“CHARLEY’S AUNT”

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 119, 13 February 1940, Page 14

“CHARLEY’S AUNT”

Artists Of Note In Touring a Company

Sueh a brilliant collection of artists as that gathered for the Celebrity Comedy Company has not. toured New Zealand for many years, and Wellington will have the opportunity of seeing this company in a popular farce, “Charley’s Aunt,” in the New Opera House from next Saturday afternoon. “Charley’s Aunt” was a success in Victorian times, and that its appeal to the public has not yet waned is a tribute to the casts that have been selected for its presentation. The leading comedian with the Celebrity Comedy Company needs no introduction to New Zealand audiences; he has been here before with the “White Horse Inn” Company and the “Balalaika” Company, both of which proved firm favour’tes. He is Don Nicol, and his work in "Charley’s Aunt,” in which he plays the title role, has been described as a masterpiece of comedy art. Others in the cast are Shirley Ann Richards, the Australian film star, memorable for her performances in “Dad and Dave Come to Town,” “Tall Timbers,” “It Isn’t Done,” and many other Australian film productions ; Phil Smith, who was the principal comedian with the Royal Comic Opera Company; Charlie Albert, of Gilbert and Sullivan fame, who toured New Zealand with the “White Horse Inn” Company; John Fleeting, who gave a fine portrayal in “Gone to the Dogs,” the George Wallace film that was shown in Wellington last year; Alathea Siddons, Mary Duncan and Leal Douglas, three versatile artists who toured New Zealand with “The Women” Company; Norman Barrington, who has played with Dame Sybil Thorndyke. Matheson Lang and .Sir Seymour Hick's, and is making his first New Zealand appearances; and Maisie IV allace, Lane Patterson and Oda Larsen.