MUSIC AND THE DRAMA

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 80, 29 December 1920, Page 8

MUSIC AND THE DRAMA

WHAT 1920 BROUGHT US A POST-WAR RE-AWAKENING ON STAGE AND PLATFORM. (By "Sylvius.") Tho ihealrical-cuni-musical year which is just closing began auspiciously in Wellington with grand opera, fairly well done by a J. C. Williamson Company, which lias since gone to pieces. It was announced that this firm was to keep tho company going as a training ground for the encouragement of local talent, which sounded very promising, but such was not to- be. Those Block company ideas can never stand up to a real test. That was proved twenty years ago, when one of the best stock companies in the Empire— tho Brough and Uoucicatilt Company— failed lb hold on. I have seen Finero's "The Amazons," a delightful comedy, perfectly cast, being played to empty benches in the Theatre Koyal, Sydney. The pity of it! Tho Williamson grand opera season introduced us to some promising young singers in Gertrude Johnson, 'Strclla Wilson (now with tho new Gilbert-Sullivan Company), and Leah Myers. The male members were second and i'hird flighters in the main. During the same month the New South Wales State Orchestra, under Henri Vorbrugghen, gave Wellington. its first tnsto of orchestral music, reasonably near tho real thing, but so amazingly in advance of anything heard in New Zealand that the public took nil it could get, and asked for more. They are getting it this month, in a return visit of the Orchestra under .1. and N. Tait management. January also saw the first, appearance here of Miss Daisy Kennedy, the most cultured and deeply interesting lady violinist heard in New Zealand since the days of Camilla Ursa (who toured with Madame De Vorc Sapio). Miss Kennedy (Mrs. Moiseiwitsch) is now in New York.

The first dramatic attraction was ilia series of American dramas jplayed by the Muriel Starv-Frnlk Harvey combination, which included "The Man Who Cnmo Back" and "The Bird of Paradise," not veil- remarkable plays from any standpoint, as disappointing to the players as to the public. "The Silent Witness" was a good drama, which would bear revival. "Common Clay" was also strong meat, and technically and humanly speaking, the most gripping play of the series.

In .February, Allan Wilkie, temporarily deserting the Bard, returned to produce "Tho Luck of the Navy." a good wartime drama, just a littole past its bloom lime. "Tho liotters," which followed, was a sordid And clover play of -Mean Street manners—not so good or real, however, as "Hindle Wakes." Miss Kate Howard brought along "Possum Paddock," hut its crude, simpl| humour and age. old situations did not entrance Ae public. J. and N. 'fait seilt "Daddies" to New Zealand in April, and its somewhat forced merriment and overdone sentiment found fair favour with the public. The company returned later lb play "Tho Little Damosel,"-a puerile comedy without a, backbone.

One of the big hits of the year was Frank Bacon's'play of character "Lightnin'," with Mr. John D. O'Hnra in Mr. Bacon's original part. It was altogether a whimsical oddity in American comedy, and "caught" everywhere. The Williamson pantomime "The Sleeping Beauty" came and conquered in June last. It was one of tho most satisfying shows of its kind in my memory, and was appreciated as such. "Mother Hubbard" (J. and N. Tait) caine tho riext month and suffered by comparison in almost every respect, due in largo part to a "go-slow" policy on the part of the comedians. li, July Miss Gertrude Johnson returned to Wellington at tho head of a concert party, and her singularly pure and well-controlled soprano voice was heard in a wide selection of song. August saw the arrival hero of Miss Amy Evans and Mr.' Praser Gauge, two exceptional concert artists, whom the New Zealand public has taken to its bosom. That they w,ere abU to keep moving in New Zealand for four months is some indication of their success. Thej\ are to return' to "festivalise" in tho four centres in 1922. About the same timo there was an epidemic of costume comedy shows—lite English Pierrots, the "Aussie" Diggers, and others, which helped to keep the theatrical pot bubbling. In August tho Choral Union sang "Lucia di Lammermcor" for tho first time (in concert style), and again Miss Gertrude Johnson showed her capacity, In this performance Mr. R. ,li. Orr, a, local baritone, did very well, but M. Ivan Tarb'yoff, the tenor, was too much handicapped by tho late task he had set himself to succeed.

At tlio end of August J. and N. Tait delivered "Tiger Rose," a play mostly remarkable for the best storm effect ever "heard" upon the stnge. No storm was seen—it was a triumph in oral psychology. The play was indifferently built and fnirly well cast only.

In October large audiences heard Miss Adelaide van Stavercn at the Town Hall. This gifted Wollingtonian has a very fine voice, of exceptional power and range, and, being emotional, her incursions into grned opera are made very vital and real. Miss van Staveren is to sing with tlio New South Wales State Orchestra next month. The theatrical 'bloom 'of October was lan Hay's "Tilly of Bloomsbury," a vory humorous, if somewhat overdrawn, slte'ch of London life, by lan Hay. It was very well done, and no one was better in the cast than our old friend Mrs. Robert Brough. November brought "The Bing Boys on Broadway" and "The Passing Show of 1920," both bright, jolly shows of the revue order, which gave Miss Jennie Hartley and Mr. Phil Smith every scope to display their comedy resource. That brings us up to Decenilwr, which opened with a very creditable amateur performance of "A Country Girl," whilst tlio "dog nights" before Christmas wero filled by "The Man from Toronto," <* comedy of especial charm and fancy which might havo' l»en called "She, Stoops to Conquer Up-to-Dato," if it wero not so whimsically - individual. Mr. George Tully and Miss Margaret Swallow gave ovcry satisfaction in the leads. Now we arc fortunate enough to have with us Miss Mario Tempest, probably one of the most -brilliant of England's comedy actresses, who has a long list of triumphs behind her. Mis? Tempest (and with her Mr. Graham Browne) will be seen in a portfolio of plays that have made world successes. They aro all substantial, 'brainy comedies, and are written with English pens on English themes. A review of the year would not be complete without a passing reference to the performance of all three parts of "Hiawatha" (Coleridge Taylor) and "The Messiah" (with the Ganges), by the Choral Union, and the first performance in New Zealand of Haddon Chambers's tasteful comedy, "The Saving Grace," by a party of .Wellington amateurs, in October Inst. Wellington is the richer for having as a resident Miss Ava Synions, the ex-Auckland violinist (now Mrs. W. Prouse), and for the return of Mr. Horace Hunt, the pianist, who has broadened his culture in Europe. Mr. Bernard F. Pag« ''a 8 continued his organ recitals fitfully throughout the year.