STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 170, 19 July 1924, Page 18

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The New Zealand tour of Irene Vanbrugh and Dion Boucicault with their own London company is to commence on Wednesday next, The first production will be Pinero's "His Bouse in Order." The days of the Brough-Boueicault regime in Australia and New Zealand— Mr. Boucicault told a South African paper that he spent ten of the happiest years of his life here—are still talked about as having set a Standard that has never Bince been touched. The return of Mr. Boucicault, and his famous wife, Irene Vanbrugh, is likely to be the most important event of the theatrical year. Thousands of playgoers will remember the famous Brough and Boucicault company which paid several visits to Auckland. Brough and Boucicault kept together from October, 1880, until towards the end of 1896, when Dion returned to London. During their regime they presented all the principal successes of Pinero, H. A. Jones, and other leading dramatists of the day. Mr. Dion Boucicault achieved marked, success in various roles, including Colonel Cazenove in "The New Woman," and Bloro, the Deanery butler, in "Dandy Dick." Since his return to London, nearly 27 years ago, Mr. Boucicault, who made his first stage appearance in 1879, has added many triumphs to his long and versatile record. Allan Wilkie and his Shakesperean Company will commence another tour of New Zealand in August. Miss Stella Murray, the New Zealand contralto, a cable message from London states, gave a successful recital, and received the most favourable criticisms. Theatregoers who have laughed over Fred McDonald's clever creation of Dave in "On Our Selection," are pleased to know that Sir Benjamin and Mr. John Fuller have engaged this brilliant comedian for a tour of their circuit. Mr. McDonald began his stage career with bush companies, and it was from his observations in touring the Australian backblocks that he modelled the character of Dave, when Bert Bailey produced Steele Rudd's comedy at the Palace Theatre in 1011. Mr McDonald has played the part over 1500 times, and in now presenting Dave for the first time in vaudeville. Associated with him is Miss Vera St. John, a clever Australian actress. The opening of their series of sketches is entitled "The Meet," a delightful comedy of the bush, which gives Mr. McDonald ample opportunity to create laughter. Although Mr McDonald is particularly well known for his clever bush characterisations, he has won fame in other spheres. For over two years he was associated with Allan Wilkie in his productions, playing every kind of role imaginable, from low comedy parts to McDuff in "Macbeth." It is said that Harmston's Circus is to extend its ramifications from the East to Australia and New Zealand. And in return the Wirths will probably hit up the East. The famous tenor, Mr. Charles Hackett, and Bratza, the young Serbian violinist, open their musical season at the Wellington. Town Hall on July 31. Miss Alice Hollander, the celebrated violiniste, will shortly arrive in New Zealand under engagement to Sir Benjamin Fuller. Accompanying Miss Hollander on her tour is Arthur Standford, the well-known English pianist, who last year won the Mendelssohn Scholarship. Mr. Frank Tait, returned the other day from America and Sydney with a great report of Henri Verbrugghen's local orchestra of 80 performers. M. Verbrugghen's wonderful ability and inspiring leadership, Mr. Tait said, had lifted the orchestra out of the ruck, so to 6peak, and it was now generally recognised as one of the three finest combinations of its kind in the United States. It is not beyond the bounds of probability that M. Verbrugghen may bring the Minneapolis Orchestra to Australia for a season. " The worst thing about being a comedian," said Alfred Frith, "is that everybody expects you to be funny off the stage. One night recently, -when I was going home by tram, dead tired, and —1 must admit—-rather peeved over nothing in particular, the gripman said, ' I suppose you know a lot of funny stories, Mr. Frith,' ' No,' I replied, ' "f really know only one.' ' Oh,' said he, ' and what's that ? ' ' The one that commences with " Why does a chicken cross the road ? " There was silence for the rest of the way home ! " Claude Dampier (well known in New Zealand) has opened in Sydney at Fullers with a new revue company in " All Trumps,"' which is said to have nothing but aces in the pack with the exception of the leader, who is, of course, the Joker. It is described as full of the best kind of fun, jokes, jests, and jingles, there are dozens of amusing scenes, aud the ballets are beautifully froeked. AYith the joyous Claude are Hilda Attenboro, J." G. Taylor, Lola Hunt, Sheila Brady, Ronald Knight, Dorothy Summers, Ernest Lashbrooke, Kyrle Sylvaney, and Reno Albert. Who is the successor to Caruso ? There is not one, nor does it seem that there is one in the making (says the musical critic of an English paper). Caruso always gave the impression of having immense power with reserves at the back of it. Some tenors of to-day have immense power, but have no reserve. i Others have reserve but not much power. The Caruso quality of voice is often noticeable, but not throughout the whole range. Yet perhaps never were there so many good tenors. Giovanni Martinelli, Beniamino Gigli, and Tito Schipa are three Italians who have come well to the front, particularly of late. They are placed above Giovanni Zanatello, who. like the more distinguished Alessandro Bonci, has reached an age when the chance of gaining the front place has passed. Lucien Muratore is one of a band of men who deservedly won distinction for both singing and acting, but many who flickered in the limelight but a few years ago are not heard of to-day. A young tenor, Miehele Fleta, recently at La Scala, has been highly praised by the Australian singer Florence Austral and other people in England, where, however, the Scotch artist, Joseph Hislop, is regarded by some as likely to get at least as near the Caruso mark as any tenor now before the public. Some time ago Charles Marshall was acclaimed the American Caruso in certain qtiarters. In England last year this title was given to Charles Hackett, who will visit New Zealand shortly. But there are other countries which claim to have produced budding Carusos. Belgium has given Fernand Anssean, Greece Ulysses Lappas, and even Armenia boasta of Armand Tokatyan.