THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3672, 29 July 1924, Page 56

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.

Br

Pasquin

Monday, July 28. The new programme at the Princess Theatre to-night introduces five new acts and retains that clever English comedian Mr Bert Coote. An act of merit, sure of the warmest of welcomes, is that of Dinks and r ll-ixie. “Dinks” Patterson was a comedy partner of George Wallace. Another English act making debut is Marcus and D’Arma, a musical act. Other attractions will be Waiter Vernon, ventriloquist; the Dainty Dudleys, musical comedy and vaudeville novelties; and Phil Bransby, whose Cockney impersonations have won him a reputation. Maud Courtney and Mr “C.,” Reno’s Marimbaphone Band, Charles Lewis, and Fred Webber complete the roster. Mr Guy Hastings, who plays leads with the Nellie Bramley Company, came out to Australia in 1912 under engagement to Bert Bailey. “I thought 1 was staying six months,” i aid Mr Hastings, “but it’s extended to 12 years.” “Popular prices and first-class artists in I first-class plays—these are the ruling features of Mr William Russell’s organisation, the Nellie Bramley Company, and this is why he can do it. Transport,” he says, “is the biggest hurdle companies have to contend with to-day, and big prices have to be charged to overcome this fact. My policy is to remain several weeks in each centre (where dates allow), and thus avoid the heavy transport charges, letting the theatregoing public get the benefit.” After tho Wellington season the company will go to Christchurch. The brilliant “Garden of Allah” has aroused such a taste for Eastern drama at the King’s, Melbourne, that there is considerable public interest in the forthcoming production of “East of Suez/” which is to bo staged at the same theatre. This drama, which is highly spectacular and contains , scenes of absorbing emotional interest, is from the pen of Somerset Maughan, who is probably the most prolific dramatist that England has produced, lie is best remembered here for the comedies “Lady Frederick,” “Penelope,” and “Mrs Dot,” and is the author of the ' curious novel “The Moon and Sixpence.” Despite his literary responsibilities, he has a considerable practice as a doctor. He served in the war as a surgeon, and is an M.R.C.S. and L.R.O.P. A critic in the Chicago Evening American has this to say of Misczyslaw Munz, the young Polish pianist: “I do not think I exaggerate when I hail him a future star of the musical heaven, for he is already well on the way to Parnassus. His Bach is monumental. . . . The Chopin preludes were a perfect recital in themselves, a book of poems signed Chopin-Munz.” The taking over of the Tivoli circuit of vaudeville theatres by J. C. Williamson Ltd. makes that firm one of the biggest theatrical organisations in the world. Tlife number of theatres now directly controlled by J. C. Williamson Ltd. in Australia and New Zealand totals 15. The cast of the J. C. Williamson production of “Good Morning, Dearie,” in Sydney includes, in addition to Josie Melville, the following:—Dan C. Agar, Rosemary Rees, Thelma Burness, Pixie Herbert, Charles Howard, Jack Dunn, George Yollaire, George Crotty, Percy Le Fre, Doran and Rivkin (specialty dancers), the 16 Australian Sunshine Girls, and Linn Smith's Jazz Band. Miss Jessica Harcourt, formerly a programme girl in one of the J. C-. Williamson theatres in Sydney, has leapt into fame in Melbourne as “Australia’s most beautiful girl.” Miss Harcourt was discovered by a member of the firm selling programmes, and he immediately engaged iter as a member of the Musical Comedv Company. She was brought to Melbourne to appear in “Whirled into Happiness.” Miss ilareourt’s picture is now being painted bv the famous artist John Eongstaff, and the newspapers ar» featuring reproductions of her photographs. Emilia Polini, who was recently in Chicago, stated that she expected to return shortly to Australia with some new plavs. The oldest touring company in the world at present is the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Originally starting in 1863 ( hey have toured every clime, have sung before audiences composed of the leading representatives of the nations of the world. It is estimated that the favourite, “ Steal Away,” has been sung by them 16,000 times. A cablegram from Paris to the American papers, under date .June 15, states that at. the Grand Guignol. the famous theatre of horrors, was produced an unexpected thrill when Jean Max, one of the actors plaving the nart of Rasputin, the Monk, in choking the Princess Ossivnna. which was being plaved bv hTaia Flonan, strangled the actress and left her unconscious on tho stage. Physicians were called, and Maia Florian is recovering. Max explained that ho lost himself in the role. TTo was arrested. Theatregoers who have laughed over Fired McDonald's clever creation of “Dave” in “On Our Selection” will be

