In the Theatres

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 13

In the Theatres

Frank Cochrane, recalled in New Zealand as tho cobliler in “Chu Chin Chow." has produced the fantastic opera of ‘•'The Ladder,” at Laly’s Theatre. London theatregoers will Lave luriher opportunities to learn the American language (says an exchaifge). It was announced that lb additional plays, will he imported from America. thi ; autumn Two fine Straus waltzes, “Blue Danube’’ and “Tales of the Vienna Woods’’ arc played by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra under Leopold Stokowski. There is nothing finer for sheer magic of rhythm and gay colour than a Strauss waltz. The beautiful “Blue Danube’’ and the not so well known but really delightful “Tales of the Vienna ’Woods” waltzes arc played by one of the most famous orchestras in America. Margaret Lawrence —most illustrious of Now York comedy stats: “The Road to Rome,” a comedy set in a period 8.C., and written by a personage—Sherwood, editor of New York “Life!” And the return of the great, lover, Louis Beunison! J. C. Williamson, Ltd., scheduled the three events for one night, at the Criterion, Sydney. “The Road to Rome” lias no sectarian issue. It hinges on the query who warrior Hannibal, with Rome in his grasp, turned back. The reason is a woman, which nniv be dramatic license. Then, again, it may be history. The recent death of Lady Lauder brings back to memory the patrioticwork of her husband, Sir Harry AlaeLennun Lauder, variety actor and world-known entertainer, who delighted tho Empire's soldiers during the Great War, even to going into the trenches to sing ids iiuimt.ihte songs. .With tho death of his wile, Sir Harry is left entirely alone m the woiTd, ior liis only son was killed in action in 1918. n happening irorn winch Lady Lauder never ready recovered. Hie great Scots comedian seems to have been with us lor such a great number of years that it is hard to realise that he is now oniy 57 years old. Born at Portobello iu 1870,Sir Harry was first a mill-boy in a tiaxmili at Arbioath, then a coalminer, and final.’y he took to the variety stage, where ho soon became a great favourite on account of liis Scotch songs, most of which were written and composed by himself on folksong iemulations ami were always sung m character. During Ills career he earned enormous ices, and lias amassed a largo foriune. Sir Harry iound that ho cannot sing nor play his part to perfection without a visible audience, hence Ins attempts at radio-broadcast-ing have been dropped except for an occasional performance, usually on benefit lines for somo deserving cause or other. He found that the silent room was all right for the musician, but lor tho comedian nothing was better than the roaring, auditorium. Ho likes to seo how Ins joko3 “go over, ’ to know that ho is reaching tho hearts of his hearers. He feels encouraged at tlio shouts which greet tho twist of his hand, tho shako of liis . Load, . tho waggle of is kilt, and tlie lifeless microphone he Ims iound but a poor substitute for tho rows of happy faces ho delights to see across the footlights.

A New Zealander who witnessed tho performance of the weird coined}drama, "The Gliast Train,” at Sydney recently, writes": "This is a tr.uly 11 -' markable play, and possesses a peculiar fascination. I have witnessed many performances on flie stage, both in Australia and New Zealand; some have been good, some indifferent, and some bad, bin I have never yet sat out a play that, gave mo such unalloyed pleasure as did the thrilling (and amusing) comedy ‘The Ghost Train,now playing to packed houses at the Criterion it is one of the most cleverlyconstructed comedies it has been my good fortune to see. The maimer in which it is staged (under an experienced London producer, Mr Hugh E. Wright, who also plays the part of the mysterious stationmaster) leaves nothing to cavil at, and the ladies and gentlemen constituting the cast form about iho best dramatic organisation 1 have seen for many a. long year. Four members of the company made a direct appeal to me —Miss Betty' Ross-Clarke, Miss Laura Smithson, Mr Hugh W right and Mr Basil Radford. Miss RossClarko as tho “mad woman” thrilled mo through and through, as did Mr Wright as the stationmaster, while Miss Smithson as the middle-aged spinster with the parrot, and Mr Basil Radford as a “silly ass” who surprises everybody with a remarkable change of character, prove themselves finished artists. Tho most, wonderful incident in the play' is the passing of the ghost train. How it is done only those responsible for this splendid work know. But it is about the uncanniest and cleverest piece of -stage mechanism I have ever witnessed, and affects all audiences alike. As I have said, there is a strange fascination in the p’ay, and the startling denouement is as unique as it is unexpected.”

The famous soprano, Frances Alda, who is at present touring Australia, will arrive in Wellington early in October, and will give six concerts in the Dominion, two each in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch. It may be doubted if any living singer enjoyed so rapid a rise to fame as did Madame Alda. Within a year after leaving Australia to study under Marehesi in Paris she made a brilliant debut at the Opera Comique in the title role of Massenet’s opera “Manon,” being specially coached in the part by the great composer himself. A few months later she. created the part of Louise in Charpentier’s opera at La Scale. Opera House in Milan, where she also sang in Bolto's “Meflstofele,” with Chaliapin. Her one appearance at Covent Garden was as Marguerite in “Faust.” Alda’s success was so great that, it is stated, certain jealousies were aroused, and the young singer was given ho further opportunity of singing in London that year, being paid her full salary for the season. Crossing to America, she became almost overnight a prime favourite with the critical audiences of the New York Metropolitan Opera House, a position which she haß retained ever since. She has sung in more than 40 operas at the famous Opera House, whose ■director (Signor Gatti Casazza) is . now her husband. From Australian reports it would appear that Alda is at least as great on the concert platform as she has proved herself dn the operatic stase.

