STAGE AND SCREEN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 63, 16 March 1933, Page 16

STAGE AND SCREEN

Vyjellington Players. ..'The Wellington Players are moving steadily forward. They are jioiv to appear in a three-act comedy, "The ]Jonianti<i Young Lr.dy," translated from tie Spanish by Granrille Barker. It is a" comedy with a difference: there is plenty of laughter and plenty of 'action liut it has more than that, as audiences of .taste and understanding have already discovered in London and niany other places: an old lady who has had three Husbands and still finds life full of interest, and amusement, a gay ambitious girl longing to leave her safe home for the world outside, a'priceless old family servant who listens at key holes, some young nten. On Wednesday .and Thursday, March 20 and 30, Elizabeth Blake will jiroduce the play, and among the cast are Ailsa Xewton, Kara Aldridge, Alison Kirkcaldie, C I'oppleto'n, V. W. Cousins, Walter Tuc-kwell, and others. "Nagana." With the heart of Africa as its background, the fight of science against the dread disease of "nagana" or sleeping sickness, as its story, and Tala Birell and Jlelvyn Douglas- in the leading.'•,roles, .TNagana" is one of the "most thrilling Pictures to be released by Universal this year. In "Nagana" Tala Birell wears some ]s?|the most remarkable and beautiful costilmes sever seen on the screen. The motif Ssr rthese : costumes was the brass necklaces, bracelets, amulets, and anklets worn fey the dusky wives of the lion hunters 01 lie llasai tribe of South-eastern Africa.

"The Invisible Man ,'" E. A. Dupont, ii oted German director, who filmed "Variei, g" and a host of other Continent.nl and 2 fiiieriean screen successes, left Xew V Jork for Universal City recently to take i./p his directorial duties for Call Laemmle, >;jun., under anew longterm contract. Tl-liij director's first assignment will be "Tlis : (divisible Man," adapted from the weird H. G.-, Wells story, iby Gcuverneur Morr is, and starring the celebrated actor, J/i. arloff, who will be remembered for !*£is . fine acting in "The Mummy." f From the Frent ',W. Tyonne Amn ticl, who is well known, to Xew Zealander's reason of her vivacious screen•' iv i ivk with' the \Valls-Lynn team, lias actitff-ifAl Xouis Vcrneuil's comedy "Une Fenime Ttavie," and has had it adapted into;" English by Harry Graham, who calls the ;, version "Your Money or Your Wife."- ' Hampstead and a house in the countr j- will replace the French scenes. The jilay is still running at the Theah;e de'P.tiris, with Elvira Popeseu in the leading role that Miss Arnaud will portray'in t. 'Jie London production. Ray.urrtnd' Masse-y." will play •' the chief male role, taken: i b the original, production by M.: Yerneuil,.' the author. 'Captain Harry Graham atao <f adapted "By -Candlelight" for iliss Arnaii ii, one of her biggest successes. Sir Gerard . i (lit Maurier was to .produce the play, 3 it! Eoyal Court Theatre, Liverpool. And Uthis 'month' it was to follow the revival gof "Lilac Time",' at 'London Globe. .V* , ■. ■- ■, ' • .

Binnie Hale Revels. : .. .'] tJßinnie Hale, a very popular English '"; Sctress, who can sing and dance •• and be j a^'.comical as anybody, was in the Birm- \ xngham fevival of "The Dubarry," which, j lite "Madame Pompadour" (which was - played in Wellington a few years ago by. "Bippie'de Vries), is a comedy based on the! i career of one of the ■ famous -'-French- ' cpcottes. ' It tackles, the theme with the' gloves off, and shows Louis XVs mistress &\ what she was, a beautiful wanton plucked from a "maison de tolerance" to Become an uncrowned queen. The story ifcembellished with elaborate scenes, with:. b|autiful eighteenth century costumesii Binnie Hale, who comes from a theatrici'if?' family (her brother is Sonny Hale, of; fijusical comedy fame, and her fatheir JRpbert. Hale, a Teteran of the Englislii sage) revelled in the part. ' ,' Sfiops. ' 1/7 •iieslie Fuller's role in "Hawley's of Hi^.i Bfreet," his new starring-vehicle, is ttial cffj.a proprietor of a drapery emporjr m, and humour is assured among the hab<i( ■- dashery. His great social and bushWss j^Tfa) whose biitcher's shop is next dfoor, is^pJayed by Moore Marriott. Marriott, who is famous for his unusual make- nps, and -will, be remembered) for his portr aval of,, an old . farm-hand, recently, in ' jfilr. Bill the Conqueror," is equally unrc a=ognisable and" true to character as ; the butcher,, and Elstree experienced a J#jrill 'realism when he stepped out o£j hia shop, sharpening his knife on hia /tsteel, and crying—"Buy, buy, buy" on the /pavement. . ' y jHard to Find. • • I collars for the men an<i $ highlaced shoes for the women were tf le two ■fcpst difficult orders- to fill when the •wardr'pbe was being prepared at j Paraffiouht for "She Done Him Wrong: \" Mac starring picture. ,' •

