Mimes: Music: Records

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 40, 15 August 1925, Page 21

Mimes: Music: Records

BY "ORPHEUS."

THE SHOWS. Grand Open House—Denie. Kelioe, in season. • Guy Bates Post, 29th August. "Kid Boots," 2nd September. His Majesty's-Vaudevllle. Be Luxe Theatre—Picturci. King's Theatre—Pictures. The Tivoli—Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Pictures. <}ueen'i Theatre—Picture!.

Rosina Buckman, Florence Austral, and Evelyn Scotney are singing together in a tour of England.

As far back at 1886, Jake Friedman arrived in Melbourne. In 1890 he was playing at the Tiroli in CasUereagh street, Sydney, as one of the partners of Tudor and Freidman. He played for fifty-two weeks in Sydney, and later on be sailed for England, where he became one of the stars of the nineties. He has been in retirement for some years, but has • returned to the etage with the Veterans of Variety, who aie making a New Zealand tour, under the direction of Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr. John Fuller. Jake Friedman remembers Australia very tenderly, and mentions names like those of Maggie Moore and Bland Holt as being the great figures o! hia It is said that Mr. George Gee hu the part of his life in "Kid Boots." in the new musical play of the same name to be presented here by J. C. Williamson presently. As ''Kid Boots," caddie maeter by profession and bootlegger by instinct, George Gee (acoording to a Melbourne contemporary) gives a performance of uncommon merit. He makes the most of every situation, but his humour is,never strained. In the "locker-room" scene with Jean iNiewcornbe he had the audience nearly hysterical with laughter. As an eccentric dancer he excels.

Lucy Frith, who makes the most of a small part in "Primrose," the bright and popular musical comedy at His Majesty's, Melbourne, obtains many letters from admirers. Tho writers, with the exception of a few who imagine she is Alfred Frith'fl sieter, seem to think she is his daughter. As a matter of fact she is Friths wife. Mrs. Frith is an Australian, and first met her hilarious husband in Calcutta, India., Frith says that during, their twelve years of married bliss he has been suoh a model husband in every way that his wife has never had any excuse to get older. Madomoiselle Valeska, late of the famous Fokine Ballet, returned to Auckland recently after being abroad for four years. The accomplished dancer with the very Russian name happen* to be Miss Valeric Scott, a New Zealand, girl, who has had a particularly successful and interesting time on the stages of the principal European capitals, while she also spent a year in the Orient. As a solo dancer she did specialty work all over England, in various revues, and then went to the Continent—to- France, Switzerland, and Germany. Miss Scott was a pupil of Miss Katell© Beere, of Wellington.

Shortly, Messrs. J. and N. Tait will present in Wellington their next most important musical attraction since the visit of . Galli-Curci. This will be a, series of concerts by the famous tenor and baritone, Paul Althouse and Arthur juidaleton. v. Programmes of unusual interest_ and variety are being prepared. Chatting regarding the songs he favours, Paul Althouee said recently that "to entertain my audiences is my one objective. People want, firet of all, to hoar music which has a heart appeal. I take, care to include these in my programmes, as also does Mr. Middleton. At the same tune we try to ohoose songs which have also musical qualities. We are always open to receive suggestions, and -will be glad to hear from concert-goera aa to their favourite songs they would like us to include in our programmes." Ethelbert D. Hales, a etar on the American stage, but better known in Wellington as "Cyrus," at one time a familiar figure on the football field for Wellington College, is also an author of plays. "Cyrus" is a son of the late W. H. Hales, formerly Engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department. "Mission Mary" js one of Hales's plays, a comedy-drama which has passed from manager to manager, but has now been taken 1 up by M. J. Nicholas, a producer of repute. The difficulty with which other producers were faced was to find the right star for the title role. Ethelbert Hales will have a part in the play, which is to be given its premiere in Stamford m September. It is to be played in New York in October. M. J. Nicholas was to have started rehearsals this month of ''The Little Old Maid" and Hales's wife Molly Pearson, will be starred in it' Still a third play, by Hales, will be produced by Nicholas later in the season. This piece, "Tapu," wil be a very slaborate presentation, with a group of Maoris in the cast. Another of Hales'i plays is "The Minister's Bairn," and another comedy is being written. Cyrus Hales was a fellow student at Wellington College with Austin Strong, whose plays have been produced in London and New York. A song dedicated to the admiral, officers, and men of the visiting American fleet, has been composed by Mr. Albert H. Light, who composed "The Soldier" during the war years. "'The Boys from U.S.A." have been eulogised in song by Mr. Light, and as souvenir of the visit of the fleet should be in great demand. Set to fox-trot time, it is bound to become 1 popular for vocal expression, as well as for dancing purposes. It embodies a sincere welcome to our cousins from overseas, and the boys from the States are subjected to encomiums that are fully deserved. The air is catchy, and the words, without being fulsome, are aa honest expression of goodwill.

