Plays – Players – Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 25

Plays - Players - Pictures

THE SHOWS. Opera HouseHumphrey Bishop Company, in season. "Frasquitii," stu to 12th March. 'The Best People" and "Meet the Wife' 16th March. "No No Nanette," Ist April. His Majesty's—Fuller's Vaudeville. Kegent—Vaudeville and Pictures. De Luxe Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft— Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Strand Theatre-Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures Princess Theatre—Pictures

Those who attended the Australasian premiere of Lehar's. brilliant comic opera, "Frasquita," -at Christchurch J-neatre Royal speak in enthusiastic •terms of the glorious music, the witty dialogue, and the feast of colour. There are many dramatic interludes in this latest conception of theauthor of "The Merry Widow," and in these Marie Burke distinguishes herself.. The second act makes, a" particular and"general appeal. It is a night cabaret -where' 1 Jfrasquita, the: gipsy girl,: is transformed into a magnificent creature, torn with conflicting emotions. Her scenes with her lover, Armand (Hubert : Browne), are intensely dramatic, and Miss Burke greatly impressed the audience with her emotional acting. The finale in this act was most effective, and at its close the vast audience burst into enthusiastic applause. "The Firm" will assuredly find this opera a great boxoffice- draw when it opens .in "Wellington on sth March.

The Bon Bon Revue Company has firmly established itself as a favourite show with Dunedin' v audiencesj* antl* is sure of a long and successful season, states the "Dunedin Star." The cast is particularly strong. As each revue is presented to the public it is easily seen that Mr. Roberts has wisely distributed his material to the members of the cast who are most fitted to getvthe .best results. : ■;'..■:■

The record-breaking "No, No, Nanette," opens at the .Grand Opera House on Ist April. This musical comedy has enthralled_ Australian audiences for many months.

" Scaramouche," which was recently seen in film form, will be produced by Sir John Martin Harvey during his coming season in London. .. ... .. , ,

Bert Ralton, of the famous Sayoy Havana Band,;who paid a visit to New Zealand a year ago; was fatally injured by 4 :gun 'accident in Rhodesia while game shooting. Though suffering great painj he flayed the ukulele and sang to his'companions for nearly three hours until he fell back unconscious. '

"The Whole Town's Talking,?' and " Caetles in-the Air," two plays recenty ly produced in England, are forthcoming t3C.'; ;C. Williamson/attractions for presentation; in Australia, this year. •

Arrangements have been made by Ben and Jphn Fuller with J. C. Williamson, JLtd., fbr the staging of-"Abie's Irish' Rose," at His Majesty's .Theatr.e-, Auckland, on 29th March. This, successful American'play, the first play to be lyronght to New.Zealand by the Fuller firm since Seymour Hicks came to the Opera House a few years ago, was to have been presented at the Prince Edwards Theatre, but-a fmcre satisfactory arrangement has :been arrived at.'.""- A similar understanding, between the tjvo big 'theatrical firms' was noticeable, in some "of the cities in Australia lately. "Abie's Irish Rose" has had" the longest run of ;.any theatrical show- in the world. ifc>M,n. fpr 'f>ve^ears;i.jiiVjTewA York, arid hscspissedS the extraicirdinary' four and a half years'■; record 'put up: by "Chu Chin Chow"; in London. At the moment of writing it is still running in New York, but so far it has not been staged in London. It. .is a delight-ful';eo'medy-drama, and is interpreted 1 by an American company. Ad^ Nicholls, who wrote and produced the play inJNew.York, has made a fortune out of it. She is only a few years over thirty. - Probably two of the youngest'of ,the important theatrical managers of Aus-' tralia and New- Zealand to-day/;'^are' Messrs. Dick White and Eric.jEdgley£ and it is not generally known tti<it;;;ttiey> are brothers. Mr. • Me Edgley directs'; the business destinies o" "The Midnight Frolics," whilst Mr. Dick White conducts the operations of .the Joseph Cunningham Comedy' Company, which,' with the popular Miss Zillafi,Batenian' as leading lady, has now fijariiy^estalylished itself in popular f avoja >in |Aus-? tralia and New Zealand. :;The;i!Mid^ night Frolics is, of course, ■'■'-a' ''> muctf older organisation, and is gerier^aily2-esj. teemed as one of the finest 'c6i?iblna~ tions of its kind.ever seen in'Stiiele!;: countries; " The" Midnight Frolics is^eer^ tainly the greatest full-bill attraction that has yet been seen on the Fuiler circuit. •

