STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 21880, 17 November 1934, Page 6

STAGE FOLK

Gustav Slapoff.ski, well known throughout New Zealand as the conductor of Gilbert and Sullivan productions and as the music director at the Dunedin Exhibition, was responsible for the preliminary selection of orchestral players for Sir Benjamin Fuller's Koval Grand Opera Company at present appearing in Melbourne. Millie Doris, well remembered by Fuller vaudeville audiences, is singing and pattering over the air in Australia to the delight of all.

The Russian Ballet, now appearing in Sydney under the .). C. Williamson management, comprises fifty notable dancers headed by Olga Spessiva, Pavlova’s successor, and Anatole Vilzak, the principal male dancer, both of whom were trained at the Imperial Ballet at St. Petersburg before the revolution.

‘ The Merry Malones ’ ran for thirteen weeks in Melbourne. Roily Walker, an American star, plays Polly Malone. The show is now in Sydney.

Florence Austral, whose glorious voice needs no introduction to musiclovers, and who is now appearing in Sir Benjamin Fuller’s Royal Grand Op—a Company, received her musical education in Melbourne. Shortly after tiie war she went to America and later to London to complete her studies, making her operatic dehut and becoming famous overnight in the role of Brunehilde in 1 The Valkyrie ’ at Covent Garden in 1922. Sincethen she has appeared in the principal dramatic soprano roles in England, America, and at the Berlin State Opera House. Sir Benjamin Fuller is particularly proud that Madame Austral’s first operatic appearance in Australia should be made under his direction.

Ethel Morrison's many friends in New Zealand will be pleased to hear

that she is returning from abroad to play in the J. C. Williamson production of ‘ Roberta,’ the play in which Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard will return to Melbourne.

In Wellington, as elsewhere, Philip Hargrave has been the object of much attention and enthusiasm in the streets. After everv performance music-lovors crowded at the gates of the Grand Opera House to speed Philip to bis hotel with cheers and plaudits. lue ladls personal" apparel is on a par with Ids pianistio appeal, and in New Zealand he has been experiencing street demonstrations similar to those he enjoys in his native country, Australia. Complimentary after-theatre crowds are not -usual in New Zealand, hut Master Philip Hargrave has certainly secured the admiration of people of all ages.

Miss Phyllis Fuller, writing to Australian friends from Hollywood, mentions meeting Adele Crane (here with J. C. Williamson companies) and her husband, Jan Rubini, who was violinistconductor at the Melbourne Capitol in 1929. She also met another interesting Australian, Ivy Wilson, once a dancer, now running an agency business. May Beatty and Mona Bailee were other well-known personalities John Fuller s daughter had pleasant contact with in the cinema city.

The success of ‘ Blue Mountain Melody ’ is a triumph for two young Australians, who have the pleasure of seeing their work greeted by unlimited applause and appreciation from crowded audiences wherever it is produced. ‘ Blue Mountain Melody,’ the all-Aus-tralian musical comedy, which, after a very successful season in Sydney, is now playing at His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, is written by J. C. Baucks, the artist whose comic character Ginger Meggs is world famous. Mr Bnncks ■ for long had leanings towards the stage, and some years ago, in his quest of experience, went off with a touring company and did some very good work in comedy roles. When he set out to write ‘ Bine Mountain Melody ’ this experience. he found, was invaluable to him." Charles Zwar, the young Melbourne composer, who has supplied the music and'lyrics, at an early age attracted attention by his musical brilliancy when he studied the violin and piano at the Melbourne Conservatorinm of Music. He was responsible, for the music, and lyrics of two successful revues in Melbourne, and some of his work lias attracted favourable attention on the other side of the world. The team work of these two has resulted in a successful all-Australian musical comedy that is making stage history.

The Dunedin Repertory Society will stage as its seventh production, Aimee and Philip Stuart’s outstanding com-edy-drama entitled ‘ Nine Till Six,’ at His Majesty’s Theatre on November 29 and 30 and December 1. The pro-

dilution of this play will be something of an innovation so far as the Repertory Society is concerned, for the cast excludes the more male, and the play is handled throughout by women. With its large, active membership the society, has had no difficulty in casting, the play, and the theatre-going public may look forward -to a dramatic treat of the first order.

