FOR DRURY LANE.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 19 (Supplement)

FOR DRURY LANE.

CLAUDE DAMPIER AS COMEDIAN. FORMERLY IN NEW ZEALAND; j An actor whose first London stage Job, at the age of 18, was that of a chorister at Drury Lane—salary, 30s a week —is to be the principal comedian in the new musical show at this theatre. He is Claude Dampier (in New Zealand years ago with the Dandies of various hues), the popular "silly ass" of radio variety who has lately been making a name for himself on the films. Just 40 years will have elapsed between that humble debut of his at the Lane and his return as a fully fledged star. There was 15 years of hard and often discouraging work before, determined to break fresh ground, Dampier sailed for Australia to organise openair theatres at the remuneration of £9 a week. Mr. Dampier soon found that being a Professionad Idiot was the paying side of his activities. To be precise, it brought him in £l5O a week in Australia. New Zealand and Sou'll Africa for nearly 20 years. The Utmost Nonsense. Then he came back to England, and was duly "discovered.” Radio, stage variety, and then film audiences began to laugh at the man with the lugubrious face which would suddenly be illuminated by an apologetic smile,

and by the slow hesitating drawl | with which he would utter the utmost I nonsense. Ami now Claude Dampier has got I his biggest chance —as chief comedian in a theatre where the humorous side of the productions lias always been the toughest nut to crack, and where success accordingly brings all the more honour. His role will be that of a dealer in real estate who exploits the possibilities of a "near Eastern" country, this time christened Moronia. Binnie Hale is the leading lady, her role being that of a young English girl, and Jack Whiting (who was so good in "Anything Goes") will be the leading man; while that most popular of "Lane” soubrettes, Clarice Hardwicke, is returning to the fold in an important part. .