PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 108, Issue 18165, 1 November 1930, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

\ THEATRE ROYAL. j November 3. —Dance Extravaganza, “Happy- Days,” by pupils of Miss c Isabelle Brook. , \ November 12— Mavis Laurenson s p Dance Recital. December 23, 24.— J. C. Williamson £ (“New Moon” and “Belle of New j York.”) j J CIVIC THEATRE. I jNovember 17, 18.—Southwell School J r (“ Yeomen of the Guard.”) - p •‘New Moon” In New Zealand. j The latest Williamson musical play, j “New Moon," opened at Wellington j on Wednesday night. . I The play has been built out of inci- i dents in the life of Robert Misson, a j French aristocrat of revolutionary j tendencies in the days v -of Louis Xvi. j After narrowly escaping the guillotine Robert makes a speedy departure ( from France. He is pursued by pis r enemies to New Orleans. Here the , Vicomte Ribaud, one of Louis’s spies, finds Robert working as a bond servant in the mansion of a wealthy shipowner, Monsieur Beauoir. Robert ( has dared to raise his eyes and voice to, his master’s beautiful daughter, and Marianne has fallen in love with a man she really should not know. At first Marianne scorns the hero, but afterwards, by means of a subterfuge, she follows him aboard the New Moon, her father’s ship, in which Robert is to be taken by the chief villain and his followers back to France. There he will be tried as a traitor. The ship is, however, attacked by pirates. From here on the interest is sustained right up to the fall of the curtain. Comedy Company for New Zealand. A Williamson comedy -company will shortly tour New Zealand, opening with John Drinkwater’a play, “Uie Bird in Hand," which has been a tremendous hit in London and New York, and more recently in Australia.' The company will also be seen in “This Thing Called Love,” in which they are now appearing in Sydney. The company includes Mary MacGregor, Campbell Copelin, Harvey Adams (the well-loved Uncle of “Journey’s End”), Frank Bradley, Dulcie Cherry, Agnes Doyle, Roger Barry, John Fernside. Disbandment of Allan Wilkie’s Company. Following the disbandment of their , Shakespearean Company, Allan Wilkie and his wife, Frediswyde HunterWatts, commenced a country tour at Geelong last week, giving scenes from Shakespeare and old English comedy. They have a repertoire of 60 scenes. A singer, Claire Davis, assists with Shakespearean songs. The Wilkie Company had been touring for ten years. In announcing its disbandment Mr Wilkie' said he did not feel that the lack of support was due to any falling off in public appreciation of their efforts, but except for the five weeks’ season in Melbourne last year, they had experienced indifferent business for two years and a half. The conditions at present, however, were abnormal; every theatre -was finding the/ times difficult, and it was all a question of the extent of financial resources. Classical repertoires would always be a proposition, but with the restoration to better conditions he would not be deterred from starting again. Annie Croft In England. Annie Croft, who was “The Girl Friend” in New Zealand a year or two ago, has made a big hit as Teresa in a revival of "The Maid of the Mountains” in England. Her husband, Reginald Sharland, is doing quite well in the talkies in Hollywood. He had a part in “Inside the Lines,” screened in Hamilton during the week. Edith Taliaferro In Melbourne. , After the run of “Let. Us Be Gay” it the King's Theatre, Melbourne, Edith Taliaferro, the American comedy star, v?ill be transferred to the Comedy Theatre to appear in “The Road to Rome," a play of an unusual type. s Its theme is that of a great soldier who threw away the conquest of a city because of a woman's love. The play will be picturesquely produced on an elaborate scale. Associated with Edith Taliaferro in the cast will be J. B. Rowe and H. B. Jameson. “The Road to Romance” was done in Sydney some time ago by Margaret Laurence and Louis Bennison, who were afterwards involved in New York in a murder and suicide tragedy. Profits at London Drury Lane. At the thirty-third ordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, Ltd., London, the,net profit for the year ended June 30, 1930, was shown to be £17,079 7s Bd, which, with the balance from last year’s account, makes £28,332 13s lid. The directors recommend payment of a dividend of 10 per cent, and a bonus ol 2j per cent, (less income tax at 4s 6d), leaving £12,707 13s lid, to be carried forward.. From £lO to £650 a Week. Bobby, Howes, already, at 33, London’s most highly paid comedian, signed a contract with the Gainsborough Film Company which will add £250 a week to his income, says a London paper. Ten years ago he was earning £lO a week in a seaside concert party. He is now the principal comedian in the musical' play “Sons o’ Guns” at the London Hippodrome. He is paid at the Hippodrome 10 per cent, of the gross takings, with a guaranteed minimum of £3OO a week. Ills share of the takings has recently been £4OO a week. Mr Howes, who has never before appeared in a film, agrees in* the contract to make six talk films at the Gainsborough Company’s Islington studios at a fee which will yield him more than £250 a week. The contract does not debar him from continuing his work at the Hippodrome. The film has been written by Mr Arnold Ridley, the author of “The Ghost Train.” Mr Howes began his theatrical career at the age of 10. in a Boy Scout scena. He first appeared in London at Christmas 1924 in a play called •“Six Cylinder Love.”

