The Stage THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 4032, 23 June 1931, Page 60

The Stage

THEATRICAL AND MUSICAL.

By

Pasquin.

Peter Dawson, bass-baritone, and Mark Hambourg, pianist, will commence their tour of New Zealand at Dunedin on Juiy 16.

The next production of the Hamilton Operatic Society will be “ The Arcadians,” seen in Dunedin many years ago with the now famous Tom Walls in the part of Peter Doody. Elsie Prince has finished her contract with the J. C. Williamson Company, and is to return to London immediately for musical comedy work.

Mr D'Oyly Carte has cabled to J. C. Williamson Ltd., asking the firm to release Miss Dorothy Gill in order to allow her to go to London to take the place of Miss Bertha Lewis, who died as the result of a motor accident. Miss Lewis was a famous Gilbert and Sullivan contralto. Negotiations are still proceeding, and it will possibly be some time before Miss Gill will return to London.

Frank Harvey was to open at the Criterion Theatre on June 13 in “ The Calendar.” The case, strangely enough, has 13 male characters, and most theatrical folk are very superstitious! There are only two women in the cast —Dieudonnee Waldron and Coral Brown. The latter is not yet 18 years old. and this is her first professional appearance. Youth, personality, charm and ability should make for a successful future for her. The mouth-organ festival in Berlin was remarkable for the very fine version given by fifty players to Wagner’s difficult prelude to “ Lohengrin.” A stage favourite of a decade ago, Kate Cutler, has recently been appearing in Scotland in Somerset Maugham’s play, “ The Circle,” and proving that her oldtime talents are still ripe. This enthusiastic, vivacious little woman is only fivefeet high; she has a deep, husky voice that is peculiarly attractive, and altogether -is a charming personality, no matter what age or what play. -Her hobby is chess; housekeeping also lays claim to much of her time. Diminutive Phil Smith, who was last in Dunedin with “ The House That J aca Built ” pantomime, is busy learning a number of Gilbert and Sullivan roles, for he is understudying Ivan Menzies, the comedian of the present Williamson season in Australia. The J. C. Williamon company now tour, ing New Zealand, headed by Miss Ethel Morrison, has a repertoire of three plays. They are “ The First Mrs Fraser,” “ Let Us Be Gay,” and “Hay Fever,” Noel Coward’s famous comedy. Elissa Landi, the English actress, who has been making a name for herself in Hollywood, is the daughter of Countess Landi.

Someone in Sydney has started a new kind of competition, and it is an open go between all the ballet girls. Wanted—-a girl who can break the world’s kicking record, which is 97 kicks in three minutes, done by Miss Caroline Stanhouser, of Petrograd, in 1915. Minnie Nathan, of Sydney, is confident of doing 100 kicks in three minutes. The trials were to be held at the Palais Royal on June 19. Mr P. L. Brady, who retired from commercial life last year (says the Wellington Post) was at one time closely associated with the theatrical profession on the managerial side. He was assistant manager to the late Mel. B. Spurr, manager of the Savieri Dramatic Company and three years with Percy Dix. He also piloted Montgomery’s Entertainers through this country on more than one occasion. That is going back to the days of Pope and Sayles. Lizzie Kirk, the Dartos, Jennie Opie, Frank Leon, Charles Fanning, Edgar Granville, Murphy and Mac, Arthur Hahn. Wallace King, Olive Lenton, Frank Yorke, and scores of other clever artists. While in Australia recently Mr Brady opened negotiations with a very fine operatic quartet, headed by Miss Rene Maxwell, the well-known and popular soprano, who visited New Zealand a few years ago under J. C. Williamson's banner. Since then Miss Maxwell has toured England and. the Continent with phenomenal success. If Mr Brady is successful in securing these talented artists they will appear in New Zealand about August. Asked by a Waikato Times representative why so many great pianists arranged similar programmes. Mr Alischa Levitzki, the famous pianist at present touring the Dominion, said that the subject had led to discussions in Australia. “ It is a many-sided problem,” he said, “ and not nearly so simple as music lovers think. We have to consider the sophisticated and the unsophisticated in our audiences. To tlie first group belong the critics and professional musicians, who go to all concerts, and prefer novelties because they have heard the well-established classics so many times. But_ then there are the others who do not wish to hear novelties, so much are they engrossed with the music which is familiar to them. Yet if we play the familiar music we are told that it is hackneyed. As if a Beethoven sonata, for example, could ever become hackneyed! Do you know that I have been playing the Bach Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue for 20 years, and to-day I am discovering new features in that work? And so it is with the classics of music.” LURE OF THOUSANDS. “The glamour attached to the films has attracted to it aristocrats, plebeians, the rich and the poor; in fact hordes of people who are anxious even to walk on, in the hope that some producer will select them for a part which will bring them fame and the .fictitious millions which are supposed to pour down at every film star’s feet,” writes Mr Kinsey Peile in a book of reminiscences. “ Crowds of people may be seen at some of the studios waiting for the opportunity of ‘ walking on.’ A few of them get their desire, but that is as far as they ever get, for they continue to walk on, and

