STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 96, 24 April 1931, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

One of the best known of local amateur players is Mr. W; H. Graham. It is a considerable time since he has played for the Auckland Little Theatre Society, and theatre-goers will be pleased to know that he will appear as the Rev. Christopher Pumphrey, when the society produce "A Bill of Divorcement," at His Majesty's Theatre, on April 30, May _ 1 and 2. Mr. Graham is happily east' in "A Bill of Divorcement," and although he only makes one appearance in the play, his characterisation is so good that there is little doubt that he will be remembered as one of the best performers in the play. The Adelaide season of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, Avhich opened with "The Gondoliers," proved a wonderful success. The opening performance broke all records for the Theatre Royal, including the record put up by "Chu Chin Chow," Sir George Tallis, who went to Adelaide for the opening performance, expressed the opinion that this was the best Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company the firm lias ever organised. The three English artists, Ivan Menzies, Gregory Stroud and Dorothy Gill, made a big success on their first appearance. "The chorus was wonderful," said Sir George, "and the entire performance was as perfect as it could be." Marie Bremner, wellknown to New Zealand audiences for her work in "The Desert Song," appears as Gianetta in "The Gondoliers," which is now being presented at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. There will be a tour of New Zealand at the eud of the year. "There is no doubt about the return to popularity of the legitimate stage, declares Frank Harvey, who has sc °red a great success in Sydney and Melbourne with the Edgar Wallace "gangster" melodrama, "On the Spot." After a brief flash of success, during which it was stated that the legitimate theatre was doomed, talkies have been relegated to the position previously occupied by the silent film. Mr. Harvey also states that in London the stage has come into its own again in no uncertain manner. At popular shows it is impossible to obtain seats unless bookings are made a fortnight ahead. All Australians there are doing remarkably well, and are popular with audiences. Mr. Harvey's comments regarding the talkies and the stage are of particular interest, because he is interested in both forms of entertainment, being not only an actor for screen and stage, but has also had two of his stage plays turned into talkies. One of his films, which has been produced at Elstree, is "Harbour Lights," a drama of life ■at a New Zealand lighthouse. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' PLAY. The dire consequences of the clumsiness of a group of navvies who dig a little too deeply in Queen Street form the plot of "Frenzy," the play to be staged by the Auckland University Students at His Majesty's Theatre for a season commencing May 16. The spirit of revolution is released, and a threecornered contest is fought out by capital, labour and the middle classes. Marmaduke Jones, champion of the oppressed middle classes, seizes the reins of government, but finds them difficult to hold. The spirits of Napoleon, Confucius and ■ n — iiipitii — ii — utt fir" r 1

Mr. Lang also tako a hand in the proceedings, with hilariously amusing results. Funniest of all, however, is the progress of Jones from the role of henpecked husband to that of green-shi rted dictator. The play is straight farce, making a break in the line of musical comedy followed in past years. There will, however, be a musical prologue and several topical quartets. Included in the catst are Misses D. Collier, P. Cherry, and R. Munro, Messrs. A. Frver-Raisher, R. Grey, L. Smith, C. Laurie, W. Edwards, B. Kingston, Paterson and Gregory.

A co-operative society of actors who live in poverty and play for love of the drama, the Habima Palestinian company of Jewish players, scored a unique triumph when they presented four plays at the Phoenix Theatre, London, recently. The plays, which were all spoken in Hebrew, comprised Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," and three tragedies of Jewish authorship, "The Dybbuk," "The Golem," and "The Crown of David." "Twelfth Night," the company's first attempt at comedy, was cleverly if unfamiliariy presented as a boisterous farce, with the .romantic element completely lacking. A kind of revolving Elizabethan stage was used for the change of scenes. "The Crown of David" deals with the Bible story of the revolt of Absalom and David's voluntary exile. "The Golem" centres rourfd the medieval bgend of the wonderworking rabbi of Prague, who invented a creature that finally became his master. Both are tragedies, played in tlie old heroic manner, and with tremendous concentration. The history of the company, which comes from Eussia, goes back to the days after the Bevolution, when all nationalities were given the chance of self-expression. The players were trained by Stanislavsky, founder and director of the Moscow Art Theatre, and have toured' nearly every country in Europe. It is their ambition ,to found a Hebrew national theatre" in Palestine. The company's • acting 'has been acknowledged as being on- the highest level of modern feeling, while their productions have been described by Gordon Craig as "a feast of colour, movement, gesture and song, all combined to produce a single dramatic effect." •

