Mimes and Music

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 10

Mimes and Music

8» "OH^HEUS'

Mr. Il'. il. Lumpen is producer for tho Dunedhi Operatic Society's performance ut' "Tho Boy." adapted from Sir Arthur Pinero's record-breaking farce, "The Magistrate." Gu-cnda Bm-t is Millieent Mceblcs; Lottie de Clifford, Diana; Tui Northcy, soubrette; Tui Salt, a newcomer; Stun Lawson, Keg. Tapley, Jimmy M'Farlane, Major Lumpen, and other males are well cast. Vivienne Lamb and Cecil Cockburn are specialty dancers.

TUo Auckland Operatic Society made a big loss on its "Greek Slave" season, mediocre houses bringing small returns. The show was spectacular to a degree, and was produced with an eye to correct detail.

Leo Darnton, of the G. and S. Company opening in Auckland next, mouth, surely holds the record as a marathon minstrel. Eecently in Sydney, during racing carnival, ho sang no fewer than 165 numbers and spoke in- the four operas produced about 15,000 words. Two shows a day were given.

Vincent Aspey, a clever Auckland violinist, has returned lo his home town after an absence of three and a half years in Australia. One of his most recent engagements in Sydney was leader of an orchestra of 50 playing -with Balokovie at his farewell concert. Balokovic congratulated him and allowed the Aucklander to use' his own Strud. Mr. Asspey has also done broadcasting, and during' Music Week led, and was soloist with, an orchestra of 45 picked musicians from tin; Conservatorjum.

George Mnrlow has revived "So This is Love" in Sydney, with Clem Da we, Dene Kiano, John Woods, L'lsio Parkes, Walter C'ornock, lOric L'dgeJy, Joe Schriner, and others. It was played in New Zealand last year.

The death occurred in Sydney recently of Mrs. liolloway, the widow of the late Charles Holloway, ay.tor of the older days.

.Rene jope, playing in "As Hitsbauds Go" with Ethel Morrison in Sydney, is 6ft Gin in height. '"The Arcadians" was Mrs. Kva Hume's tenth production for tho I'almorston North Operatic .Society. Her wide experience as a producer has benefited many Dominion amateur societies.

Chamala, a dancer causing a sensation in Sydney, is really Mabel Parsons; her" chamclcon-like changes of colour in her dances are achieved by masks and grease paint. Her husband is flic clever fashioner of the masks.

Mr. A. M'Phersou is to produce the panto., "Little Red Eiding Hood," in Stratford next month. Twenty adults and thirty children are in active rehearsal for the performance, to be in aid of Band Contest funds.

Mr. W. Graemo-Hokloi1 has been appointed producer for tho newly-formed Comedy Club at Stratford. Proceeds will bo in aid of worthy objects, and farce-comedy will be the metier. Mr. Roy G. Nelson, a son of Leonard Nelson (his "Mr. Booze" was a favourite with Fuller vaudeville patrons some years ago), is in New Zealand on a business visit.■ Contingents came to the Crystal Palace, London, from many parts of the South of England and the Midlands for the thirty-eighth annual festival of the Free* Church Choir Union. The strength and vitality of the movement was amply shown iv th« vast massed choir of ySOO voices which gave a. concert during the festival. Competitions for choirs and soloists were held and

wards made.

At a London saleroom recently, Gounod's ,'.'o Divine Redeemer," with orchestral scores, etc., brought £-71; Ed-u-in Greene's "King Me To (Sleep, also with orchestral parts, realised JCI7-1. Contrasted with these prices, it is interesting to record that thirtyone years ago the copyright of Angelo Mascheroni's "For All Eternity" fetched £22-10, and his "Thou Art My Life" £380. Gerald Lane's popular Victorian song, "Tatters," wont for £88, and Frederick Cowen's "Gift of Rest" for £570. In 1898, the copyright of W. Hutchison's "Dream Faces" brought £400; L:iwvenec Kelly's "Love Nocturne," £351; B. Richards's ditty, "Let tho Hills Resound," was bought for £222; and J. Pridham's "Sailor's Dream" fetched £1178. Mario Tempest will not be in the name part of "La Petite Catherine," Alfred Savoir's historical play for London; she will bo the Empress Elizabeth of Russia, whose nephew marries Catherine: Catherine belongs to a younger woman, and the title role has not yet been filled. The play is daring, and Elizabeth has a great histrionic chance in the death scene;

Chaliapin, the famous Russian singer ■who was heard in New Zealand in 392(5, was the Tsar in '.'Prince Igor," under Sir Henry Beechain at London Lyceum. He doubled tho. part with that of the Khan Kontchak. Eugeno Goossens conducted ."Sadko," and Stravinsky's "Petroushka.?' .Chaliapin. was also in "Boris Godunov," under M. Steiman 's baton.'

