Variety (June 1922)

22 VARIETY riday, June 23, 1| IN LONDON (Continued from page 2) and will be of interest to his less scholarly and discerning brother managers not only in London but throughout the world. He has dis- covered that what the stage wants is lomcthing new and novel Laur- rilard is a great man He tries high Art and abandons it, for there Is nothing new or novel in it. He tries art with a smaller "a" and aban- dons that for the sam reason. Hut, now? Can it be that among the many German plays he is inter- ested in he has found his theatrical philosopher's stone—this will o' the wisp—something new and novel It may be so, but he should have kept his secret to himself. Now the truth is out, every manager in the country will be doing it. With "Tilly of Bloomsbury" closed itnd the Strand dark, the next pro- duction is already in rehearsal. It is an adaptation by Jose O. Levy of Andre Pascal's "La Caduea" and will be s*»on toward the end of the month. The principal parts will be played by Arthur Bourchier, Kyrle Bellew and Carmen Nesville. An anonymous gift of £20.000 has put the "Old Vic." right and for,the llrst time in months its friends are able to breathe freely. Viscount Astor was thought to be the donor, but he denies this, while acknowl- edging that he knows who did come to the rescue. Although the production of Niran- Jan Pal's play "The Goddess' at the Duko of York's matinee might not be looked upon as a great success from the Occidental point of view, there was a good deal of interest attached to the production outside the play itself. The company was nn amateur all-Indian one recruited from the examination room, the business desk and the banking house. All the members of the company risked loss of social stand- ing by appearing publicly on the Btage. More particularly have the ladies of the company sacrificed themselves. They have already had to feel the displeasure of their com- patriots. This production marks an epoch in the feminine question, as it is the first time in history that Indian ladies have appeared pub- licly in a theatrical representation. The only white man connected with the performance was Guy F. Brag* don, the producer, who was former- ly general stage director for Wag- enhals & Kemper and Selwyn «Sc Co. settled. If the theatre does, the West Knd will be more like London to the retumng wanderer, especially as C. B. Cochran is about to run variety at the Pavilion. Horatio Pottomley, philanthro- pist, race horse owner, editor of several newapapere, and now a con- vict awaiting appeal against a sentence of seven years' penal servitude for fraud, was also at times interested in theatrical en- terprise. Barely was "Charlie's Aunt" revived without him having a finger in the pie. He backed Peggy Primrose at a West Knd theatre in a play which was a dire frost, and ho was greatly interested in a "hidden hand" German spy drama which ran at the Strand. This was afterward filmed. It was awful rubbish, but re. aarkable f<»r the fact that a very robust large- sized "principal boy" in pantomime appeared as St. George of England on Dover Cliffs. She faded into an army chaplain, and in that capacity was a great joy to "Tommy Atkins," who had never seen, much less ap- proached, a padre of such alluring proportions. Incidentally, it has just been made public that the pub- lishers of "John Pull" paid him the tidy little sum of £25,000 to get out of the editoriul chair. Belasco's "Timothy/' at the Shafts- bury, but who has confined himself to the provinces, will shortly under- take an American tour at a straight salary of £350 a week. He will have no interest in the percentage on the takings. The new "listening in" craze has struck London. 'The dally papers are devoting much space to instruc- tion in the art and the different stores are stocking apparatus, giv- ing demonstrations and instruction. The Gulliver circuit is the first the- atrical concern to fall. Charles Gulliver has installed the apparatus at the Palladium for the amuse- ment of people waiting to book seats and if fhe innovation proves successful It will be carried to his other houses. Unable to get his terms at the legitimate houses in Brighton. Wil- liam Morris will put Harry Lauder on at a kinema during Carnival Week. The house chosen is a huge one with a seating capacity of 3,500 and standing room for another 1,000. Morris'will take a certainty of £2,000, and also work on a per- centage basis, doing two shews nightly. Lauder is the only act he will