STAGE & CONCERT NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 2

STAGE & CONCERT NOTES

After wonderfully successful seasons in New Zealand and Brisbane, Fay Compton and her English company have opened at the Theatre Royal, Sydney,'in “Victoria Regina,” and have been given a most enthusiastic welcome. During the Sydney season, will also be presented “Tonight at 8.30,” and “George and Margaret.” The lastmentioned comedy by Gerald Savory will be staged for Miss Compton’s' farewell appearances in Melbourne, following the Sydney season.

At a concert by . Lawrence Tibbett at the Town Hall, Sydney, when the famous singer was leaving the stage after a number, an elderly lady in the organ gallery ’ caught his eye, though she was surrounded by youth and beauty. - As he walked past her, she leaned towards him and whispered. He whispered in reply, and she beamed on him. When he returned, Tibbett announced his encore number, “Prologue to Pagljacci,” by special request.” And the old lady beamed again.' It .was her number. Ruth Draper, “the supreme artist,” finished her season in Sydney and quietly, informed J. C. Williamson Ltd., that she was going for a motor drive: “Where to?” she was asked.

The reply was: “To Canberra.’’ So the woman who has been described the whole world over as “an entire company in herself” took a, seat in a car and was driven away to see for herself the city which, she said, she had been told in England and America under no circumstances to miss, as it was built up, from the very foundations, out in the bush! When Miss Draper’s luggage arrived at. Spencer Street railway station from Sydney the J. C. Williamson baggage man made a search for the cases of stage properties which usually have to be picked up when a new theatrical attraction comes over. .All that could be found was a small hatbox. But this was all there was. Miss Draper uses only a shawl, sometimes a hht or umbrella, and a table and chair are supplied at the theatre. And ’ with these adjuncts she presents a varied entertainment of character sketches in which she enacts every role. CAREER? HE’S HAD A DOZEN OR MORE. David Niven, young Scotsman who plays opposite Annabella in her latest starring picture, “Dinner at the Ritz,” a coming. State Theatre attraction, thready can look back upon a career as colourful and checkered as his family tartan. Educated at Sandhurst, 1 Niven obtained a commission in the Highland Light Infantry and became an outstanding athlete. But peacetime soldiering did not hold enough thrills for him, so Niven resigned his commission and roamed the world. He became entangled in a South American revolution, went treasure-hunting in the Spanish Main, sailed in tramp steamers, promoted bicycling in New York, wrote for Canadian' magazines and newspapers, sold advertising space and, as he himself puts it, “mismanaged plantations.” His wanderings finally led him to Hollywood where he found acting to be his career. Currently he is featured with Paul Lukas and Romney Brent in support of Annbella in “Dinner at the Ritz.”

SINGING COWBOY. “’fhe Big Show” is the first picture to introduce to New Zealand audiences Gene Autry (pronounced Jeen Ortree) the singing cowboy sensation and the most popular star on the screen today. This will open at the Cosy Theatre tonight. Filmed against the background of the Texas Centennial Exhibition which was built at a cost of 25,000,000 dollars, the picture gives Autry an outstandingly good opportunity ’to present several new song hits in his inimitable style which has made him the favourite of audiences all over the world. Numbers he sings in the picture are two new hits “Mad About You” and “Lady Known as Lulu.”