Plays – Players – Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 41, 18 February 1928, Page 25

Plays - Players - Pictures

AY hen the first night's performance of a new comedy, "Maveli Hares," ended in London recently there were loud calls for the author. Mr. Nicholas Haunen, the producer, came forward, and when the applause which - greeted him had died away he began: "I am not the author " "Thank goodness!" someone cried from the audience. Mr. Hannen laughed and said: "Well, I ask you! Obviously lam not wanted after that!" That "Thank goodness"—a remark which apparently came from the stalls—was the one discordant note in a reception which had the genuine ring of approval (says a London paper). Once again there had been shown the folly of curtain-call speeches. The principals in "March Hares" were Hilda Trevelyan. Leslie Banks, Athene Seyler, Eonald Simpson, and Alison Leggatt. Percy Hutehiuson and Company, now in South Africa, begin an Australian tour on 6th March, at the Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne. Their repertoire will include "The Joker," "Cock o' the Boost," and "Mr. What's His Name." It is said that Dorothy Brunton, the Australian girl, may go to New York under the Schubert management. Miss Brunton was for years very popular in musical comedy in, Australia, and then broke into drama, going to South Africa and London with Guy Bates Post. Unfortunately the London season was a failure. A bid of £450,000 has been made by an. American theatrical and cinema syndicate for the purchase of important interests in England. The proposed deal involves the Bedford Music Hall, Camden Town, Bristol Empire, and the King's Hall, Dover, together with an option on a West End theatre and an extensive British revue business. Colonel Harry Day, M.P., to whom the offer has been made, states that he is giving favourable consideration to the proposal. The American syndicate is one of the largest in the States The following, from the "London, Era," refeis to players who were at one time popular in, Australia and New Zealand: Good work was contributed in. "Uriel Acosta," a Jewish League production, by Mr; Frank Harvey, elegantly sinister as Ben Jochai. In "The Desert Song" at Glasgow Howett Worster is excellent as Pierre Birabeau, alike in singing and acting. Dorothy Seacombe is appearing successfully as the Beggar Boy in the pantomime "Queen of Hearts." at tho Lyceum. Four Gilbert and Sullivan opera companies are continually on tour in Britain. The combination that delighted us 'a short time ago has now replaced tho unsuccessful musical comedy, "Queen High," in Melbourne. In a recent American production of "The Mikado," the Mikado himself wore a monocle. At the Adelaide, Theatre Eoyal, Nellie Bramley has been demonstrating her versatility by switching from "Camille" to "The White Eat," a riotously impossible—so it is reported—melodrama featuring the doings of the New York underworld. "Clown in Clover" is a highly successful revue at the Adelphi, London. "The best revue we have seen for a long time," stages a London weekly. Jack Hulbert and Cecily Courtneidge are two of tj/j principals. Those who have been to London and visited the West End theatres will surely remember these clever people. There are several special features in "Tip Toes," the amusing dancing musical comedy to be staged at Wellington Opera House on 14th March. One of the most sensational is the dance interlude in which the famous artists from the Folies Bergeres, Paris, viz., Josephine Head, Albert Hugo, and Mdlle. Eamona, appear. Another favourite is the musical and dance scena in the second act, in which dainty Miss Thelma Burness {"Tip Toes") and the guests at the hotel appear in "The Birth of the Blues." A most attractive item is "That Certain Fueling," by Thelma Burness and Leyland Hodgson, which is described as a dainty vocal offering. Cecil Kellaway and E. Barret-Leonard, fun-makers, are associated in several very amusing scenes, and with Thelma Burness and Beryl Walkley make the show one of the brightest ever presented to New Zealand audiences. Mr. Eoy Eussel, who plays the part of the flirtatious husband, and incidentally sings some attractive songs, is a newcomer who will meet with a very cordial reception. Tho recent announcement that tho design of a young Englishwoman, Miss Scott, had been accepted for tho Shakespeare Memorial Theatre has given added zest to the campaign by Miss Jane Cowl, noted dramatic actress, to educate American millionaires to a taste for Shakespeare, writes "The Post's" New York representative. Miss Cowl lost £20,000 on the tour of the company she recruited for the production of Shakespearean plays in America. Three plays we're presented. "I would, like to educate some of our American millionaires," said Miss Cowl recently. "Have you ever noticed that not one my^ioiiaire in all our prosperous country ever left even 100,000 dollars to further the love of the drama—not one j dollar to endow a beautiful, abiding, inspiring theatre where men may go and learn, and be entertained and lifted out of their dull and narrow lives into the great kingdom of the imagination! Yes, this is all too true, and, because it is true, I would like to metamorphosise into some persuasive prophetess to teach rich men what good their money j would do in founding an American Eepertory Theatre." "Good Morning, Bill!" a P. G. Wodehouse play at the Duke of York's, London, is described by a London paper as "a triumph of good acting, good humour, and amusing conversation over a weak story." Lawrence Grossmith, through here some, years ago in the comedies, "Captain Applejohn's Adventures" and "The Silver Fox," is prominent in the cast. J. C. Williamson's are likely to produce a Spanish melodrama, "The Squall." A Sydney journalist states that "White Cargo" will be mild in comparison. The story of "The Squall" tells how the peace of mind of three women, a mother, her future daughter-in-law, and a servant, is temporarily banished by the infatuation of their respective husbands, present or to be, for the soulless gipsy girl who has gained a footing in the household. The annual report: of the Palmerston North Orchestral Society states that a considerable amount has been spent on new music and the purchase of a trombone. Funds in hand amount to £131 12s 7d, and the total assets are £291 8s 7d, while liabilities are nil. The annual meeting of thd Hawera Male Choir disclosed an interesting and useful season's work for 1927, states the "Star." The choir has grown from a very small body of voices, originally a double quartet, and has filled a very useful part in the life of the community. It has given the chance to hundreds of young men during its career to take part in concerted vocal music, and give pleasure to many thousands of listeners. It originated the competitions which have become such a power for good in the community and have helped to spread tho musical and elocutionary fame of Hawera to other centres. These competitions have helped very much to induce young people to study and improve themselves and so extend themselves along useful lines of knowledge. In every respect the choir i ■M been a valuable asset and deserves

