STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 208, 3 September 1927, Page 22

STAGE JOTTINGS.

"Princess Charming," at present being played to full houses at th« Palace Theatre, is to be produced in Australia in October, with a number of English artists in the leading parts.

Theatrical circles are taking a lively interest in the demand of the London "Daily News" for a more energetic effort to carry out the scheme for a National Theatre. The theatre has not materialished in spite of more than 20 years of talk, the possession of funds totalling nearly £100.000, and the promise of a West End site from an anonymous donor. Inquiries made by a "Daily News" reporter showed that there is a widelyprevalent conviction that the scheme can only be made a success by a committee of enterprising people, representative of all sides of the Drama and the Stage.

"Ruddigore," so long omitted from the Gilbert and Sullivan repertoire in this part of the world," is a burlesque of oldtime melodrama, and Gilbert employs his vein of humour to excellent purpose in the story of the baronet who seeks to escape the curse resting upon his ancestral line by masquerading as the simple Robin Oakapple, a farmer, but is obliged to take the succession, and with it the obligation to perpetrate a crime daily. His failure to discharge this duty leads to the famous spectacle in the picture gallery of the castle of Ruddigore, when the ancestors of Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd step down from their frames and engage in the cheerful task of subjecting him to torture until he desperately agrees to carry out their wishes, whereupon they join in the exultant chorus. "A sturdy fellow, after all, this latest Ruddigore!"

Much interest should be taken in the next production by the Little Theatre Society, whose committee have decided upon a triple bill. "Rehearsal," by Christopher Morley, 'Tan in Pimlico," by Helen Simpson, and "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals," by Sir James Barrie, will be presented in the Town Hall concert chamber on each of three nights— September 15, 16 and 17. "Rehearsal" is light throughout. Pure burlesque, it should be enjoyed with those who are familiar with Morley's works. "Pan in Pimico" is a phantasy, and has been described as "an exquisite trifle." "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals" has been classed among the greatest one act plays ever written by Sir James Barrie. Many have called it the sincerest work of that writer. The cast for the three one-act productions will be:—"Rehearsal"— Freda, Marie Gaudin; Barbara, Y. MciVeagh; Gertrude, Biddy Philcox; Christine, Audrey Perry; Sonia, Molly Overton; Marjorie, Joy Bartley. "Pan In Pimlico"—The Young Faun, Freda Crosher; The Old Faun, None Wright; The Girl, Linda Murphy; The Man, Arnold Goodwin. "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals"—Mrs. Dowie, Sister Hovey; Mrs. Mickleham, Mrs. T. Lloyd; Mrs. Twymlev, Mrs. C. Phillips. The Haggerty Woman, Mrs. E. Dupree; Mr. Wilding, Mr. H. Savers; Kenneth Dowie, Mr. J. Swan.

Many and varied have been the opinions expressed on the farce-comedy "The Cradle Snatchers." which sent all Sydney and the majority of Melbourne theatregoers into hysterics. While a few captious critics in Melbourne condemned it as "indecent, by reMOn of its suggestiveness," the general opinion was that it was risque, but not vulgar. It is said that a party of self-constituted censors, consisting of detectives, clergymen and social reformers, was shown the book, and afterwards witnessed the perconfessed that they could not see anything objectionable in either the comedy or the manner in which it was presented, and warmly thanked the management for having provided them with an enjoyable evening. The discussion in Melbourne waxed warm, but the "antis" appear to have been soundly defeated. It will be interesting to note what New Zealand's verdict will be.

The recent performance by the Grafton Shakespeare and Dramatic Society, of "The New 'Morality" (Chapin), draws attention to the enterprising activities of that body. During the last three seasons the following plays have been produced among others: "Mr. Pim Passes By." "The Lucky One," and "Ariadne" (Milne), "A Bill of Divorcements" (Dane), "Art and Opportunity" (Chapin), "Three Wise Fools" (Strong), and several of Shakespeare's plays. Much of the success of the club "is due to the efforts of Mr. Ernest Blair, producer, and Miss Chalmers, secrctarv.

General regret is expressed br the London newspapers at the approaching departure for Australia and New Zealand of Irene Vanbrugh and Dion Boucicault, who are coming out under arrangement with J. C. Williamson. Ltd. "It speaks well for the Dominions," said one London journal, "that they' want only the best of our artists, and "it must be confessed that they have a fine discrimination. What is more, thanks to the enterprise of courageous theatrical heads, the people get what they want.''