Mimes and Music

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1926, Page 25

Mimes and Music

BY"ORPHEUS"

THE SHOWS. Opera Ilouse— Opera House—New "English Comedy Company, in "Unfair Sex," in season. Concert Chamber—C.T.C. Choir, to-night. His Majesty's—Fuller's Vaudeville. De Luxe Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre—Picture?. Britannia. Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Picture*.

Australia's old favourite, Henrietta Watson (lead for George Eignold), created Mrs. Lennox for the London production or! "The Best People."

Kenc Eiano (the eccentric dancer who was in New Zealand with Williamson vaudeville) has been appearing at the Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, at a salary, said to be the largest paid .at .that house since the engagement of Gilda Grey, the dancer.

"Barry Lupino, English pantominiist and musical comedy star, so well remembered out here, is now doing a double act in English vaudeville. His partner is Jennie Gregson, now said to Lie one of the finest "feeders" in Great Britain..

Miss Beryl Barraclough, the delightful character comedienne with the Joseph Cunuinghain 's New Euglish Comedy Company, which has commenced a New Zealand tour at the Opera House, Wellington, hails from Sheffield. Miss Barraclough is much travelled, having toured South Africa, the Near, Middle, and the Far East, Egypt, and the Continent.

, Tlio definite announcement is • now made of the opening of Williamson's new beautiful theatre, "The Eegent," in Manners, street. The scaffolding in front of the building is now cleared, disclosing an imposing edifice. The Eegent will be opened at 8 o'clock on Friday;". 3rd December, with a programme consisting of a Paramount Master picture, "Beau Geste," and a strong vaudeville programme. An operatic orchestra of'fourteen selected soloists under Mr. M. T. Dixon will render a specially arranged musical accompaniment. Two- performances will be given daily at 2 o'clock, and 8 o'clock, whilst intermediary sessions of the picture programme only will be held at 12 noon and 4.30 p.m. Elocutionists should not miss the opportunity of hearing Miss Henrietta Cavendish, of the Joseph Cunningham English Comedy Company, now starting a brief tour of New Zealand at the Grand Opera House. It is a treat to hear English spoken as it should be spoken without any mouthing or pedanticism, and with proper regard for the splitting of sibilants and the pronouncing of final consonants. Miss Cavendish,, has earned distinction as an actress in the principal West End London Theatres, and is touring New Zealand for th'c. first time, and those who have heard and seen her in "The Unfair Sex" and "Eliza Comes to Stay" hope it will not be her last, wife. Not siuce the days of "the famous Pope and Sayles have theatregoers seen such a distinctive pair of coloured comediaus as Eva Bates and Archie Grant (says a Sydney paper). These stars from America arc two bright spots from Darktown, who are seen in a.medley of song, dance, and jest, presented in true nigger style. Mr. Grant, in addition to being a clever comediau, is as accomplished musician, and occasionally accompanies his dusky partner at the piano. Their lively song and dance, "Alabamy Bound," their quaint, shuffling steps, and nigger dances, and amusing dialogue is at all times new and original. This bright pair are one of the most entertaining turns at Fuller's Theatre.

Messrs. Dick White and Erie Edgely, who are responsible for the coming to New Zealand of Joseph Cunningham's New English Comedy Company, are to be congratulated on their enterprise. They, of course, take little risk with such a splendid company and such famous plays as. "The Unfair Se.v," "Eliza Comes to Stay;" "The Sport of Kings," and "Outward Bound," all of. which bear the indelible stamp of big London successes.

"Meet the- Wife," a new comedy, is at present playing in Melbourne. It is the story of a woman who aspires to bo a' social leader, who talks humbug about poetry and nonsense about everything. Her husband disappears during the San Francisco earthquake, and she, believing him dead, marries again. The second husband makes the acquaintance of a new author, and invites him to his home. Consternation prevails when this man meets the wife. She at once recognises him as her long-lost' first husband. Marion Lord plays the London is shortly to have its first subscription theatre. The Forum Theatre Guild, formed on lines similar to tliose of the Theatre Guild of Now York, is described by its promoters as "an attempt to ninlto stage history by the establishment of a permanent theatre of high artistic endeavour on a subscription basis." Though it looks forward to eventual possession of its own. theatre, the guild's first intention is -to take one of the best West-end theatres.

"The level of acting on the English slage lias not improved since the days when actors ceased to be vagabonds," says Osberfc Sitvrell, the society poet, who recently raised a storm of protest over his attack 0)1 actors and actresses for their sporting proclivities. "It is still lagging behind the 19th century," Mr. Sitwoll adds, "and exhibits bo new features, except an increased Americanism due to the incapacity of the English stage compared with the American, and also a steady deterioration in stage audibility. But considering the imbecility of many of the plays produced, perhaps we ought to be grateful for that, because they are breaking London of the theatre-going habit." Sir James Barrio's extravagant phantasy, "The Truth about the Eussiau Dancers," has been revived at the Savoy Theatre, London, with the famous ballerina, Madame Karsavina, in the leading role. The play is a sort of burlesque of ballerinas and old English melodrama, and the graceful dancing it contains is 0110 of its most beautiful yet odd features. On the sauio programme, by the way, is Seymour Hicks and Ellaline Terris in "Sleeping Partners," which Aucklanders will remember seeuig two years ago. Pauline Frederick, the famous film actress, who toured New Zealand last year is to play in "Madame X" in London. Miss-Frederick'has not hitherto acted on the English stage. She played the leading part in "Madame X," as a film, some years ago, and last July played the star part in a stage version which was produced at San Francisco and then taken on to Los Angeles When appearing as an actress her salary is usually £300 a week, with a percentage of the takings. "We are on the eve of a new golden age of the English theatre," declared Miss Glemencc .-Dane, the author-play-wright, at tho Soroptimist Club luncheon in London. "Never," said Miss Cane, ''since the time of Elizabeth nave things looked so bright." It ij almost impossible to discuss the theatre without discussing religion, she added It is impossible to study history without realising that no nation possessed a great theatre at a time when it waa

