THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21254, 6 August 1932, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall: August 16 and 17—Schools' Musical Festival. September 22.—First Madamo GalliOurci 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, " Blue Roses." October. —Opening of J. C. Williamson's " Follies of 1932 " season. ' Coming.—Dame Sybil Thorndike and Company in " Saint Joan," "Ah You Like It," " Macbeth," " Painted Veils," et alia. Technical College: August 13 and 15.—Playbox Theatre's production, "Pros and Cons" THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL A now departure on the part, of the Navy League is the production of " The Fourth Wall," A. A. Milne's exciting detective drama which will be presented at His Majesty's Theatre on Friday and Saturday, August 19 and 20. Arthur Ludgrove, the squire of a Sussex village, is brutally murdered before the eyes of the audience, and so carefully do tho miscreants cover all traces of their crime, hoodwinking both police and the victims' relations, that they escape undetected. The part of Susan Cunningham, who pits her wits against those of the astutuc criminals, is in the capable hands of Miss Altliea Parker, who is ably supported by Miss E. Burges-Watson, Mrs. Hugh Feiiton and Miss Joan Hudson. The two principal malo roles are played by Messrs H. Fryer-Raisher and J. Mackle. H. Henderson, A. Leonard, H. McKail Geddes, J. Gordon and L. _ Bullot complete a very strong cast. It is hoped that (he funds of the league will be considerably augmented bv this production, which is in the hands of Mr. C. M. McCallum. " East Lynne," the play that has impressed three generations by its power and sincerity, will be staged at the Scots Hall on Wednesday, August 10, in aid of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society. Miss Colina Campbell will appear as " Isabel Carlyle," Mr. Thomas Moor'craft as " Archibald Carlyle," and the part of " Cornelia Carlyle," who contributes the comedy, will be taken by Miss Donna Voorhees, last seen in Auckland under the J. C. Williamson banner. The supporting artists include Audrey Morrison, Roy Gotts, Noel Harrison, Rewa Nicholson, Franklin Restall, Peggy Worsley, Charles Hogg, Espie Peltola and Cyril Wood. Miss Donna Voorhees is in charge of the production and the music is in the capable hands of Miss Ida Lockwood. Although the drama of romance and tragedy is a difficult one, indications are that the production should be very successful. When the world-famous singer GalliCurci, who comes to New Zealand next month, appeared at the London Albert Hall on her last visit to England there wore wonderful scenes of enthusiasm. The great hall was packed in every part, and the audience received the diva with an interest befitting her great record and enviable reputation. Her beautiful voice, pure and wonderfully flexible, was heard in a varied programme that was a sheer delight, and thousands cheered her at the conclusion. After several " final " encore numbers the Albert Hall audience simply stormed the platform, men throwing hats in the air while the women showered floral emblems on the smiling Galli-Curci until the diva was nearly lost amidst the flowers. Galli Curci is expected to open her New Zealand season in Wellington on August 25, and September 22 is set down as the opening date in Auckland. Her success in Australia, however, may cause these dates to be altered. Arrangements are now well in hand for the primary and secondary schools' musical festivals, which are to be held in the Town Hall on August 16 and 17 respectively. This year about 600 voices will tako part in the primary schools' choir, the number having been slightly reduced, as seating accommodation on the stage was overcrowded last year. Among the massed choral numbers will be " England " (Parry), the canon " Ride of the Witch" (Wood), the Devonshire folk song, " Widdicombe Fair," with humorous effects, and three national songs, "The Ash Grove," "In Derryvale and " Caller' Herring." In tho last three the descants will be sung by the Normal School choir. An exceptionally interesting number will be " Summer Is i-Cumen In, the oldest specimen in existence of harmonised music in the world. This includes four parts for children's voices and a ground bass which will be sung by a specially selected men's choir. Individual schools will give chorus work and folk and other graceful dances will also be supplied by three of the schools. Mr. E. Varley Hudson will be in charge of the primary schools' concert and Mr. H. iioilinrake of tho secondary schools festival, the programme of which will include choruses and solos from Gluc.k s deligli - ful cantata " Orpheus." " Saint Joaii," with Dame Svbil Thorndike, Lewis Casson and a complete English company, now at the King s Theatre, has created a tremendous impression upon Melbourne. Tho play is typically Shaw, and its flawless presentation by such outstanding artists is indeed a revelation. The settings, which are all true to the period in which the Maid of Orleans lived, were designed by Charles Ricketts, a Royal Academy* artist. Theatre-goers are finding it, a most refreshing treat. " Saint Joan " will in all probability bo followed by " Madame Nap," " Macbeth," " Jane Clogg," and the ,J Medea " of Euripides.