ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14770, 8 October 1921, Page 12 (Supplement)

ACROSS THE FOOTLIGHTS

PLAYS AND PICTURES, (By Fra Dtavolo.) THEATRE ROYAL. Nightly—Pictures. October 18.—Hamilton Orphans’ Concert on behalf of Waikato Hospital. November 9—J. C. Williamson. December I—J.1 —J. C. Williamson. January 9—J. C. Williamson. KING’S THEATRE. Nightly—Pictures. THE STRAND. Nigh tly—P Ictures. A Master Elocutionist. What an object lesson in elocution Mr Alexander Watson provided in his entertainment at Hamilton this week. The purity of his English was a de-n light to the car. How delightfully Mr Watson retained the rhythm of the lines, while at the same time getting the full dramatic value from the selections. The visit of Mr AVatson will doubtless revive interest in elocutionary competitions, the importance of .which in fostering talent, improving the English of young people, and developing a love for the best in literature, cannot be over-estimated. Hamt ilton should have a strong Competitions Society, the success of which is assured. Hospital Benefit Concert. A concert on behalf of the fund to (extend the Bailey Consumptives’ Ward at the Waikato Hospital will be i given by the Hamilton Orphans’ Club at the Theatre Royal on Tuesday, October 18th. The goodness of the cause is sufficient to draw a crowded house, but in addition a very attractive programme is being arranged. Every £1 of the proceeds of Hie concert will carry a Government subsidy of 2is. j Hard Times. It is said that some of the smaller companies touting New Zealand arc finding that Hie “lightness” of money i •» is having its effect in greatly reduced business, and arc finding it difficult to keep louring. I heard of one, management which is said to have lost £I2OO. A professional friend, with the good humour which is typical of .“pros” under all circumstances, writes: “If the slump continues I will ■ have to hie myself to the forests and Avieid an axe, to keep the proverbial wolf from casting his shadow across the ‘stoop.’ ” The “slump” is doubtless only a passing phase, and will disappear with the approach of the holiday (season. “Paddy tha Next Best Thing.” This play, which was produced in Sydney recently, is said to be another '“Peg o’ My Heart,” and is evidently in for a long run. Isobel Brosnan, specially brought from London, is Paddy Adair, a dear, irresponsible colleen, brought up as a boy by a father who didn’t want a girl in his family, and so treats her as a son, as “the next best thing.” Agncw McIMaster, another important artist, takes the part of the young lover, Jack O’Hara. Claude Flemming gets a fat part as Lawrence Blake, and other well-known members of a strong cast are Cecil Kelleway, Doris Kendall, Meta Pelham, Iza Millett, Betty Lingard, Roger Barry and Oracle Lavers. Dame Clara Butt's Pians. Discussing plans for their future movements, Dame Clara Butt said that after a tour of Australia and New Zealand, with Mr Kennerlcy Rurnford, J she would leave for America and . Canada shortly after Christmas, ■ “doing” Honolulu while the boat waited “Such a concert,” explained Dame Clara Butt, "is given according to the time of arrvial, a great bell being rung to summon the people to ascertain the announcement, an arrangement thoroughly understood, as the liner stops at the Island for only a few hours. We shall arrive first at Vancouver, and tour Canada from the Vain, living in it all the time, with dining rooms, sleeping rooms, and bathrooms ail on board. In this way we shall visit all the great Canadian centres, and tour many towns in the United States, not reaching England until April or May." Dame Clara Butt will probably come to New Zealand next month or

in December. Tha Career of Mischa Levitzki. Mischa Levitzki, the famous pianist, Kvho has created enthusiasm in Auckland during the week, interviewed, said: “i am 23 years of age, and feel much younger. I was born in Russia, and when my people found I had gone degree of talent, I learned the piano and music at a little town called Kemenchug. Later I went to Warsaw, to the great conservatorium, and ■studied under Professor Michailovvsky. I went to America at 8* years of age, and studied very hard until I was 13. I went to ordinary school as well, of courge. I learned in the States under Stojowski, a brilliant Polish teacher and composer. After that 1 went to Berlin’ to (inisli my studies, and I learned there under the Hungarian, TJohnanyi, who is a very' great composer indeed.” The virtuoso went on to tell of the great seasons in Germany during the first two years of the war. Although (English and P’rcnch and Russian artists were not playing, there were people such as Busoni, d’Albert, Schnabll, Friedmann, Dohnanyi, and 'lesser lights touring Hie country. In addition to those mentioned previously, Nikisch and Richard Strauss were conducting the great orchestras, and Plcsch and Willy Durmcstcr were playing the violin. “It was the number playing,” said Levitzki, ‘it was the great interest shown in the music, i The opera was crowded every night.”

Levitzki went back lo America in 191'i, and has completed five seasons there, giving an average of GO concerts a season. “This is the first time I have been out of America since my return from Germany,” he said.

