CALL OF THE STAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1939, Page 4

CALL OF THE STAGE

FILM PLAYERS RETURN. The call of the stage has proved too much for numerous well-known film players this year, and the exodus from Hollywood has resulted in Broadway’s lights illuminating the names of many erstwhile' screen favourites. The majority of them, it is true, became famous “on the boards” before they 'left for California, and-some of them have a clause in their contracts which enables them to return to the theatre for part of every year. One of the latest returnees to New York is Franchot Tone, who is associated with his old company, The Group Theatre, in Irwin Shaw’s comedy, “The Gentle People.” Appearing with him is another screen star, Sylvia Sidney, who has.not made a film for some time. The English actor. Raymond Massey, whose most recent film was “The Drum,” has earned universal praise from the critics for his portrayal of “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” Robert E. Sherwood's new play. It has been rumoured that' Gary Cooper will star in the film version. Another English actor, Robert Morley, who was the histrionic success of “Marie Antoinette,” is reaping fresh laurels on Broadway for his impersonation of “Oscar Wilde,” which is described by one critic as being “the wittiest play in New York.” Tallulah Bankhead, who achieved fame in the theatre and who did not enjoy her screen venture, is back with her first love again, starring in “The Little Foxes,” a new play by Lillian Hellman, author of “The .Children’s Hour.” Also back on the stage, after making a film with Bing Crosby, is Beatrice Lillie, who tops the bill in Noel Coward’s revue, “Set to Music” —a modernised version of his “Words and Music,” which was produced in London about eight years ago. Naomi Waters (Mrs Dale Bourn),.a former Sydney girl, and Ann Codrington, who was here with Fay Compton’s company, were members of the London cast. A revival of “Outward Bound” at the Playhouse includes in the cast Helen Chandler, Alexander Kirkland, Bramwell Fletcher and Vincent Price —all of whom have done film work. Mr Price made his film debut recently as Constance Bennett’s leading man in “Service de Luxe.” s Ethel Merman, seen recently as Alice Faye’s rival in “Alexander’s Ragtime

Band.” and Jimmy Durante, are the leading lights of the musical comedy, "Stars In Your Eyes,” at the Majestic Theatre. Richard Carlson, who was so successful in his first film as Janet Gaynor's suitor in “The Young in Heart,” is also featured. An interesting member of the cast is the ballerina, Tamara Toumanova, who danced in Australia recently with the Covent Garden Russian Eallet Company. Starring in “The American Way,” by Geroge S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, is Frederic March, whose wife, Florence Eldridge, is a member of the cast. Mr March is one of the stage graduates who have made an outstanding success on the screen.