Plays – Players- Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 30 April 1927, Page 25

Plays - Players- Pictures

'!£ * . THE SHOWS. i)jf«ta House— ?i\ "Able'a Irish Rose,"' season closes to-nlshL •jr.' "Lidy be Good," 18th June to 2,4 th June, town Hall— . / ■.;<••, Frlodhiin, pianist, flrst wotik In July. :\h PaderowsM, pianist, Bocond week in July. Concert Chamber—Miss Klla Benbow, to-night. m Majesty's—Fullor'a Vaudeville Regent—ViudcslUo and .Pictures. W- Luxe Theatro —Pictures. Xing'* Theatio—Pictures. *ttcr»f^-?ictures. > . Oijr Tliestro^-Plcturcii. Imprest Theatre-^Picttlrcs. Bhprtt'a Theatre—Pictures. Sirand Theatre—Plcturta. BrlUnnl*. Theatre —Pictures. Qiieen'B Theatre—Picture?, l^nwss - Theatre—Pictures. jjMW May Beatty, the well-known wuaadienno, was in Paris when the ISit mail left. Jennie Hartley, well remembered hero, is touring England in the rtyue, "The Mustard Club." K-l<'Bweet Nell. 1 of Ola Drury," with Nellie Stewart,'is being revived again i£' Sydney for a fortnight, ijfluy Bates Post and. his. dramatic company, which includes Miss Dorothy BOijmton, will stay in South Africa un.tjl the end of. April, and will then go tip to England. j'';At the Gisborne Competitions ' Mr. Sample White, of Wellington, will admdicate in the music, soction, and Srofes'sor M&xwell Walker, of Auckland, will judge the elocution soction. ; l: ;Mr v IFranfc freeman, who was here years' ago iij."'Tilly of Bloomsbury" and later'was Baldasarro in ','The Maid ofjtho Mouiitahiß," was appearing with tn£,Repertory Players in London in "XSjjfnoo'k" whon-tho mail loft." . The cast of "Crooks, Ltd.," the Auckland University students' production,' will include Mias Joan Robertson. 1 (leading lady)) Mr. Bruce Hutton -(juventle lead), Miv Martin, Mr. Bamsay, and' Mr. w. G. Trovarthcii (an old t ajjrourito),J .The orchestra will be under ; tho leadership pf Mr. Trovor Spalling. :'.■■' ;.'•.. ■ • Following is.the'oast, for the Auckland- Little Theatre Movement's pro-' dnfction of Bernard Shaw's play, "You Never Can Tell,". on 21 8 t AprU:—Williajrt, Tota Harris; Mrs. Clahdon, Mrs. MfCallum; Gloria, Constance Clark; ■Dally:, MargoM'.Finlayson;■"" "Valentine, Jack, Gordon; Finch M'Lomas, Fred MtCallum; Crampton, Ernest' BlairPHI,;. Boberts Tqle; The Maid, Elinor I Miller.. . . I'hV Hawera: Operatic' Society will commence rehearsals of "The ArcadV ians'f on-21st April. 1 Mr. F.H.-Ollereu-shaw has been appointed conductor. The Hamilton Operatic Society will commence rehearsals of "Katinka" shortly. Mr. A. E. Manning, producer, wasjdue back frqm Australia this week. •I. Wf* 0 ,J> C... Williajnsoh- Comedy. Company, headed by the brilliant comody star, Misjs Beneo, Kolly, will open-its season at tho Grand Opera House on.lSth Juno, with "Polly With a Past," described as "a captivating farce-comedy." Miss Kelly acts with perfect naturalness, and has all tho attributes of a finished actress. Miss - eJvv£.'.fluppprtoa by a splendid cast, including; Dorothy Fnno, George Bar. rand, Hylton Allen, Antony Hoiles Ja?k80« Wilr»rf,Gaston Morvale, Boginad Wykeham, ; and Paul Plunkett. Other productions of the company's ropertoire aro "The. Last of Mrs. Cheney,"' "Broivn Sugar," and Daddy Long Lcgß/Mvhich have been outstanding successes'in London arid Australia. .''■', Dramatically 1026 was not a very distinguished yoar fo,r, England, very few plays of any outstanding merit being produced, and vory few personal reputations, being enhanced. Amonir tho best .native plays wero Scan 2r£ asS s June and the Paycock," and The Plough and tho Stars"; Frederick Lonsdale's amusing "Tho Last of Mrs. Cheyney»j "Conflict," by Miles Malleson; "Loose Ends," which Dion Titheradge wrote and acted; Edgar Wallaces'* '!The Ringer"; John Galsr^ hy'?J^lik? "?BcaPb"J "A*a so to Bed'; '<The; Constant Nymph ana! Eden Pbilpotts's "Yellow, Sands." In announcing tho play "Caponsacchi, , a-dramatised: version of Browning's "Ttto' King-W the Book," which w at present:* being produced m Now York,.;a«.v^ Salient and gripping presentation; ©fth>tnairi ; story of Brownings Wmo>t interminable poom" tho American ."Theatre" gays: I This-plpl; makes