on, and on-, until ‘the long waits, the strenuous work, the interminable hours, kill their enthusiasm, and they give up in disappointment.

“ Twenty-five ehillings a day appears to be a fair income, and so It would be it it came every day, or even twice or three times a week. But when it comes spasmodically, perhaps only once in every 10 days or so, filming means starvation. Out of the 25s all modern clothes, as a rule, have to be supplied by the artist, and fares to and fro, to say nothing of food and refreshments during the day.”

“ENGLISH ARTISTS ARE BEST.” “ The talkies have not triumphed. This year we have made some silent films. Next year we shall make more. And the year after that still more. The silent film wilLnever die.” Mr Samuel Goldwyu. the American film producer, made this statement at Southampton on his arrival from New York. He went to England with the primary purpose of presenting his film. “One Heavenly Night,” in which Miss Evelyn Laye makes her debut in singing films. Among his other statements were: — “ English artists are the best in the world. Miss Evelyn Laye is going to make films in Spanish and French for me. She is a great artist. No one could pka.ved her part in ‘ One Heavenly Night ’ as she lias played it. I spent £160,000 on the picture. Mr Frederick Lonsdale is the only man who has mastered the job of making the perfect script for the talking film. He was always a great dramatist, but the stage limited his appeal. The talkies will give him fame with every class of people.” Mr Goldwyu added that Hollywood producers will bankrupt themselves if they go on putting quantity before quality. “ The public are laughing at them.”

ROYAL COMMAND DECLINED. Charlie Chaplin, whose picture “ City Lights,” is coming here shortly, did not appear at a Royal Command performance in London at the Palladium recently. This honour in the music hall world is much appreciated by the profession, and for some years has been regularly attended by the King and Queen. The director of the Palladium, in an interview, said that he had cabled to Chaplin twice requesting his appearance and intimating that it was a command performance. Chaplin had only replied from Juan lE.spines saying: “Very sorry I cannot appear at the Palladium. I have made it a principle never to appear on the stage since I became associated with the screen. Will you accept donation for .your worthj - cause? Hoping you have the success you deserve.” The director said he was very surprised at Chaplin’s refusal, describing it as unprecedented. He said that foreign artists at-previous command performances sometimes cancelled their passages to their homes in order to perform before the King and Queen. FAMOUS PIANIST’S STORY. Air Wilhelm Backhaus, the famous pianist, has a keen sense of humour, and enjoys telling the following story against himself:—At one of his recitals in Sydney there applied for admission late in the evening an individual who was decidedly the worse for liquor. Although he was told that there was no room inside, the house being “ sold out,” and that the recital was nearly over, anyhow, he persisted in saying, “I want t 0 hear the piano recital —1 want to hear Backhaus.” In fact, he wouldn’t be happy until he got inside the hall. At last Mr Gravestock’s attention was drawn to the commotion in the lobby, and he came out himself to deal with the disturber of the peace, whom he told that it was useless his asking to be let in, “ Why can’t I go in? ” protested the inebriated one. “ Because you’re drunk,” was the answer. “Of course I’m drunk.” was the reply. “Do you think that I’d want to go in if I were sober? ”

