STAGELAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 514, 17 November 1928, Page 22

STAGELAND

(By

COTHURNUS.)

FIXTURES HiS MAJESTY’S THEATRE December 5, January 7.—" The Midnight Frolics,” Edgeley and Dawe. Jaunary S.—Dion Eoucicault and Irene Vanbrugh COMING "Princess Charming." "Castles In the Air.” ST. JAMES THEATRE Xow Playing.—George Ward Revue Co. COMING "Baby Cyclone' and “Good News,” Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden. CONCERT CHAMBER November 28, 2D, 30 and December I.—Little Theatre Society’s triple bill.

Gilbert Porteous, husband of Ethel Irving, died recently in England. He was in New Zealand with his wife in “Lady Frederick.” Violet Loraine (Mrs. Edward Joicey) has decided to return to the London stage after an absence of seven years. She will appear in a comedy which has yet to be named. Miss Loraine toured New Zealand some years ago. At the close of a brilliant season in Johannesburg, Sybil Thorndike, the actress, stated that she was returning to London after killing the bogey of “Macbeth.” Johannesburg had broken the tradition of the tragedy, as this was the first time she had ever acted in the play when it had paid.

“Danger,” to be done by the Little Theatre Society on November 28, is a play by Richard Hughes, that brilliant writer who has lately made such a stir in the repertory world. The whole action takes place in a coalmine, a thousand feet below the level of the earth. It must be classed as a drama, but this delightful writer introduces a twist at the moment that the lives of the characters are in imminent danger. At this stage youth argues with age as to whose life is the more valuable. It becomes personal and offensive while all the time the water in the flooded mine is creeping higher and higher. The whole work is an exquisite piece of dramatic writing. “Danger” will be played by unknown players. It will be interesting to see whether members of tlie society will be able to recognise who i they are.

“Milestones,” a period play in three acts, by Arnold Bennett and Edward Knoblauch, was the first production of the newly-formed Canterbury Repertory Society| Andrew Beresford was the producer. Ne\ iy three months ago the Repertory Society was formed with high aims for the development of interest in the drama, and the reestablishment of the drama as a cultural influence in society. Its formation was made possible by the organising energy of Professor James Shelley and the financial assistance of the Rotary Club. Andrew Beresford, an actor and producer of standing in England and Australia, was retained for the first production.