SUCCESS ON THE STAGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 106, 6 May 1936, Page 4

SUCCESS ON THE STAGE

fjNEW ZEALAND ACTRESSES

.| ARRIVAL FROM SYDNEY

;;. Miss Elaine Hamill,the young New '.Zealand ■ actress, who -.has. been featured on the- stage and- in films in Australia, returned today by the Wanfrom Sydney as one of the ;stars in the J. C. Williamson's comedy, r"Fresh Fields," which opens in Wellington on Saturday. Miss Ethel-Mor-rison, leading Jady, and other members of the .cast, also arrived by the iWanganella.

, ' For the past two years Miss Hamill has ;been absent from the Dominion, and :during her first six months in Australia she -devoted most of her time jto study. She has played ..in two •films, "Thoroughbred" and "Grandad tßudd," and has appeared in several Jstage plays in Australia, including -•'Roberta," and, more recently, "Shining Hour," "Night Must Fall," and "Fresh Fields." In "Fresh Fields" Miss Hamill plays Lady Lilian BedWorthy,, a role which, offers her plenty of scope; to display her acting ability. iln "Night Mu'st^Fall" she -takes the juvenile lead. '

,j'. Miss Hamill is'thrilled because the itjorapany will'play-one night in Tailiap'e, her home town.

:h In the opinion of Miss Morrison and "pther members of the company Miss Hamill has a great future. "I am happy ■to be associated with her," said Miss Morrison, "because she is so keen oh her work. She has made gerat strides since she has been in Australia, and "with a little, more.- experience she will reach the top of the tree."

■ ;Miss Ha'mili said that she will remain wi.th::.the:J..C. Williamson Company for about twelve months, and will then make plans to go'abroad.

.Miss Morrison, who was born in Wellington, is no stranger to theatregoers here, for she has appeared in several of J. C. Williamson's productions at the Opera House. She has had considerable experience in Gilbert and Sullivan operas, musical comedies, and dramatic plays, an'd:has appeared on the stage', in; America and "in; London. She was associated with the late. Gus Bluett in "Yes,* Madame," which was staged in Melbourne recently. Miss Morrison mentioned that the three plays to be presented in Wellington had met with conspicuous success in Australia, New York, and London. She was firmly convinced, she said,' that the legitimate - stage was returning to the status it held some years ago. "People," she added, ,"are becoming tired of the cinema; and are looking for more .flesh-and-blood performances." This was very noticeable in Australia, where people now were very critical about pictures.

Miss Morrison plays the part of Lady Mary Crabbe in."Fresh Fields."