STAGE JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 7 (Supplement)

STAGE JOTTINGS.

AROUND THE FOOTLIGHTS. THE WORLD OF THE THEATRE As its final production for the season tlio Auckland Little Theatre Society will stage "And So To Bed," the Pepysian comedy by J. B. Fagan. The play will probably be presented in the first week in December, for a season of five nights. The reading circle of the Catholic Repertory Society concludes its season this week with two one-act plays, "The Little Stone House," by George Calderon, and "Cheezo," by Lord Dunsany. At the last meeting there was a successful reading of Jerome K. Jerome's "The Soul of Nicholas Snyder," which was produced by Miss Kennedy. A thrilling Indian mystery play, "The Drums of Oude," will inaugurate a series of one-act plays to be presented by Mr. Gaston Mervale, the well-known Auckland producer, in the Rialto Theatre for a season commencing 011 Monday, the cast including Whetu Kaylier, Graham Brown-Douglas, Bex Sayers, and Gaston Mervale himself.

Otio evening recently Carrie Moore broadcast a delightful little chat from her dressing-room at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, during an interval in "Music in the Air," and awakened memories of her greatest triumph — Sonia in "The Merry Widow" — by singing the famous waltz song from that play. Thousands of listeners who heard Miss Moore's singing were amazed at the sweetness and power of her voice, which indicated that the passing years have not diminished her gifts. Since the broadcast Carrie Moore has been inundated with letters from playgoers inquiring as to whether she would reappear in her old role in "The Merry Widow." Formed only last year, the Garrick Dramatic Society has undertaken a difficult task in its intention to stage Elmer Rice's powerful human drama, "Street Scene," as its second big production to date. Miss Raie Robinson, the producer, announces the chief members of the cast as below: Norman Crancli (Abraham Kaplan), Toni Martinengo (Greta Fiorentino), Sylvia Jones (Olga Olsen), Lillian Skcels (Anna Maurrant), Cecil England (Daniel Buchanan), Joe Mollov (Frank Maurrant), H. S. Lovell, Rex Sayers, Ruth Adeane, Olga Martinengo, Kathleen Shemson, Eric Middleton, Bert Skeels, and others. The play will be staged on November 9 and 11 in the Lewis Eady Hall. In response to the request of many of its members for a characteristic play of the contemporary Irish Theatre, the Auckland Catholic Repertory Society will conclude the 1933 season with Lennox Robinson's brilliant comedy, "The Whiteheaded Boy." This play is regarded as one of the wittiest and most penetrating representations of Irish life and character of our time. It received gieat acclaim when first produced at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1910, and has' since been successfully revived throughout the English-speaking world. The producer, Mr. Gaston ,}Mervalc, announces that an excellent cast is available, admirably suited to the manner and spirit of the play, and anticipates an outstanding production.

After lengthy negotiations, J. C. Williamson, Limited, has disposed of the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and the buildijig 'ifi to be demolished to inake way for a "modern emporium. His Majesty s Theatre is to be rebuilt at a cost of £00,000, and will be the most up-to-date theatre in Australia, with a capacity of 2000. Lighting, heating and cooling, ventilation, seating and other equipment will be the latest. The last performance of "Music in the Air" will be given at the Theatre Royal 011 November 13. On the following evening the production will be transferred to the King s Theatre. I ie flnal performance at the Theatre Boyal will be of historic interest, and will include a pageant of players of the past. A correspondent writes desiring a little back history of things theatrical in Auckland. The question is asked, "What is the name of the production in which Cccil Kellaway sang 'Blue Heaven here?" First of all, it was not that pleasant character comedian who sang the song at all; it was Lcyland Hodson, and the play was "Queen H"gn> () which was staged here with Tip-toes. Cccil Kellaway was in them both, "Ut not in a singing role. It is also asked, "Who was Strella Wilson's leading man in 'The Vagabond King'?" This was James Biddy. A third question seeks the name of the leading lady in The Desert Sonjr," along with our-own Lance Fairfax. There is a eatch to this one. Romola Hansen played with the company throughout New Zealand except in Auckland, where Marie Bremner, who was over here rehearsing for Mew Moon," filled the breach. She was a star of the recent Gilbert and Sullivan companv. Finally, our correspondent asks, "Did Harriet Bennett ever re-visit New Zealand after 'Rose Marie ? llie answer is "No."