AMUSEMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1926, Page 10

AMUSEMENTS.

"LILAC TIME."

CHARMING MUSICAL PLAY.

As refreshing as the suggestion in its name, "'Lilac Time," the musical play which was put on at His Majesty's on Saturday evening by a Williamson company, is the finest thing of its kind that has been seen here for many years. It was quite a happy idea to make a play of the story of Schubert's life —idealised of course—and to use his delightful melodies in the telling. Most of us, be we ever so slightly musical, have some smattering of his well-known airs, and it was just like meeting an old friend when familiar tune after tune kept creeping into the story. And incidentally it gave some of the younzer generation, doomed to a diet of the deadly jazz and ragtime, some idea of what real music is like. Placed in Vienna in the period roundeabout 1526. the story introduces some authentic incidents of thf great composer's life, and makes him the central figure in as pretty a romance as one could wish. True, they have given Inm rather too large a halo, for Schubert was not the most amiable of fellows, nor did a decision to eschew the bier-stein figure among bis New Year resolutions. But for the purposes of the play he is made an altogether delightful young man. albeit is terribly shy—this trait being quite in accord with the facts.

Schubert in the play falls in love with the beautiful Lili Veit. one of three sisters, but lacks the courage to tell her so. He gets his friend Schober to sing his best song, in which he tells of his love, because he is too shy to ever sin? it himself. This Schober, who is a noted roue, is really in love with Lili, although at the very moment he is in the clutches of a little vixen called Marini. Unfortunately the fact of the two men bearing the same Christian name leads to a sad misunderstanding on the part of Lili, who hear? Marini's stories about

"Franz" and thinks they refer to Schubert. After the singing of the song, which is a climax in the play, she accepts Schober's proposal, and poor old Schubert has to console himself with. "I still have mv music and mv dreams."

There is a splash of lilac—rather a favourite colour with most people—over the play, the frocks and dresses of the period are quaint and picturesque, the actins is excellent, added to all which we have the recurrence of the lovely melodies. Then there is a pretty touch of romance running through the. theme, so that taking all these factors into consideration it is not surprisins that '"Lilac Time" makes such a strong appeal to theatre-goers. People like a little touch of the pathetic, particularly if it is accompanied with a dash of colour and a rtelody. Somehow or other there is about the play something reminiscent of another equally popular play storT— "Old Heidelberg. - ' An excellent cast does full justice to story and music. As Franz Schubert, our old friend Mr. John Ralston, has quite a triumph. His make-up is fine, and his resonant baritone voice has full scope in the music. Incidentally it is interesting to know that the song, "Hark, Hark, the Lark!" was written on the back of a menu, very much as one «ees in the very effective scene in the play where Schubert comes out and sings from the inn-balcony to his jolly friends in the courtyard below. Other numbers in which Mr Ralston takes part are the nuintet. "Underneath tlie Lilac Boiigh." "A Kiss in the Rhyme of it," "Light o;it of Heaven/ , and the "Flower Duet." , Mr. Claude Flemming makes an admirable Baron yon Schober. His fine presence and dashing manners make a gallant figure of the part. His voice, too is a good one. and he has many of the tuneful numbers of the programme opposite his name. Notable among his contri butions are the solo "Serenade." the ever-popular melody by which Schubert is perhaps best known, the duet. "When the Lilac Blossom Uncloses." and the quartet and puintet.

The part of the demure L-ili is taken with ffreat success by Miss Adele Crane, an appealing , , pretty, young actress, who quite justified her recent selection for this exacting part. She has a lot to do in the play, and the story would suffer if the part were taken by a person of less charm. She has quite a nice voice, and pleased the audience much in her items, particularly, "A Kiss in the Rhyme of it.'

Mr. Arthur Stigant takes the part of the court glassmaker. and the father of Lili and her two equally pretty little sisters He is a dryly comical old party, and the fun never languishes when he is on the stage. As his two other daughters. Misses Linda Foy and Eileen Dunne, are quite in the picture, and Miss Molly Tvrell makes a good Marie Veit. his wife.

Deserving special commendation is the performance of Miss Beryl Walkely. who makes a temperamental" Marini ail coos and gush one minute, and all spitfire the next. The play wants something of the kind to giv c it a tang, and Miss Walkely comes in like the dash of Maraschino in a fruit salad.

Mr. Herbert C. Walton plays Xovotny. a perfect stage detective, equally welcome whenever emerging with his miscroscope from under the piano or coming round the corner like a motor car out of control, and Katie Towers, a bad tempered caretaker, very free with her speech, except when talking to representatives of the law. Herbert Browne. Harry Katcliffe and Frank Leishton join the Baron as jolly sood friends of Schober, while Edmund Sherras and William Perryman are the lucky lads who win Tilli and Willi, mainly through the four friends who get the father's permission when he is absurdly drunk. Sidney Stirling is the Dan : sh Ambassador, with a dangerous passion for Marini and Kosie Evisson. plays Marini's maid. There is a pretty ballet, in which six little children make a charming picture.

