STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 189, 12 August 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

In aid of the funds of the Grey Street Sisters, Mr. C. M. McCallum will produce "The New lady Bantoek" in His Majesty's Theatre on Thursday next, for the Diocesan High School Old Girls' League. The author of the play, the late Jerome K. Jerome, tells a human and romantic 6tory of Edwardian days in an amusing style. Among the 23 players in the production are Misses Noni Wright, Eleanor Upton, Una Moore, N. Lush, B. and C. Pierce, A. Parker, G. Kingston, M. Wilson and B. Brown, Messrs. Alan McSkimming, G. Wright, H. Henderson and P. Nathan.

The three-act farce, "Ho Walked in Her Sleep," which, since its initial presentation in the Gaiety Theatre, New York, in 1931, has been seen and enjoyed by roughly 10,000,000 people in England and America, will be produced for _ three nights (August 15, 10 and 17) in the Lewis Eady Hall by Mr. Harold G. Hobday for the Auckland Theatre Guild, whose seventh effort it is.

"Out of Yesterday," written by Mrs. Nello Porter, and to bo produced by Dr. Geo. de Clive Lowe, on August 22 and. 23 in the Town Hall concert chamber, has. for its theme the greatness of mother love. The part of Mme. Hela is being

taken by Miss Mona Wall "jank, -with Mr. Bobs Tole as the villain and Mr. Dan Flood as the student of criminology. Various character studies are being taken by Misses Edna Thomas, Freda Crosher and Joan Rose, and Messrs. Alan Hill, T. M. Clark and C. M. McLaglen, and Cftptain Clayton.

It was stated some time ago that Paul Robeson, the famous negro singer, has planned a visit to Russia to study music, with which he 'declared he felt strong sympathy. Whether or not he was misunderstood as expressing a hope rather than an intention, he is now said by a London correspondent of a South African paper, to be contemplating an early tour of South Africa. He recently went to America to make a film of Eugene O'Neill's play "Emperor Jones," and on his return to England in the autumn it is said that he will begin preparations for a South African tour.

Commencing on Saturday next, Ernest C. Rolls is shortly to present Auckland theatre-goers, at His Majesty's, with a sample of what Melbourne was given recently for an extended season of more than 100 performances. This producer of musical comedy, who has never before been in New Zealand, will bring across two shows, "Venus, Ltd.," and "Honi Soit," the second of which he claims is a revue direct from the Parisian "Folies Bergeres." Heading the list of his company of artists .arc Jennie Benson, the music-hall star, supported by Charles Norman, Renie Riano (an American comedienne), Cecil Scott ;.nd Fisher (the stars of the film "The Sentimental Bloke"), Byrl Walkley, Billy Kershaw, Mascot and Maurice, and L'Etoile and Lawrence. v

A feat of Shakespearean production equally remarkable in another way was recently achieved by Mr. Nugent Monck at his. small Sladdermarket Theatre in Norwich. During the week beginning June 19 the three partß of the rarelyacted "King Henry VI." were given, thus completing, at the end of a course of years, the entire cycle of Shakespearean drama undor Mr. Monck's direction and in the same theatre. This has only been done once before within living memory, arid then with the much larger resources of the Old Vic, and under a succession of producers.

Referring to the recognition of Miss Horniman's managerial services at the Manchester Gaiety Theatre with the granting of a Companionship'of Honour in the birthday list, the London "Observer" says:—"The recognition is deserved. It would need an article touching all the finer points of English drama from the year 189-1 onwards to express how deeply influential was Miss Horniman as a manager. An autobiographical note in 'Who's Who' states, 'Observed her elders in early youth and by their disapproval became interested in theatres and the suffrage.'"

John Macefield's grim Norwegian drama "The Witch" was presented at the Littlo Theatre, London, recently. It is a vivid picture of the superstition and ignorauce of the 16th century, when witchcraft was punishable by burning. The story tells of Absalon, palace chaplain at Bergen, who is married to a young wife, Anne. Anne'e mother practised witchcraft with an evil old woman, Hcrlofs Marte, whom Absalon is forced to sentence to death at the stake. After her execution Anne learns her mother is a witch, and having inherited supernatural powers, is not altogether horrified. Tn love witli her stepson Martin, she uses her latent power to attract and ruin him. Masefield portrays the sinister gifts | leading to her downfall witli wordi painting at its best.

Writing in criticism 'of Basil Dean's English film version' of Galsworthy's famous "Loyalties," the film correspondent of the London "News-Chronicle" says:—"lt is a workmanlike production, but it is not an improvement on the play. It is said that the author would not agree to the American suggestion that Ferdinand do Levis should be a Gentile. You could write a play on those lines, perhaps. He remains a Jew. As the part is played by Basil Rathbone in this British film, Ferdinand is by far the most imposing chnractcr in the play. On the other hand. Miles Mander's Captain Ron:'hi Dancy ha* not ever the merit of looking a smart officer. The actor lias a fine grasp of the character, however. The balance of the play seems to have suffered. Country-liouse life'may be like the picture drawn of it by Basil Dean, but it certainly is not how Galsworthy described it."