STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 88, 15 April 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Auckland Branch of the Navy League will present, for a three-night season, commencing 4, A. A. Milne 6 three-act comedy, "To Have the Honour, in which Sir Gerald du Maurier and Madge Titheradge were seen in London some years ago. The play, which will be staged in the Town Coneert Chamber, is to be produced by Mr. McCallum, who was responsible for The Fourth Wall" and "Twin Beds" at His Majesty's last year.

Those who witnessed the line production of "The Cherry Orchard" by the W.E.A. last year will be interested to hear that Anton Tcheliov's masterly story of Russian peasant life was recently staged in the New Amsterdam Theatre, New York, with Alia Nazimova in the main role. Another play of the moment in New York is "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," in which Miss Katharine Cornell is still enjoying! an amazing success in the part played here 'towards the end of last year by Miss Margaret Rawlings, the English actress.

After ten months' business during a revival season in Sydney, the popular musical comedy, "Our Miss Gibbs," opens to-day for an extended ueaaon at the Melbourne Theatre Royal, With Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard—whom we last saw here in "Blue Roses"—as the stars of the production, the company is announced to be listed for a visit to New Zealand as soon as the extensive

Australian contracts will allow of it. Besides the company seen last year in Auckland (Leo Franklyn, Mary Kigby, Frank Leigh ton and Dulcie Davenport), "Our Miss Gibbs" will include the inimitable Gus Bluett, Elved Jay, Reginald Dane, Arthur Cornell, Winnie Tait and Marie Le Varre.

Another company billed to visit the Dominion in the future is the Clarkson Rose Revue Company, headed by Clarkson Rose himself, a well-known comedian of the London music-halls. The company's Australian season commences to-day in Sydney, after which it will 'travel through the main Australian centres before visiting New Zealand. One of the best-known members of the company is Olive Fox, a comedienne, who is said to be an excellent foil to Mr. Rose.

The Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Company, which visited Auckland twice in the beginning of 1932, has since then been doing remarkable business in Australia, where it has been slightly modifled as to personnel. At the moment there is some talk of sending the company to South Africa, and if this course should eventuate, it is more than likely that it will pay a new visit to New Zealand en route. Its repertoire, in any case, is listed to continue 1 until the close of 1933.

Melbourne has recently had a dual treat in its theatrical fare. The Athene Seyler-Nicholas Hannen Company of English players presented the hilarious comedy "The Middle Watch," by lan Hay and Stephen King-Hall, known in Auckland per medium of the talking film. This, in contrast to the company's former productions of "Cynara," "The Breadwinner" and other dramatic products, provided plenty of the pre-Easter holiday feeling for the theatre-goers of the Victorian capital. Nicholas Hannen took the role of Captain Maitland, while Athene Seyler was well cast as Mary Carlton, one of the young ladies smuggled aboard the ship in direct contravention of the admiral's and the Admiralty's orders. The august personage of the Admiral of the Fleet was portrayed by Harold Meade, one of the leading character players in the company. Maureen O'Moor, Margery Caldecott, Sydney Bland and George Benson also had good parts. This company intends to visit New Zealand later in the year, when a similar series of dramas and comedies will be staged. The other attraction on the Melbourne pre-Easter theatre bill was the initial Australasian production of G. B. Shaw's latest play, "Too True To Be Good," which was staged at the Gar rick Theatre by the Gregan McMalion Players. Wordy, as are all G.B.S. plays, but amazingly subtle in I its dialogue, the play is another definite triumph for the author.

the first robin. Two lad'es, one of whom was very deaf, wei« walking by the railway. Suddenly an express train rushed by, and as it passed the engine gave a shriek that seemed to rend the sky. One lady's ears were nearly split, but the deaf one turned to her suffering friend and said, with a happy smile: "That's the first robin I've heard this spring."

Peter, aged three, was asked what he would like best from the shop. "Some teeth • that take out," was Peter's request.

Barber: It's a regular deluge outside, sir. Stay a little and have a shampoo. McTavish: Na, na, thank ye. I'll keep ma hat off tvalkin' hame."

"And the audience, my boy, were glued to their seats," said the delighted actor. "That certainly was a neat way of keeping them there," said the critic.

Smith: Jones always strikes me as being a lazy sort of chap. Brown: Lazy! Why, that chap is so lazy he runs his car over a bump to knock the ash off his cigar!"

