THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall: October 20, 22 and 24.—Joseph Szigoti violin recitals. October 6—Concert by Lex Mac Donald, boy soprano. Concert Chamber: (September 29, 30. October I.—Little Theatre Society's " The Great Adventure." October 14 and 15 —Catholic Repertory Society's plays. October 19 and 20—" The Spinster Who Spun.". His Majesty's: This Evening—Galli-Curci' farewell concert. October s—Opening of Grand Opera Season. October.—Margaret, Rawlings in " The Barretts of Wimpole Street " and " Dr. Pygmalion." November. —J. 0. Williamson " Follies . of 1932 season. Coming.—Danio Syliil Thorndike and Company in " Saint Joan," "As You Like It," " Macbeth," " Painted Veils," ct alia. THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL " The Spinster Who Spun " is the title of an entertaining three-act play, written by Mrs. Nello Porter, which is to be presented in the' Town Hall Concert Chamber on October 19 and 20 in aid of the St. John Ambulance funds. The play, which is woven around the lives of several delightfully human characters, is full of humour, whimsicality and well-sustained interest. The production of the play is under the capable co-direction of Mr. J. M. Clark and Dr. G. de Clive Lowe, who is also the author of the entertaining curtain-raiser, entitled " Cecil."

The concert, to be given in the land Town Ilall by Lex Mac Donald, the New Zealand boy soprano whose voice has created a furore in Sydney, is definitely fixed for Thursday, October 6. Mr. Colin Muston, under whose direction the concert will be given, has arranged a programme which should be of notable interest to' Auckland audiences. One of the finest numbers should be Mendelssohn's " Hear My Prayer ", accompanied by full chorus and orchestra. Several prominent Auckland solo artists will also contribute to the programme. Cabled reports have shown the impression the lad has made in Australia, and private advices state that the professors at the Sydney Conservatorium unanimously expressed pleasure nt his combination of voice and artistic interpretation. Mr. Muston is endeavouring to arrange concerts in several of the smaller towns of the North Island.

In conversation last week Madame GalliCurci had an interesting comment to make on her experiences during her present tour. It will bo recalled that Madame left her homo in the Catskill mountains in October of last year to commence an autumn tour of the United States, and at the conclusion of her recitals in America embarked for South Africa, where she gave a number of concerts before coming on to Australia and New Zealand. She has, therefore, had the opportunity of studying the effect upo» lier audiences of the economic depression in the countries and cities which sho has visited. Madame stated that without exception she had noticed that there was in evidence among the people before whom she sang a deeper note of seriousness. Combined with this it was ap2)arent that the standard of culture, refinement, and musical appreciation had risen appreciably and was now at a higher level than at any previous period in her experience.

Dame Sybil Thorndike and her husband (Mr. Lewis Cassoti), who are coming to New Zealand under the J. C. Williamson regime, will bring with them across the Tasman a specially-selected company of London actors and actresses who will receive a warm welcome here. Dame Sybil Thorndike's amazing versatility and the extraordinary variety of the parts which sho has performed with uniform success in England and on the Continent have placed her in an unequalled position in the theatrical world of the present century. She is quite as good a comedienne as a tragedienne. Her great part, Saint Joan, - though it poignantly touches the deeper notes of the Maid's tragedy, is also juotablo for its lively shafts of humour and comedy; she presents a vividly-living girl as well as an inspired saint. Tho management aro touring their own scenery and wardrobo of costumes, all of which were specially designed and executed by firstclass English artists.

The ra.st of the Catholic Repertory Society's bracket of four plays which bo given in tho Town Hall Concert Chamber on October 14 and 15, includes many well-known Auckland amateur players. For "The Marriage of St. Francis ", Miss Edna Craig, and Mpssrs. J. Mackle, V. .J. Mulgan, Horace Jones and Keith Angus havo been selected and for Lord Dnnsany's colourful play, " Tho Golden Doom ", Misses Olive Martin and Marjorio Scholium.. Colonel Thompson, and Messrs. Alan McSkimming, K. Ij. Warbnrtou, J. E. Boyle. M. I'". Coleman, W. Harris, 11. Gould, Douglas Lunn, G. E. Tole, G. P. Flood and G, R. Bent-ley have been chosen. Tho cast, of " Cathleen Ni Houlihan " includes Misses Wright, K. Coleman and J. Harley, and Messrs. I-. O'Malley, R. Carew and J. Reed, while those taking part in " The Coffee Stall " will include Mrs. George Tole, Miss Nancy Cruickshank, and Messrs Jack Gordon. P. Hackett, Dan Flood, J. L. Conlan and Alan Beaut.