MUSIC AND DRAMA

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18579, 29 September 1928, Page 25 (Supplement)

MUSIC AND DRAMA

mnmimmnnnni!)Hfmnniiiiii!i!i!ii[iini!iii!iiiiiiiiiii!i!!!!(!if!iuiuiii!iiiinmiiu “ All British ” describes the J. C. Williamson London Comedy Company', headed by the noted actor-manager, Mr Percy Hutchison, which, new to this country, will open its season at Christchurch next month. This clever and versatile combination will commence its short season with “ The Laughing Optimist,” a comedy' which has been an outstanding success in England, the United States, and South Africa. It was originally produced at the famous Garrick Theatre, London, and has been acclaimed by the Press and public as being the best comedy success in recent years. The other productions will be “Mr What’s-His-Name?” another comedy which has also been produced with the same satisfactory results in the countries named. This will be followed with the stirring comedy-draina, “ The Luck of the Navy,” which had a great run in London. Percy Hutchison, “ The Laughing Optimist,” who with the J. C. Williamson company is now making a very’ successful tour of the North Island provincial towns, is an ardent Rotarian, and founded the York (England) branch of that rapidly' growing society. Before he left England for Australia and New Zealand, Mr Hutchison was farewelled by many prominent Rotarians, and he is meeting many Rotarian friends in the lands beneath the Southern Cross. Jane Comfort, of Hastings-Lynn’s “ Rookery Nook,” “ Cuckoo in the Nest,” and “ Thark ” company', is one of the few actresses who in private life always wears (and uses) a monocle. Si Si Si Minnie Ray'ner, of the London Comedy Company, now playing in Christchurch, is considered to be one of the most travelled artists in the profession. Leslie Victor, the inimitable character actor with Hastings-Lynn, at present at the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, is considered to be an excellent after-dinner speaker, and as he possesses an apparently inexhaustible fund of funny stories, is always popular at social gatherings. Anthony' Prinsep, husband of the noted actress, Margaret Bannerman (who is to tour New Zealand under

the J. C. Williamson banner),, is one of the most successful producers and managers who has ever visited these shores. He has been connected with many* leading London productions, and is lessee of one of the' hest theatres in the English capital. Francis Lister, the “ juvenile lead ” in the Margaret Bannerman productions in New Zealand, served for many’ years under Sir Herbert Tree. His first big engagement was under David Belasco, supporting the famous actress, Mrs Fiske, in a series of interesting productions. A popular member of the J. C. Williamson London Comedy Company, headed by Mr Percy Hutchison (plaving “ The Laughing Optimist,” “Mr What’s-His-Name?” and “The Luck of the Navy”), is Miss-Violet Ley, who will be remembered in New Zealand for her association with Miss Ethel Irving and for her splendid performance in “ The Farmer’s. Daughter.” She has now made three trips from London to the Antipodes. Miss Bannerman, the famous London who is to tour New Zealand under the J. C. Williamson regime, will, with her husband (Mr Anthony' Prinsep), the noted London producer, arrive in New Zealand before the other members of the company, and will visit Rotorua before the New Zealand season opens on Wednesday, October 3. Miss Bannerman is bringing over a remarkably strong company, the: members of which have been specially chosen for their versatility as well as talent. The repertoire for New Zealand will include such famous plays as “ Other Men’s Wives,” “ Our Betters,” “ Sixes and Sevens,” and “ Diplomacy',” which are generally admitted to be four of the most successful productions ever staged in Great Britain. The company open at Christchurch on November 28.

Muriel Starr, the noted dramatic artist, who has many friends in New Zealand, has been scoring heavily in Australia with several gripping plays. One of the most remarkable is “ The Last Warning.” in which one of the big scenes is the “ back stage ” of a theatre, and the mystery of the switchboard (full of “baby” spots, ambers and blues, with the whole of the producer’s box of tricks) is revealed. It is described as a wonderful bit of stage work, this play within a play. The drama is packed with thrills, and in it Muriel Starr is seen at her best.

Writes a Sydney correspondent: “ Many in New Zealand are doubtless anxious to see Miss Margaret Bannerman, the talented actress who has scored such unqualified successes on this side of the Tasman. Well, the interest in this connection is heartily reciprocated, for Miss Bannerman, in the course of an interview, expressed herself as being quite impatient to see what 6he termed the southernmost portion of the British Empire. ‘ I am looking forward to the New Zealand visit with a pleasurable anticipation.’ she said, ‘and I am ouite confident that I shall not be di: 'Tinted. New Zealand mav be a smau spot on the earth, from one point of view, but for a Dominion with scarcely a million and a half people, it has put itself on the map in no uncertain manner. I have been informed by friends well qualified to judge that New’ Zealand has always maintained a high standard..

