Plays-Players-Pictures

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1930, Page 21

Plays-Players-Pictures

| THE SHOWS. I Town Hall— Organ Recital, erory Sunday, 8.30 P.m. . University Extravaganza, 3rd, Olh.-Ctn I»liO'Grand Opera Houso—ricturcs. His Majesty's—Pictures. ' Jtajestlc—Pictures. Regent—Pictures. Dc 'Luxe Theatre—l'icturcs. Paramount Theatre —Pictures. King's Theatre—Pictures. Artcraft Theatre —Pictures. Our Theatre—Pictures. Shortt's Theatre—Pictures. Britannia Theatre—Pictures. • Queen's Theatre—Pictures. Princess Theatre —Pictures. . Kilbiruio Klnetna—Pictures: Mr. A. A. Milne's new pliiy, 'iMiehucl and Mary," Avhicli was given first in New York,'and which is still running most successfully on Broadway, was given its London premiere recently. Miss Edna Best and Mr. FrauXLawtou are two woll-known artists in the cast. Outdoor, entertainments .re enjoying great success in England. Circuses are doing well in all paVts of the country, and the appeal of the " big tent" seems to have defrvtely reasserted itself. One Italian and two Australi-u circuses are at present touring the provinces, but the aristocrat of them all is'the .Bertram Mills Circus, which drew phenonieual crowds at Qlynipia during the Christmas season. • Messrs. J. C. Williamson have secured the latest musical successes, "Sons of Guns," for production in Australia and Njw Zealand. .Among other important activities of the firm is the engagement, for ,the loading role in "Mr. Cinders," in Australia of Hindlo Edgar. Mr. Edgar is a son of Marriott Edgar, well-known London comedian, who played datnc in pantomime for J.G.W. some years back. Eoita Nugent, too, has.been secured by the firm for Australia, and is to return to play in "'Mr. Cinders." ; . .One .of'the ,most popular Broadway actresses'yet imported' to Australia and New Zealand is Ann Davis, who is Mr. Fa'versham's leading/lady, and plays in "Prince rd the Pauper,""The Hawk," and other plays in the eompaiiy.'s ■ reportoi-j-. Miss' Davis has come under the 'Williarnsou banner to play in the Antipodes. Born 'in ArnericS. of English parents, she combines in her refinement of mind and appearance, the finest qualities of the States and .England. Her. first stago success was as Mary Turner in "Within the La"*"; other roles she lias played /with conspicuous ■ success are Lalage Sfcurdee, the cHppled girl- in the tomantie play '.'The ' Outsider," opposite Lionel Atwcll (a part played here before by Maurice Moscovitch); Louise in the play "Accused, "a Belaseo production, and ; Zoe in Pinero's "MidChannel," opposite Couway Tearlo, the famous, English actor who is also a film favourite. Edith Campbell, .another'importation from America for the Faversharn season, is an Arizoriian, and i 3 in private Mrs. Faversharn. She has figured in numbrous Broadway successes. -' \. :\. One engaging feature' about Mr. Edgar Wallace is that he never writes on a subject with which he is never fully conversant.. Some years a- crime reporter on a London newspaper equipped him to write the "thrillers," without which: no holiday is complete,, and special correspondence work', in East Africa enabled him to write his "Sanders" books, which are* brilliantly written, and which have not received the measure of discerning attention which is their,due. Mr. Wallace writes plays in tho same manner, as thoroughly and almost as rapidly as he writes his novels. Ho was in America recently and spent some time in the city of Big Bill Thompson, dodging stray bullots and wood alcohol. Tho result is a play on Chicago, dealing with gangs and gunmen, It will be given in London shortly, and is certain to bo eagerly sought by American producers. The management of the London Lyric Theatre has released Miss: Marie Ney, .of Wellington, from the lead in "Murder/on the Second Floor" so that she may create the part of Milady in the musical play, "The.Three Musketeers," adapted.from Dumas's' hovel, which will bo presented at the Drury Lane Theatre this month by Sir Alfred Butt, in conjunction with < Mr.'