Barnum, £1000,000: Wilde, £100

Radio Record, Volume VIII, Issue 44, 10 May 1935, Page 24

Barnum, £1000,000: Wilde, £100

HKstates Left by Famous Theatre Personalities — Sum Left by Anna Pavlova — "Sixteen" Next Wellington Repertory Show — Christchurch Harmonic Society May Visit Adelaide.

NEAR the back of the volume, ""Who’s Who in the Theatre," is an inter-. esting. chapter’ headed "Theatrical Wills: a list of a Few Well-known Managers, Actors and Others whose Wills have been proved." And who would you imagine tops the list? Is it successful dramatists with long strings of hundred-night runs to their credit? Is it famous actors and actresses who have been adored favourites of the public for 40 years on end? Is it-far more probably-the

theatre owners and managers‘who ‘have’ made successful speculation .‘ in "the theatre a life interest? Actually, the list is headed. by none of these people, biit by a circus pro prietor, who, at the age of 80, died worth a million pounds sterling. And his name wag Phineas T, Barnum, one of the cleverest humbugs the entertainment world has ever known. The names at the other end of the list are a curious commentary on men, the world, and the mysteries of fate, Oscar Wilde, brilliant dramatist and.author, left £100, while Stephen Phillips, a poet who had moments of genuine loveliness, and who wrote many of Tree’s verse-dramas, left £5. The next name to Barnum’s at the top of the list is "Lotta, actress, aged 77, left £800,000." Who was Lotta? She was an American actress who started life by touring the American mining camps of.the’seventies. Her right name was. Charlotte Crabtree, and she went once.to England, playing "The Marchioness," Dick Swiveller’s friend, in a Dickens adaptation about 1884, .But she retired early and made most of her money out of real estate. ‘The first author to:figure on the list is Hall Caine, who left a quarter of a million. pounds-but. scarcely all made

out of his dramatic writings. The first out-and-out writer for the theatre to leave anything like a fortune is Avery Hopwood, whose estate was worth £200,000. After him come several of the Victorian and Edwardian actor-managers, on the whole a businesslike, thrifty, and successful collection. Sir Charles Wyndham and Sir Squire Bancroft both left nearly two hundred thousand, and Sir George Alexander nearly a hundred thousand pounds. Incidentally, David Garrick, "actor, manager, and dramatic author," left £120,000--but as the eighteenth-century pound was worth considerably more than our: present makeshift for that coin, one would be right in almost multiplying this last figure by two. Anna Pavlova left £80,000; D’Oyly Carte left £240,000; Miss. Marie Studholme, coming at the top of the list of all music hall performers, left £58,000; W. .S. Gilbert left £111,000: and Arthur Sulilivan, £54,000. Mr. Augustin Daly, who played the red rag to- Mr. Bernard Shaw’s bull in all the early Shaw theatre criticisms,. left £51,000. The best-known. dramatists of the last few decades do not seem to have done too badly. Henry Arthur Jones . left £20,000 ;.Pinero left about £50,000 ; Hubert Henry. Davies £12,000. Dan Leno left £10,000, and Hleanora Duse £8000, Marie Lloyd £7000 odj. The dramatic critics do not seem to have done’ too: brilliantly. At the head of the list-is BE.’ F. Spence, who. left nearly five’thousand pounds-but then ‘he was a K.O. as,well as a dramatic’ critic. Clement Scott left just under £3000but "then, Eugene Stratton, "negro delineator. and dancer," left just over £3000. ; FAvouraBin comment is alread) being. passed on the Wellington Repertory Theatre’s choice of play for" their next production-"Sixteen" charming comedy in’ three acts and four scenes by Aimee and Philip Stuart which js to be presented shortly in the Concert Chamber.of -the . Wellington Town Hall. Mr. W. S. Wauchop, who is directing the production, had the pleasure of seeing this play when he was in London last year, and was immediately impressed. It was then in ‘its sixth month. at ‘the ’ Criterion ‘Theatre, to. which it had been trans‘ferred from the Embassy, the capacity of the latter. having been outstripped during its initial run there. Such eminent critics ag Mr. St. John Irvine and Mr, James Agate gave it excellent notices inthe’ newspapers they: represent, and in addition’ they broadcast their: views’in. terms ‘of the highest praise-placing it high up amodng the plays worth seeing. in London at that time, The cast, which has been in rehearsal for ‘some weeks now includes-Mrs. Ina Allan, Mrs. Sydney Tingey, Mrs, Greville Wiggs (nee Edna Purdie), Miss Vivienne. Tait, and Miss