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii not only of living, but of all the essentials which go to make a progressive, educated, accomplished and virile race. It has been spoken of as the most truly British portion of the British Empire, and that reputation alone is sufficient to intrigue and impress me. Then the women, as well as the men, are advanced, and the standard of general knowledge (and appreciation) is said to be remarkably high. I am looking forward to the visit with much pleasure.’ ”

In the near future New Zealand will see some very striking musical comedies and plays (writes a Sydney* correspondent). “The Girl Friend,” and “ Hit the Deck,” in which Annie Croft and company* have scored such wonderful successes, and “ Princess Cliarming,” and a more ambitious play musically, “ The Vagabond King.” Annie Croft and Reginald Sharland would make any show, and in addition the musical comedies possess all the elements necessary to make them highly popular. “ The Girl Friend ” and “ Hit the Deck ” go with a whirl, and are exceedingly bright fare. In “ The Vagabond King,” James Liddy (principal tenor in “ The Student Prince ”) will again play the title role, and the cast will be one of J. C. Williamsorfs best—and that is surely saying something. j.j jj If J. C. Williamson send the Muriel Starr Company to New Zealand (writes a Sydney' correspondent) it will be a new Muriel you will have the pleasure of seeing. Since undergoing an operation she has enjoyed better health, and the result is that she can now make the fullest use of her wonderful histrionic ability. In some of the most dramatic scenes in the gripping play's she is producing she ’ holds the audiences spellbound by her realistic acting. Mary Macrae, with Muriel Starr, is a y’oung Australian who has come rapidly to the front in both dramatic as well as comedy productions. In “ The Donovan Affair,” “Whispering Wires,” “ The Last Warning ” (the last-mentioned, by the way, is based on the novel “ The House of Fear,” by* Wadsworth Camp), and other Muriel Starr productions, she received high praise for her all-round excellent wqrlc. Mr Philip Lytton, Australian entre-

preneur, who toured New Zealand with “Cappy Ricks,” intends visiting us again shortly, and will bring with him a mystery play entitled “The 9.45.” It is claimed that the piece isnot only packed with thrills, exciting incidents and mystery*, but also has an ample allowance of comedy. So complicated is the mystery in this play that the management in Australia offered £SO to any patron solving the problem three minutes before the final curtain. It is Mr Lytton’s intention to-make a long and comprehensive' tour of the Dominion, bringing with him a large and extensive variety of. plays suitable for stock dramatic seasons.

.Described ..as a New York orchestra on a small scale by Mr Markey, the Hollywood producer recently in Dunedin, the Octagon Orchestra- holds a high place among the orchestral bodies in New Zealand (says the Dunedin

“Star.”) Monsieur De Rose, the conductor, has over 12,000 compositions in his library, and he is adding to this number month by* month. During the eight months the conductor has been here he has only* repeated two items, these being by special request. The items were ‘William Tell’ and ‘ln a Persian Market.’ Each week the music at the Octagon Theatre is of the “heavy” type, but is incidental to the picture where possible. 1 The programmes include work by almost every known composer, including the British, American, German, French, Russian, Italian, Polish, Hugarian, Belgian; works by Dubussy, Ravel, Strouvinski, Caesar-Franck, and others. Mr J. N. Tait, manager of the Williamson Grand Opera season, stated on Saturday 125,000 people had attended the Sydney season. The firm would bring out another company, when a number of new operas would be presented. He would arrange for some ; Frendh operas and some of the Russian ! school, besides the works of Mozart and Richard Strauss, to be included. Willard Mack (says a New York writer) has written so many* play's that if they were laid end to end they would probably reach the point where they began. Following on her recent marriage in America, Madge Titheradge declares she will remain in that country*, and that she has given up the stage for good. “A terrible loss to the theatre,” comments a writer in the London “Daily* Mirror,” “for she is one of the greatest actresses w’e possess.” About twenty years ago work was commenced on the building of a National Theatre at Mexico City. Funds failed and work was stopped, and this procedure occurred at regular intervals. Now, however, the matter has been seriously taken up by leading business men, and a fund raised that will enable the building to be completed. The theatre will be a most imposing structure, and magnificently appointed. The curtain, which was recently installed, is made entirely of glass, and cost £50,000.^ We hear much of Mussolini's dominance in Italy nowadays, but three is another Italian with probably greater autocracy in his own way*. He is Signor Toscanini, conductor of the famous Seala Theatre in Milan. Recently, Mussolini visited the theatre and asked the conductor to give the Fascist Anthem. Toscanini refused, and .Mussolini was powerless to enforce his request.

Once, when rehearsing “Boheme,” he noticed a man walk on the stage and request Mimi to stand farther back. Tosonnini tapped the desk and stopped the music. “Who is that person?” he asked, imperiously. The “person” was Puccini, composer of “Boheme,” ■who at once withdrew, abashed!

Reading a Glasgow paper the other flay I was reminded that it was 100 years in August since the Scottish Court of Session affirmed the right of the dissatisfied theatregoer to hiss a show (writes a Sydney “Bulletin” correspondent). The case arose out of an incident in the Glasgow Royal in 1827, when the manager ejected a member of the pit. Unfortunately, the victim was a lawyer; also, he was innocent of hissing. The magistrates awarded damages to the offended lawyer, but the manager carried the matter to the Court of Session. He lost the appeal, and it was declared that the playgoer was free to express his feelings by applause or the other thing.

Miss Ruth Draper, the American entertainer, has once again performed the miracle of crowding a London theatre all by herself. She appears in a series of sketches, and, with the exception of only a shawl or a table and two chairs, has no assistance of any kind and no orchestra. While she was at the Garrick last year Miss Drap# took £3OOO a week, all the n ley going into her own pocket except £450, the rent of the theatre, and less than £lO spent on bills and the hiring of table and chairs. She refuses to be interviewed and lives in a small hotel knowfl only to her manager, and she never goes out. She may be regarded as the world's mystery woman of the theatre. At the Garrick it was the housekeeper who dressed her, and the only other person employed was an electrician, who ran up the curtain and did everything. Yet on one occasion eighty persons stood at the back of the dress circle, paying 8s fid to hear her.