/Ploren Ziegfold. The- lyrics for the new play arc by Mr. P. G.'Wodehouse and Mr. Clifford Grey, and the music by Mr. Rudolf Frrml. Mr. Dennis King, an English actor, will take the part of D'Artagnan. This will be Miss Ney's first appearance in musical comedy since she turned her attention to "straight" plays, in which sho has had so many successes. Madame Florence Austral was accorded a splendid reception in tho Albert Hal), when sho made a farewell appearance prior to sailing for Australia and Now Zealand. Ilerr llaus AVcisbach, of Dusscldorf, who made his initial appearance as conductor, led the London Symphony Orchestra. Madame Austral was hailed by critics us the finest dramatic soprano in the world, her most popular number during tho concert being "Scnta's Ballad" from "Tho Flying Dutchman." A feeling of optimism is at present abroad in theatre circles in Melbourne, and it is generally felt that the legitimate stage is coining back into its own. Mr. Allan Wilkio's season i described asa wonderful triumph. Every house is packed and cvory fresh production ia enthusiastically greeted. The /teiancia-1 success of tho enterprise seems assured. George Wallace is enjoying continued popularity at the Tivoli Theatre, and other successful productions are "Lombardi1, Ltd.," and "Follow Through." "The report is the most gratifying and satisfactory one that it "has been ,my privilego to place before tho society for a number of years past," stated the president of the Palmerston North Amateur Operatic Society (Mr. B. J. Jacobs) at the annual meeting. "In so doing I am not merely referring to the satisfactory financial result of the society's efforts (which by the way I will leave to the hon. treasurer to deal with), but what I do want to emphasise are two .most important and salient features of the year that in my humble opinion dominate any review of the activities of the society during tho period 'we are considering first is the fact that we were seriously threatened with the possibility of being unable to enter upon an operatic production for lack of the active support of performing members. However, a special effort was made by the' committee and tho result of this effort was, to say the least, most remarkable." During my long association with the society I cannot remember ever having in any one season the assistance of a more enthusiastic company —a, more regular and attentive band of active members, or indeed a company who acquitted themselves better /than did the society of 'High Jinks/ as this year will be call ed in our history. Both men and women (or should I say boys and girls) proved beyond doubt that tho future of our amateurs is indeed bright. Each individual worked well and hard in order to co-ordinate into an excellent production. More than that I cannot say, except to hope that these promising artists of the future will bo available for tho society again. Second, the 1929----1930 season marks the first of the years (which I hope will »be the forerunner of many more to come) during which we have- been, able- ,in spito of definite intentions to present to the public a dramatic work. I will not say very "much about that. I could not, however, pass it without the comment that the effort of the society in the delightful comedy, ' Come Out of the Kitchen,' not only called for tho

highest compliments'to those win comprised tho cast, but I venture to say caused a pleasant surprise to those who witnessed tho performance." Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the' English composer, has celebrated his 82nd birthday. Sir Thomas Bcccham conducted v scries of concerts in Berlin recently 'by tho Philharmonic Orchestra, tho first timo he, has appeared there1 sinep the war. Dellus's "Evcntyr," first .performed at the Dcliiis festival this year, aiiil Elgar's "Cockaigne" were- two English works on tho opening / programme. .■:■:'.• Alice -White," the littlp blonde star, has just finished "Show Girl, in Hollywood." syid will start immediately on her fifth musical dramatic role, in "Sweet Mama.' A young Englishman, David Manners, will -. ■ support Miss White. ■■'.- ;•" ... Working beforo the camera.iv.a temperature, of more than 120 degrees was a frequent experience of tho company filming the drama, "Three Godfathers.'-' The company spent six weeks in the Mpjave Desert during the height-of the summer season in order to secure scenes for the picture. The cast includes Charles Bickford, . Eaymoud Hatton, Fred Kohler, Fritzi Eidgeway,; and Maria Alba. ...-. ; ■ ■'. ' . Gloria Swanso'n's next picture, -"What a Widow!" is now in rehearsal, under direction of Allan Dwan. With Owen Moore and lan■" Keith, heading tlio supporting cast, Margaret Livingston, Gregory Gay, Herbert Braggioti, Adriennc d'Ambricourt, Buster West, Elizabeth Patterson, Billie Bennett, and Arthur Hoyt are also in the cast. •' Richard Bartholmess, who will be next seen in tho Vitaphone production, "Son of the Gods," in technicolour, has arrived in New York after a vacation of several months in Europe. Winnie ■ Lightner has signed,a five years' contract with Warner Bros. Her next production will;be "Sho Cpuldn't Say No." . ' •'•■' ,' '. ■ ' Two now songs by'Bichard Strauss, "Liebesgesehenke" and "Ihro Augen," wore introduced recently to London audiences by Elisabeth Schumann, to ; whom they are dedicated. "It is. very doubtful whether any, .