glad to know Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller have engaged this comedian for a tour of their circuit. Mr M’Donald has played tho part over 1500 times. Mr M'Donald for over two years was associated with Mr Allan Wilkie in his productions, playing every kind of role from low comedy parts to Macduff in “ Macbeth.” New artists joining the Nellie Bramley Company are Isobe-1 Wilford, Carl Lawson, and Beryl Rarclo-ugh. The latter have been from Hugh J. Ward’s production of “ Rain ” to augment Mr William Russell’s organisation. Paderewski has completed his second tour of the United States since returning to the concert platform after his several years given to Polish politics, and is now in Europe with engagements in Belgium and France. Fraser Gauge, the baritone who was here some years ago with his wife Amy Evans, lias been singing in Canada and the States, and apparently receiving a fine reception and excellent press notices. Recently Fraser Gange and Amy Evans gave a concert in New York for the benefit of the Hebrides Relief Fund, when a jar go sum was realised. The folk on the Hebridean Islands are in great distress from poverty, hence the fund. Mr Percy Grainger, the famous Australian composer and pianist, is at present in Australia, Mr Grainger, who has been away from his nativo land for about 15 years, and is now a naturalised American, will not appear in public during bis present visit. He is in Australia purely on private business, and is due back in America in October, when he will tour with the Minneapolis Orchestra, under Henri Verbruggheen. A complimentary luncheon was given at Melbourne Town Hall to Mr Oscar Asche, who is leaving for England shortly, when amongst the speakers who expressed feelings of admiration and goodwill were the (Speaker, the Minister of Defence (Mr Bowden), Senator Guthrie, Dr Maloney, and Mr Hurrey, of the Federal Parliament. The Speaker struck the keynote of the occasion in expressing their admiration for Mr Asehe as a great actor, a great producer, and a great Australian. Both Senator Guthrie and Mr Hurrey, M.H.R., were schoolmates of Mr Ascho. In reply to tho toast of his health, Mr Asche said that ho hoped to be able to come back before long and offer works which at present were not seen at their best in Australia. Referring to the recent grand opera season, Mr Asche said that J. C. Williamson Ltd., had gone about it in a splendid, fearless way, without guarantee or anything like that, and the result was a record of which the firm and the public could be proud. Associated with them was Dame Nellie Melba, who had been the greatest advertisement which Australia had ever had throughout the world. Dr E. Harold Davies, director of the Eder Conseivatorium, Adelaide, in a recent speech in Sydney, dwelt on ‘‘The Dignity of Music.” He said there was still a lurking tendency to regard the musician as more or less of a vagabond, his sole vocation to tickle the ears of a thoughtless crowd with a strolling minstrel song, or a fiddler’s tune, his sole reward, whatever’dole a heedless charity might bestow of “kicks or halfpence.” He admitted another side —there were “stars” in the musical firmament who received disproportionate rewards; and there were social fashions which did not discriminate as to merit. But the rank and file of earnest musicians remained, for the most part a struggling and poorly-paid fraternity. The movement for a testimonial to Miss Maggie Moore recalls an old Melbourne cabman who was exceedingly proud of the fact that he always drove Miss Moore about ‘he citv. Meeting her on one occasion, he remarked, “Shoore. I dhruv wan o’ the ; n-o-o«t brewers from Brisbane to hear you last night, and you never sung it at all. He heard you sing it tin years gone, an’ the disaointed man, he was, not healin’ it agin.” “What song did he wish to hear?” the actress asked. “Whv the ‘Wearin’ of the Green,’ to be sure —heard you sing it he did. tin year ago.” Miss Moore was at that time playing Katisha in “The ’“’Wado.” Mr Frederick Hamilton Stoneham, professionally known as Fred I eslie. died at Burwood. Sydney, on June 26. He was "ne of the Leslie brothers who enjoyed considerable popularity among theatregoers on ♦heir appearance as musical continues at ♦he U'ivoli in Sydney, during the early days of Hnrrtr Rickards He was born at Geelong (Vied in 1559. and at an early age became enamoured of the stage, soon coming into favour as an eccentric comedian and musical artist. He appeared under engagement at the principal music halls for -a long period, during which his brother Reginald achieved good success a s a song writer, and two other brothers were leadin'--cornet players and flautists. His father. Wili;, am Stoneham, was the founder in Sydney 50 years ago. of a brass band that was adjudged one of the best organisations of its kind in Australia. In 1921. Mr Leslie returned to Sydney with his brother, his wife, and their families, after an absence of 23 years, in which time he had visited abroad. He leaves three sons and two daughters. Two of the sons —-Noritian flieutenantl. and Leo (corporal)—served in the war. enlisting in England in August. 1914. Both joined the 4th Dr» <roon Guards, and served al«o with the Ist Dorsets. the former son serving also with the 6th Royal Munster. 6th East Surrey, and the Queen’s Westminster Rifles. I,»a and the third brother {Fred), are in England, and Norman is teaching at Burwood (Sydney), and residing there with his mother. There are ‘wo daughters!, one of whom (Mrs Bottomley), is a well-known teacher of dancing.