STAGE MUSIC FILMS

Hutt News, Volume XII, Issue 23, 24 November 1948, Page 11

STAGE MUSIC FILMS

(By E.G.A.)

NEARLY TWO YEARS KIWIS IN MELBOURNE Next month the New Zealand Kiwis will break all records by celebrating the second anniversary of their opening in Melbourne. On Saturday last they presented the fourth revue of their record season. Previous revues were “El Alamein,” “Tripoli,” and “Medley.” After Melbourne the Kiwis will probably go to Sydney.

“BORN YESTERDAY” N.Z. TOUR CANCELLED A company headed by Hartley Powers and June Clyde was to have 1 commenced a tour of New Zealand in Auckland this month, presenting the American comedies ‘‘Born Yesterday” and “George Loves Mary.” The tour has been cancelled as Mr. Powers has to return to England. OPERA ROMANCE PRINCIPALS TO MARRY Two prominent members of the Italian Grand Opera Company, now in Melbourne, recently announced their engagement.' They are Rina Malatrasi, soprano, whose Mimi in “La Boheme” and the title role in “Madame Butterfly” have impressed the critics, and Ferdinando di Donni, baritone. OLD VIC COMPANY TOUR OF AMERICA An Old Vic Company headed by Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Dame Edith Evans is to tour North America shortly. LURE OF THE CIRCUS

TWO IN NEW ZEALAND Two circuses—Sole's and Barton's —are touring New Zealand. The principal attractions with Barton's Circus are the Leotards, aerial acrobats;* Eliinar, juggler and balancer (who was so popular with a Tivoli show last year); Maximo, trick cyclist; Dan Crotty and Buddy, cowboys, with their horses Silver and Trixie; Marcassi and his performing lions. Wirth's Circus, which has been in existence for about 70 years, is still drawing the crowds. It is now in Melbourne.

“SONG OP MY HEART” PROBLEM OF UNIFORMS Allied * Artists was faced witli something of a costume problem in the production of “Song of My Heart.” The* studio acquired 23 uniforms once worn by officers in Czar Alexander’s Imperial Guard. The outfits had been sold to a Hollywood’ costumer by the former. Guards officers. In an effort to find 23 men who could wear them the studio interviewed a total of 207 players. “Song of My Heart” is based on the life of Tchaikovsky, and is the vehicle in which Frank Shndstrom, the Swedish star who portrays Tchaikovsky, makes his American film debiit. * COUNTERFEITING EXPOSED EXPERT AT CARD TRICKS To prepare for his starring role in “T. Men,” a shock-filled expose of counterfeiting rings operating in the United States, based on actual cases from Treasury Department records, Dennis O’Keefe studied for weeks under the tutelage of Benny Rubin, famed comedian and sleight-of-hand expert. O’Keefe, who plays a Treasury Department agent in the production, had to learn to manipulate a deck of cards with the ease and dexterity of a professional card shark. As proof that O’Keefe had absorbed his lesson well the director did not have to reslioot a single sequence because of O’Keefe’s fumbling with cards during any ot' the difficult manoeuvrings. “Sure, it’s fun to be able to do card tricks,” O’Keefe said, “but after this picture is over none of my friends will want to play gin rummy with me any mofe.” “BILL AND COO”

TABLE TOP PRODUCTION

The whole village of Chirpendale, comprising 270 love birds, one crow, one guinea pig, two horned toads and assorted monkeys, kittens, chipmunks and a baby alligator, was assembled on a table fifteen by thirty feet in length, and here all the filming of "Bill and Coo" was done.

As designed and built in intricate detail by Art Director Fred Malatesta, Chirpendale looked very picturesque and thoroughly "human." Small particulars, however, made the set conform to the bird's-eye view. Signboards announced the advantages Of mailing via "carrier pigeon," the theatres billboard proudly advertised its "50" chorus gulls," and the schoolhouse's oval-shaped classroom globe proclaimed the world to be "shaped like an egg."

j SUCCESSFUL CONCERTS NAENAE MUSIC SOCIETY The Naenae Music Society, under the leadership of Mrs. M. Glover, has been doing excellent work throughout the year. The main work of the Society has been in giving concerts to the various institutions, among which are the Soldiers’ Ward, Hutt Hospital, Darby and Joan Club, Wellington, the British Sailors’ Society, Wellington, and the Ohiro Home, Brooklyn. During the year the Choir had a recording made at a private studio, which proved very successful. On December 9, to end the year’s activities, the Society will give a variety concert at the Church of Christ Hall, Naenaei to which residents are cordially invited. The Naenae Music Society owes its successful season to the efforts of Mrs. M. Glover, conductor, Mrs. R. MacDonald, pianist, and to the various members. THRILLING DRAMA HUTT PLAYER’S SUCCESS The Waipukurau Dramatic Society recently staged the dramatic thriller, “Pink String and Sealing Wax,” by Roland Pertwee, and scored a great success.

A Hawke's Bay paper says that the leading role of a stern father was filled very convincingly by James M. Carlson. Mr. Carlson will be. remembered as a prominent player and producer with the Hutt Repertory Company. \

The Waipukurau Society did quite a tour with the thriller, staging it at Waipukurau, Napier, Hastings and Waipawa.

SCHOOL ORCHESTRA HUTT EXAMPLE QUOTED A combined secondary schools’ orchestra is to be established by the Palmerston North High Schools’ Board of Governors. 'the idea is to form an orchestra at each of the secondary schools and combine the three into one orchestra for more advanced work. In advocating the scheme Dr. B. W. Doak mentioned as an example the Hutt Valley Memorial Technical College Orchestra at Petone, which he said was widely acclaimed. TOUR OF AUSTRALIA N.Z. UNIVERSITY PLAYERS The Canterbury University Players, a company of 23, will present Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Pirandello’s “Six Characters in Search of an Author” at Sydney, Canberra arid Melbourne, opening at the Minerva Theatre, Sydney, on January 10. The tour, which will last about six weeks, is being directed by Mr. D. 6. O’Connor. Ngaio Marsh will be producer. THE GREAT ROOKLYN TOUR OP NEW ZEALAND ' The Great Rooklyn, magician and illusionist, will commence another tour of New Zealand early in January. His supporting company will be headed by Joe Lawman, the wellknown comedian. ,

Rooklyn was in New Zealand a couple of years ago, and prove'd as popular as he was mystifying. CAROL CONCERT ANGLICAN CHURCH CHOIRS The combined Anglican Church Choirs, comprising 400 robed choristers, will give a carol concert in the Wellington Town Hall on Saturday, December 4. Albert Bryant will direct and Harry Brusey will be at the organ. The soloists will be Sybil Phillipps, Joan! Bryant, Clifford Dowling, John Withers and Hugh Janson. The proceeds will go to the Wellington Cathedral Fund. ACTOR FINED DRUNK AND DISORDERLY The iilm actor.. Robert Walker, was fined 50 dollars in Hollywood on a ! drunk and disorderly charge. lii the Police Court he offered to "take oh” the police four at a time. £BO,OOO CONTRACT GREAT ITALIAN CONDUCTOR Arturo Toscanini (SO), formerly conductor of La Scala Opera House, Milan, will earn about. £30.000 in the next 10 weeks broadcasting. He will receive nearly £2OOO for each of 16 broadcastings over the National Broadcasting Company network in the United States. "THE PARAGON™ WHITEHALL PLAYERS’ SEASON

Richard Parry and Kathleen Parry, who were in New Zealand last year with the Whitehall Players, are appearing at the Minerva Theatre, Sydney, in "The Paragon," following a successful season in "The Guinea Pig."