THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS His Majesty's Theatre. March 31. J. C. "Williamson Comic Opera Company. " A Country Girl." Lewis Eady Hall. April 11 and 12— Garrick Dramatic Society, " What Every Woman Knows." THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL May 24 lias been fixed as a tentative date for the Royal Auckland Choir's first concert of the season and a chorus of about 70 members is at present in full rehearsal under Dr. W. E. Thomas. Details of the programme have not yet been finalised. The Bohemian Orchestra, on present indications, will open its 1934 season the preceding Thursday, May 17.

One of Bach's delightful Brandenburg concertos, No. 6, in B Flat, for strings, played by the Sir Henry Wood Symphony Orchestra, will be the major work to be presented from IYA at 2 p.m. to-morrow. The work is a masterpiece of polyphonic music, in which the beauty consists of the interlacing of the various strands of melody rather than in the more massive and unified harmonies of a later age.

The New Zealand branch of the British Drama League is arranging a weekend school of drama, to be held at Palmerston North from May 4 to May 6, inclusive. Miss Elizabeth Blake, who adjudicated at the Festival of Community Drama in Auckland last year, will be in charge of rehearsal classes and lectures, and Miss Beatrice MacKenzie, L.R.A.M., will provide courses in speech-training and verse-speaking.

The formation of a Bach choir is at present being considered by Mr. E. Varley Hudson, formerly conductor of the Municipal Choir. The increasing interest in Bach's choral music should open up great possibilities for a small but capable choir, which, of course, would also devote attention to other composers incidentally. Last year a small Bach choir, organised in connection with the IZR broadcasting station, did good work under Mr. J. W. McElwain, but it is doubtful whether the choir will function this year.

The J. C. Williamson, Limited, production of " The Dubarry," at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, has broken all records for that theatre. This comic opera is considered one of the most notable productions yet staged by the firm. It presents Sylvia Welling in the title role, in which she won star rank in London. The humble origin of " The Dubarry," her extraordinary career, and the beauty and charm which brought a king to her feet, make of the central figure in the play a real heroine eclipsing the most romantic and fantastic imaginings of screen scenario writers. So successful is this Sydney attraction that no fewer than nine performances per week are being given.

Playgoers and drama-lovers generally will welcome the news that the Little Theatre Society will mark its first decade with Bernard Shaw's delightful political satire " The Apple Cart." The production, which is in the hands of the society's producer. Mr. Frederic McCalluin, is scheduled for presentation at the end of April, and will be the Little Theatre Society's 34th offering, its repertoire having included four of Mr. Shaw's plays: "Fanny's First Play" (1925), "Man of Destiny " (1925), " You Never Can Tell " (1927), and " Pygmalion " (1927). Following on the bright variety of productions which concluded with the very successful presentation of the Pepysian comedy " And So To Bed " in December last, the decision to present this now famous play should add to the society's already numerous laurels in the world of amateur drama.

The Barrie play, " What Every Woman Einows," chosen by the Garrick Dramatic Society for its first production of the 1934 season, should be the most popular piece the society has yet played. The difficulty of finding " Barrie types," has necessitated some changes in the cast, the parts in which will now be played as follows:—Rita McCullay as Maggie, Edward C. Nightingale at John Sband, Antonia Martinengo as Comtes§e de la Briere, Elsie Roberts as Lady Sybil Tenterton, Arthur Snaith as Alick, Terence Barton as David, and George Spicer as James. The play, which abounds in Barrie's philosophy and charm, is to be presented in the Lewis Eady Hall, on April 11 and 12, under the direction of Miss Raie Robinson.

For the J. C. Williamson, Limited, production of " Whitehorse Inn," which is to be staged in Sydney at Easter, and which will be the opening attraction at the new His Majesty's Theatre, in Melbourne, Albert Locke has come from London to stage this spectacular musical play. He was associated with the production in London. Ruby Morris, who produced " The Desert Sohg," and " Rose Marie," in South Africa," for J. C. Williamson Limited, will bo responsible for the ballets and dances. A troupe of eight Tyrolean dancers, who appeared in the London production, is now on the way to Australia under engagement to J. C. Williamson, Limited.

A direct result of the delightful openair presentation of " As You Like It," by the Georgian Readers and friends, under the direction of Mr." J. M. Clark, last month, has been the formation of junior Shakespearean reading circle. A small committee is at present working out plans for an organisation which would include membership open to any young persons interested. Although a profit was made on the production, the financial results were not fully up to expectations, owing to the cold spell of we.ather experienced at the time. Artistically, however, the production earned the highest praise. In addition to assisting organisations previously mentioned in connection with the play, the members of the Live Art Society in the Court Dances added much grace to the performance. Widespread interest is being taken in the forthcoming production by J. 0. Williamson, Limited, of " Fresh Fields," which will be given in Melbourne for the first time in Australia. " Fresh Fields " is by Ivor Novello, the remarkably versatile actor, author, composer, playwright, and film star, who at the present time has three plays running simultaneously in London. Three important London artists are being brought by the firm—Grace Lane, Jane Wood, and Gerald Savory. " Fresh Fields " shows two impoverished daughters of a duke, living in a corner of the family mansion, and reduced to taking Australian acquaintances as paying guests. Mr. Novello gets his fun out of the contrasts between the grandeur of the hostesses and the unrestrained manners of the guests. The play caused tremendous controversy and discussion in London, where it has been running to enormous houses for over a year.