THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 56

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

By

Pasquin.

Monday, May 19. For some time past Dunedin theatregoers have been looking forward with pleasurable anticipation to the return of the popular comedian, Mr George \\ allace, and he is sure of a hearty welcome back to the Princes Theatre to-night. lue company has been considerably strengthened since its last appearance here, ana although some old favourites, notably Marshall Crosby, are still in the cast, new faces will be those of Marie Nyman, leading lady; Sadie Tilburn, soubrette; and Charles Lawrence, whilst many improving alterations have been made to the cast of the ballet. Several musical numbers of Mr Wallace’s own composition are included in the playlet. The vaudeville section of the bill is particularly strong, and includes a new act in Marjorie Alwyn and Harry Penn, contralto and tenor respectively. Miss Lillian and Girls will say au revoir to-niglit, likewise Slavan and Thompson. The two remaining acts are Signor Alberti and the Gay Gilberts. Mr Barrie Marsehel, who is well known in Dunedin, and who has been managing the Theatre Royal at Hamilton for the past five years, is leaving the district to have a holiday trip, and proposes to visit Stewart Island. Mr Marsehel was given a great send-off at the theatre, the crowded house singing “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” and giving hearty cheers in his honour. The Waikato Times concludes a lengthy article on the send-off thusly:— “Popular Barrie Marsehel will leave Hamilton with the esteem and good wishes of the whole community.” At the London Palladium Violet Loraine (Mrs Edward Joicey) received a wonderful reception on her reappearance after a three years’ absence. Mr Harold Bowden is again on duty in Sydney as assistant general manager for Williamson-Tait, Ltd., after a very severe illness. Advices from Sydney state that Irene Vanbrugh and Dion Bouciea'ult, with their company, will sail for New Zealand this month. The company will make a return visit to Melbourne. It will interest all the admirers of Mr Gerald Griffin, who is so well-known in theatrical and musical circles, to hear that, largely on the advice of Mr Plunket Greene, he is about to make his debut in grand opera (writes a Home correspondent). \\ ith the British National Opera Company, Mr Griffin will make his first appearance as Oarmo, in “Pagliacci.” Mr Plunket Greene is very enthusiastic about the beautiful quality of Mr Griffin’s tenor voice and he entertains no doubt as to his success in grand opera. I lie dramatic experience which he already has will, of course be very valuable to him. Since he was in New' Zealand in 1920 he has been chiefly in America doing Irish plays and musical comedy. He hopes next year to make a concert tour in New Zealand and Australia. The popular Cherniavsky Trio will appear in Auckland about the beginning* of September. ° Maggie Moore, who next August will have had 50 years of stage life, is said to be writing her reminiscences. Bernard Shaw’s Joan of Arc. as seen in a New York production of “ Saint Joan ” is described by one critic as a “ superflapper a port hoyden, who skips about and calls the Dauphin Charley and Dunoia Jack. In an epilogue a visionary Joan wishes to return to life in 1920, but she Imds that she is not wanted. Benjamin Fuller continues to en° r affe a number of useful vaudeville artists 0 for Ins company’s theatres in Australia and New Zealand, and he estimates that between now and the end of the year he will have sent out 50 new acts (writes our Home correspondent). Among the artists who have just set out for Australia, or are on the point of sailing, are Jack Mills (comedian), Jess and Tony (comedians) Megan Brothers (eccentrics), Callard and Hooper (vocalists), Frank Wilson (musician), Howard and Wyndham (song and dance)’ and Fiery Jackson, whose burlesque juggling, .Sir Benjamin says, sets one chuckling- long after his act has been witnessed. Sir Benjamin and his family are spending the month of May on the Continent, and they will visit Rome, Monte Carlo, and Paris. Great interest appears to have been taken by South Africans in the scheme for extending the Fuller circuit to that country. Sir Benjamin intends to leave England in August, and to spend a month in South Africa on his way to Australia, The Jim Gerald Company is to commence a season at Fuller’s Opera House, Auckland, to-night (Monday). ' This combination has had an extraordinarily successful season in Australia, and is now concluding its second year on the Fuller’s Australian circuit. The company includes several artistes who -appeared in New Zealand before—Miss Polly M'Laren (the Dunedin dancer), Miss Essie Jennings, Mr Howard Hall, Mr Reg. Hawthorn, and also the well-established favourite, Jiin Gerald. The company comes to New Zealand equipped with 20 pieces. The expense incurred In the transport and travelling costs of a large theatrical enterprise is "heavy, but exactly how heavy few people know. A good example is

