“ROOKERY NOOK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 412, 21 July 1928, Page 14

“ROOKERY NOOK”

COMMENCES NEXT WEDNESDAY “Rookery Nooli,” which is to be staged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., New English Comedy Company at His Majesty’s Theatre, on Wednesday ■night next, is still attracting record audiences to the Aldwyeh Theatre, London, where it has been running for two and a-half years. It is said to be smart, witty and most intriguing It moves so quickly that it is generally described as “the high-speed play.” It is not often nowadays that -we are given the privilege of enjoying English plays interpreted by an all-Eng-lish company, but this is really to happen, as all the artists in the company come from England and Australia, and the three plays to be staged, “Rookery Nook," “Thark” and “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” by the English writer Ben Travers, and all the scenes take place in English homes. “The country house in ‘ Rookery Nook' is attractively artistic. On the ground level at the back stands the main doorway and a long bay window, through which the motor-car, an actual roadster, can .be seen as it sweeps to and fro from the garage to the road. At the right, a broad flight of stairs lead up to the gallery along the base of which is arranged a pewter, while on both sides, both upstairs anddown, open the doors of the numerous rooms, which assist to a large extent in the comedy scenes.” Sir. Hastings Lynn is said to be one of the best and funniest comedians who has ever left England for the colonies, and is, it is stated, in his element in the whimsical role of Gerald Popkiss in “Rookery Nook.”

Special interest centres in the appearance here of Miss Donalda Warne, the dashing young Australian girl who has, it would seem, achieved an outstanding triumph as the “Pyjama Girl.” Although she is 59 years of age, Miss Minnie Rayner is, it is said, as bright and virile as any of the young members of the organisation, and she was -wonderfully popular with play-goers in Sydney and Melbourne. Cyril Vernon, who plays the whimsical role of Admiral Juddy, is said to be one of the best comedy character actors who has yet appeared in Sydney. Only a few performances can be staged of “Rookery Nook.” as during the season, which is confined to a fortnight, “Thark” and “A Cuckoo in the Nest” will also be staged. The box plans will be opened at Lewis R. Eady, Ltd., on Monday morning, at 9 o’clock.