IN THE THEATRES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18552, 26 April 1930, Page 15 (Supplement)

IN THE THEATRES

Mr Seymour Hicks, who is well known dares that he overheard the following conversation in a New York oyster house: “The customer was ordering oysters and said: ‘I want them on the deep shell.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ said the waiter. ‘Ob, and I want them bearded.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ said the waiter. ‘Oh, and I want them steamed.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ said the waiter. ‘Oh, and I want just a small piece of bacon cooked with them.’ ‘Yes, said the waiter. ‘Oh, and I want them to have a dash of Tobasco sauce sprinkled on them, will you?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ said the waiter. And see that when they are served the flat shell is replaced.’ ‘Yes,’ said the waiter. ‘And don’t forget that a napkin is laid over them to keep the heat in.’ ‘No, sir,’ said the waiter, and turning at the door, he asked, ‘And would you like them with or without, sir?’ ‘With or without what?* said the customer. ‘Pearls!’ said the waiter.” Madame Florence Austral was accorded a splendid reception in the Albert Hall, when she made a farewell appearance prior to sailing for Australia and New Zealand. Herr Hans Weisbach, of Dusseldorf, who made his initial appearance as conductor, led the London Symphony Orchestra. Madame Austral was hailed by critics as the finest dramatic soprano in the world, her most popular number during the concert being ‘Senta’s Ballad’ from ‘The Flying Dutchman.’

A Scottish soprano, Miss Gretta Don, who specialises in Hebridean and Scottish folk songs, which she sings in costume, arrived in Wellington last week by the Tahiti. She has just concluded successful tours of England and America, and will appear in Wellington with the Harmonic Society on May 10.

At sixty-seven years of age, Haydn Coffin continues to sing. He is appearing as Sir Harry Bumper in a London revival of ‘The School of Scandal,’ with the special purpose of singing ‘Here’s to the Maiden of Bashful Fifteen.’ Mr Coffin’s first great success was in ‘Dorothy/ when he sang ‘Queen of My Heart.*

A feeling of optimism is at present abroad in theatre circles in Melbourne, and it is generally felt that the legitimate stage is coming back into its own. Mr Allan Wilkie’s season is described as a wonderful triumph. Every house is packed, and every fresh production is enthusiastically greeted. The financial success of the enterprise seems assured. George Wallace is enjoying continued popularity at the Tivoli Theatre, and other successful productions are ‘Lombardi, Ltd./ and ‘Follow Through/

Alex. Symons, an Adelaide playwright, whose works have been performed by the Repertory Society, leaves for Hollywood shortly, taking with him some of his productions in the hope of getting them made into talkies.

Outdoor entertainments are enjoying great success in England. Circuses are doing well in all parts of the country, and the appeal of the “big tent” seems to have definitely reasserted itself. One Italian and two Australian circuses are at present touring the provinces, but the aristocrat of them all is the Bertram Mills Circus, which drew phenomenal crowds at Olympia during the Christmas season.

John Buchan, novelist and M.P., appeared in his daughter’s play, ‘The Fifth of November/ in London recently.

Edith Day and Billy Merson are the principals in ‘Rio Rita,’ with which the new London theatre, the Ritz, was opened.

Wilhelm Backhaus, the world-fam-ous pianist, who created such remarkable enthusiasm on the occasion of his first Australian and New Zealand tour four years ago, is opening his second tour on Saturday, April 26, at the Sydney Town Hall, and will probably visit New Zealand at the end of June. Since his last visit to this quarter of the globe Backhaus has climbed steadily up the ladder of fame, and his achievements in the world of music are unsurpassed. A critic has written: “Backhaus never throws the coloured light of a peculiar temperament upon the composer’s landscape. His emotional nature is so finely balanced and subservient to his imagination as an artist that he renders unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and plays the mighty Beethoven like Beethoven, the soaring and enraptured Chopin like Chopin, and the romantic, warmhearted Schumann like Schumann. No higher tribute can be paid to an interpreter.” The Backhaus tour is under the direction of E. J. Gravestock.

*Lord and Lady Algy* is to be William Faversham’s second production in Sydney. This play was in the old Borough Company’s repertoire.

Joe Brennan the Dunedin-bom actor, whose pantomime dames have delighted New Zealanders, is leaving shortly for London.

Mr A. A. Milne’s new play, ‘Michael and Mary/ which was given first in New York, and which is still running most successfully on Broadway, was given its London premiere recently. Miss Edna Best and Mr Franck Lawton are two well-known artists in the cast.

Freddie Forbes, the English comedian, who headed the Fuller Musical Comedy Company, and his wife (professionally known as Astor Faire), will leave Wellington by the Tahiti with the intention of trying their luck in the talkies. Frederick Bentley, English comedian, who was here in ‘Rose Marie/ and has .been appearing in Australia in ‘The New Moon/ is on the Niagara on his way to America and the talkies.

