MUSIC AND DRAMA

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21707, 14 February 1936, Page 5

MUSIC AND DRAMA

February 22 to February 29 J. C. Williamson Company’s “White Horse Inn,” at Theatre Royal. For the New Zealand tour of J. C. Williamson’s spectacular musical play* “White Horse Inn,” it,is essential that three distinct staffs should be engaged. One team goes ahead to build the revolving stage, which weighs about 10 tons, and to effect structural alterations to the various theatres. Another team of mechanists has to travel with the company, and the third detachment , remains behind after .the various seasons in order to dismantle the revolving stage and' other big effects, and these are then Sent on to another town. This means that when the production 1 is being staged in one centre, the duplicate revolving stage is forwarded at least three days ahead to the next town in which “White Horse Inn” is to be presented. It would have been quite impossible to tour New Zealand with “White Horse Inn” without two. complete revolving stages. Altogether there are more than 159 people concerned in the production of Williamson’s magnificent production. • • -« A policy of short runs and quick changes will'be adopted by Messrs J. C. Williamson to allow New Zealand playgoers to see as many of the, Gilbert and Sullivan operas as is possible .during the coming season, commencing st Auckland on , February 19, The repertoire will include , “lolanthe,” “Pinafore,” 4, Mikado” (with Bernard Manning in the title role), “Gondoliers," “Pirates of, Penzance,” “Trial by Jury,” “Yeomen of the . Guard,” “Patience” “PrihcessTda,” etc, Messrs J. C. Williamson are planning a comprehensive tour that will embrace the principal cities and provincial.centres. • • • , One of the most remarkable successes of recent London theatrical seasons has been “Lady Precious Stream” an adaptation 4 of * a lOOibyear-pld Chinese drama by S,. I. Hsiung, who > superintended the production. M(

Hsiung has given London an authentic taste of Chinese drama. » , The scenery is reduced' to a. minimum, in accordance with Chinese' tra-i dition, and properties are changed be*? - fore the audience, without any lowering of the curtain. The only scenery for "Lady Preciohs i Stream" is a 20-foot cedar branch. > * One factor in the successof the play has been the great interest taken 4m it by Queen Mary. Her Majesty’s interest in Chinese art <is " well known. During , her ’Visit, she was' shown the splendid robes* used by the actors. One of these, an executioner's robe, belonged, to Lady ; de Chair, wife of the former Governor of New South Wales. . ■

Lew Ayres, the well-known young leading man, was recently ,' placed ;under long-term contract by Columbia, His first appearance' company . will be as the male' lead in "Wedding Present” Paul Cfallico's “Saturday* Evening Post” story. It will, be a , B.P. Schulberg production. Joseph Anthony is now preparing thescreen * treatment. Ayres* contract" also. pro-? vides that in addition to acting he will - direct later in the season.-,., ■