Mimes and Music

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 15

Mimes and Music

BT "ORPHCUI'

Peter Dawson is back iv London,.and had a rapturous welcome at the Palladium. He featured the "Cobbler's Song and'"Boots" in his opening programme. Dorothy,Brunton wag the Sonia of a revival 'or "The Merry Widow" at Sydney las.t 'Saturday night. Mrs. Jack Melfoid, who died in London recently, wias.tKe wife of Jack Melford, a popular London performer. She married him secretly in 1929, when both were acting in "Mr.-Oindcis." She was Eene Mallory, and was known as "the record understudy," having on one occasion taken Ivy Tresmand's part in " YvonneV at Only twenty minutes' notice. Ella Shields ,has written some new songs. One of "Nobody Xoves Me," the story of two niggers. Another is "Oh, What a Night!" Her welcome at Finsbury Patk Emphe was in the nature of an ovation. ~ Sydney Ecpertory Players aie to stage "Waterloo Bridge," known to us only as a film\ '' Auckland LiftletJtheatie is contemplating "The Constant' Nymph" for its next presentation^- "' '-,f Jean Cadell,'the scenailojwritiug governess of "Hollywood Holiday" in Londou, took the role of Quoen Elizabeth in the Arts pioduction, "1066 and All That," set down for 3id Januaiy. This play: is an adaptation by Michael Watts1, of the book by W. G. Sellar and R. J. ■Yeatman, ,done at the y Festival Theatre, Cambridge. Jane- Coates wroto the music for itr A -new play by G.- K. Chesterton was to be presented by 'the London Arts Theatre on 20th January. A comedy in real Chesterton vein, the piece is entitled \'Thct- Judgment of Dr. Johnson,'^ is in^three. acts,-and "has scenes laid in London drawing rooms. Francis Sullivan, the religious editor of the London success,-'"Late Night Final," was cast as Dr. (he was to appear also' in <<J066 and AH That"); Boswell and_Mrs. Thrale wei c other fam ous characters to appear in the play, which Was to be preceded by "The Comforter, 4" a ono-act piece by Laurence Housman, in which Gladstone, Mrs. Gladstone/" and' John Moiley aie seen in a Downing street setting. London Prince of Wales Theatre has been freshly seated and decorated in a colour scheme" of green, silver, and mauve, and reopened in December .with "Passing Through-Lorraino," the title being altered to "She Passed Through Lorraine." The 'original Arts Theatre cast was to play it, with Thea "Holme as the false Joan' of Arc who comes to life five years after the martyrdom of the real Joan. For the first time in Wellington tho musical farce "Cox and Box" will be staged by J. C. Wiliamson's Gilbert and Sullivan Company as on Thursday next, as a curtain-raiser to "H.M.S. Pinafore." For 'Cox and Box" Sir Arthur Las composed some delightful melodies. It was first staged on 27th April, 1867. "Cox-and Box" was produced for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., by Ivan % Menzics, ho having appearod in it in England. Si* Arthur Sullivan composed the music for "Cox and Box" when he was 25 years of age, and it is said that it is one of his finest efforts} The story is clever and quite original, and tlie dialogue is snappy and brilliant. , Robert Hale, last seen in London 'in "Sons o' Guns" in 1930, mado his "return to tho~6tagc at London Hippodrome at Christmas, in tho new revne "Bow Bells." His talented daughter, Binnie, had a.leading part, father and daughter -"appearing together for the first time in London. Richard Strauss's new opera, "Arabella," r is. to be pioduced at Dresdon in the riear future. Krfrl Alwin, husband of Schumann, outlines the new" work (,with*.the interest and enthusiasm, of close friendship with the composer) as being set in the Vienna of the Franz. Joseph era'in 1860—the fiacre period. 'Arabella and Sd'enka, the latter the Cinderella of tho family, are sisters, the former her father's favourite^ Sdenka is dressed as a boy to allow Arabella,a"free 'matrimonial field, but Sdenka casts off "masculine attire fo keep a^endezvous'intended for her more favoured Bister.' ' A waltz in the third act-, 'and Czeehoslovakian 'themes in the second, are features of the new work"." "'"<■ " ;" ," " A first performance' in Europe of Respighi's- ' "Metamorphosen Modi" was gi\on in Rome recently. This" Woik was specially composed ,for the fiftieth anniversary -of., the Boston' Orchestra. Later, Bespighi's MHistory.of Mary of Egypt," 'a mystery play arranged -for Soloist, choir, and small orchestra,'is to be given at Bom©.1' - The eeason lasts until Sth May, 1^321 % , • Sir Thomas' Beeeham and the London Symphony Orchestra-,, had Katharine Goodson as soloist in 'the A Major Pianoforte Concerto ot Mozart for, their Paris conceits in December. < The Lamourenx'Orchestra came from Fjance bywwary r of exchange. - J ■ Emmanuel Moor, the inventor of the doable-keyboard piano,, died in New York during' December. '- He was » cousin of Professor Moor-Karoly, of Auckland. '•..-. a i" .i " Sydney Culver, husband of Maggie Dickinson, the dancer, not return to Australia^ with his wife. He is stage manager in' London for' "\Valtzess of Vienna" (in which the dancing Maggie will appear,in Australia). Birmingham Repertory opened its season -with ♦•Barretts of Wimpole Street,^ 1 William Rea (whose performance as Abraham^ Lincoln attracted much attention some years ago) playing 'Cedrio Hardwicke's part of Mr. Barrett. «'La PoupeoV was revived at Daly's for a twice-daily season on" Christmas Eve, '-with Jean Colin in-the name part. Martin Henry presented and produced "Alf's Button." at London Scala during • Christmas week, with his daughter, ' Mary, as the heroine: ' Guy • Fane - was Alf; Jack Morris, Bill. Seats were at the Tatlier remarkable prico'of 2s 6"d 'for stalfs,'and 7d for the gallery, including tax. Helen Zenria Smith's* renwikablo novel, "Not So Quiet," a' tale of women behind the lines in; France, has been' changed 'into "Stepdaughters of War," for stage presentation at London Embassy, Sunday performances. Kenyon Nicholson adapted tho story, which is not so lucid or-so vivid aa Miss Smith's startling disclosures of an ambulance driver's experiences. -■ The Regal is the latest. London cinoma to rescoro itß orchestra in answer to the general demand of filmgoeis for real as opposed to mechanical music, and to, in some cases, : supplement indifferent talkies. Mr. Frank Thistleton, organiser of the Musicians'' Benevolent Fund, states that distress among British' musicians is acute,!'"betwden'ten and twelve thousand,being affected by canned music. ,The,time..for. revival of real music, expertly, played,.,seems to be ripe, filmgoers: missing th-> type of music associated with silents. Elaine; Lettor, a goddaughter of Her Majesty the, Queen,,(.her father is one of. the Buckingham. Palace, staff)> was cast in the London production of "Bow Bells," at' the Hippodrome. Others, included Nelson Key 3, Andre Randall (French- comedian), Harriet Hoctor (American ,dancer)y Betty'- Frankiss (who: was in "Wonder' Bar"), Billy ■Milton,'and Edwin Styles.v >-•.■'. Kathleen t)'Regan,'._who was with the Irish Players,, tiad'a further chance in "Max and Mr. Max," at London Vaudeville. A. talented player, she took

