Variety (September 1917)

CABLES London, Aug. 25. Doris Joel, daughter of S. B. Joel, the Ktiyion^ire, has written the libretto for a new musical comedy revue for which Max Darewski will write the music and that Harry Day will produce at a West End theatre. "Carminetta," successfully playing at the Prince of Wales theatre, is a se- quel to "Carmen." Escamillo, the fiery toreador, has retired from the ring and has grown fat as the proprietor of a bar at Gibraltar, and congratulates kimself on his escape from Carmen; while Carminetta, the daughter of Car- men and Don Jose, if a cabaret artist with her mother's temperament. In the part Delysia is given unusual scope for the display of her talents. * C. B. Cochran has arranged an inter- esting collaboration between "Rip," the wittiest of French revue writers, and Cosmo Gordon Lennox. The result of their efforts will be a revue for the Ambassador later. Reports from the provinces with re- gard to business are good. Apart from such plays as "Damaged Goods," "Ghosts," etc., with their catchpenny advertisements "for adults only," the most successful plays are those of sen- timental charm, "A Kiss for Cinderella," "Daddy Longlegs," and "Peg o* My Heart." Miss Fryer Tennyson Jesse, who col- laborated with Capt. H. M. Harwood, in the three-act comedy, "Billeted," now playing at the Royalty, is a grandniece of the first Lord Tennyson, the poet. She went to Antwerp during the war on a special mission for a big American w,eekly and was on the last boat which left the city before the Germans took it The recent "Navy Week" was re- sponsible for the revival of "A Pair of Spectacles" and "Trelawny of the Wells." The former at Wyndhams on Sept. 1 with Sir John Hare. Gerald du Maurier, Sam Sothern and Kate Rorke in their original parts a few days later. "Trelawny" will appear at the new theatre with Irene Vanbergh in the leading parts. "Seven Days' Leave" is still growing in popularity at the Lyceum. Sir Henry Wood's list of novelties for the coming season of promenade concerts at Queens Hall, commencinp today, though not so lengthy as in pre-'.var days, contains some works of great interest. Out of nineteen new items nine are by British composers, five hail from Russia and two from Spain. Many of our best dramatists have been silent during the war, but the au- tumn will see a revival of their activ- ities. Sir Arthur Pinero is finishing a light cheery comedy; Henry Arthur Jones is coming out with "The Pa- cifists" at the St. James, and possibly with "The Cock of the Walk" else- where. Alfred Sutro's new play just produced at Manchester will be seen at the West End, while Sir James Barrie is writing a play for Wyndham. Had- don Chambers supplies a new comedy for Chas. Hawley and Gilbert Miller, and R. C. Carton's comedy. "The Off Chancc"_is in ii/ tivt;^ rt;]icars a1 a t tjhe Queens.' "Max Pemb'erTon is wTTting' three new plays and H. V. Esmond i« starting afresh with "Salad Days." J. K. Jerome supplies "Cook" and Walter Hackell is writing a play for H. B. Ir- vine and adapting a French play for C. P Cochran, while George R. Sims and Henry Hamilton are preparing a new drama for Drury Lane. The Theatre des Allies will start its second season of French plays at a West End theatre during the autumn. The director, M. Maurice Froyez, prom- ises further revivals of Moliere's come- dies, including "Les Precieuses Ridi- cules" and "Le Bourgoise gentil- homme." The modern plays include "Zaza " with Lina Palerme in the title role. Rehearsals for Alfred Butt's produc- tion of Fred Thompson's musical ver- sion of Sir Arthur Pinero's famous farce, "The Magistrate," at the Adelphi theatre are in full swing. Miss Amy Augarde and Donald Calthrop have been added to the strong cast. The music is by Lionel Monckton and How- ard Talbot; the dances and ensembles are arranged by Jan Oy-ra and the while produced bv Robert Courtneidge. "PAIR OF SPECTACLES" AGAIN. London, Sept. 5. At'Wyndham's "A Pair of Spec- tacles" was revived Sept. 1, with Sir John Hare in his origmal part. He was in splendid form and accorded an ovation. Sir John is supported by Gerald Du Maurier, Sam Sothern, Will West, Mary Rorke, Meggie Albanesi, all ex- cellent VAN HOVEN "But all this happrns while Devant 'pat- tors' alonfc ill his own and inimitnhle fashion —as quaint and as amusing as FRANK VAN HOVEN, the quaintest and most amiislnR of all 'piittrrlnn' conjurers."—"THE TATTLER," Jan. 10. 1917. The above is part of a notice on Mr. David Devant's show iit the Ambassadors theatre, London. To Maskelyne and Devont many, many mafficlans of todoy owe their success. One ^oiiPf? An>eric/»Fi ronjurfr bus shown his y-.tjl-iiwl*" bv tuVInT with him Mr. DrvatiVs Er.r, TRir.K with the small boy on THE STAOE. I met this younfC fellow manv times and did portake of cool beer with him, but strange tales do I hear, and when I come home in preference to having my bcT. with him I shall have it alone. Or with Dell Chain or some other decent chop who rrsprcts the rights and the prop- erty of their fellow man. PRODUCTIONS JH LOMDOM, London, Sept. 5. "Pacifists," successfully tried out at Southport, was presented at the St. James's Sept. 4. 