STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 171, 22 July 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

The Playhouse Players are staging the Shaw comedy, "The Philanderers," at the Technical College Hall this evening and again on Monday. The worthiness of the cause—that of the scientific education of youth—is unquestioned. The producer is Mr. J. W. Bailey.

The many friends of Miss Leslie Crane will be interested to learn that this talented young Auckland actress and dancer has been appointed second understudy to Madge Elliott in "T]ie Quaker Girl," which the "Our Miss Gibbs" company is staging at the moment in Melbourne, prior to visiting Adelaide and Auckland. "Our Miss Gibbs" achieved over 100 performances in both Sydney and Melbourne, and also ran well in Brisbane. The company of' which Miss Elliott and Cyril Bitcliard are the chief members, was last seen here in "Blue Roses." They hope to play in Auckland about September, probably in "Our Miss Gibbs" and "Hold My Hand," which was also very successful in Australia.

Entries for the British Drama League's initial attempt to hold a festival of drama in this country close in Auckland on August 1. Although only three organisations have intimated their decision to participate to date, it is anticipated that 17 to 20 competing teams will eventually enter one-act plays. Tt is planned to hold the actual competitions in the Town Hall Concert Chamber on August 28, staging three different entries each evening until they are completed. Miss Elizabeth Blake, who is sole judge for the Auckland province, has had considerable experience

in both acting and producing and should prove an acceptable adjudicator. One aspect of the competitions is the prominence associated with the production of locally-written plays, which have hitherto received only too scanty attention. An attempt is being made to foster the spirit of appreciation for local authors, which is almost unknown in New Zealand. The festival, if a. success, 'should do much towards this end. It is reported that 20 Auckland theatrical organisations have now joined up with the British Drama League, and more are expected to be admitted in the future. "The New LAdy Bantock" 13 to "be presented at His Majesty's Theatre by the Diocesan High School Old Girls League early next month. The play is from the pen of the late Jerome K. Jerome, whose delightfully humorous "Three Men in a Boat" earned him the title of "The English Mark Twain." Sister Hannah's Mission will benefit from the proceeds of the production which is being rehearsed by a cast of 2.J, un<ler the direction of Mr. C. M. McCallum. Ihe cast is composed of the following: Misses Noni Wright, Eleanor Upton, Una Moore, Cherry and Barbara. Tierce, A. Wilson, N. Lush, Owen Kingston and A. rarkcr, Messrs. Peter Nathan. Haniish Henderson, Oerald Wright, Alan McSkimming and J. Parsons.

First produced hy Mr. Basil Dean at St. Martin's Tlioatre in 1923, "R.U.R., the Little Theatre Society's next production, has since heen translated from the original Czech by Karel Capek into twelve other languages, and has been played with conspicuous success in as many countries. The piece is an imaginative drama of 1000, and tlio tense scenes and gripping situations should provide ample scope for the lame cast selected by the producer. "R.TJ.R." will be the Little Theatre's thirty-first production, and will be presented for a season of two niffhts only, commencing on August 0, at the Scots Hall.

Claimed by many as the most famous play by Sir Arthur Wing Pinero, "The Second Mrs. Tanquerav" will be staged by the Oarrick Dramatic Society in the Town Hall concert chamber for one night, August 0. It abounds iii emotional situations, providing also two excellent comedy parts. The producer, Miss Paie Robinson, reports satisfactory progress in rehearsal work. Some beautiful costumes have been designed especially for the production. Mrs. Minnie Mays plays the central role, and it will be interesting to many music and theatre enthusiasts to note that she is a cousin of Esther Krnntz. the Adelaide girl who married Jaselia Spivakovsky, the talented pianist who visited Auckland last month.

Pleven weeks in Melbourne, a record for magicians, has been the lot of Dante, the celebrated illusionist, thereby proving that the art of the mystery entertainer is powerful* traversing the attention and interest of every type of audience and individual. As the central figure of His own international eonmany, Danto gives 50 of his best tricks. Dante and his company left Melbourne for Adelaide and Brisbane. On the completion of the Australian tour, the magician is definitely booked to open at His Majestv's, Auckland, on August 21. One of the most remarkable theatres of London, the "Shilling Theatre" —once the Fulham Grand Theatre, hard by Putney Bridge—has now been a going concern for several months, and shows every sign of becoming an established institution. But even in a time of "cut-price" theatres, its finances have remained something of a mystery. West End "stars" and companies have played there, and the level of drama has been liieh. It appears that the management decided to run it along individual lines bv paying no more than £15 a week to the best stars, compensating them by agreeing to produce a play especially for that star at a later date. The house is cheap to run. costing about £200 a week, and usually drawing' about £250 a week from its regular clientele of [close on 5000.