THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 307, 28 December 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE STAGE IN SYDNEY.

PLAYS AND PLAYERS. (By A CORRESPONDENT.) SYDNEY, December 15. It is a unique record that every in Sydney has been closed during th# past six months for some period, though some are only transitory. Fuller's is tha last on the list. It is now closed for repairs and renovations. The Frank O'Brian Revue Company finished on Sat* urday last. It will reopen in a weeks with a new revue company, unknown to Sydney as a combination. Allan Wilkie has finished his Shak«« spearean season at the Newtown Majes* tic, and he and his company will go to Tasmania for Christmas. He hopes to return here on a more permanent basis later on. He is singing the praises of the present Government who have decided that, whoever else in the amusement world shall come under the new amusw ment tax, it will not be Allan Wilkie. Alfred Frith is going to make "a com# back" at the Grand Opera House on Boxing night with a new farce called "Money from Home." He has Agatha Kentish as his leading lady, and she, now the wif® of a naval man stationed in Sydney, was very well known and highly thought of as a London actress in comedy parts before her marriage and at intervals after it. He also has Eva Moss, who has lately come from South Africa, a.id Geo. Willoughby and an English married couple of the name of Beeby. Richard Bellairs is making himself responsible

• for the production. He was associated ' with its success in America. There is i some talk of a New Zealand tour following: if the play goes over here. There will be no matinees, as the theatre will be occupied with the Marlow pantomine, "Babes in the Wood." Dorothy Dewar ij to be principal boy for that., "Lombardi, Ltd., is in its. final weeks. It will see Christmas out at the Criterion and then go to New Zealand. .The whole company are "pumping" it out now, and the first pristine freshness has vanished. No doubt , a rest at sea and facing new audiences will have a tonic effect, on them when they go over your way. "Show Boat" is not the financial success it ought to be and it will close prematurely at Her Majesty's on December 20, and the following night "The Desert Song" will be revived for a short season. This .is to allow the company to get into form with the final rehearsals of "New Moon," which will be the next new musical comedy. It is said that the "Show Boat" people will lie off for a while. Freddie Bentley, playing the chief comedian's part in "Show Boat," will replace' Herbert Mundin as Bunny in "The Desert Song." Otherwise the cast is likely to remain the same. Glen Dale, leading man of "Show Boat" has gone back to the United States to make pictures. His place has been taken by Michael Cole, who came acre for "This Year of Grace," and who played the part in England. He is a likable young man on the stage without a voice. Muriel Starr will come back to the Palace for Christmas with "This Love Business," and will play a season of repertoire there. She has been doing the country towns of New South Wales pretty thoroughly since 6he was last here. The Empire Theatre has reopened as a picture house. It still has a hard row to hoe, as it is outside the circle of movie magnates, and has to pick its pictures from those the combines have left, after giving them a glance over. But the apparatus installed is notably good and the vocalisation is clear, and it may win out as a prosperous speculation in spite of them. Byrl Walkley has gone to New York under engagement to J. C. Williamson— probably for "Jew Suss." Billee Lockwood is going on tour in England to play the part of the telephone girl in "The Girl Friend," which she took here. Josie Melville is returning to Australia to play the. lead in "Turned Up," opening in Melbourne in January. Bunny Lauri and Mother May Beatty are both happily fixed in talking pictures in Hollywood, and May is writing her memoirs. They both love living in Hollywood in the Normandy Village. "Whoopee" is to be done by the second "Desert Song" company, while the first "Whoopee" company carry on with "Clowns in Clover," augmented by Ann Penn and the Hardgrove Brothers, late of the World's Entertainers. Also Mo. and his wife, Sadie Gale, in place of Chas. Sylber and Marie Nvman. "Rio Rita" is to open at the Newtown Majestic for Christmas after a comprehensive tour of Queensland and the larger New South Wales towns. There was a rumour of Gladys MoncriefFs contract running out, but at least she will play out the Sydney season. "Journey's End" is due at the Criterion on January 4. It goes to Brisbane in the meantime.