Bored With Sex Plays

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 188, 29 October 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

Bored With Sex Plays

Dion Boucicault on Things Theatrical HIS RETURN TO AUSTRALIA Dion Boucicault, who has arrived in Australia with his company, which includes Irene Vanbrugh and I Norman McKinnel, says that | the Dondon public is bored by sex plays.

During the journey oLit the company rehearsed on the boat.

Harrison Owen’s “The Happy Husband” will not be played, but another .Lonsdale’s play, “The High Road,” will be added to the list. In an interview on his arrival In Australia Mr. Boucicault was outspoken on the subject of “sex” plays. People, he said, had become tired of plays which depended upon “sex appeal.” “Audiences are now showing that such plays bore them,” he said.

“and I do not wonder at it. When I pick up a novel dealing with sex problems, I quickly tire of it, and pitch it across the room in sheer boredom.”

Discussing the plays which he has brought with him, Mr. Boucicault said, “YVe were determined not to leave Pinero out of the picture. Just as in 1923 we played ‘The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,’ and ‘His House in Order,’ so on this tour we shall play ‘The Xotorious Mrs. Ebbsmith/ which was first produced at the Garrick Theatre, London, on March 13, 1895. We will open with a very clever comedy by Mr. Somerset Maugham, entitled ‘Caroline,’ which Mr. Maugham wrote specially for my wife and myself. Mr. Frederick Lonsdale is a very clever playwright, although I do not think that he has the dramatic power of Mr. Maugham. We shall appear in two of Mr. Lonsdale’s plays—‘On Approval’ and ‘The High Road,’ the latter having been produced in London a day or two before we sailed. Another

play is ‘lnterference,* by Dr. Dearden and Roland Pertwee. It has been running for more than a year in London, with Sir Gerald du Maurier in the principal part. Then we have another play written for my wife, called ‘All the King’s Horses,’ by Oppenshaw.” Referring with satisfaction to the fact that Mr. McKinnel had been able to accompany him, Mr. Boucicault became reminiscent, and recalled the days of his famous partnership with the late Robert Brough. “Mr. McKinnel,” he said, “reminds me very much of G. S. Titheradge, who was extremely popular here at one time. He was an extremely versatile actor, and was with us for 10 years in Australia.” Australian Players in London Mr. Boucicault praised <llO other members of the company, who were, he said, young people and all very excited upon coming to Australia. Referring to Australians in London, he mentioned that Mary Hinton (the Hon. Mrs. Pitt-Rivers), who appeared in the Barrie cycle of plays produced last year by Mr. Boucicault, was appearing in London with Seymour llicks. Two young Australian musical comedy actresses who had established themselves were Clarice Hardwicke and Madge Elliott. Dudley Glass, the young Australian composer, had provided the music for “The Beloved Vagabond,” a “play with music,” founded on W. J. Locke’s novel of the same name.

“Castles in the Air” was the only new show in Sydney last week. This play was presented at Her Majesty’s, and is a very line entertainment. The leading part is played by Rowena Ronald, and a very good job she makes of it. The singing and dancing are excellent and something that is more rare nowadays, there is not a risque line in the whole show. Fred Bluett and Fk>i Allan are well placed in this show, and on the first night got a very battering reception. Cecil Kellaway and Beatrice Day are also in the cast.