THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 9 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL His Majesty's Theatre February 19.—Gilbert and Sullivan Company. Tobacco and Music Tho following appeal to the audience was printed in tho programme of Yehudi Menuhin's concert at Johannesburg last .year:—"Because of the unique nature of this artistic occasion and in the conformity with traditional custom in the metropolitan centres of tho world where such concerts are given, patrons are respectfully requested to completely abstain from smoking during the recital." Centenaries in 1936Perhaps the most interestiug point about tho 1936 centenaries is the trio of humorists: Gilbert, Burnand and Bret Harte (tho first, two born within a fortnight of one another). What merry star was in the ascendant in the latter November of 1836 P It is a conjunction hardly less, striking than the literary galaxy of 1809 including Tennyson. Poe, Fitz-Gerald, Kinglake, Wendell Holmes and the Russian Gogol. But all vintages are not so sparkling as that of 1836. Sibelius' Popularity Beethoven was recently pronounced tho most-admired composer of the past and Sibelius of the present by American radio listeners. In the course of recent broadcasts of Now York symphony concerts listeners were invited to write to the broadcasting company and namo their favourites. _ More than 12,000 answers were received. The four mostfavoured composers of the past were Beethoven (1878 votes), Brahms (904), Wagner (78S) and Tjc'haikowsky (648); and, among the living, Sibelius (1888), Ravel (910), Strauss (616) and Stravinsky (418). The most popular American composer proved to be Itov Harris, who received 162 votes —more than Bruckner and rather fewer than Franck. Interesting Personalities

Interesting personalities, representing life in many phases, are included in the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Company, which commences its New Zealand season at His Majesty's Theatre on Wednesday. Richard Watson and Godfrey Stirling are .both ex-scliool-masters, Evelyn Gardiner is a qualified aviatrix, and Ivan Menzies is an exmember of the King's Own Regiment. Winifred Lawson has been a concert singer and grand opera star, Bernard Manning was once a farmer and a chorister, and Gregory Stroud a musical comedy lead and opera star. Eileen Kelly won a Melbourne Conservatorium scholarship and Helen Langton designed dresses and performed over the radio in Western Australia. '

Tour by Dramatic Company An announcement that a dramatic company will be sent to New Zealand from Australia at Easter has been made by J. C. Williamson. Limited. The company will be headed by Elaine Hamill, a New Zealand girl who has attained fame in Australia by reason of her intelligence and beauty. Included in the repertoire will be Ivor Novello's amusing " Fresh Fields " T}ie Shining Hour," an outstanding success in London j. and "Night Must Fall/' a "psychological study," by Emlyn Williams, the noted Welsh playwright. The cast probably will include Campbell Copelin, Janet Johnson, Ethel Morrison, Leslie Victor and Winifred Green. The j company will open its New Zealand season at Auckland. ' - ' •