MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15664, 18 July 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE July 20 to 31— J. C. Williamson's "Argylo Case " Company. August 1 to S—Edward Brnnscombo's Co. August 10 to 22-J. C. Williamson. August 24 to 29—Louis Meyer-Beauniont, Smith's- Company (Hush Buckler ami violet Pasot in " His House in Order. ' etc). August 31 to September G-Georgo' Wil loughby's " The Rosary" Company. .September 7to 16—J, C. Williamson. .Sepfempcr 17 to 04.—Harry Lauder. September 28 to October 24-J. C. Williamson. DecemUr sto 19— C. Williamson (Julius li-Hib'nt). TOWN HALL. Iu Season—Tho Dandies. Harry Lauder, the Scotch comedian who is now achieving a tremendous success in Australia, candidly conlesses that he is no musician, and is quite unable to put in musical symbols the strongly alluring melodies to which his songs aro set. When Lauder composes a fresh song, he is never at a loss for a suitable melody to fit tho words, but he has to employ the services of a musician to transfer the air to paper. At the beginning of his professional career Lauder was a \igorous song writer, and, in fact, the invention of songs was something in the nature of a hobby. Airs. Lauder, on whom these efforts were tried before they reached the public, used to complain 'about the man's excessive devotion to his work. She often used to say to him: "Harry Lauder, gi songs an' singin' a rest for a while; they'll drive ye daft if yo dinna." Miss Sherley Huxley, one of the best known of young Australian actresses, has been engaged for the part of Hilda, the young English flapper," in "Mr. Wu," the powerful Anglo-Oriental drama, soon to bo presented by the Beaumont SmithLouis Meyer English Dramatic Companv. Miss Huxley created the part of " Darling Dora - ' in "Fanny's First Plav," in Sydney. Mr. Wallace Brownlow, tho baritone, is back in Australia. When Mr, Hugh D. Mcintosh visited Los Angeles some weeks ago ho heard Mr. Brownlow sing, and at onc« engaged him for a tour of the Kirkards circuit, The baritone arrived by the s.s. Ventura at Svdnev, and is appearing at the Tivoli Theatre as the principal star on the bill.

The receipt of the Gaumont Palace Hippodrome last year totalled over £790.000. This kinema theatre is tho largest in the world, and is situated in Paris.

Miss Tittoll Bruno is making arrangements with a London manager to bring several plays, in which she has been a great success, to Australia. Most probably she will include New Zealand in her programme.

Mr. Reynolds Denniston is reported to bo busy, promoting a country amusements scheme for Australia. His idea is to collect a company of players and to give one performance in about twenty selected towns. The financial side of the scheme is to bo based upon a company which will have shareholders in the various places to be visited, and by this means it is hoped that the interest in the company's productions will be maintained. In fact, it is something like a touring repertory theatre.

Among the recent arrivals in London was Mr. Tyrone Power, who took with him William Winter's version of Heyse s " Mary of Magdala." Contrary to expectations, the censor passed ' favourable comments on the play; a rather unusual thing, considering that his predecessors were opposed to the admission of plays on Biblical subjects.

Mdlle. Adeline Gcnee, the Russian dancor, has marked her retirement from the stage by a singularly thoughtful and unselfish action. A fund had been raised to present her, on behalf of her London admirers, with a keepsake. Mdlle. Gonec was asked what form she would like the present to take, and she replied: " I hope you will not think me ungracious or failing in appreciation of the kindly thought of all my friends if I say that I do not desire any gift for myself* personally. May I then, instead, 'ask you to allow me to hand over in my name' whatever sum yon havo may raised for tho relief of one of my sister dancers, whom illhealth incapacitated some time ago—l mean that charming artist, Miss Topsv Sinden?" *

Harold Bauer, the pianist, whose recitals are the theme of admiration in Melbourne, last year received the Beethoven medal, which is presented to groat musicians by the London Philharmonic Society. How strict and exacting is the society' in conferring the distinction is shown by the fact that the medal has only * been presented to two other pianists, namely, Paderewski, and Emil Sauer. An interesting story attaches to the first striking of this medal. Beethoven, when composing his renowned "Ninth Symphony," found himsolf in financial difficulties and applied to the London Philharmonic for help. The society generously made him a present of £100, and in gratitude for the money, the groat roaster handed over his symphony for production. It was to commemorate the production of the "Ninth Symphony," that now eagerly coveted Beethoven medal was struck.

Mr. Jerome K. Jeromo's new play The Great Gamble," which was produced at tho Haymarkot Theatre towards the end of May, bears titles instead of names to the characters (as in " The Passing of the Third Floor Back") and includes the Business Man, the MinorPoet, the Triple Alliance (a muchdivorced woman), the Colonel, and Someone that Nobody Saw. It all happens on the top of a mountain in Germany, with a statue of Venus in a grove, German stndents singing in tho woods, and Cupid playing odd musical phrases on a reed. Judging by the half-hearted, kindly notices, tho new piece is likelv to prove a failure It forms a disquisition on romantic love that rarely wears well, with several pairs in illustration, and a farcial duel between the Colonel, and the Business Man, brought on by an elopement.

An interview with Sir Johnston ForbesRobertson appeared in a recent number of the " Girls Realm." Among other things, Sir Johnston was questioned as to which were the elements making for successful acting. Ho replies:—Passion and reflection. The danger is that in a whirlwind of passion an -actor may be overwhelmed. The sense of control should be acute. For example, the player will find the use of tears a dangerous* expedientone becomes choked, and is apt to lose control. In my own case I feel all emotional scenes, under favourable conditions very strongly, but I never daro let myself go. Acting is one of the imaginative arts, and depends for its success largely upon the reflective powers; really, it demands the same insight and imagination which we look for in the other arts.

The Annette Kellerman photo-play, "Neptune's Daughter," was taken in and around Bermuda. The entire company spent over nine weeks at this place while the photo-drama was being filmed on to 8000 feet of film. Recently Miss Kellerman n had a very unpleasant experience, while being "filmed." In order that pictures might be taken that would represent undcr-water views, a large tank of plate-glass was built, and filled with clear sea-water. Water-plants, were added, and tho effect in a picture is as iff the observer were waking about on. the bottom of the ocean. While Miss Kellermann and Herbert Brenon, who, besides directing tho picture, played one of the principal parts, were in the tank, one of the sides gave wav under the pressure, and the suction of the thousands of gallons of water rushing' through the hole swept the two players across the jagged edges, on' the broken glass. Miss Kellermann was seriously cut on the side and feet and was in the hospital for nearly a month, while Mr. Brenon received in juries that nearly proved fatal, and that kept him in the doctor's care for six weeks.

Musico-Dbamaticus.