piosided by the expe ises incurred by the J C. Williamson Comic Opera Company responsible for the production of ” tjaily At the conclusion ot the Dominion tour at Invercargill the entire company, along with scenery and effects, will go to Brisbane, a distance of 2630 miles at a cost of LldaO. It is stated tnat this is one ot the longest journeys made by a theatrical company in any part of the world. The late Lionel Monckton, composer and journalist, left £79,517. lue bequests include £l-3,050 to his widow (Miss Gertie Millar), and £IOOO ro the Royal Academy of Music to found a Monckton scholarship. At the 18th annual band festival at the Crystal Palace, by den hum (London), 145 bands from all parts of England and Wales were in the lists. The Thousand Guineas Challenge Trophy was awarded to the Luton Hed Cross Band. “Our Miss Gibbs, ' recently produced at the 1 heat re Royal by the Christchurch Amateur Operatic Society, has been a financial success, the net profits amounting to £3O. The credit balance was, roughly, £l2O, £9O of which was needed to wipe out the debt contracted last year through tile production of “ The Toreador.” Mr G. L. Donaldson is naturally pleased with the success of the show, and attributes its popularity to the strength of the principals. It has been found that Grand National Week is not good from a showman’s point of view, whereas Carnival Week is entirely different. The society in future does not intend to produce "any opera during Grand National Week. Eily Maly on, through here with “ The Beggar’s Opera,” ha.s been in a private hospital in Sydney ever since her rirurn from New Zealand, but is now- sufficiLitly recuperated to convalesce in the Blue .Mountains. Mr George Highland, J. C. Williamson's producer, at present visiting London, has required the rights of ” bo This Is London ” and “Madame Pompadour” (the latest success at Daly’s Theatre). At the end of last month Melbourne opera-lovers had the long-awaited opportunity of hearing Dame Nellie Melba in her great role of Marguerita in “Faust.” The title role was filled by Dino Borgioli. “Faust,” above all operas, can lay claim to worldwide popularity. Dame Nellie Melba, who has frequently sung the role of Marguerita at Co vent Garden (London), the Metropolitan Opera (New York), and at the Grand Opera (Paris), has always been immensely successful in this opera, and her singing of Marguerita is the standard by which other artists to-day aro judged. This is but natural, seeing that Gounod himself considered that Melba’s performance as Marguerita was the acme of perfection. Fullers have been running vaudeville in New Zealand for 25 years (writes “To Pana” in Smith’s Weekly). They kicked off at the Alhambra Theatre, Dunedin although prior to that time the family had travelled a miorama, which was a glorified name for magic lantern. The late John Fuller sang old English ballads with the show, Ben was advance agent and general utility man; and John, jum, operated the machine which screened pictures under the title “Through Ireland in a Jaunting Car,” and while the mechanism cooled off filled in with a comic song or two. Daughters Hettie and Lydia, now settled in New Zealand, raised their voices in popular songs of the times. The advent ot the show in a town was announced per medium of a greyhound, which trotted the streets bearing the legend on its cover, “Fuller’s Miorama To-night.” Fred Bluett, graduating from amateur ranks, was programmed w'ith the first Fuller vaudevillians in Dunedin. On odd occasions he still does a turn with the old firm. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks have arrived in London. They will spend a month in England, chiefly in the country. They will then visit Russia, Siberia, and China. Lord and Lady Louis Mountbatten are entertaining the two stars during their stay in England. It is related that an unsophisticated visitor to a picture theatre bought some flowers and waited to present them to Marv Pickford after the performance. This is recalled by a note I (“First Nighter” in Melbourne Argus) have received from my colleague “Cinema.” “Not content with exacting the payment of income tax from all theatrical artists visiting Australia,” he says, “the authorities have lately turned their attention to artists appearing in moving pictures. In a British picture recently exhibited at the Majestic Theatre the leading part was taken by Mr G. H. Mulcaster, of ‘ Bulldog Drummond ’ note. Immediately following the appearance of an advertisement to this effect a letter was received by the management from the Income Tax Office asking for the amount of weekly salary paid to Mr Mulcaster and I for the length of his engagement at the | Majestic! As Mr Mulcaster is about to appear in another British picture, ’ Mist in j the Valley,’ -a similar communication would again bear testimony to the vigilance of the department.” Such vigilance is not confined to Australia. When “The Baggar’s Opera” was running in London, the income tax authorities wrote to the management asking for the addres of Mr John Gav ! Cyril Ritchard, who for some years has been one of the most popular members of J. C. Williamson musical comedy companies, will sail by the Sonoma on June 4, for America, en route to England. “For over six years,” explained Mr Ritchard, "I have been appearing in musical comedy without a break, so my forthcoming trip will be characterised by all the joys and delights of a holiday, apart from my desire to seek fame and fortune on the other side. I am going via America, so as to be able to have a look around at. the shows in New York prior to crossing to London.” “SALLY.” So far as “Sally” is concerned, Dunedin play-goers evidently decided to abandon the “wait and see 1 ' policy and to accept in advance all the good things that have been said of the play elsewhere. “Sally” is a delightful musical comedy being introduced by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) with their new Musical Comedy Company. Its Dunedin season opened in His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday evening to a crowded audience, and at the close of a three hours’ riot of colour and music and laughter there was every indication that the high expectations aroused had not been in any wav disappointed. As one would expect, the most important part in the cast- is that of Sally. It is admirably filled by Miss Josie Melville, who possesses in remarkable degree the exacting qualifications required. Her beauty is of an unusual and strongly individual type. She is gifted with perhaps the best singing voice in the whole company, and speaks with admirable clear-

