FIXTURES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 176, 15 October 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

FIXTURES

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Now Playing: Allan Wilkie’s Shakespearean Company. October 29: “The Ghost Train” (Betty Ross Clarke). November 12 to 19: "Cradle Snatchers.” November 29 to December 8: Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Co. December 21 to January 4: "Rose Marie.” TOWN HALL Now Playing: Alexander Watson Recitals. COMING "Tell Me More.” "Tip Toes” (Thurza Rogers).

On a Tuesday morning the actor asked the manager of No. 87 touring company whether he could have a sub. of 30 shillings until the end of the week. “Laddie,” replied the manager, loftily, “if I had 30 shillings on a Tuesday morning I'd put another company on the road I” * * * The Wanganui Dramatic Society has decided to produce ‘'The Naughty Wife.” This modern comedy was played by the Renee Kelly Company in Australia. Gladys Cooper was the lead in London. Vaudeville stars do things on a large scale. George Carney has received 553 letters from his admiring audience since he reached Sydnej l -. Fred. Curran has 112 parodies in his repertory. Quong Sing Wah and Troupe of Chinese jugglers have just completed a country tour of 3.523 miles, and Eddie, of Cornelia and Eddie, now in Australia, breaks eight dozen plates a week in their act. * * * Preference to Melbourne seems to be indicated by the leaders of the Van-brugh-Boucicault company, for the latest change of plan is that they will begin their Australian season In that city about the end of October, instead of in Sydney. “Caroline,” containing one of Miss Vanbrugh's favourite parts, is talked of as the opening comedy, with the King’s as the chosen theatre. Somerset Maugham wrote the play when he was more entertaining than he has been lately. * * * Mable Russell, in private life Mrs. Hilton Philipson, who is M.P. for Ber-wick-on-Tweed, has broken all records by being the first English member of Parliament to appear on the stage. Before her marriage she was well known as a musical comedy actress, and in her recent success in “The Be-

loved Vagabond," by her individuality, her looks, and her charm of manner, she helped to make interesting the character of the little French peasant girl. If there was any fault in her acting it was that she was .rather too much of a “real lady” to have made her way from “the lowest depths.”

Robert Chisholm, the Australian baritone, here with “The Maid of the Mountain,” is playing lead in New York in “The Golden Dawn,” a musical play. Hugh Wright, the producer of “The Ghost Train,” is a writer and author of considerable experience. At the present time he is writing a book, “Many Lands, Many Peoples.” • * * Renee Kelly writes me from New York, after a short stay in America to look at the theatres, that she is sailing soon for London with husband Hylton Allen. Their future plans were indefinite. * «* * Eric Maxon, who was the second “Ben-Hur,” and also played in many other plays, besides being a notable Laertes to H. B. Irving in “Hamlet," was well to the fore in the Shakespearean festival at Stratford-on-Avon. Another actor in the festival was Stanley Lathbury, in New Zealand with Asche. Mr. Maxon was here last with Guy Bates Post.

Margaret Lawrence, the American actress, is contemplating "Rain” for her present season in Australia and New Zealand. * * * Elsie Prince told an Australian interviewer recently that it would be a long time before she announced her engagement. * * * “Cuckoo in the Nest” company will leave London in a few weeks for Australia. Their opening date and town is indefinite. Eileen Sparkes is cast for a character part in Moscovitch’s next piece, “The Music Master”—an elderly spinster, with Mary MacGregor playing the niece. * * * Madge Macintosh is on her way to Austrafia, via South Africa, where she has been spending a holiday with Norman McEwen and his wife on their farm. She was last in Australia when she played in “The Blue Bird.” Her forthcoming visit is also in the nature of an extended holiday. Pavlova, the famous dancer, was involved in a motor-car accident in Long Acre, London, recently when her car, in attempting to avoid a collision with another car, ran into a horse and cart with a load of bricks. The bricks were sent flying all over the road, and the dancer’s car was slightly damaged. Mme. Pavlova was slightly shaken, and was driven to her home at Hampstead. She is playing a London season at present. * * * When “Castles in the Air” goes on at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, Rowena Ronald (Mrs. Herbert Browne), an Australian, who has been associated with “The Firm” for some time, will play a leading role, and Byrl Walkely, another Australian, will have an important part. Gus Bluett, Cecil Kellaway, Beatrice Bay, Roy Russell, Leyland Hodgson, and Floie Allan, are also in the cast. Frederick Blackman, English producer, who was responsible for “Madame Pompadour,” will produce “Castles in the Air.” Tii r'ii