more and more tlio enthusiastic support of the people of town and district. The hope is expressed that its career of usefulness may be ever widened and extended as the years progress. Among the passengers who arrived from England recently by the Arawa was Miss Margaret M'Kenzio Aitken, a iSci^tish contralto, who intends to make a tour of New Zealand. Miss Aitken received her training at the Carl Eosa School in London, and in Italy and Edinburgh. In England she is known for her renderings of English and Scottish and Hebridean folk songs. Miss Aitken made her first appearance in Auckland. The uniform worn by many of the choirs in the Waikato Diocese was adversely criticised recently by Bishop Cherrington, who said that the choir at Paeroa was a pleasing exception, because of the tasteful and becoming choice made. He added that surplices and square caps were not an ecclesiastical adornment for women, and that the black vesture reminded him of mutes at a funeral in Mauritius. In Auckland the choir ladies in most of the churches wear surplices, which is described as quite wrong, as this is a male ecclesiastical garment. At the Epiphany Church a grey-coloured uniform is worn, similar to that adopted in New South Wales, and probably very like the one used at Paeroa. At St. Paul's and All Saints' the gowns arc black.. It is considered difficult to make a. change of uniform immediately where another type has found favour, and at present there arc numerous styles in regular use. There will be several unusual features at the brass bands' contest this year in Christchurch, between 18th and 25th February." The outstanding innovation is the co-operation of tho Highland Pipe Band Association and tho simultaneous running of both contests. There will be, it is reported, 45 bands, including nine pipe bands competing, but this number may be reduced be' fore the opening. Mr. E. Jackson, conductor of the Brisbane Municipal Concert Band, is to judge tho contest. He was born at Oamaru. For many years past there has been a distinct and steady improvement in the quality of music played at contests, says a South Island critic. The works of Beethoven, Wagner, and the Italian masters have been well explored and the contemporary composers have from time to time written test pieces especially for brass band execution. In the opinion of responsible musical opinion an cvon greater advance has been made in the Christchurch contest by setting as the A grade test a complete symphony. Formerly tho works of the masters have been presented in a more or less pot- I pourri faßhion. On this occasion the A grade test is the Symphonic suite of Eimsky-Korsakov, '' Scheherazade.'' The complete four movements of the suito are included, the first two forming the first test and the remaining two tho second. Thus will conductors have an opportunity to display musicianship hitherto confined almost solely to tho orchestra. Works of Tsehaikowsky and Spohr will form the tests for tho B grade bands. In accordance with its policy of developing musical appreciation, the committee have arranged for annotations of the pieces played, from the pen of Mr. H. M. Lund. These valuable guides to musical understanding will be included in the programme. With' the merging of the North and South Island Brass Band Associations, only one contest will bo held this year, so that all entrants will be competing for Dominion honours, not insular awards as heretofore. Harold Lloyd again gives the public another legitimate comedy with a dramatic theme, called "The Kid Brother." When De Mille began "Tho King of Kings" he called in twenty-six experts, representing all the Churches in Christendom. De Millo'a chief assistants were Father Daniel Lord, for the Catholics, Eabbi Alkow for the Jews, and George Eeid Andrews, D.D., of the Federal Councils of Churches representing thirty Protestant denominations, and thirty million church members. A spectacular coal-mine disaster and a big college, football game are two of the features of "White Flannels." The story concerns a miner who became a college football star. Jason Eobards and Louise Dresser, who won fame in "The Third Degree," head the cast, supported by Virginia Browne Faire, Warner Eichmond, and George Nichols. William Collier, jun., will play opposite Dolores Coßtello in her first light comedy, "The College Widow." "Dynamite," the dog actor, once more demonstrates his intelligence and prow-1 ess in an out-door production, "Fangs of Destiny." Lew Cody and Aileen Pringle will shortly be seen again in their second picture, "Tea for Three," in which Owen Moore is also featured. Twelve hundred extras worked twelve days in "Surrender," in which Mary Philbin and Ivan Mosjukine are the stars. These, extras were especially selected types. Coming shortly to Wellington is a new racing drama, "In Old Kentucky," James Murray, a newcomer to the screen, has the principal role with Helene Costello, and a large number of Negro players in support. Apropos of the film, "The Exploits of the Emden," made under the aegis of the German Admiralty, and dealing with the adventures of this pestiferous little foe, many very favourable criticisms have appeared in. the English papers. At the time of the battle between the Emden and the Australian cruiser Sydney, "The London Times," in a leader of 11th November, 1914, said: "We rejoice that the Emden has been captured. . . but we salute Captain Karl yon Muller as a brave and chivalrous foe. - We are glad his life has been saved, for if he came to London, he would receive a general welcome. Our maritime race knows how to admire a bravo and resourceful seaman. He is responsible for one-half of the total loss to date in tho British mercantile marine. He sank a Kussian cruiser, and a British destroyer, bombarded an Indian capital, swept the Bay of Bengal clear oi' shipping, isolated the province of Buruia, and finished by endeavouring to destroy a wireless station." These and other exploits have been recounted in the thrilling production.