ACTIVITIES OF STAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 13

ACTIVITIES OF STAGE

Easter Attractions in New Zealand I The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera j Company will open a brief return | season in Auckland on Easter Saturday, prior to its return to Australia. The Great Levante, magician and : illusionist, now mystifying large audiences in Auckland, will be in season in Wellington during the Easter j holidays. Levante will appear in Hamilton I early in June. “Rio Rita” Revived in Melbourne “Rio Rita,” one of the brightest of ' all the musical plays, has been re- , vived very successfully in Melbourne i with the following cast: — Rita Elsa Stenning i Jim John Howard 1 Chick Bean Don Nicoll Ed. Lovett Charles Norman Dolly Dot Rankin j Katie Joy Parsons | Carmen Leonora Laye ; General Estaban . . Reginald Newson j The press is enthusiastic regarding the production, saying that it has ! been staged exceptionally well by i the Williamson management. Great Levante Mystifies Auckland An Auckland paper, referring to the first performance by the Great Levante, says:— That stage magic shows no signs of losing its appeal to old and young was evident £rom the large audience which welcomed the Great Levante in His Majesty’s Theatre last night for the opening performance of his first New Zealand tour. Levante is a most accomplished illusionist and has such a lavish display of new tricks that the expectation of surprises never flags for a moment. The most astonishing trick of all is performed with a magic tin kettle, from which Levante pours every j known variety of drink that may be called for. All the illusions are excellently j mounted, and a large bevy of girl assistants helps to keep the show moving at a rapid pace.

“Mo” Back in Sydney Roy Rene, better known as “ Mo,” I the Jewish comedian, heads the new bill at the Sydney Tivoli. Gay Farewell to Gilbert and Sullivan \ The presentation of “ H.M.S. Pina- j fore ” marked the conclusion of the | J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sulli- I van Company’s Wellington season. The theatre was crammed to the doors, and at the final curtain there was a presentation of floral favours to the lady principals and chorus girls. A feature of the evening was the raffling of a flag by Ivan Menzies. the | prize going at six guineas. In the ! huge audience were three of the VicI lory Queen Carnival candidates—j Movie, Transport, and Commerce—who ocoupied boxes and had a right royal reception. The company is now delighting Christchurch audiences. ‘