It was Willie's first visit to the country. Outside the farmhouse he saw the farmer's wife plucking a fowl for next day's dinner. "I say!" exclaimed Willie, "do you undress 'em every night J"

"You say you served in Prance?" asked the restaurant proprietor, as he sampled the new cook's first soup. "Yes, sir. Officer's cook for two years, and wounded twice." "You're a lucky man! It's a wonder they didn't kill you." Two Irishmen were among the recruits mustered on the drill ground, and one of them, remarkably raw, asked his companion what to do when he got the order "Halt!" "Well," was the reply. "When he says 'Halt,' yez bring the fut that's on the ground to the soide of the fut that's in the air and then remain quite motionless." When a young husband reached home from the office he found his wife in tears. "Oh, John," she sobbed on his shoulder, "I had baked a lovely cake, and I put it on the back porch for the frosting to dry, and the dog ate it." "Well, don't cry about it, sweetheart," he consoled, patting the pretty flushed cheek. "I know a man who will give us another dog." The grocer's assistant presented his master's bill at the house of the penurious poet. "Boss says I'm not to go back until you give me the money you owe him," said the youth. The debtor tore the bill into a number of small pieces. , "All right," he replied, "I wonder if he'll recognise you with a beard." Molly was getting ready to go to a party.. < "What dress shall I wear, mummy?" she asked. "I don't know, dear," answered her mother. "I must look out one." "Could you do it now, mummy?" went on the little girl. " 'Cos I'm just going to get ready, and I want to know whether to wash for a square neck or a round one."

NO CHOICE. The railway carriage was full tad the small boy stared at the fat man. opposite. "Why are you staring at me?" asked the fat man. , • ' •••'■'" "Because I can't see anything else," replied the little chap nervously,

SOME LAD. Wondering how his son to behaving, a gentleman visited college. He then went to the young man's lodgings. "Does Bill Perkins livo here?" In Inquired.. "Yes, carry him in," replied the tirtilooking landlady.

NO ROBBERY. Mrs. Smith had just returned home, v and she was surprised to see her son smoking a large cigar. "Well," said his mother, "what are you doing?" "Oh, it's all right," said the boy, "dad is playing with my trains."

KILLING TWO BIRDS. Brown (looking over his garden wall): Hello, Jones, what are you up to? Jones: Just burying my pet canary. Brown: Look here, I happen to know you're burying my cat. Jones: Quite right, old man—but my canary happens to be inside your cat.

HELPFUL. "Look here," said a man to the foreman builder, "can you give me a definite date on which the house will be completed? You see—l'm getting married when it is ready for occupation." "Right-o, guv'nor," the foreman replied, "you leave it to me. I'll see the job's spun out as long as possible."

TAKING THE CHANCE. A wedding party at the seaside had to cross, on its way to the church, a river. As the boat carried them over the river the bridegroom fell into the water. "Oh, save him," cried the bride, "save him!" "Save him? What for?" said a guest. "He's an A-l swimmer. Doii't you see that he's swimming?" "That's just it," wept the bride, 'Howard the other bank!"

GOING UP. An American was giving a few hints to some compatriots visiting Britain. "Get the of their slang," he advised, "and you'll save a few dollars. Did you ever hear the story of the London taxi-driver who took an American a very short run ? 'How much ?' asked the fare. 'A bob,' he said. 'And say, how much is a bob?'- 'Well, guv-nor, a bob is 'arf a crown.' 'Yeh . . . but what's half a crown?' "Arf a crown, sir, is five (shillings.'"

THE PRODIGAL SON RETURNS. .. He :wa« once the "black sheep" of the family. When he had won success in a far country lje presented himself.at home again; He told his father fortune had smiled °n him, and now he was earning up to £30 a week. ,• . , . "What! A week?" cried his father., "A week," was the reply. "Then come inside," said dad, "there's a gold shortage in this country, and the family can stand a lot of disgrace for thirty quid a week."

THE LITERAL FLORIST. When an elderly business man died one of his friends who was away, being unable to return in time for the funeral, telephoned his home florist to prepare a suitable wreath, with ribbon. After consulting with his wife he wired that the ribbon should be extra wide, and bear the inscription "Rest in Peace" on both eides, and if there was room, "We shall meet in heaven." The florist was away, and his new assistant handled the job. It was a startling floral ribbon which turned up_ at the funeral. The ribbon was extra wide, and bore the inscription: "Rest in Peace on Both Sides, and If there is Room we shall meet in Heaven."

GETTING IT BOTH WAYS. It was a few days before the church bazaar. The vicar-treasurer was receiving donations from his host of helpers. "Ah," he said to Miss Sweetly, "have you anything to give me, my dear?" "Oh, yes, I have," said the sweet young thing. "I managed to coax this cheque from Lord Baracre." "Splendid! Splendid!" exclaimed the vicar. The girl handed him the cheque and his face dropped. "But—but, my dear young lady," ho said, gazing blankly at the piece of paper, "the signature on the cheque has been cut out." "Oh, yes," she coyly returned. "I hope you won't mind that. You see, I'm collecting signatures for my autograph book, and I've been trying to get Lord Baracre's for a long time."