provide, the management of the kinema supplying the big feature picture and the usual concert turns. Lottie Venne, England's premier legitimate comedienne, was 70 years of age May 28. During her stage career she has created over 1,000 parte and invented a type of com- edy playing which has led to some parte being described as "Lottie Venne parts." Basil Dean, of Beandean. Is busy adapting a novel "Sat n" by H. <h? Vere Starpoole, the author of "The Blue Lagoon." Nothing about pro- duction ha* yet been tattled, but this play may follow John Ga's- worthy's "Loyalties" at the St. Martins. and the rest of the bill le excep- tionally strong in magicians and sorcerers even for the "Egyptian Hall." "His airl,* which was produced at the Gaiety April 1, finishes June 10. The company running* at the Kingsway, which is known as "Ben- rimo and Associates," consists" of J. J. Benrimo, the producer; Seton P.lackden, translator and actor; Malcolm Morley, the manager, and R. Chie. When Sir Gerald du Maurier pro- duces "If Winter Comes" in Lon- don he will himself create the part of Martin Sabre. Barely haa any theatrical event had so much solid booming as the adaptation of this "best seller," first as a book, then as a picture. Half the necessity boosting the du Maurier production will be taken out of the publicity people's hands. When C. B. Cochran starts his vaudeville season at the Pavilion the bill will be headed by the Dun- can Sisters, who are following the example of Charlie Chaplin and H. M. the King of Spain by staying at the Bitz and are proud of it; the Sylvester Trio, Charlie Poley, a Continental act, and General Ed Lavine. The return of the London Pavilion to variety will be wel- comed by thousands of the public, most of whom are fed up with os- tentatious and spectacular revue, but times have changed very much for the worse since the days when for nine-pence you could have a comfortable seat and see a program the likes of which would make a modern manager scream about ex- pense, althougl 20 years ago they were put on week after week with- out any special publicity just as a matter of course. employs many out-of-work actors as "supers." The heat wave continues and withdrawals become daily mora numerous as the summer moves forward. "Other People's Worries'* at the Kingsway is more fortunate than most pieces these days. Marked to finish May 27, it has been reprieved and will now run on indefinitely.- "Indefinitely" is an elastic term when applied to things theatrical here and the comedy's life may after all only last until J. H. Benrimo's plans for his new production at the Great Que\n Street house are in full working order. Owing to the success of May Wlrth and her company at the Coll. seum, Sir Oswald Stoll has ar- ranged for them to return to the big house before returning to America. The return visit proba- bly will be for a fortnight, follow- ing their provincial time. Bichard Percy Burton has re- ceived a tempting offer to act in an advisory Capacity to the British World Trade Tour which is starting shortly. This organization is an industrial boom on a huge scafe and will cover the world or the greater part of it. Should he accept he will probably be back again in time for the amusement boom which every- body hopes will follow the present slump. Ethel M. Dell, writer of present day "best sellers." the dramatiza- tion of one of whose novels, "The Knave of Diamonds," was exceed- ingly successful both in London and the provinces and whose "The Way of an Eagle" is now being rehearsed for the Adelphi, was married June 6 to Colonel Gerald Savage, Army Service Corps. The whole affair was brought off with a duj regard to the authoress' own particular blend of romance. Great secrecy was observed, not even the verger knowing of the wedding. The happy pair were spirited to and from the church in stranse motor cars. The bride's age was given in the regis- ter as "2i and upward." A book containing a great num- ber of signatures of French drama- tists is to be presented to Dame Genevieve Ward on June U by the French Society of Authors. Dame Genevieve has been confined to her bed since she reached the age of 85 last March, bu! in 1021 she played in the "Old Vic." production of-"Bichard III." A new style of revue was pre- sented at the Flnsbury Park Em- pire week of June 5 by Paul Mur- ray, George and Harry Foster. The book is by Lauri Wylie, and was staged by Jack Haskell. The new idea consists in Messrs. Foster and Murray taking over the