STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 6

STAGE FOLK

Shortly to be produced in the Dunedin Little Theatre by a group of local amateurs will be ‘ The Bat,’ a mystery thriller in three acts. The Little Theatre drama festival commences a season of three nights on Monday, July 6. A number of popular plays will be presented, and the winning teams will compete in the British Drama League competition. On his arrival in Australia Richard Crooks told of an interesting experiment which came to a successful conclusion just before he left America for Australia. A well-known gramophone company engaged a special train to take the Philadelphia Orches'tra and Leopold Stokovsky across the continent giving programmes in practically every town along the route. The first production in Australia of ‘ The Gipsy Princess ’ will bo given by J. C. Williamson Ltd. at the Theatre Royal, Sydney to-night. The principal roles will be played by Maria Eisner (soprano), lending lady from Vienna, Charles Heslop, principal comedian, and Djmstan Hart, baritone leading man, both from Loudon. The “book ” is by Arthur Miller, the lyrics are by Arthur Stanley, and the music by Emmerich Kalman. Also in the cast will be Cecil Kellaway, John Frazer, Reginald Newson, Rita, Pauncefort, Lois Green. Lesley Crane, Charles Zoli, Sydney Wheeler, Arthur Clarke, Fred Bonner. The play will be produced by Frederick Blackman. The dances and ballets are being arranged by Nina Starace.

Miss Rona Vaughan has been appointed judge of the dancing sections at the Competitions Society’s forthcoming competitions. Miss Vaughan is probably the finest operatic dancer in Christchurch, if not in New Zealand. She has had three years’ studying operatic and character dancing at the Pavlova and Novikoff School in London, which was the leading school of dancing at the time, and was fortunate enough to be able to secure private tuition from Pavlova herself, after which she toured with the Carl Rosa Opera Company for some time. She also studied dancing under Josephine Bradley and Muriel Simmons Schools. The Press report of a recent dance recital of Miss Vaughan’s in Christchurch states “ that the technique displayed in Miss Vaughan’s work was a revelation, and as near perfect as one ever secs it, even among professionals.”

The world-famous American tenor, Richard Crooks, who commences his New Zealand tour at_ Auckland on September 15, under Tait management, is the only singer who has ever refused an engagement to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, New York. He was asked to sing five years before he appeared there, but turned the offer down. When he did make his debut, in 1933, ho “stopped the show ” for more than half an hour, and took 37 curtain calls. In Berlin, whore he went to study as a youth, he was asked to sing the tenor lead in ‘ Tosca,’ to be given in two weeks’ time. Crooks went out and bought a score of ‘ Tosca,’ and learned the entire role, not one note of which he had seen or sung before. The performance was a great success, and established the young singer among the foremost tenors of the world. He will give three concerts in Auckland on September 15, 17, and 19, The Dunedin Juvenile Operatic Society Will present its ninth production, the delightful Japanese operetta; ‘ Princess Gardenia,’ in the -Town Hall Concert Chamber this evening, Miss Muriel Eager being producer. There is always something refreshing about, the acting of these tiny tots that appeals to adults as well as to children, and on- this occasion . an exceptionally clever cast of juveniles has been ; assembled. Isabel Bakers (Princess Gardenia), Olive Biggs (the Prince), Gloria Poots (the Wizard Cat), Edith Wallace (the Court Chamberlain), Colleen M'Millan (the Fairy Queen), Les Jack (the Emperor), Elsie Kiritham (the Empress), Mavis Laingmuir (the Prince of Ticky-Too), Hinerua Adams (Toto), and Valerie Reid (Suki). The dancing is from the studio of Miss Gwen Webster. Beautiful costumes have been specially designed for the occasion, and will be « feature of the production. Miss Muriel Caddie, L.T.C.L., is musical directress, Miss Dora Wilson violinist, while Begg’s Orchestra, under the baton of Mr J. Himburg, will be in attendance. The Dunedin Junior Orchestra will give its first concert of its fourth season in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Tuesday, July 7. Since its last appearance this • society has been. fortunate enough to have presented to it several numbers which will be played during this season. M. do Rose gave the parts of Rubinstein’s beautiful ‘ Reve Angelique/ while Mr Hopkins, a very ardent admirer of the orchestra, has given Ketelby’s ‘ The Clock and the Dresden Figures.’ Both these will be played at the .first concert of this season. A member of the orchestra, Mr lan Ballantyne, on'attaining his majority and retiring from the orchestra to join the Orchestral Society, presented full parts of _ the Berlioz ‘ Hungarian March,’ which will bo played later in the year. In addition to the above the orchestra will play Gurlitt’s ! tuneful ‘ Marionettes ’ overture, the ever-hoautiful ‘ Blue Danube ’ waltzes, tho ‘ Tannhausor ’ march, waltz from the Coppelia ballet, Boccherini’s 1 Minuet ’ for strings, and other tuneful numbers. Mr Colin Oliver will be the soloist on this occasion. The orchestra is up to full strength, and the conductor, Mr Roy Spackman, is confident that this season will be a most successful and enjoyable one.