Dunedin to Have a Little Theatre

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 2, 19 July 1935, Page 31

Dunedin to Have a Little Theatre

Premises Now Being Considered — Wellington Thespians Rehearsing "Hobson’s Choice’ — Sir Benjamin Fuller Discusses Russian Opera Company — "San Toy" in Invercargill This Week.

DTUNEDIN is a city where amateur threatricals have flourished, and according to advance reports, yet another movement is shortly to be launched. The Little Theatre has never become a reality in Dunedin, although the idea has been discussed many times, but now 2 body hag been organised tto establish one. There are more than 60 Little Theatres in Australia, while each of the other three main centres in New Zealand have their movement. An option over a building which will lend itself to adaption as a Little Theatre, has been secured, while a well-known architect has offered his services for the designing of the theatre. Members, ineluding carpenters, electricians and artisans, will construct and equip the theatre, the only cost being for the material. It is proposed to produce threeact plays monthly, and to stage oneact plays every fortnight. It is also proposed to establish a wardrobe fund. AFTER the outstanding success of the production of "‘Thespiana," the revue which the Thespians of Wellington presented recently to crowded houses, members of the society are now working hard on the next major production, "Hobson’s Choice," which is to be presented in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on August 15, 16 and 17. "Wobson’s Choice" is the most famous comedy of that famous English playwright, Harold Brighouse; although it was first produced during the Great War, it has never lost its interest for playgoers. Set in Salford, a little Laneashire town, in the year 1880, it tells with sympathy and comedy of Hobson, the owner of Hobson’s Boot Shop, and the possessor of three daughters, and of how, in spite of his determination to evercome the "uppishness" of those daughters, the eldest of them rules him in the end. One of the features of the Thespians’ production of this worldfamous play is to be the period dressing, The following will be taking part in the production: Dorothy Tansley, Elsie Lloyd, Aspasia Hdwards, Louise Christian, Maie Webster,;Edward R, Render, Norman Hannah, Harry Painter, Victor S. Lloyd, Selwyn Toogood, Jack Simpson and A. 8. Farquhar, The play Wil] be produced by Victor S. Lloyd.

JN a recent interview in Dunedin Sir Benjamin Fuller said that he was making arrangements for a full Russian opera company-singers, dancers and orchestra-to tour New Zealand and Australia. Mr. W. J. Douglas, while in Europe was also booking various shows, but the main object of the trip was to negotiate with the Russian Government for a subsidy for a Russian opera company to visit this part of the world. If the negotiations were successful he was confident that it would create a furore. "I say that you can not keep an age-old institution like the stage down. Owing to the depression and tke advent of the talkies the stage has had a setback, but it will come up smiling again. Actions speak louder than words, and I have sufficient faith in the future of the stage to spend a few thousand pounds in remodelling His Majesty’s Theatre in Dunedin in preparation for the revival." 2} UDGING by a recent dress rehearsal of "San Toy," the coming production of the Invercargill Operatic and Dramatic Sodiety, it would appear that play will prove to be one of the best and most successful musical comedies yet presented by the society. When "San Toy" was first staged in London in 1899 it had a phenomenal run, beating even the record of "The Geisha." The play is to have a five-night season in Invercargill, opening on July 15. For the cast of this play, the first of the society’s two musical shows this year, a large and varied cast has been chosen. The role of San Toy is in the hands of Mrs, N, R. Henderson, while

an excellent performance may be expected from Mr. B. Murgatroyd in the male role, Two songs specially written are to be incorporated, the words being by Mr. J. J .W. Pollard and the music by Mr. Howard Moody, the producer and musical director respectively, OR the second concert of the 19385 season, to be held on July 18, the Royal Christchurch Musical Society will make a change from its usual procedure and present a programme of smaller part-songs and solos, most of the compositions being by well-knowS British composers. Well-known pe? formers -such as Mr, Alan Wellbrock and Master Warwick Humphreys, Miss Hilda Hutt (soprano), Mr. Ernest Rogers (tenor), Miss Nancy Msiall (cellist) and Miss Winifred Smith (elocutionist) will take part. MORE than 100 members of -the Canterbury Repertory Theatre. Society attended the fortnightly playreading meeting, held last week, when Aimee and Philip Stuart’s play "Sixteen" was read with great success. Mr. Walter B. Harris was the director and Mrs. Harris read the stage directions. VBS. SPENCE-CLARK, Clifton, Sumner, representing the British Drama League, was the judge at the Peninsula Institute’s Drama Yestival. In congratulating all the performers on their acting, Mrs. Spence-Clark said that the standard had shown much improvement, drama festivals producing much hidden talent. The results of the judging were: Akaroa 1, Little River 2. and Duyauchelles Bay 3.