MIMES AND MUSIC

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 7, 8 July 1922, Page 17

MIMES AND MUSIC

(By "Orpheus.")

THE' SHOWS.

Grand Opera House—"Maid of the Mountains"

in season. His Majesty's—Vaudeville. The King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre— Pictures. Friacess Theatre—Pictures. Everybody's Theatre—Pictures, Queen's Theatre—Pictures, Paramount Theatre—Pictures.

From the Bulletin: —The ten star vocalists of the Sistine Choir are being retained in Australia by Quinlaa and Carroll, and wilt form a concert organisation known as the Sistine Choir Soloists. Tlie Roman authorities have intimated that they have no objection, and Emilio Casolari, Monsignor Rella's deputy, will be'the new conductor.

George Carney, who is in Australia under the Musgrovo banner, is credited with having refused a picture offer by William Fox for 2000 dollars a week for five years. Salaries said to be pai_ them by Harry G. Musgrove: Wulkie Bard £400 a week, Ella Shields £250, and Talbot CFarrell £200, with a further draw in the shape of ■ song royalties. "George, Carney and his little 'ot" represent an outlay of £1000 in fares alone.

A Sydney paper states that Robert Quinlan, cottoert impresario, proposes to bring- an Italian opera company to Australia next year.

Mr. W. F. ("Billy) Russell's step into management on hie own account took place at Auckland last. Saturday, when Ms new dramatic company, headed by Miss Nellie Bramley (Mrs. Russell), produced "Within the Law," the superior American "crook" drama. His Majesty's was packed to the doore, and Auckland playgoers gave the company a most hearty welcome. The newspapers acclaim Miss Bramley as one of the foremost emotional actresses on the Australian stage, and declare the supporting- company as being of high artistic standard. Miss Bramley was accorded an ovation at the end of the final scene. Mr. Russell ha. a repertoire of forty plays acquired from J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and his producer is ..Mr. •'Tommy" Foster, who has been associated, for many years with the biggest productions staged by The Firm. Mr. Russell's ambition ,i_ to make his company a permanent institution in New Zealand.

Making- her first bow to an Australian audience at the Melbourne Town Hall on 24th June, Madam d'Alvarez literally sang her way into the city's heart, a-nd tho world-famous contralto was accorded a tumultuous reception from tho brilliant assemblage. The Town Hall was specially decorated for the occasion, and was filled to cajpaaity. Madam d'Alvarez was assisted by Mr. Livio Mamiucci, 'cellist, and Mr. Oscar Wagner, pianist. Her contributions ranged from simple ballads to oratorio and grand opera. Ada Reeve is enjoying a phenomenal season of prosperity at the Palace Theatre, Melbourne. It was originally intended that she would appear at Fullers' New Theatre, Sydney, at the end of June. Her Melbourno triumphs, however, and the demand far seats is so great, that the Sydney season has been indefinitely postponed. Melbourne has once again taken Miss Reeve to its heart, and absolutely refuses to allow her to terminate her run at tho Palace. "Spangles," the revue in whioh Mis. Reeve is appearing-, is said to be an admirable vehicle for her artistry. "My Lady's Dress," in which Emslie Pohni will be seen in New Zealand shortly, ought to appeal to a big section of husbands. It is tho story of a woman who regularly forgets her husband's little income, and swamps th« dressmakers with orders for golden gown?. She sees first the %vorms spinning- the silk, and then pities the trials of the peasants weaving it, and of the factory girls and all the others who handle it until it is ready to wear. The vision brings about a real repentance. There is a moral in tie play, thongh some people might not notice it.

Mr. Allan Wilkie, who will pay his third annual visit to New Zealand in September, has toured Australasia continuously for upwards of two years with His own Shakespearean company, and has not only completely out-distanced all fiis predecessors on the local stage, but has created an entirely new theatrical outlook. Since the days of the great G. V. Brooke, Shakespearean productions hase been looked on with a dubious eye by theatrical managers, as well as by playgoers, and the "Shakespeare spells ruin" was an unchallenged axiom of the profession. It was left to Mr. Allan Wilkie to demonstrate beyond all cavil, that not only is there a very insistent demand for the stage representation of Shakespeare's plays, but that to produce them, and act them, is, as well, _ sound business proposition. . . J. C. Williamson, Ltd., has complete-1 arrangements with Mr. Osoar Asche for am Australian tour. The programme will include a complete production of Cairo, also Shakespearean pieces. The company will be leaving in July. Mr. Oscar Asohowill bring out his entire company ol principals for the complete production of Cairo, which, under the name of Mecca, was banned by Lord Chamberlain, on the ground that the name niight offend_ the susceptibilities of Mohammedan subjects. Mr. Asche will also produce for the first time in Australia Pineiro's Iris, in which he will give hio famous impersonation of Maldonado, the Spanish Jew. The play was staged by Mr Asche in Now York, and raised a storm of criticism. _ _?he brilliant Russian pianist, Jascha Spivakovsky, will give the first concert of his Now Zealand tour in the Town Hall, .Auckland, to-night. Jascha Spivakovsky commenced playing in Odessa when five, years of age. Ho later went to Berlin, where ho studied under Professor Mayer-Mah-r, of tho Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory. He was able to continue his musical studies, during the war, and he has recently completed tours of England, tho Continent, and Australia. Wherever he has played, he has won immediate popularity," and critics have given him extremely high praise. Ho was recognised by London criticis as being in the first rank of pianists, while his amazing technical ekfll, thorongh musicianship, maturity of intellect, and extensive repertoire, are said to havo aroused astonishment everywhere. He is described as being equally proficient in the ' musio _of all schools and periods. Throughout his Australian tour, which, is - said to have boon something in the nature of a triumph, Spivakovsky aroused great enthusiasm, which culminated- at his final concerts in remarkablo demonstrations, Mr. Scott Colvil-le is in charge of the tour, and Mr. Walter Monk is advance manager.

A moving-, picture film, is having an _ unusual experience. It is "The Right Way," and .shows graphically the fallacies of the old prison system, and is put out by Thomas Mott Osborne's Mutual Welfare League. Objections to films are generally on the ground of thoir being too bad; but this one is apparently too good for the politicians and the police, and efforts are being made to stop it. The film is really a good story, _ and cannot be charged without being sentimental or over •'moral." There aro t\yo boys, Jimmy and Harry, ono poor, tho other rich. Both drift into crime. Jimmy gets his first professional lesson in crime in a reformatory ; Harry receives his from short-sight-ed parents. They_ both land in prison, presumably Sing Sing, the famous prison over which Mr. Osborne presided until pried out by politicians and crooks. The boys come to the prison before tho changes had been made by Mr. Osborne. At first everything in the prison works for their moral degeneration. Jimmy completes his term, but is soon back again, when, he finds to Ilia amazement that the prison has .bean reorganised. No more lock step, no more zebra clothes, no more humiliation. Ho is now treated like a man, and is asked to co-opurato in an organisation that is inspired by tho ideas of self-control and self-discipline. Tho police and politicians are trying to stop tho film, and in sqveral cases have succeeded.

Tho pipo\\vhich Sir Waller Raleigh smoked, on the scaffold in 1618 is now in tho privato museum belonging to a Louties „__n_<_. tebMooaiat.,.