Nellie Bramlcy has brought some new artist back with her, as well as somff old favourites (says the Sydney "Sun"). Her leading man is .Brett Rand«ll, who played the same part in "Fair and Warmer" in England as he has here. In fact, it pursues him through life. Mabel Gower, who. originally! came out with Lawrence Grossmitii for "The Silver Fox" and other plays, has since been back in England Splaying in "LightninV" She returned, a little while ago, liking Australian theatrical conditions best. John Galway, Rutland Beckett, George Crossi William M' Gowan, Millie Carlton, and George Hewlett are old friends.

Albert Whelan, who played so successfully as lehabod Bronson in "The Belle of New York" in New Zealand and also in vaudeville,, is on the bill at the Shepherd's Bush Empire .(London): :''

Fred. ."Wiltshire, late assistant' to Houdini, the famous magician and gaolbreaker, says that Houdini has not carried all his secrets to the grave. He has the knowledge of nine of his escapes; including the famous water .illusion.

Alfred "Woods and Maude 'Williamson, whom older theatregoers will remenjberin "Joseph of Canaan*" "The Manxman," etc;,are still^on top. After long-periods of touring in U.S.A., they are now in England, .where Miss ,Wil liamson originally came from with. "The.. Silver Falls" Company, thai included Alg Bueklaw, J. Clyndes, and Clara^Cowper. The troupe played "The Pointsman" and other pieces, and toured under the Triumvirate's regime: Woods 'and Miss Williams are how" on tour in the provinces with "Naughty Nights." i

JProm the lips .of Prbfcsor Hippolyt Gallipot (Mr. R. Barret-Lennavd) and Geteial Aristide Girot (Mr. Cecil Kellaivay), two humorous characters in Letar's sparkling comic opera, "Prasqui£a," to bo produced .it Wellington oiiiSaturday, sth March, fall many sago rejnarks. Here is one for which Hippolyt; Gallipot is responsible.. Dolly, the general's daughter, is telling the old story—of love. "Oh," she cries, ecstatjcally, "my husband must lie my sweetheart —my sweetheart for life." Galipot: "Such husbands are very 'difi ficttlt to rear, my dear. A woman with a really reliable-husband is a widow!" ;MThere is no truth in the report that I>am retiring from the stage," says Miss Irene Vanbrugh, discussing the statement that she intends bringing her stage career to an end 'after her next W<3st End appearance in London. "ISfothing is further from my thoughts," she continued. "I shall only retire when I have to, and I hope that is a long way off. I am tcuring in 'All the King's Horses,' but that ends soon. Then. I shall tako s t short holi-

day before starting rehearsals for Mr. Sutro's new play, 'The Desperate Mothers.' " Musical Notes. ;■■ Ignaz Friedman, the great Polish pianist, is to tour Australia and New Zealand' under the direction of Mr. E. J. Carroll. "M. Ignaz Friedman undoubtedly belongs to the great pianists of our time. The delight we take in his performance has often its origin in the matchless perfection of his execution in those scales and trills which may be a mere ripple. M. Friedman gave us the thrills of a great fencer in and out'with shining blade." —London :'! Daily Telegraph." "It is strange how very little a name means to us until it has poured its opulence of geniiio -into our being, and then, for ever after,-.that..name becomes the symbol of magic, Thus the wise ones who attended Friedman's first recital in London : are .'congratulating themselves.''— London;:,M Musical Times.'.'

