Variety (May 1923)

r*. VARIETY ( i > Thursday, May 17, 1( <« i ■ IN LONDON s London. May I. The Doyly Carte opera company here has received news of the death of W. C. Workman, one of the most famous of the stars of Gilbert and Sullivan opera at the Savoy. He had played the leading parts In , .these operas for 20 years. He died on board ship and was buried at sea . off Hongkong. At the time he was touring the Far East with the J. C. Williamson company and fell ill on the way back to Australia. Mrs. .Workman, who was also a member of the company, died at Calcutta gome few months ago. "The Broken Wing,' with Thurs- ton Hall in his original part, al- though a success In London, has proved a distinct failure in the provinces. The backer of the pro- vincial tour is said to be tired of his bargain, having already lost more than £4,000. Frank Bradsell, one of the best known musical directors in the country, has just died In Leeds, aged 61. For twenty-one years he was the musical director of 'the Islington, Grand, now the Empire. . vlved by J. B. Vedrenne at the Apollo, May 24. Godfrey Tearle will be the leading man and J. Hilda Trevelyan will play the part she created at the Duke of York's In 1908. Lady Tree and Henry Vibart will also play their original parte Holman Clarke will produce. This brings Godfrey Tearle to the theatre at which it has been understood for some time he would begin his career as an actor-manager. Phlllis Neilsoh Terry will finish her run of "A Roof and Four Walls" at the Apollo, May 12. Ptte will go on tour In August ^and is not ex- pected back in the West End for at least two years. During her tour she will produce "Stigmata," which has been adapted from Eva Unsell's story by Beulah Dix and Marie Sutherland. m Monte Carlo, Is aotlng In the same' capacity at th e Graft on. Offloor Vokes and Don are once more on the Moss tour. They were one of the big cards la last year's fight against the performing animals prohibition bill, and Don Is probably the only performing animal to invade the sacred precincts of the House of Commons. i i Stanley Luplno, Odette Myrtle?* Madge Compton and Marjorle Brooks are among the principals engaged for the C. B. Cochran revue at the Pavilion, "Dover Street to Dixie." Professional matinees are to be given of "Anna Christie" at the Strand, "Partners Again" at the Garrick, and "So This Is London!" at the Prince of Wales'. ««i EMPEROR JOKES" IV JUNK Paris, May 1«. Gemler has postponed producing George Middleton's and Guy Bol- ton's comedy, The Light of the Worlds at the Odeon during the present season, but will present "Emperor Jones" during June. The remainder of the summer will be de- voted lo revivals of light comedies. At Westminster, Max Darewskl appeared as a judgment debtor in respect of theatre tickets supplied •by a firm of agents. An offer of a pound a month was made. A witness stated Darewskl occupied a suite of rooms, *had a motor car and earned £100 a week. In the end Judge Tobin made a committal or- der for 42 days for payment forth- with, but suspended it for 'seven days, so as to give the debtor "a chance to turn round." Sir Alfred Butt produced "Stop Flirting" at the Court, Liverpool, April 30. Judging from local re- ports the piece seems to have regis- tered a success, the outstanding feature of the show being Adele and Fred Astaire, two American dancers, who, It is said, will beconfe the rage of London. "Stop Flirting" will in all probability be seen in the West End toward the end of the month. Nobody thought a revue would be a success at the Court, a rather in- significant theatre hidden in Chel- sea; therefore nobody, is surprised that Andre Chariot has abandoned his plans for a series of revues there and Is prepared, to sell the rest of his tenancy. Gilbert Miller's plans for London Include the production of the pfay by the critic, William Archer, "The Green Goddess," In September, with George Arlisain his original part; Salisbury Field's play, "Zander the Great," and "Kiki." The latter will have an English leading lady and an all-British cast. The authorities of provincial cities, backed up by the theatrical and lay press, are starting a cru- sade against the bare-legged vogue, which they say is not art but false managerial economy, and degrading to the girls. Sunderland has taken the lead and henceforth managers will have to clofhe their chorus women or risk being summarily closed down. Beet Coote will produce his revue "Here We Alt!" at Brightpn. .The show has the usual platoon of authors, composers, scenic and lighting experts. * It Is produced by Herbert Mason, music by Anthony Roper, lyrics by James Heard. Sketches, etc.. by Ronald Jeans, Vernon W°°d hou « e ' Daisy Fisher and John Hastings Turner, special scenes by Harry Grattan, costumes and scenery designed by Dorothy Mullock, lighting effects by Captain Aibah Roberts, dances and en- sembles by Max Rivers. / "The Co-optlmlsts" are probably very 'good business people. They have built up for themselves an ex- cellent