MUSIC AND DRAMA
Mr E. J. Gravestock announce# that he has arranged for Mr Alexander Watson, the popular elocutionist, to' commence his sixth tour of Australia and New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday, February S. Mr Watson had decided that his visit three years ago was to be his farewell, but Mr Gravestock prevailed upon him to make another tour here. Mr Watson intends to revive John Masefield’s “ The Everlasting Mercy,’* which was one of the features of a previous tour. This work is of an intense dramatic nature, and created a profound impression on Mr Watson's audiences. Barrie’s “ The Little Minister ” will be featured as well, also excerpts from Shakespeare, Dickens and old and modern novelists, dramatists and humorists.
Wilhelm Backhaus, the world-famous pianist, who made such a successful tour of Australia and New Zealand four years ago, will make his second tour during the year, commencing at the Sydney Town Hall on Saturday, April 26, under the management of Mr E. J. Gravestock. Backhaus is undoubtedly one of the most popular pianitsts that have ever visited New Zealand, and the reputation he enjoys throughout the world ranks him as probably the leading pianist of the day. “An enthusiastic reception ** —in these words Mr H. P. Muller, New Zealand representative for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., describes the successful opening at Auckland of the New Zealand season of the livelv dancing r a comedy, ** Whopee,” which is scheduled to make a most comprehensive tour of the Dominion under the J. C. Williamson banner. Mr Muller, who made a special trip to Auckland to witness the initial performance, remarked that the company had received several valuable additions since it appeared in Australia, and was a remarkably effective combination. The fun in “ Whoopee ” w r as certainly fast and furious, the singing good, the chorus effective, the dancing one of the features of the show, the ensembles striking and spectacular, the scenery and mounting of the very best, and the ballets were really splendid. “ I am certain that New Zealanders will like * Whoopee,’ ” added Mr Muller, “ It is just the light and bright sort of entertainment to achieve success.”
There is no doubt that the lively and spectacular musical comedy, “ Whoopee,” which under the aegis of J. C. Williamson had its New Zealand premiers here on Boxing Night, is one of t.he best holiday attractions ever sent to the Dominion (writes an Auckland correspondent). The staging is nothing short of magnificent, and some of the scenes are a revelation of the wonderful art of the experienced producer. One scene in particular impressed me with its sheer beauty and delightful appeal. This was the magnificent scene in the mountain forest, with a ballet of picturesquely attired, beautifully formed girls (evidently chosen for their special attributes in this connection), who dance with grace and abandon. These same girls appear frequently, and I must confess that the attractive love theme of this alluring and sparkling musical comedy was not followed by me as closely as its cleverness deserved. The leading parts are in most capable hands, and from all accounts the New Zealand presentation of “ Whoopee ” is in advance of the Australian production—now, that’s some praise, isn't it? 55 55 55 Some changes have been made in the dates of the New Zealand tour of Leo Carrillo in “ Lombard, Ltd.” The season will open in Wellington on January 8, and will extend to January 16. The company will then proceed south, opening in Christchurch on January 18. After visits to Timaru and Dunedin it will return north, and its northern season will open at Wanganui on February 4. “ Lombardi, Ltd.,” the comedy-drama specially written for Leo Carrillo, who, with a specially selected J. C. Williamson company will open his New Zea land tour in Wellington on January 8, is a play of fun and fashions and gives ample opportunity of presenting something entirely new in the shape of modern dress modes. The dressing, therefore, is particularly attractive. Tito Lombardi, as played by Leo Carrillo, is artist first; business any old where 1 What cares he for mere pelf when he can drape “ the human form divine ” with some of his wonderful creations? So Tito proceeds on his pleasant way, radiating happiness, infecting the audience with his enthusiasm: but causing the gloom to increase on the face of his more materialistic business manager.
