STAGE MUSIC FILMS

Hutt News, Volume XII, Issue 19, 20 October 1948, Page 11

STAGE MUSIC FILMS

(By E.G.A.)

GOOD-BYE TO OLD VIC

IMPRESSIONS OF TOUR There was a scene of great enthusiasm in Wellington on Thursday night when the Old Vic Company said good-bye to New Zealand audiences in “The School for Scandal.” The company sailed for London in the Corinthic on Saturday. There is much sympathy with Sir Laurence Olivier in his need to undergo an operation to his knee before he left the Dominion, and the hope is. general that by the time the Corinthic reaches England he will be able to resume his stage and film career.

And now that the Old Vic Company has gone what are the main impressions of the tour in the minds of New Zealand playgoers? Firstly, delight at having had the opportunity to see such fine performances and such gifted players. Laurence Olivier’s work in all that he did was almost beyond criticism, although some people considered he spoke too quickly at times. Vivian Leigh’s best work was done in “Skin of Our Teeth,” in which ‘she showed a delightful sense of comedy. Her voice was a little “thin” for “Richard III,” and in some of the longer speeches she became somewhat monotonous. Despite the success of the tour and the joy the productions gave playgoers who were able to get into the theatres, it is doubtful if it was an unqualified success in its effect on the theatre in New Zealand. A lot of ill feeling arid disappointment were created by the manner in whicn tire seats were allotted, and there .is a general feeling that a company that could play a longer season, with everyone able to see the performances, and at less than a guinea a seat, would do more to create permanent interest in the theatre in New Zealand. .

Sir Laurence and Lady Olivier did not seem very enthusiastic about the amateur theatre, referring to it as a hbbby. In Eihgland, of course, the repertory theatre is professional.

However; to those who saw the Old' Vic productions—l count myself very lucky in having seen the three plays—they will be an unforgettable memory;

. FAREWELL BROADCAST The farewell: broadcast by Laurence Olivier; Leigh on Sunday night was a great success. .It included several scenes from their stage and screen successes, and closed with the inspiring toast to England from Noel Coward’s "Cayalcade.” Spanish dancer*"' NEW ZEALAND TOfcTR La Joselita, a Spanish dancer, will commence a tour of Zealand at "Wellington on Saturday, October 2.3, under the direction of Alexander Levitoff. Associated with .La. Joselita will be Mercedes Bebjui, Spanish, pianist, and JuUii Relajfipag®; Spanish guitarist

ENGLISH CARTOONS

STEADY FLOW QF FILMS

Mr. J-. Arthur 'Rsttk has entered Che film cantp.o.’i; Market. The films are. l?ein„g prQ.dueedunder the supervision of David Hand for G.B. Animation. .

Da.vii Hand has trained British draughtsmen la the specialised' art of anihiaiibn. Anything up to twenty thousand drawings are required for ■a ten-mimte film. As many as eighty .artists, may work on one production. Today over two hundred . people, of whom 147 are artists and technicians, are employed at G.B. Animation's Headquarters in the pic-, turesque village of Cookham, Berkshire. David Hand believes that the quiet of the countryside is the best atmosphere for tlie exacting work of ■cartoon production. A steady flow of cartoon films will follow the first, called “The Lion.” They will be in two series— Animalaiul and The Musical Paint--box.

David Hand, born in New Jersey, has been in the cartoon industry nearly 30 years, spending IS of these with Walt Disney. He produced “Snow White” and “Bambi” among other films.

NEW ZEALAND THEATRES

AUSTRALIAN ACTOR’S PRAISE Speaking- to the English-speaking Union at Auckland,- Lloyd Lamble, a prominent member of the Cicely Courtneidge Company, advocated the establishment of a National Theatre in New Zealand. Mr. Lamble stated that the theatres in the Dominion are better than those in Australia.

