Plays- Players – Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1929, Page 23

Plays- Players - Pictures

Town liall— Organ ltecltal, every Sunday, 5.30 p.m.

Opera House— • Allan Wilklc, b'tiiikcsuciirliiii- Company, il season. ' Bouclcault-Vanbrueh season, JStb , Fob- ' ruary. . •

fits Majesty's—

. - Itovue. Regent—Vaudeville and Pictures. De I.uso Tlicatre—Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Pictures. King's Theatre—l'kturcs. Artcraft Theatre—l'kturcs. Our Theatre—Pictures. Khortt's Theatre —Pictures. •Strand Theatre—Pictures. . Britannia Theatre—Pictures. Queen's Theatre—Pictures. • Trincess Theatre—Pictures. , Kilbirnie Kinema—Pictures. '

Arrangements are now being made by Mr. A. Stanley. Warwick, the wellknown producer, to present the threeact comedy "The Man from Toronto," in Oamaru about the end of February. It willbe reme;ubered what an excellent performance was given by Oamaru players of tho comedy "Jane" last year under Mr. Warwick's direction, states the "Oamaru Mail." A most capable cast has been chosen, including Misses Daisy Catto, Yola Grave,' who makes a welcome reappearance after many months, Betty Butterlield, Doris Aikenhead, Mollio M'Larcn, and another lady to bo yet chosen, and Messrs; Stan Hook, Graham Dickel, and A. Stanley Warwick. The season will bo limited to three night's. . ,En route'to'America, wlicre ho has big engagements in view, Mr. Alfred O'Shca, tho young Irish tenor, will break his journey in Auckland next month in order to give a short series of recitals. On his last visit Mr. O'Sheu attracted large audiences, and no doubt Hie opportunity will be fully taken advantage of to hear this brilliant young vocalist prior to his departure to that land of big contracts, the United States. In addition to Ms vast repertoire of Irish airs, Mr. O'Shea has played leading roles in grand opera with Melba and other artists, and can be relied upon for a varied and entertaining concert. The first concert will be given at Auckland Town Hall on Saturday, 2nd February. A broadcast was given from Daventry in connection with tho fortieth anniversary of the foundation of the Plainsong and Medieval Music Society. Amongst the things revived for this performance was ono verse of the carol "Angclus ad virginem," deciphered from an old burnt scrap of parchmqnt in the British Museum, badly shrivelled and curled by a fire in 1770. , Its five verses, which go to a tuno nearly 1000 years old, were sung.thus: The first in unison, the second to harmony in two parts (700 years old), the third to ai three-part harmony composed in Ireland (probably by a'monk) about 56S years ago, the fourth 1 and fifth in four-part harmony of to-day. Songs written by t\yo English . kings, Henry VI. and Henry VIII., were included, that of the latter being the well-known one beginning "Pastime with good company I lovo and shall until I die." , ■ :

Bofore their projected visit to Wellington, Prank O'Brian's f Bevel-, lers" arc due to play, Dunedin for a month, following in. on Pat Hanna's Diggers. The "Revellers" Company played in Christchurch, and were firm favourites there. Frank O'Brien is a clover comedian, and he combines his fun-making talent- with exceptional dancing ability. Tho company as a whole is well equipped in dancers. They will be opening at His Majesty's Theatro somewhere about tho Ist of March.

To stop straight from tho chorus ;into the loading role' of 'a' musical play,, to achiovc success as a musical comedy: star, and subsequently display such marked histrionic ability that she was chosen by Mr. Dion Boucicault for important roles in':'straight-out .comedy,, is surely evidence of application: and ability above'the average; this is what Roweria Bonald, now with the . Van-brugh-Boucieault Company, has done. Bowena won a beauty competition four years ago, and J. C. .Williamson gave her tho chance. ■ ■ ■ ' - ■''.

