STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 21718, 12 May 1934, Page 6

STAGE FOLK

Over 100 are engaged in ‘ Sally,’ Kern’s memorable music comedy which tho Dunedin Operatic Society is presenting at His Majesty’s Theatre for one week, commencing on June 2. This production marks a new high level for the society, ns no previous offering has lent itself so lavishly to grandeur of staging or to more robust choruses. Tho company, apart from the principals, orchestra, and technical staff numbers eighty-four. The ladies of the chorus total thirty-six, and the men’s section has twenty-four voices. Twentyfour dainty dancers are in the corps de ballet. The dancers are in training throughout the year, and the evolution of new numbers comes easily to them. Tho Operatic Society is very sanguine of the success ‘Sally’ will be, as the whole company is word perfect and step perfect. Work with the scores before them has ceased, and the ensembles are now being given the finishing touches. Tho three scenes are colourful, making a picturesque background for the kaliedoscopio effect of the Russian costuming. The leading performers have all established themselves in past pro-

ductions, but greatest interest will be taken in Miss Daphne Murdoch’s Sally, a role of infinite possibilities for an actress of personality with a pleasant voice and dainty feet. Miss Murdoch’s performances at rehearsals leave no doubt that she will, as did Josie Melville, sing and dance her itay to the hearts of a public who have become steadfast in their loyalty to the society. Sir Benjamin Fuller has booked the American, Polly Walker, to star in the musical comedy, ‘ The Merry Malones,’ opening in Melbourne this month. Though she sometimes earned more than £3OO a week. Miss Connie Ediss, the famous London musical comedy star, had only £3OO when she died recently, aged sixty-two (states cabled advice). This was due to her unfailing generosity. The majority of the mourners at her funernl_ were people she had helped. They included men and women with whom she acted many years ago, a newspaper seller to whom she gave threepence for every paper, and an old artist whose pictures she bought to save him from starvation. A blind man, who had visited Miss Ediss daily during her illness, strewed flowers on her coffin. I have received advice from Mr Hugo Larsen, the well-known entrepreneur, that Leff Pouishnoff, the phenomenal Russian pianist, and Horace Stevens, the famous London baritone, who have created such a sensation during their concerts in Australia, will definitely appear at the Dunedin Town Hall on Thursday, July 12, for a short season. Music lovers of this town can look forward to a feast of music and singing that rarely comes along this way. Stanley Lupino, member of the famous London theatrical family and brother of the inimitable comedian Barry Lupino, who has entertained New Zealanders, has been appearing at the Manchester Palace Theatre in ‘ Sporting Love/ but an epidemic of “ ’flu.” has interfered with the show. More interesting, however, is the fact that Mr Lupino has accepted a screen engagement of £20,000 per annum for three years—the highest salary . received by a British film actor. The Russian pianist, Jascha Spivakovsky, and his brother, Tossy, the violinist, have been appointed to the teaching staff of the Melbourne University Conservatorium. Jascha and Tossy Spivakovsky, with Edmund Kurtz ("cellist), became famous as the Spivakovsky trio. Jascha, who married an Australian, has been living in Adelaide for some time. He is the eldest of the brothers. Tossy, who is aged twenty-six years, commenced the study of the violin when aged six years, studying under Arrigo Serrato, and at eighteen years he was leader of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. A third brother, Adolf, who is _ a baritone singer, arrived recently .in Australia. The Spivakovsky trio presented three concerts in Dunedin last June.

Sybil Thorndike had a terrific reception for what was, in sober and literal truth, a terrific performance in ‘ Double Door’ recently. She proved, once again, as she has done before, that in parts where supernormal strength is required no actress on our stage—perhaps in the world—can com© near her. Her part in ‘ Double Door,’ by Elizabeth M'Fadden, is that or an ancient spinster, head of a great family in New York, who keeps her wretched sister and half-brother slaves to her power. The sister is easy to browbeat, but the brother has to be subdued by threats of disinheritance. It is not explained in the play—which is, anyhow, rather a crudelv constructed and obvious affair, for all its effectiveness—how the poor abject managed to summon up spirit to marry “ beneath him” (says an English critic). Ho does, though. After an illness, he marries his nurse. Mr Bernard Shaw’s latest play, *On the Rocks,’ was presented for the first time in Berlin recently before a full and extremely enthusiastic house. There were no dissentient voices. Berlin theatre-goers are evidently better informed than the provincial audiences

in Germany that have occasionally, since the triumph of the Nazi cause, howled down his play ß with cries of “ Down with the Jew Shaw. The enthusiasm may be partly explained by a programme note which describes the play as “a critical confession of faith in the leadership principle. Mr Shaw is always taken so much more seriously abroad than he is in England. His sallies at the expense of Democracy and Parliament were greeted with joyous merriment.

Sir Benjamin Fuller announced recently that a public company, with a capital of £250,000, would be formed under the name of the Royal Grand Opera Company. It would buy the Palace Theatre, Melbourne, organise the season for the Melbourne centenary celebrations, and establish, the opera company on a permanent basis, stage big spectacular musical comedies at the Palace, and present artistic films there. There would be a_ season at the Palace every year, he said, and after its completion the company would tour the Commonwealth and New Zealand. It would be engaged the whole year round, though there would, of course, be changes in the personnel. Sir Benjamin Fuller has sought to establish a permanent opera company for a long time.