for sublimated molodrama^an: entertainment" of fine distinctly enunciated in ta^ flowing English; of ;that sensativo crippinir character >fhioh Browning had at such command. It wouia, fee an act of supreme temerity to!, assert such ,'afamiliarity with the poem that would enable me _to. spy just Where the dependence on Browning ended and where tho originality of the Goodrich-Paliner combine began. But from the splendid sonority and intensive force of the dialogue it wouia seem as if tho great Vic■™n hf d'teen f'eoly drawn upon. IJie "No, No, Nanette" Company concludes its very successful Auckland seasonrto--night ' (Saturday), and will leave,thero on Sunday for Wanganui, whero the sparkling musical comedy will-be staged on Monday and Tuesday 2J»a ana 3ra May. The company will play at Palmers'ton North on Wednesday n,gj,t, will leave for the South Is, land on Thursday, arid open tho Duneciin season .on. Saturday, 7th May InZr + rif"a Wi? be vißited ' and af*V that the Southern provincial towns will +« & W' ;<^ c coin Pany «>ori> returns to the Grand-Opera House, Wellington, where^ the second musical comedy feature > "Pady*. Bo Good,'' will be staged, the'season opening on 18th Juno. Palmerstoii North, Napier, and Hastings will bo next visited, and the tour concludes at Auckland on 16th July. i^ 8'8. °. ne °f the "Vat comprehensive New Zealan dtours ever undertaken by a first-class theatrical , company, and shows that: tho J. C. WiUiamsion ana Puller firnis Jiave, strictly adhered to all promises made. _Colonel Barry Day, in the British House of Cpmmons, declared that London playgoers are paying nearly £2. 000,000 a year in royalties to American authors and producers, who uro allowed ' to escape without contributing a ponnv m tax. .;-.■.' Mr. Frank Harvey, who for twelve years wan tho most popular leading man in Australia, has a vory minor role, that of Noel, in support of Miss Pauline Frederick, in "Madiimo X," in London, and only one. of the English papers I have seen mentions his performance. It says: ■"t'raiik Harvey was good as Noel." In Australian prodnctions of "Madamo X" Mr. Harvey played both leading malo rolca, the hero And the villain—in different productions, of course! Theatrical business in Sydney at present is excellent. The attractions wore: "Prasquita,", comic opera, with Marie Burke; "Sunny," imißieal comedy; "Sweet, Nell of Old Drury," with Nellie Stewart;" The Cousin from Nowhere," with Margery Hickling, Leyland Hodgson, Leo Franklin, and Gus Bluett; "Six Cylinder. Love," with Eichard Taber and Hale Norcross (in New Zoaland recently with "la Zat So?"); "Charley's Aunt,V with Prank Neil; Fullers' vaudovilo, with Stiffy and Mo : revu.e;, Tivoli- vaudovillo. ■ \Several principals for the new comic, opeta, "Madame Pompadour "—Miss Ecppyi'.-'tl? Vrics (who will appear in the title, role), Mr. Frank Wobs'ter (principal tenor), Mr. P. Cory (characlor actor), and Mr. Fred JJlackman (producer)—have arrived in Sydney. Allan Wilkie a.nd hia Shakespearean titagm ns m Jtei#banc, Mr, WilMe

has found it impossible to Boeure a theatre in' Sydney this year. After /Bernard Shaw, how many' stage writers are there in this country who are entitled to bo counted as dramatists!.. asks a writer in' the "Daily Mail.".- Tho question w.as a topic among a little group of people, '■ including one. of our most accomplished actors and a man who writes play, with enormous success, the other even-' ing. Shaw, we agreed, stands by himself, and the writer of plays dropped abomb into the discussion by insisting that there is only one other British author who really—judging by past' standards—has the right to bo regarded as an established and secure dramatist. He named W. Somerset Maugham. It was held that. there aro' about ton authors who have- a right to bo considered as. being dramatists, among them Frederick Lonsdale, Scan O'Caaoy,; James Bernard- Fagan, Eden Phillpotta, and Noel Coward—-although the lastnamed evbke'd. lively discussion. "The only real bit of:drama he has written: so far was the last act .of 'The Vortex,' " someone said. "And there, despite the fact that there are forty-odd millions of people in the country, you just abont-exhaust the list," said the actor. "The Wicked Earl," which was chosen by Cyril Maude as his farewell, play on the English stage,, ran for only a feY weeks. - "'': The Nellie Bramley Company commences a season of eleven nights at the Grand .House on Tuesday next, 3rd; MiyrjiDuring tho season in Wellington "no "ieis than five plays will be produced.