent, signifying in ambig- uous terms the manner of getting out of a difficulty. With such a title and theme these up-to-date authors should find another "Madame et son Filleul." Albert Brasseur will hold the lead. Cirque Medrano closes at the end of June for the summer season, open- ing Sept. 1. The Nouveau-Cirque is at present making a feature of pictures, with a few acts in the rin 0 \ A revue shown on the screen, with vocal music in the wings, has been in- augurated at the Ambigu, the former home of popular drama. lis viennent tous du Cinema is the title but the pres- entation is not a new one here. The Gaumont Palace (Hippodrome) closed for the season July 15, but will not remain shut for long. Business was excellent to the end, and habitue's want to know why the house is not open all through the year. Cleaning is the reason. The chief of police states, in «*eply to persistent rumors, that the theatres will not have to close during the win- ter on account of the coal crisis—if proper economy is made in the lighting. A number of American soldiers are now seen in the French capital, many visiting the theatres. The local jour- nals had commenced to call them "Ted- dies," but General Pershing, in an in- terview, referred to his boys as "Sam- mies," and the appellation will remain. In Paris theatres: "Please Help Emily" (Varieties): "Chateau His- torique" (Odeon); '*La Race" (Gym- nase); "Madame et son Filleul" (Palais Royal); "Taiaut," etc. (Grand Guig- nol); "La Folle Nuit" (Edouard VII); "Uni fil a la Patte" (Dejazet); "La Goitre" (Comedie Francaise); "Mr. Beverley" (Athene^); "Les Puatres Journees" and repertoire (Opera Com- ique); "Les Nouveaux Riches" (Sarah Bernhardt); "Bleus d' Amour" (An- toine); "Si i'etais Roi" (Ba-Ta-Clan); "Afgar" (Michel); "Entoleuse" (El- dorado). Pictures at Vaudeville, Folies Dra- matique, Nouveau Cirque, Cirque d'Hiver, Ambigu. Revues at Folies Bergere,, Femina, Cigale, Marigny, Ambassadeurs, Mod- erne. COCHRAN ATTACKS REVUE. London, Aug. 1. Charles B. Cochran's attack upon Albert de Courville's revue "Smile in newspaper advertisements is general- ly condemned here as unheard of tac- tics in managerial jealousy. MRS. CARTER REAPPEARS. London, Aug. 1. The Coliseum bill this week includes the reappearance of Mrs. Leslie Car- ter in a one-act play, "The Lady in Red," by Gertrude Jennings; Pierce and Roslyn, Vardel Brothers. RESTAURANT FINED. London, Aug. 1. The Trocadero restaurant manage- ment was fined $100 for not paying an entertainment tax in connection with its tea and dinner concerts. This is the first time the question has been raised. OLD FASHIONED FARCE. London. Aug. 1. Violet Melnott* reappeared in man- agement at the Duke of York's July 25, presenting "What a Catch," by J. H. Darnley. It is an old fashisned rsmping farce. CAMILLE CLIFFORD REMARRYING. London, Aug. 1. Camille Clifford, sometimes known as "The Gibson Girl," who recently ap- peared here in the variety theatres, is engaged to be married Aug. 9 to Capt J. M. J. Evans of the Royal Welsh Fusileers. Miss Clifford's first husband, the Hon. Henry Lyndhurst Bruce, was also an English army officer and was killed in Ypres in 1914. 