THE STAGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 44

THE STAGE.

Contributions from the Profession chronicling their movements and doings are invited. All communications to be addressed “Pasquia,” Otago W itness Office.

PRINCESS THEATRE.

Fuller Vaudeville. —Nightly. HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE. Competitions.—September 21 to October 8. English Pierrots.—October 22 to 29. Dunedin Operatic Society (‘‘Dorothy")November 26 to December 3.

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By

Pasquin.

Monday, September 26. The Stuart Set Diggers finished their season at the Princess Theatre on Saturday night, and this evening an a!i-vaudeviUe programme will be presented. Foremost among the several newcomers are the Richardson brothers and Cherie, a comedy act that is said to take high place among the late importations of the firm. Ling and Long present another notable act, the two sexes being represented in a clever novelty turn. Marshall, a noted contortionist, is the third newcomer. A feature new in Fuller vaudeville will be the Fullerscope, a gazette exclusive to the firm. Miss Laura Guerite will enter upon the last week of her season, and fresh acts are promised from Wiggen. and Newall. Lola Stantonne, Bakden, and Zeno and Don. Never in the history of the theatre in Australia has a musical play achieved such a success as “The Maid of the Mountains.” In Melbourne the record run of twentythree weeks was a unique triumph for the piece. In Sydney the “Maid” has been playing to capacity business since the opening night, having previously broken all records in Adelaide for any attraction ever presented in that city. Added to these successes, there is now on tour a. No. 2 company, which lias commenced its long tour with a visit to the towns of New South Wales. Dame Nellie Melba was given an enthusiastic reception on Wednesday night, August 31, when she gave her home-coming concert in the Melbourne Town Half Many floral emblems were stacked on the stage, and when the diva made her appearance there was a roar of applause which echoed through the large building. Mr Alex. Cherniavsky, the well-known Russian musician, who has been in hospital in Auckland, is now convalescent, and' hopes to be about again by the end of the month, when he will again leave for Sydney. Mr Cherniavsky is engaged to "be married to a Sydney lady. Miss Maie Cantor, and the wedding l will take place shortly after his return to Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald paid Dame Clara Butt a wonderful compliment in that paper’s notice of the opening concert of the great contralto at Sydney Town Hall. “Her’s is a wonderful voice, the voice of a century in its largeness, range, and richness. But behind that amazing gift of nature is the power of a cultivated use of the emotional expression, without which no singer stands pre-eminent in the world of song. Hers was indeed a. triumph, which culminated in the exultant patriotic appeal of 'Land of Hope and Glory.’ Then the great voice rang through the building like a trumpet above the tumultuous blare of the organ, and the audience joined in the refrain, and every heart swelled with gratitude that the war was over, and the British Empire on top at the last. It was indeed a wonderful night.” Discussing plans for their future movements, Dame Clara Butt said that after a tour of Australia and New Zealand with Mr Kennerlev Rumford she would leave for Ainerica and Canada shortly after Christmas, “doing” Honolulu while the boat waited! “Such a concert,” explained Dame Clara Butt, “is given according to (he time of arrival, a great bell being rung to summon the people to ascertain the announcement, an arrangement thoroughly understood, as the liner only stops at the island for a few hours.” Few productions of recent years have had the benefit of being acted by such a magnificent oast as appears in “Scandal’’ in Melbourne. Even the smallest parts are played by capable artihsts. Old playgoers compare the acting favourably with that of the best days of the Brough-Boueieault Co. The Dunedin competitions are proving quite their usual success. There are large attendances at His Majesty's at every session. George Storey mid Dulcie Milner, two popular members of the Walter George Company, are to open w it'll the Fullers at the Christchurch Opera House shortly. The well-known comedian lias now fully recovered from the serious motor <ar accident by which he was laid aside for so long. Wilkie Bard is tin l pioneer of Ihe “plant” in vaudeville— the man who is ‘‘planted’’ amongst the audience and “talks back” at the comedian. In Mr Bard’s case the “plant” is so natural that many refuse to believe the two men are accomplices.

The Allan Wilkie Company left Wellington last Mordav for Sydney. It will be 12 months before the company returns to New Zealand. A ‘ speaking film” invention by a Swedish engineer named Berglund is now so developed {.says the Stockholm omre-" 1 spondent of the Daily Telegraph) that the voice is quite clear, and the invotpion is of practical use. Marie Tempest and Graham Browne tire to make another tour of New Zealand towards the end of the year under the J. Williamson direction. Miss Ethel Morrison, who has been seen lately as the chaperon in “The Lilac Domino,” has played varied parts in comedy, musical comedy, and comic opera since she came from England with one of the Gilbert and Sullivan companies.

