The Gazette from Montreal, Quebec, Canada • 10

VOL. CLXVn, No. 231 10 GERSHWIN MEMORIAL ALBUM RELEASED BY RCA-VICTOR 1 TOE GAZETTE, MONTREAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1938. James Bridie Comedy THE ANSWER! Most Famous American Composer Represented by Striking Songs By THOMAS ARCHER. (Drama and Music Critic of The Gazette.) 1 I sung by Jane Froman.

The sixth side is devoted to the middle section of the "Rhapsody in Blue." Then comes a whole record devoted to songs and choruses from "Porgy and Bess." Practically every selection here exhibits Gershwin's genius at its best. There is "I Got Plenty of Nuttin'," "My Man's Gone Now," "Summertime," a blues lullaby, "Bess You is My Woman" and. best of all, "It Ain't Necessarily So." The rest of the set is devoted to single songs. It is hard to believe that "That Certain Feeling" is fourteen years old. It was written for "Tip Toes" produced in 1925.

There are several selections from the shows which came out under the heading of "George White's Scandals" including "South Sea Isle," an example standing midway between ragtime and jazz, "Somebody Loves Me," "Maybe," "Do Do Do," "Clap Yo' Hands" and "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Oh Gee, Oh Joy," "Do It Again" and others. The performance is all that could be desired. The orchestra is directed by Nathaniel Shilkret and a very acceptable chorus joins in frequeptly. Of the three soloists, Jane Froman, Sonny Schuyler and SIR CEDRIC HARDWICKE, distinguished British actor, as he appears in two characteristic poses as Canon Skerritt in Paul Vincent Carroll's play, "Shadow and Substance." Sir Cedric Hardwicke Analyzes Character He Will Play Here EDDIE DOWLING presents CEDRIC HARDWICKE in "SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE" By Paul Vincent Carroll With the Original New York Cast Headed by SABA ALLGOOD and JULIE HAYDON Play Directed by Peter Godfrey CAST (In Order of Their Appearance) Brigid Julie Haydon Dermot Francis O'Flingsley Lloyd Gough his interest and eagerness increased. There was only one hurdle to an immediate agreement.

Sir Cedric was drawing a fabulous salary on a six month contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He settled the contract relinquishing five months' pay in order to appear in Paul Vincent Carroll's play. "It was a financial gamble," the actor admits. "Every play is. But great plays and great roles come so infrequently that no financial gain can recompense for the loss of a part like that of Canon Skerritt." Sir Cedric Hardwicke will be seen at His Majesty's Theatre for one week beginning Monday, October 3.

To open its ninth consecutive, season the Montreal Repertory Theatre will present "Storm in a Teacup." James Bridie's amusing; comedy of life in a small Scottish burgh. Martha Allan will be seen in the role of an Irish fruit peddlar I whose small dog causes a complete tempest in the municipal allairs or the town. Others who will be seen in this hilariously satirical play include Cecil Nichol. well-known on stage and radio. Ailsa Hands, John Ready, Ruxton Byatt, Alex Frazer.

Muriel Duncan. Orea Sneed, Cyril Hessey-White. Robert Young, Pat McKinnon and Robert Duncan. "Storm in a Teacup" will be presented at Victoria Hall on October 18 to 22 with settings by Cecil West. In the meantime the activities of the annual membership campaign are proceeding in a satisfactory way, according to J.

Aird Nesbitt, honorary chairman of the committee, with both renewals of last years' subscribers end the enrolment of new members ahead of the figures for the same date last season. FORUM OCTOBER 6 SWING CONCERT DANCE 4 Hours of Entertainment Paul WHITEMAN And His Orchestra SEATS lt0. Plus Tax. NOW' Canada's Newest Band Dance Sensation AT THE FORUM TO-NIGHT MART KENNEY AND HIS WESTERN GENTLEMEN You'll want to hear the sweet music again and again Enjoy it any time you wish on VICTOR RECORDS Can You Dance "The Lambeth Get your Fret copy of Instructions from Lay ton record department Tonight or Tomorrow, 1 mm 1168 St. Catherine St.

West At Stanley Br. 868 St. Catherine St. I. I The release of RCA-Victor's Gershwin Memorial Album (Victor-masterpiece Set No.