.British papers report the death at Los Angeles, at the age of sixty-nine, of Mr K. H. Lemare, who had a past reputation as an organist, and was. known also as a composer. Born in the isle of Wight, after holding appointments in England he went in 1902 to America, where be remained till bis death.

Maurice Ralph, representative for Clem Dawe's Revues, writes melt is now practically certain that we will open Dunedin with our Revue Company on Saturday, December 22, at His Majesty’s Theatre. We are having a phenomenal run in Christchurch, and by the time we finish will have played a twelve-week season. We have a wonderfully popular show, full of brightness, good dancing, singing, etc., and it is just file typical entertainment for the merry Christmas season. We hope to pUf several weeks in your town.

Tlie New Zealand tour of the famous Grenadier Guards Band, under TaitWilliamson direction, will' .commence early next month. The band’s sensational success in Australia speaks for itself. That New Zealand will accord the famous organisation the same outstanding acknowledgement is n foregone conclusion. The band’s visit promises a treat tlfnt is unlikely to be repeated in the experience of the present generation. Such tours are rare, and an unforgettable memory will be the privilege of all who see and hear the bandsmen under Major Miller, M.B.E. , Mr H. Stringer, New Zealand representative for Messrs J. -C. Williamson Ltd. and J. and N. Tait, announces the following itinerary:— Auckland, December 4-10; Hamilton, December 11; New Plymouth, Decem-

ber 12; Hawera and Wanganui December 13; Marton and Palmerston North, December 14; Wellington, December ,13-24;- Christchurch, December 23-31; Timaru, January 1; Dunedin, January 2-5; Invercargill) January 7; Oamaru and Ashburton, January 9; Blenheim, January- 11; Nelson, January 12; Napier,' January 14; Hastings, January 15.

Henry Wilcoxon, Marc Antony of Paramount’s ‘ Cleopatra,’ played 130 roles during his six years on the'stage and screen in London before going to Hollywood.

Ralph Morgan, Vince Barnett, Andy Devine, William Stack, and Rudolph Aliment have been engaged by Fox to play important parts in the forthcoming Warner Baxter film ‘Hell in the Heavens,’ now in preparation. This is the screen adaptation made by Ted Parsons and Byron Morgan of the play ‘ The" Ace.’

Claire MacDowell and Norma Drew, both veterans of the silent screen and with previous stage background, entered the cast of ‘ Imitation of Life ’ recently. Claudette Colbert has finished her part, and other members of the cast who are still nt work are Warren William, ■ Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks, Barry Norton, and Noel Francis.

In the Gauniont-British picture ‘ Little Friend.’ soon to be released in New Zealand, the interpretation of the difficult character of the child is done by Nova Pilbeam, a fourteen-year-old artist. She exhibits something little short of genius in the manner in which her acting responds to the delicate gradations of the author in tracing the awakenings of the child to the growing tension of her home. The cast of ‘ Little Friends ’ includes Matheson Lang, Lydia Sherwood, Arthur Marge tson, Allan Aynesworth, Jean Cadell, Jimmy Hanley. Clare Greet, Lewis Casson, Gibb M'Laughlin, Dina Cotton, and Jack Raine.

Mr F. Beaumont Smith’s new production, ‘ Splendid Fellows,’ has been passed by the Commonwealth censor without excisions. The censor, Mr P. O’Reilly, stated that he considered ‘ Splendid Fellows ’ the finest Australian picture to date. Many historic incidents that arc news of the. moment have been included as incidental parts to the story. These concern the finish of the centenary air race, the Duke of Gloucester’s tour, and the popular visit of the Band of the Grenadier Guards. The story of ‘ Splendid Fellows ’ is essentially one of comedy, and it has about it an air of originality that will be appreciated. The cast contains many popular names, among them being Eric Column, Isabel Mahon, hailed everywhere as a groat screen discovery, Leo Franklin, Frank Leighton, arid others.