Plays – Players – Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 31

Plays - Players - Pictures

THE SHOWS.

Opera Bouse— . "Frasquita," sth to 12th March. . 'The Best People" and "Meet the Wife" 16_th .March. '"No No Nanette," 31st March to 14th April. "Abie's Irish Rose," ICth April to 30th April. His Majesty's—Fuller's Vaudeville Regent—Vaudeville and Pictures. Be Luxe Theatre—Pictures. .King's Theatre—Pictures. j-ArtcrafV-Picturcs. ' " ■Our Theatre—Pictures. Empress Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures ' Strand Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre;— Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre—Pictures.

The advance of the repertory u.ove\t mellt A" .Sydney was one of the notable --.•; features of the drama during last -;:,: year's season. "Madras House/-' "Androcles and the Lion," "The Man Who Married a Dumb Wife," Pirandello's "Six Characters in 'Search cf an Author," and Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People," were produced by the Sydney Eepertory , Theatre Society, and so satisfactory was the response ■^f-of,/the public that this year it ha= been. ""..decided, the -performances- of tie society will be given for extended sea..sons at the Palace Theatre. Founded about six years ago, ostensibly to meet the tastes of the comparative few, the Sydney Repertory Society has extended its influence so steadily among .general body of playgoers, under Mr." Gregan M'Mahon's direction, that ■'■"" *"its ''guarantors, J. and- N. Tait, feel ,; j: ( amply, justified in enlarging its activi- ?■£'.!' ties in. the direction stated in the new,, season of 1927. Moreover, in Mel- .. bourne the repertory theatre, organised about 12 years ago by Mr. M'ftlahon, is now to come into line with that of Sydney, and will be carried on under the same 'financial and stage directorate. The'next season of the Sydney, society will open shortly with a production of John Drinkwater's poetic drama, M Mary Stuart." „ The other organisations engaged in this class of \vork have also spent ah .active year. _^,^ The death, at the Charterhouse, .on """12th January, of Mr. Horace Lingard,, removes one,of the oldest and' : most' respected of English stage veterans,; writes "The Post's" London eo'rrespondent. His career.as aii actor, md' manager has rarely"'been.'.equalled, in' the matter .of length." . His. first .engagement was at Bristol, in' 1854. The "Daily Telegraph" recalls that one of the conditions of his contract stipulated that -he should undertake '' responsible'business " at a, weekly salary of 15s. ".'.As, this was exactly the same figure accepted by Mario Wilton, the young man could find no reasonable ex-" cuso for' complaining. Many years later - Marie Wilton, who had become Mrs. Bancroft, committed to paper her impressions of her stay at Bristol. It *?>'. was in the stimulating atmosphere of ' ' Jf.'Mrs.; Bancroft, Kate and Ellen Tarry, A-'MadgC Kobertson, and Charles Ooglu lan, that I'orace Lingard acquired the first principles of tins art -.of acting. 'After appearing in "New York, '.- Mr. Lingard undertook two lengthy tours, appearing. in Australia and New Zealand. It was ono of his proudest boasts |jthat.-.,he, introduced to theatre-goers in 'those countries such favourites as "Our :Boys," "Pii.aforc," "David Gai-rick," • 'The Two Orphans.'' His wife, Miss ■"Alice'Lingard, a popular musical comody:: actress, died in, 189.7..'. Mr. Lingard is survived by his daughter, who is'"'the "wife of Mr. A. Godfrey, ausieal director' of the Alhambra, Glasgow. Towards the close of his life things did not go. too well financially,' and six years ago Mr. Lingard became one of • the Brethren of Charterhouse, being in this way relieved of monetary anxiety. ■Masterton amateurs are .. attempting "The Sunshine Girl" in September. It is a "smart musical comedy w,itb • pietty ■ melodies by the late Paul Rubona Before the war it .was a success in London at the Gaiety with twin stars in Phyllis Dare and Connie Ediss '(a remarkable comedienne out here m "So. Long, Letty" days). Later, the Finn, staged the comedy with Blanche Browne (sister to Herbert Browr.o, who played Karl in "Katja" recently") as Deila Dale, the pretty lady from Port Sunshine. Of Franz Lehar's brilliant opera which had its successful "•^Australian and New Zealand premiere at Ghristehurch, and which is to be represented at. the Grand Opera House, '"""Wellington, to-night, the critics write in terms of highost praise. It is generally conceded that in this spectacular production the composer of. "The Merry Widow" has surpassed all his previous efforts. Mr. John H. Tait, ~..«_i. --director of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., who ■'/.£*•>; s-'caino over specially from Melbourne to •u-.v. -»'^yij n -g ss - the initial performance, exy ;.;r.. himself as de.lighted with ■"£' :''fi "Frasquita,'' which reaches an excep- : -».^T*»tionally high literary.and musical stan-

