THE BEST THINGS IN LONDON THEATRES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 194, 5 November 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

THE BEST THINGS IN LONDON THEATRES

There are some excellent things to be seen and heard in London just now* if you search for them, says a London theatrical critic. There are, for instance, Charles Austin (a newcomer to the show) and Ivor Vintor in a "ventriloquial act” in “Shake Your Feet” at the Hippodrome. This, I think, is the funniest thing in London: Mr. Austin, who is remarkably like Arthur Roberts facially, trying to balance his “dummy” on his knee and to retain his hat at the same time, and Mr. Vintor, as the “dummy,” have hit upon a piece of almost classic comedy. I would suggest that among the other “bests” on the London stage at the moment are the following: The best performance in a big part: Robert Loraine in "The Father.” The best exhibition of dancing: Louise Brown in "The Girl Friend.” The best singing: Lilian Davies in “The Beloved Vagabond.” The best tune: “My Heart Stood Still,” in “One Dam Thing After Another.”

(By COTHURNUS J Marie Lohr has been granted a decree nisi for the dissolution of her marriage with Anthony Val Prinsey on the ground of his misconduct with Margaret Bannerman, the actress, who will visit Australia in March. Petitioner was given custody of the child. Marie Lohr was born in Surrey Hills, her mother being Kate Bishop, a noted actress, and leading lady with George Rignold at Her Majesty’s Theatre. She went to England with her parents as a girl and has been there since. * * * t< Sloane, the principal lady in Cradle Snatchers,” which comes to Auckland on November 10, has been playing in “The Padre” in London for eight months, and is one of the best known of English actresses. Her career has been a very distinguished one. In “Cradle Snatchers” (a play requiring the very best dramatic talent), although she has not played in it before, she says she has the finest of comedy roles. It is admitted that in the hands of less experienced players the comedy would not have been the wonderful success it has proved.

The Maddermarket Theatre, which began in London seven years ago, started its last season with a revival of “The Taming of the Shrew,” to which was added the epilogue of “The Taming of a Shrew,” a pre-Shakespearean comedy giving the end of Christopher Sly. Two other Shakespearean plays,

“Coriolanus” and “Troilus and Cressida, will also be given this season, together with Vanbrugh’s “The Provoked Wife.” For the Ibsen centenary the players will present “The Lady from the Sea,” and four recent plays will also be included in the programme.