STAGELAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 329, 14 April 1928, Page 22

STAGELAND

FIXTURES HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Now Playing: Maurice Moscovitch in “The Ringer” and “The Terror.” May 2-May 15: “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” “Rookery Nook,” and “Thark." May 23-June 12: “The Student Prince" and “Madame Pompadour.” June: Dion Eoucicault and Irene Vanbrugh. COMING “The Girl Friend.” “Castles in the Air.” Grand Opera Company. ST. JAMES’S THEATRE June (Indefinite): “Sunny,” “Archie" and “Mercenary Mary” (Elsie Prince). Coming: Grand Opera Company. CONCERT CHAMBER April 27-28: “Lilies of the Field,” members of the Little Theatre Society.

Two prominent performers who appeared in a theatrical case heard in Melbourne some months ago, will face charges of perjury. They are at present under escort from Brisbane and New Zealand respectively, says an exchange. Durham Marcel and Colin Crane are the parties concerned. Eileen Kay Souper, who went to try her luck in England a year ago, has made a success as Paulina in “The Constant Nymph,” on tour. She has had the luck to have the benefit of her father’s tuition, being the daughter of Gerald Kay Souper. * * * Nat Madison (with the Moscovitch Company), though born In New York, made his first stage appearance in England—with a nigger minstrel show at Seaford! “It was a hard life,” he says, with a reminiscent smile. “The only compensation for the generally black outlook was the fresh air—and, believe me, we got plenty of that!”

In 1908, when “The Blue Moon” (J. C. Williamson) company was in New Zealand, Walter Monk was touring manager, and in that capacity was present at the opening of the Theatre Royal at Christchurch. Nineteen years later (July, 1928) the new Theatre Royal will be opened with a gala performance of "Madame Pompadour,” for which company Mr. Monk will also do the advance work, and it is more than probable that with him on this occasion will be some of the Christchurch first-nighters who witnessed the performance of ‘ The Blue Moon” nearly 20 years ago. Some of the principals of the J. C. Williamson Company of 1908 were Amy Murphy-, Eddie Nable, Victor Gourlay, Miles Clifton, Victor Prince and Harold Parkes. * * * Margaret Bannerman’s English company has arrived in Melbourne. Miss Bannerman, a Canadian actress, has made most of her appearances in London, where she has had much success. Others in the company are Maidie Hope, Cecily Jonas, Millie Wolf, Francis Lister, Geoffrey Millar, Edgar Norfold and Eric Elliott, and the producer, Stanley Bell. The repertoire in Australia will include “Our Betters,” “Diplomacy,” “The High Road,” and “Victory,” from Joseph Conrad’s novel.

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One o£ the more recent authors whose work has been accepted anti published by the British Drama League is John Hastings Turner, author of “Lilies of the Field,” a brilliant comedy sparkling with dialogue. This play will be produced by the Auckland Comedy Players at the Town Hall on April 27 and 28. * * * Francis Lister, Margaret Bannerman’s leading man, is one of those easy-going, completely likeable stage heroes. He owns to 29, and he has been on the stage since 1916, when he played a couple of lieutenants in “Kultur at Home,” and a revival of “Lord and Lady Algy.” Getting the habit, he then went and slrved as one in the war. London took him back into her bosom after two years of it. * * * On Tuesday evening, at His Majesty’s Theatre, Aucklanders will receive another thrill. Maurice MOscovitch and his company are to produce “The Terror,” which, as its name suggests, is a blood-curdler of the finest quality. Edgar Wallace, the author, turns out thrillers by the mile, and the ttvo played by the Moscovitch Company are among his best. Supporting Mr. Moscovitch will be Nat Madison, Patric Curwen, Mildred Cottell, Mary Macgregor, Bertha Riccardo, Reginald Newson, and many others. The season will e id next Saturday evening. * * * Reginald Newson, who plays the part of the Chief Detective in “The Terror,” knows Egypt and the East quite intimately. During the war period he saw service in Egypt and Palestine, and after the armistice he toured the East—lndia, China and Japan—for two years. Returning to England, he played leading parts, including that of Wembury in “The Ringer.” Mr. Newson is an Australian by birth. * * * After a week in the leading comedy role of “Take the Air,” at the Empire Theatre, Sydney, Mamie Soutter has, by mutual consent, terminated her engagement. This also goes for her husband, Jack Swinburn, the weakest man in the show. Miss Soutter was by no means a bad artist, but there was nothing in the part to justify a £SO a week salary and two fares to and from London. Violet Elliott has stepped into Miss Soutter’s role.

Tlie activities of players of the Auckland Little Theatre Society are not confined to that institution, at least seven of their number being in “The Lilies of the Field,” which will be staged at the Town Hall on April 27 and 28 to raise funds for the King’s College Swimming Baths Fund. The play, which will be produced by Miss Una Dysart Buddie, is a fine sample of the delightful “Wit of John Hastings Turner, a playwright rapidly rising into prominence in England.

“Rose Marie” was the Easter J. C. Williamson attraction in Sydney. This production has probably pulled more consistent business for this organisation than any other single production, and its withdrawal, in the height of its success last year, was sufficient inducement for the firm to warrant another showing of this bright and tuneful musical play. Mary Macgregor, who plays prominent parts in both “The Ringer” and “The Terror,” by the Moscovitch Company (J. C. Williamson) is a Brisbane girl. She made her first appearance in New Zealand, and has made such steady progress that to-day she is looked upon as one of the most versatile and accomplished artistes in Australia. Miss Macgregor possesses a charm all her own. Her ambition is a simple one —“to play good parts well.”

Marie Blanche is a capable comedienne, but it is George Robey who contributes the best bits and pieces to this rather province- worn revue, says a London writer of Robey’s return to the London stage, lie lias seldom worked harder, for he appears in every other turn, chastising the audience with his eyebrows, now as Raineses, now as a Piccadilly flower - woman, now as a bride, and now (of course) as a curate. Mr. Robey has said many daring things in his time, but I doubt whether he has ever said anything more daring than he does in this revue when, in his bridal veil, he pulls a face and announces, “Sixty Years a Queen!”

News received from London, published in the London “Daily Sketch” and “Graphic,” says that “Jocelyn Yeo” (formerly the Auckland dancer, Jocelyn Dixon) has been attracting the critics’ attention with her wonderful dancing. While principal dancer in the London patomime, “Queen of Hearts,” she beat all records in pirouetting on one foot, a most difficult feat, and one that was done on a sloping stage. Previously Nemtchinova, the Russian dancer, held the record for 32 pirouettes. The young New Zealander, who is only eighteen, has pirouetted 40 times, ,“sur la pointe.” This clever girl is also the only entrant who has passed the advanced Cecchetti examination with honours.