Ono hundred and sixty thousand "music consumers, " that, is to say, the proprietors of hotels, cafes; restaurants, dance halls, picture'palaces, variety theatres, and so .on,.in Germany, havo just formed themselves into_ an organisation of self-defence against what was are said to be exorbitant and 'unjustifiable demands, states the "Christian Science Monitor." Complaints have long been rifo in those circles concerning tlio high royalties they have" been compelled to pay to the. influential body of music composers known as the "Goma."■'; One popular eating.house- in the- west of Berlin pays 7yoo marks annually to the- *'6eina" for tho uso of light music performed by its orchesira, and this is only one f.aso among hundreds. Tho members of the organisation just founded' declare themselves wiling to pay a.reasonable; fee to tho composers, and it is stated that if each music consumer paid an annual royalty of fifty marks it would amount to a. sum of 8,000,000 marks for the composers. • No lesser luminary in the theatre ■world than the famous Italian playwright,' Luigi Pirandello, has turned against the talking film, in an interview recently given in Berlin, lie is an emphatic oppon-ent of the connection of the film and the word, in fact, ho would entirely eliminate' tho . word from the film. The word, ho feels, belongs on the stage. The cinema should not bo. a .substitute for the theatre, or a different kind of theatre, it should be an art of its own. Pirandello holds that the picture on tho screen alone should suffice and tho word be banished. He is preparing a number of films without explanatory words. Beforo commencing work on them, however, ho will attend to tho filming of his Volt-known play, "Six Characters Seek an Author," in which he will probably act the part of tho author himself. A film will also be made of hi.s latest drama, "Tho New Colony," by a Gorman company. Tho great 8.-iUistini died, early m November in Eioti, nciir Rome, it is aunounced in recent London papers. By many of tho presont-day, the famous baritone was regarded as a singor of a past generation, and yet as recently as 1924 his singing was a sheer delight. "No listenor, ignorant of his identity, would have guessed that ho was a man of 65," wrote tho late Sidney IT. 'Pardon in "Grove's Dictionary.of Music," alluding to this period of Battistini's career. And ho was right. The great singer, tall and erect, and dark-hair-ed, looked that evening in Queen's Hall a man of 40, and ho sang with the grace of a man still younger. Fortyseven years before, Battistini gained his first experience of tho lyric stage in Donizetti's "La Favorita," at the Teatro Argentina, in Koine. Fivo years later he sang at Covent Garden, but without attracting any particular attention; and in 1887 when he fulfilled a memorable engagement at Drury 1 Lane, then under the direction of Sir Augustus Harris, tho chief popular success was won by Jean do Eeszke, at that time coming into his fame as a tenor. Battistini, however, (had gained Continental famo beftfro- that, and in 3888, ho was ono of tho distinguished singers at La Scnln, and was Toaping' new honours in Russia and elsewhere in Europe. London ■ recognised his gifts in earnest when ho came back, after J8 years' absence, and sang in "Rigolett'o," "Don Giovanni," and other operas in tho Covent Garden Reason of 1005. "Ono of the trriest operatic

artists in tho last half-century," is a tribute, which Mr. Robin Legge pays to his memory. He was indeed the last great link between the days of Donizetti and thoso of the modern, writers, and is said to have been, like Chaliapin and Scotti, not only a fine sftiger, but an equally fine 'actor. Roy Agncw, the promising young

Australian composer, who is now in London, recently had his new work, "Tho Breaking of the Drought," performed by the Sydney .Conservatorium under the direction of Mr. Alfred Hill. It is a setting of a. poem by Harlay ;Matthews,' and. is said to be ranked among the. attractive pieces ot: the year.