-, other singer could have surmounted- their unusual difficulties," says the London "Tele-: graph." "When Strauss began .to write for the orchestra he evolved, a technique which, new and revplutipnary at that time, has now become part of tho common stock. His treatment of vocal music has been equally revolutionary, ■ but so far it has found few i admirers. His best' songs are ; those which are nearest to the German tradition. "Liebesgesehenke" is exceptional only because of the odd frills which adorn certain words. "Ihre Augen" is a slow melody with periods of unusual length rather trying to the singer— music which but for clever handling would be distinctly commonplace." George O'Brien performs fresh feats of daring in a new environment in "The Girl Who Wasn't Wanted," an alltalking story. Ho enacts the role of a lumber-jack^ swarming- tali; tr#3S, toping them with his axe while flinging .to the trunk with his climbing irons, and doing many other things incident -to' the somewhat dangerous- occupation of the rough and ready workers of the timber lands, , ' Laura La Plante and John Boles will be co-starred in "Captain of the Guard." Tho roles 'supply histrionic opportunities with songs .by both principals and scenes of dramatic intensity. The music for this picture has been written by Charles Wakefield Cadman. The story ■by Houston. Branch", deals,, with the French Revolution, 'with Miss La Plante in the sensational role of "The Torch," a fiery leader the Revolutionary mob, and ■ Boles in the role of Rouget de Lille, composer of "La Marseillaise," and V member of the Royal Guards. The dialogue for the production is by George Manker- Walters. '• Mary Pickford If as chosen for hex next picture 'a story., by , Benjamin Glazer, entitled . "Forever Yours, Which tells of a,woman's devotion through the years, girlhood to old age. DouglasN Fairbanks 'will make a talking version of his success, "The Mark of Zorro." '"."'" So pleased was Carl Laomrnle, ■■ junr., with* Jeanette Loff's performance' in "King of Jazz," starring Paul'Whitpmau and his band, that as-soon as he camo out of the projection roont after, seeing her in the first- sequence of the picture, the young general manager nf ■Universal signed her to a-, long term contract. Miss Loff was chosen for the lead.in the musical spectacle, which is being •directed by John' Murray Anderson, because of her personality and her voice and dancing, ability. ,- V ..--,. Edmund Lowe has been assigned the title role ■'in the gangster story,"Louis Berotti.'' The picture will bo an .adaption of the novel by Donald Henderson Clarke, for Fox Movietone. ' .' "Whoopee," Florenz Ziegf'eld's, first production for United Artists; in_ which' Eddie Cantor is : being starred in the .role he played on the stage, is being filmed entirely in teehnicolour. "Whoopee" is the. first of a series of productions Ziogfeld is making.in conjunction with Samuel Gbldwyn. Janet rGaynor and Charles Farrcll will appear in a new picture, "High Society Blues," which has just started production. Their singing debut in the musical comedy, "Sunny Side Up," was such a success that they have againbeen cast in romantic roles which; call for several songs. They are surrounded by an excellent cast, which includes William Collier, sem\, Hedda Hopper, Louise Fazenda, Lucien Littlefield, Joyce Compton, and Brandon Hurst. The revival of "Bello of: . New York" in Sydney has brought many well-known faces back to the stago. Phil Smith is in the company, as Twiddles, and his appearance in the same company with' Leslie Holland lias made many remember their association in tho. original . presentation of "The Belle!" Cecil Kcllaway is the "polite lunatic "of th 0 piece;, Romola Hanson, is Pansy Pinn, and there are many other names in the cast numbering twenty-six, irrespective of ballets and extras. ' Kubelik, the great violinist, will tour Australia and New Zealand, giving no fewer than 150 recitals—the largest number ever undertaken by a great artist in this part of the, world. In Allan Wilkio's new Shakespearian production in Melbourne, the first part of "Henry IV.,?' Mr.Wilkie appears as Falstaff, Alexander Marsh as Hotspur, and John Cameron (the New Zealandor)' as Princo Hal. _ Sir Henry Wood tells a musical story of an "amateur" host who forgot to make an announcement before one. of his guests sang, but hastened to do so immediately after the song., "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "Mr. asked me to apologise for his voice before he sang. I omitted to do so, and so I—l—er —apologise now/ , j