| Producers of Shakespeare's plays ; may have to pay 10 per cent, royalties if the plan proposed by Frank Lea Short, founder of the Shakespeare Foundation, is adopted, by the organisation (says an American paper). Short suggests that professional and amateur producers of Shakespeare’s plays alike pay the royalty and the proceeds lie applied to the rebuilding of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre at Stratford-on-Avon. Mr Charles Laughton, who became famous overnight in “The Happy Husband,” London, has only been on the stage since April of last year. In the previous month lie won the Gold Medal at the Royal. Academy of Dramatic Art. Although ho plays the part of a middle-aged American at the Criterion, lie is a young Englishman in tho early ivrii'ies,. and he has never been to America. The pkiy will be included in ihe repertoire of Miss Irene Vanbrugh and Mr Dixon Boucicault for i heir forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand. Under contract to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., Miss Zillah Carter, a young English actress, reached Melbourne on August 8. Miss Carter lias been playing with Miss Sybil Thorndike’s company. In 1923 she won the London County Council's scholarship tor dramatic art, and studied at the Academy of Dramatic Art until she was invited to join Miss Thorndike’s company. A portrait of Miss Carter, painted'by Mr C. IV. R. Nevinson. was purchased by the King of Italy. Her father is Mr Hubert Carter, a well-known English actor. Maurice Moscovitch is scoring another success in “The Ringer,” a mystery play by Edgar Wallace. It is a detective story of a criminal with a hobby for murder. The plot contains a very strong element of the mysterious, and the audience is left in the dark as to the original criminal until just on the finale. As the villainous lawyer, Mr Moscovitch is said to be a veritable triumph. Patrick Curwen, a recent arrival from London, is well placed as Dr Lomond, a Scotch anthropologistdetective.

According to an overseas paper, a surgeon has assured a fine singer, who was leading baritone in Paris at the Opera for many years, that he can and will restore his voice and make him sing again as he did when he was twenty. This seductive suggestion has been made to M. Lucie - ) Muratore, who has not been heard in opera for a long time. Wi*» iiis wife, Mine. Lina C-avalieri, also a pre-war ope%atic star, he now runs a beauty parlour near the Champs Elysees.

The first theatrical performance the Duke and Duchess of York attended after their return to London was the Cochran revue, “One Damn Thins After Aother.”-

A wealth of theatrical attractions for New Zealand is promised by J. C. Williamson. Toward, the end of the .year, four productions that have been successes not only in Australia wiii be playing in the Dominion. “Rose Marie” may now be here a little earlier than was expected, opening in Auckland early enough to be the Christmas attraction in Wellington. The Gi bert and Sullivan Opera Company, playing “Ruddigore,” and “Patience,” will probably occupy His Majesty’s Theatre during the Christmas season, while “The Cradle Snatchers” and “The Ringer” may be playing in the South Is'and.

“Ruddigore,” so long omitted from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoirein this part of the world, is a burlesque of old-time melodrama, and Gilbert employs Ins vein of humour to excellent purpose in the story of the baronet who seeks to escape the. curse resting upon liis ancestral line by masquerading as tlie simple Robin Oakapple, a farmer, but it obhgedtu take the succession, and with it file obligation to perpetrate a crime daily. His failure to discharge this duty leads to the famous spectacle in the picture gallery of the castle of Ruddigore, .when the ancestors of Sir Rutliven Murgatroyd step down from their frames and engage in tlie cheerful task of subjecting him to torture until he desperately agrees to carry out tlieir - wielies, whereupon they join in the exultant chorus, “A sturdy fellow, after all, this latest Ruddigore!”

Sir Benjamin Fuller and Mr John I'YiJler are extending their activities in tho direction of musical comedy production. Air Jblrn Fuller who is now in England, lias purchased the rights of the reigning. Now York success in the musical play line, a piece with a Mexican locale called ‘‘Rio Rita.” It; is shortly to be presented at the St. James’ Theatre, Sydney. Since “Rose ALarie,” it is noticeable that American musical plays have become more ambitious in scope, and ccrtain'y more elaborate. “Rio Rita” is no exception to the prevailing rule. First presented at the Ziegfield Theatre in February last, it proved remarkablo for its brilliant and spectacular effects, the chorus work, as usual, making the greatest appeal. The authors of the “book” aro old friends, Messrs Guy Bolton and bred Thompson, and the composer, Mr Harry Tierney, was responsible for the score of “Irene.”

Many and varied have been tho opinions expressed on the furiously funny farce-comedv “The GradfeSuatchers,” which sent all Sydney and the majority of Alelbourne theatregoers into hysterics. While a few captious critics m Alelbourne condemned it as “indecent, by reason of its suggestiveness,” tlie general opinion was that it was risque, but not vulgar, and that, as presented by the J. .C. Wil'iamson Company (coming to New Zealand towards the end of the year), it was a really entertaining and clever comedy—“something unique In plays,”as one writer put it. It- is said that a party of self-constituted censors, consisting of detectives, clergymen and social reformers, was shown the book, and afterwards witnessed the performance : the member*, subsequently confessed that they could not see anything objectionable in either the comedy or the maimer in winch it was presented, and warmly thanked the management for having provided them with an enjoyable evening. The discussion in Melbourne waxed warm, but the “antis” appear to have been soundly defeated, it will be interesting to note what New Zealand’s verdict will be.