Across the Footlights

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14266, 17 January 1920, Page 3

Across the Footlights

PLAYS AND PICTURES. ;By i'Ta Dlavolo).

THEATRE ROYAL. Nightly—Pictures. KING’S THEATRE. Nightly—Pictures. EVERYBODY’S. Nightly—Pictures. The Value of Music. Mr Henri Verhrugghen, while in Hamilton, said tliat the value of music as a factor in general education was being recognised throughout Hie world at the present time to a much higher degree than over 'before. Music was the youngest of all arts, ami many people believed il had not yet gained the position of influence il was hound to acquire in ’the future. Music was a refining factor, and was a universal and certain language by means of which men of various races were able to communicate with each other on a much higher plane than that of Ihe ordinary vernacular. Language was often a bar

to understanding, but people were able to express their individual and national ideals through music, so that they cou.ld he understood throughout the world. The New South Wales Orchestra was a very heterogeneous assembly of people, yet they would be able to express what they wished to express so that their audience could understand. He believed that by a deeper and keener appreciation of music and a more general cultivation of it, there would come closer relations between the great countries in the South Seas.

Christmas Pictures. The position which arose at the last meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council on the discussion regarding the showing of pictures on Christmas Night was certainly amusing, and might well form the basjs of an entertaining comic opera. Of the legal position I have nothing to say, but surely it is difficult to understand the action of pur City Fathers In refusing permission to show pictures. Christmas Day is not a sacred day in the sense that, say, Good Friday is; it is a day for joy and rejoicing and gladness. The opening of places of entertainment would be quite in keeping with the spirit of the day, and probably Hamilton stands alone in the attitude taken up by its Councillors. Further developments should he interesting. “Yarra Ben,” in the last issue of the Sydney Bulletin, says: “Curious to note how Christmas observance has altered these last few years. In Melbourne as in Sydney on this last December 25, all the theatres opened their doors. No great objection seems to be taken to it.”

Grand Opera. Tlie Grand Opera season in Wellington, which has been cxtraordinarilv successful, closed on Wednesday night, with a revival of “Madam Butterfly.” An interesting production during the week was that of “Romeo and Juliet,” with Miss Amy Castles and Mr Ralph Errolle in the leads. The company is now in Christchurch. Maude Beatty married. The popular musical comedy actress, Miss Maude Beatty, who left Australia by the steamer Van Cloon for Soutli America at the end of November, having concluded a successful season with the J. C. Williamson firm, arrived at her destination last week. A cable message received in New Zealand from Buenos Ayres says that she was married to Mr Sydney G. Kibble, of the Estancia, “Los Cenos-de-San Juan,” Uruiguay. A Feast. Playgoers and music-lovers in New Zealand are being well catered for at the present time. The attractions now touring the Dominion include the New South Wales State Orchestra, Williamson’s Grand Opera Comnnny, Miss Daisy Kennedy (violinist! •be Muriel Starr Dramatic Company, Williamson’s Musical Comedy Comnany, the Allan Wilkie Dramatic Company, several vaudeville companies, and Chautauqua. In addition there are, of course, the übiquitous picture shows in every town. Daisy Kennedy, Violinist. Miss Daisy Kennedy, the Australian violinist, who opened her New Zealand tour at Wellington on Saturday last, made a marked impression, and lias been acclaimed as one of the greatest artistes yet heard in the Antipodes. It is likely that Miss Kennedy will be heard in Hamilton about the end of the present month. A Lucky Vocalist. 1 Before the advent of the N.S.W. State Orchestra, Mr and Mrs Walter Gray had given Miss Etta Schneidemann, the well-known vocalist, a letter of introduction to Mr Henri Verbrugghen, with whom they were acquainted in England. The verdict of this greatest musical authority in Australia is, “that Miss Schneideman has a most beautiful voice, perfectly produced, and given a wider mu deal atmosphere, a brilliant future is assured for her.” Miss Etta Scheidemann has been a pupil of Mr and Mrs Walter Gray for two years. Jottings. The latest Williamson pantomime, “The Sleeping Beauty,” is attracting the multitude in Sydney. Chautauqua is now in tlie South Island, a Dunedin season opening on Monday next. Genius has been described as a capacity for taking pains. At Hamilton Mr Henri Verbrugghen told a story which g'ves a certain point to the above definition. After one of Sarasate’s recitals in New York Mr Herman Finck. tlie critic, went round to the artist’s room "nd congratulated him on his marvellous nlayinff of Lalo’s “Esoagnole” concerto. Finck said: “It was the work of a g : anf—an effort of genius.” “Genius,” said Sara sate, “don’t tell nnvone. I have been practising it for 30 years.”

Tlio talumrs nl “Tim Mess lab” ; n Auckland on Tucsdav eiodit constituted a record Cor Australasia Cor the New PonCh Wains Slate Orches'ra’s fours. II is again stale ! that another theatre is to lie erected hi Hamilton by a wellknown vaudeville lirm.

Lovers of music- hi Hamilton—and their number ii"rw« to he constantly increasing—“•■ill be interested to learn dial ,\ir A. it. (I. Wynyard. of Auek--1 • - 1 (J con '■ "nipla l es setHT' in H uml'on

.is a tc-icher of the pianofori?. M. Wynyar.t. who !iv Hie way is a returned sojdii-- bavins - served for three years wdh Hie forces, has an excellent rriiitation in the New Zealand musical

world, an I h-e. had the r.ilvan'aw of study at llie ’toy:;! Vademy of Music in London. lie should he .a decided ncfiiiisilion to local musical circles, and will doubtless he warmly weleoined. Seen in Auckland this week, members of the New 'South Wales ‘Shale Orchestra were enthusiastic regardirur the manner in which they had been entertained in Hamilton during their stay here. They staled that they would always have pleasant memories of the hull of Hie Waikato and the people who made their sojourn here so pleasant. A visitor to Hamilton during - the w -W was Mr Herbert 11. Havies, of Adelr 1-1 - who for some years past has coudii 1 d a musV aeadcmv io Adelaide, and w! •■‘■■e |, de: I I ■ Vd •• .-h.-mre. Mr H: is at joe-ent. oniy .ooking round, -ul

may eventually settle in New Zealand. Mr Davies is a teacher of Hie violin, and fifteen Elder scholarships have been secured by his pupils. He is also a conductor, with a thorough knowledge of all the string instruments. Mr Davies has an idea, if his present intentions mature, of coming to New Zealand, and initiating a proper school of music.

Andrew Higginson, formerly beloved of the flappers when lead with the Williamson Musical Comedy Company, is now appearing in London in Oscar Aschc’s latest spectacle, “Eastward Ho,” which succeeded the record “Chu Chin Chow.” Hamiltonians who heard the New South Wales State Orchestra in Auckland state that it was heard to even better advantage in Hamilton, owing to the fine acoustic properties of the local Theatre Royal as compared with the Auckland Town Hall.