Variety (March 1921)

VARIETY'S LONDON OFFICE 26 HANWAY ST., OXFORD ST., W. I. CABLES Friday, March 25, 1921 2C ISELESS TO OFFER AMERICAN TURNS, SAYS LONDON MANAGER Salary Demand* o? Americans Beyond Reach of British Showmen—Established Acts from United States Doing Well. London, March 23. One of the big vaudeville man- agers here has advised agents doing business with his office it is useless to offer American turns. It Is pretty well understood the manager Is not especially subscribing to the Variety Artists' Federation, which Is against English bookings for for- eign acts. However, pressure brought to bear on the fact that many English vaudeville turns are without time probably has had some influence. The real reason Is said to be the high salaries asked by American acts and the manager Is reported to have stated he would not consider American offers until there is some modification of salaries. Agents in New York who feature foreign bookings say there are more American turns now playing Eng- land than ever before. A goodly cumber of American acts are* es- tablished in England now and have been giving long term contracts, they claim. Recent advices re- ceived by them from London ex- plain big salaries cannot be paid without limit, the explanation being that outside of some London halls the scales of admission are about half that attaining here. In the provinces the average scale In the American equivalent runs from 10 to 65 cents. ENGLISH MEASURE AGAINST ANIMAL ACTS Bill Introduced to Prevent Exhibition of Animals. JAPANESE WAR VIEW BRINGS AMERICAN BID "Le Bataille" with Big Scene in Turret Scores in Paris. CUREL'S LATEST. Only Fairly Received at Des Arti Beuve'a Success. Paris, March 23. Curel's "La Comedie du Genie" was presented at the Theatre Des Arts March 18 by the Cooperative Society of French Playwrights and met with only a fair success. It Is In three acts and eight tableaux with M. Beuve and Mile. Dermoz in the leading roles. The plot deals with a playwright who imagines himself a genius only to wake up to And his natural son is more appreciated. An unexpected success was scored In the role of the playwright by the little known actor, Beuve. Curels "L'Ame en Folie" got a two months run last year when the rural press denounced it as immoral. London. March 23. A bill to prohibit the exhibition of performing animals was read for the first time in the House of Com- mons March 7 and a second time March 16 and now goes before the Standing Committee. - The bill was presented by Com- mander Kenworthy, supported by Horatio Bottomley and many other members. It aims at prohibiting animal acts in public entertain- ments and principally concerns vaudeville and circus turns. It pro- vides a penalty of £10 for each day of performance. Animals used in plays and houses giving Wild West shows are not affected. If passed it becomes a law in 12 months. GLADYS COOPER AS OLIVIA London, March 23. "The Blue Lagoon," originally presented at the Prince of Wales, and later moved to Princes, where It Is now running, closes at that house this week and moves to the Ald- wych. Viola Tree produces a new ver- sion of "The Vicar of Wakefield" at the Aldwych at matinees In April, with Gladys Cooper in Ellen Terry's part of Olivia. NEW BERGERE REVUE. "L'Amour en Folie" Replaced by Show Entitled "Folly." Paris, March 23. After a long run with "L'Amour en Folia," Dumien an'. Derval changed the show at the Folles Ber- gere on March 18. The new one, called "Folly," went over in good shape. Lemarchand is credited with authorship. The Denise Grey dancers, Mity and Tillio and Barney Meely all scored. Dorville is again the star with Germaine Charley as the lead- ing lady. NO HONEYMOON FOR TEYTE. London, March 23. Maggie Teyte, married to a wealthy London business m .n last week, is too busy acting In "The Little Dutch Girl" at the Lyric to take a honeymoon trip. She re- turned to tho theatre for a matinee immediately after the wedding ceremony. Paris, March 23. • "L* BAi^lkV (The Battle), a