MRS LILLIE KINDLEY. A link with early days of the show business in New Zealand was severed by the recent demise of Mrs Lillie Kindley,. wife of Air Sheldon Kindley, an old-time showman. A daughter of Mr Thomas Smith, one of the oldest living born New Zealanders, and Aladame de Doe, a native of the Channel Islands, Lillie Smith (as she was known on the stage) commenced her stage career at the tender age of five. It is doubtful if a more versatile performer has appeared on the New Zealand stage, and she ran the gamut from circus rings to stage with conspicuous success. Her child impersonations, in which she was compared to Aladame Lydia Yeamans Titus, will remain in pleasant memory with the older generation. A specialty act, which has not been repeated in this Dominion, was the fire rope dance, and she appeared in this with Woodlock’s Circus in addition to performing as a bareback rider, hurricane hurdler, and trick cyclist. Her many performances in charitable causes are well known to social workers in all parts of New Zealand. Lillie Smith wos the first serio-comic to enrol under the Fuller banngs, and she was engaged by several managements during her long career on the stage. Subsequently she took her own show and toured in the South Island, finally returning to Auckland, where she and her husband settled. She is survived by her husband, three daughters, and three sons. GREAT GERMAN TENOR. From a part-time conductor of a German municipal band at a salary of £1 17s a week to a famous tenor commanding a weekly salary running well into four figures—that is the romantic career of Herr Richard Tauber, the Austrian singer, who arrived in London recently i for his appearance at the Drury Lane

Theatre in the Franz Lehar operetta “The Land of Smiles.”

The sum paid to Herr Tauber for his first stage appearance in England was approximately £l5OO a week. Herr Tauber spoke very frankly to an interviewer, of his early struggles to be al'owed to studj- singing. “ My father,’’ he said, “ was conductor of the AViesbadcn Alunicipal Orchestra, and was determined that I sltould follow in his footsteps. He was distinctly rude about my voice, and, when I was 19 years old, refused to let me have lessons in singing. Then I fell violently in love, and my father, in despair, packed me off to a far-distant university. This proved the making of me, because at the university I fell into the hands of a professor who had immediate faith in my voice and began to coach me in earnest.” POLA NEGRI’S EX-HUSBAND. P, rinc e Serge Mdivani and Aliss Alary Al Connie, the operatic singer, have reto their home in Santa Afonica, California, with the announcement that they have been married for a week, says a New York paper. The prince, who was divorced by Ins former wife, Aliss Pola Negri, the film actress, in Paris, on April 2, would not say where the marriage took place, but remarked that they had travelled in three States until news of a robbery in their house sent them hurrying back to Santa Monica The burglars stole furs and other articles valued at £3OOO. MUNICIPAL ORGAN RECITAL. . programme of more than ordin arv interest was presented in the Town Hall by the city organist (Dr V. E. Galway) on Wednesday evening, all the items being diauu from works of British composers, the central item of the programme was S^ ars v Sonata in G major’ this work, which was listened to with great interest, is a work of grandeur contrasted with romanticism, and, as might be expected, shows very strong traces of oichestral influence. Other items in a well-balanced and contrasted programme were the traditional “Londonderry Air” and Elgar's march “Pomp and Circumstance, these two items being the most popular numbers on the programme. Aliss Dorothy Shgos clear, fresh soprano vole" was heard to advantage in the numbers winch she chose. A beautiful performance Dido s lament. from Purcell’s opera " Dido and Aeneas.” was preceded by a shot t explanation by Dr Galway, and the next number “Hark, the Echoing Air.” also by Purcell, would certainly be termed Handehan had not Purcell lived 40 years before Handel. In the second half of th« programme Aliss Sligo gave effective renderings of “ Time, You Old Gipsy Man ” (Maurice Besly), and u A Summer Song.’’ by Hartog. DUNEDIN OPERATIC SOCIETY. A meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Operatic and Dramatic Society was held in Air E. S. AVilson’s board room. Air L. J. Spence presiding. „ Letters were received from Alessrs L. E. Taylor and T. Sewell (Christchurch), stating how delighted they were with the performance of “ A Country Girl ” as heard over the air. Air Sewell, who said he was the hon. official listener for Hie Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand for some years, stated that he had thoroughly appreciated the performance. He bad never heard a better performance over tlie wireless. The secretary was instructed to acknowledge the letters with thanks. The secretary also submitted several letters from citizens congratulating the society on its production of “ A Country Girl,” and requesting to be enrolled as subscribing members. Two writers added donations to the society’s funds. —The chairman stated that it was indeed encouraging to receive such complimentary letters, a»d- he felt sure it would spur the members on to even better efforts. The president of the Dunedin Competitions Society (Air E. J. Smith) also wrote congratulating the society on its production and stated that the Competitions Society felt a certain pride in its success when it was observed that most of the principals and several members of the chorus were old Dunedin Competition Society competitors. The writer pointed out that the Dunedin Competitions’ annual festival would be held in a few months’ time, when they would appreciate any assistance the members of the Operatic Society could give them by entering in the various sections.—The chairman said he felt that the society would endeavour to assist a sister society to the best of its ability, and it was agreed to ask the members to support the Competitions Society festival. The chairman submitted a list of productions for the consideration of the committee. It was resolved that these be referred to the producer, tlie musical director (Air E. Drake) to submit a report to the committee.

