THEATRE OF YESTERDAY

Evening Star, Issue 23687, 21 September 1940, Page 7

THEATRE OF YESTERDAY

SSME SPECTACULAR PRODUCTIONS BESSES O' TH' BARN BAND ALFRED HILL'S ' A MOORISH MAID ' PRINCESS THEATRE NO LONGER A PLAYHOUSE [By Loitkukh.] September and October, 1906, were both very quiet months in the theatrical world, the Gaumont chronophone, reference to which closed the last instalment of these records, being the most interesting development. On September 18 Max Scherek, son of Benno Scherek, who has been mentioned on several occasions in these resumes, gave his first public piano performance, a recital in the Choral Hall being supported by Amy Murphy. .... Excellent comedy was offered in the Princess on October 11, when the Wil-loughby-Ward Company opened with ‘ The Man From Mexico.’ The plot was not a novel one, but our records show that “ it was a splendid laughtermaker. abounding in amusing situations.” Hugh Ward, as Benjamin Fitzhugh, proved “ one of the brightest and cheeriest funmakers seen in Dunedin.” The players included George Willoughby, Edward Bonfield, Arthur Cornell, Horace Yeomans. Olive Wilton, and Gillian Scaife. The leading woman was Grace Palotta, “ one of the most beautiful women in the world, whose photograph is to be seen in every photographer’s window all overthe world. A TOUGH ROLE. Miss Tittell Brune appeared at the Princeis on her second visit on November 19, first of all giving ‘ Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall,’ a nono-too-successful adaptation of Charles Majoi s novel. Although Miss Brune gave a splendid interpretation of the title role, honours seemed to have been gamed toy Susie Vaughan as Queen Elizabeth. Some others of the company were Thomas Kingston, James B. Atholwood, Maurice Dudley, Gaston Mervale, and Helen Ferguson. The company also played Zangwill’s ‘Merely, f ar >' Ann ’ ‘ Sunday,’ and Leah Kleschna. This latter play afforded -Miss Brune every opportunity to display her great emotional powers, and the part ot Lean was probably one of her most convincing. It was subsequently reported as being “one of the most interesting, human, and impressive plays ever seen, and the finest all-round performance ot a great play which has been seen hero for many a long day.”, A correspondent wrote to the ‘ Star ’ following the initial performance of Leah Klesehna,’ in this strain: “I can easily understand why the management stages this piece on only two nights, as Miss Brune plays the part to nature, and the way she plays it and suffers physically and bodily would very soon tell; on the most robust constitution if continued for » number of nights in succession. All I can sav to fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters is go and see ‘ Leah Kleschna ’ to-night, even if you don’t go to church to-morrow, and you will get the best sermon _on practical humanity. Miss Brune is revealed as an actress of greatest talent. ” AMERICAN PLAYS. December 14 saw the first presenta.tioh in Dunedin of a play destined to become extremely popular as a “ tearjerker ” on the ' silent and talking screen. ■ This was ‘ The Squaw Man,’ played in His Majesty’s by a J. C. Williamson company, including Charles Waldron, ' Harry Tlimmer, Hardee Kirkland, Florence Gleeson, Mrs G. B. W. Lewis, George Bryant, Charles Danvers, and Katie Towers. The leading feminine role of Countess Diana was enacted by Ola Humphrey. Played for the first lime in New Zealand, our critic considered it “ the best of the new plays for a long time. There are several excellent character studies, and it is a remarkably good play, played by a very strong company.” Hardee Kirkland was cast as Tabywana. and in that role he spoke entirely in the Ute language, in which he had been specially instructed by Utah White, a halfbred Ute Indian, who was with the company. ‘ The Squaw Man ’ was succeeded by ‘The Christian’ and' ‘ The Virginian.’ Owen Wister’s great story. As Mollie in this plav Ola Humphrey revealed amazing talent. She had an exceedingly difficult part, being called upon to lo6k shy, giggle, cry, and “ fool about.” In the wake of these emotions she was suddenly called upon to display ecstatic joy, but never was she given one word to speak. “ With such a round of duties,” it is recorded, “ many an actress would find no escape from being superficial in the early scenes, and violently tragic at the end. Miss Humphrey sees deeper into the part, and, understanding it, she contrives in her artistic and clever manner to make everybody in front love her.” Hardee Kirkland was excellent as Trampas.