reputation in England, but the chances they would duplicate their.success in America are rela- tively" small, for the reason It Is just the kind of entertainment folks are not fond of across the pond. So when they were approached by an American management recently who thought It might be a good, stunt to take them over and place them on a small roof garden or similar unimportant edifice, they expressed a desire to go at a salary of $8,000 a week and fares. That ended the negotatlons, but that was quite all right for the reason they couldn't go over until very late next season, under any circumstances, as they' are booked for a tour of principal cities in England, and are once more' taking a tenancy of the Prince of Wales in October. The Indian play, "The Goddess," produced some months ago at ths Duke of York's, will be revived at the Winter Gardens, Manchester, for a short run. The original Indian cast will be strengthened by Frank Cochrane and Hubert Carter. The Winter Gardens was formerly known as the Tivoli music hall and was one of the most popular variety houses in the provinces. Disheartened by the failure of "Love in Pawn;*' Roy Horninman's new play at the Kingsway, Lewis Sloden, the American who produced it, has given up the fight and re- turned home. At first it was under- stood the play would be immediately withdrawn, but their late manager having presented them with his lease of the theatre the company are continuing on commonwealth lines. DRURY DRAMATIZED i London, May if. "Ned Kean of Old Drury," a sentimental drama founded on the history of Drury Lane theatre, opened there May 9. Henry Saints- bury" as Kean scored a hit and the play was received with unusual en- thusiasm. GORKI'S SCENARIO Paris. May 16. Maxim Gorki has written a sce- nario for the Stenko Raxin Film Co.. dealing with a Russian hero of the seventeenth century, being pro- duced In Sweden Svith an inter- national cast. George Foster is still engaged In enlarging ^is theatrical * activities. He has just acquired the provincial rights of "Phi-Phi," the revue pro- duced by Charles Cochran at the Pavilion last year. Another of his touring shows Is "The League of Notions," and he was concerned with the recent production of "Polly" at the Chelsea, Ths latter was not a success and is now the subject of litigatipn. "June" (who is really Miss Tripp Edgar), ths Fords Sisters. AnfTa Elson and Roy Royston will be In the cast of C. B. Cochran's produc- tion of 'Tattle Nellie Kelly" at the New Oxford. BALIEFF AT FEMINA Paris. May 1C. Balieff's Chauve-Souris Russian company, wtrieh recently arrived from New York, reopens May 24 at the Femina for one month, return- ing to America in August. The Vilna troupe of the Jewish Art Theatre will return to London for a second season in September with a new repertory and several new leading people. They are at present In Germany. Beatrice Lillle, the star of the "Nine o'Clock Revue," at the Little, has joined the Queen's Roof cabaret. Seymour Hicks and Ian Hay are writing the' melodrama for the autumn season at Drury Lane. A broadcasting entertainment will be given at the Globe prior to the curtain-raiser. This is interesting, as it directly follows the decision of the West End Managers' Associa- tion to refuse the broadcasting of their shows. , There are a number of stories going around anent the closing of "Angelo," at Drury Lane, and one places considerable of the blame to the adaptation of the German piece by Louis N. Parker. The veteran novelist, however, is not altogether to blame. It is understood he strong- ly advised against the piece and-pro- tested against being called Upon to make the adaptation, but the man- agement, according to the tale, was obdurate. It seems Parker is under an annual retainer to Drury Lane, subject to the call of the manage- ment, to make such adaptations as they see fit, hence the "Angelo"* ^fiasco. "Carte Blanche," which has been running at the Court for the last two months, should have been transferred Immediately to the Am- bassadors, but C. B. Cochran's en- gagement of Odette Myrtle for "Dover Street to Dixie" at the Lon- don Pavilion led to the abandon- ment of the plan at the last moment, not to mention the fact that an ar- rangement could not be effected for Ethel Levey to join the organiza- tion. THEATRE POSSIBILITY Paris, May It. Certain members of the Municipal Council have suggested the Theatre Sarah Bernhardt become a lyrical playhouse somewhat on the basis of a branch of the Opera Comique DEATHS ABROAD Paris, May 11. P. Demets, Paris music pub'lsher. Raphael Lewisohn, painter (French}, in Paris, brother of Adolph Lewisohn, of New YOrk. DOLLYS UT REVUE Paris, May 16. The Dolly Sisters are rehearsing with the new revue for the Am- bassadeurs entitled "Paris Sans Voiles," opening May 25. BEDINI DOUBLES London, May 16. Jean Bedinl, appearing in "You'd Be Surprised" at the Alhambra, is playing two roles. The piece con- tinues to do business, with three performances daily. J. H. Benrimo and