The Christchurch Operatic Society wrote asking for particulars of the scenery and wardrobe of “A Country Girl,” as it was considering producing that comedy.—lt was left to the secretary to supply the necessary information. The Alilton Alunicipal Band wrote asking if the society could produce “ A Country Girl ” at Alilton in aid of the band’s funds. —It was left to the secretary to write and obtain fuller particulars. The secretary submitted a statement of the receipts and expenditure to date, which showed that after paying all tlie debts the society should have a credit balance of over £2oo.—The chairman stated that he. considered this a very satisfactory position, and desired to thank all who had worked so well to make the production of “A Country Girl” such a success. He also complimented Air F. W. Sligo on his publicity work. He trusted that members would not slacken in their enthusiasm, and if one and all put the same thoroughness into the next production there was

no reason why it should not be equally successful. DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB. Among the lovers of Scotland’s bard, the popularity of the Dunedin Burns Club’s gatherings never wanes, and there was the usual large attendance of members and friends at the club’s monthly meeting, which was held in tlie Early Settlers’ Hall on AVednesday night. The president (Air G. Currie) occupied the chair, and stated that at the last meeting of the committee Air J. Bowie, immediate past president, had presented the club with an old and rare copy of Burns’s works dated 1801, and this‘had been handed to the city librarian (Air AV. B. M'Ewan), who intended placing it in the Burns coiner of the Public Library. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr I'. C. Cooper, was in particularly good form, and its two part songs. “For the Sake ” and “ Jock o’Hazledean,” met with an enthusiastic reception. Others contributing were Alessrs D. Blair and J N. Wilson and Airs D. Carty (songs), MisS Margaret Seelye (recitation), Miss Loma Budge (national dance), Piper AV. Budge (bagpipe selection), and Air J. Paterson (humorous song). Another acceptable item was an instrumental number by Mr H. Stoke’s Alandolin Band Aliss E. Wright acted as accompanist. DICKENS RECITAL. The popularity of the Rev. James Al. Smeeth’s Dickens recitals was attested by the large gathering at the United Congregational Church on Tuesday evening. The idiosyncrasies of the variety of priceless characters presented by Dickens in “Pickwick Papers” furnishes the speaker with a wealth of material upon which to draw. Simple and lovable Pickwick himself, the gallant Tupman, and the spinster Aunt. Jingle the adventurer, the impressionable Airs Bardell, the irrepressible Sam AVeller, and his portly parent, Stiggins the pious, pompous humbug, these figured, with others, in the recital, and each was invested with a distinctiveness of voice, accent, and facial expression that stamped the reader as a clever delineator of character, and kept the audience in high good humour throughout the recital. During intervals songs were sung by Miss Alay Dryden, her numbers bein<Early in the Alorning ” and “So Sang the Thrush.” Air Colin Oliver played the accompaniments. DUNEDIN CHORAL SOCIETY. A well-attended and enthusiastic rehearsal of Caractacus ” was held on Tuesday night by the Dunedin Choral Society. Three of the principals—Aliss leresa AFEnroe, Air