Variety (January 1918)

f CABLES i 4 V By E. G. Paris, Dec. 20. Failing to obtain any notable success with the new productions recently of- fered at the Comedie Francaise, the management (or rather the committee) has secured for the regular repertoire Alfred de Mussefs "Lorenzaccio," last played by Sarah Bernhardt at the Re- naissance. Theodore de Banville's "Beau Leandre" and Paul Verlaine's "Les Uns et les Autres" will also be revived at the first national comedy house of France. It is rumored De Max will soon retire from the Comedie Francaise troupe, feeling he has not sufficient scope at the House of Moliere, where the acting is regulated by tradition, following Le Bargy, Coquelin, Bern- hardt and other famous artists. Re- quired at this famous theatre is a man- ager with power of control, who is not liable to the little susceptibilities of the troupe forming the committee or the influences of politicians. The organ- ization of the House of Moliere is ex- cellent (on paper), but Napoleon I, when he drew up his famous decree on the battlefield governing the manage- ment of the Comedie Francaise did not reckon with the petty jealousies of the actors and actresses when they become societaires" and to a great extent con- trol the destinies of this theatre. An artist of talent may decide to play a role as he understands it and not be constrained to keep to the tradition because a predecessor played the part in another manner. The important feature of a great artist is individual- ity and such individuality, which the public admires, is discouraged at the Comedie Francaise. Tradition is the motto there. A revue will be given this winter at the Concert Mayol by O. Dufrenne. It will be signed by H. Varna and Le- lievre, and entitled "Cest Fantastique." During the summer an operetta by Bataille-Henri, "Les Profiteurs de 1'Amour," will probably be mounted. The revue, "Laisse les Tomber," pro- duced at the new Casino de Paris, when Gaby Deslys made her reappearance before a French public, is a magnificent show and met with approbation. Gaby sings, dances and acts with Harry Pil- cer, and the couple stand out in an important cast recruited by Leon Vol- terra. The costumes are gorgeous, par- ticularly for war time! Various flowers are represented by some of the pret- tiest dresses seen on the stage. The ladder scene has been introduced as the three colors (red, white, blue), and pleased immensely. Murray Piker's sherbo band made good, but rather frightened some gentle folk. The shoot- ing star dance by a troupe of English girls creating sparks on a special car- pet by the movement of their feet was found a novelty here. Boucot, Mag- nard. Miles. Rose, Amy, Louvain, Pretty Myrtill and all concerned worked hard to make the witless revue go. But wit is not required at the Casino de Paris; there is a feast for the eyes. Mile. Deslys is quite dramatic in a sketch portraying her obsession by sensational pictures, in which she makes a few Fregoli changes. Her rich costumes did not seem to please and were thought eccentric. There is every pos- sibility the Casino de Paris (a white elephant since Borney's departure), will be once more one of the chic resorts of the French capital. Many structural alterations have been made, and as a matter of fact the Casino is not yet completed. A large gallery now runs from the fauteuils to KENDREW. the front wall of the hall, pasing as a covering to the promenade, very much on the same lines as at the Olympia. A special entrance is being made to these seats.. The upholstery is in pome- granate red; the decorations in the auditorium are not particularly har- monious, but no real judgment can be rendered until the hall is quite finished, which may be another month. How- ever, Volterra and Gaby opened in time for the Christmas vacations, and that is an important result. Nedelec fills the functions of assistant manager, Leh- man is producing manager and Soulaire musical leader. Eugenio has charge of the stage. The program even goes so far as to tell the name of the chief electrician and the principal carpet- man. The reopening of the Casino de Paris is a success and was a big event. "La Marraine d'Escouade," the oper- etta given by the intermediary of Broussan (formerly co-director of the Opera), at the Theatre du Vaudeville, is a musical version of Les Fiancees de Rosalie, a farce played at the De- jazet last season. A party of French soldiers, who have been adopted as "godsons" by a young woman, turn up at her parents' home to pass their fur- lough and commit all sorts of pranks, interlaced with singing and dancing. This forms the story. One of the group is an ecclesiastic in peace times, and has proved himself a real poilu. He feels he will be unable to follow his calling in future, renouncing the flesh and the devil, so he marries his pretty Marraine. The music is diverting, but not particularly original. Some radical changes are taking place at the Comedie Francaise: Hector Cremieux's "Abbe Constantine," good old-fashioned melodrama, has been added to the repertoire and will be revived shortly. Criticism has been expressed relative to the noisy antics of Murray Pilcer's ragtime Sherbo band at the Casino de Paris, considered inappropriate in war time. The pitch of this music, which is discoursed also during the entr'acte, has been somewhat toned down. No- tices to this effect are published in the local press. , A musical comedy by Gignoux and Barde, music by Cuvillier, which will bear the name of "Judith, Courtisane," will shortly be produced at the little Theatre Michel. Cleo de Merode will make her reappearance in the work, which, if rumor is correct, will run a big risk of being barred by the British and American censors should exact English versions be adopted. Biblical characters seem in favor in Paris as subjects for risky operetta. The field has not been exploited hitherto and brain fever is not to be feared in adapt- ing it to the stage. But such efforts do not add lustre to the French stage. "Grand-Pere," by Lucien Guitry, re- cently produced at the Porte St.