Frank Hutchens In England. Writing from England towards the end of August, Mr Frank Hutchens, the well-known pianist, stated that he was visiting Weymouth, where Mr Will Hutchens was violinist in a splendid orchestra. Mr Frank Hutchens says that he is glad to get away from busy London. He had been working up three concert programmes for the London autumn season. A Dramatic Incident. “It was whilst staying at a board-ing-house at Cologne,” said Daniel Mayer, manager for Mischa Levitzki, the pianist, “that I came in contact with a young man who promised to be the most brilliant pianist in the World. This was Carl Herman, of Dutch origin. When but 19 years of age he began to take a very absorbing Interest in religion. One night we ■went, to a concert, during which a pianist named Isadore Sniss played a concerto. During his jtrrtofjnancc.

Seiss became faint and drooped over the keyboard. Realising that something serious had occurred, Herman ran forward, jumped upon the platform, and said :‘I will finish the concerto.’ And he did in a most brilliant and impressive manner. I went home to the boarding-house after the concert, and when lieyman came home I was the first to meet and congratulate him. Then in the strangest manner he drew mo upstairs to his room, and, having shut the door, I had for two hours to listen to the ravings of a lunatic. The next day he was taken to an asylum, incurably mad —and the world lost a really great pianist.” Wilkie Bard Coming. Of all comedians seen in Australia, Wilkie Bard is easily the most artistic and successful, says the Green Room. He satisfies the man who, in the word “comedian” recognises only a person able to raise a hearty guffaw as well as those gentler souls who are quick to appreciate the delicate shafts of wit which Wilkie Bard shoots among his audience from the most unexpected angles. Wilkie Bard will tour New Zealand shortly at the head of a vaudeville compan Footllght Flashes. The Maslerion Amateur Operatic Society staged "The Geisha” recently. Mr W. S. Percy is making his first Australian appearance in Sydney in “Theodore and Co." The Vice-Rcgals left for Sydney this week. They expect to return to New Zealand next year. The English Pierrots are now in Christchurch, and the ‘‘Three Wise Fools” Company in Wellington. So successful has “The Maid of the Mountains” proved in Australia, that ihc Williamson management has sent out a No. 2 company. An entertainment on behalf of the Hamilton Municipal Band will be given by the Strand Picture management shortly. Lcvante, the illusionist who, with his partner Kcech, scored such a great success at the Strand Theatre some time ago, experts to return to Hamilton next month.

Mr Harold Bock, the well-known ’cellist, who has been with the New South Wales Orchestra for the past two years, is returning to Christchurch, where he intends to settle for some time.

New songs in the present repertoire of Dame Clara Butt and Kennedy Rurnford are “Have You News of My Boy Jack?” ‘The Home Coming of Hie Unknown Warrior,” and “The Sea Volunteer’s Song.” Several Hamiltonians who heard Mischa Levitski during the week in Auckland are enthusiastic regarding his wonderful playing. They state that the young Russian is entirely free from mannerisms.

The last mail brought news of another revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas in Loudon.' Much interest was being tfkcn in the contemplated production of “Ruddigore,” which had not been played for many years. Miss Grace Torrence, who is the pianist of the Bult-Rumford tour, is also a composer, and composed some of the music for “Chu Chin Chow” and "Eastward Ho," M. Melsa i$ the violinist of the combination.

Members of the Hamilton Orphans’ Club journeyed to Te Aroha this week, and presented a particularly (Inc programme; They report having had a very enjoyable time, being most hospitably entertained by the Te Aroha fraternity. Mrs Herrick Knowles (Miss Lily Titheradge played Ncrissa in the Shakespearean celebration at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, on September 29, when “The Merchant of Venice” took the board for one matinee. Mr Walter Bentley played Shylock, and Mrs T. 11. Kelly appeared as Portia. “Mischa Elman was the greatest genius on the violin I ever heard," said Mr Mayer, manager for MiscEa Levitzki, the Russian pianist. “It is just a pity he had not the education to uphold his position. He is not so brilliant as he was, and is inclined to play to the gallery over much.” The noise of the engine outside the Town Hall, and the playing of a brass band in the vicinity, seriously disturbed Mr Alexander Watson at his recital in Hamilton this week. Other artists have remarked to me on the difficulty of concentrating on their work owing to the same cause. Another argument for a new municipal hall!

The cantata “Esther” was presented by the Trinity Presbyterian Church Choir at Cambridge this week. The soloists were: Esther, Miss Lilian Thompson; Vasliti, Miss M. Rodewaid; First Maid of Honour, Miss M. Gordon; Mordecai, Mr W. Perkins; the King, Mr A. E, Thornley; Haman, Mr K. Impett; High Priest, Mr D. Congalton; Hagar, Mr J. Brittain; and Mr de Lucn. Rev. T. H. Roscveare acted as conductor.