Plays-Players-Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 13 April 1929, Page 25

Plays-Players-Pictures

THE SHOWS.

Town Hall— • . ' Organ Becital, every Sunday, 5.30 p.m. . Concert Chamber— ■ Misses Constance and Margaret Izard, 16th April. > Opera House— . . .".'■ "Midnight Frolics," In season. ■ '.-'■; "Country Girl," 17th April. Hla Majesty's- '-.'". .■"-" .■■ Revue. ' . i KeEent—Vaudeville and Pictures.. -. :• Do Luxe Theatre—Pictures. Paramount Theatre—Pictures.-'- ' King's Theatre —Pictures. Artcraft Theatre—Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. ' Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. ' : .■■■■• Strand Theatre—Pictures. ■■•.■.•■■•' . Britannia I,Theatre—Pictures. , - . •.-■-.' Queen's Theatror-Plctures. . , Princess Theatre—Pictures.' '■' Kllblrnla Klnema—Pictures.

John Dunn,' long since designated the ..English Paganini, and certainly one of the greatest living violinists, •writes, to Mr. ,Vost Janssen (his onetime ■■.pupil), saying that he ''is on ( a •vv.orld tour, and if to give recitals in Sydney.in May. .Dunn was the first Englishman to play the- Elgar Concerto, and he was selected by Tschailcowsky to give the first performance of his violin boneerto in England The violinist has to his credit'a'very .fine concerto and an imposing cadenza for Beethoven's concerto.' . Ho has a prodigious technique, and has made light •work Of. most; difficult violin compositions. A feat of John Dunn's was playing the Paganini "Moto Perpetua, up to time, in octaves. -Dunn studied with Schradieck at Leipzig, and he has toured the British Isles and the Continent as, soloist with. great success. He is the possessor ■ of a- beautiful "Strad" thatVwas, presented to him hy the Duke of ■ Edinburgh. ;*" ./ '

■ There will be.two Chinese ladies taking part in "The Circle, of Chalk" at the New Theatre, in.' London, writes "The Post's" London correspondent. ' One will be the Chinese-American film star, Miss Anna May Wong, and • the other, ■•'will be. Miss Rose Quong, tho' Australian-born Chinese actress. Mr. Basil Dean has engaged the latter for the part of "Mrs. Ma." To a representative of the "British Australian and New Zealander," published in London, .Miss' Rose, or Len Ho) Quong said: "I am delighted with this opportunity. The play is excellent, and is a milestone in the theatrical world of London, inasmuch- as it is the first Chinese play to bo pr.oduced here. •. Miss Anna May Wong, who is a full-blooded Chinese like,.myself, is playing.lead in .the part of Hi Tang, which suits her-sweet pretty self to perfection. ;. My own part -will perhaps not appeal >to' "■ the •public so much.as her's, because lam in the 1 play an ugly vixen. Still, it is a very dramatic part, and full.of opportunities. ' At the first rehearsal- I was much amused. ,-. My .colleagues were under the impression that I, too, was an American;' 1 then they were surprised to hear that I was a full-bloOd-ed Chinese, and that I was-an Australian.with such 'an 'English,., accent.' What amused me most was that they assumed that I had played ' §he. part in Germany, whero.it has been produced. 11 suppose it was because I know my part well and had made up my, mjnd as to the,movements and poses, which. I studied from ancient Chinese illustrations and^! vases in .the British'-.; Museum." '." •''' ■' " ■ '■' ! ■'■ , r '"■'-' ' • Sam Wren, who plays a leading part in the J. C. Williamson comedy.," The Patsyj" .comes ;-fronr\a famous; family which has been associated- with -the stage for, seven generations. He was born in New York, of British parontagp, and is a direct: .descendant of Sir. Christopher Wren, the famous architect who designed St; Paul's' Cathedral, London. ' . . :-...-.■ •' -. -. :

About a hundred people, from the leading .actors down to the .^theatre cleaners engaged for "Journey's End," the war play at: the Savoy; Theatre, London, had a happy surprise recently. 'After, a matinee performance they wera called together by Mr. Maurice Browne, who presents the play, and each was handed an' envolope. v - The envelopes contained money represonthig bonuses of 5 per-cent., and ,in ; some cases, 10 per cent., "of their earnings since the play was "put on a i month.■. before^. "Journey'B End" is stated to be drawing £2500 a'.weeW'and to be making a weekly profit of £1500.% -; •; . ,

Kreisler was the. attraction at tho .Albert Hall. recently.' :-": Ho attracted so many that not'only was every .re: served seat taken,- but the. queues for the galleries were so'largo that they became unmanageable,, and; a stampede occurred, in which .thousands* were involved. '. The pavement ticket:'merchants who biiy seats in. the hope of selling them at a profit did a roaring business, 7s 6d seats selling freely at &1 and &1 ss. Air this, too, despite the fact that Kreisler's programme was of .the usual kind—mostly snippets of unimportant;music,.; But he remains the popular artist before the London public, and can always be relied upon to fill even .the Albert Hall. Sir Harry Lauder opens his New Zealand tour at. Auckland on Wednesday night. The famous Scottish comedian is a host in himself, but for good measure he will be supported.during his season by a company of carefully selected vaudeville artists.

