THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20626, 26 July 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

COMING PRODUCTIONS

His Majesty's: Coming.—" Murder on tho Second Floor," "Tho Flyiup Squad" (Leon Cordon); " J,nt us he Gay" (Edith Taliaferro); " Spring is Here," ''Hold Everything," " Follow Through" (Edgeley-Dawe Company.) Town Hall: Coining.—Florence Austral (dramatic soprano); Jan Kubclik (violinist). Town Hall Concert Chamber: August 22 and 23. —" The Old Lady Shows Her Medals," " A Well-remem-bered Voice" (St. Andrews Society).

PLAYS AND PLAYERS

A record crowd of over 120,000 people

gathered round tho Wellington War Memorial cnrillon in Hyde Park on Whitsun ovening to hear a special recital given by Mr. Clifford Ball. There were scenes of great enthusiasm when tho recital terminated, nnd for somo time Mr. Ball con tinued to givo extra numbers in response to requests from tho crowd.

At a timo when the advent of music and colour in talking pictures has shown signs of offering a serious challenge to tho theatres, it is interesting to read that in Paris, which welcomed tho new pictures as enthusiastically as any other city, at least 15 new legitimate theatres are to bo completed this year. Radical changes are contemplated and many of tho new buildings will be palatial places of entertainment.

After having devoted bis attention to Sheridan revivals, Mr. Allan Wilkie offered more modern fare in " Tho Jealous Wife," at tho Sydney Opera Houso recently. Latest advico is to tho effect that he has returned to Shakespearean drama. His Sydney season opened very successfully with the over-popular " Mer. chant of Venice," which was followed, aftor a successful run, by a short season of " Hamlet."

After being given at 550 performances in London, Mr. R. C. Sheriff's famous play, "Journey's End," wa.s biought to a closo at the Prince of Wales Theatre last month. There were scenes of wild enthusiasm as tho curtain dropped on tho final performance, and there were repeated cries for speeches from the actors who hnd taken part in tho play. " Journey's End," which enjoyed a successful run in New Zealand toward the close of last year, has now been produced in nearly every civilised country.

Go delighted waa Mr. Eric Edgeley, the producer of " Love Lies " and "So This is Love," with tho reception accorded his company by Auckland audiences, that a return visit seerns now practically assured. Prior to his departure, Mr. Edgeley remarked that if similar success was encountered in the South, tho company would work back from Invercargill with a further group of musical comedies. In addition to " Hold Everything," and " Follow Through," which were mentioned last week, as possible productions, the company also hopes to present " Spring is Here," tho rights of which were obtained while Mr. Edgeley was in England.

Leon Gordon has welcomed the opportunity of again appearing in " Tea for Three." which is now running at tho Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. This brilliant play makes a strong appeal to all classes of playgoers, and its recent revival in New York has met with great success. " How strong it is," commented Mr. Gordon, " is indicated by the fact that tho first act, which is practically all dialogue, holds tho nudienco tense and interested tho whole time. In l.ho play are cleverly interwoven a lovo interest, with comedy, and drama, in an intriguing story, and it finishes on a top note of dramatic suspense, and pleasant surprise. In my opinion," added Mr. Gordon, ' Tea for Three' is a perfect plav."

" A Country Girl" has concluded a successful season at the Melbourno Theafro Rova!. This charming production awakens recollections of popular artists who have played in it under the J. C. Williamson .regime. There was Celia Ghiloni, whose singing of "Under the Deodar" produced a rapturous clamour.

Claude Bantok wore the Eastern robes of the Rajah of Hong, and brought down the house with his topical verses. And Evelyn Scott, who had changed her name from Ivy Scott, sang melodiously of " Molly the Marchioness." There are many fine musical numbers in " A Country Girl" to delight the ear. Favourites particularly aro " Try again, Johnnie," " Coo," " The Sailor's Life," " Yo, 110, Little Girls," " Tako Your Pretty Partner to the Ball," " My Own Little Girl," and others.

Saturday, July 19, marked the first production in Melbourno of one of the most elaborate and outstanding of the J. C. Williamson musical plays. This was " The New Moon," another musical success bv Oscar Ilammeistein, who is already familiar to Australian audiences by reason of the triumphs he has already achieved with " Hose Marie." " Show Boat," " Maytimo," and "The Desert Song." " The New Moon" is alluringly romantic, a splendid love story in picturesque settings. From the point of view of costuming and sLago effects it calls for the greatest in theatre craftsmanship. There is, for instance, a lij;lit at sea between a stately galleon and a pirate, ship that begejars description. The music, is by Sigmund Romberg, composer of " Tho Desert Song," who has mastered tho trick of putting heart-beats into harmony and gives some of the most beautiful romantic numbers the. musical stage has known.