THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 258, 30 October 1926, Page 28

THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

(By _ Correspondent.)

"TsU Ms More" will come to Bydnsy some time in Dwembtr. Til* bright lights of this musical comedy are T_ur__ Rogers and her dancing partner, Robert LssceUes. Gus Bluett and George Gee sustain the comsdy, it is said, in a most able fashion, and Maud Fane is the usual Maud Fans in a nsw set of pretty frocks. Melbourne hae seen the piece, aad it is now raiding Perth lot popularity. "Is Zat So?" is due in Sydney about the middle of No-ember. It is a good eoau-deshlp play, and mors popular with men than women, featuring the mateship which can exist between two strong men. The playwright, Richard Taber, a fine upstanding young fellow, also plays the leading part. Borne healthy punches take place during the action of the piece. ..You are to have "The Midnight Frolics" after Sydney. Indeed they will be on their.way to you when this letter reaches you. Clem Dawe, who leads them, has a nice wholesome fund of humour, and an engaging way, and if he isn't quite Jim Gerald, you are sure of a good cheery show. They have had a prolonged season here, changing their stories every week. Not the least attractive of ths company was Phyllis Amery, who is a splendid little dancer. -The Fake," Maurice Moseo-iteh's second new play, is to go on this Saturday. "They Knew What They Wanted" was a failure, and played to bad houses, though the run was enforced for a month. Mary MacGregor has the ingenue lead in "The Fake." It had a moderate success in London about two years ago, but did not make quite the sensation which the playwright, Frederick Lonsdale, has learned to expect with his plays nowadays. "Abie's Irish Rose" is coming to Sydney this week, after fifteen weeks in Melbourne. It is a domestic comedy of the Murphy* and the Cohens, and the effort to mix them in holy matrimony. These ceremonies ars performed between Rosemary Murphy and Abraham Levy, first by the Methodist minister—to be neutral, a* it were—then by th* rabbi, to satisfy th* Cohens, and finally by the Catholic priest to appease the Murphya Ths play is actually aa endurance test for actors. It has been running for five years in th* United States, and individual records have been broken by many players in their parts. Several of the present company have played their parts for one, two and three years. Grace Stafford (Rose) has played hers for one thousand performances. "Aladdin" is to be the Christmas pantomime at th* Grand Opera House, and "Jack and the Beanstalk" at the St. James. The first is to be William Russell's production, in conjunction with J. C. Williamson. He is likely to put Bruc* Green in as Dame, and pretty Floie Allan as principal boy. Melbourne will also have a Fuller pantomime, "Puss in Boots," but the final decision has not been announced a* to whether Elsie Prince will play principal boy in that or in "Jack and th* Beanstalk." Whichever role is her discard wiU be filled by Madge White (late of ths "No, No, Nanette!" company, and now playing "Mercenary Mary"). Dion BoudeauH finished Ms Barri* season last night, and announced in a farewell speech that he had made arrangements to return with Irene Vanbrugh next September in a series of modern comedies. Hs will sail for London on November 22 in ths Themistooks, via th* Cape, to produce a new play for his wife. It is to be Alfred Sutro's latest, "The Desperate Lovers." "Meet th* Wife," a sparkling __s*rtcan comedy, has proved almost a* popular as "The Best People," and the company chosen for ths latter are also eminently suited for ths former. The season has been extended, and Melbourne will follow. E. J. Carroll's next attraction will be "The Ghost Train," with another American Imported company. They are not in the'country yet, however.