MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15900, 24 April 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

BOOKINGS. HIS MAJESTY'S THEATRE. To-nicht—Beaumont Smith I" Seven Little Australians"). April 29 to May 4—Charley's Aunt Comedy Co. May 6to Kennedy Concert Co. nay Id to i,co. Wuiouguby's CoMb.v 24 to 29—Beaumont Smith's Co l" Who's the Lady?"). May 31 to June 3-J. C. Williamson's Pantomime. June II to 25-Allcn Donne's Co. June 26 to July Hush Buckler's Co. July 12 to 31-Geo. Willoughby's Co. Aug. 16 to 28 J. C. Williamson. Aug. 30 to Sept. 18 Geo Willoughby's Co. Sept. '11 io Oct. 9—J. C. Williamson. TOWN HALL, CONCERT CHAMBER. ADril 29—Liedertafel Concert. May 11 to June 26—Edward Branscombe's Costume Co " Red Dandies." July a to 17—The Court Cards-

The first production in Australia of the war play. "The Man Who, .Stayed at Home," will be given in Sydney, prior to the staging of the play in Melbourne following the season of the Fred Niblo Company at the Theatre Royal. At the present time the piece is drawing enormous houses in London, one of the principals in the cast, by the way, being an old Australian favourite, in the person of Mrs. Robert Brough. The play is said to be cleverly written, keeping up the interest till the end, when " the man who stayed at home'' turns out to be a secret service agent, who has run to earth a swarm of German spies on the cast coast of England.

The new comic opera "star," Miss Ethel Codman, who is coming to Australia under the J. C. Williamson management to appear in "The Marriage Market." owes her forthcoming visit to Australia to the war, which dislocated a number of contracts made some time back lor her appearance on the Continent. Miss Cadman was to have started her tour this year in ' Vienna, ieiiovred by appearances in Her')'n, I'etrogrnf), Dtfda Path, and other cities, concluding with a, season in Madrid. Tho cancellation of the contract, however, owing to the war, allowed of Miss Cadman accepting the offer first made by J. (_'. Williamson, Ltd., nearly threo years ago, and which was renewed when it became possible for the actress to rind a blank space in her list of bookings.

Miss Beatrice Day's only son is in the fighting line. He lias an uncle who is an Officer, and his mother, in Australia, has shown her interest in soldiers by organising bands of collectors. The J. C. Williamson pantomime "Cinderella" scored an undoubted success in .Sydney. During Easter week daily matinees were given, making 12 performances in tho week.

In their farewell message in .Sydney Mr. Fred. Niblo and Miss Josephine Cohen referred to their lengthy stay in Australia as follows :—" When* we came here we were homesick for America. Now, as our departure draws near, and we see the farewell night announced, we. are homesick for Australia. We have played in every English-speaking country in the world. This has been the most delightful engagement in our professional career. It has been made so by a most hospitable and responsive public, by a generously fair press, a most considerate management, and a company of co-workers, who have never spared effort or lacked enthusiasm. Our memories of Australia will be always pleasant. May we hope that we will not be entirely forgotten."

The artists and actors connected with the Melbourne theatres have done their share and something more in each successive movement for the patriotic funds. On. Belgian Flag Day they wero again busy, and added much to- the interest as well as the, success of, effort. , Members of "The Follies" Company, from the Tivoli, collected £187 for performances in the Block Arcade. Apart from Madame Mclba, no one has done better or more enthusiastic work for the funds than Mr. Hugh Mcintosh, director of the Tivoli circuit. Miss Irma Caron sang in the streets until she had no voice left, but as compensation a purse of £121 for the fund.

A collection of now patriotic music from the London publishing firm of Enoch ina Sons included a spirited* marching song, "The Men Who Fought at >finder." This is a musical setting of Kipling's verse, arranged by Valda Machell. It has a good military swing, and should be popular. "Carry On," words and music by Elsa Maxwell, is a song of marked originality, differing from the usual type of patriotic numbers. _ The music is excellent, with passages in tho minor key that have a quaint Irish touch. Although this song is marked moderate throughout the refrain would be more effective in hastened tempo. " The Home Flag" has good verse by Walter E. Grogan. " Fall In," part song, and also written for piano in march form, is excellent music from tho pen of Frederic H. Cowcn. " Heroes and Gentlemen" and "Courage" are two other songs in the new group. " The Admiral's Broom," an old number, las been given a topical interest by means of.some alterations in the text"

For a lung while a 6000 ft Keystone comedy was rehearsed without a. title. When the name was suggested it did not receive hearty support from the company. There was a conference, " What's in a name?" said Marie Dresder. " Shakespere was right when he said a rose by any other name- would smell • as sweet. But the point is, will a. farcecomedy with a name seven words long attract tho public 'Brevity- is the soul of wit.' " All this was. concerning the Keystone laughing success, " Tillic's Punctured Romance." Mack Sennetfc wanted to call the farce "She Was More Sinned Against Than Necessary." Miss Dressier suggested "Tillic's Rainbow Career." Then Mabel Normand was appealed to. That young lady said, " 'Th» Punctured Honeymoon' seems good to me." Other names were suggested, till at last the Keystone producer thought of 'Tillie's Punctured Romance.'

An effort is being made in London to establish a closer intimacy with the French and Belgian composers of the day. and at a concert given at the Aeolian Hall at the end of January a programme of almost entirely unknown composers delighted the audience. There was a, beautiful sonata by Victor Vreuls (Belgian), and fine classic pieces by Jongen, Dupare, Chausfcin. and othors. At tho London Music Club Mr. Beooham in the same way introduced Mehul's little-known overture, " Le Tresor Suppose." and music by Stravinsky, whose style is compared with that of Debussy in its tendency to a miniature form.

Rumour has been busily accusing the former baritone of the Quinlan Opera Company. Mr. Robert Parker, of German nationality, much to his displeasure. Speaking about the matter at the close of his season in Melbourne, tho singer remarked : —"A certain wicked old gentleman is always finding something mischievous for idle tongues to do, and I must say that people cannot hurt me more than by rallI ing me a German citizen. It is true "that I have lived in Germany—particularly in Cologne—as a musical student, and Germans have been good enough to say that I speak their language with an accuracy that few Germans can acquire. All the same I am, through the nature of mv profession, equally familiar with French and Italian, and merely speak English fluently because it is my native tongue. T am an American citizen, and jot much of my musical education in the States. Further, if any additional proof of my nationality were needed I might remark that at the beginning of the war I left G'ermanv in a hnrrv, which, as most people are aware, no German of military ago would bo allowed to do."

Mr. Beaumont Smith's *' Glad Eve" Company will play a return season' in Auckland, commencing on Mav 24 next, when "Who's the J-ady?" will'be staged.' Mrsico-Diumncus.