A MELBOURNE LETTER.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20254, 24 July 1937, Page 17 (Supplement)

A MELBOURNE LETTER.

MUBIOAL COMEDY BUOOESS. “IT WENT WITH A BANG I” A friend In Melbourne, writing this week, says:— “ Thanks for the Waikato Times. You certainly know how to make a page Interesting. With all our dailies and weeklies, not one provides decenl theatre news. The same old re-hash, over and over again. I cannot understand why the papers here do not feature the news of overseas, where the stage is booming. “ I had the very pleasant experience of attending the final dress rehearsal of 1 Over She Goes,’ at His Majesty’s Theatre. 1 thoroughly enjoyed it, and so did the others privileged to be there. Strella Wilson was present, and quite a number of well-known Melbourne citizens. The performance went with a bang. It Is a bright show without any musical ambitions, but from a comedy point of view it is the best laugh-maker I have seen for years. I chuckled all the way home. Some of the lines and ‘ business ’ are a bit naughty—but they brought yells of laughter. My brother went the first night, and he said the house (packed to the rooT) loved the show. “ George Gee, getting a great reseptlon after his return from England, s the principal comedian of 4 Over She Goes,’ and Billie Worth and Donald Burr are the romantic leads. Also In the cast are Percy le Fre (from England), Valerie Ilav, Jay, Lois Green, Enid Hollins, William O’Neal, Dorothy Dunckley, John Dobble, Ke’nneth Tuckfleld, Charles Zoli. The company will later appear in another successful London musical comedy, * Swing Along.’ Romola Hansen to Marry. “ Here is news for you. Romola Hansen is engaged to be married to a Melbourne business man. The bells will be ringing in a month or so, I am told. Good luck to both of them. 44 Herbert Browne Is back from Perth after a highly successful radio season. He looks 'well, and his arm, which you will remember he broke while you were over here a few months ago, is quite well again.’’ “ When I was In London in 1929 I saw a very witty straight comedy, •By Candlelight,’ at the Criterion Theatre. Yvonne Arnaud had the chfef feminine role. It was an adaptation from the Viennese play by Siegfried Geyer. Now I read It is converted into a musical play, with score by ltobert Katscher, the composer of 4 Wonder Bar,’ and It Is a big success in Vienna. J. J. Shubert saw it and bought it for Broadway, and engaged Oskar Denes, who was in Australia in ‘Viktoria and Her Hussar,’ to appear in 4 By Candlelight ’ on Broadway next season. 44 Emmerich Kalman’s operetta 4 The Empress Josephine,’ had its world premiere in Budapest. It was another Kalman triumph. Polloo at Maroua Show. “ By the way, there Is a bit of a rumpus in Sydney at present. Some people there are making a fuss about the Marcus Show —the nudity rumours causing a bit of oonoern with the puritans. The police are to be present at the opening show next Saturday. What a bumper house there will be! It is stated that the holder of a box was offe'red £IOO, but would not sell. 4 4 4 Paganini * a huge success In London. Richard Tauber and Evelyn I.aye score big personal successes, and the cast also come in for praise by the entire London press. The London 4 Theatre World ’ critio says:— There Is only one Tauber and only >ne Leharl’ The Lehar -songs are enured at every performance, and the hit of the score, 4 Girls Were Meant to Love and Kiss,’ has to be repeated by Tauber several times at each performance. it was unfortunate that Lehar could not go over from Vienna to conduct. He caught a chill and would not undertake the Journey. Good-bye to the Ballet. Seldom can any theatre in Melbourne have seen more enthusiastic scenes than those which greeted Ihe final performance of Colonel de Basil's Russian Ballet company at His Majesty’s Theatre. The theatre was packed, and,, from the very beginning, when the curtain rose oil 44 Swan Lake,” enthusiasm ran high. Its rising tide finally overwhelmed the company during the last curtain mils, after 44 Aurora,” and reduced the diminutive Klrsova almost to tears. Sho and Blinova, with Leon Woizitowsky. came to the microphone after repeated calls from all parts of the house, at the conclusion of speeches by Mr. Frank Tait, on behalf of J. G. Williamson Limited, and Mr. Jarcfues Lidji. on behalf of Colonel dc Basil, air. Philipoff and himself. At the stage door a solid wedge of ballet-lovers made it necessary for the dancers, frantically searching for taxis to catch the midnight special to Adelaide, to tight their way to the street. Each was greeted with cheers and rounds of applause. Frenzied Scene at Station. At the station there was a frenzied scene. Crush hats bobbed among the stream of dancers and their friends, eagerly seeking their berths. Balletomanes rushed from one end of the train to the other saying farewells, which were usually accompanied by the Russian salute of three kisses, which lacked nothing in fervour. Russian and French, carrying all the fevered accents of departure, converted Spencer Street temporarily into a cosmopolitan terminus. A few minutes after midnight the train pulled out. Anything more forlorn than Hie dispersing crowd which I tie departing train left behind could hardly be imagined, for the ballet has made many friends in meiDourne —more, prooaoiy, .han any other theatrical company which has ever visited us. “ in 4 Balalaika ’ llireo new artists will make I heir first appearance in Australia— Robert Ilalliday, leading man; Margaret Adams, prima donna; and Marjorie Gordon, comedienne. Robert Ilalliday. who was born in Scotland, but lias appeared mostlv in New York and London, was the original Red Shadow in the New York production of 4 The Desert Soug.’