THEATRICAL FEAST

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 277, 13 February 1928, Page 11

THEATRICAL FEAST

JUR..E. J. TAILS PROMISES KETURN TO MYSTERY-DRAMAS ITALIAN GRAND OPERA For 28 hectically busy years, Mr. E J. Tait has been trying to find time to do one thing, to see the South Island of New Zealand, and now his wishes are well on the way to fulfilment. .\'E of the most prominent theatrical U figures i n Australia, Mr. Tait, managing director of J. C. Williamson, Ltd arrived by the Aorangi yesterday and is about to dash through the country on the firm's business, hoping that he will have time to see some big--ame fishing at Russell before he leaves again on February 25. Speaking of the taste for plays, Mr. Tait said: “The only really interesting hange in the theatrical public taste tor the last ten years is the return to the love for the old mystery-melo-dramas like “The Terror,” and “The Ghost Train.” Otherwise the taste is the same. "Dancing? Well, the dancing has finished with Jazz, and has also t;one back 25 years to the ballets of ■The Country Girl.’ The dances in the latest show, ‘The Girl Friend,’ would remind you of that.” Though he has frequently passed through the Dominion on his way to America, he has seen only the North Island cities and Rotorua. The South is unknown ground. One of his objects is to supervise the “rejuvenation” of the Theatre Royal in Christchurch, and he promises that the local His Majesty's will also be renovated and improved. A BUSY SEASON A feast of theatrical attractions has been prepared for New Zealand, beginning with the musical comedies, “Tip Toes" and "Queen High,” the rehearsals of which on Tuesday Mr. Tait will probably see. Then will come “The Student Prince” and “Madame Pompadour,” featuring Beppy De Vries, James Liddy and Frank Webster, and these shows should be here about Easter. * Moscovitcb, with two thrillers, “The Terror” and "The Ringer,” was to have come hero this month, but he went to Brisbane where, playing in the hottest time of the year, usually a close season for theatricals, he did pantomime business. He is due here in May or June. The Italian Grand Opera C.ompany, headed by Toti Dal Monte, should be here about October. The company opens in Melbourne on May 12, Mussolini, having caused a week’s delay by commanding some of the members to sing before the King of Italy. The Australian chorus is hard at work, and the scenic department is going at top to get the settings ready. Puccini’s “Turandot” will De the opener, and other operas will be “Tannhauser,” •Lohengrin,” the “Manon” of both Massenet and Puccini, “Thais” and others. The company is expected to play for ten weeks in Melbourne and a similar time in Sydney. Now in its seventh week in Sydney ami expected to run for twenty, is “The Girl Friend,” which New Zealand can expect after the Melbourne season. Leon Gordon has come back with the most novel play Mr. Tait has ever seen. This is “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” which is a court scene with the audience as the jury. There is no orchestra, no stage hand and no property men, and the only chance the audience has to go out for a smoke is when the judge says “the jury will now retire."

In May the famous Boucicault-Van-brugh Company will be welcomed back with Maughan's “The Letter,” “All the King’s Horses" and a new Lonsdale play, “The High Road.” For the music lovers there will be the return visit of Moiseiwitsch.

Mr. Tait mentioned that the firm had a comprehensive programme of building in view. Sydney’s New Regent, which was based on Auckland’s Regent, would bo completed in March, and there would be other fine houses in other capitals. In New Zealand, Dunedin, Wellington and Wanganui were to have new theatres. Hi* meeting on the ship with the local manager for J.C.W., Mr. John Farrell, was an interesting event, '* markecl approximately the 28th anniversary of the meeting Of Mr. Tait and Mr. Farrell at His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Sir George Tallis and Mr. Richard Stewart were the other members of the firm then.