AV. Kershaw, and Air H. P. Desmoulins—were present, and sang their respective parts in a manner which ensures success at the public performance which will be given in the Town Hall to-night (Tuesday). The fourth soloist, Air H. Carter, is coming specially from Christchurch to sing his part. The orchestra went through its work in a very creditable way. Orchestration is a strong point of Sir Edward Elgar, and the orchestra can be depended upon to do full justice to the composer. The chorus is well up in its work. “ Caractacus ” is a work which has never yet been heard by a Dunedin audience. Air Alfred AValmsley is the conductor of the society. WING WHISPERS. By Petek Pan. AA’ELLINGTON, June 18. Dear “ Pasquin,”—Alischa Levitzki, pianist, returned after a ten years’ absence on Tuesday, and enthralled a large audience in the Town Hall in the evening. He held his hearers spellbound with the dazzling maturity of his playing and the originality of his conceptions. The prodigious programme included the Tausig transcription of Bach’s colossal Toccata and Fugue in D minor—an auspicious opening, notable for splendid tone production and the virility of its expression; the Gluck Alelodie, from “Orpheus and Eurydice,” arrangement by Sgambati, a little work of exquisite beauty, delightfully played; the Gavotte of Gluck from Appassionata Sonata of Beethoven, a magnificent achievement; Chopin’s brilliant Scherzo in C sharp minor—another great tribute to the robust art of Levitzki, imperturbable and perfect stylist; waltz in A minor, one of Levitzki’s own compositions, a graceful, beautiful, stately measure —this had to be repeated for its cool serenity; the Paganini-Liszt “Campanella ” number of which nobody seems to tire; the Hugarian Rhapsody of Liszt, in which Levitzki fairly electrified his listeners —rapid transition of moods and a dashing climax that brought people to their feet in hearty appreciation; Chopin’s “ Black Keys,” “ Butterfly,” and A flat Etudes; Schubert’s “Alarche Alilitaire,” and Ravel’s dainty “Jeux d’Eau.” In the matter of encores, the friendly man was generous—that is one of his chief charms, the utter friendliness of his manner. The second concert is to take place at the Town Hall this evening, when Levitzki will play Organ Prelude and Fugue in A minor (Bach-Liszt), Gavotte in A minor, from “Alceste" (GluckBrahms), Symphonic Studies, Op. 13 (Schumann), Nocturne in C minor (Chopin). Etude in A flat major, Op. 25, No. 1 (Chopin), Etude in D flat major, Op. 25, No. 10 (Chopin), Alazurka in A flat major (Chopin), Polonaise in A flat, Op. 53 (“Heroic”), Chopin, Arabesque (Debussy), Golliwog’s Cake Walk (Debussy), La Fille aux Cheveux de Lin (Debussy), Arabesques on the Beautiful Blue Danube (Strauss-Schulz-Elver). Tlie third and final concert will be given on Saturday evening. The Society of Alusicians entertained the genial pianist at a cordial afternoon reception yesterday, at the Pioneer Club Rooms. Air John Bishop presided in the asbsence of the president, Air Harison Cook, and there was a large and representative gathering to welcome the popular artist. Air Levitzki’s speech in reply to the welcome was characteristically breezy; Air E. J. Gravestock was also warmly greeted on his return to Wellington once more with celebrity. The play based on old Egypt “Tutankhamen ” at the Grand Opera House, by the AA 7 ellington Operatic Society has been a sound artistic success. The piece has

