STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 23373, 16 September 1939, Page 5

STAGE FOLK

REPERTORY SOCIETY PRESENTS 1 GLORIOUS MORNING ’ When ‘ Glorious Morning,’ Norman MacOwan’s splendid play of a modern Joan of Arc in a Totalitarian country, was presented in London last year it had a tremendous success, and was one of the few plays to survive the European crisis in September. It is a story of great power and sincerity, dealing with a theme of paramount importance developed in terms of the theatre, with no suggestion of propaganda, bitterness, or exaggeration. The strongest cast yet seen in a repertory play has been busy rehearsing for some weeks under the direption of Miss Bessie Thomson, and an excellent presentation is assured. A newcomer to repertory, Mr Lionel Stephens, is bast as the notorious General Gurgani (of the Supreme Council), and Mr Frank Lanyon will play Hans Skaedia, the quiet, scholarly professor. Others in the cast are Messrs F. S. Avent, D. S. Chisholm, L. Hanlon, D. Hancock, Cecil Oaten, Leslie Dunbar, T. A. Tar-

rant, L. Powell, D. C. Rose, W. M‘Phail, and Misses Mary Jolly, Elsie M‘Peak, Kathleen Falconer, and Doreen; Harvey.

CHORAL SOCIETY IN MOZART MUSIC Next Tuesday night, in the Concert Chamber, the Choral Society is to perform Mozart’s glorious ‘ Requiem Mass,’ a work which it was the society’s privilege to introduce to this city in 1934, and one which local people will no doubt be glad to hear once again. The requiem was Mozart’s last composition, and into it he put all the fullness of expression of which he was capable. The music speaks of rest and peace, and it is surely the sort of music that is appropriate to these troubled times, telling as it does of the ultimate triumph of goodness and mercy. There will be an orchestral accompaniment to the presentation, and a fine quartet of soloists is participating. Performed in the intimate atmosphere of the Concert Chamber, this programme (which is also to contain a number of interesting part songs) will- be sure to have a general appeal to those who realise how refreshing and satisfying can be the effect of great music at times such as this. •• ANOTHER MELBA "

The announcement that Miss Margaret Pox, of Hawera, had won the New Zealand section of the Melba bequest

scholarship contest was recently mad* at the Wellington Competitions Society’s concert after the four finalists —Misses Fox (Hawera), Audrey Lawson (Wellington), Joan Boris (Shannon), and Beryl Gough (Christchurch); —had sung. Miss Fox is thus entitled to a free passage to Melbourne; where she will have an opportunity _to sing in an elimination contest against the picked singers of Australia.' The; winner will receive a two years’ scholarship valued at £3OO a year, with the possibility of a further year. The scholarship came into existence under the will of the late Dame'Nellie Melba, whose expressed wish was that it should be established in order to ' findl “ another Melba.” DUNEDIN PLAXBOX Three interesting one-act plays will be presented by members of the Playbos Club on Tuesday evening. Noel Coward’s comedy, ‘Fumed Oak,’'is to have its initial presentation in Dunedin, and Mr Russell-Wood is producing it. The cast includes Mrs Richard Hul; Mrs T. Nelson, Mrs O. Garden, and Mr A. C. Stephens. '• ; * .Anti-Clockwise, ’ a clever., iplay by Muriel Box, will be staged under tho

direction of Mr A. C. Stephens, the cast comprising Mrs Lance 'Griffiths, Miss Maiona Juriss, Miss D; .Hazelwood, and Miss Jean Huddart. ■ The third play, ‘ The Nipdit Porter,’* has a small but competent,cast in,Miss Alice Clarke, Messrs T. A.' Tarrant, and Lionel Stephens. , i ■ - The final three-act play to be -presented this season at the Playbdx will be Michael Egan’s powerful domestic drama, ‘To LoVe and to_ which will he staged .in October.. IMITATION IS THE SIKGEREST FORM 01FLATTERY ■ John Brownlee’s sons—Donald (aged five) and Gordon (aged four) —can sing much better than the famous baritone himself —in their own opinion. “ Oh, yes,” they declare with assurance, “ wa can do it much better than daddy.”* And, what’s more, they say it often' At their home in Suhningdale (Melbourne) Mr Brownlee generally rehearses in a spacious; room with large windows. Has eons listen outside - until their father has finished. Then they, imitate him, and after listening to each other carefully they declare that they are better than father. _ ; Their sister, Delphina, who is nine, is a “tomboy,” according ,to her mother. In New York Delphina-loved to skate on the big indoor ice rink« there, much to the.envy of her brothers. She is fond of dancing and plays th« piano. Cricket and tennis at© also among her hobbies. •