not, lv its widest sense, a religious nation. Only people with an awakened religious sense would listen to such plays as Bernard Shaw's "St. Joan," Galsworthy's "The Skin Game," Noel Coward's "The Vortex," Barries "The Will," Drinkwater's "Abraham Lincoln," and many others. Musical Notes. j Gregory Jvanoff, the Russian violin- ; ist, appearing with Edgley and Dawe.'s Midnight Frolics at Fullers' Opera House at Auckland, comes of a very musical family. His father is a professor at King's College, Canterbury, and he has two brothers, both talented instrumentalists, and well known in Europe, one a violinist and the other a 'cellist. He holds the degree of M.A., entered the Conservatoire of Moscow, and in 1899 secured the first prize offered by that institution. He has appeared with great success as a solo violinist in Paris and London, and has also performed with distinction in Petroerad, Odessa, Sevastapol, and other plftces. M. Ivanoff served a term of two years in the Russian Army with the Life Guards, being the solo violinist of tho orchestra provided by that corps, and had the honour of playing before the late Tsar's family and the Duke Nicholas. Assisted by about sixty members of the Royal Wellington Choral Union and an augmented orchestra, the Levin Chor.nl Society are producing the "Messiah" on 29th November, and, there will be 150 performers under Mr. Edward Dennis. Amongst the soloists are Madame Winnie Eraser, Miss Minn, Caldow, and Mr. Len Barnes. The society is to be congratulated on its enterprise, and it should receive good support. Dame Ethel Smyth has received from Oxford University the much coveted honorary degree of Doctor of Music. She is probably Britain's most distinguished of women composers. Her grand opera, "The Wreckers," has had many performances on the Continent and in Great Britain; and her j lighter and more romantic, "The Boatswain's Mate," has been very popular in the English opera houses. Dame' Smyth's first opera, "The Forest,"'was produced at the Metropolitan of New j York, under Heinrich Conried, after its premiere at, the Royal Opera of Berlin. The London Bach Choir, organised for the performance of the "Mass in B Minor," celebrated in June its fiftieth anniversary. Its first conductor was Otto Goldschmidt (Jenny Lind's husband), and succeeding leaders have been Sir Charles Villiers Stanford and Sir Walford Davies. Marie Roze, one of the most favoured of prima donnas of the 1870's and '80's, died in hospital near Paris in the last week of June. She was one of the particular stars of the Mapelson and | Strakosch troupes and of the famous Carl Rosa Company, of England. She was particularly successful in the leading roles of "Carmen," "Fidelio," "Lohengrin," "Aida," "Don Giovanni," and "The Magic Flute." After her retirement she was for many years a prominent teacher of singing in Paris. "Winona," a romantic opera, by Alberto Bimboni, founded on aii American Indian legend, and interpreting the spirit of the Red Man's life with much of the poetic fancy that has made Longfellow's "Hiawatha" so fascinating, is mow being prepared for production by the American Grand Opera Company of Portland, Oregon. Percy Grainger, who is to give concerts in New Zealand shortly, was born in Brighton, Melbourne, and received his first instruction from his mother, a fine musician. At the age of ten he made his first public appearance as a pianist. He also had lessons from Louis Pabst, was a pupil of J. Kwast (pianoforte) in Frankfort, and a little later studied for a time with Busoni. His career as a pianist began in London, where he created a sensation. He then toured. Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia,, and South Africa, meeting everywhere with the greatest success. Returning to London in 1906, he met Greig, who was so impressed with the young artist's playing that he invited him to his villa, Troldhaugen. Here they spent the summer of 1907 preparing for the Leed* Festival, at which Grainger was to have played Grieg's pianoforte concerto with the master himself as conductor. Death, however, frustrated the plan, for on 4th September Grieg passed away. Nevertheless, Grainger did play the concerto, and gave such a masterly interpretation that over since he has been identified in a special mannar with this work. The famous Strad. used by Kubelik, the great violinist, is valued at £25,----000 and went to England from Brussels in .1815. It was given the name of the "Messiah/ or "Emperor." Eventually Mr. Edgar Haddoclc, of Leeds, acquired it, and, as is generally believed, sold it in 1910 to Kubelik for £10,000, the same sum once refused by tho City of Genoa for Paganini's "Joseph." The only figure comparable with this is the £7000 which Eugene Ysaye is credited with having refused for his Strad.; £3500 was realised for the Red Cross at Christie's during the war, where Lady Wernher's Strad. fetched £2000, and £1500—a unique selling. Platti's Strad. 'cello fetched £4000— from Mendelssohn, the Berlin banker.