Mimes: Music: Records

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 77, 27 September 1924, Page 21

Mimes: Music: Records

THE SHOWS,

Grand Opera blouse—J. C. Williamson Vauileville, season opens to-night, rowu Hall—The Cherniavskis, 14th October. October"" lber~Ksk Jubilee Singers, 20th His Majesty's—Fuller's Vaudeville ,v7 1Vnir? 0' bert i 3reig Comed >' Company, Xovemb ° Jubilee Singers, Ist King's Theatre-PictureE. - . Avtcraft Theatre-Pictures. >•"■'" Our Theatre-Pictures. Empress Theatre-Pictures. Shortt s Theatre—Pictures btrand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures xrmcess Theatre Pictures Queeirs Theatre—Pictures.'

The Lord Chamberlain has licensed Mr. G. Bernard Shaw's play, "Mrs. Warren's Profession," after many refusals to do so. Dorothy M*Bride and her gifted young husband, Lauri Kennedy, the 'cellist, have left i,ondon to join John M'Cormack in a concert tour of Ameri .a. Kenneth Harlan makes his bow as a desert^ sheik in '"The Girl Who Camo Back," a forthcoming picture. Miriam Cooper is the girl who returned. Jennie Hartley, who was through New Zealand in 1919 with "The Bing Boys 01. Broadway," later in pantomime, and still later m Fullers' vaudeville, has sailed for South Africa. It is probable that she will come on to Australia and New Zealand afterwards. • Betty Balbour plays a little Cockney slavey to elderly maiden employera in Mord Em'ly," a Master picture. C. Holder-Nesse • has been appointed *$" ecbot °n the board of the J C. Williamson Vaudeville Company of Australia, representing African Theatres Ltd., which has amalgamated with J. U. Williamson, Limited, to form the new concern. Carmen Hill, without creating any definite atmosphere, records a folksong "The Lover's Curse" (the cause ol the trouble is not, from her lips quite clear), and one of Keel's old English songs. . Several men in Melbourne who believe in the future of the Australian picture business have backed up their belief with hard cash. A company has been formed with a capital of £250,000 to erect studios on the Hollywood plan and produce films. Mr.' Scott Colville received a handsome presentation from the staff of Cartor the Great prior to leaving Sydney for Auckland. Tho magician, after a brief visit to West Australia, leaves for the East. "Poisoned P.oradise," a forthcoming picture, tells how. four people went to Monte Carlo to make money at the Casino. They were a pretty milliner, a young artist, a professor of mathematics and a ■beautiful woman who lived by her wits. Connie Ediss, the Gaiety comedy actress, who whs in Now Zoaland with such pieces as bo Long, Letty," "and "Oh Hoy:, is louring with her own little company 111 "Bringing Up Father." Recently Miss Ediss was appearing in Dub- ■ Miss Eileen Alexander, formerly of Chnstchurch, who jumped into a leading 1010 as Doroen in tho "Sentimental I Bloke, is a member of tho Bob Gruig and Beatrice liolloway Company to open bore- next mouth.