Cast. ; Alexander Korda, the brilliant film producer, whose first British production, "Service for Ladies." was-hailed by many critics as the finest English film to date, "determined: to achieve'-an even greater wmccess with his second picture, "Wedding and commenced "by engaging >a dazzling array'of stars for the leading :roles. After casting such well-known artists as Roland Young and John Loder (who came .over from America especially to play in the film), George, Grossmith, Lady Tree, Maurice Evans, Kate Cutler. .Edmund Breon, ,Lawrence Hanray, and Morton Selten, he spent a number of weeks in an exhaustive search for new screen talent. Ultimately, following many camera tests of more than' fifty picked' girls, Mr. Korda announced that he had 'finally, selected Diana Napier, ' Wendy Barrie, Nerle Oberon, and Joan Gardner. "Something New in Musical Revues." Referring to, the new musical rtvues, "The Laugh Parade" and "Clowns in Clover", (to be produced in New Zealand),. Mr. Prank. Jfeil, the producer; states that an entirely new note will be struck in eacli presentation. "New Zealand audiences are most discriminating, judged by my experience with many audiences in all parts of the world.. They are particularly quick on,the up-take, and seeajoke, or the point in a quick-fire dialogue, with occasionally embarrassing rapidity. .They like rapid-fire, quick-moving, snappy shows, and this is frhat I have aimed at in the two new productions; They will, I hope, be something new in musical revues, though of course the basic work will be on the lines of the previous successes. Maurice Diamond's now famous Beauty Ballet will appear in engaging specialties, and there will be some ' new faces, 'and many new features which I hope will be popular."

ait Stars Coming. " One of the many concert artists engaged by Messrs. J. and X. Tait . (who have ji brought bo many concert and operatic ]: famous stars to New Zealand) is the ton- r. year-old prodigy of the piano, Philip Hart grave. This talented Adelaide-born boy c lias been engaged for a tour of Australia rind New Zealand, and because of his ex- c treme youth he is to give only tweiity I recitals. Three of these are to be given i in .Melbourne in May, and after.visits to .2 the other Australian capitals, the boy genius will come to New Zealand and t give recitals in" the four principal centres. t Mr..Frank S. Tait has stated that if the Australian and New Zealand seasons are successful, the boy will be taken overseas | towards the end of the present year and \ given his opportunity in the world centres. ' Referring to the coming visit of : Peter Dawson, Mr. Harry G. Stringer. New Zealand representative of Messrs'. J. and N. Tait (under whose regime the tour will be made), states, in answer to inquiries as to dates, that no information is yet to hand from his principals. Philip Hargrave will probably be the first of the firm's big concert attractions for .New Zealand, but further, details will be to '. hand after the young artist's appearance in Melbourne. From statements made by Mr. F. S. Tait, however, Peter.Dawson and the celebrated young pianist. Caballefo.. will be definitely coming ti> Xew Zealand. "Reunion in Vienna." Diana Wynyard will play the feminine lead in "Reunion in Vienna," oppositel John Barrymore, according to announcement from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Sidney Franklin will direct the film version nl the Robert E. Sherwood play, in which Lynn Font.inne and Alfred Lunt - costarred on the Broadway stage. Because this film is scheduled to go into production shortly, Miss Wynyard was forced to postpone her contemplated trip tv England. American Playwright in London. The author of "Double Harness," a London Haymarkct success, is Edward Poor Montgomery, a young American, who haslived in London for some years. He has had' a play done at the Arts and his new piece was on the point of being produced at AVyndham's last year with Sir Gerald dv Maurier in the cast, but the arrangements fell through at the last moment. The_scenes in "Double Harness' are set in various houses in London over a period of three years. The leading woman's part is called Sybil Livingston, and when asked if he could not ehangethe name, Mr. Montgomery replied that he could not do so as it -was one of the most important things in the play. Mary Ellis is to play this part, and the east will include Owen Naies, Cecily Byrne, Cecil Barker, Iris Ashley, and" 11. G. Stoker.