Brandon Peters, who previously toured New Zealand in the J. C. Williamson company appearing in the highly successful comedy, “ The Patsy,” will renew acquaintance with theatregoers of the Dominion when he returns as a member of the J. C. Williamson company (headed by the famous star, Leo Carrillo) in the outstanding comedy success, “ Lombardi, Ltd.” Brandon Peters and Leo Carrillo are old friends, and appeared in leading New York productions at the same time, though they have never before acted together. When, after years of negotiation, the visit of Leo Carrillo j Australia and New Zealand had been definitely arranged, and Carrillo learn that Brandon Peters was in Australia he dispatched an urgent cable to the Firm to hold his friend for the part of “ The Vermicelli King ” in “ Lom bardi Ltd.,” and now Brandon Pete s is sharing in the wonderful success achieved by Leo Carrillo and the splendid company supporting him.
One member of the “ Lombardi Ltd.,** company appearing with the famous star, Leo Carrillo, who will be welcomed by many friends in New Zealand is Natalie Moya, who will be remembered for her splendid acting as the suppressed and sympathetic wife of the overbearing housemaster in the comedy-drama of college life, “ Young Woodley.” Natalie Moya is the wife of the noted landscape painter, R Rikard Schjelderup, who has accom panied her on this- tour of the Antipodes. During his present voyaging he is painting scenes, and some of these have been completed, and with others will form a unique collection which will be exhibited in London and other art centres upon his return. Miss Moya was born in* Ballarat, Australia, but left there at an early age, was educated in Ireland, showed a decided aptitude for the stage, and was playing lead at a very early age. She is a personal friend of Joseph Conrad, the author, and played a prominent part in his play, “ The Secret Agent.” The young New Zealand tenor, Mr Reginald Newberry, has made excellent progress with his studies at Milan. His voice has shown good development with an even quality throughout a wide range. Mr Newberry recently went to Vienna to continue his studies. The New Zealand actress, Miss Marie Nev, has scored her latest success in a 44 ymbolic ” play by Mr Frank Vosper, “ People Like Us,” which was given a Sunday night performance by the Repertory Players, London. When the final curtain fell, Miss Ney received a great reception and twice had to step
forward and express her thanks. Next day came the paean of praise from the critics, who united in stating that the play should be given in tme West End with Miss Ney in the leading part. It is a most intricate characterisation for a trial presentation, while she was playing the lead in Sir Nigel Playfair’s production of “ Beau Austin ” at the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith. Every theatre in Sydney has been closed during the past six months for some period, though some are only transitory. May Beatty and her daughter are at Hollywood, appearing in talking pictures. Miss Beatty expects to finish her memoirs at an early date. a A reason why the present legitimate houses will hold their own against the movie “ palaces ” is inherent snobbism (says a Sydney paper). Mrs Sassiety may be glad to sit in a comfortable movie seat, but such comfort cannot be purchased at the price of finding herself next to the grocer when the lights go up. Years ago a music-hall proprietor who knew his 55 55 55 After a season of 84 weeks Nellie Bramley announces her retirement from Brisbane Royal at the end of December (says an Australian paper). Business is still excellent, but trouble with her health, which is showing the strain og an appearance in a new role every week for o many weeks, has moved the closure. During the past twelve months, the most critical the legitimate has ever known, the little Royal has proved the most steady and consistent theatrical goldmine in the country: the takings have been “capacity ” every week, varying by only a few pounds. That the prices were on a par with those of the talkies was one important factor. !'