MUSIC AND DRAMA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21640, 4 November 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

MUSIC AND DRAMA

THEATRICAL NOTES COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall: November 16.—Bohemian Orchestra Concert. November 23.—Royal Auckland Choir Concert. Lewis Eady Hall: November G.—Recital by R. Simmers and Hinemoa Rosieur. November 7.—Madame Milburn Recital. November B.—Musical programme. November 9 and 11.—Garrick Dramatic Society, " Street Scene." November 13.—Chamber Music Society Concert. November 22.—Mr. and Mrs. J. \7. Bailey Recital.

THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL Tho cast for the Little Theatre Society's production of J. B. Fagan's brilliant comedy, " And So To Bed," which is to be given under the direction of Jlr. F. E. McCallum early in December, will be headed by Mr. Zante Wood as Samuel Pepys, Nina Scott as Mrs. Pepys, Edna Craig as Mrs. Knight and Graham Brown-Douglas as King Charles. Other players will be Audrey Hutchinson, Annette Thorne-George, Jean Deigliton, Maisie Cardno, Terence Morgan, Dick Sharp, P. Stewart and John Carpenter. The play is to be lavishly staged and special costumes have already been ordered from Sydney.

Among the supporting items to be given by the orchestra under Mr. Frank Bartlett at Madame Amy Milburn's recital in the Lewis Eady Hall on Tuesday evening will be Offenbach's popular " Orpheus in Hades" overture, Schubert's " Serenade," and a selection from " Our Miss Gibbs" (Lionel Monkton). Mr. Frank Poore, flautist, will give solo items. In addition to several operatic numbers, with orchestral accompaniment, Madame Milburn will sing several Welsh songs in the original language.

Elmer Rico's poignant drama,, " Street Scene," to be presented by the Garrick Dramatic Society in the Lewis Eady Hall next Thursday and Saturday, November 9 and 11, has been described as one of the finest works of theatrical realism written in recent years. Carrying a cast of over 40 players, the play represents the most ambitious effort by the socjety since its inception, and the difficulties of casting are enhanced by the diversity of races and types represented. The producer, Miss Raie Robinson, however. has assembled a strong cast, details of which have previously been published, and an interesting production should result.

The list of ,1. C. Williamson, Limited, attractions scheduled for later production in New Zealand is steadily growing, and indicates that the legitimate stage has come back strongly to popularity. In Melbourne. " Music in the Air,"' at the Theatre Royal, and Dorothy Brunton in " Road House," at the King's Theatre, are drawing crowded audiences. In Sydney, Maage Elliott and Cyril Ritchard, in " The Quaker Girl," at the Theatre Royal, and lsobel Elsom in " Private Lives," at the Criterion Theatre, are delighting full houses. In Perth, the touring musical comedy company, which has a varied repertoire, is having a wonderfully successful season. The J. and N. Tait concert attractions will commence again shortly, when Dame Clara Butt will give her first concert at Brisbane today, with Sydney to follow on November 18, and Melbourne on December 2. Several other important engagements will be announced shortly, including some world-famous artists.

The Royal Auckland Choir's next t concert, to be given in the Town Hall on November 23 under the baton of Dr. W. E. Thomas, will include again several items which leave the beaten track of concert programmes. One of the most interesting of these will be Geuee's " Italian Salad," a musical jest, which, using a hotch-potch of Italian musical terms for the libretto, forms a very ingenious burlesque of an Italian ** finale d'opera." Beethoven's " Creation Hymn " and Parry's " Jerusalem," given with an organ accompaniment by Mr. H. C. Luscombe, will form a contrast, while, as a return to a lighter type. Bridge's humourous jeu d'esprit " Goslings " will bo given. Mendelssohn's " Vintage Song." and several ballads are included in the programme. Miss Phyllis R. Gribbin (contralto), Mr. Denis Sheard (tenor), and Mr. J. T. Gibson (bass) will be the vocal soloists for the evening, and Mr. Trevor de Give Lowe will give 'cello solos. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%