Archibald Net tleford are the heads of the syndi- cate which hopes to build a palatial .theatre on the site of Devonshire House in Piccadilly. The price they will have to pay for the land js somewhere about £450,000. The scheme allows for the erection of two houses, and Frank Curzon's name is mentioned as the lessee of the second one. The Adelphl has two new musical plays in hand for the autumn, but which will be produced is undecided. .Whichever is produced will have W. H. Berry as the star. The pieces are ."London's Sweetheart," book and lyrics by Sax Rohmer and Clif- ford Seyler, the music by Herman Finck and Jan van Dee, and "Sweet- heart of the Ring" by Seymour Hicks, with music by Fraser Sim- son. Sax Rohmer, a writer of "thrillers," is following Max Pem- berton, the author of innumerable sensational boys' stories, as a writer for the lighter stage. Allan Shaw, an American coin manipulator, is the new tuar in the forthcoming Maskelyne and Cook program at St. George's Hall. Sir James Barrle's comedy. "What Every Woman Knows," will be re- Sir Alfred Butt is strongly sup- porting the Joint committee repre- senting the Actors' Association, the National Association of Theatrical Employes and the Variety Artists' Federation in their demand that visiting alien performers and others engaged in he enter- tainment business should share the British income tax burden. In the recent debate in the House of Com- mons Sir Alfred drew the attention Of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the very small revenue obtained from artists who came over here for a short period and then returned home. He told the House that with- in his own knowledge he knew of cases of hundreds and hundreds of people Who came to this country, took money oat of British taxpayers' pockets and then went back to their own country without contributing to the Exchequer. He urged they should be taxed at the source. The authors' fees on American plays produced here—fees which are remitted di- rect—Is another matter fen whiohTie has-his eye. For the last fortnight of the "Old Vic" season "The Midsummer Night's Dream" will be staged with Mendelssohn's music and an "all- star" casL The Grafton Galleries Club Is tak- ing up a very solid position toward the leadership of London's cabarets. At the moment the Pawl Whlteman Rand is playing there twice daily and Vanda Hoff (Mrs. Paul White- man) is dancing. Fayette Perry, Violet Doreen and the Tdfnson Twins have rejoined the cabaret company, and Jack Hylton's Band is another popular feature. Mrs. Ethel Oastell. recently the hostess at the Restaurant des Ambassadeurs, Theatrical managers having de- cided not to allow broadcasting of. their shows, the British Broadcast- ing Company is to run its own companies, that will work at a spe- cially built studio. Percy Pitt, an artistic director of musical enter- prises In Londesfc Including the Grand Opera Syndicate at Covent Garden aad the British National Opera Oompany, has been appointed musical director of the new organi- zation. Having bceh destroyed In the 1917 rebellion and rebuilt, the Grand Central Klnema, Dublin, has been wrecked by a land mine. Everything Is not always lovely In the garden with the "Veterans of Variety." A few days ago at Car- diff one veteran Imbibed freely, and just to brighten things up a bit blaqked his wife's eyes. Finding that item In the unofficial program quite a success, he next attacked two brother veterans, who fled and sought police protection One or two little things like this happened when the show originally started, but beyond such trifling matters the "veterans*' are having, a good tim? on lour. Back from his last walk across Britain, Charles Coburn, the eeptua- genarlan veteran who refuses to be classed as such, has opened up with the Gulliver circuit and is singing his old songs, "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo" and "Two Lovely Black Byes." RAINBOW" CHANGES London, May 16. Tubby Edlin Joined "The Rainbow Revue" at the Empire Monday, scoring well opposite Daphn's Pol- lard. Ne^w dances staged by Jack Haskell have been added. \ N0RTHESK QUITS GUARDS London, May 1C. Lord NOrthesk, engaged to marry Jessica Brown, an American show girl, who sailed May 9 on the Olym- pic, resigned his commission in the Coldstream Guards prior to leaving. PEGGY IN "ZANDEE" London, May 16." Gilbert Miller has selected Peggy O'Neil to play the leading role in the London production of "Zander the Great," created in New York by Alice Brady. Spinelly in Revival Paris, May 16. Picard and Levelines' three-act comedy, "Dame de Compagnie," is to be revived at the Theatre Michel with Mile. Spinelly. A new and striking form of illumination has been installed for the lighting of the exterior of the London Coliseum. Thin lines of bright red and Intensely liquid flame wreathe ths contours of the build- ing. This new type of illumination is known as the Noon Light and is said to be the first to be»"installed In Great Britain. It Is carried out by