THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

COMING PRODUCTIONS. His Majesty's. Now Playing—" The Patsy." April 17—Sir Harry Lauder. May. —" The Wrecker." May 15—" The Midnight Frolics " {Return Season). St. James'. Now Playing—George Wallace Revue. May—Pat lfanna's ' Diggeis." To Follow —" League of Notions " Revue Frank O'Brien's " lievellers." Town Hall Concert Chamber. * To-night.—Little Theatre Society in ■''Bird in Hand." (Last night.) Tuesday.—Pianoforte lecture-recital, by Mr. Arthur Hirst. / PLAYS AND PLAYERS. A. farewell concert will be tendered to Mr. Birrell O'Malley, the noted young tenor, by the Amateur Operatic Society in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. Mr. O'Malley will shortly lcc.ve Auckland to complete his studies in Europe. He has been most popular in Auckland and it is a fitting tribute that most of the city's leading artists will appear at his farewell. With a complete new battery of sound eftccis, representing railway trains in relentless motion, " The Wrecker, ' Mr. Arnold Ridley's latest melodrama, will open its Auckland season at His Majesty's Theatre early in May. In " The Ghost Trairi " he gave striking proof of the efficacy of noises off stage to create an atmosphere, and critics have united in describing his second effort as even more thrilling than the first. Two new artists will appear in the leading roles of " Ihe Wrecker," Mr. Clayton Greene and Miss Josephine Widson.

Bagpipes will probably blow at or near His Majesty's Theatre next Wednesday evening. Sir Harry Lauder, supported by a fine company of vaudeville artists, will open a short season, and that is sufficient excuse for almost any manifestations of delight. Sir Harry is one of the few variety artists who is a world-wide personality and Mr. E J. Carroll is to be congratulated on his success in persuading the fanvnis comedian to make a farewell tour of the Dominion. Practically all of the supporting acts will be seen here for the first time and evervthinc points to a most successful season.

More varied and original fun can lie expcct'ed at I lis Majesty's Theatre on May 15. when Mr. ''lent Dawe and his " Midnight Frolics" will return for a short season before departing for Australia. An addition to the company svh'ch provided Auckland with such merry theatrical fare during the Christmas season is Miss Mona Magnet, an English artist who joined the company in the South Island, and who has aided and abetted Mr. Dawe in prostrating southern audiences —even those of the very far south That energetic producer. Mr. Eric Edgelev, has a wealth of new sketches which will he eagerly awaited, hut Auckland will pray to tlie gods of the theatre that h-3 will permit Mr. "Dawe onra rrore to perform those amazing gyrations while he conducts the jazz band in the I'oet and Peasant " overture.

It is becoming more and more evident that four nights is far too short a season for a Little Theatre Society production. " Bird in Hand," the John Drinkwater comeciy, so delightfully played by the society, will be given its final performance in the Concert Chamber this evening, whereas it is good enough for a much longer season. So far the society lias eschewed the ultra-modern drama, but has given memorable presentations of the work 01 modern playwrights who

treat their craft as a branch of literature. - No play suffeis from being written in all the beauty of which the English language is capable, and " Bird in Hand," as well as being a most enjoyable comedy,, shows the hand of a master of English. The first Drinkwater play to be performed in New Zealand is remarkably well cast, and .it would take a very bad attack of indigestion to keep anyone from enjoying the work of Mr. Dan. Flood and Mr. Arnold Goodwin.

An event of ■ considerable musical interest in Auckland will be it pianoforte lecture-recital, to be given in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Tuesday evening, by Mr. Arthur Hirst. Mr. Hirst is "a New Zealander, who, for some years now, has been one of the most prominent musical figures in Great Britain. A singularly gifted speaker and a musician who puts his whole soul into his work and captivates his hearers, he has been given credit throughout England for playing a large part in encouraging the appreciation of music. His plan appears very simple, but its simplicity needs more than a touch of genius for its accomplishment. He gives a heart-to-heart illustrated talk, rather than a lecture, on the understandirig and appreciation of music, and in dom;: so provides unique educational entertainment. Chairmen at public functions too often describe a speaker's remarks as " entertaining and instinctive." It is a combination singularly difficult to explain, but testimony is not wanting to the effect that Mr. Hirst has attained it. Judging from the receptions accorded him in other centres, Mr. Hirst's short visit, to Auckland should be memorable.