THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 34 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

* COMING PRODUCTIONS; ; ■ ' _ . ■ Hls^ai est y' a ! Comics- - " Love Lies" and "So This W: 13 L<\ ve " (Clem Dawo); " Murder on tti Floor," " The Flying Squad a (Leon Gordon); " Tho Five O'Clock '.Girl" and "Hold Everything.": Town Hall Concert Chamber: * July 2 to s.—Tho Importanco of Being Earnest" (Auckland Little Theatre. Society). Town Hall: July 3.—Wilhelm Backhaus (pianist). Coming.—Madame Florence Austral (Operatic - Jan Kubelik (violinist). PLAYS AND PLAYERS. Tho usual keen interest is befyig shown In the presentation of Oscar Wilde's comedy, " The Importanco of Being Earnest," which is to be made by the Auckland Littlo Thcatro Society for a season of. four nights commencing on July 2. The fact that it was written about thirty years ago is just another indication of tho popularity which seems to attend revivals of did favourites; Tho choice of' the society ft a fortunate one, for of all Wildo's playS this particular one is outstanding to-day, gs when it was produced, for the its sparkling dialogue. Messrs. F. ET McCallum and J. D. Swan will bo tho stago managers of the play, which will be produced by Mr. Kenneth Brampton. Sir Thomas Beecham, the famous English conductor, stored . a great triumph at tho Cologne Opera House recently, when he inaugurated the Cologne Opera Festival by conducting " Die Meistersingers" of Wagner. That this great Englishman ■/ should have been invited to Germany to conduct German opera was a tribute not only to the catholic views of tho Cologne musical authorities, but to the musicianship of Sir Thomas Beecham himself. The success which - attended the performance must have amply justified the decision of tho authorities. At the conclusion of . a performance, which went with a swing from start to finish, Sir Thomas Beecham was recalled repeatedly and given a wonderful ovation by a most onthusiastic audience. Tho plot of " Lovo Lies," introducing • Clem Dawe as a rattling gpod comedian in straight-out comedy hinges round tho dilemma of two artist friends, oager. for financial reasons, to please an uncle. Tho uncle of one forbids him to many, and / when the' curtain goes up, the nephew's •wedding ceremony is just over. The other is about to have a bride inflicted on him by a matrimonially inclined avuncular relative,, a Spanish-American of tho vampire type. Round this situation Stanley' Lupino and Arthur Rigby have embroidered a complicated pattern of hilarious Tho unmarried artist endeavours to escape the attentions of the fiery Spaniard by masquerading as a blonde young woman, and it can be well "imagined the success Clem 'Dawe makes of this impersonation.. Quite a coherent ; little love themo runs through tho plot, and it is further embellished by- tuneful songs, including three Now York stage successes, and dancing by a shapely and efficient ballet. In .support, of Mr. Dawe are Peter Lane, Bobby Gordon, Miss Rita Maclean, Miss Betty Eley, and Australian favourites who are sure of a warm- welcome from New Zealand friends, when the comedy eventually comes to the Dominion. In the great musical- centres of Europe there is a tremendous demand for Beethoven's works-just now,.and a veritable Beethoven fever promises to sweop tho Continent. No one-is more pleased over this-BeethoVen appreciation than is Wil--helm Backhaus, tho world-famous pianist, who will open his second tour of New Zealand on Thursday, July 3, at the Auckland Town Hall. Backhaus is recognised throughout the world l .as the greatest living exponent.of Beethoven/and his! ambition in lifeto populariso Beethoven in every country, IriParis,- Venna, Budapest, and other . European ' cities,. Backhaus-recently'astonished the musical • public by playing tho-entire 32 Sonatas of Beethoven, and his arrival in. Aus-, tralia ho announced - that, the-Common- , wealth'could have just as many of'the" Sonatas as it wanted* Sydnpy accepted: the •challenge,'and although only 23 ofs . the Sonatas could be given at r the piauistV eight recitals in. the. .New, South Wales • capital, a return season lias already been booked and' the remaining ninp are to ' be:played. 'Melbourne in all probability will also hear tho entire 32, for- 24 of them have already been, played there this sea- ■ son by Backhaus. Lovers of Beethoven's works will bo delighted to know that several of the most beautiful Sonatas are included in the programmes for the New ./ Zealand t'our. " THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST." J LITTLE THEATRE SOCIETY. • . Cas't: " 1 ' ' • 'Algernon MoncriefE - - Mr.' Robert"-Tole.' \ John "WorthinK - -- - Mr.- Lees Bullok. . C&iion Chasuble ----- Mr. Z. Wood. ' ] Merriman Mr. G. P. 'Moody,* Lane - - - - - - Mr. H. McKail Geddes. i Lady Bracknell - -'Miss Susan McCalhi'm. , Gwendolen Fairfax - - Miss Joan Hucbon. , Cecily Cardew -- - Misb Biddy Philcox. :> ] Misa Prism ----- - -..Miss Nell Lusk.. '