SET IN VIENNA ENGLISH ACTRESS’ FILM Margaret Lockwood will go to Vienna, to play Elizabeth of Austria, wife of Emperor Francis Joseph, when She has finished work on “Cardboard Chvalier” and “Madness of the Heart.” The film will be made in Technicolor and directed by the Austrian Willy Forst. >

BACK TO AUDIENCE

OLIVIER NOT THE FIRST

Playgoers who enjoyed the Old Vic performances were enthusiastic regarding the work of Laurence Olivier. Some, noticing that at times lie spoke when his back was to the audience, said that he was the first actor to do so in New Zealand. That, of course, was not so. Cicely Courtneidge did it in “Under the Counter’’ recently, and I have seen other players do it. Years ago an Irisli-American actor riamed John D. O’Hara came to New Zealand in “Lightnin’,” an entertaining little play in which he had appeared all over the United States, from New York to the Californian coast, also in Australia. He took part of one scene with his back turned to the audience, and I was so impressed with his work in that scene that I made special reference to it in my report of the performance. The next day, to my surprise—and delight, of course —Mr. O’Hara came into the office to thank me for my reference to that particular scene, which he himself considered was amongst his best work. He had played the part for years, he said, but never "before had the scene been singled out for mention.

RECORDS BROKEN

AMATEUR OPERATIC SOCIETY

The takings at the Hamilton Operatic Society’s six-nights’ season of “The Belle of New York” were a record, beating the previous records established by “Rio Rita” and “The Vagabond King” by hundreds of pounds. The sum of £133 was cleared for the Aid to Britain Fund by the kale of programmes alone.

When is Lower Hutt to have an Operatic Society? If a Itown of less population like Hamilton can provide capacity audiences for a six-nights’ operatic season and break records surely it" is possible for Lower Hutt. to establish a society. The talent is probably here. Even little Rotorua has an Operatic Society, which has “Our Miss Gibbs” in rehearsal, under the direction of Eva Moore, of Wellington. , Blenheim is doing “A Country Girl.”

The Christchurch Operatic Society is staging “The Belle of New York” and the Auckland Light Musical Society “A Country Girl.”

THE POOR CRITIC!

OBJECTION BY PRODUCER

Comment by the Christchurch Press on the first performance of Bernard Shaw’s “Pygmalion” by the Christchurch Repertory Society last week was strongly objected to by the producer, Frederick Farley, who came from England a year or so ago.

Mr. Farley claimed that “the notice of the play—he would not call it dramatic criticism —was both personal and uncalled for.” life admitted having made a mistake in trying to produce the play and act in it as well (lie appeared as Professor Hon-ry Higgins), and said he, was not satisfied with liis own performance, but. alleged that the critic had a prejudice against the Repertory Society. Haying had some experience of producers’ objection to criticism I can sympathise with the critic!

SUNDAY THEATRE

OPERATIONS IN LONDON The Sunday Theatre, whose London productions had to be suspended during the war years, are reopening this autumn with a new play. In 1937 the Sunday Theatre was founded by the late May Haysac to produce on the professional stage new plays throwing light on the problems of the time, thus assisting, through the medium of the theatre, man’s understanding of his predicament. i

BATTLE WITH PIANO

ERROL FLYNN’S ORDEAL Errol Flynn faces" liis toughest opponent in “Escape Me Never,” .with Ida Lupino, Eleanor Parker and Gig Young heading the distinguished cast. The opponent in this particular film doesn’t swing a sword or shoot a .44, because Flynn’s main battle in “Escape Me Never” is with a piano. Cast as a musician in the film version of Margaret Kennedy’s celebrated novel .and play, Flynn had to play on a pianoforte and a concertina. Ida Lupino is called upon for two songs, but whereas this actress is an experienced . singer Flynn and musical instruments have never before worked together in pictures.

The ordeal was survived successfully and the music especially written for “Escape Me Never” by Erich Wolfgang Korngold is given a charming presentation. , Besides Flynn’s musical accomplishments in the film, a ballot sequence by Milada Mladova and George.Zoritch, dancers of the Ballet Russe, is another highlight. Le Roy Prinz directed the ballet scenes in the production.