STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 21073, 9 April 1932, Page 6

STAGE FOLK

‘ As Husbands Go,’ at Brisbane, will see tbo end of Ethel Morrison's J. C. Williamson contract, and the New Zealand actress will return to America. ‘ Tho Good Companions ’ ran only eight weeks in New York and " hopped” badly in other American cities, in London it was one of the hits of the season. .

‘ Ruddigore,’ which will bo produced by the J. C. Williamson Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company during the return season at Wellington, is Gilbert’s parody of the old-style melodrama, and is set to some of the most effective dramatic music that Sullivan ever wrote for tho stage. ‘Ruddigore ’ was first produced at the Savoy m London in 1887. The piece ran for eight months, and Gilbert, according to his own statement, made £7,QUO as his share of the profits.

Paul Longuet, of Invercargill, was in the successful New York run of ‘ Payment Deferred.’ When the season finished he went back to London as under Equity rules he could not play in America again for another six months.

American rights for Noel Coward’s brilliant spectacle, ‘Cavalcade,’ have been taken up by C. B. Cochran, who will most likely present tho magnificent piece at Metropolitan Opera House, New York.

Josie Melville has a dancing sketch, specially written for her, in Frank Neil’s new vaudeville company in Australia, in which Ella Shields is starred. 1 Sinbad the Sailor ’ pantomime may come to New Zealand shortly.

Gladys Cooper, after her illness that necessitated her withdrawal from' Somerset Maugham’s ‘Painted Weil! company, was to return to London Playhouse on February 17 as the Princess in ‘ King, Queen, and Knave,’ H- M. Harwood's modern comedy (written in collaboration with R. Goro Browne). His new light comedy, ‘So Far and No Farther/ was to be presented at London Ambassadors on February 16.

‘The Cat and the Fiddle,’ a musical play without a chorus, which has been running in New York for tho past two or three months, is to bo produced at the Palace Theatre, Loudon, shortly. Miss Alice Delysia and Mr George Grossmith are to play the loading parts in the London production.

When Dame Sybil Thorndike, described by London critics as England’s greatest dramatic actress, visits New Zealand she will bring with her one of the strongest companies ever seen in tho dominion. This company has been specially selected for the world's tour by Miss Thorndike and her husband, Mr .Lewis Sasson, and will include more than a dozen actors and actresses who have won fame in Loudon, New York, and other great cities of the world. Tho Australian and New Zealand tour of this great dramatic combination (headed by one of the world’s most famous stage celebrities) will be made under the J. 0. Williamson regime.

Thea Holme was the Joan of Lionel Hale’s amusing ‘Passing Through Lorraine,’ at the Arts Theatre Club, London. The false Joan of Arc wore the clothes and manners of 1436, but thought and talked tho slang of the present day, with attractive results. Tho mixing of medieval and modern styles is a legitimate and amusing theatrical trick. James Dale was Joan’s lover, the only man who saw ‘h rough her imposture.

Emil Jannings, whose success in Hollywood was meteoric, and who is a popular German stage star, is going to London to play in Robert Neumann’s ‘Der Batriot.’ This was one of his screen successes, and London

is agog with anticipation _of seeing a wonderful stage presentation. The repertoire will also include Octave Mirbeau’s melodrama. ‘Business :1s Business.’ Jannings now speaks English well.

The Sydney season of ‘ The Barretts of Wimpolo Street ’ having long since been arranged, Melbourne audiences at the King’s Theatre are now seeing the last few appearances of Margaret Rawlings and her associates in Rudolf Besicr’s delightful love romance. According to present arrangements tho play will open in (Sydney on April 23, after tho company have had a few days’ holiday at tho termination of the run at tho King’s Theatre, where it will have enjoyed a prosperous season of nine weeks. In these times a run of this length to crowded houses is a notable achievement.

The latest success of the legitimate stage in New York is a play called ‘ Whistling in the Dark,’ which is packing the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. This queerly-named play is a combination of comedy and drama, with tho element of mystery and a love interest cleverly interwoven. One of the reasons for its success is that in ‘ Whistling in the Dark ’ it is always the unexpected that happens and the audience is kept guessing all tho time. As a New York newspaper described'it, “It is a refreshing, stimulating entertainment.” ‘ Whistling in the Dark ’ is the next J. 0. Williamson Ltd. attraction at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, where it will be presented by a newlyorganised company, including John Junior and Stapleton Kent (of ‘ Turn to the Right ’ fame), opening on April 23.

Moisewitsch, the world-famous pianist who is coming to New Zealand under the aegis of Messrs J. and N. Tait, the firm responsible for the appearance in the dominion of so many of the leading musical and dramatic artists, will open his dominion tour at, the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday, May 19. It is doubtful if this great player has an equal in the interpretation of modern works. Among his many brilliant achievements _ during his outstanding career is his impressive and wholly satisfying treatment of the Chopin classics. “Hois a veritable genius of the piano,” declared the critics; “as an interpreter of the compositions of Chopin he stands alone.” But Moiseiwitsch is truly catholic in his musical tastes; ho succeeded in proving to the musical world that he is equally at home while playing the compositions of all the other great musical authors. His knowledge of the music traditions of Russia, Italy, France, and Spain is inexhaustible, and from the simplest musical theme he can present a veritable poem picture, complete in all its delicate shadings—an artistic production that entrances and satisfies the most exacting critic.

Three one-act plays—Shaw’s ‘ Dark Lady of the Sonnets,’ Galsworthy’s ‘ Punch and Co,’ and Bosworth Crocker’s ‘ The Baby Carriage ’ —wore staged in Christchurch by tho Repertory Theatre Society. ■ Miss Kiore King was producer and much credit was given her for the success of the performance.

Members of the Dunedin Operatic and Dramatic Society commenced rehearsals this week for their new production, ‘ The Arcadians,’ and the enthusiasm and energy displayed augur for an outstanding success with this never-failing musical comedy extravaganza. No less than six musical comedy scripts, including ‘ Katinka ’ and ‘ Count of Luxembourg ’ were read and considered by tho committee before the decision to play the ‘ Arcadians ’ was arrived at. This comedy alone offered the scope demanded by members and public alike for the maintenance and improvement of the high standard attained in 1931 with the presentation of ‘ A Country Girl ’ and * The Boy.’ Tho cast of principals is promised for this page next week, and many people will be looking forward to seeing the names of past favourites and wondering what new talent the society is presenting.