WILLIAMSON COMPANY'S TOUR.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 21

WILLIAMSON COMPANY'S TOUR.

Now experiencing a most successfu season in Auckland, the J. C. William, son Comic Opera Company, starring Gladys MoncrieiT, is; to undertake i Dominion tour later.. The season ir the Auckland theatre will last unti! June 12; and subsequent dates have been arranged as follows:—Hamilton June 14-15; New Plymouth, June 16----17; Wanganui, June 18-19; Palmerstor North, June 21-22; Hastings, June 23----24; Masterton, June 25; Wellington June 26 to July 15; Christchurch, July 17-30. The company's repertoire is "Merry Widow," "Southern Maid," and "Maid of the Mountains." All are terrific hits with audiences. "Merry Widow" is ever young and Gladys Moncrieff's Soni •. unquestionably a lady of great artistry, i In "Southern Maid" she is a tempestuous Dolores, object of a vendetta, and beloved of an English'plantation owner. In "Maid of the Mountains" she is an attractive - Teresa. Each performance by the t talented Williamson Company is a new l and brilliant triumph for Miss Mpn--3 crieff and her colleagues who include I Cecil Kelleway, the noted comedian, . who is shortly going to Hollywood and who has been dividing his time between the stage.and films in Australia. Eric Bush, the handsome romantic lead; Don Nicql, who is not only an actor of exceptional ability, but also a , caricaturist of note; Lois Green, petite, blonde, and charming; Carmen Mas--1 cagny, a fine- singer and actress; ; Arthur Clark, handsome Australian, over 6 feet tall, who plays the 1 romantic .lead, in "Southern Maid"; ■ Johm Fraser, Cecil Pawley, Gerald Connelly, Lesley Crane, the Auckland girl who was "discovered" by Cyril Ritchard). Geoffrey Colledge (formerly of Wellington and Auckland), full chorus and ballet. NEW ZEALANDER AT HOME. Mr. Russell Napier is on tour in "Murder in the Cathedral." The company is to appear in, Edinburgh very soon, writes the London correspondent of "The Post" under datte of May .8. "Murder in the Cathedral" was written by T. S. Eliot, and is described as "a magnificent play in verse on the murder of Thomas Becket." Robert Speaight's performance of the role was something,so unusual that when the piece was staged in London, people went again and again to (Witness ins sterling performance. GARBO AND TAYLOR. The homecoming of Greta Garbo followed preparations as finishing touches were completed on the myriad details of filming her new picture, "Camille,in which she is co-starred with, Robert Taylor, bringing to the screen one of the most eagerly-awaited love team in the 'history of motion pictures. Period furniture imported . from France was conditioned. Replicas of rare pieces were constructed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's cabinet shop. Adrians glamocous costumes were prepared. Art directors, script writers, research experts, production executives were hard at work for the day when, with Taylor, her seventeenth leading man. Garbo stepped before the camera after her .two years' afcsence from the screen. 1 The teaming of Garbo and Taylpr joins two of the most-talked-of personalities of the screen today. The rise of Taylor, a young' medical student with a penchant for amateur theatricals,-is one of those, success stories which Hollywood provides ever so often. He plays Armand tne lover. Varville, his father in the story, 'is played by Lionel Barrymore whose father, Maurice. Barrymore, once played Armand on the, stag? opposite Olga Nethersole. The picturesque Elizabeth Allan of "David Cojiperfield, "Tale of Two Cities," and other big hits plays a prominent role as Nichette. Jessie Ralph, the memorable Nurse P"Egoty of "Copperfield" is ■ cast as Nanine, Garbo's maid. Other important players include Henry Darnell, Lenore XJlric, who for many years was David Belasco's outstanding stage personality, liaura Hope Crews and Rex O'Malley, star of many Theatre Guild successes. George Cukor .who: directed "Romeo and Juliet,", directed 'Camille," which is, played ir' modern technique although laid in the, period of the classic. :