vaudeville acts booked in the vari- ous houses of Moss Empires and other circuits, and incorporating them In their revue. The idea is so simple it is a wonder no one thought of it before. The "plot" of the revue consists in playing the scenes on shlfboard of an ocean liner. One of the char- acters says: 'We have on board an amazing array of talent," and then mentions the names of the acts He goes on to say: "I sug- gest we do our little bits between the professional entertainment." The members of the Bevue com- pany are. of course, the passengers aboard the liner, and are seated on stools with their backs to the audi- ence gazing upon the platform up- stage upon which the iirs| specialty artist makes his appearance. At this juncture there is a "blot out" and the aforesaid artist appears in "one," or* as we say in England, "front cloth." Between the regular acts the members of the revue do their specialties and 'he revue girls appear in ensemble numbers. When the last act finishes its turn the lights fade once more and the artist is discovered on the platform upstage bowing as if he bad just finished his performance for the steamship passengers. The "pas- sengers" then arise and go through the finale of the show. It will readily be seen that this lends itself to the incorporation of the acts that are booked, and per- mits the house to advertise not only the revue, but to add thereto the names of the well-known acts, giv- ing the impression to the public they are part and parcel of the show. Margaret Bannerman, whose name was originally mentioned for the part of the distressed princess in the Drury Lane production of "De- cameron Nights," will take up the part now in place of Wiletta Ker- shaw, who created it in London. Miss Bannerman is rapidly working up a reputation for versatility. From "Welcome Stranger" she went to the revue, "Pot Luck," at the Vaudeville, her part in which popu- lar show will now be taken by the vaudeville favorite Maidie Scott, who graduated to the leading "halls" via melodrama in the small provincial theatres. Alan Brooks with his playlet "Dollars and Sense." which created a big success at the Coliseum and Alhambra, a success which was re- peated In Glasgow, was on the verge of suffering the fate of many big American acts which arrive this side practically on "spec." You play the big houses, then your money is too big and you either take very much smaller terms or study the sailings back home. Brooks was for this, especially as the recent managerial conferences In various quarters have made music hall magnates piously care- ful of the shareholders' money. However, he stuck out for his terms and made arrangements to cross over to Paris. At the eleventh hour he won, received contracts for the Stoll houses and other important dates, and reopens June 5 at Brigh- ton, reappearing in London at the Victoria Palace the following week. Daphne Pollard and her husband, E. K. Bunch, are back from Amer- ica. For a time at least the Aus- tralian comedienne will not be working, but she will probably be seen In the West End in the autumn. Augustus Yorke, one of the orlg lnal "Potash and Perlmutter" couple, is the big addition to the current bill at the Coliseum. De- spite heat and resulting scanty audiences his new American sketch "Abe the Hero" was a big success. Will Fyffe is doing one of his by- weekly trips across the road from the Alhambra, but this will proba- bly be his last appearance in the West End for some time as next week he proceeds into the provinces. Fyffe's success has been phenom- enal and he deserves it. Buth St. Denis and Ted Shawn are still at the "top of the bill" and this week present an entirely new series of dances. Others in the program are Maidie Scott, her last vaudeville appearance before going Into "Pot Luck" at the Vaudeville; George Mozart, one of our most popular comedians, in a series of short sketches entitled "Short Stories"; Page's Animated Dolls, Peggy and Lena Chisholm, with violin and pianiste; Misquette and Maxley, Wyn and Ivy, and the Fox film "Vesuvius Conquered." Grace Hawthorne died in London aged 60. For a good many years she was a notable touring man- ageress with frequent attempts to wrench fortune out of London. She was connected with the original production of "The Boyal Divorce" and also with "Theodora." For this latter play she traveled lions but the production was not always financially successful. She claimed to have something to do with the authorship of "The Boyal Divorce" and