THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20868, 9 May 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

I -COMING PRODUCTIONS,

JBUs Majesty's: May 16.—" Frenzy " (Auckland University College Students). Coming.—" Bird in Hand," "The First Mrs. Fra'ser,'* " Mary Rose (Etliel Morrison Comedy Company). Later.—" Follow Through," " Mr. Cinders " (J. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Town Hall: June 2.—Mischa Levitzki (pianist). August I.—Mark Hambourg (pianist), and Peter Dawson (baritone). Later.—Zlatko Bulokovic (violinist). PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Noel Coward's brilliant play, " Bitter Sweet," in which Owen Nares and Edna Best played the chief roles, was withdrawn from the. Palaco Theatre, London, at the end of ; March. The production had been the leading stage production in / London for over two years, having been given at 702 performances.

So great was the success of " Sons o' Guns" at tbe Theatre Royal, Melbourne that this elaborate and spectacular musical play was retained as tho Easter attraction, tho run having been extended. The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera season was accordingly delayed for a longer period in Adelaide. On its transference

to Melbourne, the opening opera, " The Gondoliers," was an instantaneous success, and it is a cheering sign of the times to read advertisements published over a weok after the opening, which state that this particular opera will be presented for positively the last twelve nights." It is expected that the Gilbert and Sullivan company will-tour New Zealand after concluding its Melbourne season.

Melbourne audiences are talking about the performance of Tischa Guille in " On the Spot" at the Comedy Theatre, and wondering who tho new actress with the strange name is, and whero she comes from. This is '/Tischa Guille's first appearance in Melbourne. (The name, by the way, is pronounced Tiska Geel.) Australia was searched everywhere for a " type " to play the role of Minn Lee, the Chineso girl, who, while betraying the characteristics of her race, had yet to indicate fully and clearly her" University education in the United States. Tischa Guille was at last located, ,and George Parker, the producer, declared that she was ideal for the part. She is not the least bit Chinese in origin. She is Australian born, of French descent, her name being derived from a French great-grandmother.

Having returned to England from his screen engagements in Hollywood, Jack Buchanan, the popular screen star, has created one of the greatest sensations in recent theatrical history with his new, musical comedy, " Stand Up and Sing/' which opened at the Hippodrome Theatre on March 5. hi reviewing the production, a prominent London critic says: " 1 would like those who spend their time repeating the parrot cry, ' The theatre is dying,' to have been present at the second i/iglit of the'show. They would have seen an audience, noted for its apathy, eitting tight in its seats, applauding' for a solid live minutes and refusing to disperse until three speeches had been,made from the stage. If only all musical productions. possessed half the efficiency, gaiety and colour of ' Stand Up and King,' the word slump would soon disappear from the theatrical vocabulary."

Mischa Levitzki, the famous Russian pianist, who is at present engaged on iiis second Australian and New Zealand tour, gave bis first concert in the Melbourne Town Hull on Saturday, April 18, to an audience of 3900 people. The Argus, reviewing the concert said the opening recital was attended by an enormous audience which domonstarted in no uncertain manner its admiration of his great pianistic endowment. " Levitzki has developed into one of the most consummate technicians who has ever visited Australia. His virtuosity is indeed of so remarkable a nature that executive difficulties may truthfully be said not to exist for him." Exciting scenes of enthusiasm were witnessed at, the close of the concert, when hundreds of excited members of the audience surged round the plat form demanding encore after encore. Levitzki will commence his New Zealand tour in Auckland 011 June 2.

New Zealand is being considered by J. C. Williamson Ltd.. for attention shortly by stage celebrities. The Gilbert, and Sullivan Company will assuredly pay a visit heie after the Australian season, for the firm knows from past experience the loyalty of theatregoers for this branch of entertainment. Ivan Menzies, Dorothy Gill and Gregory Stroud are importations from England, the remainder of the casts comprising the principals of the "New Moon " and " Belle of New York " company recently in the Dominion. More imminent than the Gilbert and Sullivan Company is the " Bird in J land " and "First Mrs. Eraser " company which is expected within a short time. Ethel Morrison (formerly Ettie Maginnity, of Wellington), heads an ideal cast for this purpose. Zealanders are also hoping to see their old favourite, Frank Harvey, in the Edgar Wallace gangster jflay, " On the Spot," and his latest success, " Loyalties," Galsworthy's famous play, full of dramatic situations and tense Eioments.