■Miss Maisio Gay, the famous.London comedienne, who will make her first appearance in Now Zealand in "This Year of Grace," after the people of Sydney, and Melbourne have paid her tribute in laughter and applause, is as well known in New York as in London. When a London company went- across to,.[New York.to play "The 1- Quaker Girl," in which Miss Gay was Madame Blum", they took with them six chorus ■men, "just to show how the English johnnies wore their clothes." Among them was Reginald Denny, now a famous film star. "It was no time," said Miss Gay, "before they' weje all earning much more than their salary posing for advertisements for collars and suits. We played 'The Quaker Girl' two \y ears' in all—a year in New York and a year on tour."' While in New York she took part in a ■ b,ig charity entertainment organised by Daniel Frohmari. Associated with her in a comedy sketch wero Douglas Pairbanks, Miss Mary Pickford, Montague Love, and Charlio Chaplin.

Through securing the "rights of the plays from Messrs. ."E. J. Carroll, Eich T aril White and Erie Edgley, Sir Benjamin and .Mr. John Puller are presenting a new company of artists at the Victoria Theatre, Newcastle, in a series of plays including "The . Family; Upstairs," "New Brooms," "White Collars,"' and "Saturday's Children." The members of the company were specially chosen in America and Australia, and they nake an unexcelled combination. A Ne v Zealar.a tour ■vill'follow the Ay-trfj:ian seasons. ,'. :

Ghar*on Mor}'\a.is tho product* of "Lido >4ady," the 'nvusicar . comedy, in Sydney under the Fuller ~ management. Phyllis dv Barry, niece of the-well-' known Puller comedian, Jim Gerald, has left his revue company, and has opened with the George Ward Bevue Company at Pullers' Theatre, Sydney. ■At the St. Jamei Theatre,.Auckland, ( George Wallace is repeating one-of his. biggest successes, "His Royal- Highness" in response to numerou requests.

In connection with the Now Zealand tour of the sensational railway drama, "The "Wrecker,'' the following dates have been arranged: Auckland, Bth to 14th May; .Hamilton, 15th May; Wa-

ngas' ii, 17th May; .v.'ew Plymouth, ISth May; Palmerston North, 20th May; Napier, 21st May; Hastings, 22nd May; Dannevirke, 23rd May; Wellington, 24th May to Ist June; Christchurch, 4th to 10th June; .Tirnaru, lltlv June; Duiv edin, 12th to 18th Juno; Oamaru, 19th Juno.

The "Leaguo of Notions" Eevuc Company left from Bluff for Melbourne on tho Manuka to-day. They are to succeed the Moon and Morris.Revue at tho Bijou Theatre.

Pat Hanna's Diggers in season at the Opera House, Chrißtehurch, have been, augmented by the, inclusion of Miss Meadows, a solo pianist.^ Miss Meadows was a,member of the Diggers some years,'ago. •,.

Mattin Duff, -the Dunedin tenor, who sang on two or three occasions for the Wellington Choral Union, returned this week from a. successful stay in England. With his wife, Miss Ivy German, a violinist, he has been appearing -in variety .entertainments and at picture theatres in England, and after a stay in New Zealand and probably a concert tour, ho will return to the Old Country.

It was a great pleasure to see that so'large a number ,of interested listeners gathered in the Whiteley Memorial Church to hear Mr. Temple White, of tho Taranald Street Methodist Church, Wellington, play a programme of organ music, for the night' was stormy and cold, and this would have given an excuse for tho attendanco to have been much more sparse, states the "Tarauaki News." A programme of fifteen numbers was presented. Mr. White's playing .was always neat and clear, though possibly a little over staccato. This was quite accountable when • the difference between his Wellington organ and tho instrument here is taken into account, as ..the action here is acknowledged to be a most sensitive one.

The story of "The Lily.of Killarney" is based on the : well-known opera, which , in turn is , adapted from the stage play, "Colleen Bawn," by tho well-known actor, Dion Boucicault. Pamela Parr plays the leading female role, supported by two well-known legitimate stage actors, Cecil Landeau and Dennis Wyndham. Tho natural and beautiful landscapes of Western Ireland are a strong feature of this production.

