Variety (May 1918)

CABLES n London, May 10. There is no jealousy now of Ameri- can managers, authors, actors or actresses. They arc all more than welcome, and the cry is for more. American artists like London and are givrn a reception hearty enough to make them feel thoroughly at home. The American colony in thcatreland can supply a complete first night of its own. The Americans are quite con- tent to take us as we are; to take the war risks with us; to conform with our early-to-bed regulations, and fall in with the many strange regulations for the distribution of food and limita- tions of traveling There is quite a big group of Ameri- can actresses settled in London whom the public look upon as part of our own stage family, including Ida Adams, Ttddie Gerard, Doris Keane, Renee Kelly, Shirley Kellogg, Ethel Levey, Helen Raymond and Lee White. They are regarded as much our own people as if they had been born and bred here. With regard to the five American productions withdrawn this month, "The Yellow Ticket" registered 234 performances; "Inside the Lines," 421; "The Little Brother," 55; "The 13th Chair," 246, and "Romance," 1,049. This total result leaves their New York scores a long way behind. Chas. R. Cochran imagines he has discovered another "OjTenbach," aged twenty-five, who has written a new three-act light opera entitled "Maggie," during his recent visit to Paris. Charles has secured the English and American rights. "A Little Hit of Fluff" will shortly take third place among the longest running plays in London. At present "Charley's Aunt" holds the record, fol- lowed by "Our Hoys," with "The Pri- vate Secretary" third. The theatrical garden party will be held this year at the Botanical Gar- dens on Tuesday, June 25. Sir Sidney Low is the author of the story of the life of Lloyd George, from which a big film is being made. The scenario, upon which the scenes are based, has been written by Dr. W. Courtney Rowden who has given three months to perfecting it. The film will create great interest and it is well to know the parts undertaken by the dis- tinguished authors. The Carl Rosa Opera Company have arranged to produce a new English opera "Dante and Beatrice." composed by Stephen Philpot. Miss Mclvina Longfellow is appear- ing shortly in a new film having for its subject the life of Nelson. She is taking the part of Lady Hamilton and will endeavor to give a true historic portrayal of the character. "The Hidden Hand," by Laurence Couen will be produced by Ernest Rolls at the Court, Liverpool, on May °th and go to Manchester and Brighton beforr being seen in London. "Hie Luck of the Navy," by Mrs. Clifford Mills and Reginald Owen, will follow "(imeral Post" at the Queens, when a change is necessary. This will be >t«'u;e'* Inst acknowledgment dur- ing the war to the senior service. The scene is laid in a coast town well pro- vided with the usual spy. A new government department in connection with the Ministry of Infor- mation has been instituted, described as the Theatrical Propaganda Depart- ment. Mr. Ben Tillett, M. P., is direc- tor and he has the assistance of a staff possessing an intimate knowledge of music hall and theatrical work. Ben Tillett is conversant with variety and theatrical matters as in his early days he was connected with music hall busi- ness and not long ago appeared as a turn lecturing on his visit to the trenches. His long associate with trade union organization and propa- ganda work in connection with same should prove invaluable in his new sphere. HERTZ' NEW SHOWS Paris, May 29. Hertz and Coquelin, managers of the Porte St.-Martin and Ambigu, have reopened these houses, reviving the old and well-worn favorite, "Iron Master," at the latter, and the patri- otic comedy, "La Flambee," at the more fashionable of their theatres. At the Antoine, also reopened, "Mr. Bourdin, Profiteur," will reappear. AMERICAN PLAYS FOR LONDON. London, May 29. Charles Warren is arranging to pre- sent "Just a Woman," "Under Fire," "Rolling Stones" and other. American plays here. "HER SOLDIER BOY." London, May 29. Owing to the success of Fred Kit- chen's "Hotch Potch," which was put in as a stop gap at the Duke of York's, Albert deCourville's production of "Her Soldier Boy," with Fred Duprez in the Clifton Crawford role, is com- pelled to open on tour. It will have its premiere at the Princess, Manches- ter, June 10. Others in the company are Law- rence Lennard, Winifred Barnes, Maisse Gay. GWEN LEWIS Hilled :is "Tin* Knglish C.irl," (iwrn Ix>wls, who nccntly returned from Nnidon, via Austrnli:i, is now Just t'ompletiiiK a successful tour of the ()ri»heurn Circuit. Miss l,e\vis, who will shortly arrive in New York, presents a distinctly different piano itnd souk ouVrinK- Following hrr S:in Fran- cisco mid Los Angeles enticements, where she wns a decided hit. Miss I>'wls is this week pla\inj4 in Siilt Lake City with Denver next week (June 2). At present she is hooking direct and can be reached c»re of the United Booking Offices, J'alacc Thoutrc Building, New York. "GOING UP" HIT. London, May 29. Alfred Butt and J. L. Sacks' produc- tion of "Going Up," which has its pre- liminary try-out at Manchester, was produced at the Gaiety May 22 and scored a great success. Louis Hirsch's music is especially tuneful. Joe Coyne scored in triumph in the role of Rob- ert Street. Evelyn Large, Ruby Miller, Marjoric Gordon, Austin Melford and Henry DeBray are excellent. BUSINESS POOR. Paris, May 29. Business is poor, but all the theatres are still open despite the resumption of the Boche drive. OPERETTA AT EMPIRE. Paris, May 29. Vaudeville has now ceased at the