MUSIC AND THE THEATRE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18753, 5 January 1923, Page 8

MUSIC AND THE THEATRE

NEW PLAYS FOR NEW ZEALAND. “IF WINTER COMES.” (FnoM Odr Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 24. Transporting world-famed pianists across the Pacific Ocean is not the simplest of matters. They are apt to deplore tho absence of the proper conveniences for the continuation of their practice. Arrangements, however, have now been made to get Rachmaninoff to Australia from America, where he is making a very successful tour at present. Ho will sail by tho Ventura, from San Francisco on April 17, and will open in Sydney on May 12. A email Stemway grand will be placed on board for ms use and will be charged as a passenger, for a special cabin is to be allotted to the pianist for practice purposes. In addition three full Stcinway grands will be taken over for use during his tour of Australia and New Zealand. From South Africa there comes the news that Lady Forbes Robertson (Gertrude Elliott) and her company are playing to lull houses and are being received with groat enthusiasm. Lady Robertson is very pop - lar out there. In February next the African tour will come to an end, and the company then proceeds to Australia and att wards to New Zealand. . , . . Messrs Williamson have acquired the rights of “Secrets,” which is now being P'aycd at the Comedy Theatre by Miss Fay Co » ip }°" and Loon Quartermame It is one of the most charming dramas at present being pre aented in London. Tho period is nndAictorian, and the thomo is woman a constancy. Scones are laid m the back-blocks of Can ada, where cattle thieves and other create atmosphere and excitement ««! « e young wife roughs it with her rathorworth less husband. Tho final scenes are in fash ionable London, where the inevitable oth woman” appears. “IF WINTER COMES” AS A DRAMA. Owing to the wonderful popularity of Mr running in the P™ 1 "? 68 James’s Theatre toin London at tho bt. uame»a mo«th »o Basil “Hasting, andMr Owen In reading the teote one tae»s a np9ychoauthor has had to i honeyed situation—logical study a _ order provide « really power arsaa.*-. u ttSTss for tho human interest, and certai full possibilities of fh' P O . The court •» “f/iSSto !.-* -•! •V’”’ 7” .“a the book form. The ',,,n ’ and the find lar ly fine piece "f staged a f_. . . scene out°Twvning with, remembered Sabro eonfea which implicates the dead boy. There mci tss ” striking curtain. COMING PRODUCTION. “Treasure Island,” Robert Louis Stovenson’s immortal pirate story, will be presented next month by Mr Arthur Bourchier. at the Strand Theatre. Although the book has thrilled three generations of readers it has never yet been produced as a. PhJT; possibly because it has no We Mr Bourchier will oe Long John Silver, the one-legged seafaring man-most fascinate ing and treacherous bucaneer that ever hopped op crutch— and he will have with him “Captain Flint.” the parrot, that screams "Pieces of Eight! _ The book has been adapted by Mr J. B. Fagan, and is being produced with the approval’ of Mr Lloyd Osbourne, Stevenson s step-son, and one of his executors. llr Bourchier has acquired the British dramatic rights of the book. On the advice of Sir aT Mackenzie, incidental music is being written and arranged by Mr Frederick Cordor. A detail of importance now under discus eion is what will Mr Bourchier do with hia unwanted log. One of tho staff describes him as being “a stickler for exactitude. When ho played Henry VIII ho grew a beard to suit tho part, but it is not likely that ho will go so far in this instance as to have liis leg cut off. We can provide tho crutch all right, but the difficulty for the leg which ought not to be there remains A long-skirted coat of the period of George 111 will have to be worn for the part, and Mr Bourchier is experimenting with methods of hiding his leg. He doesn’t quite know himself yet how this will be done, but I think you may rely on the illusion being complete when the plav is produced.” Mr Sinclair R. Roger (Christchurch) is to be in the cast.