The Carl llosa Company, owing to the successful response- to the appeal for fund's, will be able to (our in the spring of next year with (he co-opera-tion of: tho Carl Rosa Society. The company was to commence a short season in.London suburbs on 1-lth September. A colonial tour has also been mooted.

Sir Land on Ronald's arrangements for celebrating tlie jubilee of the Guildhall School of Music, of which he is principal, has won for him the thanks, expressed in a letter, of the City of London. Sir James Bell, Town Clerk, has written to Sir Land on complimenting him on behalf of the Court of Common Council, and also congratulating him on the completion of twenty-one years' service as principal of the school. The council hopes that music in general and the Guildhall School in particular, may long enjoy the advantage of Sir Landon's ability and experience. Captain P. S. G. O'Donnell, director of Music, Royal Marines, London, has been urging students at the tenth summer course in music teaching, held at Oxford, to try to arrange music for military bands. Most of tho music played'by bands is transcription, and so long as music is not too light or ethereal there is no reason why compositions suitable for band expression should not. be arranged. Tie does not recommend people with weak lungs to tackle oboe playing, because of having in hold the breath like a swimmer.

The London stage presentation of Vicki Baum 's remarkable novel "Grand lintel" effectively portrays the tragic: waifs and wisps of humanity that pass through the swing doors of (he hoLol, crying out for pity and sympathy in their helplessness.' Madame Elena Ntiramova gives a singularly lovely and touching performance as Grusinskaja, the dancer, and Hugh Williams is the Baron yon Gaigern, into whose arms the dancer falls when he comes to steal her pearls. Ivor Barnard i 3 perfectly cant as Kringelein, the little down-nt-lioels clerk with only a few months to live; Lyn Harding provides the right contrast as his blustering chief, and Ernest Milton is marvellously made up for the part of the lonely, war-scar-red doctor. No attempt is made to force a definite plot—the 10 scenes are just the kaleidoscopic life of tho big hotel. Edward Knobloek adapted the book for the stage iiiul Ciilbi-rt. Miller produced.

Father, son, and daughter all tonk part in the performance of HanrW's nralm-io, "The Messiah," by ll.c jVeiv

Plymouth Choral Society. Mr. 'I. B. lilanchett, a veteran chorulist, was in the choir, his son was a 'cellist in the orchestra, and a daughter was a soprano in the chorus.

National Repertory Theatre Society

'Hie next production of tho National Ke|icrlory Theatre Society will be "Jvino Till Six," a play by Aimee and Philip Stuart which has just concluded a very successful run in London. It is a'charming play with comedy and drama nicely blended, and it has one jiiiquo feature —the cast contains no men. The story does not suffer ou that account, for it is full of interest from the rise to the fall of Ilio curtain. It deals with life in a London West-End millinery and dressmaking establishment, where a strong little drama unfolds itself. The play ivill serve to introduce a good deal of nvw talent associated with some experienced performers. The cast includes Misses Irene Wilson, Mary Cooley, Pauline Shotlander, Marie Bown, Alison Kirkcaldie, Kathleen Smith, Ethel Oldbury-Joncs. Vivienrio Tail, Sheila Kissoll, Mavjorie Oakcs, Grctta Stark, Agnes Page, 'Ngaire Coster, and Mcsdames I). Hodie, A. Pair, and Victor Lloyd. The producer is Mr. W. S. Wauchop, who is giving his usual careful attention to detail. The season of four nights will commence at the Y.W.C.A. Hall on Tuesday, Ist December.

Colleen Clifford's Art.