329) should be like a tonic for the general state of the public's nerves. The five records to be put on sale this October are light, gay and full of the spirit of a music which may yet prove the best produced on this continent so far. The set ranges from the early "Swanee" (1918) to "Porgy and Bess" (1935), Gershwin's first and last opera. It is like an anthology of styles in popular music, an anthology ranging in rhythmic pattern from ragtime to swing. It would be difficult in following the songs chronologically to judge whether Gershwin set the style or whether he abscribed it and made it his own.

It may be said, however, that his really distinctive personality is apparent from the beginning. Songs like "Swonder-ful" and "Do It all more than ten years old. betray an astonishing longevity. They are not like most poular songs, here today and gone tomorrow, but instead sound as fresh as when they were first written. Only one or two seem definitely dated.

Most of the ones selected are tak-n from the stage shows that made Gershwin a legend on Broadway. The first of the ten sides is devoted to a medley from "Of Thee I Sing the musical play by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind which won the Pultizcr Prize in 1931. It includes "Win-tergreen for President." "Who Cares." "Of Thee I Sing" and "Love is Sweeping Country." On the second sides comes a selection from "Girl Crazy" (1930) including the energetic "I Got Rhythm." "Bidin' My Time," an admirable blues song, and the sentimental "Embracing You." The third side is devoted to one of Gershwin's most popular songs, "The Man I Love," superbly Calendar of Events In Realm of Music The executive of the Quebec Musical Competition Festival announces that the syllabus for the 1939 festival, which will be heid from March 6 to 16 in Montreal, will be issued to the public on October 13. As there were 10,678 contestants in last year's festival, the new syllabus is being looked forward to with keen interest by many, it is said.

It is anticipated that the entries will show a healthy increase over last year's number and that every effort will be made to raise the standard of musicianship presented to a yet higher level in the coming festival. The annual meeting of the Montreal Ladies' Choir was held in the Welsh Church Hall, 1234 St. Catherine street west, on Monday, September 26. 1938, at 8 o'clock. The following officers for the ensuing year were elected: Conductor, Thomas Edmunds; accompanist, R.

Johnston; president. K. Brittain; vice-president. Mrs. H.

Turner; recording secretary. Mrs. D. Bull; corresponding secretary, Miss H. Anderson; treasurer.

Miss N. Bull; librarian, Miss R. Weldon; assistant librarian, Miss P. Turner; publicity. Miss V.

Cod-erre Fox; music convenor, T. Edmunds: assistant to m.c, Mrs. W. Innes Cunningham; registrar, Miss I. Dalgleish.

Henry James Attwood, well known baritone of Montreal, and soloist at St. James United Church, celebrated his 25th wedding anniversary this week. Mr. Attwood. a native of Hull, England, has been VICTORIA HALL Oct.

58.45 P.M. LAWRENCE LESLIE HOLMES NOTED ENGLISH BARITONE Tickets $1.25, at Willis Mrs. A M. Russel. FItzroy 3420.

and Victoria Hall Wednesday evening. Students Tickets also 0, NO COVER fc no minimum DINNER $1.00 1258 Stanley St. PL. 8000 EATON'S CANADA'S NEWEST DANCE-BAND SENSATION at the Forum TO-NIGHT MART KENNEY and his Western Gentlemen The sweetest music erer made for dancing 216593 THE WEST, A NEST A NO YOU DEAR Walbi SOMETIME -Walti 216592 THERE'S RAIN IN MY EYES -Fox Trot THERE'S HONEY ON THE MOON TONIGHT Fox Trot VICTOR RECORDS Mueic for that dancing mood played isy Canada's own Mart Kenney. Enjoy his theme song and these latest popular hits any time with these two new Victor Recordj.

They're ideal dance music for that next time when friends drop in. Why not call in at the store and hear them for yourself? MART KENNEY CHOOSES THE STEIN WAY PIANO 'The Instrument of The Immortals" SUPPLIED BY EATON'S "Music Centre," Filth T. EATON Cfc OV MONTRCAh Instruments for Picture The ancestor of all violins raised its voice for the first time in Hollywood, when Herbert Stothart conducted his musical score for "Marie Antoinette," the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture starring Norma Shearer, held for a second week at the Palace Theatre. It was a viola d'amore, more than 300 years old, brought from Chicago and played by Vladimir Bakaleinikoff, cellist, especially for the assembly of period instruments interspersed in the orchestras. Less than five men in the world today play the instrument, according to its owner.

