Plays - Players - Pictures

THE SHOWS.

Town HallOrgan Recital, every Sunday, 8.3.0 p.m. Glonnlnl, soprano, 16th and 17IU October. Westminster Gleo Singers. 19th' to 26th October. ' . : ■ Blue Triangle Hall— Wellington Players, 26th, 27th September. Opera - House— '. '. ■ ■ .'■-.- Pictures, to-nifUt. "Desert Song," 18th Scnlembor. His Majesty's— Kevue. \ . . Majestic—Pictures. , ' : Begent—Pictures. ... Be Luxe Theatre—Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. ; Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Snortt's Theatre—Pictures. ; Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre —Pictures. . I Princess Theatre—Pictures. Kllbirnla Klnema—Pictures. . ]

Prank Wilson, a popular member of the Charleston Six Jazz Band _ which was here some time ago, is on-;his own

now, as a musical act with the "■Whirligigs" Bevue Company at Christehureh. Ho is a versatile performer, and plays several instruments in masterly style. The League of Notions Eevue Company is achieving, a big success in Adelaide, where it opened recently. Donizetti's "Daughter of the Begiment" is to be presented at the Trianon Lyriquo Theatre of Paris with a new second act, composed for the occasion by Paul Fauche.' "" Francesco Malipiero has completed a trilogy of operas on Venetian '. subjects, "Aquile di Aquilea," "II finto Arlecchino,'' and "I Cori-i di San Marco.' 3 , A Delius festival will take place in London nest October under the direction of Sir Thomas Beecham. At the final concert the "Mass of Life" will be performed in its complete form. An association of French composers has been formed in Paris for the purpose of bringing before the public the work of young composers, regardless of nationality. . / . ' A contemplated revival of Strauss' "Salome" has been forbidden by the Archbishop of Florence., Italian impresarios are said to be much concerned about this event, fearing that "Salome" will soon be joined by other compositions on an "Index Expurgatorius." . ■

Patrick Ciirwen, who gave a sterling performance in "The Einger," when it was produced here by Maurice Moseovitch last year, lias returned to London, and is cow playing in a new "Wallace "thriller," "Persons Unknown." Mr. Wallace cannot lie content with one success at a? time, and he has written a new racing play, "The Calender," which is to be produced in London shortly. ' , Nat Madison, who is at the head of iJ, 0. Williamson company which will appear in the sensational dramas "No. 17" and "Draeula," and which will open the New Zealand season at Auckland next month, will assuredly receive a hearty welcome at the hands of New Zealanders. During his recent tour of New. Zealand when he played prominent roles in his father's company, Mr. Madison made jaany friends in the Dominion, and eventually married a. member of a well-known Auckland family. It is not generally•; known that Mr. Madisgn made a special study of the production and managerial side of stage presentation, and it is undoubtedly due to his all-round knowledge that his plays are presented without a flaw. It is in this close attention to detail, ■ both in. his characterisations and method of production, that has been an important factor towards this talented young actor's undoubted success. Following the termination of the Jim Gerald season at Fullers' Theatre, Sydney (after which Jim Gerald leaves^for the Dominion) there will be the initial presentation of a newly-formed revue company, comprising some of England's finest artists. The _.chief: comedian ' will be; Freddie Forbes, about whom a ; London critic, condensing his review - into one pithy sentence, wrote: "To see Freddie Forbes is to laugh." In his , support are Aster Faire and'the two / Aunerley brothers, a dancing and comedy duo. ! Commenting on the recent perform- ,;. ances of the new company of Westminster Glea Singers who are shortly to tour New Zealand under the auspices of Mr. Edward. Branscombe, a Quebec critic .said: "These glorious singers, boys and men, have been delighting Quebec audiences ' for the past week, are notably artistic and the result has been a rare feast x of very beautiful ; . English vocal music. It has been truly said that no art is of such, paramount ; importance to civilisation as music, j which is a fluent and beautiful forauof expression for those deeper \impnlses • which are denied expression in words. ', Already the introduction of music in some places during the- dinner hour, known ,as community singing, and the formation of chcjirs in factories, and departmental stores have resulted in greater content and efficiency. The Westminster Glee Singers have unquestionably imparted a great. stimulus to our musically-inclined Canadian people. This is one unvarying result of the beautiful concerts given by these talented' singers who have appeared from time to time in every part of the British Empire. They rekindle an interest in the glories of British traditional songs and ballads, they show the absolute pitch of perfection to which solo .and part singing can be brought, and { they have also demonstrated the -well- . known fact that there is no music comparable to that of the human voice, especially when heard without the aid of instrumental accompaniment. In addition the advent of the small boys particularly are a wonderful force in affiliating the young sons of the Empire in that wonderful bond of kinship ~-music."

