Sydney Scenery for 'The New Moon'

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 14, 11 October 1935, Page 25

Sydney Scenery for 'The New Moon'

Invercargill Secures Original Scenery For the Play: to be Presented . Next. Week — "Roberta" Has Gala Opening — Repertory Activity in Three New Zealand Centres.

NE of the largest productions ever produced by the Invercargill Operatic and Dramatic. Society is due for ‘presentation on October 14.' That bright musical comedy, "The New Moon," is the choice and the society ean confidently look toward one of, their best. seasons in its forthcoming presentation. For the original production of "The New Moon" at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, the brightest star of the Buglish musical comedy stage, Kyelyn Laye, took the part of Marianne, and Gene Gerrard had the comedy role of Alexander, Wasily the bisgest show the society has tackled, there are eleven scenes, and the society has — been fortunate in securing the original scenery used in Sydney at His Majesty’s Theatre, where the play ran for a year. Incidentally this is the first time "The New Moon" has béen pro-' duced by amateurs in New, Zealand. The society has been very. fortunate in securing the services of "Mr. Howard Moody as musical diréctor.. Mr. Moody recently received a telegram from Messrs. J. C.. Williamsons, Ltd, requesting him .to travél’ the ‘Dominion with the Ritchard-Hlliott Company; ‘an in-vitation-he had to refuse.. As yell as the: very large and excellent, east (published recently in the "Radio Record"), the chorus has been augmented to. eighty and the, whole performance will be particularly strong musically, LS producer for the three. musical comedies to be played throughout New-Zealand, Mr. Cyril Ritchard empleys some unorthodox settings. In © "Roberta," for instance, he introduces the’ novelty of velvet-hundieds of yards of. it in a luscious ‘blue ‘ shade--that. forms a perfect background for the Kaleidoscopic . effect of’ one‘ scene, and'a ‘marvellous: frame for’ the beauty that: parades before it. ‘The-‘present season, that opened in Auckland on Wednesday. last to a gala house, promises to eclipge even the sensational success of "Blue Roses; "Maid of the Mountains," "Cabaret: .Girl,"’ « ‘Katinka," "Katja the Dancer," "Merry Widow," and .other.. Williamson triumphs, The Auckland.season will last from October 2 to October 19; New Ply mouth, October 21; Wanganui, October (22; Palmerston North,’ October 23; Hastings, October 24; Masterton, October 25; Wellington, October 26 to November 9; Christehurch, November 11 to 22; November 28 to December 33 . Invercargill, December 4 and 5: Timaru, December 6"and 7, After "Roberta" there will be revivals of "Our Miss Gibbs" and "High' Jinks," two very tuneful musical plays that have been modernised and accelerated. HB announcement that Mré& A, L. Haslam (Valerie Tennant) is to play Portia in the Beperte Society’s forthcoming productio of "The Merchant of Venice," has been hailed with

delight by lovers of the drama in Christchurch. Mrs. Haslam is a very capable and attractive amateur actress, Her husband was a former Rhodes scholar, HE selection committee of the Wellington Repertory Theatre has selected "The Late Christopher Bean," a play containing an admixture of comedy,, farce and drama, for the next production, which is to be directed by Leo du Chateau and presented in the Concert Chamber at the end of Octo- . ber. The "Late Christopher Bean" is an English adaptation of Rene Fauchois’s "Prenez Garde a la Peinture." It was first presented in London at St.. James’s Theatre, where it drew crowded houses for nearly 15 months. The adaptor, Mr. Emlyn Williams, has mide a: big reputation for himself in only seven yeats. After leaving Oxford, where he was in the 0.U.D.S.. he made his first appearances in such notable plays as "The Silver Tassie," "Tunnél’ French," "French Leave,"

"The Case of the Frightened Lady," "Wild December," and "Htlenne," the latter’a delightful comedy.from the French which the Wellington Repertory ‘Society has already earmarked. Mr: Williams is also the author of "Night Must’ Fall," a. powerful play which was produced by Miles Malleson at. the Duchess Theatre early in the year, with the author in the. cast, HE recent revival of "The. Geisha" in Dunedin as well as in Wellington showed that this musical comedy has not suffered any from age. Although portions of the dialogue could be rewritten toe provide a much better effect, the music in the play is still as good as ever it was. The high stan.dard of Dunedin’s amateur talent was not wasted, large audiences being the rule during the season. A feature of the Dunedin Operatic .Club’s presentations has been the ballet.work, and, as usual, it was of -a very high standard in their latest prodtiction. af