dard, and confident that the opera will the same popularity in Australia jii as it is achieving in New Zealand. !'ji':''*i'' Dominion; audiences are highly intel ;,ji >j]igont," said Mr.. Tait to a;"Post'J re:;i; r.f;; jresentative, ."keen, yet" withal kindly j'| f critics:;^;'.They cannot bo fobbed' off i'-jj *;"\vithj Sriytlijng inferior. .ThereforOj the. • \. vfact. that they. j.ave acclaimed this lit-/ ■ji of-the cpmpoßer; of hr-. fam: Vji «ous 'Merry Widow' heartejis mo in the. Ml ■*I>elief; that.']?rasquita,' which has'cost !;;»over £30,000 to produce, will prove a .•:':) Ji favourite with tho theatre-coing pub.i }}i<i." ■ ' . . ■' ■ . • .;": A'i -There will be a. different cast ii "No, :; : i- *No r: . "Nanette;" in New Zealand from .;.;', -Jthat,wiiieh held sway in Australia. !;ij .*lElsie'Prince, Charlton Morton, and {:■>■ iiTiminy Goddenr, with.Olive Grant, who ;] .^is to .comeback from "Hullo, Healo! " ;'.ji.'Ware.the importations that remain, but-V:-l. SMa'dge'White -is out of the cast—Nelle !)\ .Jl>'ea;n.takes the part'of Lucelle. Paul- .;':':; inc. May Beatty's part, goes to Sadie '..'I Gale; Elsie Pajker.is still to be the f;j prim Sue Smith; Gladys Hermes bei^—comes Betty from Boston; and Phyllis■■j&a Barry is to bo Winnie from Wash Sngton. Oliver M'Lennan's old part of ■-~"~::Tom Traiiior goes to 1 Claude Holland. J. C. 'Williamsou announce alterations in the date of their forthcoming attractions. "Abie's Irish Rose" (to be presented by J. C. Williamson's. Ltd., under arrangement with Sir Ben-

jamin and Mr. John Fuller) will open at the Grand Opera House on 16th April and conclude on 30th April. "No, No. Nanette" (also presented under the same arrangement) will run from 31st March to 14th April. Australia is getting ready to welcome one of the most celebrated actors on the English stage, Mr. Arthur Bouchier, who will arrive there some time this year. He is now touri-g South Africa with a specially selected company of actors, who will commence aj Australian season at the conclusion of their present engagement. The whole tour will take two years. Among the plays to be presented is the celebrated drama "The Fake," recentJy played ir Wellington by the Moscovitcli "Company. Miss Nellie Dean, appearing at Pullers' Theatre, has been selected to play the part of Lucille (formerly played by Miss Madge White) "No, No, Nanette." The company have just commenced a tour of Queensland. A New Zealand tour is to follow. Miss Dean is a daughter of George Dean, a wellknown actor, who recently played with Nellie Stewart at the Grand Opera House, -Sydney, when she revived '•'Sweet Nell."