A new choral work by Arnold Bas entitled "Walsinghame" was performed for the first time in London recently. Written for chorus, orchestra, and tenor solo/ the piece is set to a, sixteenth-century love poem. It requires but fifteen minutes; for performance. According to the Lon3on "Times," the composer employs boW modern harmony, a flexible hanaiing of the verbal rhythm, and a modern though unobtrusive orchestration. The composition was performed .by tho Choir under the direction «f Kentfeay Scott.' : - New Zealana frienas will be pleased to hear, of the gooa progress of Mr. Seg. Newberry, the New Zealana tenor, who is now studying in Milan. It will be rembered that as a boy soprano he tourea Australia ana New Zealana. Ma-

dame Molba predietea that he wonia be

Jieara of as an adult singer. Mr. Newberry is studying under Caffe, who has had some famous pupils, including Marian Talley, of the Metropolitan Opera Company, of New York. Progress in the development of Mr. Newberry's voice has resulted in his range being extendea to over two octaves from the tenor C. The quality of the voice is a true tenor of robust power. There has been something of a cam-

paign against the tremolo habit in the Press during the last few weeks (writes "Orpheus" in the "Auckland Star"). I hope' tho vigorous criticism aireeted against it by, those writers who have touched on the subject will have sunk into the minds of our local tremolists. The customary excuse put forward by addicts is that it increases the p6wer of the voice. So it does. The power t>£ the voice would also be increased if to© singer ytsei a megaphone, or pro-

duecd his voice after the fashion of the: newspaper, boy. The false premise in the tremolist's argument is his pathetic belief that power is the most essential tiling in singing, that as long as he (or more commonly she) makes an impressive amount of noise,, the audience will react favourably to such treatment. Purity and strength (not power) of tone are the first essentials; and if the voice must be made bigger, it should be done by some other means than the vibrato, which.'kills all the other.virtues a voico might possibly have. If a singer's voice is not big enough to fill a concert hall, and all other efforts at improving . its power have failed, the remedy is not tremolo. The'.'oiily' thing:-for the singer to do is to restrict herself to performing only on occasions when great power is not called for. In broadcasting there is no excuse whatever for using the tremolo. •; 'Negotiations are under way, according to the London "Telegraph," for the appearance nest season* in London of Toscanini as conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. He has never yet visited England. The engagement of Mengelberg also is rumoured, while Abendroth, Wein-. -partner,- and Coates have been definitely engaged.

Mr. Dion Titheradg-e's new play "The Tiger in Men," has been produced*, at Brighton for the first time (writes "The Post's" London representative. It is to be presented in London,/at the Adelphi Theatre. Miss Margaret Bannerman appears as an adventuress who leads a party of four men on an expedition into the Malay jungle. Mr. Lan Hunter plays the principal male part.

Mild. Yvette Guilbert, in her recently published book, "The, Song of My Life,'' tells the following story of Sarah Bernhardt: The first time I saw Sarah Bernhardfc close to was at the'"Figaro" office. There was a huge reception for King Alexander of Serbia, who was paying his first visit to Paris; . . . Sarah Bernhardt had a reputation for slipping out of functions that bored her by pretending to faint. It was simple and easy for her, and that night the King, who had been delayed by a gala lat the Elysee, kept us waiting such a long time that at 2 o'clock in the morning the directors of the "Figaro" had the greatest trouble to calm our impatience. At last the King arrived. Sarah Bernhardt, cross and tired, requested that she might be the first to appear on the programme; then she stepped on to tho platform and began the well-known poem, "Si tv veux faisonsun v reve." Then suddenly she swerved and down she fell on the floor One of the King=?s aides-de-camp sprang on; to the platform, lifted her up, and succeeded in placing her in a chair' and then,.snatching up a bottle of iced water, was about to splash- it on her chest. Sarah bounced in protest! The £nrfrt Ott-! "1™ carefu% taken away from the aide-de-camp, and Sarah, panting was earned by somebody or other to her carnage—and she made good her escape to bed! s er

