FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 17

FOOTLIGHT FLASHES

’A new departure was made by Mr George Wallace at the St. James’s Theatre, Auckland, when ho produced the farce-comedy * When Knights Were Bold.’ . Phil Smith, the well-known 'comedian, is heading the “Smile Stones ” Revuo at the Grand Opera House, Sydney. - . • Reginald Shari and, who was hero in l‘ The Girl Friend’ and ‘Hit the Heck,’ is now in vaudeville presenting a sketch at the Tivoli, Sydney. Mr Charles Albert, the Pollardian, who was last here with the Humphrey Bishop Company, is appearing in the comedy, ‘ New Brooms,’ in Sydney. Fred Conyngham, a young Australian actor, who was here in ‘ Cradle and ‘Rose Marie,’ has joined the cast of * Young Woodley ’ in Adelaide. It is a graceful gesture on the part Of Joseph Hislop to arrange a week of opera in bis native city of Edinburgh, where he was born forty-two years ago (states an English writer). This is to take ' place in April. Arthur Benjamin, the Australian composer-pianist, who is returning from Europe by the Orford, will give two concerts in the Town Hall, Sydney, on April 20 and 27, the first with the State Conservatorium Orchestra, conducted by Dr Orchard. Signorina Dusolina Giannine, the Italian Grand Opera and concert star, is appearing at Covent Garden Grand Opera season, London, prior to her 'Australian tour, which commences in August. A private cable received in Melbourne states that Florence Austral, the Australian soprano, scored a big triumph at the Metropolitan Opera Housp* New York, in a special Wagner concert. Miss Austral will tour Australia next year. Backhans, the famous German pianist, is giving a series of six recitals 311 Vienna this year entirely devoted to a complete cycle of the Beethoven sonatas. He is to repeat the series in Paris. Pie is to tour Australia next year. Mr William Lockhart, who plays the First Gravedigger in ‘Hamlet’ to Mr ,"Wilkie, - with unctuous humour, was at one time stage manager to the great actor of the old school named Hermann Voxin, whoso acting some judges have preferred to that of Irving. Air Lockhart at another stag, in his career was a member of the company supporting Lily Langtry, whoso death was an-

iiounced during the past month. There is still talk among Australian impressarios of persuading Miss Nellie .Stewart to appear in a revival of ‘ Trilby.’ The idea was first mooted about a year ago, but nothing definite came of it. Chief among the coining theatrical attractions from Mr J'i. J. Carroll is ‘ The Wrecker,’ a play by Arnold Ridley, author of ‘The Ghost ■ Train,' and dealing, as did its predecessor, with some of the weird noises of railway trains in addition to many thrilling situations. A competent cast is engaged in the Australian production. A player with many friends among all classes of playgoers in Australia is announced to appear soon at the Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne. This is Miss Ada Reeve. For many years she has been one of the most conspicuous vaudeville performers in Australia and London. .In recent years the outstanding production with which she was concerned was the revue ‘ Spangles,’ with which the refurbished Palace Theatre, Melbourne, was opened under the management of Mr Hugh J. Ward about six years ago. ‘ Spangles ’ was remarkably successful. Miss Erica Morini, the world-famous .Viennese violinist, who commences her Australian the direction of E. J. Carroll at the Sydney Town Hall on Easter Saturday, has arranged some line programmes. In addition to some of the rarely hoard standard classics, Miss Morini will introduce some new works. Concertos by Glazonnov, "Wieniawsky,. Mozart, Tschaikowsky, the “ Kreutzer ” Sonata, Cesar Franck Sonata, Brahms Sonata in 1) Minor, and Fruhlings Sonata by Beethoven are set down for performance supported by lighter works. Mr Jacob Himpel, a noted Continental accompanist, will support Miss Morini. Miss Margaret Baunorman, whose iirst appearance in Melbourne was in ‘ Our Betters,’ by Somerset Maugham, at the opening of the Comedy Theatre, will return to London at an early date. H is announced that when Sir Gerald du Manner appears in a play which Mr ISdgar Wallace lias written for him, Miss Bannerman will have a part which is said admirably to suit her stylo of acting. The company that J. C. Williamson. Ltd., has collected for ‘ The Wrecker,’ the, Arnold .Ridley drama which will shortly come to New Zealand, includes some of the finest actors ever brought to Australia, comprising Charles Stone (Chester Kyle), Guy Routh (Horace Sheet), Norman Lee (Haines), Arthur Young (Joshua Barney), George Willoughby (Sir Gervai.se), Reginald Collins (“Alf”), Misses Josephine Wilson (leading lady), Noello Sonning (Lady Beryl), Ivy Sparrow (Millie Knight), and Helen Saintshnry, who plays the comedy part of Gladys Elliott, the typist.

