“OLD BILL”

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 28, 26 April 1927, Page 5

“OLD BILL”

HARRY THURSTON ARRIVES MAY TOUR NEW ZEALAND Meet Bruce Bairnstather's "Old Bill” in the flesh. He arrived in Auckland by the Aorangi on Sunday evening. But he has left that languidly-drooping moustache and comforter New Zealand soldiers knew so well in England. “Old Bill” in the flesh is Mr. Harry Thurston, comedian. Many New Zealanders will remember him in the name part of that play which ran in London during the war. h Mr. Thurston is realising an ambition four years old in returning to this part of the world. He is on his way to Sydney, but he hopes to play in New Zealand after he has attended to business in Australia. "I have very pleasant memories of Auckland, and I hope I shall have the opportunity of renewing old acquaintances," he said. Like most people who have recently been in America (Mr. Thurston has been there for the last 20 months) he has something to say about the repulsive sex plays which have been produced there. They are blatant, he savs, and many have been forbidden by" the censor. Governor Walter, although a thorough Bohemian, is cleaning up the New York theatres, said Mr. Thurston.

Theatrical conditions in America are wonderful at present, and the feeling of comradeship between English and American actors and actresses has never been better. English stage folk are now welcomed, whereas in the old days there was considerable feeling between the representatives of the two countries. Regarding the criticism of some of the New York revues and their lack of clothes, Mr. Thurston maintains that art is art, whether clothes are worn or not. He admits that there were times when producers overstepped the mark and the shows became blatant and vulgar, but a good deal of that has been done away with. During the time Mr. Thurston was in New York he produced the Greenwich Village Follies, so he should know what he is talking about. He has an option over the only sex play that was passed by the censors recently, “The Night Hawk,” and he may produce it in New Zealand.