MUSIC AND DRAMA.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20493, 11 March 1932, Page 6

MUSIC AND DRAMA.

VISITING ARTISTS. SYBIL THORNDIKE'S WORLD TOUR. I (moil OL"E OWN CORRESrOXDENT.) | LONDON, February 2. Dame Sybil Thorndike and her husband, Lewis Casson, with a picked company of twelve London artists will be arriving in New Zealand about August. After appearing for three weeks in the leading part in "The Dark Saint," a play adapted from the French, to be presented at the Fortune Theatre on February 2nd, Dame Sybil Thorndike will set out with her company for Egypt and Palestine, where a short season will be played. They will join the Oronsay at Port Said on April 13th, due to arrive at Perth on May 3rd, from then coming under the Williamson management. The season will open on May 7th at Perth. Actual fixture dates are not known in London, but the eminent actors should be in New Zealand some time in August.

"Saint Joan," by Bernard Shaw, will be their principal presentation, and the , company will also play a Napoleonic comedy, entitled "Madame Goes Nap,' ; . "The Taming of the Shrew," "The » Painted Veil" (by Somerset Maugham), and "The Queen's Husband" (a light • comedy now being played at St. Martin's Theatre). After leaving New Zealand, the company will be visiting Canada and the Argentine. Mr J. N. Tait (Messrs Williamson's London representative) considers that the company will be the finest dramatic organisation which has visited the Dominions during the past ten years. Dame Sybil Thorndike, who was born at Rochester, and is tlio daughter of the late Canon Arthur Thorndike, first studied music with the idea of becoming a professional pianist. She then studied for the stage at Ben Greet's Academy, and made her first professional appearance at Oxford in 1904, as Phyllis in "My Lord from Town." Sho toured in the United States for four years, playing in Shakespearean repertory. Afterwards she became a prominent member of the Manchester Repertory Company. She made her first appearance on a London stage at the Scala Theatre in 1908, and after a number of successes she joined Ben Greet at the Old Vic in November, 1914, and she has made the Old Vic her principal dramatic home ever since. "Saint Joan," in which Dame Sybil Thorndike appears as Joan of Arc, was first produced at the New Tlieatro in March, 1924, and it has been revived on several occasions. This is one of her biggest and finest parts. She has appeared in two films—-"Moth and Bust," in 1921, and in "Dawn," in which she took the part of Nurse Cavell. She also appeared in a talking film, "To What Red Hell," in 1929. She is a Dame of the British Empire and a Doctor of Literature. Mr Lewis Casson mado his first appearance as a professional at the Royalty Theatre id 1903 as Polixines in "The Winter's Tale," and then appeared as Cassius in "Julius Caesar." He played later with H. B. Irving, Oscar Asche, and Lily Brayton. After many successes in London and a tour in America he was appointed director of the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester, in 1911, where he was responsible for a number of original productions. He served in the Royal Engineers in Franco from 1915 to the end of the war, and was awarded the M.C. Since the war he has played a great deal with his wife, but ho has also appeared in jjiany notable productions in other theatres Of the West End. He was leading man for Gladys Cooper at the Playhouse, and his most recent rolo has been in Somerset Maugham's "Painted Veil." Another member of the family, by the way, is Mary Casson, a daughter, born in May, 1914, She, too, is on the stage, and has already a number of parts to her credit. It is more than likely that she will tour with her parents as sho did in South Africa in 1928. j Both Mr Casson and Dame Sybil are very helpful to young people who aspire to maJce the stage their profession, and who show real talent in that direction. They are always ready to give helpful advice and encouragement. Mr Casson is a very level-headed man, as well as d fine actor, and his popular wife has great zest and enthusiasm, so tho judgment of the two together is always well balanced in this connexion. The very successful New Zoaland actress, Miss Marie Ney, would bo ono of the first to acknowledge gladly tho encouragement and help which she received from Dame Sybil soon after sho arrived in England from Australia. The former was understudying tho latter at Stratford-on-Avon. The actress of experience recognised the promise that showed itself in the newcomer, and suggested therefore that sho should lot Dame * Lilian Bayliss, of Old Vic fame, know about her. With the strong recommendation of both Mr Casson and Dame Sybil, Miss Ney became known to Dame Lilian, and from that timo on tho New Zealander has mado continuous progress, by hard, steady, and intelligent work, until to-day she is one of London's outstanding actresses, able to portray admirably a groat variety of rolos. Permanent Opera Company. Benno Moisewitsch, -pianist, is to be in Sydney about Easter time, when he will commence a tour of Australia. ! Afterwards he is to play in the four principal towns of New Zealand. He has just completed a Continental tour, having played in Rome, Madrid, and Barcelona. It is probable that he will bo in New Zealand about June. He will be accompanied by his wife and a son, aged six months. _ Mr Tait also announces that his'firm is organising an operh company tour of Australia and New Zealand in conjunction with the newly-formed Imperial Opera Syndicate in Australia. It is intended to establish this company as a more or less permanent organisation, which will tour all over Australia and New Zealand. The supply 0 f the chief artists will be kept up from Europe The operas in which they will perform include "La Boheme " "lf a Tosca," "Madama. Butterfly," "Faust Tro^°re," "Afan'on" 3n , rascllera >" and Mftnon. Dates have not yet been fixed, but it is likely the company S open in Australia in May. '