The prize this week goes to J. King, Eden Street, City, for: MENTAL ARITHMETIC. , Teacher: We will now have some tests in mental arithmetic. Johnny' Jones, how old is a person who was born in 1890? Johnny:. Please teacher, man or woman ? ENCOURAGING. Artist (pleased with his latest pic-' ture): I shall never do anything better, than that. Critic: Come, don't lose, courage. IN THE FASHION. First Tramp (reading paper): I see we're in the fashion, matey! Second Tramp: How is that? First Tramp: Why, it says that shoes with ventilated toes are all the go. SURPRISE PACKETS. His uncle was giving him a lecture. "You modern boys want too much," he said. "Do you know what I was getting when I married your aunt?" "No," replied th-e nephew, "and I bet you didn't, either." WHO! "I wonder who it was who did not fold his clothes before he went to bed ?" asked mother as she saw her little eon's clothes scattered all over, the room. "Adam!" said little Tommy as he pulled the bedclothes over his head. SO DENSE. Boy (from the North): The people of London are noted for their stupidity. London Teacher (primly): Oh! And what makes you think that? Boy: This book, sir. It says, "The population of London is very dense." MODERN. A young grammar school boy was sent for some potatoes, and asked the lady of the shop for sixpennyworth of spuds. "Can't you call them by their proper name, and you a grammar school lad, too?" said the lady indignantly. "Ain't it just as easy to say 'taters'?" PROPHETIC. Lady: As my boy is about to leave you, what do you think he is fitted for, sir? Schoolmaster: A professor, madam. Lady (profusely): Oh, thank you; and may I ask why you suggest this? Schoolmaster: Well—er —madam, you see, he forgets everything. NATURALLY. The dramatic a Jtor was • recounting some of his experiences to a friend. "Yes," he said, "when I played Romeo [ died so naturally that a man in the ( audience fainted." "Wonderful!" exclaimed his friend. "But why?" "Well," explained the actor, "he was my insurance agent." TO FIT THE CRIME. In an Irish Court a meek little man was charged with assaulting his wife, a big, powerful woman almost twice his size. "Are you guilty or not guilty?" asked the magistrate. "Guilty, sir," was the reply. "Then you will be fined £5 10/," said the magistrate; "ten shillings for the assault and live pounds for bragging." NAVAL CONFERENCE. The small, nervous husband was having an unpleasant interview with the large, muscular cook, whom he wag reprimanding on account of her numerous breakages. "Look 'ere," said she, "you can't frighten me —I'm a 'dreadnought,' that's what I am!" "Well," replied the other, looking at the heap of broken china. ' "I would rather say —er —that you are a destroyer!" DASH OF TABASCO. The suburban husband was about to leave his home for the station when his wife detained him. "John," she said, "I wish you'd go out to the kitchen and give' Bridget a good talking to before you go to business." "How's that?" he asked. "I thought you were very satisfied with her." "So I am, dear," replied his wife, "but she's beating some carpets for me this morning, and she does it better when she's angry," WELL-KNOWN FIRMS. It was Sunday morning in a men's class in a famous Presbyterian church school. "Will you please tell me," 6aid a member to the teacher, "how far in actual miles Dan is from Beersheba? All my life I have heard the familiar phrase 'from Dan to Beersheba,' but I have never known the distance." Before the anawer could be given, another member arose in the back of the room, and inquired: "Do I understand that Dan and Beersheba are the names of places ?" "Yes." ' "That is one on me. I always thought they were husband and wife, like Sodom and Gomorrah."

Tom: I haven't the remotest Idea what I want to-day. Tim: Try a little hash, and yottll never know what you're getting. "Bridget, were you entertaining a man in the kitchen last evening?" "Will, mum, thot's f'r him t* say. ©i done me best wid th' m'terials at hand, mum." Father: What do you mean, my son! Your teacher a nuisance? What talk! Archibald: Well, that's what you call me when I ask questions, an' teacher does nothin' else. B. Walker tells of the Scot's wife whose doctor told her she had to have salt air. . . . She woke up next morning and her husband was fanning her with a herring. Mrs. De Smythe: We had a lovely time last night. We had a box at th« theatre. Mrs. De Browne: Yes? Chocolates, weren't they? We saw you in the gallery eating something. Mabel, to Rose, at the office: ' Did yon know it was Ethel's birthday yesterday? "No, dear, I didn't. Did she take the day off?" "Take the day off, indeed Good gracious, she took two years off!" Mistress: Isn't that the pitman, Mary? Who's gone to the door? Mary: Please, ma'am, cook has. Mistress: Well, what's she such a long time for? Mary : Please, ma'am, I think it must be a postcard.

Pull Up Another Blanket. Northerner:, What's that white fluffy stuff you're picking?" "That, sah, will -be wool when, yo wear it next winter in the No'th." For Doormat Husbands. A judge declares that home life needs Co-operation —who'll deny it? 'lis hard to bring the bacon home And then to have to fry it. No Dog Needed. "It's time to get dogt licenses again. You keep a dog, don't you?" "No. If we hear a noise in the night, we bark ourselves." Try a Five-pound Iron Cross. Mrs. A. (with newspaper): It says here that cooks are often decorated in France. 1 '"f Mr. A.: I sometimes feel like crowning the one we've got. No Flowers. Old Customer: What's become of that assistant you had, Mr. Parks? Not defunct, I hope. Grocer: That he has, mum; with every penny 'e could lay his 'ands on. Better Quit. A bishop had been speaking with some feeling about the use of cosmetics by girls. "The more experience I have of lipstick," he declared warmly, "the more distasteful I find it." Why, Look Who's Here! Overheard at the station hotel: "Beastly treacherous things these fogs —lost my way coming off the train last night, and the next thing I knew I was at home." Toot! Blank! Dash! Toot! Lady (at busy corner): Isn't it wonderful how a single policeman can dam the flow of traffic? Her Escort: Yes, but you should hear some of the motorists that are held up.