ness. She is petite and vivacious, and is a graceful jnistiess or the art of dancing. Hey whole performance was a thoroughly satisfying one, as the audience emphatically recognised. As the Grand Duke Constantine Mr Dan Agar is simply irresistible. Mr George Gee, as Otis Hooper, a theatrical agent of the swift and breezy, strongly American type, was not less amusing in his own particular way. The part of Blair xm-quhar, the Prince Charming who takes bally instantly to his heart and loves her even as the inn dish-washer, is very satisfactorily taken bv Noel Allen. Among other parts, which though smaller, are by fi° means insignificant, are those of Sherni? l **!n** le proprietor of the Alley Inn, and Mrs len Brock. These are filled by Charles Howard and Pixie Herbert in effective and convincing manner. The music of the orchestra is under the direction of Mr Cass Downing. NEW PLAYS FOR AUSTRALIA. Details of n§w plays which will be produced in Australia by J. C. Williamson (Ltd.) were given by Mr G. A. Highland a producer for the firm, who returned to Sydney by R.M.S. Orvieto, after a short visit to England and the United States. Mr Highland spent five weeks in New York, and he states that during that time he saw more than 60 plays. Many of them, he said, were excellent, but were essentially American, and would not be appreciated or unelerstood in other countries. The objects of bis visit were to look for negotiable plays and to witness two productions, W ildflower, a light opera, and A Seventh Heaven, a drama, both of which " fit’, 0 , bought some months ago by Mr E. u’ • r,r production in Australia, each being ,in its eighteenth month in New York. W hile in America Mr Highland met the ”• b- .Yv iiliamson’s English representative, Captain 1. Malone, who had obtained several plays for Australia, including Stepping Stones, The Green Goddess, The bwan. The Show-Off, Meet the Wife, Madame Pompadour and Hassan. Mr Highland also met Mr J. D. O’Hara, who recently visited Australia and who intends returning to produce Kempy and other plays. Discussing tho growth of the motion picture industry and the increasing popularity of the films, Mr Highland referred to the picture, The Covered Waggon (already screened in Australia), which was in fifty-fourth week at the Criterion I heatro in New York, although the prices were three and four dollars a seat. The piioe of admission to musical plays was ” nearly nine dollars (approximately •J. ii In Amerlea and Canada it was intended to reduce the amusement tax, and fit England it w r ould bo further reduced In America amusement tax had been taken from all puces of admission up to 25 cents (Is.), and on higher prices it was only 10 per cent. WELLINGTON WING WHISPERS. fßy Peteb Pan.l T , . r. ~ May 16. , R ea , r r Pasqum, —By this week’s Sydney boat Mr E. E. Bonner arrived to make tho recessary preparations .for tho coming of fu J a U ’ tW lUlamson P ant °- “Aladdin,” wuth Ada Reeve as principal boy. This panto, has been a great success in Australia, and it is being brought here in its entirety. Hector St. Clair and George Payne are the principal comedians. Tne tig show opens next Wednesday night in the Grand Opera House. A passenger by the Maunganui, from Frisco, was Max Malini, the diminutive card conjuror—oue of the best that has appeared in the Dominion. It is six vear3 since Malini toured the Dominion; he has been touring America in the interval He intends touring New Zealand and Australia, but has rot made definite arrangements as to Ins starting point. Fred. M’Crea, entrepeneur, and his three musical celebrities—Lenghi-Cellini (tenor), Zacharevzilsch (violin), and Pietro Cimara (pianist) arrived by the Marama, and were received by the Mayor yesterday. L bey come with big reputations, and will verify lliem at the Town Hal! to-morrow night. Mr M CTca announces that he has finalised arrangements for a tour of Australia and New Zealand by the great Kreisler, the wor'd-famous violinist. This g/eat artist is to make his bow to a Sydney audience on May 9. next year. Barrie Marsehel, so well known in Dun (din, passed through this city this week, en route for Stewart Island, where he pupcsea to spend a month on holiday. For the past five years the genial Barrie has been manager of the Theatre Royal in Hamilton, but ill-health compelled him to relinquish the position. He was given a great farewell bv the people of Hamilton. Our two vaudeville houses—His Majesty's and The Tivoli—are doing excellent business Rasponi, the Italian baritone, is tho great draw at the latter house. There is talk about another new theatre —this one to be in Manners street, on an excellent site.