play In three acts by Pierre Frondaie from the novel by Claude Fajpsfa}* went over with a wallop at the An- toine March 18 and bids imme- diately came in for the American rights. The Japanese angle to the plot is thought, to have influenced this. Gemier was excellent in the role of a Japanese naval officer. Others who scored were Henriette Roggers as the Japanese wife, Mary Marquet as Miss Hockley and Jean as the English naval attache The plot shows a Japanese naval officer allowing an English one. to flirt with hi3 wife, while he steals some confidential documents^ Be- fore he can avenge himself he is killed in battle, the Englishman promising to take command of the ship. The third act scene in the turret of the battleship during an engage- ment is highly realistic. NEW PLAYWRIGHT SCORES. Clemence Dane Wins With "A Bil for Divorcement" in London. London, March 23. "A Bill for Divorcement," pro- duced at St. Martin's March 14, is a brilliant play by Clemence Dane, a new writer who has become famous in a night. The play had a remarkable reception. • The drama deals with a problem of divorce reform, that of granting freedom where one party to the marriage is affected. A wife di- vorces her husband, who has been put away. Years later he returns miraculously cured, to find her on the point of remarriage. The dialog is strong and brilliant, as Is also the playing. -REBEL MAID" ALL BRITISH. London, March 23. The "Rebel Maid," heralded as an "all-British musical comedy," Is at the Empire. Its story is ordinary, but the music and lyrics are good. Little chance Is given to the come- dians. Clar%_ Butterworth scored a personal success. LAUDER IN OCTOBER. London, March 23. Harry Lauder, who Is to wind up his season at the Palace this week, will play a week In the suburbs of London and then will retire for a summer holiday. Lauder will open In New York for his American tour In October. William Morris, under whose man- agement Lauder is appearing will return to New York In about a month. BERLIN. By C. HOOFER TRASK. Berlin, Feb. 27. The production of "Salome" (Wilde) at the Konlggratzer the- atre Is a big success. The scenery, by Svend Gada, le very superior, but the acting la positively diaboli- cal* , . Comparisons may be odious, but when one recalls the last New York revival with Walter Hamp- den and Louis Calvert, It Is hard to etomach the Jaded prostitute that Maria Orska wbuld have us believe to be Salome, the loud- mouthed revivalist that Conrad Veldt substitutes for John, the cheap Jewish nouveauriche that Ludwig Hartau makes of Herod of Judea. Shaw's- "Caesar and Cleopatra," at the Deutsches theatre, Is well set into scenery by John Heardfield and George Gross (an excellent Ameri- can caricaturist now living here), well directed by Wenthauser, and superlatively played by Elsa Eck- ersburg and Werner Kraus, prob- ably the greatest living German actor. Business big. Klelnes Schausplelhaus (Jan. IS) has had an ^exciting history. The play, a series of dialogues some- what in the* manner of "Anatol* (played In New York by John Bar- rymore and filmed by De Mille), handles with the utmost delicacy love, before consummation ajid after. As soon as It was produced Gertrude Eysoldt, well known ac- tress and director of the Klelnes Schausplelhaus, was threatened with a prison sentence If she con- tinued it. However, she kept It on and has since been vindicated by the courts. Needless to remark, the box office has had nothing to complain of. "Yu Shl Dances," Dec. 28, at the Neues Opcrettenhaus, Is a rather mediocre conglomeration of "But- terfly" and "The Mikado." The big hit of the piece was made by Kurt Vespermann, an eccentric dancer. In the cast are Lilly Flohr and Willy Strehl. "Ring Around a Rosle" (Relgen), the new Schnltzler comedy at the PARIS LENTEN SHOWS HOLDUP IN RECEIPTS Box Office Figures Following Mid-Lent Carnival. GEORGE MOORE'S PLAY. London, March 23. 