STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

Founded in *1932 with the aim of developing local dramatic ability, the Garrick Dramatic Society will present its initial production, "A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, in the Lewis Eady Hall on Wednesday and Thursday. Miss Raie Robinson is the producer.

The Little Theatre Society -will present as its second production for 1933 the satirical comedy-drama, "The Queen's Husband," by 'Robert Sherwood, the well-known American Author, who wrote that much discussed play "The Road to Rome." "The Queen's Husband, which will be presented in Auckland about the middle of May, is a story built around an imaginary European court of the present day. The producer will be Mr. Frederick E. McCallum.

The three-act historical play, "A Hundred Years Old," by the brothers Quintero, will be Mr. Gaston third production for the Catholic Repertory Society. It will be staged in the Town Hall concert chamber on April 20 and 27. Mr. Mervale announces his cast as follows -.—Misses Kathleen Gilbert, Marie Drysdale, Flora Shenkin, M. Shenkin, Edna Craig, Edith Rosser, Messrs. Charies Archer, E. Bathurst, Allan McSkimming, J. G. Boyle, J. Sharpe and Leo O'Malley.

Having started their New Zealand season with five weeks at Auckland, the Ella Shields-George Wallace vaudevillerevue company seen here at Christmas will open-a short revival season at Easter as the final appearance in the Dominion, His Majesty's Theatre once more being the venue, "in addition to all the artists seen here on the former visit, the troupe will include the five Cleveres, whirlwind acrobats, and Jack Spooners Savoy jazz band of eight players. One of the star performers in the Cleveres group is little Master Clevere, who is known on the Continent as the world's smallest acrobatic clown. "The Laugh Parade" will be the opening revue, to be followed by "Clowns in Clover" and others.

! Intended for a nine-night season in His Majesty's Theatre, the Amateur Operatic Society's presentation of "Les Cloches de Corncville" is being looked forward to with interest. With a clioni6 of seventy, colourful costumes and lavish settings, the staging of the show will be conducted on a professional basis. Miss Daphne Knight will act as producer, and Mr. Colin Muston win be musical director. Principals in the production, which is tentatively dated for the end of May, will include Ruth Scott, Eva Simpson, U. G. Simmers, L. O'Malley, Cordon Faigan and Raymond Reeve.

The Auckland University College Literary Club held its second successful evening on March 29, when Bernard Shaw's witty comedy, "Fanny's First I'lay," was produced before an appreciative audience of club members. It is difficult to single out individuals for praise, but particularly good work was done by Miss Rose Perez and Miss Phoebe Norris. in the main female parts, and by Mr. R. F. Spragg. Next Wednesday two one-act plays, "It's the Poor That Helps the Poor." by Harold Chapiu, and "O'Flaherty, V.C.," by Bernard Shaw, will be produced.

The Clarkson Rose Revue Company arrived in Melbourne on Monday by the Strathaird. They will open in Sydney at Easter, and will afterwards visit the other States and New Zealand. Dates have not yet been fixed.

The remarkably successful season of "Waltzes from Vienna" at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, has come to an end. For 134 weeks, aggregating 104 performances, it delighted crowded audiences and set a new standard for musical productions. After Adelaide, Sydney will see it, opening on Easter Saturday. In due course it will go to Brisbane and New Zealand.

Nicholas Hannen and Athene Seyler, the English stars appearing in a series of dramatic and comic plays in Melbourne, when interviewed by "The Graphic," expressed their desire to see something of Australia and New Zealand in between rehearsals. No time has been spent in recreation and holidaymaking, and, as Mr. Hannen remarked, they "want to 6ee something of the country and to spend a little time getting acquainted with the real Australia, to get into the bush parts and to meet the people as well' as to get a close-up of bush life, animals and birds. We are also looking forward to a visit to Newi Zealand, where, we are told, the scenery is equal to any in the world."

Negotiations are proceeding between J. C. Williamson, Ltd., and Dorothy Brunton for the latter to appear in a series of plays throughout Australia and New Zealand. These will probably include "So Long, Letty," "Canary Cottage," "High Jinks" and "The Girl in the Taxi." Another contemplated treat for Australasian theatre-goers is announced from the J.C.W. headquarters. The reorganised Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company which visited Auckland over a year ago and has since been doing sterling business in Australia; will probably he seen in revivals of "The Student Prince" and "Th*» Desert Song,"