Believing 'that there was a; largo field of latent talent yet to be drawn upon for broadcasting purposes, the directors of tho New South Wales Broadcasting Company, Ltd.; decided to hold an Eisteddfod during the months of October, November, and December. Altogether nearly 1500 entries were received. In the choral section they numbered 30, vocal 774, instrumental 140, bands and band instruments 44, elocutionary section 104, popular and humorous 77, juvenile sections 167,'' Australian compositions 75,. and country entries in all sections 74. A series of elimination tests were carried out by this means, only the performers showing some considerable' merit being allowed to go before the. judges. Mr. GeralH Peachell, the recently-appointed conductor of the Eoyal Philharmonic Society and a Bachelor of Music, was tho adjudicator, 'and he commented favourably upon the standard of the- work that came before him. "The outstanding weakness," he stated, "was in iatorpretation, particularly in, the vocal section. Although quite a considerable amount of now talent, was unearthed, it was unfortunate that the sections that needed the greatest amount of recruiting—comedy revues, sketches and humorous items —were not helped to the degree that was anticipated." It ,was at this Radio Bistoddfod that Mr. Vincent Aspey, of Auckland, carried off the violin championship. ', . Harold Lloyd has many important scenes completed for his latest production, "The Butterfly Chaser." Work was held up a few weeks ago owing to a broken wrist, sustained by the comedian. ,Some talking , sequences ' are also finished, and will bo seen and heard in those New Zealand theatres equipped with sound apparatus. Alice White wears twenty-two costumes -in her forthcoming story of Broadway life, "Show Girl,", from tho extremely witty novel which' ran as a serial in the "Saturday Evening Post." It is a .glamourous story of night life in New' York. Keeping the spectator in a ripple of merriment throughout, revealing new angles of show life and the colourful atmosphere of the night clubs of Manhattan, "Show Girl" is refreshingly- .novel and indisputably humorous. , ..:.•'• - ;■''

Laura La'Plantc is to appear in the screen version of Adele Rogers, St. John's novel, "The Haunted Lady," ; Lon Chancy will appear as the central figure of Herbert Brcnon's 'elaborate production, ■ "Laugh, Clown, Laugh." The new picture^ 'adapted from the celebrated stage play, is a drama of backstage life of the theatre, with Chancy. in the role of a clown who, for the happiness of the woman he loves, make a tragic sacrifice. Lorctta Young, a new discovery of the screen, plays the 'heroine, and N-ils Asthor is the juvenile load. . ■ ■ • No move exciting picture lias yet' i been, produced than the latest 11.I 1. Lang production "The". "Spy," which" 'keeps going in a state of excitement and suspense from beginning to end. .That is clearly all that is. necessary in a firstclass melodrama, but producer Lang has given more, he has iinade a, story 'crammed with exciting incidents, has allowed time for the development of characterisation without holding up tho action, has paid scrupulous, attention to detail, has devised situations tliat arc piquant as well as realistic) has scorned freak camera angles, induced a clever cast to give of their best, and lastl but by no means least, avoided sentimentality in any shape,or form. The settings are an important feature, and while the interiors, are always, indicative of the personalities of those to whom they are supposed to belong, the exteriors reveal tp the full tho possibilities of perfectly equipped 'and extensive studios. » , ■■

Esther .RaJston's latest production, "Tho Case of Lena Smith," is.now Hearing completion at the Paramount studios. The story is' laid in.Hungary. ; James, Hall plays the male lead. , •■■' ■>: - ■

A thrilling fire \at sen, .a v mutiny aboard a three-masted barque after dark'in the harbour of a mystery port, '' East of Suez,'' and similar exciting sequences,, provide the absorbing drama of. Richard Barthelmeßs's latest production "Scarlet Seas.". ... ..An excellent cast ,is headed by Betty Compson. /Reginald Denny's next picture will.be "His Lucky Day."' This will bo started as soon as Denny hns completed "Clear the Decks." / ,-.•..'.