Romance of a Spahi." Carrying out his announced policy of udcuring the best in 'contemporaneous ileratiue, David 0. Selzniufc, KKO Radio's iroduction head, has taken an option on he world-famous novel, "The Romance it' a Spahi," by the late Pierre Loti. "The Romance of a Spahi," considered me of the finest novels produced in •Vance during the past fifty years, is laid n . the picturesque setting of Senegal, Africa, during modern times. It is quite likely, according to Selznick, hat Joel McCrea will be used as one of .be loads in "The Romance of a Spain " A "Spain"' 1* .1 Fu'nch teniloii.il officer

"The Witch" Revived. . The Poet Laureate's adaptation from the Norwegian, "The Witch," is to be staged at the Little Theatre, London, by Nancy Price, following the successful revival of "Alice in Wonderland." Granville Barker produced "The Witch" in 1911, so that it is many years since London playgoers - have had the opportunity of seeing it. Leonora Corbett, it is understood, will play Lilah McCarthy's original part, Anne Pedersdotter,; and Basil Gill is to be in support. Mr. Frank Birch is to produce for Miss Price. The play was staged at the Cambridge Festival a rear or two ago, with Miss Corbett in the chief role.

Galli-Curci, Zimbalist, Harty. A surprise party ami gala conceit was held at the New York Metropolitan Opera House to celebrate the commemoration of Giulio Gatti-Casazza's quarter of a century as the director of New York!s opera. Artists who had been associated with the director in his twenty-five years at the" Metropolitan took part in the celebrations, which were held on February 26, and. included in the list of those who accepted was Madame Amclita GalliCurci, who since her tour nf New Zealand last year under the Tait-Williamson management has been' resting at her home in the Catskills, where she spends much of her leisure time. Frieda Hempel, Margaret Mntzenaiier, Marion Telva, and Paul Althousejwho has visited New Zealand) also attended. The chief gue?t refused to countenance any banquet or expensive celebration unless the receipts were turned, over to the Metropolitan Kmergeney Fund. Kfrem Zimbalist, the violinist who roiireel New Zealand, was to play the, Brahms Violin Concerto with the New' York Philharmonic-Symphony Orcestra in Carnegie Hall on February 19. Sir Hamilton Havty, the English conductor and composer, who was for three weeks in America as guest conductor of the Cleveland orchestra, took back with him to England Ernest Schelling's "Impressions of an Artist's Life" and Arthur Shepherd's "Horizons" for performance. He will also perform Gershwin's "Second Rhapsody" in his London Symphony concerts. Mr. Shepherd's score is cast in four movements—"Westward." "The Lone Prairie," "The Old Cliisholm Trail." and •'Canyons." The second movement derives its theme from a mournful cowboy tune which the late Henry F. Gilbert recorded. Fate. < The' story of one of fate's queer tricks is told in "Three on a Match." a Warnet Bros. First National picture. Three younp girls graduate from public school to gether, meet after a ten-year lapse, dur ing which time one nf them has become the wife of a wealthy and inflncntia '.lawyer, .another a hard-working stenogra pher, and the other has been in a reforu school and is a show girl. The skein o their lives becomes tangled to product some s-taitling dramatic situations. Joai Blondell, Bette Davis, and Ann Dvorak who are .starred with Warren William have the leading feminine roles, and ar 'supported by Lyle Talbot. Gloria Sheam Grant Mitchell, Sheila Terry, and Hal. Hamilton. . Many Accomplishments. Sari Maritza. Ejiropean film star no\ appearing in Par-amount's "Evenings fo Sale," at one time held the iee^skatin ■championship at St.- Moritz, Spritzer-lane She is one,of Hollywood's-most aeeon pilshed linguists, '■ speaking Englisl French, German, and Chinese, as we'll o Russian. ' . . .' ■