"Daddies," a forthcoming picture, promises to be very amusing. The story tells of the experiences of four bachelors, who adopt babies as a menus of paying their debt to their country. Miss Nellio Bramley, who is starring with the organisation directed by Mr William Russell, has a unique record and is possibly the only 0110 in Australia to claim such a distinction. She piayed in loading roles for fivo years at the Palace Theatre, in Molbourne, without a break, and was never out of tho cast one night. She is putting in some stienuous work in Now Zealand in tha progress of her tour. "This Freedom," the picture vorsion of Hutchinson's novel is said to be tho finest British production by reason of "its minuto realism, its subdued yot forvent emotional tone, its sound psychology, its intelligent acting, and its accurate settings." Next month the Fisk Jubilee Singers will make their reappearance in Wel™lgto!'l' and wi" "PPCiii' in tho Concert Chamber. The Fisks are at present touring the South Island. A well-known member of tho company is Miss Madeline •loyco, daughter or M rs . Crpmc, of Belle Uronio Bcllriugeitt f;ime. Miss Niiucyo Stewart, daughter of .Australia's most, celebrated aotross, Miss Nellio Stewart, whs quietly married in Sydney on the lGlh to Mr. Mayno Linton. Mr. Linton is an English actor, i and came to Australia under engagement to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to play tho loud in "Tho Bat." Since then he has appeared many tiinea, notably wilh Lady Forbes Robertson iv "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife." Miss Nancyo is also well known to Australian and Now Zealand audiences. Veterans are greeted with affection always ; so Bon Davies's record of two Brahms songs will bo t liked by many. His best point is the broad phrasing. Allis, that good voices do nob remain unimpaired for over, however sound tho training and musicianly tho feeling behind them ! Elinor Glyn, who wrote "Three Weeks," "Six Days," and many other successful novels, has incorporated herself. The famous uuthoreßa is now Elinor Glyn, Limited. Mine. Glyn declares that she was forced to take this step to free herself from business care» Her next picture to be shown in New Zealand, is "How to Educate a Wife" oiiu of her put subjects. Influenced by tlie success of the Melba grand opera season, J. C. Williamson, Ud., are not only considering a plan fur extending the stay of the company in Australia but for the production of Juwsian and French operas next year Kcfemug to the matter, Mr. Nevin Tait informed the " Age " that the firm was ms now considering the question of reorganising tho company, with a view I to sending it to Perth and Brisbane, and then to tour New Zealand, to give every important city in Australasia an oppoi-: tunity of hearing opera on the present scale borne of the principals would be unable to remain, but, providing the hrm could obtain some distinctive artists From Europe, (he firm would go on with tho scheme.. As regards the firm's ' lllm' v ."! 1 l: Illu"ls' jAlr- Tail continued. J. L. Williamson, Ltd.. had decided to t.ou lor wilh Sir Georgo Tallis next Miiv ■ concerning tho possibility of presenting in Australia, a series of latest1 operas .they were thinking of bringing out Kussiiin operas, such as " Prince Igor " ■ bom Goodinoff," " llosen Cavalier" by Strauss, and a. number of Mozart's operas. Some of Puccini's operas might also be staged, and Freud, operas, such as Louise ' and the " Hunchback of ■Notre Dame. Exactly when this season would commence. Mr. Tail, could not siy—bur, it might be. in a. yrar'.s lime. The linn also intended tv bring out v, number of Continental concurl artists.

Captain Adams (according to the I Sydney "Theatre") was presenting the act of Odiva and her seals at the Orpheum, San Francisco, last month. A correspondent informs the Sydney journal that the young Odiva has left the act, and tho writer is of opinion that the older woman is now doing the divinf ' The work of filming "Chu Chin Chow in Algiers has been completed by a British firm, who acquired the screen rights against American competition for a. sum in the region of £25 - 000, it is said. Betty Blythe and Herbert Langley head the cast in this spectacular picture. Although there seem to be so few people 111 Shakespeare's own country who appear to want to see his plays acted, in Germany the Shakesperean drama is as popular as ever. Last year, according to- a return just compiled, there were 2017 performances of Shakespeare's plays jii Germany, the largest number .ever given m a single year. This means that every day in the year, Sundays excepted, about seven theatres were staging Shakespeare. "Twelfth Night" was staged 273 times, "The Merchant of Venice" 247 times, and "Othello" 207 times. Guilhermina Suggia, who made her gramophone debut with two splendid cello numbers recently, presents this month her second offering, which includes Henschel's ga,volte "Au' temps Jadis" and a Spanish serenade from "Glazounov." A less pretentious offering by the clever English 'cellist Cedric Sharpe, falls much more pleasantly on the ear. This is a bracket including the hackneyed but beautifully played "Barcarolle," from "The Tales of Hoffman," and a very pretty minstrel chant from Glazounov (Op. 71). "Babbitt," the picture version of Sinclair Lewis' novel dealing with the modern business man, is now completed. "To tell the etory of a man, his family, and his friend," said the director, after finishing the production, "is a feat only comparable with the picturisation of the story, and in the vivid realism, and sincerity of 'Babbitt,' I i found myself gradually building up a j picture of life as you and I live it, with .all the commonplace happenings of every day just making a surface calm for the passionate desires and hopes that make up our inner life." i