Judith Anderson and Leon Gordon are starring at the Criterion Theatre, Sydney, in "Tea For Three." Wallace Clark made up the other principal- in the east., This play is only to run for a fortnight, as Gordon has made arrangements to return to America: The play. is. entertaining, and deals with tho eternal triangle. The fact that Miss Gladys Moncrieff, the Australian songster and actress, has been given the leading role in "The Blue Muzurka," produced at Daly's Theatre, London, points to success attending Australian actors and actresses in England (states the "Sydney Referee").. They may have difficulty in getting the first foot on the ladder but once there they invariably go up the ladder. It is interesting to note in this connection the part George Highland has played in putting many 'Australian stars in the-larger firmament of the London theatrical world. He has uncanny sense in selecting obscure'-be-gmners who show latent talent and making stars of them ir. an incredibly short l/iic. It was Highland who first discovered Gladys Moncricff sevc years ago. He starred her in his production ot Katmka" at Her Majesty's This play proved that he had again picked a winter, for Gladys went on to make a wonderful success in ••Maytiire" and '.'Maid of, tho Mountains." Gladys Monerien- is not by ai.y means the only one. ; George Highland discovered many others.-. It was c who picked out of the chorus or ballet Josie Melville, Dor othy Seacombe, Adelo Crane, Berl Waikeley, Jessica Harcourt, Rene Hircourt Eileen Ogden, Mac Baird, Gladys Hermes, Cyril Ritchards, Noel Allan, -William Valentine, Jack Dunne, William Cavanagh, Harry Rutcliffe, William iPorryniaii,, just to mention a few who have made a name for themselves in Australia. London, and New York in opera, drama, or the movies. Besides dis ivering young Australians and making them known, George Highland pro (luces for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., spectacular long-run successes, such as 'Rose Mario," which has just concluded a record-breaking run. "Charley's Aunt" was 34 this year; she was born at the Royalty Theatre,London, in 1802, and is considered still strong enough to give two performances a. day throughout the Christmas olidays. ■ No ono originally connected with the play expected a great deal from it but the critics used superlatives in writing about it, and the public flocked to the box-office in such numbers that very soon it liad to be moved to a bVjrcr theatre... ■ •:■ ■

Mr lav Maclean, at one time'wellknown as-a bass singer, and who'later played with Oscai Aschc, Lady ForbesRobertson, and Moscovitch in their. Australian tours, has mad< a success in London. He has been selected :as one of the foui\ principals in tho produc•VT. 0, 1 a new play ' "Aloma," at the Adelphi Theatre. Musical Notes. Piano playing at a time when nearly every branch of music seeks liberation, is more.effectually than any otlier, perhaps, establishing itself on a new basis. Held fo. i long period in conformity svith the prescriptions of this or that illustrious teacher, it is asserting its independence of single and specific authority aiid is oeedming a separate rule and practice for each musician. Under.ideas that prfcvaileYl before the war, thepiano war: evidently thought of by players not so much as their own voice as the coinposor's. Their duty was to subordinate themselves and to exalt Chopin and Liszt. Their responsibility to the public consisted in withholding any "»».'ws of men and things they might entertain on their own account, and to restate the message of the nocturnes' and rhapsodies as originally delivered. But no longer. The pianists who capture audiences to-day are those who trust their own artistic insight and technical papacity. Most of them cling too fondI. no doubt,, to conventional programme material; But some of them give attention.to enlarging the repertory,.calling'back) ancient works to honour and bringing forward modern ones to not.ice. The whole account figured, the pianist of the present turns out (says

the" Christian Science Monitor") to be a richer contributor than the pianist of the past. For he gives of his own store instead of from another's. Then, in expressing himself, he manages to disclose as "clearly as his predecessor ever did, the intellectual and emotional force of Mozart's and Brahms's main theme subsidiary theme, development, and' coda. More than this, he causes, in sonic eases, busy moments for the man a' the ticket '.window.

An eleven-year-old girl at the London Orphans' School, Watford, has written so charming a, .card, both words and music, that Sir H. Walford Davies, the composer, described it as "extremely beautiful' and has had it broadcast by wireless. The girl' (Annie Lucille Fanning) has had the ddight of hearing her carol, "Little Bab. Jesus," sung by Sir Walford, by three boys of "the Temple Church choir under his direction, and by the girls of the school in their eh,apel.

