MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES.

Shannon News, 27 March 1928, Page 1

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES.

Some adjustments have been made in connection with the New Zealand tours of J. C. Williamson/ Companies. Moseovitch and his specially selected Company, which includes the famous

London actor, Mr Patrick Curlew, is scheduled to open the Dominion season at Auckland on April 7th, thus providing the Easter .attraction for the North-

ern 'centre. The Comedy Company playing the “Cuckoo in the Nest/' “Rookery Nook,” and “Thark,” three of Ben Travers’ most amusing comedies, will open the New Zealand -season at Wellington Opera House on April 7th, the season expending so'April 21st. This is headed by the noted London aftistes, Hastings Lynn, Helene' Symon, Cyril Vernon, Vera Gerald, Minnie Reyner, and includes many others' who have established their reputations on the London stage. The Wellington season of the Musical Comedy Company, play|ng “Tip Tops” and “Queen High,” two very attractive dancing musical comedies, has been very successful. The season of “Tip Toes” ends to-night and on Saturday “Queen High’? goes up for a veryshort season. In, this musical comedy Miss Billie Lockwood, a clever young Australian who was taken to London by Lee White and Clay Smith, gets her chance. Two of the most popular vocal, melodies in the piece are “Everything will happen for the best, ’ ’ and I‘Don’t forget.” “Rose Marie” continues its very successful tour of the South Island. The Christchurch season was one of .the most satisfactory ever recorded in the Cathedral City, In his New Zealand tour, Maurice Moscovitcli will be supported by a particularly strong company, including such well-known performers as Miss Mary MacGregor, Miss Eileen Sparkes, Miss Kiore Hing ( a New Zealander), Mr Patrick Curwen (who comes 1 from London to specially play in the part of Dr. Lomond, Divisional Police Surgeon), Mr Nat Madison (who has made a great success of his part of Samuel Hackett, a former convict), Mr Reginald Newson, Mr Alex. Garner', Mr George Blunt, Mr Donaghey, Me Michael Hogan, Mr J. B. Atholwood, and others. / •

A correspondent writing from Sydney, touches on matters theatrical and in the course of an interesting letter writes: “It will, I am sure, give general satisfaction in New Zealand when they hear the good news that a Dominion tour for the ‘Madame Pompa,dour’ Company, which is headed by that charming little lady, Beppy De Vries, is now being arranged. The Company is to commence the New* Zealand season at Auckland on May 23rd.”

’ Writing to a friend in New Zealand, Dame Nellie Melba, who is taking a prominent part in the preparations for the Williamson-Melba Grand Opera Company’s season, says: “I am simply delighted as much at the quality of the Australian singers who so far have been chosen, as with the undoubted musical abilities of the principals and others. I am not exaggerating when I say that it is one of the most wonderful musical combinations ever gathered together in any part of the world. As you know, it has taken the firm some years to get this aggregation of famous singers together in one company. The work has been a stupendous one and lias necessitated very lengthy negotiations. Now that the names ot some of these performers are available, it will be recognised that Sir George Tallis and Mr Tait have succeeded beyond all anticipations.”