THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

1 COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall: May 4. —Auckland Municipal Choir. Brahms concert. Concert Chamber: April 26 and 27.—Catholic Repertory Society, "A Hundred Years Old." His Majesty's Theatre: To-night,—Frank Neil revue season reopens. THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL The Auckland branch of the Navy League, which last year so successful I v produced A. A. Milne s " Iho Fourth Wall," at His Majesty's Theatre, have chosen another of the brilliant playwright's works for presentation in fbo Town Hall Concert Chamber for three nights, commencing 011 May 4. " To Have the Honour " was first played in London with Sir Gerald du Maurier and Madge Tithcrago iu the leading roles. A talented cast, to be announced later, will appear in tho league's production, which is in the hands of Mr. C. M. McCallum. Several interesting arrangements for massed voices will be included in the [{oval Auckland Choir's first concert, to be given in the Town Hall under the baton Dr. W. K. Thomas on May 25. " Brothers in Song." an elaborate part song which includes several difficult movements, will be one of the principal works. The bass solo in this will be taken by Mr. T. B. Howe. " Beleaguered," Sir Arthur Sullivan's wellknown work, and Lord Mornington's " AY hen, for the World's Repose " and " Land of My Fathers," the Welsh traditional air, specially arranged by Dr. Thomas, will be among tho principal items, others being " Castilla," " Rolling Down to Rio," " Timbuctoo," " Battle Prayer " and the two hymns, " Our Blest Redeemer " and " Fierce Raged tho Tempest." The soloists for tho evening have not yet been finalised. The first of the new spectacular revues to be staged on flic return of the J. C. Williamson and Frank Neil Company to Auckland will open in His Majesty's Theatre this evening. " The Laugh Parade " will be followed by " Clowns in Clover " and " The Whirl of the World." Sir. Neil, who has returned from his hurried trip to Australia, announces that in addition to the popular members of his present combination, there will also be an array of new faces, with some original specialty acts. Georgo Wallace and Ella Shields will of course head tho big cast of favourites, and he promises that " The Laugh Parade " will live up to its name. There will be many new striking stage pictures and several new dancing novelties, including some real gems of tVie terpsichorean art, introduced by Maurice Diamond's famous Beauty Ballet. Tho season will open at Auckland on Easter Saturday, April 15. Mr. Frederic E. McCallum, producer of the Little Theatre Society, has announced that the 30th production of the society will be the comedy-drama " Tho Queen's Husband," by Robert Sherwood, author of "The Guardsman," " Road to Rome," and other successes. The play was especially written for Roland Young, who played the part of King Eric VIII in the New York Theatre Guild production. It will be presented in Auckland next month. Mr. Albert Bryant, of Hamilton, recently gave a pianoforte recital in Leipzig, where ho has been studying under Madame Elaine Lambrino, herself an eminent pianist. Friends in New Zcadanl will be interested to read the references to the concert made by a noted critic, and to realise that Mr. Bryant conducted tho orchestra as well as playing piano solos. Tho notice appeared in the Leipzig News, and tho accompanying is the translation from tho German: " With his concert in the Zwenkauer Theatre Mr. Albert Bryant introduced himself to us as an excellent pianist and an able conductor. His interpreta--tion of the complicated " Concerto grosso " by Handel was, notwithstanding his youth, and thanks to excellent tuition, quite remarkable. He grasped tho character of the so heterogeneous movements with suro intuition and got the very best effects out of tho orchestra." A programme which strikes a happy medium between tho austere and the ever-popular in music has been arranged for tho recital to be given by Mr. Denis Sheard (tenor), Miss Lilian Q.uinn (associate pianist) and Mr. Vincent Aspey (violinist) in tho Lewis Eady Hall on May 11. Among Mr. Sheard's songs will be " Recondita Armonia " (Puccini), " Where'er You Walk " (Handel), "Ave Maria " (Kahn), " Serenade " (Schubert) and " Duna " (McGill). Miss Lilian Quinn will play " Spinning Song " (WagnerLiszt), " Nocturne in C Minor " (Chopin), " Licbestraume " (Liszt) and "Allegro di Concerti " (Grauados) and others. Among Mr. Aspey's items will bo " Romanza Andaluza " (Sarasate), " Largo " from Dvorak's " New World " Symphony, " Serenade Espagnole " (Granados) and " Scherzo " (Dittersdorf).