New Shows in London

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 25

New Shows in London

Drama in England Becoming More Popular

There is no dearth of new plays in London or the principal towns in the English provinces. The drama seems to be definitely on the up-grade. • This list of new productions is taken from the latest London exchanges to reach Auckland. Alec L. Rea is producing Roland Pertwee’s new comedy, “Honours Easy.” at the St. Martin’s Theatre. Diana Wynyard, who acted so well in “The Devil” at the Arts Theatre recently, will have her first big chance in London, although she has acted many leading i>arts at the Liverpool Repertory Theatre. Norman McKinnel and Allan Aynesworth are also in the company. In a week or two Sir Barry Jackson will present in London the comedy called “Devonshire Cream” that was seen in Birmingham some time ago. Horace Hodges, Mary Jerrold and Sam Livesey will play the chief parts. Two other new plays are “Charles and Mary,” at the Everyman, and a melodrama entitled “Long Live

Death,” by Peter Godfrey, at the Gate Theatre, with a cast that includes Dorothy Black, Helen Goss, Eric Portman, Josephine Wilson and Arthur Gouliet. Mr. Godfrey, besides acting in and producing his own play, has been directing the rehearsals of “Hamlet.” The latest piece of news about that production is that Charles Macdona, who has not acted for 20 years, will play Polonius. The King and Queen are being taken by John Laurie and Miriam Lewes. Robert Courtneidge intends to produce “The Damask Rose” at the Savoy Theatre about March 20. This is a real musical play, for the composer is Chopin. A musical version of “The Three Musketeers” is likely to succeed the pantomime at Drury Lane, and Lee Ephraim intends to start his twice-nightly musical theatre with “Rio Rita,” with George Gee and Rita Page in the leading comedy roles. As i previously announced, “Silver Wings” : goes to the Dominion. “Here Comes j the Bride,” a musical farce, starts at \ the Piccadilly. j "Almost a Honeymoon,” a farce by | Walter Ellis, in which Renee Kelly j is playing the chief part, opens a short | run at the Garrick Theatre. It has | been on tour for the last two or three ! weeks and if the play is successful | another home will have to be found | for it, as “The Lady of the Camelias” 1 is to be produced at that theatre on | March 5, with Tallulah Baukhead in j the part made famous by Mme. Sarah j Bernhardt, and G’.en Byam Shaw as I Armand. Curiously, the famous bur- ! lesque of the Dumas drama entitled ] “Camille in Roaring Camp,” is to be i presented by the Venturers’ Society at the Strand Theatre, with Margaret ! Bannerman as Marguerite Gauthier, j and Leslie Mitchell as Armand.