THE STAGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19346, 27 June 1925, Page 13

THE STAGE

Kaai’s Hawaiian Troubadours. Commencing on Tuesday next, at the Opera House, Kaai’s Hawaiian Troubadours open their local season under the direction of E. J. Carroll. It is claimed that these dusky people present something new in entertainment. Wanganui theatre patrons will, on Tuesday evening, have Honolulu brough to their very doors, with its quaint and enchanting music, dancers, etc. • ♦ • • Maurice Moscovitch. Maurice Moscovitch made a deep impression in Wellington as Shylock, the critics dwelling upon his great power, and the fact that the actor, long associated with the Yiddish theatres in many lands, presents from the inside the real Jew. According to a critic the Moscovitch Shyloek is a voluable and gcsticulative trafficker, eloquent with eyes, face and hands, as well as with tongue. . . If ferocious glances could kill, his enemies would die very early. There is great acting in the court scene, especially in the sudden change from towering hope to a realisation of ruin. Miss Jean Robertson, who supports Mr Moscovitch, has also won great praise as Portia for “elocutionary ability” as well as grace and charm of appearance. The company are at present appearing in Christchurch and are booked to play here on July 27 and 28. Veterans of Variety. Writing of the Veterans of Variety, who later will tour the Dominion, a Sydney critic says: “I saw the Veterans of Variety last night. They are all old people, with old mannerisms, old hands, and old songs. I met all the Veterans of Variety after the show. They were still old, but they had a charm which I shall never forget. I do hope Australia loves them, not merely because they are Veterans of Variety, but because their performance is a precious and beautiful thing. As performers they are neither old-fash-ioned nor what is termed ‘done.’ I suppose it is because they learned their business too well to forget it. Nowadays I think people look ahead too much.” The Veterans of Variety were personally engaged by Sir Benjamin Fuller in London. Miss May Beatty. Asked recently by a press interviewer if she was shortly to be married to a resident of Melbourne, Miss May Beatty, the popular comedienne, who is at present appearing in “The Honeymoon Girl,” at the Grand Opera House, said: “That is a secret. I promised faithfully I would not tell. But I shall not be giving up the stage. I love the profession and am proud of it.” Miss Beatty is the widow of the. late Edward Lauri, an actor-manager, who visited Australia some years ago. Mr Lauri, when war broke out, was given an important post by the War Office, but died shortly afterwards. Their daughter, Bunny, has been with Miss Beatty throughout her Australian tour with the Hugh J. Ward Company of comedians. • • • w A Well-Known Actor. Prior to coming to New Zealand to appear with Moscovitch in “she Merchant of Venice” and “The Outsider,” William Stack was associated with Gladys Cooper at the London Playhouse in Sundermann’s “Magda.” His performance of the Pastor was described by one of the papers as “the greatest individual performance in London to-day.” Theatrical Manager in Divorce. Lion M. Lion, a theatrical manager who will tour New Zealand at the end of the year with some Shaw and Maugham plays, was recently divorced from his wife. He is at present in South Africa. Hastings Boy’s Bise. Richard Webster, who is coming with Maurice Moscovitch and his company, is a New Zealander, born at Hastings. For some time he toured with the Nellie Bramley Company and later with Marie Tempest. • • « • Sistine Choir in Sydney. The soloists of the Sistine Choir opened their Sydney concert season at the Town Hall on May 30, before a large and enthusiastic audience. “Zeffro, Torna,” by Marenzio, “the sweet swan of Italy” (1550-1599), was given by “the soloists” eight in number, and the elaborate court costumes, replete with periwigs, scarlet heels, lace ruffles, and jewelled fobs, made the singers look like a melodious rainbow. Madrigals have a sort of fearless floridity; they are not ashamed to be sprightly and full of jocund mirth, through which a thread of sentiment runs sweetly. The cazone ‘Mattinata, ’ by Zeneziam, for four voices, its flowing melody rising to a dramatic crescendo, was beautifully given by the company. Signor Burani’s youthful baritone was used with virile beauty in “Vittoria” (Carissimi), and later he sang with touching beauty and vehemence the monologue from “Giordano’s “Andre Chenier.” Signor Paganelli’s emotional tenor aroused great enthusiasm in “Caro mio ben“ (Glordani) and Lionel’s aria from Flotow’s “Marta,” and he had to grant several encores. Signor Casolari conducts the unaccompanied voices, and accompanies the soloists on the piano. The string orchestra was under the baton i of Mr Slopoffski. • * • • i Pauline Frederick. When Pauline Frederick arrived in Melbourne she received as tumultuous a welcome as Sydney gave her, and the welcome was again repeated at her first night appearance in “Spring Cleaning.” The famous American star will i be seen for the first time on the Sydney stage to-night, when “Spring ; Cleaning ” will open its season at the ! Criterion under the management of J. C. Williamson, Ltd. With Miss | Frederick will be Jr.no Elvidge, Charles • Coleman, Madsme Rose Dione, George I Barraud, and others. ! IzrJiy Blackwood in London. Lady Patricia Blackwood, who made her stage debut in Australia, is in the “Grounds for Divorce” cast in London, but she has changed her name to Pamela Came. Before that she was Pamela Dartrey.