ON THE STAGE.

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 19

ON THE STAGE.

Stars and Shows Muriel Starr, the well-known actress, has been given the part of Mary Magdalene in the Pilgrimage Play to be given In the Hollywood Bowl, a huge open-air theatre. x Leo Darnton was recalled four times for his singing of “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” in “The Gondoliers” on the opening night of the Gilbert and Sullivan season In Sydney. Robert Geddes, years ago a member of ‘the Auckland Operatic Society and for some years successful on the English and American stage, has been tour-

ing the United States with a quartet party, including Browning Mummery, the well-known Australian tenor. The recent performance before the King and Queen of Sir James Barrie’s play, “The Admirable Crichton” was the first command performance in Edinburgh since the reign of James VI. The play was produced in the Edinburgh Lyceum Theatre, and acted chiefly by members of the Masque Theatre Company. Esme Percy appeared as Crichton. J. 0. Williamson productions in Australia at present are “A Warm Corner,” which is a most amusing comedy; “The Duchess of Danzig,” with Dorothy Brunton; Gilbert and Sullivan operas, and repertoire of grand opera, with Joseph Hislop in leading roles.

Literally hundreds of twins thronged the Universal Studios during the early stages of production of “Seed,” the absorbing problem play. A pair of twin boys appear prominently in the picture, ■ and since the story covers a period of more than ten years, it became necessary to show the boys at different ages. This involved extended search on the part of the studio casting department, which was under the necessity of locating several pairs of twins who could be used at different parts of the picture, and still bear enough resemblance to one another to ensure thiir being accepted by audiences as the sane boys. John Boles and Genevieve Toliin have the leading roles in “Seed."

' ■■ Six young featured players who have recently been acclaimed for their brilliant work in recent talking picture hits surprise the cast assembled by Charles R. Rogers for his production of “Millie,” for Radio Pictures, which will be screened In Wellington shortly. Helen Twelvetrees, chosen to play “Millie,” has assured herself of a place among the stars with her performances in “Her Man” and “The Cat Creeps.” Lilyan Toshman, Robert Ames, Joan Biondell, and James Hall are the other players. Lilyan Tashman, Paramount’s smart-ly-dressed blonde, has a footwear wardrobe of thirty-five pairs of shoes, which she keeps in a glass case.