Evidently Lee White and Clay Smith have given up the idea of revue-produc-tion in London. At last advice they wero to try a song-and-dance show, entitled "Let's Go," on the audiences of Brighton at the Winter Garden there. Tho farewell world tour of Sir Harry Lauder commences in Bombay on Ist November. * The Straits Settlement, China, Japan, Java, and tho Philippines will follow, and subsequently New Zealand. Ho will open at Invercargill 0:1 Ist May, and reach Sydney early in July. Sir Harry sails from England for Bombay on 14th October. Mr. E. •T. Carroll considers it improbable thut he will appear in Australia or New Zealand again. "Maylimc," a forthcoming picture, is said to be as fragrant as its title. "Silver King," the upstanding bay, who is becoming as famous in picture circles as Tom Mix's "Tony,' is a most sngacioue and highly-trained animal. Ho nan count up to 100. pick out the British, French, mid American flags from thirty or nioro others, clear a high or low hurdle without a rider, lio down and cover liimself with n blanket on the word of command, and "cake-walk" or sham dead, if required. To Fred Thomson, his actor-owner, he is a wonderful assistant and friend. Their first pic- I lure, "The Dangerous Coward," will bo shown soon. A very welcome appearance amongst the now records is the redoubtable' Mark Jlalibourg, whoso playing records ex- I ceedingly well. His offering is an arrangomont of Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream," in which the | famous "Wedding March" is skilfully interwoven with the fairy music, making I an altogether delightful record. Maria Jeritza is heard in a fine air of Gluek (issued in single-sided form previously), and a nowTy-recorded extract from Ponchielli's "Gioconda"—poor music, that her dramatic sonso makes tolerable- for tho moment. The voice is fluent and improssivo, if a littlo cold in its purity, in tho heights. That popular organisation, the Beatrice Holloway-Uobert Greig Drnnmtic and Comedy Company, which has just completed phenomenally successful seasons nt t'fitli mid Adelaide,/left Sydney yesterday for Wellington. Tho opening | pltiy ut tho Tivoli Theatre next Saturday 1 will be Kiv.d Niblo's big comedy sue- ! cess, "Ollicei- 666," the run of "which I was abruptly terminated in August,, 1914, by tho declaration of war. Other plays to bo produced aro "Never Say Die," "Seven Keys uf Baldpnle," "The Kortuno lluntor," "A Message from Mars," "Tho House of Glass, "Thu Truth," and "fcseundul." There is .111 unusually strong company playing in support of tho popular stars. Tho personnol includes Douglas Calderwood, Maurico Dudley, Charlus Lawrence, P. Julian, P'r.od. Francis, K.ichard Webs tor, Barry Lock, Barbara Birch, Josephine Strahau, Alice Deorwyn, and others. Tho scenery and production will be right up to the J. 0. Williamson standard. Beau Brummell is, perhaps, tho most picturesque and vivid figure in English history. How he won tho friendship of the Prince of Wales, thus becoming the arbiter of fashion, and how women flocked to him, literally throwing themselves at his feet, and the way in which the Beau fell from the heights of popularity to disgrace, are interesting episodes in the picture, "Beau Brummell." John Banymore plays the title part, supported by Carrnel Myers, Mary Astor, Irene Rich, and Willard Louis. , Four (.riffles for the violin are superbly played by Thibaud. Tho Bode "Caprice" sparkles enchantingly. Arthur de Greef's rather hard piano tone is not out of place in one of "Albeniz1 "Segnidallas," which ho tosses off spiritedly. On the reverse of the record are two "DansGs Villageoises" of Gretry, that have not much about them. Una Bourne's ploying also suffers slightly from hardness. Her three pieces {on orTe record) include a favourite Techaikovfsky "Barcarolle" and two of Cyril Scott's "Summerland" suit movements tiny, polished bits of brio-a-brac.

