DRAMA OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17889, 17 September 1921, Page 3 (Supplement)

DRAMA OF THE DAY.

The Auckland Amateto Operatic Society will produce the well-known and deservedly-popular light opera, " A Country Girl," for a-, season of nine nights at His .Majesty's Theatre, commencing on Thursday, October 6. A strong cast of principals has been secured for the production, including many wellknown -Auckland favourites. The music will be under the capable . baton of Mr. Colin Huston, and will be well up to thestandard of the previous successful productions of the society, " The Gondoliers" and " The Geisha." A chorus of 55 members, will form one of the features of «his year's effort, which, it is confidently expected, will surpass in many ways' the successes of previous years. The opera will be under the direction of Mr. Theo. Tresize, of Wellington, who has" produced for kindred societies in the South with marked success. Miss Ethel Morrison, who has" been seen lately as the chaperon in " The Lilac DominOj" at present on the Australian stage, Has played varied parts in comedy, musical comedy, and comic opera since she came from England with one of the Gilbert and Sullivan companies. Though Miss Morrison had some yeara of experience abroad, her early homeland was New Zealand. . * ——<—. Playgoers of .the younger generation ; must be wondering why there was all that fuss about Ibsen in "the,, days of their fathers. And the playgoer of the,passing; generation is somehow hard put to it to explain.' At an Edinburgh Theatre, " A Doll's House" was recently revived.,

I and this provides the most difficult case of all. Try as hard as we will to think otherwise, it is old-fashioned in the way that only old plays can be. Feminism has taken such strides since Ibsen wrote this play that feminists themselves seldom understand the point he is making. Nora and her husband seem often unreal, or unutterably foolish, or both nowadays. And yet, and yet . , . but it's so long ago since we quarrelled over the meaning of the slammed door that we have forgotten why we quarrelled.

Although Paderewski some time ago most emphatically denied the rumour that he would appear in public again, according to recent advices from America which were, by the way, confirmed recently by Mischa Levitzki—the great pianist will play again during the winter season in America. Paderews&i arrived a few months ago in America, ostensibly to attend a Polish convention in Pittsburg, Pennysylvania. Upon landing in New York he asserted to newspaper reporters that his artistic career was over. "In sacrificing my art," he said, "I made perhaps my greatest sacrifice." There seems to be a good deal of secrecy, but it is knowiv that Paderewski is working very hard at the piano, and that he anticipates beginning his American tour at the end of September. There is every reason to believe that his public reappearance will cause unprecedented enthusiasm.

Can the thrill of "Treasure Island'' be transferred from Stevenson's book to the stage? The experiment is to be tried in London, where a play on the story has been prepared by Mr. Arthur Bourchier. One thing which many playgoers might resent is the lack of feminine interest in the story, but no doubt there will be a

rearrangement in this regard for the theatre. Still, it is not long since a repertory play was seen in Melbourne without a woman in the cast, and it was well received. There is always a danger of disappointment in turning a popular novel or story into a play, yet there have been some fairly good experiments of the kind. " Trilbv" was one of the best. " Tess of the d'TJrbervilles" failed to catch the Hardy atmosphere. But Hardy is too thoughtful for the "commercial" theatre. '" A Tale of Two Cities." in various stage forms, has been helped by the naturally dramatic genius of Dickens, and the same applies to " The Three Musketeers" of Dumas. The Hall Caine books, though not of the highest quality, have also the dramatic feeling to an extent that ensures good receptions for the plays founded on them.

Miss Marie Nilsson, a young and eminent soprano, who is on a short visit to New Zealand, will give two recitals in the Town Hall, Auckland, next Thursday and the following Tuesday, tinder the auspices of the St. Andrew's Society. Miss Nilsson will return to England in December to fulfil her London engagements. She has already created a brilliant impression in London and the Continent, and has come to New Zealand direct from her successes at the Queen's Hall concerts, Royal Albert Hall, and Opera House, London, where she has had the honour of appearing before Their Majesties, the King and Queen. Miss Nilsson completed her musical education with two and a-half year's tuition under M. Jean de and possesses a voice of exceptional quality, range, and power. The promoters of the recitals specially draw attention to the group of charming Hebridian folk songs arranged by Mrs. M. Kennedy and Mr. Kenneth MacLeod; from the standpoint of musical tradition this probably stands unique, and for beauty and charm would be hard to equal. " Miss Nilsson has made a special study of these, and will give selections at her recitals.