'The Yellow Ticket" will be pro- duced at the Playhouse tonight. "Arlette" is due at the Shaftesbury Sept. 6 after a successful trial at Prince's, Manchester. A revival of "Trelawney of the Wells" is scheduled for the New theatre Sept. 7. At the Adelphia Sept. 8 Alfred Butt produces "The Boy," a musical version of "The Magistrate." Charles MacDonia and H. V. Esmond produced the latter's new comedy "Salad Days," at the Royal, Bourne- mouth, last week, with the author in the cast. OVER $15,000 AT OXFORD. London, Sept. 5. The box office takings for last week at the Oxford, where Charles B. Coch- ran's production of "The Better "Ole" is playing twice daily, amounted to over $15,000. CHARIOT PRODUCING FILMS. London, Sept. 5. Andrew Chariot is embarking in a film enterprise, featuring Phyllis Monk- man in a number of her revue suc- cesses. **HOLY ORDERS" FILMED. London, Sept. 5. The RuflFell's Co. presented a film adaptation of Marie Corelli's novel en- titled "Holy Orders," featuring Mal- vina Lonpfellow and Dorma Leigh. It i very interesting. First Annivcrsay of "Chow." London, Sept. 5. The first anniversary of "Chu Chin Chow" was celebrated at His Majesty's Aug. 31 with new gorgeous costumes and a new scene with a song intro- duced by Henry Rabke. "Wild Heather" Tried Out. London, Sept. 5. .Arthur .Mdin successfully produced a four-act play. "Wild Heather," by Dorothy Brandon, at the Gaiety, Man- chester, for a short season and will bring it to a West Fnd theatre later. Edyth Goodall and Lynn Harding scored. Pavilion Here This Week. London, Sept. 5. The Pavilion's reversion to variety is attractinfz full houses. The bill this week includes Violet Lorraine, Crock, Manny and Roberts, Ben Nathan, Marjorie Hart. "Intolerance" Revived With Music. London, Sept. 5. At the Prince's the revival of "In- toiera^^ce" by the Master Production Co., is marked by an innovation in the way of a beautiful setting, solo singers and a chorus. Hackett's Play Making Records. London, Sept. 5. Walter Hackett's play, "The In- visible Foe," at the Savoy, is breaking records. Eddy Reed Reappears. London, Sept. 5. At the Chelsea Palace Eddy Reed re- appeared in a cowboy act after two years' .service in East .Africa. He was discharged on account of wounds. Vardels Going to South Africa. London, Sept. 5. V;ir«lel Krollu rs have sailed for South .Africa for an ei^ht weeks' tour. Back in "Romance." London, Sept. ?>. Doris Kcanc and Basil Sydney have returned to "Romance" at the Lyric, after their holidays. ''BEANSTALK" TAKEN BY STOIX.. London, Sept. 5. Oswald Stoll has booked the Wil- liam Fox screen production of "Jack and the Beanstalk" for his London opera house for eight weeks, commenc- ing Dec. 15. KILLED IN ACTION. London, Sept. 5. Joseph Nugent, originally a partner of the Nugent and Walker duo, died in France of gas poisoning. John Robinson, one of the brothers of Robinson's Comedians, was killed in action in France. His brother Will, also at the front, has been awarded the D. C. M. TATE'S PLAYING RECORD. London, Sept. 5. Harry Tate has broken all records by playing 66 turns in one week. L 0. H. PAYING AT LAST. London, Sept. 5. The picture policy at Stoll's picture house, formerly the London opera house, has brought success to the place, which is paying for the first time. 10 SHOWS WEEKLY. London, Sept. 5. Commencing tonight "What a Catch," at the Duke of York's, will be preceded by a new one-act play, "Dawn in Beth- nal Green," by E. Cliff, playing ten performances weekly. «i 'Lo Poupee" on Variety Tour. London, Sept. 5. "La Poupee," revived for a variety tour, opened Monday at the Wood Green Empire with a strong company, which includes the Gresham Singers. "Gay Lord Quex" Released. London, Sept. 5. The Ideal Film Co. has released "The Gay Lord Quex,"' with Irene Van- brugh, Lillian Braithwaitc, Ben Web- ster. Lyston Lyle among the players. It is a capital picture. Acquitted of Murder—Kept off Stage. London, Sept. 5. The Magistrates have decided Alice Roberts, aged 16, recently acquitted of murder at the Glamorgan Assizes under the doctrine of the unwritten law, must not appear at the local theatres. ELSIE JANIS' CORPORATION. Elsie Janis has incorporated htrself, she and her mother being the principal stockholders. Elsie, after signing her contract with Albert de Courville for her appearance in London, learned of the rather heavy cut the income tax is making into the salaries of the artists appearing there and has figured it out someway an .American corporation is exempt from such taxation. KAJIYAMA'S ROAD SHOW. Chicago, Sept. 5. Tameo Kajiyama, the Jap mental wonder, will take out his own road show this season, starting about Oct. 15 and carrying five acts. The bookings for the first five weeks will be attended to by J. R. Wingfield, the show then striking the big cities and playing halls and lyceum dates. Tameo. who is a university graduate, is reputed to have accumulated a rather healthy bank account and is financing the tour, claiming that he can not get the salary he asks for vaudeville. He has ordered 10.000 lithos, some stands which hold the picture of himself, Caesar and Napoleon, the two celebri- ties beine supposed to be the only per- sons outside of Kajiyama who have ever developed quadruple mind concen- tration. Amy Leslie, the local reviewer, said of Tameo that he would have been worth $1,000,000 to Napoleon as private secretary.