An item of local interest is the cabled advice from Australia that a passenger by the P. and (). R.M.fs. Moldavia is Mr Martin Duff, who is cn route to New Zealand after an absence of over seven years. Mr Duff, who will bo well remembered as the possessor of a. fine tenor voice, lias been most successful in his profession in England. He and his wife (Miss Ivy Jermyn), who is a talented violinist, have played in practically every town of note in the British Isles. The present trip, so it is understood, is a holiday tour, but it would not be surprising if Mr and Mrs Duff decided to settle in New Zealand. “ I have almost had as many farewells as Melba,” says Sir Harry Lauder, “but previously I think, I must have had my tongue in .ma cheek when I made the announcement. However, the forthcoming tour, with my old friend E. J. Carroll again conducting the business destinies, will positively be my swan, song, so far as New Zealand is concerned, and I am afraid the lump will be in rny throat this time. However, a man is as old as he feels is a, timeproven proverb, and my recent record seasons in London and New Vork seem to suggest that I am blessed with perpetual youth. My personal representative tor thirty < years, Mr Tom Vallance, has just arrived in Aus-, tralia, and is fetching with him a company, and, in addition to some of ray most popular numbers, which the new, generation . will particularly wish to hear, I have a repertory of new characters which I think will outshine any of the old ones, but the verdict' must be left to my generous public, whose deep affection is ever m 1117 henrt.” The tour-is to siari, fit. Aupkjanc! 211 .-iPHI

[By LOITERER.]

Jottings on tho people of the Stage and Screen and on the latest recorded Music.

Miss Hilda Scurr, a young Dunedin actress of exceptional histrionic talent, will make her first appearance on the professional stage in Dunedin with the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company during the forthcoming season, which commences on the evening of March JO. Miss Scurr had won several prizes in competitions in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington prior to joining the Allan Wilkie Company barely a year ago. Since taking up the stage professionally Miss Scurr has made rapid strides as a character actress, and is now playing prominent parts with the compqny. During the Dunedin season she will appear as Mistress Quickly in ‘ The Merry Wives of Windsor,’ Curtis in ‘ The Taming of the Shrew,’ and as Maria, an important role in ‘ Twelfth Night,’ Miss Scurr will, in fact, be a prominent figure in the cast of nearly every play to be staged during the Dunedin season. As wo all know, the season of opera at Covent Garden opens this year on April 22, and, in accordance with pre-sent-day custom, the German section will precede the Italian, writes Robin H. Lcgge, in the London ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ There arc to he two evdes of ‘Her Ring’: the delightful ‘Rosonkavalier ’ has been reinstated in its lawful place; ‘Lohengrin’ will he revived after a prolonged rest; and ‘ Tristan and Isolde ’ and ‘ Meisterslnger ' are to be given. Many favourites among y£he singers will be engaged again; Lotte Lehmann, Delia Reinhardt, Maria Olczcwska, F'dtabetli Ohms, Freda Leider, Elizabeth Schumann, and Rosette Anday among the ladies, and Richard Mnyr, tho incomparable Ochs, Eduard Hablch, Albert Reiss, Viktor Madin, Frederick Schorr (who was absent a year ago), Hans Clemens, Otto Helgcrs, Ivar Andresen, Lauritz Melchior, and Herbert Janssen among oldcomcrs, with Kritz Wolff, a tenor, who is to appear as Lohengrin and Walther, and Rudolf Boekelmann, who hails from Hamburg and Bayreuth—both newcomers to Covenfc Garden. r i he last named will alternate as ofcan and Sachs with Schorr. Details of the Italian season are not yet complete. A London correspondent writes:—■ “ Miss Beppie de Vries. |he Dutch actress, after a theatrical engagement in Australia lasting nearly two years, was given an enthusiastic welcome by her colleagues of tho stage on her arrival at The Hague early in January. In Miss do Yrios Australia has acquired an outspoken admirer of its climate, its scenery, and, above all, it< people. During her brief stay in Holland she has ben telling her friends and acquaintances that the happiest time of her life was the period she spent in Australia and New _ Zealand, and that it is Iter great desire to go again to Australia, tho land of sunshine. Miss do Vries, on her return from Holland' called at the London office of ‘ The Australasian “ just to keep in touch,” as she put it, “with Australians, who have sunshine in your hearts as well as sunshine in your skies.” “It is in these miserable winter days in Europe, ’ she said, “ that my' thoughts wander back to your country—to Melbourne, and to Sorrento and Portsea, with their unforgettable benches and brilliant sunlight.” After leaving Sydney MHs do Vries visited the beauty spots of California, but nothing she saw has shaken her affection for the natural beauties of Australia, and she thought Australians who travel _ a groat deal and see much that is Interesting historically in tho Old World must inevitably return to their native land with an increased appreciation of its own peculiar beauty and attraction.”