In the Theatres

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18286, 8 June 1929, Page 13

In the Theatres

Nina Kirsanova, the featured character dancer of the Pavlova Company, at Melbourne His Majesty’s, chats interestingly regarding her tour of South America with Pavlova. “In South America ,” she says, “I notice all the men go on the knee and kiss the hands of their lady partners. But you watch them in the street—there the wives walk a yard behind their husbands. The women dress like the first wife of Napoleon—high bodice, slipping off the shoulder, and long to the ankles. The men remind me of the opera, Don Carlos, in their clothes. The old world—it is still there. South America is fond of the dance. In Buenos Aires every year there is a festa of the dance—every kind of dance, from every part of the country. It takes one whole month to go through them all. Each of the States save different days to show what they can do in the dance. South America is a great dancing country. Naturally, Pavlova created a sensation there.”

George Preston, who plays Vining, the unpleasant prefect in “Young Woodley,” was originally intended for the Diplomatic Service but deserted this for the stage. While still very young he sent considerable time on the Continent studying languages, and eventually went to Dublin University, where he took his degree of Master of Arts with First Class Honours in seven subjects. “I shall never forget my degree examination,” said Mr Preston. “It was during the Irish Civil War. The Dublin Law Courts were blown up while I was at my desk, and so great was the concussion that the windows of the hall were shattered and the inkwell in front of me jumped into the air, spilling the ink over the papers. The following day I was caught in a street battle, and for two hours was pressed against a doorway, to move from which was certain death.” Mr Preston made his first appearance on the stage with Sir John Martin-Harvey.

While in New York, prior to returning to Australia to appear in “The Five O'clock Girl” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, Alfred Frith appeared in "Dracula,” a thrilling mystery drama which had an extraordinarily successful run. It is based on the story by Bram Stoker, who was manager lor Sir Henry Irving and also his biographer. The effect of “Dracula” on the audience was amazing, according to Mr Frith. Two trained nurses'were ready amongst the audience at the New York theatre where is was played, to attend to the people—mostly men—who were overcome by it.

In continuation of his world tours, William Heughan, the famous actor singer, and great British Basso will be returning shortly to New Zealand for his third tour here. Since his visit last year he and his associate artistes (Miss Maud Bell ’cellist, and Miss Gladys Sayer solo pianist and accompanist) have travelled far, meeting with most enthusiastic receptions everywhere. They have now travelled 150,000 miles and are in the sixth year of world touring. Wherever Heughan. sings the leading critics and public alike consider that he is greater and singing better than ever. After their tour through Australia last year, the Orient was visited and concerts given In all the principal centres in Straits Settlements, Malay States and Siam. At Bangkok, the capital of Siam, he Was enthusiastically received by audiences truly cosmopolitan; as many as fifteen different nationalities being counted one night. This shows what a wide appeal Heukhan can make through his unique programmes. On the China coast special season were given in Hong Kong and Shanghai. The return trip was made through the same places. The demand for a return to Bangkok meant cancelling Manilla concerts which were originally planned. The company arrived back to West Australia at the end of March and are now touring through Australia and expect to arrive in Auckland early in July. The tour dates Will be anounced later. Quite apart from his professional work, Mr Heughan has been continuing his policy of giving Empire talks at Clubs and Schools in many places visited. Much interest has been shown in the information he gave about New Zealand, which Dominion he says he likes and admires most of all. His many friends and admirers here will look forward to again meeting and hearing him. As one of the leading Melbourne papers said: “He is a welcome guest in every great city.”

What a wonderful success has been scored in Australia by J. C. Williamson, with C. B. Cochran’s unique musical production “This Year of Grace," which has been described as one of the most elaborate and entertaining revues the world has ever seen. For nearly three hours vast audiences have been thrilled by the presentation in wonderfully quick succession, of a series of beautiful scenes interspersed with some of the best dancing and comedy acts ever gathered together. Maisie Gay, the noted London revue artist and comedienne, has scored an outstanding success and with a remarkably strong cast, including many London and J. C. Williamson favourites, every possible requirement of the public has been served.