♦ M *'« It is only the dead bones of pantomime tinselled over with vaudevi'le comedy that are rattled these days, and managers are pretty well all convinced that the game is no good (writes a Sydney “Bulletin” correspondent). J.C.VV. have definitely decided to drop the old frolic. George Marlow will provide the only show of the kind in Sydney this year. In other days the arrangements for the impending “Gorgeous Christmas Spectacle ” began six months ahead. The free pantos arranged by the emporiums with big toy and Christmas gift departments have cut into the business a lot. It’s even betting that a kid, promised a visit to a theatre panto, will plead to be taken, instead, to Fluff and Co.’s. He will mostly show taste in doing so. The shop shows stick more to the stories with which kids are familiar, and keep off the close-to-the-knuckle jests that are either meaningles or worse to nippers. S 3 55 The season of the Jewish company at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, closed recently with the performance of “ Jacob and Esau.” After the curtain had fallen on the last act Mr Jacob Strunin, the producer, made a brief speech (says the 44 Sydney Morning Herald”). As this was the company’s final performance at the Palace Theatre, he was pleased to be able to announce, he said satirically, that they had sustained a loss of only £SOO. The company had done its best, and they were all very disappointed and surprised that they had not been accorded better support. He had thought that a series of Yiddish plays would have proved a big hit in Sydney. He did not consider that they had been given a fair deal, and they certainly could not afford to lose £SOO in a week. Mr Strunin added that they would have to try to get some of this money back, and would have to put on a few more shows. At what theatre they would be produced he could not at present state, but he hoped that wherever the company opened the Jewish community would give them their whole-hearted support and try to make the plays a big success. Although in the company’s first two plays, “ Kol Nidri ” and “ Bar Cochba,” a full synopsis was published with the programme, for the benefit of those not familiar with the Yiddish tongue, this measure was not followed with “ Jacob and Esau.” judging, however, from the frequent applause from the audience, it was apparent that the majority were able to ' follow the dialogue. Six companies are playing " Journey’s End.” in the United States. “ Plays are produced in New York theatres not as works of art but as possible occupants for vacant theatrical tenement houses,” declared Professor Randolph Somerville of New York University, in a recent address before 600 members of the Theatre Club at the Hotel Astor, New York. “ Although the dramatic stage seems dead and many have written its epitaph,” continued Professor Somerville, “ I doubt not that a new and finer, though probably less paying, phase of dramatic art is being created.” Mr Max Scheck, the American producer, selects suitable chorus girls by looking at the profiles of their figures both sideways and frontwards. If the “ silhouettes ’’ are “ ok&y ” he goes into dancing and singing ability. “ The silhouette,” Scheck says, 44 is the quickest and surest way of telling whether or not a girl’s figure is beautiful, with the grace, poise, muscular co-ordination, and other features watched for in judging her appearance.” On the walls of his office he has outlined the ideal feminine figure for chorus work, and, by placing the applicant against it, he can tell how near or how far she is from perfection. A gem of a curtain-raiser is Mr Lawrence Housman’s “Mr Gladstone’s Comforter,” a fragment from the life of the Grand Old Man (writes the London correspondent of the Wellington “Post”). This should be read as well as seen. It depicts the approaching end of the great career, and gives a glimpse into No. 10, Downing Street, on the night in 1894, when Mrs Gladstone learns that her husband means to resign over the Irish question. Nearly all the dialogue is exchanged between Mrs Gladstone and John Morley, while the Premier plays backgammon in another corner of the room. Mr Morley has promised his revered chief to break the news that Gladstone will resign for the last time. “To-mor-row he goes to the Queen at Windsor,” he says. “Oh, dear, that always depresses him,” Mrs Gladstone sighs. But the little touches of acerbity are very gentle, for it is just a sweet, tender picture of domestic happiness. Mr Bertram Wallis is an excellent Gladstone; Miss Winifred is an appealing Mrs Gladstone. There is a scene between the two old people, so charmingly written and so tender in its simple domesticity that one seems to be intruding on hallowed ground. Mrs Gladstone tells her husband gently that his retirement from politics is what she has for so long hoped. Now he can sit back and rest. There are references to “Chrichton-Browne” (now Sir James), and “Dorothy” (Dorothy Drew, a favourite grandchild), both of whom are still living.
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Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 4 January 1930, Page 23 (Supplement)
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2,288MUSIC AND DRAMA Star (Christchurch), Issue 18959, 4 January 1930, Page 23 (Supplement)
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