returned to this country from America some three years ago in the hope of establishing certain rights in it. Her action, however, failed. In the Westminster County Court, Doris Thomas, late leading lad$* in the E. Lewis Waller. Ltd., touring production of the Cochran revue, "Afgar," sued the management for wrongful dismissal. The defence alleged her performance was vulgar and her dressing of the part as well as some of her actions bor- dered on the improper. After hear- ing much evidence, the judge de- cided in favor of the actress and awarded her £190 damages. In giving judgment His Lordship said he did not believe she had been guilty of indecent acts. There was gross exaggeration on the part of defendants and he considered plain- tiff had fully preserved her reputa- tion as a good actress. Previously he had said that under the direc- tion of the stage manager she had to pose her body in an attitude which, to the eyes of some, might seem to go very near the border- line which separated indecency from decency. Nothing has yet been decided as to the future of the Empire. Vari- ous schemes have been put forward and one at least, a plan to make It a center for pugilistic displays, has collapsed .altogether. The production of "The Musie Box' at the Paiges is postponed until December Instead of follow- ing the "Co-Optimists" who are about to produc • a fourth edition before they finish their loner season. Instead of the Irving Berlin show, the Dollies will be starred In h "re- vuette." C. B. Cochran has Captain Aaron- sohn as a partner In his presenta- tion of "Chuckles of li)22" at the New Oxford. Lydia Lopokova. Leonlde Massine, Lydia Sokolova, and Leon Wojoi- kowski, the Russian dancers who replace Buth St. Denis and Ted Shawn at the London Coliseum Will present a pTOgro.n of new dances when they open at the Coliseum The program consists of Rossini's "Tarantella," Oounod*! "Variation." Manuel de F ilia's "Farucca." "Danse PolOVtSiennas," Johan Straus's "Peking-Foo" and Ros- sini's "Can-i'an." This program, with the exception of "Peking-Foo" and "Farucra," is entirely new to London. Some years/ago T. Elder Hearn tried hard to sell sovereigns at a penny each on London Bridge and the passers-by would have none of him. Later he tried to sell a £5 note for the same sum in Trafalgar Square, but the pul lie knew too much and would not take any chances. Sir Alfred Butt's attempt to give the Londoner something for nothing by letting them see "Lass o' Laughter" at the Queens for the asking, providing they paid if they liked the show, has had the like success. Many came, few paid. The (mter prising philanthropist among showmen is now open to consider offers for the Shaftesbury avenue bouse. As already stated, "The Curate's Egg" has convinced Nelson Keys that intimate revue is more or less dead. It is spectacle or nothing. Therefore he is quitting this type of entertainment and is looking for a really good play. His tenancy of the Ambassadors does not expire until September and as things are there appears every possibility of the theatre being closed until then. - June 20 has been chosen for the production of the Ethel M. Deil dramatization "The Way of an Eagle." Jessie Winter will share the histrionic work with Godfrey Tearle and Marjorie Gordon. Hugh J. Ward, of Australia, Is here. His London representative is Bobert Courtneidge. Among the shows already secured are "Tons of Money," "Gabrielle'' (a Courtneidge show as yet unproduced), "Bulldog Drummond," "The Wheel," "The Faithful Heart'' and "Safety First." The Syncopated Orchestra gave a private performance June 2 of its proposed season's program, and was enthusiastically received, every number being encored. Since the loss of so many of their number the Syncopated Orchestra has taken on several Europeans, and only half their number are negroes at the present time. Couturier, a French artist, deserves special mention. He gave an excellent solo on the saxo- phone. The performance was smart throughout, and it has every pros- pect of a successful season. Sybil Thorndyke's next West End appearance will be in an English version of a play by Herl Bataille. Negotiations for a suitable theatre are in progress. In an attempt to get away from the vexed question of queues, sev- eral West End houses are now booking for the pit two hours be- fore the doors actually open. The up-to-date establishments are the Queens, the Haymarket, Prince of Wales', Daly's, the Hippodrome, Kingsway and Winter Garden. Nothing