Around The Nationals

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 80, 3 January 1941, Page 24

Around The Nationals

'A.N announcement in this issue makes a late alteration in the itinerary for Noel Coward’s tour of New Zealand. He is to arrive one day earlier, and the alteration gives Auckland listeners one day extra of the impact of this so effective propagandist. For Mr. Coward, the most important result of the change is that he may see one mud-hole more at Rotorua. The remainder of his progtamme will not be altered. In any case, the itinerary we published does not cover all his arrangements. Although his plans will not be finalised until he reaches New Zealand, during his tour he will probably visit military camps handy to the main centres. These visits will not be broadcast. Mr. Coward objects to going on the air unless it is with material specially prepared for broadcast. He relies very much for his entertainment value on the sight the audience has of him-the arched brows, the expressive hands, the tilted noseeven with his feet he acts, At the military camps microphones will be banned by the performer. It is not giving any secrets away to say that some of the items might be banned by the broadcasting services, for these items, we anticipate from information to hand from Australia, will be decidedly interesting. Mr. Coward has already concluded two other strenuous tours but the energy that has created one of the most original and versatile entertainers since War 1 does not seem to have frayed yet. He wiil have seventeen days in New Zealand, and in that time he will make a double traverse of the two islands, giving broadcasts and concerts in each of the main centres. His name is well scattered through next week’s programmes. It seems safe to say that none in New Zea-_ land with any sort of set will miss hearing him. * * ~ DA LAWSON, whose picture appears on this page, is a daughter of Professor Lawson of Victoria University College. Her knowledge of Greece proved invaluable when hostilities broke out between Greece and Italy, and she contributed an article to The Listener: She is attached to the staff of the Wellington Public Library. co * * JNSPECTOR HORNLEIGH, who is heard solving all sorts of dastardly crimes over Station 2YA every Thursday evening, is getting well into his stride. A recent jewel robbery he solved before you could say Jack Robinson, and all because the lady whodunit had wound up a cuckoo clock which suddenly said "Cuckoo" when Inspector Hornleigh was interrogating her. It was very foolish of the lady in question, but we have to admire the Inspector’s quick wits. The Melody Makers, who appeer about the same time, are as popular as ever, and will be back on the old stand this Thursday, dispensing the same old lively tunes.