Though Miss Morrison had sortie years of experience abroad, her early homeland was New Zealand. Can the thrill of “Treasure Island” be transferred from Stevenson’,.) book to the stage? The experiment is to be tried in London, where a play ort the story has been prepared for Mr Arthur Bourchier. One thing which many playgoers might resent is the lack of feminine interest in the story, but no doubt there will be a rearrangement in this regard for the theatre. Dear “Pasquin,”—First let me state that I joined up with the N.Z.E.F. in Wellington. and served with them in France, being wounded in 1918 at Ypres. After the Armistice [ again commenced vocal studies, only this time in London, and on good advice from a prominent teacher there, journeyed to Italy to study Italian Grand Opera, This venture, I am pleased to say, has turned out very successful, as rny voice has made wonderful progress under the tuition of a famous master by name of Giovanni Santangelo, who prophesies a great career for me. You will no doubt be pleased to hear that I have been engaged to sing the tenor role of “Faust” here in Italy this season, opening in September, and, of course, am hoping, but feel confident cf success. After the season here I will doubtless return to London, but cannot state definitely my movements, as things operatic are at present “nieute” in London. My wife, who is here with me, is a New Zealander, being born in Otago. During the war she was Sister Margaret Samson, and left New Zealand with the first. 50 nurses of the N.Z.A.N.S. for Egypt, and was later transferred to Brockenhiirst. England, where we were married in December, 1918. Needless to say, we both have many friends and acquaintances in Now Zealand, and feel sure that many of them will be pleased to read of my success and to know our whereabouts. It also may bo of interest to know that before joining up I was a member of the Blelsoe Revue Company which toured New Zealand under the Fuller Management, but in those davs I was known as a baritone. It is only since the war that my voice lias developed tenor qualities, probably due to the continuous hard training and practice *? r !a «t two years.—Yours faithfully, Lx. Herbert Tanswell. Via Castel Morrone 9, Milano, July 31.

Writing from London to the Australian Theatre, Decnna M’Lean. of the Dancing M Leans (here with the Fullers), gives the following news of artists known in Australasia:—Barry Lupino is at the Chiswick Lmpire tins week for Stoll. Likewise Billy ’Tack Waller is presenting the show Ln Casserole which ran at the Alhambra with George Robey in it for 16 weeks. Mr Robey shortly goes to the Hippodrome at a salary of £404 a week. Sam and Lou La alert are here from America and working for .Moss. Athos. the skater, arrived trom America two weeks ago. Billv Wells and the Eclair Twins are at the Alhambra. J ans this month; Armstrong and Howarth and Jack Dehno were at Shepherd's Bush Empire (Stoll s house) last week, and Lorna ‘ U . t T° O T S Pounds, wno have long been great favourites in London, are at the Paladmrn Pavlova will be going to Australia l° n !f. She is dancing at the Queen’s Gall to wonderful houses. The WilliamsonJait pantomime next year is to be “The Babes in the Wood.” Nora Delaney—she is a titled lady m private life—is to bo pnneipal boy. Comedians Zeaghtby and Gould also go out, and should prove a. great hit., provided their material has not been done there, which is often the case, and by English artists. whiuncton wind WHISPERS Br Peter Paw n or. . ~ „ September 23. Dear Pasqum, ’—Scott Colville arrived here tins week m the interests of Mi so ha Levitzky, the great pianist. Scott Colville predicts that the tour will equal that of Heifetz Ihe opening in Christchurch was splendid one. The accomplished young Russian gives his first recital here on .Saturday, and the booking foreshadows a big attendance. “Welcome Stranger.” with John D. O Hara and Jules Jordan in the bio- parts is set down to open at the Grand Opera House on Wednesday. Charles Berkeley is in advance, and promises us some! hin ”■ good in the new comedy. TT Tll oo Iir "!” Diggers opened at Fullers’ His Majesty s on Monday, and at once jumped into popular favour. A crowded house roared its approval. Huxham’s Serenades are in their last week, and then return to Sydney. Jennie Hartley is i:o be the big star next week. Allan \\ ilkie’s Shakespearean Company returned to Sydney on Monday. Mr Wilkie exuects to make a return visit next year. Edgeley and Dawe and their “Odds' and Ends” Company did the Marlborough district last week, anti now have gone furtlier south. 1 heir tour of (ho Dominion is drawing to a close, as the principals are due in Australia shortly to take up rehearsals for Christmas pantomime.