STAGELAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 834, 30 November 1929, Page 24

STAGELAND

By

COTHURNUS.

- IXTURES HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Now Playing.—“ The Desert Sons” (Lance Fairfax). Coming.—“ Lombardi. Limited” (Leo Carillo). "Whoopee,” all-star cast. ST. JAMES THEATRE Now Playing.—Jim Gerald Revue Company. December 26. Hector St. Clair Revuo Company Coming.—Freddie Forbes Musical Comedy Company; League of Notions Revue Company. CONCERT CHAMBER December 4,5, 6 and 7.—Auckland Little Theatre Society, triple bill. Marie Ney appeared in tlie first London production oE “People Like Us,” performed by the Repertory Players, a Sunday night society. • Members of “The Desert Song” company make week-end jaunts to Rotorua. Last Sunday morning Mavie Bremner and some of the others left early and returned late, but they saw something of the boiling pools. Tomorrow Herbert Mundin and his wife and Maud Zimbla will be among those leaving for the thermal regions. Elva Wrigley, pictured here by Tornquist, will make her first appearance with the Auckland Little Theatre Society next Wednesday evening, as Emmy, in Harold Chapin’s delightful comedy, “God and Mrs. Henderson.” This little lady has made an excellent impression at rehearsals.

She shows distinct ability for stage work, and her performance should I delight everyona.

Antcm Dolin, the famous dancer (an Irishman named Patrick Healy) and his dancing partner, Anna Ludmila (an American girl, Jean Caley), have just announced their engagement. The possibility of a visit from Noel Coward is mentioned. It is announced that Mr. Coward intends to make a world tour, calling at Australia and Japan, and spending a few weeks in Africa. Alice Delysia has announced her intention of retiring at the end of the present English provincial tour of her play, “Her Past.” She intends to live in Paris, where her husband is a director of the Paris newspaper “L’lntransigeant.” Her husband cannot leave Paris for any extended period. She said: “For that reason I intend to retire. I love the stage, but I want to be with my husband in Paris. Besides this, I have worked very hard for a long time and now I want a change. I want to be able to take a holiday when I want to and not be bound by the theatre.” “Miss Stockfield wins," says the “Daily Mail” in a critique on the new play, “Art and Mrs. Pottle.” Betty Stockfield, who is a Sydney girl, and the niece of Commander P. P. Evans, who commanded the late Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic exploration ship, Nimrod, is appearing with Irene Vanbrugh in the comedy, which was ■written by Ben Levy, a nephew of Judge Cohen, of New South Wales. The “Daily Mail” adds that the most difficult task falls to Miss Stockfield. and it is enormously to her credit that, by her sincerity and her humour, she makes the character, Judy, not only not unpleasant, but even lovable. It is* an entirely delightful performance. “THE CONSTANT WIFE” HAMILTON TO SEE A MAUGHAM PLAY LITTLE THEATRE PRODUCTION (Written for THE SUN) Hamilton theatregoers are looking forward to the production at the Town Hall on December 3 and 4 of the Little Theatre Society’s second play, Somerset Maugham’s “The Constant Wife.” In view of counter-attractions, the society’s initial production, Sutton Vane’s “Falling Leaves,” can be counted a great success, as there seems a distinct demand in the town for more literary drama. Mr. ‘W. H. Frye, the well-known Hamilton producer, has put a good deal of work into the preparations for the forthcoming play, which should experience a record season. Rehearsals have proved very satisfactory, and the show should succeed in its object of placing the society on a sound, business footing. The cast includes Clement Shakeshaft, who gave such a finished performance as the blind artist in “Falling Leaves,” and who has appeared to advantage in various local theatricals. D. Rliyddereh Jones, a new “find,” who played the male lead in this year’s production of the Operatic Society, also has a role. The cast will be as follows: Constance Middleton . . . Helen I-Teywood Martha-Culver .... Berenice Johnstone Barbara Fawcett Lilian White Mrs. Culver" I-lillie Varney Marie-Louise Doreen Beehan John Middleton . . . Brie Clayton-Oreene Bernard Kersal . . . Clement Shakeshaft Mortimer Durham . F. Rhydderch Jones Bentley . .' Norman Wright “CLOWNS IN CLOVER” FRANK NEIL LINKS UP WITH J. C. WILLIAMSON FAR-REACHING EFFECT “Clowns in Clover” is to be staged by a new company under Frank Neil’s direction at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne. His “Whoopee” company will disband on the completion of the season at the King’s, and that musical comedy will be presented in Adelaide by the touring “Desert Song” Company, now playing under the J. C. Williamson banner in Auckland, says an Australian paper. The arrangements entered into between J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and Mr. Neil are far-reaching. It is announced that Ann Penn, the noted English impersonator, who arrived in Australia a few weeks ago, under engagement to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., will head the “Clowns in Clover” Company. This artist was brought out to star at the Tivoli. The Littlejohns, who were seen in a spectacular act in vaudeville here a few years ago, have also been secured for this production. All the other artists will be Australian. The ramarkably clever ballet now appearing in “Whoopee” will be retained for “Clowns in Clover,” hut none of the other performers. When “Whoopee” is presented by the J. C. Williamson Company, by arrangement with Frank Neil, Don Nicol, the young Australian, comedian, will have Charley Sylber’s role. The company, which is a particularly strong singing combination, includes Lilian Crisp, Leo Darnton, and Bernard Manning. Following the Adelaide season, it will go to New Zealand, and stage “Whoopee,” besides other musical productions there. After the season of "Clowns in plover” at the King’s, which Mr. Neil is occupying by arrangement with J. C. Williamson, the new company will tour, and Mr. Neil will present a new combination here in “So This is Love.” This dancing musical comedy is by Stanley Lupino and Arthur Rigby, with music by Hal Brody, and lyrics by Desmond Carter. It had its London premiere at the Winter Garden with three Australians in leading parts—Madge Elliott as the heroine, Cyril Richard, and Reita Nugent.

