THE THEATRE IN LONDON

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE THEATRE IN LONDON

IMPRESSIONS OF A HAMILTONIAN

Mr John Reidy, formerly prominent on the amateur stage in Hamilton writes from London, where he is employed in Fleet Street, by the last mail:— I am studying singing, elocution, tap-dancing and comedy at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and am doing splendidly. i was told 1 had plenty of ability. The letters of introduction I have to Sir Seymour Hicks, Jack Waller, Wylie Watson and Cyril Ritchard are all excellent ones, hut I am not going to present them until lam ready. Jack Waller is a ‘hig noise’ in the West End. He is a theatrical manager and has a show on at one of the leading theatres in London, the Adelphi. ‘Bobby Get Your Gun” is the name of the play, and Bobby Howes a nice personality comedian) is the leading actor. Sir Seymour Hicks was in a play recently, but it finished after a short run. lie is now playing the Pirate Captain in the revival of Barrie’s ‘Peter Pan.' ‘‘Cyril Ritchard is in a revue called ‘Nine Sharp' (they were hard up for a name, hence the above, because the show begins at 9.0). It consists of small sketches, songs, and a bit of tap-dancing—more like a cabaret show. He is featured in it, with singing, classical dancing and a bit of comedy. it is not a bad show but a bit weak, I thought. Mr Ritchard has personality. His wife, Madge Elliott, is expecting a visit from the stork. Cheered by Everyone “The other week I saw Jack Hulf bert and his wife. Cicely Courtneidge, on the stage. They are in their own 6how, called ‘Under Your Hat.’ Jack only had to walk on the stage and he was cheered by everyone. He i 3 very popular. He is about the best comedian I have seen, and has he got personality ! I went round to the stage door after and waited to see him close up. You would be surprised to sec what he really looks like. He has not got that big chin that one soes in the films. He Is handsome, clear-skinned, lovely teeth, and has a slight nasal accent, He was rushed by autograph hunters and signed every one willingly and then wished them all ‘Good-night.’ He really is stunning. His wife, too, is nice. She is tiny, blonde, and was the hit of the show. Her acting was

superb, and she even put Jack in the shade. Crowd of 70,000 “I went to Twickenham (twenty miles) on Saturday and saw my first Rugger match, England v. Wales. It was grand, believe me. There was a crowd of 70,000 spectators there, and what a time I had. Twickenham is a very fine ground, with grandstands as high as the top of the new Commercial Hotel in Hamilton. And Welshmen! There were thousands of them wearing a bundle of leeks as the mascot for Wales. They sang their Welsh songs, and what with the noise of frying pans and squeakers and the waving of colours of red and white, they made the day go with a hang. The game was marred to a certain extent by the ground being heavy. The play was quite good, but 1 have seen just as good at home. It was more of a forward tussle than anything. There was only one player who was nearly as good as Nepia and he was a chap named Freaker at fullback. The others, I thought, were just ordinary. Still, I was not disappointed. My only grievance was that I bought a programme outside the gate for Gd and when I got inside I found the official price was 2d. I’ll learn! European Skating Championship “My next thrill was seeing the European ice-skating championship for women. It was glorious, something I don't suppose I will see again. The world's title-holder (Megan Taylor), of Great Britain, was competing but was beaten by her rival, Cecilia Colledge (Britain). These two were wonderful and their grace and skill on the ice were a treat for the eye Of course. I paid 7s 6d to see them, but it was worth every penny. There were 12 women competing and they came from Germany, Norway, Switzer- | land, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, Britain, I Hungary and France. So I saw all the | best. "The next show was Bertram Mills' Circus—and what a circus! They had the best- artists in the world, and there were even performing seals playing ‘God Save the 'King’ on a special instrument into which they blew. One seal played the tune as written, and another with variations. The acrobats and trapeze artists were wonderi ful.”