The London correspondent of "The Post," writing under date 15th October, has the following about a talented New Zoalander, Miss Colleen Clifford, better known perhaps as Eileen Clifford. Describing her as one of the most versatile of talented New Zealanders, iie continues: —"Dainty little Colleen Clifford has. been devoting most of tier time to vaudeville, being so clever with tho piano and winging her own songs —indeed, she has been mmiv times called the 'Margaret Cooper' of to-day. Her real metier, however, should be on v higher plane, for she is a brilliant pianist with a really delightful voice; she is a dainty dancer, a good linguist, and a charming bom actress. In musical comedy she would bo an undoubted success. Miss Clifford made herself responsible for much delightful work at tho I'acuHy Theatre on three nights last week. "Chez-Soi," the entertainments were culled. On tu-p nights she assisted oiher 'stars'; on one night she was the 'star,' and she performed brilliantly all that she undertook. Some of the little plays staged were, extremely clever, one in which Colleen was particularly good being 'The Voice in the Street,' ;>. pathetic post-war episode by li. Thoruley-Dodgo, in which the author acted. Miss Stella Murray (Christchurch), in excellent voice, sang several songs on Colleeji's 'Chez-elle' night. Eoso Quong was in tho east on the third night. Miss Clifford is well known to listeners, as she lias for several years past had many engagements with the 8.8.C., which takes her to all the leading centres of the United Kingdom and Ireland."

Dawson at His Best.

Sir Charles Stanford's rollicking soug, "Father O'Mynn," is Peter Dawson's happy choice "for his latest record, and ho siugs it with a spirit and a will. It is a song just suited to his voico and temperament, and he brings out vividly the character oC the fine old Irish priest. "Father O'JFJyim" is one of the very best of modern ballads, and as a ballad singer Dawsou lias few peers. Thb , companion ,number.,;.."ifi, "■\Vht-n Ihe "Guards go Marching By" (Barker), and Dawson makes a stirring thing indeed of tho inarch-liko refrain. In both songs ho receives splendid support from ft competent orchestra, and tho recording brings out the resonance of his robust voice. (11.M.V.,. 83835.) Charming Lyric Tenor.

Webster Booth's beautifully-.textured tenor voice is heard in two songs which have proved popular numbers in his concert rcpertoiro at Horne —"Moonlight nud You" (Be Crescenzo) and "Always As I Close My Eyes" (Coates). The tenor has outstanding vocal gifts, and understands how to make his songs live. "Moonlight and You" is a sentimental song with a charming melody, to which the singer acids delightful lyric touches. Coates's songs are well-known in New Zealand, as they have always been- favoured by visiting tenors, and several of them have already been recorded for the gramophone. Booth sings "Always as I Close My Eyes" in an effortless and sympathetic style. In both songs he receives splendid assistance from the orchestral accompaniment. (H.M.V., 83758.)

String Sextet.

The Cedrio Sharpe Sh-inpf Sextet have recorded two delightful little compositions by Drigo—"Valse Bluette" and "Lea Trosors de Columbine." Drigo has a largo number of popular songs to his credit, and his instrumental music has had: a wide appeal. The sextet, which is led by Cedric Sharpe, the English 'cellist, who has recorded several solo numbers, is a •well-balanced combination, and the ensemble tone is particularly fine. • It has both body and richness, which have been caught up by the recorders, and those two tuneful little works are played with infinite charm. Tliis is an excellent record for those wishing to become acquainted with chamber music. (H.M.V., B3700.)

Fascinating Waltzes,

Two waltzes by Ancliffe, "Nights of Gladness" anil "Temptation," are gracefully played by the Mayfair Orchestra. There is something fascinating about the lilting strains of the waltz, and these two pieces have refinement and real musical substance. The orchestra displays a sure sense of rhythm and excellent tone, bringing out the spirit of the dance and tho beauty of the melodies. This is certainly an attractive record, rivalling the waltz recordings by Marek Weber and his orchestra. (H.M.V., C 2091.) Astonishing Xylophonist.

Fritz Kroeger, tho xyJophonisf, is responsible for some brilliant playing, in ■a piece of his own composition, "Espanita," and '"The- Dreaming Snowdrop" (Oertel). The first number is full of life and colour, and Kroeger shows that lie is not only ;i melodist, Imt :ilso ;m amazing technician. His .Ic-xtui-ity is nstonishing, and his eni'llcss variety of tone colours enables him to present every mood of (lie music. "The Dreaming Snowdrop" is a charming little composition which conjures up fanciful imageries, and it is also played with deftness and musical insight. The tone of the xylophone reproduces realistically. (H.M.V., 8355 G.)