- \ '"'Paddy, the Next Best Thing" will be staged for four nights, ana will be- followed by '<Fair. and Warmer" for two nights, "Baby Mine" for two nights, "Peg o' My Heart' foiOipjie night, and the season will conclude on the 14th with "A Little Bit of Fluff." Musical Notes. Why is so. little known out hero about the genius of the famous Polish pianist, Ignaz Friedman f The explanation is simple. He has been so absorbed by Continental engagements that he has been unable. even to consider attractive offers to play in London. It took thirteen years of persistent pleading before^ he could be persuaded to give a series of recitals in London. Friedman J»as.,now.beon persuaded by Mr, E. JijCnrrpll to.make an Australaßian tour j ana" will visit New Zealand in the iieeX- future under Mr. Carroll's personal direction. Once in NeviYork, hearing Paderowski discuss the history of the persooution of '■' Jowb in Europo throughout the ages, .aia quoting facts, laws passed in various, countries, ana dates, a pressman Asked him-in amazement'how he had deyelbped his memory to such an extraordinary extent.; did it," he,answered, with a genial smile, indicating his .fingers. To converses with Paderewski is an education in itself. He is ■'" an extraordinary genius. There is something magnetic in his personality, something irresistibly .improHsivenbout'his:appearance, his ways, his spoech, and .this is at once communicated'to all wh3 come' in contact with him. Such,a genius Liszt must have been, and it is to that.groat'personality that Paderewskf: may bo likened. There is a , radical difference, howover, botwooii the',tw;o*great men in their outlook on Uffli:!' Paderewski has always been accentuated by a high senso of honour «nd high morality.' Liszt, as fine a moo as he Avas, showod a decided weakness in his relationship to women, particularly in regard to Princess Wittgenstein, with whom ho. lived for so many years: This, seems quite incomprehensible in tho light oi Ms high ideals and,deep roligiousnoss. Tho first of Paderowski's recitals will be glvon in th^Towft Hall, Wellington, on 9th and Jine. Miss^ipnjii .WTjalloy, .. the wellknown* Pfilmorßton North ..soprano, has been eng^god by the Auckland Choral Society'as; soprano soloist ;for its forthcoming proauction of " The Creation." Tho examiner, of,tho Trinity College of Music ifchis^year is Mr. Adolph'Maun, A.E.C.O. -;Mr, Mania received his musical training in;h» native town of East-bourne,-arid under Dr. Ottb'Neiteol in Cologne.' Besides the piano and organ, his studies iriclnaea tho violin, the violoncollo; the clarinet, and vocal:technique, both solo and choral, ' Ho has had a largo experience as a toucher and a conductor, and has-,travollca widoly as a solo and chamber music pianist. His published compositions include, in addition to! many songs, chamber music in various forms, a sonata for violin ana-piano, and a variety of violin and pianoforte pieces. Mr. Mann is expected in.October. ' Many inquiries have boon matlo as to when Jascha Heifotz, the famous violinist who .created a sonsation on tho occasion of his first visit to Now Zealand," wiU come to the Dominion. Messrs. J. and N. Tait, under whose management the tour is being mado, and to whom the many -messages have been forwarded, state that the dotails of the Australian and Now Zoaland itinerary are now Being prepared, and that as soon as dates liayo been definitely arranged full .particulars will be made available by Mr. Bort Boyle, J. O. Williamson's Now Zealand representative.. ; ; It: will be impossible to include in the itinerary all the districts anxious to secure a visit from this noted player, but the tour will bo made as comprehensive as possible, always boaring in mind the fact that Hoifetz has engagements 'in various parts of tho world up, to 1031. Apropos of tho visit of flei'fetzy ho retnins many ploanant mcmorießof his last New Zealand visit, and has expressed a keen desiro to renew the many friendships foimod while in the Dpminion.. "A beautiful country," he is reported to have said when speaking of his forthcoming visit to these shores; "a place of ploasant momorids a'tid of a people moat hospit-