Although musical plays' were up to the standard, this had been a lean year dramatically, said Sir George Tallis on 1 to Australia fro! -Lon«to£ Both the new plays by Bernard Shaw ana Galsworthy had been failures. How?7 eel Cl- eJ er J°™S dramatists like B. krt * ff- aa, d *rank Vo«Per had come forward, and opportunity* would bring others into the limelight. S The theatre wants organisation.organise the theatre," advises J T w Stage ' Mr* Grein advises the following seven, lines of salvation:-(l) ™t m/£ eiheatres t0 fwee down the rents. (2) Engage companies not merely for the run of a piece, but-as L a" ««r?LeryWh^:°? the Coatinent-for a period, so that certainty of income may. standardise salaries. 7< 3 ) Change Policy of staking on one card only, and establish the definite policy of securing a nucleus of plays so that a failure may be speedily cut short ana the same company IS for another production. (4) Lower if aCM 8 T T °f admission™p ec * tone with foreign plays that matter (7, and most important) Use might ana mam to induce the State, if possible ndence of the community SSi grippe» hy the str»gth Vthi! notable p ay," says a Melbourne paper thf n fg travelled over 30,000 miles in tLU* y°at an« * Miss Marl ffl^sss-sassy* Zealand which is a most lovely countrj the roads are wonderful, an a Y e motor! Ed from one end of the country To the ■other. In Australia the roads are not fo gooa ana we dia less motoring." Hans Barth, a famous German-Ameri can pianist, has been giving a serks of Sf^t'jo Umtcaltatet on a pfano which includes quarter tones— his own mvention. The instrument has two" keyboards one of which is pitched a $ artf £ a tone lower than the other rt; wf th- iS tbQ on]y Pi^t in Ame. ana W*B1 ™ leeitals on such a P«no, ana he has composed most of his own music for the purpose. Chr- 1?^ g°^ weather *or the builders Christchurch's now intimate theatre in H^Twilf T h t0 h% known as Ea<Kant ri,■' f i he opcnea by the Mayor of on 16th n C f ,(tho Bey- J- Xon 16th October or 23rd October. Although designed primarily for th« fom thth ClUb ' 1 h ° .ha" is ™^ to become the centre in Christchurch of the modern expression of drama, music ana the arts. The Canterbury SeZl' tory Theatre Society has taken a par tH siL T*' iU itS obstruction, ana SheUeyg'Vin e hgned by Profe^« James The stago will, be fitted with a Complete mode™ cyclorama, a * d wiH £„

designed, not merely for effective presentations, but for the maximum comfort of the players. The lighting effects will be the latest. Probably parts of the auditorium will be permanently seated, and part temporarily. Special attention has been given to the acoustic qualities of the hall. There will be a small gallery and two boxes, the whole accommodation being between 700 and 800. The front of the building will be in Spanish mission style in brick and cement. The interior decoration will be finished in ivory and bronze. Oscar Asche, the famous Australian actor, has answered in a decided affirmative the question of whether Shakespeare can be produced in a modern setting, with his production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor" for the British Empire. Shakespeare Society, says the "Daily Mail." As Falstaff, Mr. Asche is a white-spatted, top-hatted, beer drinker who is baited anew in Mis-, tress Page's boudoir over the butcher's shop in High street, Windsor. Slender becomeß a silly ass in plus fours, waggling a golf club. Parson Evans, armed with an umbrella, rides a push-i bike. Fenton motor-cycles from. Ox-1 ford and takes sweet Anne Page pillion- j riding. Mistress Ford, who smokes! cigarettes in a chain, telephones Mis-j tress Quickly, who is a seedy charwoman, but is still full of the Shakespearian quicksilver of intrigue and duplicity. ' Mr. Asehe even cleverly i monkeyed with the text, presenting a slender greyhound, which-runs in the Wembley races.

. ..''Young Woodley," Mr. John Van Druten's play, which was' the object of so much interest and criticism when it was first produced in London, is to be made into a. talking film by a-British firm. Miss^Marjorie Hume, one of the best-known of British film actresses, will play the role of the schoolmaster's wife, and Mr. Bobin Irvine is to be the schoolboy hero, ■ Woodley. • ;

Interesting and dramatic contrasts make up the skeleton of "Weary River," starring Biehard Barthelmess, which is shortly to be released in New Zealand. A prison, a night club, a gambling den, a vaudeville theatre, a radio broadcasting station, a speakeasy, and a luxurious apartment, varo some of the locals used in. this dramatic proauction. Bichard Barthelmess is heard as well as seen in this production. "On Trial," the latest murder mystery drama, which is duo for release shortly, is one of the most human mystery stories ever filmed. Tho play was written by the now celebrated playwright Elmer Eice, at the time a clerk in a New York law office. The human drama which he saw daily in the pursuance of his auties finally crystallised into the play which, when proaueed, set New York agog. All the routine of the law is followed to the letter in this picture—and the result is thrilling in the extreme. The cast of "On Trial" includes Pauline Frederick, Bert Lytoll, Lois Wilson, Holmes Herbert, Bichai-a Tucker, Franklin Pangborn, and Edward Martindel.

