“ROOKERY NOOK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 400, 14 July 1928, Page 15

“ROOKERY NOOK”

COMING TO HIS MAJESTY’S Auckland has not had a visit from an English comedy company since the Dion-Boucicault-Irene Vanbrugh Company toured New Zealand four years ago, but on Wednesday, July 25, the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management present for the first time in New Zealand their new English comedy company in Ben Travers quaintly humorous and original farce “Rookery Nook,” which has just completed a highly successful season in Melbourne. The coming season is restricted to a fortnight, during which the company will also stage Ben Traver’s j other two comedies, “Thark” and “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” both of which ran for over two years in London. When the J. C. Williamson Ltd., management purchased the Australian and New Zealand rights of the Ben Traver’s comedies they sent George Highland, their leading producer, to England to engage the artists most * suitable for the characters in “Rookery Nook,” “Thark” and “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” and the result has been that the plays are perfectly portrayed. There are over 30 artists in the company, including a number of London’s best known and most popular comedy stars, among whom are Mr. Hastings Lynn, whose name is a : household word in the theatrical world of England, Miss Jane Comfort, Miss Minnie Rayner, Cyril Vernon. Helene Simon, Beth Mackey (all of whom t will make their first appearance in New Zealand on July 25). Mr. Leslie Victor, a popular favourite with playgoers of this Dominion, Mr. Basil Radford, who created a furore here in the leading part in “The Ghost Train,” Miss Nellie Mortyne and Miss Donalda Warne, a brilliant young Australian actress, who recently created a furore by her splendid portrayal of j the part of Rhoda Marley in the Mel- • .. bourne production of “Rookery Nook.” j £ The company will arrive here by the I § Marama on Tuesday next, so they | j will enjoy a week’s holiday before the j = beginning of the New Zealand tour. : The box plans for “Rookery Nook” \ will be opened on Monday, July 23. I : I =