THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21906, 15 September 1934, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS Town Hall October 4.—Auckland Choral Sooiety, " Merrie England." Hit Majesty" X This evening.—Diocesan High School Old Girls, " Milestones." September 21-29.—Mareo Operatic Society, " The Duohesa of Dantzio." November 9-12. —Amateur Operatic Society,' " Runaway Girl." Old Grammar School September 22-28. W. E. A. production. " Masses and Man." THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL Miss Donna Voorhees, who has produced a number of plays in Auckland for charitable causes, is shortly to leave for Australia, but prior to her departure is to appear in a farewell production, " Here Comes the Bride," a eomedy-drama which is scheduled to be given in Scots Hall on September 25 and 26, She herself will take the principal oomedy part of Stella Hollytree, and she will be supported by several well-known amateurs.

A further development in the gradual return of " non-synthetic " music to the theatre is the engagement of Mr. Eric Mareo, the well-known conductor, to form a light symphony orchestra for St. James* Theatre. The orchestra will comprise about 20 players, including many of the best-known professional musicians in Auckland, and the repertoire will range from new successes to the lighter classics. A definite effort will be made to cater for the gradually increasing interest in worthwhile music which has survived the test of time. The new orchestra will commence its engagement on October 5.

Brahma' First Symphony, in C Minor, Op. 68, played by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, under Leopold Stokowski, will be the major work to be broadcast from IYA tomorrow afternoon. This work, which was first performed in 1876, in6ludes some of the finest themes Brahms ever wrote. 'The first theme of the finale bears a strong resemblance to the motif of the choral movement in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Later in the afternoon the concluding spries of Hugo Wolf songs will be broadcast. The performers will be Gerhard Husch, baritone, and Alexander Kipnis, bass.

When Maurice Ravel visited the United States some years ago the only jazz band that the noted French composer heard was Paul Whiteraan's. Ho heard the leading symphonies and wanted to hear a characteristic American jazz band, so attended a rehearsal. Whiteman played several new modern compositions, some operatic transcriptions and then burst into some hot Harlem jazz. The little Frenchman could not Restrain his excitement. " Mon Dieul" he exclaimed. "You have the same band for both music?" and his request kept the band rehearsing until 2.90 a.m., at which time he wanted to send out for sandwiches and listen to more jazz.

" White Horse Inn." which, is being presented by J. C. Williamson Limited, at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, has broken all theatrical records in that city. Some idea of the spectacular scope of this remarkably elaborate and beautiful production is contained in the fact that there are no> fewer than 15 different scenes in the three acts, and 27 musical numbers, some of whioh are already well-known. One can, however, have no real idea of the charm of these numbers until they are heard in their correct setting. " White Horse Inn " was the opening production of J. C. Williamson's new His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne.

The scheme of decoration in the new His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne is entirely new to Australia and New Zealand. The conventional style hitherto characteristic of theatre interiors has been replaced by delicate colouring, beautiful panelling in Australian woods, textured walls, and soft, lighting. There are no garish effects in which oupids, masks and faces, and gold paint strike the eye. Everything is restful and artistic and in perfect harmony. The carpets, drapings, and furnishings have been specially made. A Striking feature of the vestibules will be elliptical columns of walnut, inlaid with pewter and Macassar ebony, rising from floor to ceiling, and surmounted by a frieze of dancing figures. In the auditorium, the walls of the stalls and dress oirdee are lined with walnui; panelling, and the biggest walnut panels ever made in Australia frame the proscenium.

The Evening Standard contributor, Garry Allighan, in a prelude to Miss Esther Fisher's last Sunday programme for the 8.8.C., remarked: ''As a child of three, Esther Fisher's favourite plaything was a toy gramophone which was given to her as a birthday present. On this she played all the records she could find. She started to play the piano soon after, because, as she said, she wanted to ' sound like the records.' She was born in New Zealand and made her debut there when only fourteen. Three years later she came to Europe to study, and was one of the four foreigners allowed to enter the Paris Conservatoire during that particular year. She stayed in Paris for three **ars before coming to London to make her Wigmore Hall debut, and later itudied with Schnabel in Berlin. Miss Fisher's hobby is going to concerts. Orchestral" or otherwise, and she spends all her spare time and money on concert tickets. Her father is the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, the New Zealand exMinister and Davis Cup lawn tennis player."

Dr. Merton Hodge, the young Auckland dramatist, went to New York some months ago partly to see to the production there of his successful comedy " The Wind and the Rain " and partly to prepare a version suitable for presentation in London of Mr.Sidney Kingsley's great New York success «• Men in White." "Men in White" has been awarded the Pulitzer prize. Mr. Gilbert Miller has acquired the play and Will produce it. Its early appearance at the Lyric Theatre is anticipated with interest. The scenes are laid in a hospital and most of the characters are doctors and nurses. The chief character is a brilliant young doctor who is torn between his duty and the social demands made on him by his wealthy fiancee, The cast will include Mr. Lewis Casson, Mr. Robert Douglas, Miss Jill Esmond, Mr. H. R. Highett ahd Miss Joan Marion, It is interesting to record; apropos of Dr. Hodge's work, that "The wind and the Rain }> has celebrated its 300 th performance at St. Martin's Theatre.