Empire, and Manager M. Combes is presenting a season of old operettas, which always prove a draw. COMPANY STRONG, PLAY POOR. London, May 29. Marie Lohr's production of Robert Hichens* three-act "absurdity," "Press the Button," had its premiere at the Globe May 23. The company was directed by Charles Hawtrey. Miss Lohr appears as Lady Anthony, wife of Lord An- thony (F. Kinsey Peile). Allan Aynes- worth has the role of a humble butler. Others are Arthur Helmore, E. M. Rob- sun, Stanley Cooke, Pennington Gush, Lottie Venne, Vane Featherston, Polly Emery. The piece is rightly described as an "absurdity." It i«* a strong company absolutely wasted. HAVING LONG RUNS. London, May 29. "By Pigeon Post" at the Garrick has passed its 100th performance and "Nothing But the Truth" at the Sa- voy has gone beyond its 150th. "Petit Sac" Revived. Paris, May 29. The Theatre of Varieties reopened May 25, reviving indifferently "Petit Sac," with Galipaux as the juvenile lead. It was poorly received by com- parison with the hit it scored prior to the war at the Comedie Royale, a small theatre. "Sheaf of Blue-bell*" Produced. London, May 29. Edward Lytton, who produced Bar- oness Orczy's drama. "The Legion of Honor" has adapted for stage purposes her book "The Sheaf of Blue-bells," the scene of which is laid in Normandy and deals with the Royalist plot to de- pose Napoleon. Light Opera* at King*. London, May 29. The D'Oyly Carte Opera Co. com- menced a three weeks' engagement of repertory at the King's Hammersmith, with Gilbert and Sullivan operas. New Play at Kennington. London, May 29. The Kennington theatre opened its repertoire season successfully with Charles Abbot's new, "A Just Impedi- , ment." Ma*kelyne'* Wife Die*. London. May 29. The wife of Nevil Maskelyne, the prestidigitateur, lessee of St. George's Hall, has died. Howard Coveney Dead. London, May 29. Howard Coveney, an actor, and member of a well known theatrical family is dead. Phyllis Dare at Coliseum. London, May 29. At the Coliseum Phyllis Dare, re- appeared, singing "Somewhere in France With You." IN PARIS Paris, May 12. All the legitimate houses have again reopened, for at least during the month. A new revue (at least an- nounced as such) by Rip is due shortly at the Mitchel, with Prince (the picture actor) and Andre Luguet, Mile. Nina Myral and Rysor. At the Scale, Louis Forest's farce "Amour et Cie." has been revived; at the Gymnase "La Petite Reine" (French version of Quinney's) is in for another short run, with the creators, Signoret and Victor Boucher, Gaby Morlay now holds the female lead. Likewise the cabarets are cater- ing for patronage as of yore. How- ever business is not good, though de- clared to be satisfactory considering circumstances. The Casino de Paris leads with music hall receipts (playing revue). Picture houses, all open as usual, are doing well in spite of a crisis in the production of reels. Some musical critics may consider Gounod trivial, but his works still please the paying public. The 1,500th performance of his "Faust" at the Paris Opera was recorded last week. The French Academie Nationale de Mu- sique is not in its best form, and the old French works not worthily pre- sented at the present time. There has been such reorganization at this house that the best element has disappeared. As an effect of present events on receipts the statistics obtained of the principal music halls in Paris are not without interest. The Folies Bergere with revue during the first three months of 1918 reached 442,522 francs, falling to 33,234 frs. for the first fort- night of April. At tfce Olympia tinder the same management, with vaudeville, the takings for the same quarter were 450,062 frs., only dropping to 72,016 for the period April 1 to 16. The Casino de Paris took with revue for the months of January, February and March the respectable sum of 948.170 frs., which fell to 86,507 for the first nineteen days of April, and remains on the same lines. The Concert Mayol took 266,170 from Jan. 1 to March 31, with only 18,503 for the first fortnight of April. The Ba-Ta-Clan reached 163,248 frs. during the first three months of the year, and with the de- cline in April Madame Rasimi closed down within a few days. The receipts at the Cigale dropped off by half in April, reaching only 19,906 for the first fortnight; still lower at the Gaite Rochechouart (same temporary man- agement of the Volterra brothers), being 15,732 from April 1 to 14. As an example in the legitimate, with big show, the receipts of the Chatelet in Tanuary were 316,505 frs., in February 250,563 frs., and in March 146,383. Pic- tures at the Gaumont Palace (Hippo- drome) were steady, bringing 157,402 frs. in January, 132,572 frs. in Febru- ary and 183.948 in March. Business during the latter part of April was steady, with a marked improvement early in May. The summer season, in the theatrical world, will commence earlier this year than hitherto. Energetic endeavors are being made to form on a solid basis the new Union des Artistes Dramatiques, at the head of which Felix Hugucnet figures. The performers (unlike the musicians and stage hands) are in a very disorgan- ized condition in France, and much work must be accomplished, both with the legitimate and the vaudeville peo- ple, before they will create a strong syndicate to be of any utility for the protection of their interests. Petty squabbles and even jealousy prevent the theatrical fraternity properly unit- ing in France. Huguenct at the head of the new Union is a good sign for the future, but he is not sufficiently supported by the other actors who may be considered stars.