In "Kid Boote," the new musical play to be presented by J. O. Williamson, Ltd., on 1 Wednesday, 2nd September, George Crotty, an English comedian of note will make his initial appearance in Wellington. He will play the part of Meulo Manville, a society reporter, on downright American lines; he is responsible for plenty of fun. Manville assures the social debutantes that he is aware they move in the best society, adding that is the reason he has come to gather scandals for his paper. Healing of one young lady that she enjoys a good reputation, lie Bays there is really no reason to put her in print at all. Judging by the interesting youth portrayed by Mr. Crotty, who pursues his scandals even into the Turkish baths, no lady would have-enjoyed a reputation long in his paper. Mr. Crotty is an English comedian of note. • A very jolly party was given' at Queen's Hall (Auckland) by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Gerald (Miss Essie Jennings) to celebrate the third anniversary of their Miniature Musical Comedy Company. The gathering was held after tile performance (says the "New Zealand Sporting and Dramatic Review"), mid all members of the company and the Opera House staff were present. Among tlio guests wei'n Mr. Tiiiy Fuller (manager of tlie Opera. ITuuso) and Mrs. Fuller, Mr. John Farrcll (manager of the J. (J. Williamson "WildnWftr" Company), and Miti..Maria Burke (leading Udyj,

Miss Marie La Varre, Mr. Noel Allen, and Mr. Charles Zoli. During the evening, Mr. Howard Hall on behalf of the company, presented Mr. Gerald with a travelling clock as a token of the cordiality that prevailed. Speaking for his colleagues, he said it had been a most pleasant three years' association, for Mr. Gerald had been a lenient master and a pal as well. _Mr. Gerald made a, feeling reply, thanking the company for their able^ assistance and co-operation in helping him to create records, and he hoped to' carry along for a further succession of years. He also paid a glowing tribute to his wife (Miss Essie Jennings), who had been a true helpmeet to him and encouraged him through the rough patches. Incidentally, the occasion also marked the twelfth anniversary of their marriage, an announcement that evoked further applause. . * ;

