Looking Over The London Season

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 13, 4 October 1935, Page 24

Looking Over The London Season

"A Sheaf of Theatre Programmes — Coward’s: "Conversation Piece" and Jack. Buchanan i in "Mr. Whittington" — Marie Ney’s Part.in "Touch: "Wood"-"Late Christopher Bean" in Wellington.

TRAVELLER returned’: from the gaieties..of: London: brings: -back: a . sheaf. of theatre programmes-mem-cries ,of. bright: nights in the company: of world-famous stars, ‘They are lying in thy desk: now-‘Conversation: Piece" "n the top. ‘It is described'as a "romanti¢ comedy with music’ by Noel Coward," while a full-page photograph of Yvonne. Printemps who: pls aayed the

part. of Melanie ‘informs : the. theatregoer that "Mlle. Yvonne Printemps est — toujours. habillee: par: Jeanne » Lanvin, Paris." The first- person to- appear on the stage, according to the. programme, is Heather, Thatcher, who has:a brother living .in The scene is Brighton ‘ins:the Regency period, A giddier and ‘less:romantic: play is néxt on. the: list-"Mr. Whittington," ‘the show -which».starred Jack" Buchanan and -Hlsie’ Randolph. The: programme is here too for the musical comedy which succeededit at the Hippodrome -"Yes, Madam," starring Binnie Hale and :Bobbiei Howes, This. play: is ‘being produced" in "Sydrey shortly by J° C. Williamsons, and will later’ be seen in New: Zealand. The "straight" plays are interesting. Here is "The Late Christopher Bean, " which:is to be presented*by the- Wellington Repertory Theatre in a few. weeks. It wis staged-at :-St. James’ Theatre, :and. was adapted : from ‘the French play, "Prenez Garde a la Peinture," by: Emlyn Williams.. The leading. role. was. played’ ‘by: Hdith Bvans, the'star-who;‘in:the,past five'years, has ,- played such : ‘widely different roles as

the prima donna in "Evensong," the ' king’s mistress in Shaw’s "The Appie Cart," Florence Nightingale in "The Lady of the Lamp," and Gwenny in. "Christopher. Bean." The part’ of Nr. _ Haggett was played by’ Sir- Cedric Hardwicke, ‘who is better known to New Zealanders for his roles‘in talkies ~-he had a prominent part in the technicolour film, "Becky Sharp." Next is the programme of "Touch Wood," the third -play. written by ©. L. Anthony, whose "Autumn Crocus". was produced in Wellington a week or two ago. It was staged at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, ind -is interesting inasmuch as it starred Marie Ney, the famous act-: ress who spent her girlhood in Wellington,. and got her first chance in amateur shows at Wellington’s oid Opera House. Incidentally, Miss Ney will be heard in the shortwave -prograimmes from Daventry next. week. Also in the cast of "Touch Wood" were Dorothy Hyson (daughter: of the famous Dorothy Dickson), Ian Hunter, ‘and Oriel Ross, whose sudden marriage to Lord Poulett, London socialite, was . the sensation of last month. A notable programme is that. tell‘ing of Blisabeth’s Bergner’s appearance in "Escape Me Never," the film ‘version of which is now released «in New Zealand, The play, whichis by Margaret Kennedy, author of -"The Constant Nymph," was produced: by C. B, Cochran and directed by the famous .Komisarjevsky. The play itself was | ‘not. & good one-but Bergner’s acting made it the most’ memorable of the 19384 season, Two programmes. have more than a: passing interest for: New Zealand-"The Wind and the Rain" (still running-and nearing its 1000th .performance) and "Men in White." The former, as everyone now knows, was written by Merton Hodge, of Wanga‘hui; the second was "anglicised". by Hodge and starred Lewis Casson (in New Zealand with Sybil Thorndike) -and Jill Esmond, who is well’ known to talkie fans, -The cast also included W. Bellendon Clarke, who played: the part of the heavy father in "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" when it was staged here some years ago. Two more interesting programmes are those for "Murder in Mayfair" and "Moonlight is Silver.’ The first, writ"ten by Ivor Novello, who also played the.part of Jacques Clavel; starred Fay Compton, Ddna Best -and Zens , Dare, . and had a remarkably successful run atthe Globe Theatre, . Several scenas from the play were recorded and have been broadcast from the New Zealand national : stations . lately. The other, "Moonlight is Silver," starred. Gertrude Lawrence and Douglas Fairbanks, junr. It is. interesting to note that "Miss Lawrence’s dresses were executed by. Molyneux," The play was written by:Clemence Dane, the writer ‘of the immensely. successful "A Bill of Divorcement." . Leslie’ Henson, Debroy. Somers, Gwen: Ffrangcon-Davies, Sey-

mour ‘Hicks, Claire Luce, John Gielgud, Iaura la Plante, Athene Seyler, Lilian Braithwaite and Gyles Isham are other numes featured in this bundle of programmes, At the bottom of the pile is "The Shining Hour," the: play. by Keith Winter, which starred Gladys Cooper and Raymond Massey: This’ play was produced by J, C. Williamsons in Mel. bourne last month, the leading part be ing played by Elaine Hamill, the Taihape girl who is "going over big" in Australia. OF "The Late Christopher Bean." which is to be produced by Leo: du Chateau for the Wellington Repertory Society from October 30 to November 2 the late Mr. J. T. Grein, the noted Lon don critic, wrote: "This is a comedy in which scenes of wild farce inter ' mingle With those of tenderest. senti ment, yet there is never a sense of in eongruity. The plot itself is decided ly farcical. The late Christopher Bear’ Was an artist who, addicted tu drink, died in -the direst want, leaving behind him a collection of paintings so little thought of that his benefactor, with whom he also lodged, Dr. Haggett, utilised some of them for roofing a chicken heuse. Years after Bean’s death his genius is recognised and pro--

claimed, and extracts from his letters to a-friend, together with reproductions of some of his paintings, appear in an art magazine. Dealers suddenly descend upon Dr. Haggett, seeking to secure what pictures he possesses. The attempts of two dealers to double-cross each other and the transformation of the little country doctor ‘from a’ poor contented soul into a mercenary triekster who, aided and abetted by his wife and daughter, tries to swindle his Welsh maid, Gwenny, are pure farce: but farce with a difference." "