.'lf the year?, that: has now closed had shown in regard to its musical doings aay: just, proportion between their actual importance' and their quantity one could,almost have.looked back upon it as epoch-making,•'.writes the. English .critiCjiErnest Kuh'e, in a musical review of 1926. As a matter of fact, it would be ' difficult-to recall one that proved, so barren^ofc events of any .vital interest.or importance. .....There iias not been/produc,ed in s ;Londbri oneJnew. opera, foreign or native,. ;of any real- significance, not one piece of music;in any of our con-cert-halls that could honestly be said .to haye 1 excited more than passing interest. We had at Covent Garden an international opera season as good, perhaps, in point of the general level of perforhian"ce as any that has been given there since the brave old days before the war..; The repertory, however, remained stationary, and not even an ■;embryonic.:.Puccini' appeared on the operatic no'rizonV 'As for native opera, surely its star has never been less in the ascendant. Owing to financial considerations the 8.N.0.C. did not find it possible 'to organise a season in London, and, so far as novelties are concerned, the ..only addition to its repertory in the provinces was Ernest Bryson's "The Leper's Flute," composed'to a libretto—generally, admitted to be mucH "above the average—by lan Oolvin. '•- The only British operatic novelty heard iir London was Mrs. Adela Mad"TppoTita" of "■ the..Hills,'" of :;-whieh-:;t,he :o ,productio3i^ ;;:at the Chelsea '^(^%e]^e'4trej-;;undqjrkpn'6..to6;..iaTour-■abl^^pjiditionsi' bceurred^sp. reqetitlyj'as :tb''mak#any-jfurther ed'mmerit-'-.upori'it nnnecesiss,rj;/.: V: - •' • ■'■:' .'■■- -.'.;.:■■"■■■•,:.■ :'*■.'' ;':

" FoU^'song-has undoubtedly'ebmeviato its pwiij..writes.Kobin H. Leggej/in the London.; !'What Cecil^S.harpe did. for English ,f oik-song ■ind.iMrs^.K«nnbdy-I'r'aser for Scottish rf9l^SQngr'MHe,:..Gerii Sadero didfor the ;Sofigs^ of-ltaly^and, I now learn, Zia Bey-itiivltlie^sdngs^of,; Turkey. A inissJofrlpdvib^iZia^Be^left Constantinople ■^;|h^ilaStid^;oflJuly,.iand has.lately ||t](^n^dy3?gafingwith, it. 250 folk-songs '^ih^redKin'.iSarious ■ parts of, Anatolia. Zia-Bey^ whb'is the director of tHe Constantinople Consercatoire—the Dar-ul-Elhan-^—is enthusiastic about his sue : ' cess,.and hopes to resume the tour later and explore other corners of the Empire armed with gramophone and music paper, so as to obtain impressions at first hand and reduce .them to musical notation "on the spot." Apparently .this,.has ;been a timely effort, for it appears ./that the younger generation is completely indifferent to the charm of popular music, and the best records ■tfere made by singers over 45 years of popular music, aid the best records are "made in the next few years the older generation which ..cherishes the old melodies will have all passed away. The songs are said to be "typically Turkish.".. I do . not know whether .this will commend them to the amateur, but it is. certain to appeal totlie' lovers of -local colour. .

The Pictures. ' Throughout America "Don Juan," featuring John Barrymore, has proved itself one of the most remarkable successes produced by Hollywood. The popularity of. that suavo lover, Barrymore, is more pronounced than ever. The supporting cast in this magnificent production includes Mary Astor and Estelle Taylor.

m T, I! O comparative youngsters, Richard .Walling and Janet Gaynor, playing the juvenile leads in "The Return of Peter trrimm,". have risen to the ranks of the stars from obscurity in a very short time. Dick Walling was a "still" photographic cameraman in the Fox Hollywood studios little more than a year ago,, but a director saw that ho was a type needed for "The Midnight Kiss," and young Dick was given the role. Since then he has appeared in "Marriage License," "The Return of Peter Grimm," and "The City." Janet Gaynor made her Fox debut in "The Johnstown Flood," and displayed such marked dramatic'ability that she was signed to a long-term contract, and lias played in "The Shamrock Handicap," "The Blue Eagle," and now in "The Return.of Peter Grimm."