There is an interesting association .attaching to the appearance in "Secrets" at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, of Miss Frances Ross and Mr. Charles Wheeler. For a number of years they were associated in Mr. and Mrs. Bland Holt's company, Miss Ross as leading lady, and Mr. Wheeler as stage manager and also a member of the cast—in which dual capacity he does efficient service with the production of "Secrets." One of the features of the Carl Rosa opera season at the Lyceum Theatre, says a London paper, has been theorchestral conducting of Andre Skalski. Like his great countryman, Paderewski, Mr. Skalsiri is also a piantot, and al though he is very much on the sunny side of 40—as a matter of fact he is only 33—has already won a reputation as a conductor, pianist, and lecturerecitalist in Poland, Russia, Germany, France, Australia, and New Zealand. He held the important post of conductor of the New South Wales 'State Orchestra in Sydney, and achieved great success throughout the Commonwealth. Skalski was a pupil of Arthur Nikisch, and, although the inestimable gift of imagination cannot be taught' even by such a master, there is no doubt that this young man possesses to quite a noticeable degree a great deal of Nikisch's magnetic personality, and, like him, commands instinctively not only the keen attention and admiration of his orchestra, but of his audience as well. Australia. .. ■ The death took place suxMtenly in Sydney last month of Mr. William T. Cunningham, who was in New Zealand a few weeks ago touring with the film "Romantic India." He was one of the guests at a dinner to Kreisler, the world-famed violinist, when he was stricken \f\th cerebral hemorrhage, from which he never rallied. The late Mr. Cunningham was over seventy yearn of age. Tht Picture*. Arrangement* for the Movie Ball, to b» held in the Town Hall, 23rd September, are moving apace. In the advertising columns will be found a list of prizes to be awarded for various representations of picture theatres and screen stars. A beautifully arranged souvenir programme is in course of preparation, .and ticket* are selling freely. The proceeds are in aid of the Karitane appeal His Excellency and Lady Alice Fergusson have signified their intention of be ing present if in Wellington at the time. Last year's function was voted the best of the • year, and endeavours are being made to make this year's ball an even greater success. Charlie Chaplin's latest comedy, the "Gold Rush," has pleased the critics, says the Los Angeles "Examiner." Chaplin, rigged out in his vagabond clothes, appears as a lone prospector, one of the backwash of humanity surging into Alaska in search of gold, and the object is laughter in the locale of of the frozen North and laughter certainly is evoked in an. abundance never exceeded in a chaplin film. Despite its ten reels (the longest comedy ever made), the interest is sustained without a waver. It is finely balanced, with just enough shading for contrast between comedy and tragedy to create a warm appeal. Chaplin has created no funnier tricks on the screen than the meal in the cabin in which he sacrifices one of his shoes for the piece de resistance —it is a very clever bit of pantomimic work. His wait for the dance hall girls who promised to eat New Year's dinner with him is also well done—it is one of the finest things the screen has seen. Dainty Jacqueline Logan has finished her first picture, "Thank You," under the contract which insures William Fox of Ijer service exclusively. Lou Tellegen remarked the other day that he has had innumerable screen roles as an American and a Frenchman, but in "East Lynne," the William Fox production, he is cast for the first time as an Englishman. Robert "M'Gowan, arbiter of the screen destinies of "Our Gang," has signed a new five-year contract with- Hal ■ Roach to direct these mischievous rascals in their film comedies for Pathe.

An outstanding feature of "The Bridge of Sighs," a coming Master Picture, now nearing completion, is the big ice palace scene, in which several hundred extras in. ice-skating costume take part with exhibitions by several fancy ice figure artiata from the vaudeville stage.

What* a husband going to do when his wife is the beautilul maiden of th» picture he's playing in?, That's a hard nut to crack, according to Huntly Gordon, who has considerable trouble keeping track of Marie Prevost in "Bobbed Hair," the new Warner Master picture.

Altho Ernst Lubitsch is announced by Warner brothers as being about to begin- his last short picture. Herr Ernst seems to be a trifle hazy in the matter himself. The picture he is about to begin is a Continental comedy, somewhat on the order of "The Marriage Circle." The Warner Brothers state that, following that, he will make only huge spectacles, none of which will cost less than 900,000 dollars.

Fred Thomson has romped through his latest Western vehicle, "The Bandit's Baby," and is now preparing to film "Sir Peigen Passes," an original story by William G. Tuttle. It is a Western story with much comedy, in which Fred and his famous white horse Silver King take a leading part.

Fred Thomson has been signed up by Major Thomson, managing director of F. 8.0., to star in F. 8.0. productions at the princely salary of 5000 dollars per week. Gramophone Notes. It is practically certain that merit rather than sentiment weighed witb Sir Hamilton Harty when he'conducted the performance of the Halle Orchestra for recording Esposito's lovely "Irish Suite" for tho Columbia Company. It is contained on one 12-inch disc, but it is a work full of variety and essentially Irish in spirit. It is bright and dolorous by turns, ljut never dull, and the performance ia masterly. Al.be Provost's novel,, "Maiuui L?cc.nut," provided three composers with litßi'arv material for uperafl: .Musseiiet. tuuuiui, and Aub.or. '.'liio just curtailad

the surname of Manon, and gave her Christian name to hi* most. successful and' still popular work. His opera "Manon" has been taken by the new Queen's Hall Light Orchestra as the subject of an excellent arrangement of the melodic gems in this work, and its recording for Columbia has been accomplished with unqualified success. Edna Thomas, the Jaay from the Southern States, who has made so great an impression on London and subsequently Australia and New Zealand_ with her negro minstrelsy and religious songs, opened up a new and rich field of musical interest for those who had not heard the original Fisk Singers. But a new singer of negro spirituals has arrived in the person of John Payne, a baritone blessed with a pleasing voice. He is being heard in New Zealand already through the gramophone, and exceptionally clear Columbia records have been made of his singing of "My Way is Cloudy," and "My Lord, What a Morning." Dvorak's "Slav Dance," as arranged by Kreisler, is a test for the violinist that few but the ablest of players should attempt. It has been recorded from a performance for Columbia by Leo Strockoff,' who brings out all the rare magic of the piece that Kreisler knows so well how to disclose. The record is one that the violin student should certainly have in his or her collection. The beautiful "Hymn to the Sun" is on the reverse.