It became obsolete almost before the first violin was made and before Stradivari made his masterpieces. The principal reason, its owner says, is that it takes more than an hour to tune, and goes out of tune every few minutes. The instrument has seven strings, played with a bow. Under the fingerboard and beneath the played strings are seven thin "sympathetic strings," which vibrate when the upper strings are played. It originated among the Moors, and was brought by them to Spain, where it became known as "viola de Moor," which later was changed to "viola d'amore" through popular use of the term.

Stothart's score for the dramatic romance has many unusual orchestral combinations. For the opening, an old French music box is imitated by celester, harp, harpsichords and woodwinds, which merge with violins in a tender, but rather sprightly strain when Norma Shearer, as the young princess, appears on the screen. The traditional King's March, played at important affairs of royalty, is used in Stothart's special arrangement for Marie's arrival in Paris and presentation to the old King, portrayed by John Barrymore in the picture. Combinations of trumpets in fanfares, and the deep notes of great French period drums, tall as a man. especially constructed for the picture, figure in the musical conformation.

Challenging the vogue of all other ballroom dances, "The Yam," as introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in R.K.O. Radio's "Carefree." is an innovation in more ways than one. "The Yam," is said to be basically so simple that almost anyone ran dance it. The variations with which the two stars embellish it in the picture can be essayed by those who feel qualitiea to do so. Din tne basis step is the essence of simpli city.

And for this reason, the two stars themselves, as well as studio officials and Hollywood dance authorities, are confident that "The Yam," deserves popularity ballrooms everywhere. The dance begins with swing stroll, and incidental steps evolve it into a sort of cakewalk, from which the dancers break and strut on their own. and then face one another in a heel-toe step. Then they "Yam" a step beginning with heels together and toes apart, and repeated in double time. It is a rare thing for child, movie star to survive the transition through the awkward age and into his or her teens.

Of the few who have accomplished this feat, Anne Shirley is the only one to reach stardom, and she did this when she was but sixteen, just three years ago. Anne, who is currently playing in "Mother Carey's Chickens" which is now being shown at the Princess Theatre, was left a Half-orphan while still an infant, arid she was only fourteen months oid when she earned her first dollar posing for a commercial artist. She was barely three when she made her first film appearance in a picture directed by the late John Francis Dillon, and soon afterward played her first important role in "The Miracle Child" starring William Farnum. When Anne was four her mother took her to Hollywood where there were more opportunities. Herbert Brenon, who had directed Anne in "The Miracle Child" was filming a Pola Negri vehicle and needed a clever youngster for an important sequence, and the director, recalling Anne's former performance, immediately gave her the role, and the little girl's career really got under way.

During the succeeding years Anne enacted the roles of many noted stars in their childhood, including Janet Gaynor, Madge Bellamy, Myrna Loy, Barbara Stanwyck, Fay Wray, and others. As she became older, her career continued to progress by leaps and bounds, until 1934, she was selected for an important role in "Finishing School." This led to "Anne of Green Gables" and stardom. MART KENNEY, whose orchestra will appear at the Harvest Moon Ball at the Forum tonight. Cossacks' Programme The Don Cossacks, under the leadership of Serge JarnfT, will give another of their popular concerts entirely devoted to the music of their native country at the Monument National Theatre tomorrow evening. Programme: "In Thy Kingdom" (Tschesno.

koffi; "Cherub Song" (Kastalsky); "You Alone Are Immortal" (Kastalsky); "Ever Vigilant In Her Prayers" (Lvovsky); "The Lord's Name Be Blessed" (Tschesnokoff): Cantata, "For the 050th Annuary of the Baptism of Russia" (Schwe-do(T: "Those Evening Bells" (Arr. JarofT); "A Merry Tale" (Air. JarofT): Soldier'! Joke" (Arr. flinm I uuiiHa inu, 'Schwedoff); "The Bandore" (Dawld-I owiky); Two Soldiers' Infantry Rnngs (Arr. Jaroff); "The Little Ditch" (Tschesnokoff): "Behind the Ural, Behind the River" (Don Cos-I lack Song).

