In the Theatres

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18500, 22 February 1930, Page 16 (Supplement)

In the Theatres

Paderewski recently was operated upon for acute appendicitis. The operation was completely successful.

Japanese plays, played by Japanese artists, are shortly to be seen in the United States. The Japanese Theatre Association has announced that Tokujiro Tesutsui, a celebrated actor, and his company will come to America Shortly for appearance in New York and a trans-continental tour. The company is one of the oldest and best in Japan. Every one of the 25 members has won individual honours on the Japanese stage. It includes actors, actresses, swordsmen, dancers and musicians, and they have a large repertory of not only classical and modern dramas, but also comedies and dances.

A somewhat mixed reception has been accorded to a play by Mr Frank Harvey which was recently presented in London. Mr Harvey is an actor who is well known in New Zealand, and he is now appearing with considerable success in the dramatised version of “Jew Suss.” His play, “The Last Enemy,” is described as an “Outbound Bound” of the war. Two explorers die in the Arctic, but in Heaven they are told that they can act as spiritual fathers to young people on earth. Critics state that this supernatural element has been most sincerely conceived, but the treatment has not been sufficiently imaginative. One critic says that “The Last Enemy” just misses being a great play.

In spite of Federal law, the efforts of the Actors’ Federation, and repeated newspaper denunciation of careless or unscrupulous managers, yet another Australian theatrical company is stranded somewhere in India. Hilda Dorrington, Mildred Carlton, Carl Lawson, Walter Hunt, Binney and Walter MacCallum are among the members of this company, called the Carl Lawson Comedy Company, which is left stranded in Calcutta, as the result of poor attendance and bad luck. Lawson himself is a well-known actor, and for some time was with the Nellie Bramley Company. The Australian

Federal law requires the return passage of the players to Australia to be guaranteed, and in this case William Russell, husband of Nellie Bramley, and a well-known showman, put up the guarantee for the return of the whole of the company. In the meantime, however, says the Sydney “Daily Guarlian,” William Russel himself has suffered severe reverses of fortune. Hilda Dorrington was through New Zealand with Allan Wilkie’s Shakespearian Comedy some years ago.

Recent London papers contain accounts of the success of Miss Annie Croft, in the new musical comedy, “Dear Love,” which, having been first tested before a Birmingham audience, is now at the London Palace Theatre. “The Times” finds that the piece, “which has something of everything in it, has also unusual brightness, vivacity, and finish.” The critics agree in praising Miss Croft’s interpretation of the foie of Suzanne, and note the valuable asset which the production possesses in M. Tom Burke’6 fine tenor voice. The score apparently is graceful as well as lightly engaging, and one song, “Love in a Mist,” allotted to the heroine, is selected as a typical example. As in the Birmingham production, Miss Vera Pearce and Mr Sydney Howard ha\fe won great favour at the Palace for their burlesque dance.

Mr Alec Regan (Dunedin's the wellknown music hall “star” came to England mainly for a holiday, but it so happens that he has been working most of the time, writes the London correspondent of the Wellington “Post.” Prior to leaving for England he played a farewell tour of New Zealand with the Regent Theatres, with the “Midnight Frolics.” It was during this tour that Mr Regan was approached by the managing director, Mr Beaumont Smith, regarding a position with Regent Theatres managerially, and as producer for their presentations. He has settled to return to New Zealand by the end of March, and has definitely signed to commence as manager and producer for one of the Regent theatres. On 27th December Mr Re-

gan left for South Africa, where he is to play a tour of eight weeks. He will be appearing in Capetown when the Prince of Wales arrives. During the next two weeks he will be on the Continent seeing the principal shows and variety entertainments with a view of finding something suitable for New Zealand. During the seven weeks of his stay in the Mother Country he has appeared at the Brighton Hippodrome, Holborn Empire, the Paladium, as well as in Birmingham, Liverpool, and Glasgow. Every-where he has had great success. Old friends at Acton have accorded him a great welcome.

In English theatrical circles considerable satisfaction is felt over the fact that all the really successful plays in London last year were English. No imported play gained any sustained popularity and for the first time since the war no play from the United States made an unquestionable hit in London. On the other hand, several English plays did exceedingly well in New York. The year will probably go down in stage history as the “Journey’s End” year. The next most notable play was Mr Bernard Show’s “The Apple Cart.” Mr Noel Coward scored one of the successes of the year with the operetta, “Bitter Sweet,” and at least four homemade musical comedies and revues, notably the J. C. Williamson production, “Mr Cinders,” did excellently. Among the other successes of the theatrical year were St. John Ervine’s “The Mrs Fraser,” the dramatised version of “Jew Suss,” “The Middle Watch,” Mr Ben Travers’ “A Cup of Kindness,” “The Sacred Flame,” and Mr Edgar Wallace's “The Calendar.”

“The enthusiasm which prevailed at the winding up of the thirty-fifth season of the famous promenade concerts, conducted since their inauguration by Sir Henry Wood, is generally interpreted as a portent of the change of heart of London’s audiences towards classical music,” 6ays an English writer. “Only a few years ago, it will be recalled, the proms, were in danger of being abandoned for lack of public support. Since, however, the British Broadcasting Corporation has taken over all responsibility for this traditional series of concerts, the tide of musical appreciation has turned, and the classics have definitely triumphed over the embattled array of syncopated jazz.”

When the musical comedy, “Love Lies,” is produced at Adelaide, with a Sydney season to follow, popular Clem Dawe (for so long head of the Midnight Frolics) will be principal comedian. Dan Agar (here in pantomine some years' ago) has returned from England to play a comedy part, and Miss Marie Eaton will appear as a Spanish vamp. Four importations from England—Rita M’Lean (leading lady), Betty Eley (ingenue), Peter Lane (juvenile), and Bobby Gordon (second comedian)—are said to be artists of great ability.

Mr E. J. Carroll, the well-known impressario, whose headquarters are now in London, made a brief visit to Sydney at Christmas time and returned via Auckland by the Aorangi a week or so ago. When he arrives at New York he will sign a contract with Florence Austral, the famous dramatic soprano, for a series of concerts in Australia and New Zealand. Mr Leo Du Chateau will leave for Australia in April to arrange the tour, which will commence at Sydney Town Hall on 27th May.

Australian tours by Wilhelm Backhaus, Jan Kubelik, Florence Austral, and a boy prodigy named Wolfi are announced for 1930. With New Zealand’s musical reputation sunk to the depths, it remains to be seen whether they will all visit this country. Backhaus, the famous pianist, who played here about five years ago, is to open his tour at Sydney on Easter Saturday. Under the J. and N. Tait management, Kubelik will begin his season, in Melbourne about the end of March or the beginning of April. This great virtuso toured New Zealand about 20 years ago, when his fame was at his height. He is now not a regular concert performer, but none the less a great virtuoso. At 12 years Kubelik was a pupil of Seveik, who has also trained Wolfi, the violinist prodigy. E. J. Carroll is directing tours by Florence Austral, the eminent Australian soprano, and by Wolfi, the fourteen-year-old violinist who is now attracting the attention of Europe. London audiences flnst heard the boy last month, when he appeared in his shirt-sieves at the Albert Hall. They were indebted for his visit to the Baron von Franckenstein, the Austrian Minister. Wolfi’s London debut was made after a series of highly successful recitals in the provinces.

Kerosene and salt will clean an enamelled bath. The bath should be dry. Dip 9 piece of flannel in kerosene and then into coarse salt and rub the bath •thoroughly. After, rinse well with hot water.