SOME VARIED PERFORMANCES. On January' 1, 1907, a Meynell, Gunn, and Varna company offered two short plays each, night for a short His Majesty’s season, these being ‘ Wig and Gown ’and ‘ A Little Stranger.’ Neither was particularly good. ‘ A Little Stranger ’ was an original comedy depicting what might happen if a baby began to talk like a man and act as such. Willie Parke was the -“child wonder,” but neither he nor Violet Dene, John Deverell, Frank Hawthorne, or others of the company, of whom the best was Helen Ferguson, made the performance a success. Blanche Arral, French operatic soprano, made her first New Zealand ap-

pearance in His Majesty’s on January 7. She was a very fine singer, and her operatic excerpts, notably from 1 Faust ’ and ‘ Mignon,’ were brilliantly rendered. Harold Proctor played the piano. Another songstress, Marie Narello, “ The Queen of Irish Song,” and sometimes billed as “ The Irish Jessie Maclauchlan,” appeared in His Majesty’s on January 14, under Frederick Shipman’s direction. She “ conquered from the beginning,” and her Irish and Scottish songs were vociferously encored. With her were Chester Fentress (tenor) and Constance BrandouUsher (piano). THE WAR DANCERS, Direct from the Christchurch Exhibition and led by Chief Ipireimi Qaswakatini. the Fijian War Dancers gave an unusual exhibition in the Caledonian Grounds on January 19 and 16. These 25 fuzzy-wuzzies from the Fiji Isles had already captivated Christchurch, and in their flying visits to Dunedin they were “ head line ” subjects. The Fijians gave spirited interpretations of songs, war chants, fancy dances, and concluded unusual entertainment with a war scene, which gave some idea of the fierceness of intertribal warfare before the islands became civilised. CHAMPION BRASS BAND. ( Band music history was made when, from January 24, the Besses o’ th’ Barn' Band, conducted by_ Mr Alex. Owen, played for a season in His Majesty’s. Not since Melba visited Dunedin had there been anything so near perfection in the way of a performance of any department of the musical art as the playing of this band, which comprised 29 performers. It was a case of more than capacity houses throughout a phenomenally successful season, and an open-air concert later given in the Gardens drew a paying audience ot 20,000. So delighted with this response on the part of the public were, the directors, J. and N. Tait, that they presented the city with the main entrance gates to the Gardens. , Prior to coining to New Zealand the band had won championship after championship in England, finally winning, against 100 of the best bands in Great Britain, the Thousand Giiinea Trophy contested at Crystal Palace. With this trophy went the honour for one year of being designated the Brass Band Champions of Great Britain and the Colonies. The band took its name from a quaint old Lancashire village called Besses o’ th’ Barn, but the origin of the name seems uncertain. One explanation, fairly generally accepted, was that traceable to an advertisement appearing in a newspaper dated January, 1747, which convened a meeting of creditors at “ Bessy’s o’ th’ Barn.” This was a hostelry of harn-liko appearance, and was kept by a good-looking Lancashire lass called Bess, or Bessie, and as the inn became a noted house of call, the remark would often be, “ Let us go and see Bessie at th’ Barn.” SPECTACULAR MUSICAL COMEDY. On March 7, another J. C. Williamson company appeared at His Majesty’s presenting ‘ The Orchid,’ the most spectacular of Williamson’s plays to .date, and boasting 150 artists, 500 costumes, and tons of scenery. On the opening night hundred were turned away. The principal comedian was W. S. Percy, and he was given a reception which