Ancient Played Mt'i'' iS I Thomasina Concannon Jill Stern Father Corr Harry Father Kirwan Len Doyle Very Rev. Thomas Canon Skerritt Cedric Hardwicke Miss Jemina Cooney Sara Allgood Francis Ignatius O'Connor Gerald Buckley Martin Mullahone John L. Kearney Rosie Almira Sessions PAUL WHITEMAN, who will be heard in a concert at the Forum next Thursday evening. youi OCTOBER VICTOR RECORDS Hartney's Record Department the largest in Canada invites you to hear the latest domestic and foreign recordings. Record Supplement mailed free on request.

755 St. Catherine Street West HA. 3202 1 -1 in .1 H3 A Concert Series Here Ted Shawn, who several years ago broke away from the conventional formula that every dance ensemble must necessarily have more women than men will, together with his eight men dancers, open the second season of the Canadian Artists' Bureau's "Montreal Variety Concert Series'' on Saturday evening, October 22, at His Majesty's Theatre. In his new programme Shawn is said to show resource and inventiveness and to contribute something new to the art of the dance. Jess Meeker, the accompanist-composer for the group, will once more be at the piano; while Barton Mumaw, outstanding soloist of the octet will again be starred.

A new attraction to be seen and heard for the first time locally will be the Eva Jessye Choir, the original choral unit from George Gershwin's colored opera "Porgy and Bess" from which selections will be heard when they appear at His Majesty's Theatre on Saturday evening, November 19th. The choir will also sing excerpts from Gertrude Stein's "Four Sains in Three Acts" as wel las Negro spirituals and other modern and classical music. Recital by Holmes Lawrence Leslie Holmes, English baritone, will be heard in the first song recital of the season at Victoria Hall on Wednesday. Mr. Holmes has a wide local following, and is returning to Montreal for the first time in five years, during which time he has appeared in concert at Salzburg and Vienna and has sung with the major orchestras and musical societies of Great Britain.

Eight gypsy songs by Brahms will be included in the programme, as will two groups of old and modern English songs and a French cycle by Poulene. entitled "Le Bestaire." FORUM TONIGHT at 8.30 HARVEST MOON" BALL Presenting MART KENNEY and his WESTERN GENTLEMEN Orchestra Victor Record Artists Concert Dance Contests for Prizes Dancing till 12.30 POPULAR PRICE8: SOc 75c 1. 00 Tax Included Darclnr Privileges to Everybody. "Lei rn the Lambeth Walk. Get Free Instructions at Forum Box OBice." 1 1 enx Kmgnt, Miss roman stands i head and shoulders above the rest.

Indeed it may be said that she is the star of the entire set. Her i voice is a rich one, and she has all i the virtues and none of the vices of i the popular singers. She sings these songs in a very personal manner and the technique is well nigh perfect both musically and in her treatment of the lines. The singing of all the principals shows that there can be beauty and style in the performance of a fine popular song just as much as in the singing of a song by Schubert or i Debussy. Many a concert singer could study with considerable profit Miss Froman's superb diction I and delivery in general.

Little Theatre "Transit," the play by Philip Stevenson dealing with the lives of social outcasts which the New Theatre Group will present at Victoria on October 11. is actually the work of two prominent American playwrights, although Philip Stevenson is generally given credit for the play. "Transit" is a dramatization of Albert Maltz' novelette. "Hotel Taleigh, the Bowery." which first appeared in "Story." Philip Stevenson is one of the more prolific writers of one-act plays dealing with contemporary society. On the same programme, the group will present "The Marriage Proposal" by Chekov and Clifford Odets's mono-drama "I Can't The Little Theatre of the Y.M.H.A-Y.W.H..

has begun the current dramatic season with the formation of a Little Theatre Workshop and rehearsals for its first major production of the season, "The Wind and the Rain" by Merton Hodge. The performances of the latter will take place during the early part of November. It has been announced that Nat Ike-man has been appointed as supervisor of the Little Theatre Workshop Group, and Eric Stangroom will direct major productions. active as soloist in church choirs of the city since 1919 A mixed choir of 150 voices accompanied by the Academie Piche Band will take part in the opening of the municipal arena at La-chine on Monday evening, October 10. The music under the direction of Benoit Verdickt will include compositions by Gounod.

