STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 6

STAGE FOLK

Music lovers wall bo pleased to know that Mr Hugo Larsen announced prior to his departure from Dunedin yesterday that he ivould be bringing Pouishnolf, the celebrated Russian pianst, back on a return visit to Dunedin in two years’ time. The next production at the Comedy, Theatre, Melbourne, will be ,a, Somerset Maugham drama, ‘The: Sacred Flame,’ which will afford Grace Lane; Jane Wood, and tbo other artists who. have • been so smccessfnl in Ivor Novello’s comedy, ‘ Fresh Fields,’ the opportunity to appear in unusually interesting, dramatic roles. ‘ The Sacred Flame ’ lias been one of tbo outstanding successes of the, London stag o - Itwill be produced for J. C. Williamson; Ltd. by Air Grogan -M-'Mahons Messrs .1. and.X. Tait. and Messrs J,. C. Williamson promise concert goers a; rare treat when they send to New Zca-i land- the Adelaide boy, prodigy of- the ■piano,’ Philip Hargrave. . This small! wonder of the keyboard is ,at ’ present: on a,tour of Adelaide, Perth, and Atcl- ; bourne’, with ’Sydney’ to follow, and; then probably New Zealand. Without a sheet of music to go by the lad. plays .classical programmes that- are a] severe test of memory apd interpreta-

lion, and ranks among the geniuses of the musical world.

Beginning with musical plays in August,. Messrs J. C. Williamson Ltd. are preparing for a busy season in New Zealand,, and theatregoers can expect a memorable period from now on. A musical'play bordering on opera is ‘ The Dubarry,’ with which the • dominion tour opens at Auckland.rat His Majesty’s on August-18., Then follows; a beautjful theme, ‘ Waltzes from Vienna,’ leased oh .the, Strains ’family;’ and featuring the famous ‘Blue Danube ’ waltz. In both these op-: erettas Miss Sylvia Welling, the Lon-, don prim a donna, plays ■ the. - principal role, first as Jeanne du Barry, of his-: torical fame, then, in the Viennese romance in which Strauss father and son differ musically, and are only, brought together again in a climax engineered by a countess. Strauss-senior conducts an orchestral performance in lieu of bis son-, and ■ creates a furore with the ‘Blue Danubethat is played'during a ball at which romance is righted between the lovers. Settings for-both are

sumptuous, and will (it is said) astound theatregoers with their brilliance and beauty. A largely augmented stage staff is necessary to ensure quick handling of the scenes in ‘The Du harry ’ and ‘ Waltzes from Vienna,’ two. ■ musical plays that commence a New Zealand tour at Auckland on August 18. Both delighted Australian audiences, despite the sophistication that one has come to expect in stage craft. With a new system of “counter-weights” the mechanical staff is able to present one scene after another with a minimum ot delay, so that the continuity of the story suffers no interruption. In Australia, audiences have been moved outbursts of appreciation seldom accorded the scenic artist, producer, and other buck-stage exports, and New Zealanders will no doubt.endorse that enthusiasm when they see the lovely settings of the two musical plnys_that will he seen throughout the dominion. Hie French elegance of the Du harry ' period and the languorous charm of Vienna in the Strauss days - are embodied m

these fascinating musical plays that offer so much scope in all branches of theatre craft. The new lighting system which is introduced for the first time in Australia as a feature of J. C. Williamson’s' Theatre, Melbourne, will revolu-. tionise stage production. Costing over £II,OOO, this combination of scientific and mechanical genius enables effects to bo achieved that have been hitherto impossible. By projecting and mixing colours in the air. and using this “ atmosphere ” to develop and surround the scenes on the stage,, all the phenomena of nature may be represented—day or night, winter or spring,moonlight, sunshine, starry skies, clouds scudding across the sky, storm, and rain. All these are produced by the operator who sits in his little box under the stage, unseen himself but seeing everything, and with his' maze of controls before him like the keyboard of a great organ. This unique stage lighting system will be /seen in operation for the first time in Australia in the stupendous J. C. Williamson spectacular musical production. ‘ White. Ho rsc Inn.' with'.a gala performance of which the new His .Majesty’s will open to-night, July 28.

After the close of its seven weeks’, season in Auckland last Monday—it was originally planned as a three weeks’ engagement—Clem Dawe’s revue company will play in the near future in Hamilton, Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Hastings before opening at

Wellington on August 3. In that city the company is to stage its shows on a programme at the St. James Theatre which will’include' cinema fare, in conjunction with the Fuller organisation. Clem Dawe has presented the following shows in Auckland during the season: —“ Strike Up the Band,’ ‘ The Whirl of the" Town/ ‘The Laugh Parade/ ‘ The Whirligig/ 4 Laugh, Town Laugh/ ‘ Brighter Lays/ ‘ The Musjc Box of 1934/and ‘.So Long, Folk.’ ’ The oft-repeated' statement- that killing the .‘stage has been ' proved false, move so. than ever during' the past theatrical season on Broadway, when about 15 per cent, of all plays presented, “ hits ’’ and “ flops ” alike, were bought by the film moguls. Purchase prices were on a level with those of the best' years of the industry, and the. money will produce a fine harvest of plays in the forthcoming season. Four plays brought over 50,000d0l each for screen rights, two (‘ Ah, Wilderness ’ and ‘ Sailor, Beware! ’) making over 75,000d0l each. ‘ Men In White ’ and ‘ The Shining Hour ’ each fetched 47,500d01, while those ' in’the 30,00040,0G0d0l class included ‘ Her Master’s Voice/ ‘ Murder tit the Vanities/ ‘The Pursuit of Happiness,’ ‘The Dark Tour/ and ‘ Big-hearted Herbert/ Dr Merton Hodge, the eminent New Zealander. should receive a good .share of 15,000d0l or’ so paid for his success, ‘ The Wind and the Rain.’-

Mr Leo du Chateau, of Wellington, was judge at the British Drama League’s festival for the Hawke’s Bay district, held at Dannevirke. One, of the longest waits by theatre first-nighters ended when the doors opened at Drury Lane for the premiere of ‘ Throe Sisters/ the new musical play of English country life. More than fifty of the crowd of enthusiasts took up their position outside the amphitheatre entrance ten days previously. Drury Lane officials said that this* constitutes the longest, first-night vigil bn record: - Another important, theatrical attraction is announced by J. C. Williamson Ltd. The first .has arranged for the appearance in Australia of a complete Russian ballet, the company comprising no fewer than thirty notable dancers. A magnificent repertoire will bo presented, including several ballets which have not hitherto been seen in Australia. M. Victor Dandro, who was Madame Pavlova’s husband, has organised the ,company, which is at present i appearing in South Africa with great success. After a visit to the East it will open in Brisbane on October 6, • with a season in Sydney to follow. The Russian ballet will bo an attraction at Melbourne 1 His Majesty’s dqring the centenary ■ celebrations.