Coming Stars

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 358, 19 May 1928, Page 22

Coming Stars

New Leading Lights on the English Stage MEN PREDOMINATE Who are the new people on the English stage worth going to see? There are many established stars, all with their owni following, but each new production seem 3to produce promising talent. If you go through the casts of current London plays and pick out 20 people—an arbitrary number, I admit, but probably a sufficient number —l3 of them at any rate, 13 of my 20) are men, writes a London critic. Very high in the list of those who are making a mark X would place Bobby Howes. Two or so years ago Mr. Howes was comparatively little known now he is a highly paid comedian—his salary is said to be well over £l5O a week—about whose performances in “The Yellow Mask” people are talking freely. He is certainly a new comedian to be seen. Two other good comedians new to the London stage are George Gee, in “The Girl Friend,” and Sydney Howard in “Hit the Deck.’ Each is "broad” in the modern sense; and if they have not put all the tricks they know into their present parts a great deal more is going to be seen of them. DECIDED HITS Emma Haig, a very comical American girl, and Stanley Holloway, the ex-“Co-Optimist,” who is singing and acting with an admirable assumption of sincerity, are two others in these musical plays making decid’d hits. A young actor who has caught the eye of many people recently is Paul Cavanagh, now playing the non-sing-ing hero in “Lady Mary” at. Daly's. I understand that Mr. Cavangh was formerly in the North-West Mounted Police and has been on the stage only about three| years. Apart from his actor’s looks, he seems to be excellently equipped fo£ his new job; he has a voice, stage presence, and that valuable quality, restraint. Hartley Power, who has just succeeded Robert Loraine in Edgar Wallace’s “The Man Who Changed His Name,” showed what a good actor he is in "Broadway.” Clive Currie, who is also in this play, is an actor of very long experience and most amusing ways in fussy old men parts. A beautiful young actress who has lately come to the front—possibly just a little bit too quickly for her own best advantage—is Frances Doble. Miss Doble has had three or four leading parts lately, and in a year or so's time she may be very firmly planted on the London stage. She certainly has everything in looks. Playing her first serious part in London in “S O S,” Gracie Fields is an interesting figure. To appreciate fully how versatile she really is she should also be seen singing on the variety stage. Her confidence and command are surprising in such a young artist. NEW JACK BUCHANAN Sonuie Hale has now an ease and poise about him which promise to lead him into the Jack Buchanan and •lack Hulbert class. Jessie Matthews may become another Gertrude Lawrence some day; and as for Holland and Barry and Tilly Losch—well, their dancing must be seen to be understood. Noel Coward, who wrote the last Cochrane revue, must be put among the pick of the young actors of the moment. He has immense naturalness, and I rank his performance in "The Second Man” as one of the best things on the stage. Raymond Massey, a young Canadian, who is also in “The Second Man,” is another comparative newcomer well worth seeing. Charles Laughton in “A Man With Red Hair,” Rosalind Fuller in “The Unknown Warrior,” which has just moved to its fourth London theatre, the Royalty, and Frank Lawton, a protege of Sir Gerald du Maurier. in “Young Woodley,” have all recently been singled out for their acting. Each is clearly full of high promise. Finally, anyone who has never seen Ronald Squire act should do so. I suppose he is now the nearest approach on the English stage to the late Sir Charles Hawtrey. “On Approval ” in which he plays the leading character, has reached a year's run,