THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall: August, 16 and 17—Schools' Musical Festival. September 22.—First Madarno GalliCurci concert. October 27 and 29, November I. Joseph Szigeti violin recitals. His Majesty's: August 19 and 20—Presentation of A. A. Milne's " Fourth Wall." August 27. J. C. Williamson musical comedy, " Blua Roses." September.—Opening of J. C. Williamson's " Follies of 1932 " season. Coming.—Dame Sybil Thorndike and Companv in " Saint Joan," "As You Like It," " Macbeth," " Painted Veils," eb alia. Lewis Eady Hall: August 2 and 3.—" The Kiss of Death, by Spanish-American players. Technical College: August 13 and 15 —Playbox Theatre's production, " Pros and Cons." THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL Amateurs will attempt a " thriller " in Auckland when a group of players will present A. A. Milne's " Fourth Wall " next month. ' Tho production is in the hands of Mr. Charles McCallum, and rehearsals are well in hand. A season of two nights will bo played in His Majesty's Theatre on August 19 and 20, tho proceeds being devoted to the Navy League. A well-chosen cast includes Misses Burgess Watson, Althea- Parker, Joan Hudson, Mrs. Hugh Fenton, and Messrs. J. Mackle, H. M. Geddes, J. Gordon, L. Bullot, Fryer Raisher and A. Leonard. Lovers of the drama in the Waikato, and particularly in Hamilton, have long felt the want of a repertory society or drama club for the encouragement and cultivation of talent in the district, and at a representative meeting held in Hamilton recently it was decided to form a club and commence activities at once. The club will be known as the Playbox, and is open to all, its aim being to discover talent and to give talented amateurs the opportunity of appearing in good plays, the proceeds of the performances going to some local charity. Mr. W. Russell-Wood stated that he had received requests for membership from people as far north as Taupiri and Huntly. An interesting feature of the projected visit to Australia of Master Lex MacDonald is that even if the boy soprano is unable through accident or sickness to have his wonderful voice recorded in Sydney, he or his parents or guarantors will be able to recover their expenses, writes our Dunedin correspondent. The local representatives of Lloyd's were approached regarding a policy on the young singer's voice and they at once cabled to London to ascertain whether headquarters would accept such a policy. The local office has been able to arrange now for a satisfactory premium to cover the boy's voice against accident and sickness for a period of three months. The Playbox Theatre Players, an amateur company recently formed among the Seddon Memorial Technical College night pupils, but open to general membership, will give its first public performance at the college on Saturday, August 13, and the following Monday. Under the direction of Mr. J. W. Baiiey, the players will stage the three-scene comedy-drama, " Pros and Cons," by Kenneth Barnes, administrator of tho Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. This will be preceded by a short comedy. Tho cast of the two productions includes Misses Roma Warbrick, Yvonne Carter, Madge Higgins, Margaret Dewar, Esme Pollard, Audrey Shale, and Edna Reeve, and Messrs. J. W. Bailey, Alec McSkimming, Arthur Lister and Mickie Orr. Joseph Szigeti, who will bo heard in Auckland at the end of October, is acknowledged by fellow musicians and the public on three continents to be one of the greatest living violinists. Born in Budapest on September 5, 1893, Szigeti comes from a country that has produced many groat violinists, such as Leopold Auer, Hauser, Nikish, Joachim, R,emenyi, Vecsey and Jeno Hubay, under whom he commenced studying at six years of age. Szigeti mado his first public appearance when thirteen years old at the Royal Academy, Budapest. Appearances in Berlin and Dresden followed, and in 1917 ho made his debut at Queen's Hall, London, where his success was so great that ho remained in England for nearly seven years, during which he toured tho provinces many times with Busoni, Backhaus and Molba, besides appearing continually in London. Later he appeared with overwhelming success and became the idol of Paris, while his famo spread to every country in Europe. For the past two decades he has occupied a position of great eminence in tho musical world. Considerable interest has been aroused by tho many lovers of a good play stating that. " The Barrets of Wimpole Street," which is really the stage presentation of the lovo story of Robert Browning, is one of the most remarkable dramatic productions ever produced by J. C. Williamson's. Tho play has met with a wonderful reception in Australia, and it is anticipated that in New Zealand it will bo equally popular. Ono Sydney paper described the drama as " Horrible, but beautiful," referring more particularly to tho scene between the father and daughter (Elizabeth), played with outstanding ability by Margaret Rawlings, the talented English actress specially brought out by J. C. Williamson Limited to play thp leading feminine role. The drama is really a beautiful lovo romance, and it possesses a charm all its own. That it will lead to considerable controversy is certain; but all must admit its peculiarly appealing effect and its power in presenting such strongly marked individualities. Herein, perhaps, lies the true secret of its undoubted drawing powers. There is no doubt that revue and vaudeville havo come into their own again, and for the former there is an ever-in-creasing demand. It has been said that the great London success " Cavalcade," the big Noel Coward production, is but revue under another name. Bo that as it may, tho public's demand is for variety,, and to supply that demand J. C, Williamson Limited (in conjunction with Frank Neil, who has earned an enviable reputation for the high standard of his productions) "will present at the Grand Opera |louse, Wellington, on Saturday, September 3, for the first time in New Zealand, tho sparkling and spectacular big revue " The Follies of 1932." There are no less than thirty singing and dancing stars in this big production, which is headed by the ever-popular and inimitable Ella Shields, famed all over tho world for her original impersonation of " Burlington Bertie," one of her many big London successes. Tho revue star is supported by an allstar cast of clover entertainers, including Stan Foley and At hoi Tier, the principal comedian; Miriam Lester, soprano; Arthur Clark, tenor; Maida Jones, Lily Malloy, Yvonne Banyard, Murray and Walton, the " dangers de luxe " ; Mascotte and Powell, International " adagio " dancing stars; and the famous Follies Beauty Ballet. Popular prices will rule. The Auckland'dates have not yefc been finalised.