definite has yet been set* tied to follow "Cairo" at His Ma- jesty's. In some quarters it was thought Somerset Maughan's Chi- nese play "East of Suez," would do so, but this will not be produced until the autumn. A revival of "Chu Chin Chow" has also been suggested, but nothing has been sattled and Oscar Asche's an- nounced intention of a long sea voyage and a holiday will, if he sticks to his present plans, ef- fectually negative any hope of re- viving the "longest runner." There is a persistent rumor that the Empire is about to return to vaudeville, but nothing dellnite is At the moment the following West Knd houses are closed: Adelphi. Aldwych, Strand. Ambas- sadors. Duke <>f York's Empire, His Majesty's, Lyceum, New Oxford and Brin.es. Two or three of these will reopen very soon. Louis N. Parker, who is better known as a pageant master than as a playwright these days, which is entirely his own fault, is to pro- duce Gluck's "Orpheus" in the grounds of Warwick Castle. The whole production will be, so to speak, made on the spot, including properties and costumes. The com- pany will be a large one. princi- pally local amateurs, and the pro- duction will take place July ID and run for four days. Zoe Aiklns, the American drama- tist, has returned from Paris and has taken an apartment at the ex- clusive Albany. She Is in London on business in connection with the English rights of one or two of her plays. "The Bat" registers 150 perform- ances at the St. James June 3. Business is keeping up wonderfully well, but the light evenings and weather generally have caused some falling off in the pit and gal- lery. Sir James Barrie has handed a halo to our stage doorkeepers. Speaking at a recent dinner of the Critics' Circle at which he was the guest of honor he confessed that once or twice he had tried to dodge past stage doors only to be brought back. It was a tradition, he said. that no real stage doorkeeper had ever been known to recognize any- body. He required proofs of identi- fication ranging from finger prints to birth certificates. The old stage doorkeepers agreed that the days of stage-struck young men with notes and bouquets were over. To- day the custodians of the behind stage privacy were mostly up against cranks and limelight lovers of both sexes and all ages. Carmen Nesville, ■ French ac- tress, who has been playing in films for some time with Nazimova, has Signed a contract with the Strand management and will appear there during the autumn as the principal support of Arthur !*ouseh:er. Leon M. Lion has acquired a new Robespierre play by the critic Geo K Morrison and will himself play the title role. Cyril Maude, who has not been seen in London since the fiasco with Masketyne & Cooks at St. George's Hall are staging a big program for the holidays. Foremost in the "bill" is Clive Maskelyne, who will give instruction in the art of taking fairy photographs, children being advised to bring quarter plate cameras and extra rapid plates with thorn. Griff returns with his bubble blowing, Despite the heat. "Decameron Nights" continues to do business at Drury Lane. The average takings are running somewhere in the neighborhood - o*f £5,000 a week. The matinee In the middle of last week took £400 and the evening show on the same date took over £900. The Birthday Honors list Is devoid of theatrical names although liter- ature Is well represented. The only name connected with the entertain- ment world is that of Dan Godfrey, the bandmaster, who receives a knighthood. His father was one of the most famous bandmasters the army ever had and one of the first to receive commissioned rank. The new Bairnsfather show will see its West End production at the Lyceum in from six weeks to two months' time. "Old Bill, M. P..' will be interpolated by the origina players on Its London premiere, at any rate as far as the principal? are concerned, and another com- pany is being formed to absorb thr provincial dates. This show b something of a godsend to the busi ness Just now, as Seymour Hick. Charity benefits at the Hippo- drome are usually notable events, but the one being organized for June 26 on behalf of the London hospitals promises to make those that have gone before small affairs in comparison. It Is said Sir J. If. Barrie is think- ing seriously of writing a light opera. If he does so this will be the second time he has strayed from his usual literary paths. In 1893 he wrote one ! n collaboration with Sir. Arthur Conan Doyle. It was called Jane