was almost embarrassing. It stopped the show for some time, and it left no doubts in the minds of anyone as to how well liked was this comedian, who had been such a tower of strength to the Pollard Company., ‘ The Orchid ’ ; was a very flhe h: musical comedy, al-‘ though the actual music was not very strong. It was followed by ‘ The Cingalee,’ in which the music was strong indeed, and such numbers as ‘ My Heart’s at Your Feet,’ ‘ Pretty Poll,’ ‘ My Cinnamon Tree,’ and ‘ Girl of Ceylon ’ proved favourites. Another number, ‘ With a 800. tend a Bham, and a Baa,’ suggested that swing music is no new development. The same, company, which included Evelyn Scott, Clara Clifton, Olive Godwin, Claude Bantock. Fred Leslie, Alma Barber, and Tillic Woodlock, also played ‘ A Country Girl ’ and ‘ -The Belle of New York.’ This was a singularly successful presentation of the ever-popular ‘ Belle,’ Olive Godwin being charming in the title role. Bantock was Ichnbdd Bronson (but he was weak), Fred Leslie was Blinky Bill, and Percy was a riot as the “ polite lunatic,” Karl von Pumpernick. By a strange coincidence there was playing at this time in the Alhambra with Fuller’s vaudeville Fred Graham. Graham was the first man to offer the part of Bronson in Dunedin away back in 1899. when the Pollard Company introduced it. THE KELLY GANG LIVE AGAIN. The full etory of the Kelly gang, Australia’s notorious outlaws, was told in moving picture form in the Princess, under Tait’s direction, from April 15. The story traced the beginning of the gang’s outlawry, from the time Dan Kelly was wanted for cattle stealing, until the last notorious stand by the armoured Ned Kelly. . For once our critic was favourably impressed with a moving picture, and he said, “ this marks a distinct advance in screen photographic drama. It is a thrilling and connected story of the gang, convincingly enacted.” The Exhibition Orchestra, which had been delighting Christchurch during the period of the exhibition there, paid a visit to His Majesty’s on April 22. Al-* fred Hill was the conductor, and the four nights’ season was a very decided success. There were 42 in the orchestra, and it was, until then, the largest i orchestra ever brought together in the Dominion. George Weston (violinist) and John Prouse (baritone) supported. A new Rickards vaudeville show opened at His Majesty’s on June 4, headlining duo being King and Benson, vocalists, dancers, and burlesque artists. King was a very fine tenor, and was described as the only tenor who could nightly reach on any stage the top C. Fred Russell, \ ■. striloqnist; Charlene and Charlene, drawing room entertainers; Cassic Wahner, dusky dancer and vocalist; Ada Sadler. Australian contralto; George Doan, character impersonator, and Harry Rochfort, balladist, were others prominently billed. TOM MOORE’S MELODIES. June 18 saw Andrew Mack’s company at His Majesty’s opening, with ‘ Tom Moore,’ a play based on the early life of the Irish lyricist. Mack played Tom Moore, and was heard to ad--vantage in many of the latter’s compositions, ‘ Eveleeu’s Bower,’ ‘ Believe Me if All Those Endearing Charms,’ ‘ Last Rose of Summer,’ and ‘ Love’s Young Dream.’ Mack had an engaging personality, remarkable histrionic o-ifts, and a charming voice which made the character real and convincing. Others were Fred Manley, Martin Alsop, Thomas Jackson, Phil Walsho, Mae Stevenson, and Geraldine Benson. “ An artist of consummate taste and delicacy whoso playing was full of moaning and full of poetry—in _ fact, was peerless,” was the pianist Teresa Carrcno, who appeared with Benno Scherek at His Majesty’s on July 17. On July 22. at the Alhambra, appeared a' disciple of the “ Modern Milo ” school (remember her a fort-

