STAGE REVIVAL

Evening Star, Issue 21079, 16 April 1932, Page 6

STAGE REVIVAL

SOME NOTED SUCCESSES NEW ZEALAND TOURS SYBIL THORNDIKE COMING A very considerable revival of interest in the legitimate stage in Australia and New Zealand is predicted by Mr John Tait, a director of J. 0. Williamson Limited, who arrived at Auckland from Sydney by the Niagara on a short business trip. “ Faced with competition from talking pictures, the standard of stage productions in London has been raised considerably during the past two years,” he said. “Better plays are being .written and we. are able to draw on these for our future productions.” A review of his firm’s activities seemed to support Mr Tait’s contention that a dramatic revival has commenced. His trip was undertaken principally with the object of deciding on the future plans for the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company. Several new productions had met with most gratifying success in Australia, Mr Tait continued. ‘ The Barrets of Wimpole Street,’ the magnificent play which had just concluded a season of over a year in London, had been drawing largo audiences to one of the largest theatres in Melbourne for seven weeks,_ and its popularity was being well maintained. The play would probably bo presented in New Zealand toward the end of July. GRAND OPERA SEASON. ‘ Bitter Sweet,’ the brilliant Noel Coward operetta, had opened in Melbourne a week ago, and a highly sum cessful season was predicted. Another musical show, ‘ Blue Roses,’ had been running for eleven weeks in Sydney. It reintroduced to Australian audiences Miss Madge Elliott and Mr Cyril Richard, who had returned for a brief season after winning a very high place for themselves in musical comedy in London. The new grand opera season would have opened in Sydney. The artists had all been specially engaged by MiFrank Tait and formed an exceptionally strong combination. If possible the company would arrive in the dominion about the end of September and play a season of a fortnight in each of the four main centres. VISIT OF FAMOUS ACTRESS. Another event of considerable importance was the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand by Dame Sybil Thorndike, the most famous English actress of the day, and her own company. They would open in Perth on May 7, and New Zealand would definitely be included in their itinerary. “The fame of the dominion has travelled abroad,” Mr Tait said. “ When we were negotiating with Dame Sybil for the trip she stipulated that a tour of New Zealand should be included.” Her repertoire would include Shaw’s ‘ St. Joan,’ the magnificent play in which she scored her greatest triumph, ' Captain Brassbound’s Conversion,’ ‘ Madame Goes Nap,’ and possibly one or two Shakespearean plays. Mr Tait also referred to his firm’s activities in the concert world. Galli Curci would .be singing in Australia in May, and was definitely coming to New Zealand. She would give concerts in the South Island, which she had had to omit on her former \-isit. Moiseiwitch, the famous pianist, would be in the dominion next month, immediately after his Melbourne season.

Discussing motion picture developments in Australia, Mr Tait said a new producing organisation, the EfFtee Film Company, had been formed by Mr F. AV. Timing. He had imported plant from Hollywood, established his own studios, and one of his first films, a talking picture of ‘ The Sentimental Bloke,’ had proved very popular with Australian audiences.