Cast of “New Moon.” Here is the cast of “New Moon," which opened a New Zealand tour at Wellington on Wednesday— Julie Dulcie Davenport Monsieur Beaunoir .... John Ralston Captain Georges Duval ..Leo Darnton Vicomte Ribaud . . Bernard Manning Robert Misson Sidney Burchall Alexander Mm Gerald Besac ....... Don Nichol Jacques Sidney Wheeler Marianne Romola Hansen Pliillipe Herbert Browne Clotilde Amy Rochelle Doorman of Tavern

William Perryman Florette Jean Duncan Jeanette Miriam Leser A Spaniard John Pauley jsonia Margery Maxwell Fouchete Hori Thomas Lieutenant Brunet ..... James Scott Delemere Jack Money Emile Roy Baxter Rosita Bonita Olliver Ramon Sylvia Miller Verlaine Connie Hobbs Carola Rita Lloyd Trego Tom Broderick Captain De Jean Cecil Pawley

Getting Back to Normal. A little while ago it looked as if the “legitimate” stage had ended, as far

as New Zealand was concerned, and for some months no “flesh and blood” artist was seen or heard.

That state of affairs has ended. The theatrical drought was broken by , Wilhelm Backhaus, the pianist, who had a very successful tour, and the j Eric Edgley Musical Comedy Company, which did quite well with “Love Lies,” “So This Is Love” and “Hold Everything." Now we have Jan Kubelik, the violinist, drawing very large audiences everywhere; the “New Moon" company, opening in Wellington; the Humphrey Bishop Company, touring the country centres, with a long season to commence in Wellington this month; and a Williamson comedy company to open shortly in “The Bird in Hand.” ■ Another gratifying indication of the revived interest in the stage is that amateur societies —repertory and operatic—have been very active in recent months. Surprising Lack of Knowledge. An amusing incident, illustrating a surprising lack of knowledge by some people of world celebrities, occurred recently. ’ Denis Sheard, the tenor of the Humphrey Bishop Company, was in a tea room in a certain town (not Hamilton!) when he noticed Jan Kubelik, the great violinist, seated at one of the tables. As a joke Mr Sheard remarked to one of the attendants, “You have distinguished company to-day—me and Kubelik the violinist.” To his surprise the attendant replied, “Kubelik? Is he in your' orchestra”! V . This is on a par with the incident recorded this week, when a woman was heard to remark, as she gazed at the Hindu in charge of Mr Kubelik’s £25.000 Stradivarius violin in a shop wiiiuow, “I didn’t know Kubelik was an Indian” ! “ Happy Days ” on Monday.