been presented on the same scale of magnificence that made the Auckland season a triumph, and Wellington has been surprised at the work of collaboration by Messrs L. P Leary and Eric Waters, both of Auckland. The story is ingenious, and sound workmanship is apparent in its construction. AVhat calls for special mention is the sequence of scenes, all rich in setting and dressing, and the choral and orchestral support. Air Norman Aitken, a consistently good performer (noted for his version of Charley’s Aunt in a former Wellington season of that play) is ideally cast as the American, Blatant, about whose advent most of the developments occur. Mr Aitken carries the role out to perfection, and has support from dainty Gretta Stark as his English monacled wife; Rita Arnold (Mrs Ray Kemp) uses her contralto voice to excellent effect in the part of Tji, Egyptian princess, and look&rl the piece; Ray Kemp was a dignified lutankhamen, singing his lines clearly and tunefully, and acting with a good deal of artistry; others prominent in the cast are Ethel Oldbury Jones as Annubis; Aubrey Beckford as Royal Embalmer; George Power as Zinonfi. a blend of the Inquisitor and Koko; Robert Charltonas Captain Francis; J, Cooke as Seti* Alabel Turner as sister to Tutankhamen; and D. Alexander as Patriarch. The chorus and ballet are excellent, the dancing being an outstanding feature—solos, duets, and ballets being up to professional standard, almost—Air Joe Knowtdey responsible—Elvie Aitken, as the Spirit of the Tomb, being almost uncannily authentic. _ The work is considered a brilliant theatrical masterpiece, and Wellington is indeed grateful to the Auckland collaborators and Auckland Society for the piece and th e magnificent settings and costumings. The season has been extended another two nights, making a week of it. The C.T. Afale Voice Choir accomplished a success at its first, concert of the season on Saturday night, before a large audience in the Concert Chamber—this despite several counter attractions. The attack was crisp and good, and Mr Bishop had his singers in complete control. The Norwegian folk songs, with Air D. Al. Anderson as an ideal soloist for them, were a welcome inclusion, and were well received. The Wagnerian excerpt from Tannhauser, with Aladame Dorothy Cronin, of Auckland, singing the hapless Elizabeth’s part, and Air Roy H. Dellow singing Wolfram’s lines, suffered slightly through being accompanied by piano only. Air Trevor Fisher asquitted himself nobly as it was, but the act required more than one instrument to bring out its pathetic beauty. Aladame Cronin has a beautifully clear soprano voice, and was eminently successful in her separate solos. Claude Tanner played several ’cello pieces in his inimitable style, and Mr W. A. Gatheridge assisted Air Fisher in one or two of the items. Ten-year bars were presented by the president, Air Hugh Wright, to Alessrs Al. Alilsom, W. Shapcott, G. L. Stewart, W. H. Church, Al. S. Galloway, H. F. Harper, AV. A. Wilson, and D. Hall for continued service, the recipients being warmly applauded. Good musicianship was shown by Alice Duff (pianist) and Leslie C. Walker (violin) when they collaborated recently for a recital in the Y.W.C.A. Hall. Artistic insight was shown into Beethoven's lovely Kreutzer Sonata; Handel’s Sonata in D major; A 7 eracini’s E minor Sonata; a Alozart Alinuetto; a Sonata by Geminiani; and a Schubert Sonatina. Miss Duff played two movements of Beethoven’s Sonata in F sharp major—a beautiful performance; a Chopin waltz; and Scarlatti’s Wilhelmina Sonata. Both musicians are to be complimented on their initiative.

The Orpheus Alusical Society is singing in the Y.W.C-A. Hall to-night, presenting “England Expects”—the ballad of the A 7 ictory—a nautical suite for baritone and chorus (Hubert Bath), and Sir AA 7 . Sterndale Bennett’s pastoral cantata, “ The Alay Queen," Aliss Ava Symons, our talented violinist, is to play a bracket of numbers including “ Larghetto,” from Barbella’s Second Sonata; and Kreisler’s charming “ Caprice Viennois.” Soloists will be Alisses Kathleen Ferris and Christina Young, and Alessrs Sam Duncan and G. H. Gray. Accompaniments will be by Aliss Adelina M'Grath, and Alessrs Ernest Jenner and Clement Howe. Aliss Estelle Beere announces a dance recital for the afternoon and evening of June 26 and 27. Special juvenile features will make the matinee attractive to children. The Royal AVellington Choral Union will not now present AVaguer’s Tannhauser opera till September, at its second concert, Dunedinites will remember it was performed at the Exhibition in 1926, with Kate Campion, Arthur Jordan. Alfred Walmsley, and Aladame Winnie Fraser in the chief roles. Special orchestral features are promised for the September version by the local union. Aliss Zillah Castle, who leaves for England next month to pursue her violin studies (she won an Exhibition Scholarship), is to give a recital before she leaves. Air Gordon Jardine, the genial manager of the Regent Theatre, AVellington, has left to take over the management of the new J. C. AVilliamson Regent Theatre, Timaru. Air Errol Fuller replaces him here.