able and true. I have many friends there, friends who have kept in touch ' with me for years, ana if my visit to New Zealand and the renewal of friendships will give those splendid people the same pleasure that it affords me— well, that will be happiness indeed." A newcomer to Wellintgon who should prove to be a great acquisition to musical circles is Miss Nora Greene, a contralto who possesses a most charming but powerful voice. Miss Greene made appearances with Sir Honry Wood at his orchestral concerts, was engaged on frequent occasions for thia British Broadcasting .Company at both Daveotry and Bournemouth. Miss Groene studlea at the Royal Academy of Music under Maaamo Agnes Larcom, having beon tho holder of tho "Ada Lewis" Scholarship, known as the premier vocal scholarship at that institution. It is Miss Greene's intention to give an. introductory recital within the next few weeks; At this recital she will bo assisted by Mr. William Eenshaw, a young tenor who has I also just arrived from London. The Pictures. Acoording to Harry M. Watner, president of Warner Brothers, the New Year finds the company in the midst of its greatest production boom. Mr. Warner, commenting on the progress made during the last year, stated that the present number of productions was the biggest in the history of the organisation. 'He : cited the pictures now , playing extended engagements, "Don ! Juan'i' and "The Better 'Ole," and announced that the. latest John Barrymore picture, "The Beloved Rogue," would soon bo shown on Broadway. ■ That Britain can make pictures as well or better than other countries when tho Government is behind the project is ovidenced by tho wonderful merit of "Mons," which ns a war record puts all previous-films of its class in the shade. Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayor paid the highest prico ever recorded for a British pieturo for "Mons," and will show it- to NeyrZoalandcrs. Mr. A.C. Jenkin, "the man who fired the first shot in the,war," ana who as one of the "contomptiblolittle army" was all through the glorious retreat from Mons, will deliver a "foreword" precedent to tho: screenings of- tho film ml Now Zealand. "Carmen,'.' which is.being produced fov Fox vFilms by Radul Walsh,- will bring before tho camera two popular players who leaped to fame in "What Price Glory?" another Walsh production. They aro Victor M'Laglen and Deloros Del Eio. Walsh intends making this production of "Carmen", a totally different sereon offering from any before attempted, and of separating the title .character from many of its prifferies ■ and developing the girl along Unman and wholly understandable linoV' A "whole year has been spout in Spain by Fox officials in assembling an elaborate wardrobe, photographn,; and notes for, tho picture. Although both have been prominent on tho screen for five years or moro, Kenneth Harlan and Viola Dana had' jioyer played. together in a pieturo be- . fore the making of tho Universal-Jowol production, "Tho Ico -Flood."; Mr. Harlan ana Miss Dana share starring honours in this unusual picture, and are supported by Frank Hagney, Do Witto Jennings, Billy Kent Sehaoffcr, James Gordon, and others, Veia Vorpnina, a Bussinn, under contract to Paramount, has her first American role; in "The' Whirlwind of Youth." .;Lois Moran, Donald Keith, and Lavry Kont are in tho cast! ■ Catnlina Island: might well be called tho isle of lost ships. Within two weeks live old windjammers woro sunk off her coast in the battle scones for James " Cruze's "Old'Jronaiacs." Thoso featured in the cast o£ tho Paramount 'photoplay; aro Esther Balston,- Wallace Beery, George Bancroft, ChrfMcs Far- -. roll, and Johnnie Walker.