'The Coming of Gabrielle," by George Moore, famous Irish novelist and controversialist, will be pro- duced during the summer by Nigel Playfair at the Lyric, Hammer- smith. HAWTREY IN MABELS ROOM. London, March 23. It Is learned that "Up in Mabels Room" will be presented at the Playhouse and not the Criterion, as previously reported. The date of production has not been given out. but Charles? Hawtrey and Isohel Elsom will have the principal roles. << ALADDIN'S" NEW RECORD London, March 23. "Aladdin" at the Hippodrome has broken all records for West End pantomime business and Is still going big. Jt *"' 15 De played by the juvenile numbers of the company for the Variety Artists'/Benevolent Fund. When a new show Is Wanted it will be Wylie Tate's revue with George Robey. DOROTHY MINTO'S SECRET. London, March 23. Dorothy Minto, leading lady In "Nightie Night" at the Queen's, was secretly married to a young East Indian merchant March 19. New London-Paris-New York. London, March 23. T,he second edition of "London* Faris-New York" at the Pavilion was a success. It was full of new acts and numbers. Violet Loraine, making her fare- well appearance before her mar- riage, had a fine reception. "Garden of Allah" Finishing. London, March L'3. The last w^eks of "The Garden of Allah" at Drury Lane arr an- nounced. The piece is now in its tenth month at that house. "ARLEQUIN ' FOR AMERICA. Parle, March 23. "Arlcquin," now running at the Apollo, has been sold for America to Dagnall by Howell and Riud. Wilson Set for "Mary." London, March 23^ William J. Wilson has arrived here to conduct rehearsals In April of J. L. Sacks' production of "Mary," the New York success. Principles and chorus" have been engaged and rehearsals started. Three Series of Playlets in London. London, March 23. The third series of Grand Gulgnol one-act plays at the Little will be presented March 28. George Bealby Is out of the com- pany by the doctor's orders. Other foreign news on pane 28 Granville Barker Lecturing. London, March 23. Granville Barker has been ap- pointed to lecture on Theatre Art at Liverpool. University. BURTON GREEN y t Presents IRENE FRANKLIN Last week the Omaha "Ree" said: "There Is only one IRENE FRANK- UN and she is at the Orpheum. She was greeted with applause when she stepped on the stage and she re- sponded to several encores. The crook of her little finger, the twinkle of an eye, the toss of her head all mean something when done by Miss Franklin." The Omaha "World-Herald" said: "If there Is any singing comedienne on tho American stage that, can compare favorably with IRENH FRANKLIN, it would be interesting to know who she is." This week: Orpheum, Des Moinea Paris, March 23. The takings at the various places of entertainment are keeping up well, the following being the re- ceipts for the evening show on March 4, last, an ordinary day of the week following the mid-Lent car- nival (in francs): Opera 22.732 Opera Comlque 17,444 Comedie Francalse 8.213 Oileon v .... 7,735 Varietes (Le Roi) 9,761 Gymnase (Alles Brlsees)... 5.176 Sarah Bernhardt 6*755 Palais Royal 11,166 Renaissance (Mon Homme) 3,385 Ambigu 3 424 Porte St. Martin 9,006 Chatelet (En 2020) 9,063 Gaite (Nelly) 8,334 Athenee (Le Retour) 7,993 Edouard VII (Comedien)... 3,255 Capucines (revue) new 7,022 Mogador (Petite Marlee)... 10,635 Vieux Colombler 3,984 Bouffes Paris (Phi-Phi) 4.713 Champs Elysees 4.127 Michel (Bluebeards Wife).. 5,312 Fcmina (Russian show) 5.806 Grand Guignol 3,914 Cluny 1,683 Dejazet 1,484 Trianon, 2,010 Music Halls: Casino de Paris (revue) 10,411 Folies Bergere (revue) 10,690 Ba-Ta-Clan (revue). ...*.. 8.085 Mayol (revue) 5,629 Eldorado 6,453 Scala (farce) 2,688 Clgale (farce) 1,474 Theatre du Vaudeville (La Ten- dresse) closed March 4, owing to Ill- ness of Yvonne de Bray. Receipts for Thursday evening. 