Thirteen guests gather for dinner at Gainsborough Hall. One of them, an' uninvited addition to the week-end party. Some one mentionod that that was bad luck, but no one thought of it again until midnight, ■nshen this thir-. teenth guest was found dead—murdered. Before the crimo is finally solved there is reason to be suspicious of most every one in the house because of developments earlier in tho evening, "and the fact that either innocently or otherwise four of tho women were involved. There is thrilling suspense al^ the way through, and enough comedy woven into the story' to make.it interesting without detracting from the main plot. All of this'refers, to "A Midnight Adventure," with a cast headed by Edna Murphy, Cullen Landis, Fred Kelsey, and Virginia Kirkloy. John ■ Reinhardt, son of the famous Austrian composer, Heinrich Reinhardt, has been given a 7 featured role in the forthcoming all-dialogue screen play, "The Climax."' Jean .Hersholt' is to star in this Universal screen version of the successful stage' play by "Edward Locke. Kathryn' Crawford, a' former musical comedy leading woman, will havo the feminine lead, and William Worthington has,been signed on for an important role. , "Tho Climax" is laid in Italy, and concerns tho struggles of a young opera singer. Reinhardt will play, and Miss Crawford will sing five songs in the production. Victor Schertzinger, noted composer and motion picture director, has composed the theme song, "I Adore You," which he expects will rival the popularity of his greatest success, "Marcheta." , . A number of all-talking short features have arrived in Sydney. They .include a two-reel sketch by the Broadway musical favourite, Eddie Cantor, entitled "Eddie Cantor, That Party in Person"; two Irving- Berlin songs sung by Ruth Etting; an address on "What Is It?" by Elinor Glyn; and a one-reel sketch, "Just One Word," written and directed by Jbseph Santloy.

: No British picture yet produced can : come up to the latest British International picture, "Piccadilly," in which Gilda Gray, Anna May Wong, Jameson HiomaSj and Cyril Richards are starred. The story is by Arnold Bennet. ' 1 Evelyn Brent and William Powell will have the loading roles in "Darkened Rooms," based on the well-known story by Sir Philip Gibbs. It is,.to bo made in all-talking version, and also as a ■ silent picture. y ■ In "The Pilgrim Papas," Eddio Kano, a well-knowai vaudeville peivformer, has been cast in tho role of a school teacher. There is a breath of the sea and the lure of a tropical'port in "After the Storm," which is very shortly to be released throughout New' Zealand. The plot is given unusual treatment and furnishes delightful: entertainment. Hobart Bosworth gives a sterling performance, ' and holds the interest through sheer force of his acting. . In a series of cut-backs tho star, portrays the sea captain at various periods of his career ranging over a span of twenty-six years. Eugenio Gilbert has a duel role,' delineating both mother and daughter. 1

.Tho next threo big Ufa attractions ("The Homecoming," "Looping tho Loop," and. "Tho Hungarian Rhapsody") are syncho'nised sound pictures. Advanco prints are expected shortly in New Zealand. .

Now and then along conies a moving picture that is out of tho ordinary. Such a picturo is Al Jolson's , "The Jazz Singer." This is the great musical comedy star's first appearance, in the movies. And it is his greatest hit. "The Jazz Singer" is the story of Jolsoil's own life, for _lje, too, like the Jack Robin of the play, ran away from an orthodox home when a, boy,' to follow tho luro of the stago, and, like Jack, won fame and fortune oii Broadway. When on the heights, the boy's soul is torn between loyo for tho stage and for the lady of the stage who. has made possible his success, and love for tho humble parents whose hearts still long for his return. May M' Avoy plays tho part of the dancing lady who changed the courso of his life. Warner Oland portrays the fathor, for whose sako he returns to tho Ghetto in the hour of his triumph. , .

The first 1 talking "Collegians" series are under way. The young pcoplo who have been identified with the principal roles have all successfully passed their talking tests, and will both talk and sing in tho fourth series of "Tho Collegians.""

"Black Eagles" is the title of a new picture featuring Fay Wray and Gary Cooper, which is' now being prepared J fcrf filming. "Wallace Beery ■will, also have another important role in the production. .''■■ .■.'•■- Excellent atmosphere, fine pictorial effects, and sincere performances by all the artists, characterise "The Manxman, 1' which was made in it's entirely ] in the Isle of Man. "The Manxman" is an adaptation of Sir Hall Came 's wellknown story, and stars Carl Brisson, well remembered for his fine "perform-ance-in "Tho Ring," together with Army Ondra. "The Captive," an outspoken play dealing with Lesbian lova, was stopped in San Francisco recently and the company which played it was put under

arrest. This is the third or fourth time the police have refused Dermission for the play to proceed. The San Francisco theatre opened at 8 o'clock, with every one of the 1400 seats; occupied, and, as a matter of fact, 'the house for the initial performance- could have been Bojd.out ,threo times. Ben Giroux, manager of the production; anticipating police, interruption, announc.-

Ed before the curtain rose that the po; lieo niight interfere, and said anyone desiring could havo a refund at the close oi! the first' act, but no refund thereafter. While the third act was, in progress the police climbed on the stage from the orchestra pit and placed the manager and tho entire cast under ' arrest. The audience booed the police.