q’he dance extravaganza, “Happy Days,” to be given at the Theatre Royal on Monday night by the pupils of Miss Isabelle Brook, assisted by dancers from Auckland, is creating much' interest, and a large audience is assured. Several spectacular scenes will be presented, including “Happy Days,” “Revels in a Toyshop,” “In a Garden of Roses,” “Scraps from London,” and “Dance-o-Mania,” introducing the beautiful Battle of Flowers. Portrait of “Sweet Nell” Stewart. At a farewell at Melbourne Nellie Stewart was presented with a fulllength portrait painting of herself, by W. B. Mclnnes. The portrait, which is of Nellie Stewart in the part of Sweet Nell of Old Drury, her most famous character, is to be handed to the trustees of the National Gallery. Sir Robert Best, making the presentation on behalf of her admirers, expressed the hope that it would be given a place in the National Gallery of Australia. Footllght Flashes. Mr Janies Scott, formerly'of Hamilton, has returned to New Zealand as a member of the “New Moon” company. “Sons o’ Guns” continues to draw large crowds in Sydney. Gus Bluett is very popular, and is well supported by Bertha Biccardo, Elsie Prince, Cecil Kelleway, Leo Franbiyn and others.

Herbert Browne, whose beautiful voice has delighted playgpers in several musical plays, including “XVildflower,” “The Desert Song,” etc., has returned to New Zealand in “The New Moon." Ivor Weir, pianist, who has been successfully touring America, England and the East on the vaudeville stage for the past year, with Charles Holt, female impersonator, and who is novv r in Australia, will return to New Zealand soon to visit relatives in Christchurch. Mr Weir and Mr Holt were formerly members of the Australian Smart Set “Digger” show.

THE WORLD OF MUSIC. l The Amazing Public! When Wilhelm Backhaus, pianist,, came to Hamilton some time ago complaints were heard that his programme was too “popular”; his items, it was said, were familiar to everyone.” . , This week we hear that Kubelik s programme on Tuesday night was not “popular" enough; that people knew few of his items!

Why not enjoy the programmes these masters give us,, instead of spoiling one’s pleasure by worrying about what is not given? One so seldom hears a classic played by a genius that criticism of what is or is not played by world-famous artists savours of presumptin —and is not a little absurd. Kubdlk In Christchurch.

Jan Kubelik, the great violinist, who was in Hamilton on Tuesday, will give the first of three recitals in Christchurch to-night. ' •When he returns to Wellington he will be associated with the Philharmonic Orchestra (65 performers) in the first performance in New Zealand of Tschaikowsky’s Violin Concerto. Also on the programme will he

Dvorak’s New World Symphony, and Nvagner's massive Tannnauser Overture. Record Booking. The booking at Christchurch on the day the filans opened for the Jan Kubelik season constituted a record for any visiting violinist, over 3700 seats being allotted, covering the three concerts. In New York. Soloists with the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra this season are Josef Szigeti, Jascha Heifetz; and Efrem Zimbalist, violinists; Ernest Hutcheson, Alexander Siloti, Carlo Zecchi, Nikolai Orloff, and Jose Iturbi, pianists. .Her Big Chance. Mr Humphrey Bishop, who was in Hamilton last week, was indirectly responsible for Miss Rosina Buckman, the New Zealand soprano, being able to take advantage of her “big chance." . Mr Bishop had engaged Miss Buckman to appear in the Isie of Man. Just before she opened that engagement she received an offer from Dame Nellie Melba for grand opera, and Mr Bishop kindly released her. Miss Buckman’s success in “Madame Butterfly” and other operas is now musical history. Music Interferes With Matrimony. Miss Nanette Guilford, the “Baby Soprano” of the New York Metropolitan Opera Company, has obtained a divorce from Mr Max Rosen, a violinist, on the grounds of incompatibility of temperament and the failure of her husband to support her. Miss Guilford says she is convinced

that it is difficult for musical artists to make a success of matrimony. Musical Moments. Mr Hubert Carter will appear in “The Messiah," with the Wanganui Male Choir on. November 19. At an operatic concert given by the Auckland Choral Society on Thursday night Madame Irene Ainsley, formerly of Hamilton, gave excerpts from “Carmen” and “Mignon.” Harry Fearn, who toured New Zealand some lime ago l as principal boy soprano with the Westminster Glee Singers, arrived from Sydney by the Aorangi on a visit to friends in the Dominion. Percy Grainger, the eminent pianist and composer, recently sent to Mr H. Temple White copies of his “The Hunter in His Career,” for male chorus, with accompaniment for two pianos. This will be performed by the Apollo Singers at their second concert in Wellington on December 4.