The favourite Comedian Mr. W. R. (or, more familiarly, " Billy") Percy, who is. once again to appear on Sydney boards under the banner of J. C" Williamson, Ltd., enjoyed his holiday in his native New Zealand, and returned to Sydney at the beginning of the Month. Mr. Percy will, in all probability, be attached to the company (once known as the, " Royal Comics") which is at present playing " The Maid of the Mountains'' at Sydney. He is certain of an enthusiastic reception when he appears in '" Theodore and Co." Miss Maud Kane, who is likewise returning after a trip to England, will resume her musical comedy duties at about the same time.

Dame Clara Butt, the great English contralto, and her husband, Mr. Kennerley Bumford, who will be, visiting New Zealand after Australian engagements, have arrived in Sydney. Eight years have passed since their last visit to Australia. Dame Clara Butt raited very large sums of money for charitable and patriotic purposes during v the war, whilst her husband spent four years with the Eea Cross at the front. One of Dame Clara's war concerts will be ever remembered by the great singer. It took place at the Albert Hall, and her audience consisted of 10,000 wounded soldiers from various London hospitals. The most thrilling sight was when those "who could rose to sing "God Save the'iling." Dame Clara some time ago appeared in grand opera in Gluck's " Orpheus and Euridice." Her last concert in England before sailing for Sydney was a memorable event. It was given at the Crystal Palace, . where the audience numbered nearly 50,000, the choir 5000, and the orchestra 500. There were three a inductors — Frederick Cowen, Mr. Edward German, and Mr. Hitchcock. Dame Clara Butt is accompanied by a new violinist of * great promise, Mr. Daniel Melsa, who hails from Warsaw, Poland.

Moritz Moszkowski, the distinguished Polish musician, best known as the composer of the popular Moszkowski Serenade, has fallen on evil days, owing to heavy financial losses incurred through the war, and recently had to undergo a series of operations which have left him so weak that he is incapacitated from doing any work, either as composer or pianist. A fund has been opened in America as a means of relieving his distress,

and his distinguished compatriot, Paderewski, headed the list with a donation of 100 dollars. Moszkowski has resided for some years in Paris.

It is noticeable, says the Sydney Mail, that fewer musical comedies are being manufactured (the word is surely permissible) in England thesfc days. Authors and composers, happily becoming more ambitious, are turning "their attention to light opera, once more. But the success attending the adaptation of two of the earlier farces of Sir Arthur Pinero to the lyric stage— viz., '" The Boy" (" The Magistrate") . and " Who's Hooper?" (**»ln Chancery")—has recently led to the distinguished author leasing the rights' of yet another for a similar purpose. This is " The Schoolmistress," which proved very popular tn Australia in ths ever-remembered Broogh and Boucicault repertory. The " book" and lyrics of the new version are by the practised Mr. Percy Greenbank, and the composer is Mr. Howard Talbot, of " Arcadians'* fame. Sydney has yet to see " The Boy," which had a very gratifying success in Melbourne, and later on

it is certain to.-renew acquaintance with " The Schoolmistress" in its new guise. It would appear that not only in England is the want of suitable plots being felt. By recent American advices we learn that an old friend, " The Belle of New York," has, after a quarter of a century's (success in its original form, just been rewritten and staged afresh under the title of The Whirl of New York" at the Winter Garden in the city of thfK. play's_ title. A procession and festival in Chinatown offering an opportunity for spectacle and dancing seems to be the most important addition to the old scenario. Most of the well-known characters are retained, .find the whole was very warmly receivedT The ancient "'Belie," indeed, has taken on a new lease of life.

Marie Tempest and Graham Browne, villi their world-tour company, will enter upon a tour of New Zealand" fov.-;ird the and of the year, under the J. <'. Williamson direction. The full repertoire of plays will be presented. M/jbico-Dramatio^o.