STORMING LONDON Big Contingent of Australian Actors FAME OVERSEAS Australians are figuring very prominently on the London stage just now. The distinguished Australian. Marie Lohr, has gone into a new play by H. M. Harwood, at the Ambassadors. It is a comedy of today, with a big part for Marie Lohr, who represent s a young-middie-aged woman, a sportive mother who insists on remaining youthful, not altogether to the satisfaction of her two daughters. They find her, in fact, distinctly too much for them. Hence a satirical note in the title of the piece, “A Girl’s Best Friend.” Though the comedy is a light one, with its “love interests” treated in butterfly manner, there is an undercurrent of earnestness in it. The versatility of Miss Lohr’s talents has been markedly displayed of late in her dual performance as a haughty mannequin in “These Pretty Things” and an old lady in “Yesterday’s Harvest.” When the last English mail left Clarice Hardwicke was playing her original part of Susan in the revival of “Rose Marie,” at Drury Lane, while Gene Gerrard and Roy Russell, both of whom are known in Australia, were Hard-boiled Herman and Jim Kenyon respectively. Frank Harvey, who was for many years on the Australian stage, has come into prominence by his effective performance of the dissolute Duke in “Jew Suss,” with Matheson Lang, at Duke of York’s. Frank AUenby, the Melbourne actor, who appeared with Marie Tempest and Harvey in Australia, plays Marie Tempest’s son in “The First Mrs. Fraser” at The Haymarket. Eve Gray is the heroine of “The Flying Fool” at The Prince of Wales; Madge Elliott, Cyril Ritchard and Harry Wootton are all in “Love Lies” at The Gaiety; John Kirby helps George Gee with the comedy of “Hold Everything” at The Palace; and Reita Nugent is winning praise by her dancing at The Hippodrome in “Mr. Cinders.” Betty Stockfield, of Sydney, is playing Irene Vanbrugh’s daughter in “Art and Mrs. Pottle” by another Australian, Benn Levy. Vera Pearce has a part in “Dear Dove,” which Clayton and Weller produced in Birmingham, on October 21, before bringing to London. Annie Croft, the English actress, who played leads here recently, is also in the cast. Other Australians in Josie Melville and Kitty Reidy, also two English artists well known here, Howett Worster and Zillah Bateman, are touring in the provinces in various musical plays.

There are many beautiful and striking scenes in “Whoopee," which comes to New Zealand in December. One in particular, the ceremony of dedication among the mountain fastnesses of the Indians, lends itself to the art of the scene painters, and the effect is said to outrival the memorable stage presentations in “Rose Marie.” The costuming is in the Firm's best style, and the elaborate head-dresses worn makes the scene wonderfully striking. The fact that the play was a Ziegfeld production in New York is sufficient guarantee of its sterling qualities. Leo Carrillo, the famous Californian star, who will make his first appearance in New Zealand at the Grand Opera House, Wellington, on Boxing Night in the successful J. C. Williamson comedy, “Lombardi, Ltd.", is one of the most popular artists in the United States. He has scored many artistic successes, but in “Lombardi, Ltd." (which was specially written for him by Frederick and Fanny Hatton) he eclipsed all his previous efforts. He has played the role for some years in the United States, and has engagements many years ahead. Hugh D. Mclntosh, who is returning to Sydney by the Oronsa.y from England, said he would re-enter the theatrical business, having secured the rights of a number of London productions.