ACTIVITIES OF THE STAGE
REVIVAL OF “FLESH AND BLOOD” PRODUCTIONS
T Killed the Count"* in Wellington There appears to be a definite swing of the pendulum towards the legitimate stage, and the J. C. Williamson Theatrical Company has found the demand for flesh-and-blood shows so good that a new company is being presented in Wellington next week, said Mr E. J. Tait, who arrived from Australia as the advance agent for the company. The season will open with “I Killed the Count,” a thrilling mystery play, to be followed by “It”s a Wise Child” (the premiere of the play) and “Yes, My Darling Daughter.” The company will include Harvey Adams, Atholl Fleming, Clifford Cowley, Alec Pratt, Norman Lee, Eric Reiman, Dennis Glenny, Hori Thomas (the New* Zealander), Barrett Leonard, John Howard, Doris Packer, Jane Conolly, and Katie Towers. Mr Rowland Edwards is producer.. Great Ice Show for Auckland The amateur ice skating champion of the world in 1938 and this year, Megan Taylor, made her first professional appearance in J. C. Williamson’s “Switzerland Ice Show and Ballet” at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, recently. Her reception there indicated that she should receive a rousing reception when the company opens its New Zealand tour at Auckland next Saturday. Miss Taylor’s successes have been continuous since she was seven years of age, when she won a bronze medal. She is still only 19, but this year saw her second successive will in the world championship. New Zealander Returning
Hori Thomas, a New Zealand actor who has had much experience in musical comedy and dramatic productions, will return to his homeland with the company that is to open at Wellington next week in “ I Killed the Count.” Mr Thomas was last here in “ Balalaika.”
George Gee in London George Gee, formerly popular in musical comedy in Australia and New Zealand, has a prominent comedy part in “Runaway Love,’” a new musical play at the Saville Theatre, London. A London paper says: George Gee’s buffoonery in the second act of “Runaway Love,” when, as a disappointed bridegroom on honeymoon, he is driven to the compan-, ionship of another man, restores this gifted comedian to the pinnacle of achievement he climebd at the Palace long ago.
Sparkling Comedy in Sydney “Mother, may I go out to play?’
Footlight Flashes “ Under Your Hat,” the spectacular musical comedy, is repeating in Sydney the success it had in Melbourne, and is likely to run until well after Christmas.
Doris Packer, who comes to New Zealand at Christmas with the “ I Killed the Count ” company, received high praise in Sydney for her work in the title role of “ Elizabeth the Queen.”
Skating on high stilts is one of the clever things that Phil Taylor (father of Megan) does in the “ Switzerland Ice Show,” which opens at Auckland next Saturday.
Many New Plays in Sydney The new Minerva Theatre at King’s Cross, Sydney, is to have a succession of new plays, as follows: “Yes, My Darling Daughter.” “Gaslight.” “Quiet Wedding.” “Robert’s Wife.” “Tony Draws a Horse.” “The Two Mrs Carrolls.” “Banana Ridge.” Mona Barrie is to be brought back I from Hollywood for some of these j plays, and John Wood, another Ausiralian who has made good in films, will also appear in some of them. ! Others in the productions will be | Msrie Burke, Lloyd Lamble, Erna Living, Frank Bradley and, Pat MacDonald. Crowd Cheers Gladys Moncricff Gladys Moncrieff had a great reception at the Minerva Theatre, Sydney, where “The Sun” Toy Fund was having a gala presentation of “Yes, My Darling Daughter.” As she stepped from her car in flood-lit Orwell Street, people hung out of windows all around and with those on the pavement cheered her. It was thrilling. She got another rousing reception when she entered the theatre and later when the handsome doll, “Babette,” which she had dressed, was auctioned for the fund and realised over £6. It does the heart good to see our own so beloved, says a Sydney writer. “Charley’s Aunt” at Rotorua Business and pleasure are being combined by the members of the “Charley’s Aunt” company at Rotorua this week-end. A four-nights’ season will be commenced tonight, enabling the members, several of whom are making their first tour of New Zealand, to make a comprehensive tour of the thermal regions. New Dance—Black-out Stroll A new dance, evolved by war conditions, is proving very popular in Lor don. It is the Black-out Stroll. The dance has four positions—tna Stroll, the Forward Chassi, the Break, and the Romp. At the end of the chorus the lights are dimmed in a black-out, ihe dancers turning to find new partners.
The correct answer to the ancient rhyme is, “Yes, My Darling Daughter”—at the Minerva Theatre, Sydney.
Marie Burke, the Mother in the comedy, has played this role in England. Jane Conolly is the charming daughter, whose week-end ‘projects assume a freedom not yet conceded by the social standard. Women’s clubs in the United States adopted the play as at least a witty presentation of a problem with which, it is said, mothers in increasing numbers must nowadays grapple. Other principals in a brilliant cast are lan Keith, Doris Packer, Harvey Adams, Lloyd Lambie and Katie Towers.
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Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)
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869ACTIVITIES OF THE STAGE Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)
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