Two evergreen duets, often heard at smoke concerts, and never failing to f've pleasure if they are well sung are alfes "Excelsior" and "Watchman, What of the Night?" It is extraordinary, well known as they are, how popular these duets are. These are records that should certainly find a place in every collection for use on musical evenings. The Bingers are Hughes Macklin (tenor) and Thorpe Bates (baritone). The records are by the Columbia Company.

Percy Grainger, the Australian pianist recording for Colombia, affords genuine pleasure in his performance of Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2," the one that is most frequently heard. For brilliancy of playing this record ia difficult to surpass. Mendelssohn's piano concertos have so much gone oufc of fashion as to lend special interest to the H.M.V. issue of the G minor with Moiseiwitsch as soloist and Sir Landon Ronald as conductor (writes a London critic). With a player so much in his. element as Mr. Moiseiwitsch is found in this music it is easy to understand why the concert-room was at one time a popular haunt for a class which novv-a-days goes elsewhere for its amusement.

The issue of Berlioz "Symphonic Fantastique," played by a famous French orchestra and conductor (Rhene ,Baton), took H.M.V. right out of sight of all other recording companies (says J. F. Poste, in a recent issue of "The Gramophone"). I hear-of ,a striking record recently published by H.M.V., 01205, where the Light Opera Company sings all, or nearly all, the songs from "No, No, Nane^, c ?? d '<Rp *e Mar*»-" The remarkable thing (says a critic) is the recording—the volume and balance. They seem to be quite unusual. ■::'■ As Sir Richard Terry points out in his introduction to the Shanty Book (Part I.) (Curwen), the sailors of the Merchant Service never sang the shanties as a recreation, but only at labour. One of the most famous of shanties is "Sh'enandoah," a tune as lovely in its way as the "Londonderry Air," full of the wind and waves^ The rollicking f'Rfo Grande" will sweep everyone off his feet^ "Billy Boy 1' is really & landsman's song that has found its way, on board ship, being altered in the process. "Can't You Dance the Polka?" with its American flavour, and "A-Roving" complete a series that does the ear good to hear and warms the cockles of the heart. These should be here soon.

The two versions' of Beethoven's

"Fifth" Symphony, have been recorded for- .H.MrYw.reepectivalyr by. the -RoyalAlbert Hall and the Berlin Philharmomo Orchestras.

Very few people —meaning, of course, not the musical "high-broWs," but just ordinary people like you and me—had ever so much as heard of Moussorgeky's "Song of the Flea," until a recording of it came to ub from the gramophone per medium of Chaliapine ; 7H.M.V., B103), in Kimsian, and Charles Tree (H.M.V., D 286 , and Robert Radford (H.M.V., 271), in English. It is a great song. Here are the words of the English translation :— Once long ago a king lived who kept luoh A fine, fat flea, (A flea! A ilea!) And cherished him us dearly v though a son were tie. A flea! Ua, hal A flea! Ha, ha! A fie*! ' He «ent for hii tailor, who cun* to court in tmst-e, "Now cut toy flea a doublet, and clothe him In good taste." A doublet tor a flea! Ha, ha! A (leal Ha, ha! • A flea! Ha, ha! A flea of taste! Our flea is dressed in velvet and lilk of golden hue, And full liberty to him Is given at the court! Ha ha! A flea! A minister the king made him, a diamond star he wore, And all his poor relations got order* galore! Ha, ha! The courtieri, male and female, they were no longer gay; The queen and all her ladies were pestered night and day. Ha, bat To ioratoh they were forbidden; they had to bear the prick; But we, when we are bitten, know how to scratch sod kick. Ha, ha!