Mr. Walter Payne, head o£ one of the three theatrical syndicates controlling most of the variety theatres in Britain, denies that the recent amalgamation of tlii! syndicates foreshadows ;> . general reduction of artists' salaries (says a cable messa-go to a Sydney paper). j\li-. Albert, Voyce, an official of the Variety Artists' Federation, draws attention to the fact that most of the best British artists are abroad. He names twelve of the most prominent who are in Australasia, and mentions othors who are in the United States and on pile Continent. ''Artists," he says, "card from 25 to 50 per <'cut more in America and Australasia than in J'.iitain. Ti' salaries in ISrilain ;>rn reduced artists will ;,'o abroad, and if they cunl.imie doiiif; so the varictv theatres .if Ijntai-H vi)l nover regain 'their f wr inJv aorfiidunoy. T\w »t K uu (, B ,, ou^|, \j ig ui'tisls to go round,.

The personnel of "The Dixie Jubilee Singers" to appear at the Tivoli shortly is: W. C. Buckner, basso; Madame Buckner, soprano; Miss Helen Smallwood, contralto; C. Osceold Coma, lyric tenor; Louis A. Morris, tenor and humorist; Willis Gauze, baritone; Al Magruder, pianist and entertainer. "The Dixies" are claimed to be the finest organisation of their kind in America to-day. Mr. Thomas Foster will act as business manager of the New Zealand and Australian tour.

German productions are showing signs of revolt against realism, and the beginning of an appreciation of beauty. In fact,, several Berlin firms have made overtures to Betty Balfour to star in their productions. Miss Balfour, however, is Britain's own particular star, and she-is not likely to leave her native land. Her next picture to be screened is "Squibs, M.iV

The Royal Albert Hall's recording of Beethoven's tine overture. "Eginonl-," is here now, and will be available to the public in a day or so. The playing is divine, the recording excellent, and lovers of this class of music may spend their good money with every assurance of many delightful moments listening to the magnificent themes and orchestration of the great master. * The Movie Ball, to be held in ' tha Town Hall next Wednesday should be the most brilliant dance function held in Wellington for some time. There is to be a beautiful and quite original style of decoration, with special lighting effects, and all sorts of original "stunts." Onlookers are to be admitted to the gallery. Many prizes are offered for the best impersonations of j movie stars. - ! A young Wellingtonian in Miss Marine _ Wiggs, daughter of Mr. J. Wiggs, of Pirie street, is meeting with much success in her adopted profession. About two years ago she joined Lionel Walsh's Musical Comedy Company, starting at the bottom of the ladder. A few months ago Marjorie Le Strange (her stage name) was given big parts to play, and achieved an instantaneous success as Sally. So pleased was Mr. Walsh on the night of the first performance or_ bally " that, besides presenting her with a cheque for a substantial amount j lie handed her a three-years' contract ! Ijueensland papers -are very eulogistic about Miss Le Strange's ability as singer and dancer. Miss Le Strange also made a hit in her part in " Tho O'Brien Girl." The Harris Family, a troupe of gifted musicians who have been engaged'by Sir Lenjaram Fuller and Mr. John Fuller to "P&M a-' , l"'der their management in a Whirlwind of Harmony." are a genuine family, consisting of the father, two daughters, and a son. The father ha. Nad thirty years' experience in all Branches of Hie theatrical profession starring as. a boy in a juvenile minstrel tioupfr touring the.small towns and viljages 111 the British Isles. They h-ivn Jiist concluded a six months' tour I through France, Holland, and Belgium. After playing bouth Africa they will' vMt Australia, New Zealand,' and America: -: |. Theatre audiences in Paris have quite a. Larmuncsciue look just now. owin.r to Fashions very latest vagary. The women m ll, c s t a ]i s mid hoxcs o J v i dellllv liml that a generous use of lipstick doesn t satisfy their passion for m l Nearly all of then, s it holding a red lower-usually a rose or a camdia-be-iween then- teeth !