l the part of a girl motorist who invades • a bachelor's mountain, retrea after, an i accident. The comedy, of Spanish ori--1 gin, was presented by Archie de Bear, who gave the part of Max to Nicholas Hannen, a stage favou/it; of many , years; and Mt. Max to D. A. ClarkeSmith. - „ ' Bromley Challenor has played the part of Sir Guy in ."When Knights Were Bold" over 5000 times. Here■vived his part at London" Duke of York's during Christinas week. Sybil Arundale, who has played many parts from pantomime to Ibsen, opened with Barry Jackson's Birmingham Repertory Company in the New, Year. She played the role of Mrs. Durrant, the woman murdered by * jealous husband, in Elmer Rice's "Street Scene," staged on 3rd January. , In- the Pathe 'version' of 'Beothoven's life-story, Mark Hambourg was asked to be Beethoven and play' the Kreutzer Sonata. Though without pre' vious connection with films, Hambourg is a Beethoven exponent, and Peter Dawson, during their recent tour, wa's wont to call him Beethoven, because of his Ukeness to the great composer— grey hair, wide, low forehead, emphatic chin, and wide mouth with deeply marked lips. Sydney Morgan, actor, for twenty years a' member of ' the . well-known Irish»Players, died in December in Wandsworth Hospital, after an illness of about a-month. > Born'in Dublin in 1885, Morgan 'Started adult life as an engineer, but at the age of 23 took up tho stage. -He had played over 150 parts with the Playeis, his most notable being as Joxer Daly in Scan 6'Casey's "Juno and the Paycock." He moulded Joxer on acquaintance, and became fast friends with the original. ' As soon as theatrical conditions improve, the Antipodes may' have a visit from^ybung Alexander Novarr'o, who has developed into one' of the best known tenors in Italy. Ho was. well known in Sydney as Andre Navarre,' and vtas a friond of El&a Stralia, soprano. '' Sirv Thomas Beeeham directed at the Royal College of Music the first performance of a new English opera, by Arthm Benjamin, "The Dovil Take Her," thus adding' one more gallant deed for the causo he has at heart.' Galsworthy's "Escape" 'followed "Ariadne" in New York,.and;was a big box office success, despite counter attractions. Jan Fabric'ius, the well-known dramatist, is a benign, good-humoured gentleman with a fine head of grey hair, limited English vocabulary, bat a remarkably good accent. He is, senior Dutch playwright; a play of his, "Dolle Hans," was recently produced in England under the'name of "Insult." It is a tale of tho Dutch East Indies. Of the 582,000 members of the German Federation of Choral Societies, Saxony contributes'the greatest number of singers—so,ooo. The "Allgemeino Musikzertung" records a > protest against the American version of Mozart's Jife as *'a breach of good taste." The paper alleges that the production (a musical film), threatens to exceed even previous lapses in artistic decorum. Jan Kiibelik, the violinist, is to have the title rolc, t and is to v arrange the sweetest and 'most harmonious, melodies of Mozart. A Temple Thurston play, dealing with the life and death of Michael., Collins, has been handed to Gilbert Miller, stage producer, and will/if'prod uced r cause, a first night sensation, and probably be a permanent success. Heriry Ainley has been suggested for the rolo of Collins. , I A good prose Biblical play, "Judas," produced at Lond6n Royalty Theatre, had expression by a company from tho Festival Theatre, Cambridge. Basil Bartlett was Judas; Vera Poliakoff, Mary Magdalene; and tf, G. Saville was Peter. ' ,-.- Tho dramatic critic of the "London Daily Express" was taken to task by Mr._ C. B. Cochran for preferring Cecily Courtnoidge to "Argentina," another stage favourite. Mr. 'Cocbran classed tho lady with Sarah Bernhardt, Eleonara Duse, Lucien'Guitry-,"" Chaliapine, and Florence Mills as one of the six greatest artists "with whom ho had been associated.