It is through art that people find the expression of their better, truer selves. Sometimes it is expressed in literature, sometimes iv sculpture and architecture, sometimes in'painting, but of all the fine arts there is none that makes such an universal and compelling appeal as music. No other expression of beauty finds such readily and naturally, ennobling response in the heart, of Mankind. It is the art especially representative o; .lemocraey of the hope or the world...When at the dawn of creatioi, r- it was, revealed to he ™? thanksg lvlng and pr 3e found expression in music, the stars sang, toother for -joy, "-President Coolidge. The Pictures. tn^rt? °AP tcm Si"*'s latest pietine for First National is entitled "The fir i e Eunaway Enchantress," b. Mary Heaton Torse.' In this picture Sills play, the role of a fisherman inthe Canary Islands, and he is ably KnnV iv eVS™I- th° oast delude Larry ArUft £ a° WhUe> Kate Pr!ee ' ««* Arthur Stone. - -

During-the filming of "AVhat Price tS+ i v «lg Proiluction recently completed at the Fox studios, a whole village was built to be destroyed. The scenes of the film are laid in. France during the war, and a young villa™ sprang mto being at Fox studios, complete with dozens of tiny ■ cottages -shops, taverns; and every detail necessary tor a perfect scene. After all the necessary scenes had been pictured a time was set for the big scene, which was to represent the bombardment of .tho village. Big .plugs of dyriamite were set oft, and in a very short space of time nothing remained of the huge set beyond . scattered timber, - yawninc chasms, and' bricks.

Harry .Langdon, First National star is now at work on "Long Pants." He has gathered together an excellent cast, which includes such players as- Pris^ cilia Bonner, Gladys Broadwood, Al Roscoe, Alma Bennett, and Frankie Dai-row, together with little Betty Bakel, a new Langdon "find," who has a small romantic part. It is conceded by the- critics that on the record of his past performances it is the greatest and funniest picture to date. ... ".Whispering Wires" is one of the latest productions from tho Fox studios, ■and "is described 1 as-being one of thb best mystery stories ever produced. An underground cellar,' unknown to the occupant, provides the/ place for tho invention of all sorts of devices, intended to terrify, and finally destroy the inhabitants of the house. Mysterious passageways, sliding panels, a telephone with a death-dealing device in the receiver—these all contribute to the

j thrilling sequences of the story. Anita | I Stewart, Edmund Burns, and a big cast interpret the story. "Orchids and Ermine," "Easy Pickings," and ''An Affair of ftie Follies" are the First National picture to be released shortly. Colleen-Moore is the star in "Orchids and Ermine," while I Anna Q. Nillson and Kenneth Harlan would share the honours in "Easy Pickings." "An Affair of tho Follies,"- the latest of the releases, includes such players as Lewis Stone, Billy Dove, and Lloyd Hughes, and will be ably supported " by Arthur Stone and Bertram Marlborough. "The Yankee Clipper," which is being directed by Robert Julian for' P.D.0., is a powerful story of the sea, and includes a famous raco between two sailing ships from England to the Orient. Included in the cast are William Boyd, Elinor JPaire, Julia Faye, and will be ably supported by other well-known players. . "The Blonde Saint," the latest First National picture, starring Doris Kenyon . and Lewis ( Stone, is heralded by the critics as a beautiful example of First National's high-class pictures. It con tains superb acting by both feature players, and is all-round good entertain-, ment. l ' ' . .', "The Silent Lover," starring Milton. Sills and Viola Dana, deals with life in the French Foreign Legion, and affords many opportunities for Milton Sills, who makes the most of them. It possesses many colourful desert scenes, and is full of action right from start to finish. This picture will be shortly released by First National. Huntley Gordon will be Andrew Paris and Josef Swikard will have the role of Old .G: -1 in " One Increasing Purpose," the Fox picturisation of the A. S. M. Hutchinson novel. These are outstanding character parts of the. work. Edmund Lowe as Sim Paris, and Lila Lee as Elizabeth, have the leads. The interiors of the picture are now being made at the Fox West Coast Studios, and the exteriors in London and surrounding country. . . !