night agop) in the person of Ruby White,' in a scene, ‘ The (Robing of the Gods.’ Ruby, under Fuller direction, revealed herself as Mercury, Niobo, Psyche at the Bath, and Juno, among other pieces. She was “ artistic and chasto in her posings whether the poseuso was 1 line sous un manteau ’ or ‘ nue sane un manteau.’ ” John Fuller, sen., after an absence of eight years, also appeared at this t time in the Alhambra, his tenor voice being heard in ‘ She Wore a Wreath ot Roses,’ and ‘ Come Into the Garden, Maud.’ (Could they have been chosen with any significance in light of Ruby White’s performance?). HIS MAJESTY’S SOLD.

On August 22 His Majesty’s underwent a change of ownership. The shareholders of the Agricultural Hall Company mot Air John Fuller and accepted In's offer of £15,000 for His Majesty’s Theatre, Victoria Hal, and accompanying offices. So the Fuller ownership began. POLLARD’S JUVENILES. Tom Pollard reappeared in Dunedin on August 29, playing with_ his alljuvenile company, ' Bluebell in Fairyland,’ a charming piece written by Seymour'Hicks and W. Slaughter. It was a bright production, with beautiful scenery, sparkling vivacity, and “ a pretty story reminiscent of Hans Anderson, relieved by the genuine humour of Dickens.” The wholly-juvenile cast included Minnie Topping, Bert Williamson, Charles Albert, Willie Pollard, Lily Thompson, Carrie Sleeman, and Ernest. Schatz. “ A perfect mistress of. her art ” vjas tho soprano, Madame Albani. appearing in His Majesty’s on September 4 and 5. She was supported by William Green (tenor), Haydn Wood (violinist, described as the “ new Paganini ”), .Myrtle Meggy (pianist), and Mildred Jones (contralto). Mnsgrovo’s Royal Opera Company opened a heavy season in His Majesty’s on September 26. Some of the principals wore Hans Mowhinkol, Karl Stndemund, Fritz Rupp, Julius Hunger, Richard Oescr, Rufus Ferguson, Elsie Spencer, Alary' Stoller, and Johanna Heiiize. One of the operas was Gounod’s ‘ Romeo and Juliet.’ the first time tins had been presented in Dunedin, and,tho music gave the play' a lofty and beautiful atmosphere, making it attractive, .yet true to character. Oeser was (Romeo, Alary Stoller Juliet. Hupp Alercutio. The orchestra was under Gustav Slapoffski. END OF AN ERA. Oh October 12 the Princess ended its days as a playhouse. John Fuller moved with his company from the Alhambra to take up permanent residence in the Princess. From now on silent pictures, vaudeville, and revue were destined to be the main items of fare until the advent of talking pictures, when revue was to pass away, the stage receiving a blow from which it has not yet really recovered. On that initial Princess bill appeared Hammoii and Wyatt, the Sahdow Girts; Post Alason, American vocalist; Dunbar ami Blake, ‘ Fun in a Spring Garden ’; Alaie Marlowe, souhrette; Salmon and Chester, .society entertainers; Salt Bush Bill, the wizard of the whip; and the popular comedians, “The Stagpoole Three.” OUTSTANDING PANTOMIME. “ The most gorgeous and beautiful spectacle ever put before a Dunedin audience” was ‘ Alother Goose,’ a'J. C Williamson pantomime put on in His Majesty’s, it enjoyed a season of 13 nights, and its “ design, grouping, .and.light and shade made it a delight, to the eye.” Praise was bestowed on the wonderful lighting effects, something quite new to Dunedin being achieved. Players included Harry Phydora, Harry Shine, Victor Loydell, Inez Stack’, Alabelle Morgan, Olive Godwin, Aladgo Griffith, and Beatrice English Eddie and Decima M'Leau, better known as the Juvenile Dartos, famed specialty dancers, appeared in whirlwind dancing scenes, while the comedy acrobats, Lennon, Hyman, and Lennon, wore also featured. Aloynell and Gunn’s company, headed by Aland Hilyard, offered a series of melodramas in His Alajesty’s from November 21. The first, ‘ A Beautiful Fiend,’ was typical. It had “ little to commend it, being a melodrama of the most turgid kind.” The costumes were attractive, and Aliss Hilyard’s dresses “were studies in the art of arranging tho most difficult combinations of colour to form an absolute whole.” Apart from Miss Hilyard, the players, including Conway Wingfield, Boyd Irwin, James Lindsay, Violet Dene, and Miss Guildford Quin, did not earn any orchids for their acting. COINCIDENCE OF ‘A MOORISH MAID,’ _ One of the finest amateur productions ever put on on the local stage was ‘ AAloorish Maid,’ which was presented in His Alajesty’s on December 6. The services of Miss llosina Buckman were obtained for the leading role of La Zara, and “ she came out as a true prima donna and a capable actress. She electrified everyone with her singing of ‘ Loveland.’ ” Others included Coliu Gray, Frank Blandford, Airs John APlndoe, A. C. Loring. Helen Gard’ner. Edith Leech, and Percy James. Tho latter made a hit with his song, ‘ A Brigand of High Degree Am I,’ and his acting generally was of a high standard. The music was - written by Alfred Hill, and it was considered to represent some of his finest work. “‘ A Aloorish Alaid,’ ” our records show, ‘ stands on a plane of its own as a romantic comic- opera, and the great charm and force of the piece comes from the strength and colour of Air Hill’s music.”

The piece was so successful that a syndicate was formed to take it to London, and Air James was engaged to play Ids role of Elferino in the groat metropolis. Arrangements were, completed, when word was received that litigation was being brought against ‘ Blue Aloon,’ a play then running in London and which had a plot similar to another play. At first glimpse this might not appear a mattin- of concern, hut the plot of ‘ ( Rlue Moon ’ was almost identical with that of ‘ A Aloorish Alaid,’ so the venture was called off. There was never any suggestion of plagiarism on the part of Alfred Hill and his associate, J. Tonlin Birch; it was just one of those unfortunate instances of playwrights hitting on the same idea.

The Dutch lyric soprano, Alida Lonian, created a furore in His Alajesty’s on December 25 in a recital of sacred songs, the first of a successful season. She was aided by Herbert Bloy (viplin), Eric Anderson (bass), and Benno Scherek (piano).

The final offering for 1907 was ‘ Brewster’s Millions,’ the story of Alonty Brewster, who, in order to inherit £2,000,000, must spend all his own considerable fortune in a year. This has been a popular offering on the screen through the years, and when given by a J. C. Williamson company on December 26 proved equally popular. Thomas Kingston clayed Brewster with considerable discrimination, and ho was well sunnorted by Leonard Willey, Cvril AJaekav, Grogan Al'Mahon. VhTan Edwards, Janies B. Atholwood Nellie Ferguson. Alary TTimgorford and Airs Robert Brough. (To be continued.)