FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 19942, 11 August 1928, Page 15

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Sir. Benjamin and Mr John fuller Minounce the production of an Aus- ' braliah play at the Hal ace Theatre, Melbourne. Written by Arthur Wright, it has been named * A Sport from Hollow Log Flat.’ Mr Victor Fitzherbcrt, a member ot the J. C. Williamson Company which will appear in ‘ Rookery Kook,' is a New Zealander. Ho is a member ol a prominent legal family in .Auckland, and himself followed law beloro ho went on the stage. Dame N.cllie Melba will leave Australia for England and the Continent in September. She is to give a 1 arewell concert in Melbourne. The past of conductor to the Royal Choral Society, which has not been officially filled since the death of Sir Frederick Bridge, lias now been given to the young English conductor. Dr Malcolm Sargent. Mr Vladimir de Pachmann, who ,is nearing his eightieth birthday (he was born at Odessa on July 27, IS4S), gave a piano recital of Chopin’s works at the Albert Hall, London, recently, to an audience of nearly 5,000. It is reported from Los Angelos that Olsen and Johnson, who were in Australia in vaudeville and in ‘ Tip Toes,’ have signed a contract with the Keith and Orpheum circuits for a vaudeville tour of forty-five -weeks at £6OO per week, equalling £27,000 for the full period. The New Plymouth Choral Society will give Montague Phillips’s light opera, ‘ The Rebel Maid,’ about the end or August. Madame Winnie Fraser will be the soprano and Mr Hubert Carter the tenor soloist in Berlioz’s [I 1 aust ’ at Wellington on September 15. Edna,, Thomas, singer of negro spirituals, proposes to make another trip to Australia and the dominion. The prices for the Dunedin season of ‘Madame Pompadour’ and ‘The Student P.rince 1 wero Ss, -Is, and Is 6d In the north they were 10s, ss, and 2s (says the ‘ Post ’). The two plays being presented m New Zealand by Leon Gordon and his j'. C. Williamson Company seem to suit public taste to a nicety, judging by -the support given ‘ The Trial of Mary Dugan’ and Cosmo Hamilton's ‘ Scandal.’ They are totally dissimilar in construction —one a tense drama ol th<)' courts, the other a society drama with an unconvential theme. The art of Mr Gordon is finely polished—he runs .the gamut of expression, yet never strives after effect. The supporting company is well chosen, and Miss May Collins, the female lead, is an actress of distinctive talent. She is Mary Dugan, of the Follies, on trial for her lilo on a charge of murdering her paramour in ‘The,Trial of Mary Dugan,’ and is the spoiled society butterfly, Beatrice, in the daring Cosmo Hamilton play. The company will be in Dunedin on August 18-23. Irene Browne, who was in New Zealand some years ago with Julius Knight, playing in ‘ A Royal Divorce,’ is appearing in New York together with Billie Burke (writes “Jack Point,” in the ‘ Manawatu Times’). When she returned to England from Australia and New Zealand she threw her lot in with such diversified popular plays as ‘ Tho Dummy,’ ‘My Lady Frayle,’ ‘Bella Donna,’ and 1 Milestones.’ At some time during the course of these engagements tho beginnings of a comedienne must have been discovered, for with no hesitation whatever, Miss Browne returned abruptly to tho serious business of acting with George Grossmith in two revivals, playing Sophie Fullgarney in ‘ Tho Gay Lord Quex,’ and Countess Zicka in ‘ Diplomacy.’ Then the actress'once more changed her colours completely in the London production of ‘ No, No, Nanette.’ When she was in Australia there were few who knew that she could have been equally great as a musical comedy star.

George Duryea and Grace Stafford, who toured New Zealand in ‘ Abie’s Irish Rose,’ have announced their engagement. Frank' Clewlow, hero with the last Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company, is now director of tho Melbourne Repertory Theatre,

Tho Midnight Frolics, with Clem Dawe, who were so popular in New Zealand twelve months ago, have made a little change in tho personnel of tho company, which now includes Douglas Herald, an eminent bass-baritone; J chn Robinson, a dancer of note; and Gertie Cremer, a charming little comedienne. Tho' company is now in Newcastle, where it is playing to capacity business. Stiff y and Mo, after nearly five years’ absence, aro to open at Wellington on August -20. They aro a very strong company indeed. One of the features is the Charleston Jazz Band, recognised as Australia’s premier melodists. One of the principal parts in ‘ Good News,’ Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller's new musical comedy, which has made such a great hit in Melbourne, is played- by Miss Martino Burnley, a charming young American actress. Miss Rtrnley was born in Richmond, Virginia, so, as she remarks, “1 am a true American.” The little artist, although very young, has played numbers of splendid parts,on the American stage, including the title role in ‘No, No, Nanette.’ Her last success before sailing for. Australia was scored iu ‘ Broadway Whirl.’ Miss Martino studied dancing under the. eminent master of the Russian ballet—lvan Turazolf—-and it was owing to her ability in this direction that sho secured her first mportant ong?.ie**Jient. Unlike most dancers, Miss Burnley can sing and act. At an early age she won a scholarship in singing frpm tho Opera Guild iu New York, and it was this success that tempted har.'to ..adopt.» stage career. She has a splendid role in ‘ Good News,’ supplying most of the sentimental interest in tho musical comedy. Sir .'Benjamin Fuller announced m Sydney recently that the success of the Fiiller-Gonsalez Grand Opera Company has been so pronounced that another season will be organised nest year. Mr Rodolfo Gonsalez has accordingly lett for Europe by way of America to engage new artists. “ The seasons of tho present company in Sydney and Melbourne, and tho tour 114100 which it is now engaged in N.cw Zealand, have proved so successful financially,” said Sir Benjamin; ‘‘that we have decided to, continue in this field, and, moreover,- our prices nest season will be •till lower, inasmuch as the special rates for fitsr.nights will be abolished. And,” ha added, “ wo shall not ask for a Government subsidy, or for any guarantee.” Still another member of tho late * Rose Mario ’ Company has deserted tho ,legitimate stage for vaudeville. This is Noe] Allen, tho New Zealander, whoso villainous Edward Hawley was a aound characterisation in the memorable musical play. He is now presenting a vocal act on tho Tivoli circuit. ,

[By LOITERER.]

Jottings oxi tbo people of the Stage and Screes "wml oa tbe latest recorded Musk.

‘ The Arcadians ’ was produced in Napier last week. Mr .Norman Bennett, the young Melbourne tenor, who was in New Zealand with the Phyllis Lett Concert Party last year, has left for America. Mr Bennett intends to consult Mr Percy Grainger, the pianist, who advised him to go abroad, and at Chicago will commence a course of study before appearing on the concert platform in America. The clean, typically English humour of Ben Travers’s comedies is appealing to New Zealand audiences, who, after all, really prefer' subtle, rapier-like points to tho obvious and crude. The New English Comedy Company now touring the dominion under tho banner of J. C. Williamson is exceptionally well suited to the of comedy being presented; it consists largely of English artists, with Donalda VVarne, a dainty little Australian girl, playing a prominent part. Hastings Lynn will make many friends in New Zealand, while Basil Radford, who was last here in

• The Ghost Train,’ will meet with a cordial reception from all who remember his sterling performance as the silly-ass detective in that thrilling melodrama. The company comes to Dunedin on September 10-15.