The management of the London Lyric Theatre has released Miss Marie Ney, of Wellington, from the lead in ‘Murder on the Second Floor’ so that she may create the part of Milady in the musical play, ‘The Three Musketeers/ adapted from Dumas’ novel, which will be presented at the Drury Lane Theatre this month by Sir Alfred Butt, in conjunction with Mr Florenz Ziegfeld. The lyrics for the new play are by Mr P. G. Wodehouse and Mr Clifford Grey, and the music by Mr Rudolf Friml. Mr Dennis King, an English actor, will take the part of D’Artagnan. This will be Miss Ney’s first appearance in musical comedy since she turned her attention to “straight” plays, in which she has had so many successes.

J. E. Vedrenne, the famous London theatrical producer, who first gave , Shaw a chance, died suddenly at his son’s house in London recently at the age of sixty-three. Three years ago Mr Vedrenne retired from stage life “to plant' roses” in his garden at Weybridge, but he continued to be deeply interested in the theatre, and to be a regular “first nighter.” Mr Vedrenne used to tell how he came to produce Shaw. Anxious that ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ should be produced by Granville Barker, Vedrenne

agreed in turn to produce a play by a young friend of Barker. The young friend was Bernard Shaw, and the play was ‘Candida.’ As a result, Mr Vedrenne produced all Shaw’s plays up to the time of ‘Fanny,’ and many of the early Galsworthy plays. Mr Vedrenne helped many other people to fame. His greatest play successes were ‘Milestones/ out of which he made a fortune, ‘The Man Who Stayed at Home,’ and ‘Secrets.’ He namlxl his house in Surrey “Milestones.”

Mr William Faversham, the six-foot actor, who is now appearing in a series of plays in Australia, is not an American, though he has lived in the United States for a number of years. He was born in London and educated at Hillmartin College, Essex. After entering the Yeomanry Cavalry Regiment, he forsook a military career for the stage, and went to America, while yet in his teens. He had early success In Shakespearean roles, and American theatre-goers retain pleasant memory ies of his performance as Romeo to thfc Juliet of the famous Maude Adams. HINTS AND RECIPES. Lemon juice squeezed on to rioß when the latter is being boiled wiH whiten it and separate it. When boiling a ham leave it in the water in which it has been boiled until it is quite cold. This will make it Juicy and tender. A lump of soda dissolved in the water when rinsing clothes will prevent any blue stain remaining on the garments. To stone raisins quickly, smear the finger-tips with butter. Small pieces of kid or washleathar sewn underneath big buttons prevent them from being torn out and holes being made in the garment. A little cornflour added to table saifc will prevent it becoming lumpy. To polish amber, rub it with whiter*ing moistened with water, and lastly with a little olive oil laid on with A piece of flannel. When boiling beetroots, add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda to the watexv and they will retain their rich colour. Pieces of velveteen should be saved and used as polishing cloths. Silver, plate, etc., can foe rubbed with them quite as thoroughly as with a chamois leather.

When marking new linen, dip the corner of the article to be marked into cold starch, then iron it gently with a hot iron. On linen treated in this way the ink does not run and the pen does not scratch.

The best way to clean beaten copper or brass ornaments is to wash them, let them dry and then rub with cleaning material. In this way all the pal* terned parts can be cleaned. A mixture of methylated spirit am} water, in equal proportions, with ft small amount of whiting, deans ami polishes mirrors and windows very successfully. The lotion should be kep| in a corked bottle.

When using benzine to remove stain on dress material, start In ft circle and gradually work nearer ami nearer until the spot is reached. By doing this, there will be no mark whflft the benzine dries. Be very careful when using benzine petrol or any other inflammable substance, not to have a fire or naked light in the room. New Casseroles.—A new casserole should be rubbed outside with a raw onion before it is used. This will prevent the vessel “sweating” and leesen the contraction which often causes the pot to crack when heated. After rubbing, put the casserole in a pan of cold water and very gradually bring it to boiling point and allow the water to cool before taking out the casserole. Buying a Pram.—When buying a pram be 6ure to get one that is big enough for baby to lie flat in comfort. See that the pram has good springs. A young child's spine is very delicate, and unless the pram is well hung on good springs there will be constant bumping that will not do baby any good. When Making Buttonholes.—-When making a set of buttonholes it is not easy to place them evenly. To enable you to do bo, cut a strip of white paper to match the fold of the garment where the buttonholes are to be made. Fold the paper evenly into as many creases as buttonholes required. Then unfold the paper and make a small hole in the centre of each crease Pin the paper to the garment and make a pencil mark through each hole where the buttonholes are to be cut.