In "The Winning of Barbara Worth," which is described as one of United Artists biggest releases for 1927,' the leading characters are taken by Ronald Colman (an Englishman) and Vilma Banky (the Hungarian beauty). The big part of James Greenfield is played by the well-known London actor, E. S-. Rateliffe, whilst the chief comedy roles are taken by Edwin Connelly (Englishman) and Clyde Cook (Australian). "The Winning of Barbara Worth" will be released in New Zealand next month.

"The Coming of Amos," a First National production which will be seen shortly in Wellington, features Reel. La Rocque." In "The Coming of Amos" a rich handsome young lad, with untold wealth at his demand, after a life of nothing but sage-brush and sheep herding on an isolated Australian ranch, suddenly settles down among the fashionable merry-makers of the gay Riviera. Ungainly, awkward in dress, manner and appearance, from the moment of his arrival, he is the butt of jeers and jests of the fashionable gatherings he attends, that he might bask in the smile of a- beautiful princess. This unusual situation is surrounded with tense . melodramatic situations. With Rod La Rocque in the starring role of the young sheep herder, and Jetta Goudal in-a featured part as the Charming princess, Paul Sloanee, the director, has built a screen masterpiece. Twenty famous American authors wrote "Bobbed Hair," a Master Picture announced for early release. It stars Marie Prevost and Kenneth Harlan. It is; an ultra-modern romance that starts oft :: with : the unconventional whimsies of an impetuous society girl who plans to. choose her husband by bobbing her hair —and sensationally exciting incidents make the night of her decision a wild crescendo of adventure.

The two romantic young stars of "Fig Leaves," the Fox production shown here recently, Geoige O'Brien and Olive Borden, play ihe leading roles in, " Three Bad . Men." Miss Bprden' is cast as the orphan whose guardians are three outlaws with prices on' their heads., in every State in the "Union: Her Ohejplessness and trusting nature transform them into gentle, protective guardians, whoso best characteristics are brought to '.light in the thrilling race for the gold-fields which constitute the most impoTta.nt scene in "Three Bad Men." Tom Santschi, Frank Campeau, and J. Fitrrell MacDonald play these very human parts. One of the most widely travelled actresses now appearing in pictures is Lucy Beaumont,-who plays an important role in "Men of the.Night," to be released. shortly ,by_,. Universal. Miss Beaumont was born in England, educated there and in Paris, and began her acting career in Great Britain. She toured the British "provinces" and then went with, a theatrical troupe which, toured the Far East. She appeared on the stage in Amisrica before turning to screen acting. The Master Picture, "Sweet Eosie O'Grady" due for early release, starring Shirley Mason, sister of the diminutive Viola Dana, is a whimsical romance. Shirley Mason, although one of tho smallest stars in Hollywood possesses a remarkable flair for originality in her work. : '".'.■ '-„' • Reginald Denny, the popi'lal- Universal eomedianj whose late3t picture, "Take It From Me," is announced for early release, may return is. the stage very shortly, according to the plans of "Universal Pictures Corporation. Mr. Laemmle, the head of the film company, plans to enter the'legitimate stage production field, and is thinking of starring,the popular farceur in a stage presentation between pictures within the^next-vycar.. ;■.;. j '

Madge ' Bellamy, has just finished "Bertha th'e'i&ewing-Maehihe Girl" for the Fox release -schedule, and is taking a rest before coihmencing ]■ her third starring vehicle. ■ '■'■■: .