FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 17923, 20 March 1922, Page 7

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Mr Martin Duff, the well-known Dominion tenor, was in New York at the end of January, and intended to stay thero for a month before leaving for London to study vocalism under a good master. According to a letter received by a Wellington friend. Mr Duff sang for a week in Ban Francisco at ono of tho biggest picture houses. -Whilst in Now York Mr Duff endeavored to get an engagement. but found it difficult, "as tho managers all wanted well-known musical names to juggle with." Ono musical firm said the best way to get in was to give a recital, but on learning that it would coat him 500 dollars Mr Duff gave up the'idea. Mr Andre Shalski, who has been selected bv tho Advisory Board of tho New South Wales State Orchestra as conductor during Mr Verbrugghon's absence in Europe, is a Pole and a pianist of high calibre. Arriving from Siberia (where ho had terrible experiences during the Russian revolution) via tho lust some months ago, Mr Shalski's conduethiK at the Town Hall. Sydney, was deemed so satisfactory that his appointment was made. Tn the opinion of Messrs Alfred Hill (composer of 'The Moorish Maid'), W. A. Orchard, and Joseph Bradley, all of whom have conducted the orchestra at times, the preieronce to a foreigner shows a deplorable lack of oneouragemenut to resident musicians. There has been considerable agitation in theatrical and kinema circles recently for the removal of the entertainments tax. The chairman (Mr Moss) at the Empire Theatre annual meeting at Edinburgh, said that the company for the past six years had paid £1,200,000 in tax, and the tune had como for the removal or a substantia] reduction of tho burden. • The secession of Mr Hugh J. Warn from tho firm of J. C. Williamson, with which ho has been associated for considerably over a c\nxrbev of a century, is announced. "Call Boy" ifi advised that Mr Wauls reason for severing his connection was his objection to recant amalgamations, resulting in an increase in tho number ot managing directors, which in his opinion told disadvantagedusly in regard to the problems of production. It was, in short, a case of "too many cooks," etc. It was after tho full dress rehearsal of tho_ play 'Johnnie. Got Your Gun/ which introduced Louis Bennison to, Australia, that Mr Ward tendered his resignation from the directorate. He proposes to form a new company, in which _ Sjr Ben Fujler and Mr John Fuller will be large shareholders, to build and lease theatres for the production of plays ranging from farce to grand opera. Thus the monopoly which was bronnht about bv the amalgamation of the Taits with .the J. C Williamson organisations is to be assailed. Actors and actresses are certain to look with favor on the competition in management, as lending to improved conditions. Mr Ward left Sydney for Great Britain via America last week in search of attractions. Ella Shields, the comedienne and male impersonator who heads tho Musgrove Vaudeville Company, to be seen in Dunedin next week, is a whole show in herself, in that, she holds the stage for forty minute?. It is said that in this long tenancy there is not a dull moment. Miss Fanny Wiseman, who has celebrated her seventy-fifth birthday, is playing in some of the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean productions in Melbourne. The nurse in 'Romeo and Juliet' is one of her parts. Vaudeville is having a month's spell at Auckland while Fullers' Dramatic Players, headed by the "singing parson,' the Rev. Frank Gorman, produce 'The Silence of Dean Maitland' and other pieces which they staged in Dunedin at the New Year. The very surroundings of the Sistine Choir, which sings all the year round in the Sistine Chapel, built and decorated by Sixtus IV,, must necessarily tend to inspire the singers to exalted effort. The beauties of the building and the frescoes of Michael Angelo which adorn the walls and ceiling draw each day admiring throngs from all quarters of tho world. The members of the choir are trained from early boyhood under conditions of rare cultured advantages, so as to equip themselves for the privilege of inclusion. Many of the singers possess the clear bell-like sopranos so admired in operatic prima donnas. The Melbourne season of the Sistine Choir opens at the Town Hall on April 15 under the management of E. J. and Dan Carroll.

The sisters and the nursing staff of St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, were given a rare treat on tho evening of the Ist inst., when Mr G-. D. Portus, accompanied by Misses Rosa Alba and Ivy Mazengarb and Mr E. Chappie, gave an impromptu concert in the nurses' quarters. Dr Fitzsimmons, at the conclusion of the concert, thanked Mr Portus and his assisting artists for the great pleasure their efforts had given. Mr Allen Doone provided the motor cars for the party.