"Air Mail." Tlie interesting interior of a Government air mail airport is seen for the -first time in Universe's production, "Air Mail," the picture which Sir Charles Kingsford Smith brought with him across, the Tasraan in the Southern Cross. Patterned authentically after existing stations where mail pilots change in their daily scheduled Mights across the continent, the airport scenes show the great relief maps of the flying lanes dotted with its movable tags which indicate the positions of the mail aeroplanes. The radio broadcasting and receiving stations -which continually check with the radio equipped ships for position and weather conditions are another interesting "feature of the port. Players Rewarded. •Excellent work in the Fox Films production of Xoc) Coward's "Cavalcade," soon to have its world premiere, already has brought its reward to several principals of the cast. Una O'Connor, who has the principal feminine character role, and Merle Tottenham, who shines as "Annie,"' a kitchen maid, have signed long-term contracts with Fox and will remain in Hollywood indefinitely. Both stresses were brought from London to re-enact the roles they created in "Cavalcade" at the Drury Lane Theatre. „Herbert Mundin. already under contract, has had his next option taken up far in advance of its due date, and is definitely .scheduled for comedy starring roles in the near future. Plays in America. Gertrude Tnnkonogy, secretary to John \ Krimsky (head of Playchoice) and a ' Barnard graduate of a few months ago, ■ has written her first play, called "Butter No Parsnips." It took her two weeks to write it, working evenings,. and is to ; l>e presented in Xew York by Richard Aldrich and Alfred de Liagre., juu., with : Ruth Gordon of "Here Today" fame in ■ the leading role. .Another American play - with a quaint name is "Wild Hearts Playj ins," for which Max Gordon, impresario, ' wants Helen Hayes, the stage and screen ' slar. Another theatrical agent, Gilbert 1 Miller, is after Miss Hayes (and incident- * ally the English actor, Leslie Howard) ? for his season. Kenyon Xieholson's 1 "Sailors Beware." based on the U.S.A. • Xavy, is due for presentation in Xew ■' York, and Harold Johnsrud has- been c wrestling with the translation :of Leo ■ Perutz's "A Trip 1o -Pressburg" for the Q Shube'ts. This play has only four main characters, a countess, a youth, a maitre • d'hotel. and a bartender. A play with a dance as the theme is "Dance. Damn v You, Dance." the result of the collaborate tion of Yicki Baum and John Golden, £J "And Life Goes-On" is to'be tried out I. during the American summer at Dennis, )- Cape Cod. Dorothy Gish, former screen >, favourite, is with Francis Lederer in the is Morocco Theatre production, "Autumn Crocus." %

"For Services Rendered." Somerset Maugham's play "For Services Rendered" gives an indictment of the post-war world, with its inability to either learn the lesson of war or to show the victims o£ the -war the gratitude that they deserve. His treatment is dissimilar from that, of Hans Chulmberg in his "Miracle of Verdun," for while the one is nlhisive fantasy not quite logical, Mr. Maugham has written in clear language and corroborates with logic that is icecold. It'is grim and hopeless drama and comes as a spiritual refreshment after the trivial plays that London has been seeing. The play tells such things as are actually happening, unpleasant as they are, but there is another side, too, for those who have the- courage to look, unsparingly draVn by a master. Dead Heroine Returns. "White Zombie," which is to be released shortly by United Artists, presents a paradox unparalleled in motion picture history.. For the heroine is "killed off" early in the picture, and yet she is there at the final fade-out, «. In the pictuie Madge Bellamy is placed under the influence of a. powerful drug by a necromancer and is pronounced dead by her family, physician. But her body, is exhumed by the fiend, and found only to be numbed, by the drug. In the end she is reunited with her young husband, and goes on to happiness. The story is said to be the eeriest and most fantastic ever

presented on the screen.

