POPULAR PLAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 22, 26 January 1934, Page 8

POPULAR PLAYS.

STAGE SUCCESSES. MILD BOOM IN LONDON. MR. E. J. TAIT'S PURCHASES. That there is a revival of interest in the legitimate stage was the opinion expressed by the Australian entrepreneur, Mr. E. J. Tait, who passed through Auckland to-day by the Mariposa. "There is in London," said Mr. Tait, "a mild boom in the theatre business, indicating that conditions generally are better than they were last year. Several plays have passed their 400 th performance. Of these, 'Fresh Fields' and 'Ten Minute Alibi,' outstanding comedies, were still running when I left. Historical plays are proving very popular, and I have purchased 'The Dubarry' for production in Australia and New Zealand. The premiere of this play will bo at Sydney next Saturday, and it will come to New Zealand later in the year." "White Horse Inn," a. play that ran for over two years at the Coliseum, London, and was produced with unusual lavislmess, is among the more important purchases made by Mr. Tait. With a cast of over 150, it will be the biggest production ever made in Australia. It is expected that it will come to New Zealand towards the end of the year. Other successes secured by Mr. Tait include "Music in the Air," "Gay Divorce" and Leslie Henson's musical comedy "Nice Goings On," which made the biggest hit of the season at the Strand, London. Gilbert and Sullivan. Mr. Tait left Sydney last March and went to South Africa, where he inspected the territory. As a result he arranged for the Gilbert and Sullivan Company, which played in Australia and New Zealand some little time ago, to make a tour of the South African towns. It met with unexpected success and remained there for 23 weeks. This period, added to the already long time that the company had been playing in Australia and New Zealand, made a total of 33 months' engagement, and constituted a record for a Gilbert and Sullivan company. Following this, Mr. Tait organised a company in London to play "Rose Marie," which is now in its fifth week in Johannesburg. The leading lady was Miss Marie Bremner, the New Zealander," and the part of "Hard Boiled Herman" was played by George Lane. Mr. Tait said that in Berlin, although conditions were better than they were in 1930, the stage was still at a lowebb, with the exception of grand opera. While there Mr. Tait attended the famous Staats Operahaus and saw a magnificent performance of "Tristan and Isolde." "We look forward hopefully to a revival of the theatre industry in Australia and New Zealand," concluded Mr. Tait, "and I am confident that the success of the comic opera company at present touring in New Zealand is a sure indication that people appreciate the legitimate stage."