STAGELAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 224, 10 December 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

STAGELAND

FIXTURES HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Now Playing: Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Co. December 10-17: Hawaiian Troubadours. December 19-20: "Carmen/’ Madame Irene Ainsley. December 21 to January 4: "Rose Marie.” February 1: "The Ringer.” Maurice Moscovitch. CONCERT CHAMBER Now Playing: Auckland Little Theatre Society: “Pygmalion.” COMING "Tell Me More.” “Tip Toes.” “Castles in tile Air.” NATIONAL THEATRE December 22: Royal Australian Sunbeams.

(By

COTHURNUS)

Auckland theatregoers should not lose the opportunity of seeing the Little Theatre Society’s production of “Pygmalion,” which will be played this evening and on Monday evening. It is excellently done by capable amateurs.

The principal comedy work of “Rose Marie,” most entrancing of musical comedies,” is contributed by Frederick Bentley (“Hard-boiled Herman”) and Yvonne Banvard (“Lady Jane”). The latter is not from the peerage.

There is some exceptionally fine singing in “The Chocolate Soldier,”

and Strella Wilson’s beautiful voice is heard at its best. She captivates the audience shortly after the rise of the curtain in “My Hero.” Some fine solo and concerted work is also done by Winifred Williamson.

“The Chocolate Soldier.” full of good music, colour and gaiety, is still as sweet as ever. Time has not staled the confectionery, and this delectable

offering will bring satisfaction to even jaded palates. It will be played in Auckland shortly.

Luu Cii Parker, one of the attractive hula hula dancers with Kaai’s Hawaiian Troubadours, says that she and her colleagues try to avoid the American intonation and slang as much as possible, and cultivate the English vowel sounds. “We always try to say “ ‘carn’t’ and ‘lars’t.’ with the proper English pronunciation,” she declares, “as all the best American people do. Of course, we slip a bit when we get excited. though,” she added, with a smile.

E. J. Carroll, after an extended absence abroad, may be back in Australia at the end of the year. He starred Pauline Frederick in London.

Hastings Lynn, brother of Ralph Lynn, the droll English comedian, has

arrived in Australia to play in “The Cuckoo in the Nest.” Curiously enough he will play his brother’s parts.

“The Ringer,” an Edgar Wallace thriller, will open its New Zealand tour

at Auckland on February 1. Maurice Moscovitch is billed to play the lead.

Arnold Bennett’s “Mr. Prohack” has ben dramatised—by Mr. Bennett and Edward Ivnoblock—and is to be produced at the Court Theatre, London. Charles Laughton will play Mr. Prohack.

O. L. Hall, reporting “The Road to Rome,” for the Chicago “Daily Journal,” called it a “carnal comedy”; and the ad-writer for the play promptly quoted the remark in display in the next day’s advertisements. The betting is about even that he doesn’t know what “carnal” means.

Phil Smith’s revue company is playing “The O’Brien Girl” very well at the Empire Theatre, Brisbane. Patsy Hill makes an outstanding succet* as the second wife, Mollie, and Mr. Smith himself is much at home in the part of Drexel the Millionaire.

Michael, the terrier in English productions of “Peg o’ My Heart” (the remarkably successful Irish comedy in which Sarah Allgood appeared in New Zealand years ago), is dead. He was known to thousands of playgoers in Great Britain, and lived to the age of IS years. He appeared in 1,053 consecutive performances of the play. He knew his cues and the exact moment when he had to start quarrelling with another dog “off.” Once he was lost, and a paragraph was printed in the newspapers. Hundreds of dogs, all alleged to be named Michael, turned up at the stage door, only to find that the canine actor had resumed his duties. His name was always on the programme.