THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 231, 29 September 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

(By A Correspondent.)

%Jiis is Sydney's slackest week theatrically for many years. We are suffering a slump after the Grand Opera Company, and "The Student Prince" is endeavouring to fill the bill in the theatre where music reigned on a high throne for more than two months. But "The Prince" is only a revival in Sydney, and most playgoers cannot get up much enthusiasm about it, though we all realise that it is a far better thing they do with this company, headed by delicious Beppie de Vries, than they did before. Howe v e r "Madame

Pompadour" has now gone into rehearsal, so only a 6hort revival is anticipated. After "Pompadour" Beppie de Vries will finish and go back home. James Liddy is expected to play the lead in "The Vagabond King," which will be the next production after "Pompadour." The company will be augmented for that.

"Rio Rita" continues to hold the fort at the St. James, and nothing happens to it but good houses. Its success is getting to be rather a bore, but not to the management.

Yvonne Banvard was marrhid in Melbourne during the week, and made a most attractive bride, minus a veil. Yvonne was married before, so it is not done a second time. Lorna Helms will follow her to the altar shortly now.

William Heughan is singing in Sydney this week, and the Scots are wa hie-ing, or whatever they do when they want to show great appreciation. He has three concerts to his credit so far, and there is a strong suspicion that there will be more next week.

"My Pal Ginger," another' Australian comedy of the backblocks, is coming to the Grand Opera House to-morrow —for how long only the gods can tell. The company is headed in by one George Sorlie, who is said to have been most successful in the country for many years. This, apparently, i s his first trip to town.

Pirie Bush, of Wellington, has been playing lead with Margaret Bannerman here in "Other Men's Wives" since the time that Francis Lister packed up his greasepaint and left for England, after he had deposited sufficient money to pav the running expenses of the suit that j. C. Limited, are bringing against him for breach of contract.

"Dear Brutus," done most admirably ■ by the Gregan McMahon players, is now in its third week, and is going to be withdrawn at the end of it to make room for John Drinkwater's comedy, "Bird in Hand," but there is no doubt, if this change had not been advertised and seats already booked, "Dear Brutus" could run for several weeks yet. It is perfectly cast.

Zillah Bateman joins the Leon Gordon company for "Interference,*' at the Royal, playing the frightened wife. C. M. Hallard, who toured New Zealand with the company merely rehearsing for his leading part in this play, is cast f - the part Sir Gerald du Maurier played in London. I understand the play saw the light of Napier for one performance only—a try out. It will probably return to you later in all its glory. It sounds like a good drawing-room melodrama.

Billie Lockwood is taking up the Lorna Helms part in "The Girl Friend," and will play it when it goes to New Zealand after Newcastle and Brisbane seasons. The first is being embarked upon th; Anne Croft is sure to captivate all New Zealand when she goes over with this cheery musical comedy. Added to the repertoire will be "Hit the Deck," in which May Beatty has a very fine farcical part. Her part in "The Girl Friend" is not of much value, but no doubt she will have built it up from the original script, but she did not play the part originally in Sydney, only taking it up for the last four nights of the season, and then played it in Melbourne.

Two Sydney theatres are "dark" tonight. The Royal has been vacant since Monday, when Moscovitch finished, and went off to Melbourne next day. Leon Gordon will reopen it with "Interference" on Saturday, and his company will be greatly strengthened by the addition of Charles Hallard, who has come out from England to play a part equally as good as that which Gordon will have. He was here a few years ago with the first Vanbrugh-Boucicault company. The Critenon is shut to-

night, as Margaret Bannerman left for New Zealand this morning, in advance of her company, who remain behind to rehearse the new leading man, Ellis Iriving, and the "heavy" man, Louis Goodrich, who takes up the work of the

late James Lind-

say. If "Other Men's Wives" should be their opening piece in Auckland, you will get the best impression of Margaret Bannerman. I do not personally think that "Our Betters" will appeal to New Zealanders. Her second piece, "Sexes and Sevens," was equally vicious. Only the pale beauty of Margaret carried them through.