means of glass tubes bent to any desired shape, from which the air has been exhausted and replaced by a quantity of specially prepared gas at low pressure. The* gas Is rendered incandescent by the pas- sage of high voltage alternating current passing between two metal electrodes fitted at the ends of the tube, the Incandescent gas being fl/me color. The current consump- tion is said to be relatively small and when used for a sign the glass tube lettering is obtained by bend- ing the tube into the shape of the letters. No filament is used In con- ducting the current. ; BERLIN - By C, HOOPER TRA8K 1 « Berlin, May < Two * new operettas have been' produced here in the last wees; < neither of thsm are suitable for I American taste, but for very diffei ent reasons. The first "Des Konl Nachbarln" (The King's Neighs produced at ths Waiiner Tea Is successful and deservedly so. it is unfortunately impossible America as the leading figurejfl the atmosphere are too essentfl German to be understood and \ predated by an American audienn The plot centers about the ngi of Frederick the Great, who as young man, hid a flirtation with i charming girl of the village, fait girl was later forced by her faflj| to marry the. miller who owned j mill adjoining Frederick's sums* palace, Sans Souci. - The girl do* not learn to love her husban * unl he shows his metal by standing* to Frederick in a quarrel and eves winning his point from him. The libretto throughout is delicately handled and not without some lit- erary quality, while the music by Leon Jessel, if not exactly inspired, is always tasteful and generally well orchestrated. »The performance at the Wallner theatre is well cast throughout. Elsie Botticher dis- tinguishes herself in a leading fe- male role and Max Gruaberg is a very satisfactory Frederick. The scenery designed by Elsie Ogpter Leghand is far above the average. The second operetta is also no American possibility, but for q»k« a different reason; the music and libretto is evidently aimed at the American taste, but unfortunately the people concerned ha its making were quite without talent. Tbe libretto by "George Okonkowski is trivial and the music by Hans Ltnne (who, by the way, is an American who has Just come here) is - even just a little below the present Berlin average. But had there been any- thing in either score or book, the company engaged at the Theatre am Nollendorfplats would surely have been able to get It out; indeed the evening almost turned into a per- sonal triumph for Emmy Sturm, while Frits Schulz and Kurt Lilian should not be forgotten. * FRENCH FARCE BANNED Brussels, May It. The one act comedy of the late Georges Feydeau, "Mais ne. te promene done pas toute nue" has been ordered by the local police out of ths bill at the Coliseum, Charleroi. "Das Krododil" (The Crocodfe Leather Handbag), the farce by Karl Strecker already mentioned in these columns, has just been pro- duced hers at the Kammersplele and Is one of the biggest successes they have had there for over two years. It could have run through the sum- mer, but unfortunately the theatre is already rented te another man- agement. However, its run will be resumed again in the fall. And this Is all the more extraordinary when one considers what a very bad pro- duction It has been given under the direction of'Erich Papbst. The game sort of a fate has met Montgomery's excellent farce "Noth- ing but the Truth" at the Lustspiel- haus. How this farce is able* to stand up at all under such treat- ment is hard to understand. In- stead of being a rousing success, it is merely a, fill-in. A troupe calling themselves The Moscow Intimate (Hammer) Thea- tre" has-been .giving some perform- ances here at the Deutsches theatre* Their repertory consisted of "Prin- aessin Brambilla," a fantastic comedy after ideas by A. T. A. Hoff- mann,- Euripides' Phadra, Scribe's Adrienne Lecouvreur, Wilde's -"Sa- lome,' 'and "Glrofle-Girofla- aa operetta by Lecoque. *A somewhat ^ varied repertory, one would think. But they did them all equally badly. TJjkis troupe got some wonderful ad- vance publicity by claiming to be a futuristic substitute for the Moscow Art Theatre, and its director, Talroff even had a book published which set forth his aims. Theater in der Kommandanten- strasse: "Im Tal der Weissen Lammer" ("In the Valley of the White Lambs"), a new play by Her- mann Kienzel; a mystical, not very stimulating piege. well played by Frau Bogs, Florian Kiensel and Baldermann. K«'sid.■!!•/.theater: Unsuccessful re- vival of Ibsen's "The Wild Duck," which was a masterpiece of mis- casting, with the exception of Al- bert Basserman, as Hjalmar. Renaissanoetheater: Single mat- inee of a new tragedy, "Olympla," by Ernst Weiss; one performance too much. St aa tat heater: "Konigln Tamara," a drama by Knut Hamsun, well known ip. America through the pub- lication of his novels, 'II linger,'* etc.; rather pathetic to think so good a novelist could have written such a childish, silly little school- girl play. I