TOWN HALL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1472, 11 July 1918, Page 35

TOWN HALL.

SIGNOR CAPELLI.

A treat is in store for music-lovers in the forthcoming visit of Signor Capelli, the brilliant Italian tenor who toured New Zealand with the Gonsalez Grand Opera Company. Capelli will sing a number of gems from his operatic repertoire, including solos from “I Pagliacci,” “L’Africane,” “Carmen,” “Aida,” “Faust,” “Rigoletto,” and “Traviata.” His recent concerts in Australia were attended with phenomenal success and the opportunity of hearing such a star in concert work in New Zealand is sure to be hailed with pleasure. The supporting artists are Mr. John Amadio, the noted flautist; M. Lucien Cesaroni, operatic bass; Miss Vera Bedford, soprano; and that fine accompanist, Mr. Harold Whittle. A four nights’ season opens in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on Saturday, July 13, the dates for the remaining concerts being July 16, 17, 18.

The following are the North Island dates for J. C. Williamson’s big spectacular revue, “The Bing Boys are Here”: —Hawera, Monday, July 22; Wanganui, Tuesday and Wednesday, July 23 and 24; Palmerston North, Thursday, July 25; Napier, Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27; Hastings, Monday, July 29; Masterton, Tuesday, July 30; Wellington, Wednesday, July 31. ♦ ♦ * * The Jones and Raines (survivors from the Wimmera) benefit at the Open House last Friday resulted in nearly £2OO being subscribed for the popular artists. The building was packed and an excellent programme was given by Fuller artists, and by Mr. Sydney James and his company. Mr. Stephenson, in a few words, introduced Mr. and Mrs. Jones, who met with a hearty demonstration from the crowded audience. Mr. Jones feelingly expressed his thanks. * * * Mr. Harold Whittle, accompanist for Capelli, has acted in a similar capacity with Madame Melba and Paul Dufault. amongst other noted singers.

Miss Madeline Knight, well known in Auckland musical circles, has joined the Scarlet Troubadours, and should be an asset to the popular Branscombe combination. There are ten members in the company and all are new to New Zealand except Mr. Andrew Pace, Miss Ivy Davis and Mr. Courtney Ford —three established favourites. The tour opens at Wanganui on Saturday under Mr. John Hopkins’ direction.

Sydney James’ Strollers concluded a successful season at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday night with a burlesque of “Aladdin.” The production was screamingly funny, the skit on the stereotyped pantomime features being cleverly worked and hugely enjoyed. Their Excellencies the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool attended the performance.

It’s a case of general post with the J. C. Williamson managers at present in New Zealand. Mr. John Farrell, business manager of the “Dick Whittington” Pantomime Company, has come up to Auckland to take control of “The Bing Boys,” and Mr. Chas. M. Berkeley will see the pantomime to the finish in New Zealand end then advance the “Bing Boys” for the remainder of the tour. Mr. Robt. Williamson leaves for Wellington this week after spreading broadcast along the line the approach of the “Bing Boys,” and starts off with heralding the advent of Miss Kathlene McDonell, who opens in Wellington next month in “Romance.”

Mr. George Robey, the noted English cgmedian, has been presented with a walking stick made of African buffalo horn, mounted with gold, with an engraved plate and Springbok badge, by some South African soldier admirers at Richmond, England.

It is understood (says the “Grey Star”) that the Government have offered Mr. Tom Pollard, and he has accepted, the position of controller of the Amusement Tax for the Dominion.

C’rude were the drugs and clinic ways In what were called “the good old days,” For science then was at its birth. And what it taught was little worth; They knew no anaesthetic then, Nor means of storing oxygen; And what was just as sad, be sure, They had no Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.

There was a popular wedding in the Haverley Revue Coy. last month, Mr. Reg. Moore and Miss Merle Stewart being married at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland, on June 20, the Rev. Father Buckley officiating. Miss C. Warner was bridesmaid and Mr. Billy Maloney was best man. To celebrate the event a reception was held on the stage at the close of the Saturday night performance, when about 60 guests were entertained at a jolly little party. Mr. George Stephenson, manager of the Opera House, made a felicitous speech, voicing the good wishes of all for the happiness and prosperity of the newly-married couple. Mr. Tom Haverley also made a happy little speech, and Mr. Jones rattled off the “Wedding March.” The bride was presented by the company with a set of handsome trinkets for the dressing table. Mr. and Mrs. Moore, who are recent acquisitions to the Haverley Company, were partnered for some time in a musical turn on the Fuller circuit under the title of Stewart and Moore, presenting an act artistic and refined. Mrs. Moore, who is a skilful pianist as well as singer, studied at the Melbourne University Conservatorium under Sobell, and was on the concert platform before turning her thoughts to vaudeville. Mr. Moore has a pleasing tenor voice, which has brought him into favour with the public, both in solos and in conjunction with his wife.

Referring to Miss Ivy Shilling’s dancing success in London, a writer in “Woman at Home” observes: — “Australia, for some reason or another, seems to produce almost as good dancers as she does singers and actresses. The Dominions have for many years past accepted and welcomed the touring companies that have gone out there from here, and have not, perhaps by reason of their

country’s comparative youth, sent us any touring companies in return. But the fine work that is being done in London at the present time by colonial-born stars is an excellent proof of the good training and appreciation of the best which one may well believe is typical of the Dominions. One of the most remarkable acrobatic dancers at present on the stage is the astoundingly vital Ivy Shilling. She won an extraordinary success in ‘Three Cheers’ at the Shaftesbury with her gymnastic dances, in which she threw her partner about like a ball, and exhibited muscular strength usually only associated with a man, while keeping every attitude full of feminine grace and beauty. She is, above all, a lithe and very beautiful woman, and her movements are like the graceful springs of a young tigress; there is nothing of the excessive development of the stage strong woman, though her muscular strength must be enormous. In answer to a question whether she had always done this kind of dancing, ‘Oh, no!’ she said. ‘I was trained as an operatic dancer in the conventional toe work, but I grew so big that I felt I looked silly doing it. A tall operatic dancer is, to my thinking, an unattractive sight, so I tried to vary it, and Mr. Leslie produced an acrobatic number with me as his dancing partner, and we did work of this kind for about five years in Australia. It took an extraordinary amount of acrobatic training, of which skipping and jiu-jitsu formed part. We came over here just before the war broke out, with a jiujitsu dance as a turn, and did it for four weeks, but the war made things difficult in the musical hall world.’ ”

Mr. Sydney James must hold the record for long-service artists. Miss Madeline Rossiter has been with him for 14 years, and Mr. W. J. Desmond for 15.