RENEE KELLY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 106, 26 July 1927, Page 15

RENEE KELLY

ENGLISH COMEDY CO. Renee Kelly, the famous comedy star, will make her first appearance to Auckland audiences with the latest J. C. Williamson’s Comedy Company in a repertoire of new comedies at His Majesty’s Theatre, commencing next Thursday evening. “Polly with a Past” will open the local season. Miss Kelly is an English actress who made a name in America. She made her first big hit in her native London as Judy in “Daddy Long Legs,” a. role which she created. The London “Daily Mail,” commenting upon the departure of Miss Kelly for Australia and New Zealand, remarked: “There is no doubt that Australians are going to take Renee Kelly to their hospitable hearts just as New York and London have done.” “Polly with a Past” is a threeact sparkling comedy by George Middleton and Guy Bolton, and gives Miss Kelly a fine chance to show her ability and also to display some magnificent frocks, for which Miss Kelly is noted.

“Polly with a Past” tells a pleasantly transparent story, where the main course of events is obvious from the first. But there are agreeable little surprises on, the way—a state of affairs which is said to be the prime essential of light comedy. The producer of the piece is Hylton Allen, who will also appear on the stage. Mr. Allen has produced many plays in which Renee Kelly has appeared. “French Leave,” which was so popular here, was one of his London productions. The original opening date for the New Zealand tour of Miss Kellv had to be postponed on account of her terrific success in Australia. Miss Renee Kelly is supported by a brilliant company of English and Australian artists, including Hylton Allen, Leslie Victor, Emma Temple, Ronald Ward, Pirie Bush, Phyllis Best, Jackson Wilcox, Margaret Darner, Reginald Wykeham, Gwen Burroughs, Dorothy Marler, Peggy Willoughby, Reginald Long, Jack Dunne. The box plans for “Polly with a Past” are now rapidly filling at Lewis R. Eady and Son, Ltd.