3d, mid-Lent carnival, 18,961 francs. The new Leo Ascher operetta, "Baroness Sarah," current at the Komische Oper, is boring from a musical point of view. The libretto from the farce "In the Armchair" (Im Clubscssel) by Roessler and Hellers, is old stuff, but it gets over. Cast: Elsa Mue'.ler, Paul Heide- mann; director. Gustave Charle. The two new productions at the State Schausplelhaus. Hans Mil- ler's "The Stars" and Goethe's "Tor- quato Tasso," are successful In all respec f s. The former (Dec 7) la a good play of the old-fashioned romantic type and is notable for the work of Bassermann, Krausheck and Peter Esser. The latter (Jan. 14) has a good cast, including Muthel and Bruno Decarll, the well- known film star. "Florlan Geyer," Hauptmann'e great historical drama, suppressed under the monarchy for political reasons, has been staged at the Grosse Schausplelhaus with tre- mendous returns. It cannot be said that Karlhelntz Martin's direction does entire justice to the subtleties of the piece, but Eugen Klupfer le well enough In the title role. Thle production again shows this theatre Is really only suited for oratorical spectacular pieces or for reviews. The management is at last begin- ning to realize this. A production of an old French version of the "Passion" la due soon, and a big review Interlarded with political satires Is set for the summer. MISTINGUETT IN STARDOM. Music Hall Artist Wins Recognition in Legitimate. Paris. March 11. "Madame Sans Gene" has been successfully revived at the Porte St. Martin, where Hertz and Coquelin have given it a fitting set. The at- traction was notable in the api Fr- ance of Mmc. Mlstlnguett, the music h.ili artiste, In the impersonation of Catherine Lefebvre, the former laudress, who becomes the wife of the favorite Marechal of Napoleon. Mlstlnguett made a hit and may now be classed here as a genuine legitimate star. The role was cre- ated by Mme. Rejane at the Vaude- ville. Marie Lohr's Buy. Paris, March 23. Marie Lohr has purchased 'V>'ue- beard's Eighth Wife" for F!ngtan<f Arthur Bourehier and Albert de Courvillc are also visiting here from London. PEGGY O'NEIL SAVOY THEATRE, ~ LONDON "The Wonder Mcdeclne" (Dae Wundermittel>, a modern comedy, had its premiere at the Trianon theatre Jan. 22. This new farce, by Ludwig Fulda. is a laugh smash. The plot is a study, in a very light vein, of the weakening power of self-delusion. Two youths, a paint* cr and a chemist, finding success unobtainable by legitimate means, finally win it by hokuming the pub- lic. The chemist keeps his head. But the painter comes to believe himself a genius, thus he loaee touch with reality and is even de- feated in love. The heroine at the final curtain Is in the arms of the chemist. The play was not well re- ceived by the Berlin critics, who seem to approach a farce on the lookout for philosophy. The cast. Including Julius Falkensteln, Paul Morgan and Katie Haaek, and the direction. Dr. Oscar Kanehl, are be- yond criticism. The revival of Hoffman there 'Florlnda" (one act) and "Adven- ture and the Singer" (three acts) at the Kammersplele, Jan. 7. can- not be said to be a big success. The parts originally prayed by the late Joseph Kalnz, the greatest of Ger- man actors and one of the greatest of all time, were taken by Alexan- der Moissi. This actor is daily be- coming more and more unbearable; he plays with a mannered nasal drawl and sings his lines into forced cadences that have no connection with their sense. Of course, for- merly he was not so ludicrous a figure as at present, but surely one is Justified in saying that he was never worthy of the elaborate eulogy Arthur Hopkins has meted out to him in "How's Your Second Act?" Coming Productions. Deutsches Theatre.—"The Sing- in?? Fish," a drama by Alfred Brust; "Power" (Kraft) by August Stramm; Tagore's "King of the Dark Chamber" from the English. K a m m e r s piele.—Hasenclevera "Beyond" (Jenseits). director. Ste* phan Grossman. Rose Theatre. —"Deserters," a new farce by Walter Wasserman. Neues Volkstheatre. — "Desdemo- na," farce by Gustave Petermann; "Strife" by John Galsworthy, trans- lation by E. Wash burn -Frcund. State Schausplelhaus. — "Wun- dram's Return from tho Dead (Wundram's AuftersiehunT). by Ulrleh Btelndorff. Leasing Theatre.—'The Courage of Women" (Frauenmut), a comedy by Hermann Essig.