With all the spectacular thrills of a: big naval engagement, "The DIVmeL Lady," the historical production, starring Corinne Griffiths, has an equally striking story of love ana conquest. Leading up^to the events on the seas of the' Medtiteranean is the life love of Laay Hamilton, who gave up a career of conquest at its very height to bring backto her country's service the one Admiral who could bring a sea 'campaign to a triumphant close. '

t Four'technicolour cameras are being usea for the musical productions "Sally," starring Marilyn Miller, and "Paris," starring Irene Bordoni, now in production. Both pictures are being maao entirely in technicolour. Edmuna Lowe will play, the leading masculine role opposite Millie Dove in her next Vitaphone starring picture, "The Broadway Hostess." Claude. King plays tho role of a "General of India" in the all-talking picture "The Black Watch." Victor M'Laglen is one of the principal players in.'s The Black Watch." ■ i . Lola-Lane ana Paul. Page, who scored ' strongly on: their: talking picture 3ebut in " Speakeasy," are' to be/reunited in a movietone production. They will play the leads: in "The Girl from Havana, "by Edwin Burke ana John Stone. ...■'"'■ "The: Lucky Star" features Charles Farrel and Janet Gaynor.. The setting is a down East countryside, with a few sequences devoted to the war-torn fields of France. "The Lucky Star" is, based on the story "Three Episodes in the Life of Timothy Osborne." Stepin Fetehit, a clever young comedian, who has won praise for his splendia character, work in 'The Ghost Talks" and "Hearts in Dixie," has been assigned a role in the forthcoming "Fox Movietone Follies of 1929." , An. ; ■aH-talking production, "The Voice of the City," will-bo seeu at tho Begent Theatre ' shortly. -Wilhu-a Mack not only wrote this story, but also directed; the picture, and plays the principal'character role. His work'in that iole, 'an' implacable' detective engaged in a desperate man-hunt, is a gem. of characterisation. Sylvia Feiia is a aelightfnl heroine. Other splenSia interpretations are presented by Robert Amespas the hero; Alice Moe, John Miljan, and Clarke Marshall. The following criticism is taken from the "Motion Picture News":—"After seeing 'Madame X' as an all-talker, there is little woMer that it was aeeiaed that henceforth Lionel Barrymore should be a director and not an actor. Barrymftre took 'Madame X', an established I stage-property for years, and I made it as; a talker that is by far! the greatest dramatic picture produced. 'Madame X' in talkie form is. more gripping and intense than the stage play. In combining talk with screen technique, Barrymore has given the production' smoothness in movement, ana buildß toaraniatic climaxes with a aeftness that stamps him as a great dramatic, director." . Flat-dwellers in the wilderness of a great city, romance that's just as sweet among the clanging of trolley-ears as amid; the. green fields of an iayllie garden, comedy that is as subtle as the spirit of.': the city itself —all these are woven into the talking screen's vivid story, ' '.The Idle Bieh.' '. This picture, which will be seen shortly, is essentially a comedy, but here and there are tense bits, of drama. Clara Bow will shortly start *work on her latest all-talking picture for Paramount, "The Saturday Night Kid." James Hall has been cast as leading man opposite the star. Others in the cast are Frank Boss and Edna May Loiver. Basil Dean, the famous English stage producer, recently arrived in Hollywood to direct "Escape," which is adapted from the wpll-known play by John Galsworthy. Clive Brook, also formerly connected with the Lonaon stage, will play the leading role in the picture. _ Gertrude Lawrence, supported by . a big cast of Broadway stage players, is making her first all-talkio, entitled "The Gay Lady," at the Long Island studios of that organisation. Paramount is completing work on "Fast Company," an all-talking picture of the baseball aiamond. Evelyn Brent, Jack Oakio, "Skeets" Gallagher, Gwen Lee, Chester Conklin, Sam Hardy, «and Eugene Pallette all play important roles in the production. Edward Sutherland is directing the picture. In "The Virginian" Gary Cooper plays'tho title role. It is an outdoor talkie. Other players in important parts are Mary Brian, Bichara Arlen, ana Walter Huston. A colourful all-talking and singing operetta, "The Love Parade," starring Maurice Chovalier, is now well advancea in production. Jeatmette Ma«Donaia, a Broadway star, plays the feminine lead. ■