STAGE JOTTINGS

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS

To have seen "Bird in Hand," by John Drinkwater," at the Royalty Theatre, London, said one critic, was to have laughed with eas4 and lightness, to have heard a plain tale well told and to have witnessed acting which was full of life and invention.

A French adaption of "Crime" has been made by Charles Mere, and was recently produced in Paris with Hugnette Defloa aa Anabella. Great efforts were made to give just the right New York touch to the production.

The Fuller-Gonsalez Grand Opera Company arrived at the Bluff from Melbourne by the steamer Manuka on MonI day morning last. They at once proceeded to Invereargill, where they opened their New Zealand tour. The company [will travel northwards, and is expected |to open its Auckland season at St. James' Theatre about September 7.

A new musical comedy in New York ia "Here's How." Roger Wolfe Kahn, previously known professionally as a bandmaster and intermittent song writer, made his bow with this piece as a composer of musical comedy, collaborating in his maiden effort with Joseph Meyer. Irving Caesar fashioned the lyrics, and Fred Thompson and Paul Gerard Smith tbe book.

Billed Look wood has cancelled her passage to England and has signed a long contract with the Taits, her first work being to stand by and understudy Miss Irene Homer in "The Patsy," which will be done first in Adelaide. Billee Lockwood was one of three young Australians, who, losing heart at not getting the they thought they had earned in their own country, were heading for Europe. The other two, Byrl Walkley and Thelma Burness, have sailed.

Miss Kathryn Reece, the pretty Broadway actress, who was brought to Australia by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to play lead in the musical comedy, "Princess Charming," has charmed Sydney theatregoers with her personality and voice. One of Miss Reece's records waa as Phyllis in "lolanthe," which role 6he played in New York for 14 months. Miss Reece has also sung in grand opera, and has * repertoire of twelve operas, which is a~ remarkable record for so young an actress.' It is expected that she will be seen In New Zealand in "Princess Charming."

Mr. Oscar Asche, the actor and producer, has been granted his discharge from bankruptcy. The discharge, however, was subject to Mr. Asche consenting to judgment for £1000 to be paid out of his future earnings. In the proceedings at the London Bankruptcy Court the Official Receiver said that during the five years' ran of Mr. Asche's play, "Chu Chin Chow," the royalties provided him with £100,000 in addition to £20,000 in salary. Mr. Asche'a liabilities amounted to £47,134, and assets to £662. The cause of his failure, he said, was his inability to obtain the profits due to him from Australian dues and the royalties due from America, and to the failure of "The Good Old Days."

"Owtward Bound,'' that remarkable play by Sutton Vane, baa been definitely chosen by the Auckland Little Theatre Society for its next production. It will be presented at the Concert Chamber, Town Hall, on July 5, 6, 7 and 9. This play will be awaited with interest, as it is a work of outstanding interest. Tlxe society promised its supporters to present "Outward Bound" last year, but a threatened injunction caused delay. Now, however, Mr. Sutton Vane has been , appealed to, and, notwithstanding the fact that professional rights have been given, he holds to his original sanction. The Little Theatre Society believes that they are the only amateur organisation in the Empire with the rights to present this play. London "Punch/* in reviewing this play, said: "Nobody ought to miss this. Hats off to Mr. Sutton Vane."

Mr. Anthony Prinsep, under whose direction Miss Margaret Bannerman is appearing, was for ten years lessee and director of the Globe Theatre, London, where for the past five years Miss Bannerman has been appearing under his management. He was educated at Eton and Cambridge, where he was captain of a light bine team against Oxford. After leaving Cambridge Ik* became an underwriter with Lloyd's. During the war, although pronounced unfit for active service, he was attached to the Navy, and while on duty with the coastguard served under the present Governor of New South Wales, Sir Dudley de Chair. He first went into theatrical management in 1918, and has probably 1 produced more French plays in London than any other manager. He has been awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government in recognition of his furtherance of Freneh dramatic art. His father, the late Mr. Val. Prinsep, was not only a popular and fashionable painter, but also a writer of note, who published many novels and plays. During his management of the Globe Theatre Mr. Prinsep has produced many notable productions, Including "L'Aielon," "Victory," «*» Marriage o# Convenience," "Fedora," "The Truth About Blayds," "Mr. Phn Passes Bv," "Belinda," "Aren't We AH?" and "Our Biters. At the Queen's Theatre he produced "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife," and at the Haymarket a revival of "The Prisoner of Zenda." Shortly after his arrival in Melbourne Mr. Prinsep was married to Miss Margaret Bapneraaa