20 WEST END HOUSES OPEN. London, Aug. 1. Twenty West End theatres are open at present, more than were usually run- ning at this time of year prior to the war. Six are playing drama, two are pre- senting farce and three have revues. Sixteen are doing well, which is a very large percentage. WOLLHEIM WITH MURRAY. London, Aug. 1. Eric Wollheim, late manager of the Marinelli London offices, then of Woll- heim, Ltd., and recently on his own. has affiliated with Paul Murray and Tommy Dawe. DANCER CONDEMNED TO DEATH. London, Aug. 1. Marguerite Zell, known on the var- iety stage as Mata Hart, a Japanese dancer, nas been sentenced to death by a Paris court martial for espionage. DRAMA AT OXFORD. London, Aug. 1. The Oxford commences a dramatic season Aug. 5, when C. B. Cochran presents Bairnsfather's "The Bet 4 Ole," twice daily. MOSS LOSES APPEAL. London, Aug. 1. The appeal of Moss Empires against the judgment for $1,800 granted Hilda Duff, an actress, for personal injuries while appearing in "Razzle Dazzle," has been dismissed with costs. Johnnie Fields Given the Lead. London, Aug. 1. Johnnie Fields has been engaged for the leading part in "Arlette," to be produced at the Shaftesbury. FRANK VAN HOVEN In these torrid days in New York, it occurs my friends would be interested in knowing that I am wearing a fairly heavy cutaway suit, with waistcoat, stiff bosom shirt, silk hat, cloth uppers and k'.d gloves. Boys, this is the life; and, while I admit that I suffer from periodical fits of homesickness, all things considered, it's pretty soft for me, •ver here. HARE, AT 74, REVIVING. London, Aug. 1. The veteran actor, Sir John Hare, whose reappearance at a charity mat- inee drew a crowded house, has ar- ranged to revive "A Pair of Specta- cles 7 ' at Wyndham's Sept. 1. He is 74 years old, his figure upright, he is still alert and his voice is strong. "VERY GOOD EDDIE" AT PALACE? London, Aug (/ 1. "Airs and Graces" at the Palace is not doing so well and "Very Good Eddie" will probably be the succeeding attrac- tion. NELLA WEBB'S HIT. London. Aug. 1. Nella Webb's new single act, pro- duced at the Holborn Empire, is an enormous hit. CHORUS GIRLS SWIMMING. London, Aug. 1. The chorus ladies of Daly's will hold a 50-yard handicap swimming match at the Chiswick baths Aug. 3. Basil Sydney Leading in "Romance,** London, Aug. 1. Basil Sydney has replaced Owen Nares as leading man in "Romance" at the Lyric, and gives a splendid perform- ance. The piece has passed its 750th per- formance. Wilson Sailing Aug. 2. London, Aug. 1. William J. Wilson, the American pro- ducer, sails for home tomorrow. Showing "Nation** at Drury Lane. London, Aug. 1. D. W. Griffith will revive 'The Birth of a Nation" at the Drury Lane Aug. 5. Curtain Raised at the Queen's. London, Aug. 1. * "Emeralds," a one-act playlet by E. P. Clift, now precedes "Mrs. Pomer- oy's Reputation" at the Queen's. Jack Haskell Coming Over Here. London, Aug. 1. Jack Haskell sails for New York next week. u BOY SCOUTS" PROTECTED. The Boy Scouts of America, through James E. West, ChieJ Scout Executive, has sent out a notification, intended for stage people, inviting attention to laws by Congress protecting the name and title of "Boy Scouts." The law of June 15, 1916, grants a federal charter to the Boy Scouts of America and gives the organization exclusive rights to the use of the term "boy scouts." The notification contains the follow- ing: "Therefore we respectfully request that hereafter in connection with any act or sketch which in any way refers to the Bov Scout movement, that we be consulted before arrangements are made for its production, rehearsal or booking." There are 257,000 boy scouts regis- tered, with 69,000 adult officials. The notice concludes with a request to cooperate in protecting the organ- ization, its ideals, uniform, insignia and descriptive words, from misrepre- sentation. The headquarters of the Boy Scouts are at the Fifth Avenue Building, New York City. LAUDER'S NEW SONGS AND JOKES. When Harry Lauder comes to the United States for another countryside tour, the bookings having been pratty veil laid out, with William Morris again personally directing the tour, he is almost certain to bring a new reper- toire of songs as well as new jokes about the war.