“Home Chat” and “Back Chat”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 230, 17 December 1927, Page 22 (Supplement)

“Home Chat” and “Back Chat ”

best acting at the Duke of York’s Theatre, London, on the opening night of “Home Chat ” teas done by Noel Coward, its author, before and after the play. While the theatre was filling, Mr. Coward sat in a lower box reading telegrams, handed to him by a deferential secretary, in full gaze of the “gallery gods,” says a London paper. “ ’E don't even open them ’•isself,” observed the rotund leader of this sonority. It seems that this airy episode incensed a small group to "boo” the author after the final curtain.

Mr. Coward picked up the challenge. answered "back” suavely, and by sheer force of aplomb silenced the crowd. He made a trim speech , forced two extra curtain calls and dragged Basil Dean from the icings to complete an exhilarating evening.

There is beautiful music in "The Chocolate Soldier,” coming to Auckland in the New Y T ea.r. Such numbers as "My Hero." sung by Strella Wilson, the rhythmic duet. Nadina and Bumerli (Charles Walenn), "Each Morning Y'ou Should Have a Kiss,” and the trio at the end of the first act (Strella Wilson, Winifred Williamson and Mabel Gibson), the duet (Strella Wilson and Leo Darnton) and the "Coat” sextet would spell success to any musical comedy.

“Rose Marie” played to packed houses for ten months in Sydney and created a new record for Australia. * * * Nina Bouccicault, who will be remembered by the older generation of theatregoers, has returned to the London stage in Noel Coward’s play, “Home Chat.” Madge Titheradge plays the lead.

I am very glad to hear good accounts of Sir Arthur Pinero. He hopes soon to be recovered from his illness, and able to take an interest in the filming of “His House in Order," says a London writer. It is just 50 years since his first play was produced. He was an actor then. He played small parts in Irving’s company at the Lyceum in London and on tour. But he had no intention of remaining an actor. He knew, to begin with, that he was not a very good one. A Birmingham critic had said of him that his King Claudius in “Hamlet” was the very worst that he had ever seen!

Maurice Moscovitch will head the cast of “The Ringer,” a thriller to be done in Auckland on February 1. Others in the cast will be: The Doctor Patric Curwin Hackitt Nat Madison Inspector Bliss Alexander Sarner Mary Lenley Mary McGregor Cora Milton Eileen Sparkes

Inspector Wembury .. Reginald Newson John Lenley Michael Hogan Sergeant Carter . • •• .. George Blunt

During the season “The Terror” will also be performed.

The words “the Lord Chamberlain” are to be substituted for the word

“God” in a play, "Absorbing Pedita,” to be produced at the Festival Theatre, Cambridge. The writer of the play. T. G. Saville, had put the following sentence into the mouth of one of the characters, a smart young woman:

“I hate eccentricity and pose; I like simple, settled things like the Houses of Parliament, God, hunting, bread, central heating, Fleet Street.” The Lord Chamberlain objected to tho word “God” in the list.