STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 22228, 4 January 1936, Page 5

STAGE FOLK

. Now playing to crowded audiences in Auckland is the big Williamson spectacle, 1 White Horse Inn,’ which easily eclipses anything New Zealand theatregoers have ever seen. Indeed,not since the days of ‘ Chu Chin Chow ’ has been offered such a feast for ear and eye; it is a theatrical marvel done in the best Williamson tradition. The lilt and gaiety of its carnival scenes; the colour and movement that mark each of 1 the sensational scenes ; the dance, song, and ensembles; the ’ happy music; the pageantry of the show; the panoramic detail; the action that whisks from one scene to another in lighning tempo; the revolving stage that makes all this spectacular detail possible—these are only a few of the reasons why /‘ White Horse .Inn’ in its progress through New Zealand, will be hailed as the firm’s greatest scenic triumph. Romola Hansen, Herbert Browne, Alfred Frith, Miriam Lester, Don Nicol, Colin Crane, Alban Mack, Marie Ann Conan, Yvonne Banvard, Daphne Lowe, Master Grieves, are a few of the principals in a company that numbers over 120,- and includes gay Tyrolean dancers; comedians, bathing beauties, etc. The Auckland season closes bn January 11, ■ after which there will be seasons at New Plymouth, January 13, 14, 15; Wanganui, January 16, 17, 18; Palmerston North, January 20, 21, 22; Hastings, January 23, 24, 25; Masterton, January 27, 28; Wellington, January 29 to February 15; Christchurch, February 18 to 29; Timaru, March 2,3, 4; Dunedin, March 5-14; Invercargill; March 16, 17, 18. Messrs Williamson and Tait are sending to New Zealand one good thing after another, for next to come to intrigue and entertain will bg Gilbert and Sullivan, the season commencing somewhere about the middle of February. There is no age to the work of the two distinguished collaborators. It is always young, and as presented in best Williamson manner will continue to cast its spell for many years to come. The company that will be sent to New Zealand is having record seasons in Australia, and will play here with a firmly-established reputation, an inherent affection for the -works they portray, and an efficiency and coherence that come from long and happy , association with each other. Truly a feast is in store for the legion of Gilbert and Sullivan devotees in New Zealand next month. Mr Roland Foster, professor of singing at the New South Wales Gonservatorium of Music, who is visiting Auckland, has trained many notable singers. His pupils include the well-known London artists ' Essie Ackland, ! Ethel Osborn, Rosa Alba, Rowena Donald, Merle Miller (New Zealand). In the United States are Marjorie Beeby and Marjorie Neeld, and in Paris is Dorothy Gadsden. Two New Zealand girlsin Mr Foster’s studios are Ruth Scott and Mary M'Cormick. The series of concerts which Sir Thomas Beecham is to conduct in New York this month will form a festival of English music. Contemporary English composers will be represented on a scale never before known outside Great Britain. The concerts will number 14, the orchestras being the New York Philharmonic Symphony and the Philadelphia. Mozart, eight of whose symphonies will be played, is the only nonBritish composer to appear in the scheme. The older English composers will be represented by Byrd, Purcell, and Boyce. The modem composers whose works the organisers, of the concerts have asked Sir Thomas to include are: Elgar, Stanford, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Holst, Bax, Bliss, George Butterworth, Berners, Cyril Scott, and Walton, 1 The festival concerts will take place between January 3 and February 1, ,