New Comedy. - The Slim Summerville-Zasu "Pitts 'fes» ture comedies which Universal has beea making have proved so popular that, Carl Laemmle, junior, will immediately, place another in work just as soon as "Early to Bed" is completed, he announced recently. Miss Pitts and Simimerville have a sup« porting cast which, includes Alexander Carr, Shirley Grey, Cora Sue Collins, Laura Hope Creives, and Eollp Lloyd, \yho lias just completed an important assignment in Universal's ; "Destination Un« known." With the Amateurs. - - The first play of the year of the Auckland Little Theatre Society, "Ambrose Applejohn's Adventure" (Walter Hackett) is being staged this week at. His Majesty's Theatre. .Mr. Frederick MeCallum, producer, has designed some attractive settings. Grapme Holder, who plays ii "Ambrose Applejohn's ' Adventure," is himself an author; his two-act drama, "Above the Snowline," was first performed by the Hawera Repertory Society last year. He has also written three novels, and has another in the publisher's hands. ■ : The Catholic Repertory Society of Auckland has chosen "A Hundred Years Old," a delightful comedy by Serafin and Joaquia Quintero, for its first production-o£; 1933, and will stage it on April 26 and 27. - The English version is a happy translation by Harley and Helen' Granville-Barker,-.

The Canterbury Repertory Society is d*

New Players. _ parting from established tradition and The promise of new famous players and ™U staP' in addition to the usual plays, directors at the Fox studio has been ful- aJ. s °l. an experimental educational, and filled. Lilian Harvey, the toast of Europe, d»tinetive character, for the benefit solely arrived in, Hollywood to star in "His f members and friends A school of Majesty's Car." Henry Garat, French , dra™ ls actu, allr what the soclet >' mean* film idol, will appear with Janet Gaynor bj'!ts "5^ P°h.f- p „ T .. ', in her next picture, "Princess at Your A Tbe ■ University ■ Collep Literary Club, Orders." Heather Angel, English film Auckland, is to present this year several beauty, is on her way to Hollywood from °f a klnd outs' de the range of LondoA. 'Philip Merivale, noted stage ordinary repertory Ihe programme mstar, already has reported at the studio. <jlude ;> J. M.Synge s «lhe Tinker's' Wed Martin,, outstanding UFA director, dln S> and Riders to the Sea another has siD-npfl a rnntrstct and leavps Berlin wolk o£ tne £reat Insn dramatist, shortly" In \dTtfon JosU Stras^ , The Stratford Amateur Operatic Society Berlin designer who created fashions for has ; had a most successful year, al debts Lilian Harvey, Marlene Dietrich, and haTm.S been AVIPed mit' a he*uhy Mance other stars, has been placed under con- remains. - ■ • ■ < tract by Fox, and is on his way to Call- A"ekJ an. d, s .newly-fqrmed^ Garnck^Drafornia matic Society is presenting Ibsen s "Doll a. House" early in April. Miss Robinson "Dinner at Eight." . producer. . _ _ . . . , Mr. H. P. Hugo has been re-elected preDave Burns is the only .American in the sident o£ the Masterton Operatic Society, London cast of Dinner at Eight, which and Mr _ q c Kogers secretary . is being staged exactly as produced by George F. Kaufman at the Music Box The Kiss Before the Mirror." Theatre, New York. • Immediately after The busiest leading man in Hollywood the first night at London Palace,. Mr. is Paul. Lukas. .In all the time he has Kaufman left for America, having the been under contract to Universal, howutmost faith in his English cast to repeat ever, he has only played one Universal in London the immense success achieved role, the lead in "Strictly Dishonoured." by the same play, with an American cast, His role in "The Kiss Before the Mirin New York. It is said in New York ror" is particularly fitted to this handsome that Mr. Kaufman, who is probably Hungarian actor. There is a considerable America's greatest producer, .has .only to cosmopolitanism about this picture. James call at a. theatre at which a new play is Whale, its director, is an Englishman; to be presented for the rumour to go Karl Fruend, .the photographer, is an Au9round that he is directing the rehearsals, trian: and Nancy Carroll is Irish.