LETTER FROM SCOTLAND.

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

LETTER FROM SCOTLAND.

SEES LONDON’S SUCCESSFUL PLAYS JOYS OF AMATEUR ACTING. Writing from Forfar, Scotland, by this week’s mail, a friend says:— “ When in London some time ago I was fortunate enough to get a day’s ‘crowd’ work at the British International studios at Elstree—just for the experience. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. The film was an adaption of the Continental musical version of “ The Dubarry ” (released as ‘‘ 1 Give My Heart,’’) with lovely Gitta Alpar, of the Viennese stage, as the famous (or Infamous!) charmer of King Louis XV (Owen Nares). The sets were gorgeous and the whole picture was produced on a lavish scale. “ Elisabeth Bergner is -completing a screen version of Shakespeare's "As You Like It,” which promises well. Some London Successes. “During my stay in London I Indulged in a regular orgy of playgoing. Incidentally, it was the most flourishing summer season that the London stage has had since pre-war days. The great majority of the theatres remained open even during the unusual (for this -country) heat wave, and played mostly to capacity. The standard of plays was unusually high. Those I saw were:— " Tovarich ” with S r Cedric Hardwicke and Eugenie Leontovitch. Brilliantly acted. “ Night Must Fall,” a masterly psychological thriller by Emlyn Williams, who played the leading role. Many critics consider t the year’s best offering. 44 Stop Press,” highly artistic revue. Brilliant dancing, and Maurice Chevalier. He Is better than on the screen, “ Love on the Dole,” in which Wendy Hiller, a new actress, contributed a beautiful performance. “Glamourous Night” at Drury Lane, with charming Mary Ellis from Broadway (the screen doesn’t -do her justice). The spectacle gave it added interest. New Zealander’s Plays. “Grief Goes Over,” by Merton Hodge, a New Zealander. Rather sordid. An outstanding performance by Sybil Thorndike. “ The Wind and the Bain,” also by Merton Hodge. A charming piece, laid in Edinburgh. Has -commenced its third year’s continuous run! " Lady Precious Stream,” an exquisite Chinese folk play, played and staged In Chinese fashion. " Anything Goes,” G. B. Cochran’s version of the Broadway musical. Sydney Howard amusing and the Cole Porter music delightful. Nevertheless. I was disappointed. “ Yosho Kalb,” performed by Maurice Schwartz Yiddish Players from New York. “ The Unguarded Hour,” good drama, with Godfrey Tearle and Rachel Berendt. The Russian Ballet season at Covent Garden. Wonderful! “ The Dominant Sex,” a popular success, but rather over-rated I thought. " 1066 and all That,” amusing his-| torical revue-satire. Exhilaration of Amateur Acting. “ I am secretary of a Little Theatre group, and also take leading roles. At the moment we are deep in rehears ate for “ The Late Christopher Bean,” which we put on shortly. We recently performed the American farce,

" The Whole Town’s Talking.” by way of a change, and it proved a great success. Some of the plays we have done were “ The Last of Mrs Cheyney,” Noel Coward’s 44 Hay Fever,” 4 ‘ The Lilies of the Field,” and " Yellow Sands.” It Is exhilarating work, this amateur dramatic business, and we all enjoy It. It does take up a lot of one’s spare time, though. “ We have entered a team In the Scottish Community Drama Festival—a one-act competition open to all amateurs in Scotland, which usually draws about 600 teams from city, town, village. Highland glen and the remote islands. Our play is “ The Dreamer,” a strong drama laid in a Scottish industrial town at the height of the depression. “ Judge Didn’t Like Us.” "Last year I played in “ The Lonely of Heart ” in this Festival, but the London adjudicator neither liked our play nor the interpretation. It was a phantasy laid in Ireland JOO years ago—and very very difficult. Maybe we were too ambitious!