“THE TALKIES.”

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1929, Page 26 (Supplement)

“THE TALKIES.”

THEATRICAL MEN PUZZLED. FUTURE A MYSTERY.' ’ j An outline of present theatre' activi; ties was given by Mr. John Tait, one of the directors of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and J. and N. Tait, who has been visiting New Zealand, in an interview. Mr. Tait said that it was rather a puzzling time in tho theatrical business, due mainly to the introduction of the “talkies.” However, that condition was not peculiar to New Zealand and Australia. No one knew what -■ outcome would be, but meanwhile those pictures were claiming attention and most certainly had an effect on other depart- . ments of theatrical enterprise. His own opinion of tho talkies was, as in the case of other shows, that unless they are good they would fail to attract audiences. Picture patrons were very sensitive, and were' quick to judge a picture, and the management had to stand or fall by that decision His companies were interested in those pictures, and on the whole had so far done well. However the future was a mystery. Speaking of grand opera and the introduction of individual artists to New Zealand, Mr. Tait said New Zealand was out of the question as a touring ground for grand opera, unless it was done in a very cheap way, the lack of population in the Dominion making such tours unsuccessful ' financially. Indeed, in his opinion, Australia could only stand grand opera about c..ce every six years, and then it was a big gamble, As Tor the further importation of world stars for the concert platform. in which form of enterprise Messrs J. and N. Tait were pre-eminent, the visitor said that he was’very much afraid that this was now a very risky business. There had been several very good artists in Australia recently, but- none of them had scored a big success in the sense that was the case from ton to twenty years ago. The only one he thought likely to tour next year was Kubelik, the violinist, who was being sponsored by Mr. Leo Chefniavski, one of the famous trio. It was a long time since Kubelik was here, and it would be interesting to see if he entertained the public as he had done twenty years ago. In Australia the firm had lost the Tivoli Vaudeville, Theatre, Sydney, which had been condemned and had since been sold by its owner, Mr. Hugh D. Mclntosh. This rather upset the vaudeville business for the time being. It was possible that the Melbourne Tivoli might be wired for talkies. New Zealand residents would be pleased to learn that the famous w<y play, “Journey’s End,” which had been, so. successful-in America, England, and Melbourne, would be played in New Zea-, land before it was .played in Sydney. The reason for that was the production “Lombari, Ltd.,” which was headed by Leo Garillo, was proving a big hit with Sydney theatre-goers. He expected that “Journey’s End,” in which no woiiien appeared, would bo in New Zealand next month. The chief Christmas attraction, for New Zealand, as far as could be determined, was the musical comedy company headed by Mr. Alfred Frith, playing “The Five O’Clock Girl,” which 'Was a very bright,..amusing comedy. - The company was now in Sydney and had staged “Hold Everything,” a new musical comedy from America with a boxing interest. Probably the company would appear at Auckland, and then work through the islands. The next comic opera, for it was more than a mere musical comedy, would be “New Moon;” which would be presented by “The Desert Song” Company on its return to Australia. So far the piece was not in rehearsal, birt they were already preparing tho lay-out on the other side. If it proved to be as successful as “The Desert Song” they would bo more than satisfied. Then the firm had “Mr. Cinders” coming along at-the end of the year. That musical comedy

had been a pronounced success in London (where it was produced by the Williamson management), so much so “that it. suffered nothing on being transferred from the Adelphi Theatre (London) to the Hippodrome, .where it was still running. There were also two companies out in the provinces playing “Mr. Cinders.” There was a great part in the play for Mr. Gus Bluett, who continued in favour in Australia. Mr. Tait mentioned Leon Gordon, who appeared in New Zealand in “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” and “White Cargo.” He said that Gordon had made a big hit in Australia in a revival of “Brewster’s Millions.” He had also played in two of Edgar Wallace’s thrillers, and would probably be in New Zealand about Christmas time. The “Show Boat,” an exceedingly expensive production, was proving very popular with Australia, but it was improbable that the company would come to the Dominion.