In the Theatres

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18629, 26 July 1930, Page 14

In the Theatres

Leon Gordon, now in “Tea for Three” at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, is nearing the end of his stay in Australia. Few stars from abroad have achieved the continuous success in this country which Lecn Gordon has won. He has been described as “the star who has never made a failure.” When he leaves Australia shortly he will go straight to Hollywood to appear in a series of “talkie” plays which will be presented in a London theatre by J. C. Williamson, Ltd.

i Leon Gordon has welcomed the opi portunity of again appearing in “Tea ! for Three.’’ which is now running at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. This

brilliant play makes a strong appeal to all classes of playgoers, and its recent revival in New York has met with great success. “How strong it is,” commented Mr Gordon, “is indicated by the fact that the first act, which is practically all dialogue, holds the audience tense and interested the whole time. In the play are cleverly interwoven a love interest, with comedy, and drama, in an intriguing story, and it finished on a top note of dramatic suspense, and pleasant surprise. In my opinion,” added Mr Gordon, “ ‘Tea for Three’ is a perfect play.”

“A Country Girl,” at Melbourne Theatre Royal, can continue for a few more nights, as its season must be limited to twelve nights only owing to arrangements made for other productions. “A Country Girl” awakens recollections of popular artists who have played in it under the J. C. Williamson regime. There was Celia Ghiloni, whose singing of “Under the Deodar” produced a rapturous clamor. Claude

i Bantock wore the Eastern robes of the 1 Rajah of Eong, and brought down the house with his topical verses. And Evelyn Scott, who had changed her name from Ivy Scott, sang melodiously of “Molly the Marchioness.” There are

many fine musical numbers in “A Country Girl” to delight the ear. Favourites particularly are “Try Again, Johnnie,” “Coo,” “The Sailor's Life/* “Yo, Ho, Little Girls,” “Take Your Pretty Partner to the Ball,” “My Own Little Girl,” and others. Few musical plays are richer in haunting melodies than “A Country Girl.”

Saturday, July 19, marked the first production in Melbourne of one of the most elaborate and outstanding of the J. C. Williamson Ltd musical plays. This was “The New Moon,” which is another wonderful musical success by Oscar Hammerstein 2nd., who is already familiar to Australian audiences by reason of the triumphs he has already achieved with “Rose Marie,” “Show Boat.” “Maytime,” and “The Desert Song.” “The New Moon” is alluringly romantic, a splendid love story in picturesque settings. J. C. Williamson Ltd. regard it as one of their most important productions for many a day. From the point of view of costuming and stage effects it calls for the greatest in theatre craftsmanship. There is, for instance, a fight at sea between a stately galleon and a pirate ship that beggars description. And the music is by Sigmund Romberg, composer of “The Desert Song,” who has mastered the trick of putting heart-beats into harmony and gives us some of the most beautiful romantic numbers the musical stage has known.

More than one competent musical authority has described Florence Austral’s voice as the most phenomenal of the day. In commenting on the approaching production of Wagner’s masterpiece at the Royal Opera. C a vent Garden, London’s best known critic said it seemed “grotesque to think of it without Florence Austral.” This is one of the sacrifices she has made in order to undertake the Australian tour. Although cosmopolitan m his musical tastes this great Australian singer does not disguise her love for lieder, not that “Tristan and Isolde” is her favourite opera. And. in passing, it is worth noting that her German diction is so pure, that stangers often address her in that tongue. In Italian and French airs she is equipped to give an equally good account of herself. She can thus present programmes of infinite variety, to which the range and glorious qaulity of her voice are fitted to do more than justice. When Madame Austral has completed her engagement of 30 concerts with Mr E. J. Carroll in Australia and New Zealand, she will go direct to Berlin, where she has contracted to appear in the roles of Brunnhilde and Isolde with the German State Opera. Ann Davies, who was leading lady with William Faversham, is to be associated with Leon Gordon in the first production in Australia of “The Squall” at the King's Theatre, Melbourne. In this play of sunny Spain. Miss Davis will have a picturesque role. Ann Davis made her first success on the American stage as Mary Turner in “Within the Law,” played in the Australian production by Muriel Starr; but one of her biggest hits was achieved in “The Outsider” in which she played Lalage Sturdee. the crippled girl. As Zoe in Pinero's "Mid-Channel,” with Conway Tearle, she added to her successes. Catherine Sewart. comedienne of the “Love Lies” Company, now in Auckland and due in Wellington on Sth August, will be remembered as the sprightly leading lady of the Freddie Forbes Musical Comedy Company, that toured the Dominion under the Fuller banner last year. Miss Stewart had a particular flair for comedy, and is a burlesque artist, dancer, and singer of more than usual ability. Sir Landon Ronald, Sir Henry 'Wood, and Malcolm Sargent co-operated in the New r Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the London Palladium in aid of the London Orchestra Distress Fund. The soloists were Mark Hambourg. the world famous pianist, and Miss Muriel Brunskill, the English contralto. At Covent Garden more music was provided w'hen performances were given of “Die Fledermaus” and “Siegfried.” The “Ring” was further added to by the Wigmore performances, wdien Helen Henschel and Joan Goss collaborated in a programme of songs and duets. Then followed Eugene Goossen's orchestral concert at Queens Hail, at which he conducted a first performance in England of Arnold Bax's Symphony No. 2. Messrs Alfred Cunninghame and Ernest M’Kinlay, of the Westminster Glee Singers, intend remaining in Australia, and their places are to be taken by Messrs. Wilfred Thomas and Robert Scott, of Sydney. Sydney is the next destination or Mr Bransccrnbe’s songsters, a Her which Java and the East wil be visited. South Africa is the next objective. Mr Scot: is the holder of a scholarship for tenor voices, and has been studying miner Mr Ronald Foster at the Con-orvu-torium.