THEATRES

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19314, 15 October 1932, Page 15

THEATRES

It is interesting to note, in connection with the visit to New Zealand of the great J. C, Williamson Grand Opera Company, which opened its Dominion tour of the capital cities at Auckland on Wednesday, October sth, that Mr. Claud Kingston, who is personally directing the tour, classes the big combination ol operatic stars as in every way equal to any organisation of its kind in the word, “The expense incurred in bringing such a number of stars, with full chorus, orchestra, ballets; scenery (200 tons), is so great,” explained Mr. Kingston, “that the directors will be satisfied if

they break even on the New Zealand tour. The present visit is regarded purely as an art attraction, not a commercial venture in any way. The company is being sent over solely in the interests of music, and not as a commercial venture in any way. The main reason for it is this: During the last quarter of a century the New Zealand public has always supported the best attractions brought to this country by the Williamson management, and the directors are leaving it to the public to see this enterprise through, realising that they will not make a profit, but that in the event of the tour not showing a loss, future engagements of Grand Opera companies in Italy will include New Zealand in the contracts. That has never been the case in the past, but we really hope that it will be so in the future.” The celebrated young English actress Margaret Rawlings, who is looked upon as one of London’s big dramatic stars, arrived in New Zealand this week, and opened her Dominion tour at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, in the striking play “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” in which she I scored one of her outstanding successes in London and other big centres. Miss Rawlings and her husband (Mr. Gabriel Toyne) who produces the plays in which the star takes the leading roles, are looking forward with keen anticipation to the New Zealand tour, and say that the reputation of the Dominion, as a progressive country and possessing some of the most wonderful and varied scenery in the world, is most high. Miss Rawlings 1 In “The Barretts of Wimpole Street,” j which is classed as one of the most

successful comedy-dramas of the century; and in the second production “Happy and Glorious,” which strikes an entirely new note in stage productions, and has an irresistible appeal to both men and women. The com-

pany supporting Miss Rawlings is a remarkably strong one, and includes several noted actors and actresses who | are making their first appearances in New Zealand, notably Barry Barnes, from leading London theatres, who , piays the part of the lover, Robert Browning; Bellenden Clarke, another London favourite, whose portrayal of the character of Edward Moulton-Bar- , rett, the stern, unrelenting, and selfish father ranks as one of his best dramatic performances; Mary Cobb, another favourite; while the general production of this sensational play is of the highest possible order. The Company will open in Timaru on October 24. The world-famous singer, Madame Amelita Galli-Curci, with Homer Samuels (solo pianist and accompanist) and Raymond Williams (flautist) will conclude the triumphal New Zealand tour this month. Such scenes of enthusiasm w'hich have marked the appearance in every district visited by the “bird of song” have never before been witnessed in this country, except when the diva sank in the Dominion on her previous visit. Her appearance at each and every concert has been greeted with tumultuous applause, and her programmes—artistically varied as they are—have proved a sheer delight. The wonderful singer has been rousing vast audiences in the South Island to frantic demonstrations of enthusiasm, and the termination of each concert has been followed by storms of appluasc.

COACHWORK NOISES. Coachwork design affords loopholes for noises to develop, sometimes after only a short period of road running. Doors will rattle for various reasons, such as worn hingepins, loose screws (a common occurrence), weakness of the bottom portion of the body, worn slam locks, worn door stops, or lack of these altogether; and, lastly, warped doors. Loose body bolts arc a frequent source of irritating noises, which may be added to by floor boards that are a bad fit, probably through shrinkage or distortion. With enclosed coachwork window rattles and squeaks may call for patience and perseverance in their diagnosis and cure, which latter may be absurdly simple when the source of the trouble has been located; but, on the other hand, it may be a coachbuilder’s job to get at the root cause. Modern welding processes have eliminated many old sources of annoying squeaks at panel joinings, and produced a more rigid construction, particularly with regard to door framings. But friction still works in movement as between the outer shell and its lining, where the resultingsounds are not easy to track and even more difficult to get rid of. The modern enclosed body is not ordinarily talkative, however, and is deadly silent compared with the dramming and rattling of not so very long ago. But we grow more exacting with every improvement whether in chassis or body design or construction, and it is a wonderful tribute to car designers and builders to-day that sound—or silence—has achieved its present importance.