STAGE COMING BACK

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 169, 13 April 1935, Page 6

STAGE COMING BACK

Steady Improvement in Prospects v “FRESII FIELDS” FOR NEW ZEALAND Mr. John E. Tait, one of three managing directors of the firm of J. U .Williamson, Ltd., arrived in Wellington last evening after a visit to Nelson, the Otira Gorge, Greymouth and Christchurch. He will leave this morning by motor for Auckland, via Napier, Taupo and Rotorua, in order to meet Yehudi Menuhin, the famous young violinist, who will be passing through on his way to Sydney. Menuhin is regarded as tlie foremost violin player of the day. When Mischa Levitski, the noted pianist, was last in Now Zealand he described Menuhin, then a boy prodigy, as a miracle, and since then he has advanced until his playing is perfect. Critics say that if there are perfections in technique or tone beyond that produced by this extraordinary personality they are unknown. Menuhin is to inaugurate a tour of Australia at Sydney, and will visit New Zealand either at the end of June or tho beginning of July, when concerts will be given in Wellington, Auckland, and probably Christchurch. Mr. Tait stated yesterday that arrangements had been completed to send a new English comedy company over to New Zealand to play Ivor Novello’s brilliant comedy of manners, “Fresh Fields,” which ran a couple of years in London, and lias been a great success everywhere. The same company will also ba seen in the new comedy, “While Parents Sleep.” This company Is to commence a tour of New Zealand on May 4 or 11 at either Wellington or Auckland. Speaking generally about the prospects of the theatrical business returning to normality, Mr. Tait said he had no doubts on the matter. There had been a steady improvement in those prospects for the last eighteen months all over the world, and very gradually perhaps the real stage was beginning to reassert itself in public approbation. It had to be admitted that the talking screen had administered a shrewd blow to the legitimate stage, but time worked wonders. Now that the public had become used to, and indeed saturated witli sound pictures, they were beginning to want something different, and that something the legitimate stage was able to supply. When iu the south Mr. Tait received two cable messages from Melbourne advising him of the great success which bad attended flic opening performance of the new musical comedy. "Viktoria and Her Hussar.” and the new comedian, Oscar Dones, who made an immediate Impression.