FULLER'S OPERA HOUSE. By request of many old-time patrons the Old Xigjrer Minstrels at Fuller's Opera House will play another week at this popular house of entertainment. A complete change of songs will be given and more of the old favourite numbers will be Tendered, while the comedians, with thear comjc songs and jest, will amuse once more. L.inn Smith and his nijrger band will be beard in the jazz. Con Moreni and His Silk Stocking Revue Company will enter into their Otti week and play a smart revue entitled "Tarzan,"' and will show what becomes of the "cave man" business between husband and wife. DANCING. The.usual weekly dance will be held this evening in the Trades Hall. The latest jazz music will be supplied by Dave OTtfalley's Celebrity Band, The Richmond Cruising Club will give a dance to-morrow evening in the Casino de Dance, following the presentation of prizes won during the year. The Ponsonby Amateur Swimming and Life-Saving Club will hold a dance in the O'Neill Street Hall, Ponsonby, this evening. - •

THE DON COSSACK CHOIR. Two memorable performances were given in the Town Hall on Saturday by the Don Cossack Choir (one in the afternoon and the other at night), both of which were attended by large and enthusiastic audiences. A special feature was the superb singing of the three contrabasses, whose notee frequently descended to A-flat, four notee below 'cello CC*The part-singing of the three divisions of the choir was remarkable in its clearness and treatment of the dynamics, and when divided into eight parts the ensemble was delightfully satisfying. The company left this forenoon for Hamilton, and after appearing in the principal centres of the Dominion return to Wellington and leave by the s.s. Kuahine on July 17 for London. There they join in a concert tour of Great Britain with Dame Clara Butt, opening in Cardiff. Wales, on October 16, the season lasting until the end of Novamber. AUCKLAND ATHENIAN CLUB. The most successful evening of the 1026-27 session of the Auckland Athenian Club was held on Saturday in the Amateur Operatic Society's Hall. This popular club has achieved the distinction of surpassing its own previous record both as to attendance and the high standard of entertainment provided. Unlike the majority of clubs, the Athenian evenings are controlled by succeeding hosts and hostesses —the evening under review was in the capable hands of Mr. and Mrs. W. Wright, and the programme by talented local artists was equal of anything which has been presented to Auckland audiences this season. In accordance with Athenian custom, dances interspersed the musical and elocutionary items, thus affording the very large number of members and friends who were present an opportunity of personally participating in the success of the evening. The artists to whom the olub was indebted included Miss Wallbank. Miss Kronfeldt. Miss Beryl Smith. Miss B. Richardson. Professor Maxwell Walker, and Messrs. Richards. Bert Valentine. Hnrdwicke, Turner. PellueU. W. J. Meredith. J. Swan, and their entirely pleasing contributions were fittingly culminated by the appearance of Mr. Alan McElwain. Miss Iris Blcwden was the accompanist. TOWN HALL ORGAN RECITAL. Last evening Mr. Edgar Randall gave an enjoyable recital of organ mueic in the Town Hall before a fair attendance. His programme consisted of Bach's "Prelude and Fugue in C Minor." Dubois' 'In Paradieum" and "Cantilene," Guillmant's "First Sonata, op 42," Stebbins' "Le Cygne' , and "Where the Dusk," and D'Zvry'g "Meditation" and "Toccata in D Major." Y.W.CJL FUND. A dance in aid of the Y.W.C.A. appeal for funds for a hostel will be given to-morrow evening in the Amateur Operatic Society's Hall. Grafton Road. by the staff of the Fanners' Trading Company, Ltd. Pupils of Miss Cecil Hall will appear in special ballet dances. COMMUNITY SINGING. The song leader at the community singing gathering in the Town Hall on Wednesday next will be Mr. Claude Flemming, the popular actor, who has the leading role in "Lilac Time." The promoters of the movement have succeeded in arranging to have a Mayor of a local body in the chair at each gathering, and on Wednesday Mr. L. E. Rhodes, the Mayor of Mount Albert, will preside.

AMUSEMENTS GtJTDE

HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE—"LiIac Time." OPERA HOUSE—Revue and Vaudeville. PICTURE THEATRES. NATIONAL and LYRlC—Johnny Hlnes in "Rainbow Riley." and "True as Steel." TIVOLI and EVERYBODY'S—PoIa Nefrri in 'Flnwer or the Night," and "Toe Call of Co'jrag-e."' STRAND—"Vpres," and Special Prologue. majestic— Pauline Frederic* in "Married Flirts." and Orchestra in Jazz interlude. PRINCESS—Raymond Hatton In "Behind tne Front." HIPPODROME — Jane Kovat to "Tne Lullaby." QUEEN'S —"Tne Lost World" and "Go Straig-ht." GRAND—Rudolph Valentino in "A Sainted Devil." RIALTO—"Tbe American Venus" and "The Bandolero." REGENT—"Toe American Venus" and "Tne New Commandment." BRITANNIA—ReginaId Denny in "California Straig-ht Ahead." CAPITOL—"WiId, Wild Susan" and •'Daddy's Gone A-Hunting." WEST END—"Tne Mine with Tne Iron Door."