THE FIRST MRS FRASER.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20274, 27 June 1931, Page 4

THE FIRST MRS FRASER.

A COMEDY TRIUMPH. THEATRE ROYAL, JULY'llth. • Playgoers will doubtless be pleased to learn that the J. 0. Williamson, Ltd., management have made definite arrangements for the production here on Saturday, July 11th, of London's latest and best coingdy triumph, "Thei First Mrs Fraser," which, achieved an outstanding success in Sydney and Melbourne. The very clever and delightful New Zealand actress. Miss Ethel Morrison, created' something like a sensation in Australia in the title role in "The First Mrs Fraser." Miss Morrison is a Wellingtonian. She was a principal member of the Wellington Amateur Society for several years, and she was afterwards engaged by the Williamson, Ltd., management for the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the parts she played then including Katisha in "The Mikado," the Fairy Queen in "lolanlhe," and the Duchesse of Plaza Toro in "The Gondoliers." Subsequently ghe joined the Marie Tempest company, and seven years ago she went to New York and Lpndon, in both of which cities she appeared in a number of important comedy and dramatis productions. She returned to Australia to join the present company, and in "The First Mrs Fraser 1 ' and "Let Us Be Gay" she has achieved two of her best successes. Mr J. B. Rowe, who will be remembered by playgoers for his excellent tvork when he toured New Zealand as leading man With the Irene Vanbrugh-Dion Boucicault company, will make his reappearance in the' Dominion in the part of Mr Fraser. Miss Mary Macgregor, who last Appeared in tho Dominion with Maurice Moscovitch company in "Tho Ringer" and "The Terror," is said to be at her beet in "The First Mrs Fraser" and "Let Us Be Gay." Leslie Victor, Roger Barry, John Wood, and Hedge Wykeham all are well known to playgoers of New Zealand, and Miss Noel Boyd, Miss Eileen Morris, end Miss Mona Barlee are delightful Australian actresses who will make their reappearance here in "The First Mrs Fraser." Although the plot of "Mi©''First. Mrs Fraser" deals in a nqvel manner with; the delicate subject of divorce, it is said to be approached with a frankness and sincerity which _ disarm criticism. The play has been received with enthusiasm wherever it has been played, and it was described by one critic as ''a comedy of genuine substance, firmly footed in ch&rficter from which humour and feeling spring with natural ease." The box plans will be opened* at The Bristol on Thursday, July 9th.