STAGE PRODUCTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20510, 28 May 1938, Page 19 (Supplement)

STAGE PRODUCTIONS

RUTH DRAPER FOR N.Z. FAY COMPTON ENTERTAINED Entertainment at the Winter Show All the fun of the fair will be provided at the Waikato Winter Show, which will open in Hamilton next week and patrons will be well entertained. Among the specialty aots will be one by Joycelyn Howe, a charming and gifted dancer. There will also be a clever trapeze act, and an Intriguing exhibition of glass-blowing. The music, elocution, and danoing competitions should be full of Interest both to contestants and listeners. The judges will be: Elocution, Mrs Culford Bell, of Papatoetoe; vocal and instrumental music, Mr Gordon Mcßeth, nf Wanganui; operatic dancing, Mrs H. Tabor-Gregory, of Auckland; national danoing, Mr S. O'Hara, of Waimea; and folk dancing, Mr L. Takle, of Hamilton. Mr W. Whitehead will be the official accompanist. Ruth Draper for New Zealand A woman, alone on the stage, with no scenery to assist her, has been holding crowded houses in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, fascinated for two hours and a-half. She Is Ruth Draper, an actress from America, whose miming is so extraordinary that she conjures up hosts of people—not exactly individuals, hut types, that love, bicker, whine, appeal, gossip, lie, pray, cry, dream, gape, beg, laugh and regret. She is a genius in the unusual art of mime, and though Australia is seeing her for the first time, she is already one of the most popular stage celebrities the sister Dominion has welcomed. New Zealand's turn comes next, for Messrs J. and N. Tait will present the famous artist at Auckland on June 27. After a season in the northern city she will visit other centres. Cocktail Party for Fay Compton A reception at the Hotel Australia was given to Miss Fay Compton at a cocktail party to welcome her on her first stay in Sydney. Among the guests were Mr and Mrs Lawrence Tibbetti Miss Compton and her company have opened very successfully in “Victoria Regina.” Marie Burke’s Daughter to Wed Twenty - one - years - old Patricia Burk' 3 , the London actress, is to marry Mr Michael William Kimpton, aged 26, la flying instructor at Reading aerodrome. { Miss Burke, who is the daughter of I Marie Burke, the actress, and her former husband, Tom Burke, the opera singer, is in the musical comedy, j 'Hide and Seek,” at the London Hip- ! podrome. Learning to Suffer “My wife is learning to play the piano and my son to play the violin.” “What are you learning?” “To suffer in silence.” Honour for Grade Fields Gracie Fields, who was given a C.B.E. in the New Year Honours List, has npw been made an officer of the Order of St. John of JerusalemThis new honour has been bestowed not only in recognition of Miss Fields' services to humanity, hut as a tribute to the variety profession. It is the first time in the 900 years’ history of the Order that a member of the music-hall profession has been so honoured.

Marie Burke's Success In Vaudeville j Some years ago Marie Burke wa-s I very popular in musical comedy in j Australia and New Zealand, in such pieces as “Wildflower.” “Katja" and “Frasquita.” Now she is in vaudeville In England. A London paper said of her recently: Marie Burke’s beautiful voice was heard to advantage in “Give Me j Hack My Heart,” by Ivor Novello, and jin a delightfully rendered medley of j old-time melodies, which met with a j furore and an insistent demand for more—readily accorded. Mrs Homolka’s £500,000 Estate In London and Budapest, searcli is proceeding for the will of Vally Homolka, wife of 'Oscar Homolka, the actor, who died recently after a short illness. She was lefl £500,000 two years ago by her first husband. Baron Peter Hatvany. The fortune comprises sugar factories, real estate, and property. Mr Homolka’s secretary stated that Mr Homolka had no recollection of a will having been made after their marriage, but he had not had time to open all boxes to make thorough inquiries. It has been reported that a lawsuit is threatened over the fortune, hut the secretary stated that neither Mr Homolka nor his lawyers anticipated any legal difficulty. It was too early to be certain that Mrs Homolka did not make a will, he added. Vaudeville Popular In Bydney The Four Vespers, who head the bill in Frank Neil's new revue, "Cavalcade of Stars,” at the Tivoli Theatre, j give an amazing display of gymanstics, says a Sydney paper. The packed theatre recalled the quartet several times. Ross, Pierre and Schaster. “three radio clowns,” provide an excellent "session,” in which imitations of wellknown American screen and radio personalities are given with great fidelity. Lillian Bernard and Flo Henrie. In sophisticated songs, were extremely j popular. fithpr attractive features are con- ! tribute.! by Sidani, who shows how slick pocketpicking ran he; the two Hugos, musical madcaps: Home Imrgie. Australian player of the liarI ntunica; Peter White. Scottish e.nm- * edian: Kermond Brothers, very skilful acrobats; Kenyon and Fewings. musical medleyists. of tlie London: Charles Cook, negro dancer, and Rov Rene (“Mo”). The ballet, as good as ever, appears in several effective scenes. Musical Moments Mrs Lawrence Tibbett says Sydney Harbour reminds her of the wylrrof Stockholm* th« Venice ul the •North,