NEW ZEALANDER'S PLAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 65, 17 March 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALANDER'S PLAY.

"THE WIND AND THE RAIN."

AFTER LONDON, NEW YORK.

After a splendid opening last year at St. Martin's Theatre, London, the first play written by a New Zcalander to bo staged with outstanding success in tho West End has now gone to New York. This is Dr. Merton _ Hodges comedy "The Wind and the Rain," which has received warm praise from the critics of America's theatrical capital.i Tho 6tory of its staging in the U.S.A. is quite interesting. George Kondolf and Walter Hart, co-producers, having bought American rights to the play, scoured New York for actors for the leading male role and the principal comedy part, and found themselves nonplussed. "They had an English play, and they finally did what many jtlier managers have been forced to do —they went to London. This explains why Frank Lawton and Alexander Archdale, two young English actors, made their American stage debut in "The Wind and tho Rain" when it had its American premiere at the Ritz Theatre on February 2. Lawton, who has the lead, was the original choice of the English producers, but when they found themselves ready for rehearsals Mr. Lawton was engaged in tho Chariot revue, "Please." That Kondolf and Hart were able to obtain his services was due to an attack of appendicitis. Lawton was recuperating from the operation when they cabled a bid for his services, an offer which he was glad to accept for several reasons, | among tliein being his feeling that ho liked both "The Wind and the Rain" and the part which would bo his, and his conviction that a sea voyage would be just the thing for liis health. A London "Try-out." ■ Archdale had already played the role he was selected for at the original try- j out of the play at the Arts Theatre I Club, London, in June, 1931. Dr. Merton Hodge liked him, but more than two years elapsed between the tryout and the production at St. Martin's Theatre. Both Lawton and Archdale will be; seen as English medical students at Edinburgh University, characters whom the author knows, as he spent six: months there as a post-graduate student himself. !

Lawton is one of the most popular juveniles on the London stage. His biggest hit was made in the title-role in "Young Woodley." Although "Tlie Wind and the Rain" marks his American stage debut, he came to the U.S.A. a while ago on the command of a Hollywood motion picturc impressario to act in "Cavalcade."