-Mar- tin, is meeting with a success which places the author-actor in a respectable position among French playwrights. It is difficult to summarize the story; the comedy describes the petty quarreling of a family. Due to the tact and good nature of a grandfather, whose son lias disgraced the clan, a young girl is able to marry the man she loves after being frequently rebutted by her supposed family during three acts. This is the first dramatic work of this French actor, who is following in the footsteps of Sacha Guitry, his son, rather late in life. It is well mounted and neatly told. PARIS MUSICIANS ON STRIKE. Paris, Jan. 2. The strike of the theatre musician! in Paris continues. Some of the larger houses have female orchestras and say there they will hold them indefinitely. A few of the picture places have gotten along with piano only. The vaudeville theatres compromised when the female orchestras engaged by them were re- cruited to the strikers. The musicians struck unexpectedly Christmas Day, demanding two francs extra a show. The performances throughout the city that day were ac- companied by pianos. ALL SEYMOUR HICKS. London, Jan. 2. At St. Martin's theatre, Dec. 31, was produced "Sleeping Partners," a new three-act comedy adapted from the French, in one scene, four characters— Eternal Triangle, Husband, Wife, Friend. It is light, audacious, often witty, with little action, practically a monolog for Seymour Hicks—the best he has ever done. He is well supported by Madge Lessing and Stanley Turnbull. WONDERFUL SHOW BT BLIND. London, Jan. 2. Dorothy Minto has engaged to play Nothing, the lead in the wood panto- mime recently presented by blinded soldiers and sailors at St. Dunstan's wonderful performance. King, the star blind dancer, gave an extraordinary exhibition with a dummy of Charlie Chaplin, danced a wild fox trot with remarkable sureness, and so on Will Broadbent, chief comedian, gave an astounding performance. A most prpular chorus was a skit of Braille, "Another Little Dot Won't Do You Any Harm." "ALADDIN," BEST YET. London, Jan. 2. "Aladdin" at the Drury Lane is the best production Arthur Collins ever presented there. It is better described as a musical fairy play than a panto- mime, with a capital book, plenty of comedy, gorgeous scenes, original mu- sic by Glover and Gideon, splendidly p!ayed by Madge Titheradge, Daisy Bindley, Lennie Deane, Robert Hale, Will Evans, Caleb Porter, Harry Gaff, Stanley Lupino, the latter the out- standing success who promises to re- place the late Dan Leno in popularity. HOLIDAY'S PACKED BUSINESS. London, Jan. 2. The legitimate and variety business is splendid during the holidays. More money is being spent on amuse- ments than ever previously. Most of the houses are packed twice daily. A MARTINI DIES. London, Jan. 2. William Martini, one of the orig- inal Martini gymnastic troupe, is dead, aged 69. GERTRUDE ROBINS DEAD. London, Jan. 2. Gertrude Robins, actress-novelist- playwright, is dead. HARVEY AS GAR RICK. London, Jan. 2. At the Comedy Martin Harvey makes his appearance Jan. 7 as "David Gar- rick" in a West End special charity matinee. "Tom Jones'* on the Screen. London, Jan. 2. The Ideal Film Co. gave a private showing of its screen production of "Tom Jones," featuring Dora DeWin- ton as Little June, and Edward O'Neill as Jud Green. It should get over. SOLDIERS GOOD ENTERTAINERS. London, Jan. 2. The Pierrots and orchestra, 50 sol- diers, disqualified from further arduous fighting and entertaining the 25th Div- sion at the front, have arrived in Lon- don on short leave. They are giving a series of concerts at Wigmore Hall to secure funds to provide comforts for men in the trenches, offering a capital program, in- cluding songs, serious acting, comedy, dances, sketches, burlesque, etc., all good, with several high class artists. They were enthusiastically received by a large audience. ADA REEVES MAINTAINS CLAIM. Paris, Jan. 2. It is reported from Sydney, Australia, Ada Reeves has successfully maintained her claim in the Supreme Court over there that her husband, Wilfred Cotton, has no partnership in her theatrical in* terests. Miss Reeves is the widely known English artist, now in Australia on a re- turn engagement. TES UNCLE" IS MERRY. London, Jan. 2. At the Prince of Wales, Grossmith & Laurillard produced "Yes Uncle" Dec. 29. It is a merry, bright musical pro- duction reflecting credit on Austin Hurgon, part author and sole pro- ducer and Nat D. Ayer, composer. The piece was an instantaneous suc- cess. The chief scorers are Leslie Henson, Davy Burnaby, Robert Nainby, Frank Hector, Lily St. John, Julia James. CORLETT KILLED IN ACTION. London, Jan. 2. James Corlett, dancer, was killed in action in France. His elder brother, a stoker in the navy, was drowned, and a younger brother was killed in the Dardanelles two years ago. DOT FRA MARRIES. London, Jan. 2. Dot Fra, leading lady of the revue "Heave O," has been married to Lieut. Frederick Guttridge. TALBOT'S MUSICAL COMEDY. London, Jan. 2. Howard Talbot has finished the score of a musical comedy commenced by the late Paul Ruben, book by Harry Gra- ham, to be produced shortly by Yorke Stephens. "BOBO," SCOTCH REVUE. ' London, Jan. 2. At the Metropolitan Monday Francis Letty presented a new Scottish revue, "Bobo," featuring Ida Crispi, Charles Bell, Lil Bolton. Well Known Entertainers Wed. London, Jan. 2. Nellie Smith, of the "Diving Belles," was married Dec. 24 to W. ;Robinson, rhe entertainer. Both are well known in the English variety world. Stoll Picture Theatre Club Opens. London, Jan. 2. Baroness Orczy opens the Stoll Pic- ture Theatre Club third subscription of one guinea to stalls, available any day except Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Leslie Stiles in "Bubbly." London, Jan. 2. Leslie Stiles has joined "Bubbly" at the Comedy, which is playing to packed houses. "Zig Zag" Will Show in Paris. London, Jan. 2. "Zig Zag" at the Hippodrome will be transferred to Paris after its pres- ent run. Business continues great.