More than the usual amount of interest is being manifested in New Zealand in the forthcoming tour of “Young Woodley” than is usually the case with theatrical productions. The principal reasons for this are first, that the play was banned by the London Censor and was afterwards accepted by him when he had seen the actual stage production; and secondly, because the members comprising the company include a number of the youngest actors ever seen in this part of the world. Lewis Shaw, the handsome, fair-haired young English actor, who plays the name part, is described as one of the most remarkable stags prodigies ever seen. He gives a remarkable representation of the college youth, romantically inclined, with peculiar ideas of love itself, who falls in love with the beautiful wife of the somewhat repellant housemaster. The great J. C. Williamson production “The Desert Song,” will soon be delighting New Zealand audiences. This beautiful musical play, the success of which has outrivalled even that achieved by “Rose Marie," contains some of the most beautiful and impressive scenes ever staged. There is light and shade and varying colours; the wonderful charm of the tropical climes, the beauties of the forest, the magic artistic producer’s work. “The more one sees of New Zealand, the more one becomes impressed with its wonderful potentialities.” Thus Mr Clayton Greene to a Press representative who asked him to give his impressions of this distant outpost of Empire. “I regret very much,” continued Mr Greene, “that I have not been able to see as much of this beautiful country as I would like. But one thing has impressed itself very much on my mind and that is the prosperity generally speaking, of its people; its high

standard of conduct and living, and the intelligent Interest manifested by all in the important questions and problems facing the world today. All this shows a remarkably high degree of intelligence and a correspondingly high standard of intellectual thought. You are right up-to-date in all your methods and in many important respects, can show points to much bigger countries.”

As was to be expected, the great Pavlova has scored another series of wonderful successes in Australia. The remarkable brilliancy of her performances, the variety of her presentations and the large and efficient company supporting this world-famous artiste, are all factors towards her success. Pavlova leaves nothing undone. She is empress of all she surveys, and is most exacting in her requirements of as near perfection as possible from all members of her brilliant company. She never spares herself. Her art is to her everything. The applause and delight of her audiences are to her, sweet music. And thus it is, that Pavlova to-day, is still the greatest artiste the world has even seen. It is pleasing to hear that there is every probability of Pavlova, the wonderful, visiting New Zealand for a short tour before she leaves to fulfil important London, New York and Continental engagements.

According to Alfred Frith, who has made a big hit in “The Five O’clock Girl” at Melbourne Treatre Royal, music has been called the universal language, but humour runs it close. One country’s joke, however, says Mr Frith does not alw'ays win another’s smile. This even applies to different cities. A joke that makes New York roar will go cold in Chicago, and this is also characteristic of Melbourne and Sydney. An even more remarkable fact, according to Mr Frith, is that different audiences laugh at different jokes, and that frequently a joke that will bring roars of laughter one night passes almost unnoticed another night.

Anna Pavlova, whose farewell season at Melbourne His Majesty’s will be limited to three and a half weeks, buys at least forty pairs of shoes a year for her personal use off stage. As regards her dancing shoes, she wears a new pair every night, but the old ones are never given away—they are destroyed. Madame Pavlova receives scores of requests for these shoes as souvenirs, but she steadfastly refuses. “Call it superstition, or what you like,” she says, “but I never give the dancing shoes away. When I finish with them I destroy

them.” There is, however, one pair that will be always kept as a memorial of the great dancer—in the national museum in Berlin. These shoes were worn by Pavlova when she made her first triumphant appearance in that city. One inquisitive actor asked a local youth: “What kind of a house did the last company have here?” Said the rustic: “They didn’t have a house, they lived in their van. The programme for the second week of Pavlova at Melbourne His Majesty’s will include “Visions,” “La Fille Mai Gardee,” “Amarilla,” “Oriental Impressions,” “Walpurgis Night,” “The Fairy Doll,” and “Romance of a Mummy.” In addition, there will be a new series of divertissements.