Phyllis Nicholls, and Messrs. T. Y. Anson and BB. 8. Baldwin. ‘THE Christchurch Harmonie Society may visit Adelaide in about twelve months’ time to participate in a worldwide competition for choirs, The choir is 150 strong and it is hoped that many members will be. able to make the trip. Preliminary organisation work is already being carried out in Christchurch and:a special appeal will be made to employers so to arrange annual leave that members of their staffs will be able to represent the city at what promises to be a great international contest. Inspired by. the success of its visit to Dunedin on April 13, the Harmonic Soeiety is hopeful of making several visits to other centres, as it is felt that this would greatly help the choir in the event of the Adelaide trip being carried out. Mrs, W. J. Hunter, president of the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the society, is already working on the organisation of the proposed trip. HREE one-act plays, "Spinsters of, Lushe," by Phillip Johnstoa,! "Tribes," by. Susan Glaspell, and "Re

lief Workers," by Dorothy Maginess, were produced by the Canterbury College Drama Society in the’ Little Theatre, Christchurch, recently. ONE of the "Seven One-Act Plays, . 1934," published by the "Radio, Record," came up for discussion by the North Canterbury Area of the British Drama League during their Baster School of Drama in Christchurch, Stu-

dents brought plays that they intended to produce, and the play by the New Zealand playwright, Eric Bradwell. "There is No Return," was introduced for discussion by a Timaru student. -Much good advice was given by the instructors on the correct method of producing plays, and students should great: ly benefit from the lessons received under such able tutors. HOUGH nothing definite has been arranged, there is a big prospect. of a visit to New Zealand shortly of 4 J. C. Williamson musical’ comedy compapvy playing "Gay Divorce" and "Nice Goings On," both of which have been delighting Australian audiences. "Abounding in singing, dancing and witty dialogue, they are likely to come here, and will be interpreted by a firstclass company. Both are remarkable for the dressing and mounting. ‘Nice Goings On" is set in an extravagant Scandinavian pleasure resort, whither goes a civil servant on holiday, A whirl pool of frivolity follows the young man, not the least of his perturbations being the attention of lovely damsels from bathing cabinets on the sands. "Gay Divorce" is the story of a professional co-respondent who falls in love with a client. Tuneful and haunting melodies, ballets, ludicrous situations and romance make of both "Gai Divorce" and "Nice Goings On" fare cv be remembered long after the seasou has closed, ITH the advent of a new Willianson company to play "Fresh Fields" and "While Parents Sleep," two diting comedy dramas, New Zealann ‘heatregoers are in for a season of fun

Ivor Novello wrote the former, and Anthony Kimmins -the latter, and both have been box-office successes in London and elsewhere. "Fresh Fields" tells of an Australian invasion of i London mansion, and in his gallery of types, both English and Australian, the author cleverly exaggerates the faults of both for the sheer purpose of proving how a closer understanding can bring about a proper appreciation of the hidden good points. It is all hilar iously attractive entertainment, presented with a scale of production for which the firm is noted. "While Parents Sleep," too, provides a maximum of entertainment itis a play for adults and adolescents dealing with the problems of life as they affect parents and children, Romance, humour and patho~ have been subtly blended. UPON the dispersal of the artists ol the Fuller Grand Opera Company Madame Muriel Brunskill did not let the grass grow under her feet, and from Melbourne she made straight for Brisbane, where she commenced what will be an Australian and New Zealand coneert tour. The reputation of this inspiring English contralto has ' been built up not upon operatic work, but chiefly upon her success in oratorios and as a lieder singer. She was soloist years ago at the Hlgar Festival to celebrate that composer’s seyentieth birthday, and at the last performance of "The Dream of Gerontius" which Elgar conducted. In America she appeared as a soloist with the Chicago and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestras, and gave concerts in New York. A number of new works are promised during the coming concert tour, and among

them will be several. songs. Composed specially for her by Arnistrong Gibbs und Proctor-Gregg. To radio listenerg Madame | Brunskill is known through her ‘recordings. : 2580) late Sir Alexander Mackenzie, the most distinguished musical Scot of his day, will be much missed in British artistic circles. Passing away at the fine old age of 87, Sir Alexander always maintained that the secret of his amazing activity almost to the last was a keen relish for his work and an equally | keen sense of humour. As a yiolinist he made many friends with the eminent artists of the past, amoug whom were Joachim and Sarasate;. of the latter’s art he held a high regard, saying on one occasion: "In my opinion. Sarasate left a deeper mark upon violin playing .than. any other. performer of his day." Sir Alexander was a great friend of Liszt, an association which culminated. in the Hungarian pianist’s visit to London in 1886, wherein the Scot played a leading part. The greatest work of Sir Alexander Mackenzie, apart from ’ his .namerous worthy compositions, was his able directorship of thé ‘Royal : Academy of Music, London. This institution prospered and grew out of all knowledge during his, progressive eign | of 38 years. ° : ee et ME ghoren BHLLWOOD, © eéllist (late: of . Wellington) gave, in con- . junction with Miss Blsie Hall, a distinguished pianist, a sonata recital in Sydney recently, Miss Hall has some charming records to. her credit. and {he recital was'a great success, ,