“ANTS IN HIS PANTS”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20989, 16 December 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

“ANTS IN HIS PANTS”

WILL MAHONEY’S FILM “ I KNOW ME PRETTY WELL ” “ I think I’ll be a big success in this film, but clon’t get me wrong. It’s only because I’m playing myself and I feel I know me pretty well.” That’s what Will Mahoney, the popular comedian who headed a Frank Neil revue company in New Zealand last year. # said last week, as he sat on the side-lines waiting for the lights to be placed into position for his next scene in the Cinesound (Sydney) production, “Ants in His Pants.” He chewed his inevitable cigar as he said: “ I play in the film a little Irishman . . . comedy ... I get all balled up trying to do everything for everybody.” He has already starred in previous films, principally “ Said O’Reilly to McNab,” with Will Fyfe, which was made in London. “ If you want to call it singing,” Will pointed to the interviewer’s notebook with his cigar. “ But I wouldn’t put the word ‘singing ’ down there! We leave that to Evie. I think that’s the smartest thing to do.” Evie, of course, is Evie Hayes—starred with Will Mahoney on the stage, and Mrs Mahoney in private life. “ I play a deportment mistress with the name of Kitty Catkin, and sing two songs specially written for me,” she says. Like her husband, Evie has been on the screen before, but in American novelty features. “ She doesn’t appear with me in any scenes in this film,” said Will; “at least, not at present. She’s right on the other side of the story all the time.” Will and Evie are delighted to have the chance to remain longer in Australia. “It seems that here we’re right in the parlour. We feel we can call everybody by their first names.”

Shirley Ann Richards and John Fleeting, recently in Hamilton with the “Charley’s Aunt” company, have the romantic leads in this film.