"-"Shadows of• the Night" is'a,picture with an; interesting background of newspaper reporting and ■■ underworld life. The film- shows how Jimmy Sherwood, working on a metropolitan daily, goes out with his dog "Hash" to uncover.. the story of a city-wide police "clean-up," and whatl- happened to him. It is full of gun battles, danger, and romance. Lawrence.Gray plays the reporter and Louise Lorraine is an underworld girl, ho rescues. "The Canary Murder Case," the film version of tho famous mystery story by S. S. van Dine, was recently completed. , William Powell plays the part of the detective, others in the case, are Louise Brooks, Jean Arthur, and James Hall. . . Not only spectacular in its remarkable air crashes, but incorporating an honest 'human 'aiid/ beautiful story, "Love Never Dies,"'originally entitled "Lilac Time," has humour as well. Colleen Mooro as "Jcanino is piquant and amusing, while there are interludes of pathos. ' Much has "boon written of the aviation scenes and the dare-devil-try of the British, aces who enact the main roles, but apart," from tho magnifieont air fighting, the strong Jove story between Miss Moore and Gary Cooper at' Lilac farm, tho bcautifui photo-

graphy, and the splendid work of Colleen Moore are outstanding. Paul'Whiteman has been engaged for talking pictures. Buster Keaton in "The Cameraman," an hilarious romance of an apprentice news-reel man in the wilds of New York, is an attraction shortly to be seen in 'Wellington. The frozen-faced comedian, stages- a series of hilarious adventures, in which he falls into a Chinese Tcing war. He figures in 'a fire and a near riot, gets walked over by a parade, and drops off a four-story building—all for the sake of laughter. The new Keaton comedy incidentally shows tho inside workings of a newsreel photography, and a pretty love story with Marceline Day as heroine is another detail of the picture. : Dale Austen (Mjss New Zealand) will be. seen shortly in "The Bushranger," starring Tim M'Coy and Marion Douglas. The new picture, the first all-Aus-tralian romance filmed in America, shows M'Coy as an Australian bushranger. ''The cast is a notable one, including Russell Simpson, Frank Baker, a brother of the famous ",Snowy" Baker, Australian sportsman, and many -others.

Hoot Gibson is apparently adding aviation to activities. He is one of the best automobile racers on tho coast, and his horsemanship was what won him his first entry into the movies. But the announcement that Ruth Elder is to be his next leading lady gives promise of an entirely new typo of western in his picture. James Barton, a famous performer in Broadway revues and vaudeville, has been signed up for tho leading role in the forthcoming sound picture, 'Burlesque." Nancy Carroll, another star of the musical comedy field, will play opposite Barton, under the direction of A rictor Fleming.

The famous old Drury Lane melodrama, "The Whip" is scheduled to be released in New Zealand shortly. Dorothy Mackaill,. Lowell Sherman, and Anna, Q. Nilsson are responsible for fine characterisations. The famous race, featuring the champion from whom the picture takes its name, is realistic and exciting. "Speeding Youth" is.-the title of the new "Collegian" picture now in production. George Lewis and Dorothy Gulliver are in the leading roles, with the supporting cast including Eddie Phillips,. Churchill Ross; Hayden Stevenson, Colette Merton, Margaret Lee, Peggy Howard, Jack Selwyu, Tiny Hanlon, and others. The corirpany will use the stadium track in Exposition Park, Los Angeles, for many fof the scenes.

Ever, since he did "Twelve Mile? Out" John Gilbert has wanted to make a gangster picture. The opportunity has come to him in "Four Walls," a story of gfl-ngster life in New York City's east side. Joan Crawford plays the role of a woman crook, and lias an. opportunity to display, some, of the finest work she has ever done before the camera. - .

Adolphe Menjou is now preparing for his next production', "The Concert." It is to be dialogue production. , Florence Vidor is to play the principal feminine part.

"Interference," an all-dialogue picture, had its world pi&miere on Broadway recently.v It; was. released at the Criterion, Theatre :for a long run, following on tho conclusion of the rccrfrdbreaking ■ "Wings" season. Clive Brook, William Powell, Doris Kenyon, and Evelyn Brent are featured. Hundreds of Indians'have role's in the latest Richard Dix picture, "Redskin." It is an all-colour film, and will reveal the scenic grandeur .of tho coloured rock country in the Indian territory. Gladys Belmont, an unknown "extra" girl, was chosen for'the principal'role opposite the star. .Others in tho cast are iJTano Novak, Tully Marshall, and Bernard Seig'el! '■ ■■.