STAGE TALK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19049, 28 June 1924, Page 13

STAGE TALK

Grand Opera for New Zealand. To say the Melba Opera Company has proved a sensational triumph in Australia is not exaggerating the position. The business has exceeded the wildest dreams of anyone concerned and the season has been extended time after time. Mr Bert Royle is making every effort to persuade his directors to send this wonderful attraction to New Zealand.

With the object of ascertaining the true position and whether there was any possibility of the Grand Opera Company visiting the Dominion a New Zealand Times representative interviewed Air Royle (New Zealand representative of J. C. Williamson, Ltd.) on the matter.

“Many people have approached me personally, and many have written to me on the subject,” said Air Royle. “The difficulty, as your readers can quite understand, is one of expense. Apparently a large section of the public is hoping that the company will conic to New Zealand. I know many members of the organisation are very keen on coming over here and the firm has been giving careful consideration to the matter. But the expenses are so enormous that they hesitate to take the risk. “Another difficulty is the term of some of the engagements —most of them might possibly be renewed for the necessary time —but certain of the artists have American and European contracts which would prevent any extension in Australasia, so that even if persuasion does prevail, three or four of the performers would oe unable to visit the Dominion. “But the all round excellence of the company would no doubt enable the management to fill these vacancies without detracting from the perfection of the performances. In any case,” continued Air Royle, “the standard of excellence would easily surpass anything New Zealand has ever seen before. The • ever-present obstacle is expense—the only dragon in the path—and whether we will succeed in barring the way of this enterprise only time can show.” Still, with such a remarkable organisation almost at our doors, it would be a very hard fate for New Zealand to miss what is probably the greatest musical carnival Australia and New Zealand have ever known. So let us hope that the Williamson management will place sufficient faith in the taste and artistic enthusiasm of New Zealanders to ar- , range the visit, and this being so, that New Zealanders will rise to the great occasion, as the Australian public has done, in thousands. •* » • • “Mikado” Revival in London.

With its customary enthusiasm the Gilbert and Sullivan audience at the Prince’s Theatre applauded the addition of “The Mikado” to the repertoire of the present season. It was an evening of enjoyment for everyone, with a double allowance for those whose Savoy memories extended beyond those of their neighbours. The high standard of performance was sustained throughout by Aliss Winifred Lawson (Yum-Yum), Aliss Bertha Lewis (Katisha), Air Leo Darnton (Nankipoo), Air Leo Sheffield (PoohBah), the incredibly alert Air Henry Lytton (Ko-Ko) and the minor members of this expert c:.jt. • • • • Lack of Tenors Causes “Recess.” The Palmerston North Orpheus Society (formerly Liedcrtafe) has recently found great difficulty in carrying on owing to the lack of tenor voices, and as that trouble has become very acute it was decided at a meeting of the society to go into recess till Alareh next year. It is then hoped that sufficient voices will offer to justify the reappearance of the choir. It is to be deplored that this step has been found necessary as the organisation has been in existence for about seventeen years. “Mr Battling Butler.” Dancing, singing, sparkling comedy and lavish frocking arc feature of “Air Battling Butler” at the New Princess Theatre, Melbourne. Air Harry Hall, the producer, has again displayed the amazing fertility of his genius in devising piquant and novel presentation for the long list of snappy numbers introduced into the production. Like “The O’Brien Girl,” “Little Nellie Kelly,” and other Hugh J. Ward musical productions staged by Air Hall, “Mr Battling Butler” is full of life, movement, and colour, with some startling surprises added.

Stray Pars. Air Edwin Dennis, of Hamilton, has been engaged to sing the tenor role in “A Tale of OM Japan,” with the Napier Choral Society, on July 2. Lance Lister, through here last year with Lee White and Clay Smith, has a small part in “London Calling” at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London. Sir George Tallis and Air J. 11. Tait, directors of J. C. Williamson, Limited, have just bought Cambridge Buildings, Melbourne, for £lOO,OOO on which a most palatial theatre will be built. When the last mails left New York Louis Bennison, in New Zealand last year with “The Great Lover,” and one or two other plays, had a part in “The Dust Heap.” Critics described it as a thrilling pile of old hokum. Hettie King will commence a tour of the Alusgrove circuit about the middle of this month. She is regarded in America and England as the greatest male impersonator on the halls at the present time. When the last mail left England a season of German grand opera was being carried out at Co vent Garden. For one week the productions were ‘ ‘ Das Rheingold,” “Die Walkure,” “Siegfried,” “Gotterdammerung,” “Tristan and Isolde,” and “Salome.” What a musical feast! When the Williamson management commences vaudeville in Alelbourne next month, the company will be headed by Bransby Williams, the famous London character actor. Fred Mackay, a dancer of some note in the J.C.W. Firm’s shows, is to take the place of Cyril Ritehards, who leaves for a world tour. Ellaline Terriss’s only brother, Tom Terriss, was in Australia on a station before he became an actor. He was also a miner in Colorado, a clerk on the London Stock Exchange, and served his apprenticeship at sea. Ellaline and Tom were the children of the ill-fated William Terriss, the famous Adelphi hero, who was stabbed to death by a madman on the steps of the theatre as he was going to his night’s work.