THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 72

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

By

Pasquin.

Mr George Wallace is. of course, the outstanding funmaker in the revue work at the Princess Theatre, but full credit must also be given to his assistants, Marshall Crosby, Les Daley, and Tom Lincoln. Marie Nyman, Ada Scadden, and Letty CTaydon supply tuneful numbers, and the daintily-f rocked ballet flit gaily on and off the stage. The opening performance of “ Rose Marie ” at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night proved a really brilliant* affair, nothing being omitted by the producers to ensure success. There -is an appealing love story running through this musical comedy; there are dramatic and humorous incidents. and the solos and concerted pieces are in every way pleasing. The record-breaking musical comedy is interpreted by a company of all-star artists, including such favourites as Frederick Bentley (Hard-boiled Herman), Reginald Dandy* (Jim Kenyon), Harriett Bennett (Rose Marie), Stephanie Deste (Wanda), Yvonne Banvard (Lady Jane), James Hughes' (Sergeant Malone), George Bryant (Black Eagle). Lou Vernon (Emile le Flamine), Noel Allan (Edward Hawley), and Doris Johnstone (Ethel Brander), and others. The concei t given by the Royal Dunedin Choir at His Majesty’s Theatre on Tuesday night before an audience that filled the building was most successful. The choir rendered an arrangement of Beethoven’s “ Creation’s Hymn ” in a particularly capable manner, and amongst its other contributions were “ Island Shieling Song—to Myrrha,” Reichardt’s “ Image of the Rose” (Mr Leslie Dailey, soloist), “ O Father Whose Almighty Power,” Jan Broeck’s “They Cannot Kill the Soul,” Hatton’s “ The Lark Now Leaves ” (soloist, Mr Alfred Walmsley). “The Old Folks at Home” (Mr J. A. Haggitt taking the solo), and the chorus from “Rienzi, a Roman War Song.” The soloists were Mr Herbert Prowse, Miss Irene Horniblow, and Mr E. R. Benton, and Miss Eva Judd was heard to advantage in her violin playing. Dr V. E. Galway conducted the choir and played the accompaniments for the soloists, his place at the piano being taken by Mr J. A. Haggitt while he was conducting.

The farewell concei t tendered Mr Alfred Walmsley at His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday night was an assured success with the names appearing on the printed programme. Leaving Mr Walmsley out altogether, such vocalists as Miss Mecla Paine. Mass Alolly A ickers. Miss M innie M'Peak, Mrs Charles Penman, Mr Ernest Drake, and others were amply sufficient to provide a good evening’s music; and. in addition, there were the Kaikorai Band and the Royal Male Choir. With such a cc.llection of talent only one result was possible. The concert was a great success from every point of view, and was. really a gathering■ of. friends, so far as the stage went, and of well-wishers in the shape ot a numerous audience.

The London papers received by the last mail give details of a notable pertoimance which was given at the Globe Theatre to mark the close of Anthony Prinsep’s 10 years’ management there. Mr Prihsep is bringing his complete company, headed by "the beautiful young Canadian star Margaret Bannerman, to appear under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management in Australia and New Zealand. The production was “ Sixes and. Sevens.” followed by a varied programme. The whole of the proceeds were given to charity, and those who took part in the performance, including Margaret Bannerman, were Sir Gerald du Maurier, Ernest Truex, Phyllis Monkman, Franklin Dyall, Ronald Squire, Leslie Henson, Leon Quarterinaine, Allan Aynesworth, -Maidie Hope, Fred Terry,. Laddie Cliff, Davy Burnaby, Joseph Coyne. Sonnie Hale.- Evelyn . Laye. Heather Thatcher, and Ivy Tresmand. Well-known identities of the London stage sold programmes and helped in other ways. Mr Prinsep’s conclusion of the lease of the Globe Theatre was brought about by his decision to discontinue London management during his absence in Australia with the Margaret Bannerman Company.

There are no fewer than 20 musical and dance numbers in “ Rose Marie,” the J. C. Williamson musical comedy. Mpst popular, of course, is “Rose Marie, I Love You” (Reginald Dandy), closely followed by “ Indian Love Call ” (Harriet Bennett and Reginald Dandy), “ Lak Joem ” (Harriet Bennett and chorus), “Totem Tom Tom” (Wanda and chorus), and “ Hard-Boiled Herman ” (Frederic Bentley). A great deal of interest has been aroused by the fact that the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, which opens its season in Melbourne on March 10 in “ Ruddigore ” (given for the first time there),, has achieved a unique record by completing a two years’ continuous tour of Australia and New Zealand. During this time it has travelled over 26,000 miles, visiting New Zealand twice, Brisbane twice, Sydney twice, Perth once, Adelaide four times, and Melbourne twice. New Zealand was covered thoroughly from the north to the south. The number of miles travelled durin - the two years’ continu-

ous tour constitutes something like a world’s record for a theatrical company. There are five of the Gonsalez brothers, who will be associated with Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr John Fuller in the season of Italian and French opera which will begin in Sydney soon. Miss Isobel has been given a part in “ Sauce for the Gander,” a farcical comedy by Mr Russell Medcraft and Miss Norina Mitchell, at the Lyric Theatre. As th e result of her success in “ The Garden of Eden ” Miss Wilford had five good engagements offered to her, one being with Mr Robert Loraine, who is now appearing in “ The Dance of Death, but Alessrs Clayton and Waller could not be prevailed upon to release her from her contract with -them. Bcter Par. ” still refuses to grow up. \v hen it was revived at the Gaiety Theatre, London, last month, the magic of Barrie proved as wonderful as when the piece was produced in ISO 4. Chiefly the revival was made important by the entrance cf a new Peter and a new Wendy. Jean Forbes Robertson was the new Peter. She was the eleventh of a line of Peters vvhich began with Nina Boucicault 23 years ago and in some respects she proved herself the best of all the Peters. She showed that elfin touch which others—with the single exception of Miss Loucicault—have missed. She put a feeling which almost drew tears into some of her scenes. And her charming smile was a thing to remember. The new Wendy was Mary Casson, the little daughter of Lewis Casson and his wife, Sybil Thorndike. This clever child of clever parents is not _ yet 14 years old, but she made Wendy a real little mother. Her elocution is good, and, unlike most child actresses, she has nothing of affectation. She was always perfectly natural. Miss Forbes Robertson toured New Zealand with her mother, Lady Forbes Robertson, some years ago. Miss Muriel Starr and her dramatic coni pany will tour New Zealand again this year. Renee Kelly and Hylton Allen, who were in New Zealand last year, are playing the sketch " Selfishness ’’ in English vaudeville theatres.

