THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20958, 22 August 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

COMING PRODUCTIONS. His Majesty's: September B.—" Sons o' Guns " (.T. C. Williamson Musical Comedy Company). Coming. —Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. " On the Spot " and " Loyalties " (Frank Harvey). Later.—" Follow Through," " Mr. Cinders " (J. C. Williamson Musical Company). Town Hall: August 25.—Zlatko Balokovic (violinist) . PLAYS' AND PLAYERS. Zlatko Balokovic, the violinist who is touring New Zealand under the auspices of Messrs. J. and N. Tait, created a sensation when lie made his first appearance before a New Zealand audience at ton Town Hall last Saturday. The impression he created will linger long in the memory of everyone in the large and representative audience, and at the conclusion of the performance, Balokovic was cheered as "few artists have been cheered in the Dominion. As one critic aptly put it: "Balokovic is absolutely legitimate in his art—he has no tricks, and never stoops to conquer by the adoption of any meretricious aids to popularity; ho made his splendid impression as much by the variety of his conceptions and the flawless suavity of his fingering as he did by the warm glamourous tone of his treasured Guarnerius. Sincerity is his key-note. Music to him is something fraught with a beauty that is not to be taken lightly. Perhaps that is what makes lum such an admirable exponent of Bach. Though lie played Handel, Mendelssohn, Brahm, Sarasato and others, it was as an interpreter of the mighty Bach that he made his deepest impression."

That the musical comedy " Sons o' Guns," now being played in New Zealand by a J. C. Williamson company appeals to Dominion audiences is proved by tho success that is attending the presentations of this production. " Sons o' Guns "is a war-time story packed with all the'varying and pleasing elements that go to make a performance a memorable and enjoyabla one. There are many spectacular scenes, music and dancing galore, and the comedy element is one of the outstanding features. Some of the "drill" scenes are screamingly funny, and simply convulse the audience. Gus Bluett appears in a role that one might with truth say has been made for him. He is seen at his very best, and his presentation of the difficult part of Jimmy Canfield, the carelgss, merry, and altogether lovable chap, is one of his most successful performances to date. Leo Franklyn and Alfred Frith both have parts that enable them to give truly artistic presentations, and with three high-grade artists in the picture small wonder is it that " Sons o' Guns " goes with a dash and an infectious hilarity. Among the other principals, Miss Bertha Ricardo, as tho charming Yvonne, acts, sings, and dances iri the most charming manner, and the rest of the characters are in tho best of hands. There is a full ballet, and tho dancing is a special feature of the performance.