Long, Long Trail

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 426, 7 August 1928, Page 1

Long, Long Trail

Noted Actor Travels from Spain to Auckland WELL-KNOWN PRODUCER ARRIVES

From sunny Spain to Auckland. When -the Ulimaroa arrived from Sydney to-day Mr. Charles Hallard completed what is probably one of the longest trips made by an actor. He was producing films in Spuyj when he received an offer from J. C. Williamson to play the lead in “Interference” in Australia. Mr. Hallard decided to take the engagement. lie travelled to London immediately, caught the first bo;i,t leaving for Australia and then, on arrival there, caught the Ulimaroa for Auckland. Mr. Hallard will be remembered for his excellent performances w’ith the Vanbrugh-Boucicault Company in Mew Zealand a few years ago. He is one of the best-known actors in London, and has played with almost every manager of note. Many columns in the theatre “Who’s Who,” tell a tale of numerous engagements and an astonishingly varied stage career. Before he left England for Spain Mr. Hallard played in “Regatta,” Su> ton Vane’s new play. He was also with the 'long and successful run of Moel Coward’s “The Queen was in the Parlour.'

TO PRODUCE “INTERFERENCE” A prominent London producer, Colonel Stanley Bell, was also on the Ulimaroa. He has been sent out specially by “The Firm” to produce “Interference,” a play which had a great vogue in London with Sir Gerald Dyi Maurier in the lead. Colonel Bell has produced many London successes. including “Bluebeard’s Eighth Wife,” “Out Betters” (which is to be done in Mew Zealand by Margaret Bannerman), “Aren’t We All” (played here by the VanbrughBoucicault Company), “Sexes and Sevens,” and “Diplomacy.” For a number of years he was producer at the Globe Theatre, London, where Margaret Banfierman played the leading roles. Colonel Bell produced the Bannerman plays in Australia. “The stage in England is going through a bad period,” he said this morning. “The whole trouble Is that we have no one writing good plays.” Colonel Bell thought that Frederick Lonsdale was the most successful English playwright to-day. Edgar Wallace, he agreed, was doing marvellously well with his “thrillers,” and Moel Coward, although several of his plays had been failures, had just made the most wonderful success with his revue, “This Year of Grace.” Colonel Bell was with Sir Beer boh m Tree for 14 years, and then joined the army for five years during the war period. Before becoming a producer he had a successful career as an actor, “but I’ve lived that down,” he said, with a smile, this morning. Colonel Bell considers that the stage in Australia is particularly healthy.