Strauss, Rachmaninoff, Rousseu, Wambach, and Wallace as well as several old-time English and French songs. Richard Talmadge, former serial star, has been assigned to assist Director Alfred E. Green on riding, action and fight sequences in Para-mount's "Escape From Yesterday." Sir Cedric Hardwicke is a patient man. In spite of the fact that his role of Canon Skerritt in "Shadow and Substance" is one of the longest and most difficult of the season's offerings, he does not mind discussing the part after the performance even after a long run in New York. "What would it help me if I did mind?" he asked an interviewer.

"Ever since we opened at the Golden Theatre the only topic of conversation I seem to be permitted is my role in the play. That is to be expected. For once, and it is almost a phenomenon in the current theatre, here is a man. He is intelligent, human and complex. What he says is open to many since ne is an interesting person, we come to like him.

It is this quality that made me desire to create the character of Canon Skerritt when I first read Paul Vincent Carroll's play. A good part is hard to find," Sir Cedric continues. "Playwrights to day photograph their characters. They feel that the audience should be able to recognize the player on the stage as their next door neighbor. They describe the character in detail even to the color of the lie he wears.

That leaves little opportunity for the actor. All he can do is to fill out the clothes which have been already cut for him. Good roles are never like that. A first class role is capable of being expressed in various ways. "An actor can never be completely successful unless he is a creative artist.

He must go beyond the author, of course always following the guide posts set by the playwright. Kreisler is completely the artist only when he ceases to be a technician. It is the something that is added, the personal interpretation which makes a performance by Kreisler distinguishable from that of any other violinist. The same is true of a great role. It must be capable of many interpretations all of them sound, all artistic creations." George Bernard Shaw, Sir Cedric believes, is responsible for including a detailed description of the actors and their movement on the stage, with the result that performers often become Charlie McCarthys.

Shakespeare, Sheridan and the playwrights of former days offered no such restriction. They named a character, often by his outstanding characteristic, and permitted the actor to make the man. Give an actress a role named Mrs. Crab-tree, and there could be no doubt what the lady was to be like, but there was no restriction other than basic temperament. Shaw did not intend to restrict the creative powers of the play.

Once when Sir Cedric was rehearsing in a Shaw play, the playwright interrupted the rehearsal to say, "Use your own intelligence. I put the directions in only because my plays were meant to be read." "Too many parts offered actors today," Sir Cedric says, "provide no opportunity for creative contribution. Yet it is only what is add ed to the part that makes it worth while. Three artists can sketch a cow, and they will all be different. The best picture is not the one that is the best photographed likeness.

but the one that makes the cow most interesting. The same is true of a role. If you were creating the role of a doctor, it is not so essential that you look like a doctor, but that you should have something for the doctor to say that will be new, or that it should be phrased differ ently and with different emphasis than it has been oeiore. it is what the actor himself adds to the role that is important. Of course, before he can do this he must have the material with which to work.

Hamlet is immortal because he can be interpreted in as many ways as there are actors. They may all be good, but they will all be different. Paul Vincent Carroll in Canon Skerritt has introduced us to a man sufficiently intelligent and complex to permit or. countless interpretations. "Unless you are an actor," Sir Cedric confides, "you cannot realize what the role of the Canon means to me.

It is more than a part; more than a means of livelihood, I have made a new friend. I can go through the day confident that week-days at 8.30 I shall see him again. And I look forward to the hours I spend with him." Sir Cedric's friendship with the Canon and his faith in "Shadow and Substance" as a play, began many months ago, the day he read the script. He discusid the play with Eddie Dowling, the producer, and DANCING Physical Culture Fencing Dramatic! Kindergarten The MARY BEETLES music SCHOOL dm CLASSES NOW OPEN 1625 St. Catherlnt Street Went.

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