Reynolds Denniston, well known here, writes from Boston, U.S.A., to the Sydney " Theatre " : You will see that 1 am at Boston and still with " Whispering Wires." We are now in our third week, and playing to capacity. I think, we will^stay here eight weeks, and then our movements are uncertain. Sly wife. Sydney Valentine, opened wi'/i'" Harry Jewelt on Mondi'.y here in Galsworthy's " Widows." Harry Jewett will be remembered as a principal in many a George Bignold production at ihs old Sydney Her . Majesty's. Like myself, he is a New Zealander, and first "went oil the stage as a member of Louise I'omi-oy's Company. He .was a noted Spider in " The Silver King." and be•ore joining Rignold in 1888' he was a prominent member of Leitch and MacMahon's Company, and also did excellent work with the Majeronis. He still Tetains ; a- great affection for Australasia. New records' to bo available here shortly are t\yo dances by Edward German, and his Prelude to the third Act of "Henry VIII.," are typical examples of the composer's talent. There is always a, pleasant British ring about his "native wood notes,' even if sometimes, they are sophisticated a^ little, rather than "wild." The Air Forces Band plays with fair success a Glazounov "Novelette" and a so-called "Chinese Patrol." There is not quite enough polish here. From China, accordcording to the label, comes also the old "folk song" that, Eugene Gaosens has arranged and that Miss Mario Hall very agreeably plays, together with an early Hoist violin piece. This in no w«iy represents his mind or quality to-day, though it is a good enough drawing-roon "Valsfe Etude." To Isolde Menges, wko makes a reappearance this month with a fine violin record bracket, one is -inclined to say "Welcome, little stranger!" sc long is it since we have heard from her. Her latest bracket is Sarasate's "Spanish Dance" (Op. 21) and a "Because" (Op. 16), by G. Faure, a French composer who deserves to be more generally cultivated by English players—he has a great vogue in his own country. The, Sarasate number is brilliantly played by Miss Menges. The "Because" is a fairly representative example of Faure's characteristic style.

Betty Blythe has determined ttf keep her hair bobbed. She says the upkeep is not nearly so expensive as .long tresses. Since finishing work on "Chu Chin Chow," Betty Blythe has been engaged for. the forthcoming ''The Breath of Scandal," to play opposite Lou Tellegen. In the course of his examination betore the Registrar in Bankruptcy in Sydney, David Bourke O'Connor, actor and theatrical manager, stated in answer to the Official Assignee that for the past fourteen years he had been in the habit of buying from J. C. .Williamson the rights to produce in the country various comic operas and plays. In connection the-various agreements with Williamson's bankrupt paid altogether beiween- £10,000 and £11,000. He admitted owing Williamson's something in the neighbourhood of' £300. In later years his rights, under the agreements, had been very much prejudiced by J. C. Williamson's action in letting other perbons perform the plays he had the rights of. .Recently ho anticipated playing "High Jinks,".for which ho had the rights, at Parkes, but when he got there ho found that tho local dramatic society had played tho pieco by permission of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., not only in Tarkesj but in a number of other towns aiuund the district where he would have played himself/ ..There were many sim-i-.;im instance, in the last six or" seven jears.^ Bankrupt intended pVying "Our JUiss GiMjs " at Leeton on one occasion, Imi, when lie got there he found an amateur society was about to produce it. so he could not do so. When he complained to Williamson's, at first they taid they realised the justice of his complaint, and would try to avoid anvthine like that happening.