Wee Georgie \yood is appearing in the title role in the pantomime “ Humpty Dumpty ” at Liverpool, England.

After a run of only a week, the shortest is the history of the theatre, the comedy *’ The Cave Man ” was taken off .at the Savoy. The failure of the play came as a shock after it had been enthusiastically received on the opening night, and the disbandment of the company just before Christinas accentuates a tragic feature of West End theatre life that has been fairly common recently. The play had a splendid reception on the last night, but scarcely a member of the audience, which included Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught, knew that they were seeing the last nerformance. When the final curtain fell, Horace Hodges, who played the leading part, was in tears. Other short runs of recent weeks include: “ The Music Master,” which had 15 performances at the Apollo; Nocd Coward’s “Sirocco,” withdrawn from Daly’s after three weeks and three days ; and h’s “ Home Chat,” which finished in five weeks.

A “super cinema,” seating 6200 persons, on the lines of the Roxy Theatre in New York, is to be erected in the heart of London’s "West End within the next two years. It will cost about £1,500,000. Mr Archibald Selwyn, the New York theatrical magnate, and Mr C. B. Cochran, of London, are responsible for the scheme. Mr Selwyn said recently that a site had been bought and plans and specifications prepared. Mr Cochran is to be managing director. Marie Eaton is playing in “ The Trial of Mary Dugan” in Sydney. Mr Walter Fuller, who lias been Fullers’ representative in London for some time, leaves for New Zealand in April. He will probably again live in Wellington. In Australia and New Zealand Allen Doone, the Irish-American actor, played comedy-drama with the scenes set in Ireland of the late eighteenth or nineteenth century. They were picturesquely romantic productions, all about sweet coileens and heroic young lovers, with obstinate parents forbidding marriage, but relenting in the last act. It was in such plays that Mr Doone had his chief successes, always with a few songs which he knew well how to “ put over/’ and with plenty of light pleasant humour. In the last few years he has been in the United States. Writing recently to a friend in Melbourne. Mr Doone said he hoped to revisit Australia in the near future to stage “ Arizona ” and “ Pals First.” Miss Edna Keeley is still leading lady with the company.

An addition to Fullers’ Follies, now appearing at the New Opera House, Christchurch, is Nat Hanley. It is announced by Mr Bert Royle, New Zealand manager for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., that Maurice Moscovitch will tour New Zealand shortly with “ The Ringer ” and “ The Terror,” the two thrilling Edgar Wallace mystery dramas. The company will leave Sydney at the end of March, opening in Auckland on April 4. It was as a droll and a dancer in the days of the old music-halls that Little Tich, tiny in stature, established his name —a name which had been conferred upon him instead of Relph. The comedian died in England about a week ago (says a Melbourne paper.). The years that had passed since his professioncj beginning as a child in London are suggested by the fact that the name was adapted from the Tichborne case in a time when people still asked each other whether Arthur Orton, the claimant, was or was not Sir Roger Tichborne. Tich’s Cockney humour was popular in Australia in the early days of this century, when he danced quaintly , in his long-toed boots. Returning a few years ago, he found that a section in his audience knew him not, eyqn by repute, and that imitators had made his quips stale. Hoodlums were un-

kind, and the little man left protesting, though with dignity. Of the music-hall, coniedy ot his earlier time he was an interesting survival. arran & c d programme was selected lor Wednesday evening’s concert by i.ho Dunedin I hilharmcnic Society, and no one could tail to appreciate th o many beautiful pieces of music performed by the society’s orchestra under the direction of its conductor, Signor Squarise. The playing was well up to the standard reached _ by the orchestra in recent years; in fact, in some instances it went beyond that. The orchestra played tho Silvia” march, by Vlach, “Verdi’s ' Nabucodqnosor,” Marsden’s “ From a Russian A illage,” Massenet’s “ Thais,” a symphony in C minor by Signor Squarise, In a Monastery’ Garden,” and a Japanese dance, “Kc Sa-Ko,” by Chapuis. Tho vocalists were Miss Eva Scott and Signor Giovanni Stella, whose singing added considerably to the pleasure of the evening. Miss Scott’s first song was Goring ahomas’s “ The Willow Song,” which was nicely rendered, her recall item being lhe Land of the Sky Blue Water.” Her second contribution was Arne’s “ The Lass With the Delicate Air.” Miss Scott put a good deal of clever work into this quaint little song of the far away days, and on being recalled sang “ The Dove.” Sitrnor Stella made an excellent impression upon his aaidience with his singing of “ La Partida, ’ by Alvarez, and being called upon to add another song gave “ Spring Time.” Later in the evening he was again recalled for his rendering of Tosti’s “ Ideale,” and added “La Palonia.” The orchestra was conducted by Signor Squarise, Miss M. Gawne playing Miss Scott’s accompaniments and Madame Martinelli-Reggiardo Signor Stella's.