STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 21316, 21 January 1933, Page 6

STAGE FOLK

Christchurch reports regarding the Sybil Thorndike season are that the famous English star and her talented company (who open here to-night) met with a most enthusiastic reception, and that the productions were of a standard never before reached by any company. Several largely-attended receptions were tendered Dame Sybil, and her husband, Mr Lewis Casson, and both delighted their hearers with their interesting and instructive speeches, and again proved that they are true ambassadors of Empire. Dame Sybil showed a keen interest in the activities of local organisations, and was always ready with the valuable advice of the expert and the true friend.' On the concluding night Dame Sybil, Mr Casson, and the members of the company were given an ovation by a large and enthusiastic audience, every member of which evidently realised that farewell was being taken of a celebrated artist who had not only impressed them by her wonderful dramatic powers, but had gained their affections by her true womanliness and most charming personality.

English papers report at length the death, at the age or 74, of M. Eugene Brieux, author of ‘ Damaged Goods ’ and other plays with a moral. A writer in ‘The Times’ says;—“An English critic once called Brieux ‘ an intolerable pedant ’ • and the public of the eighteen-nineties and nineteen-hun-dreds, while finding him a very good stick to beat the Censor of Plays with arid a considerable relief from the conyentional comedy, liked to accuse him of loading the dice, of preaching, and of oaring too little for dramatic art. The accusations were just. He openly regarded the drama, not as a vehicle for ideas, still less as a form of entertainment, but, first and last as a means of social reform. For all that, it is easy to underrate his skill as dramatic artist. In person he was modest, gentle, and quietly humorous; and when he came to London in 1921 to lecture on ‘The Frenchwoman in My Plays,’ he was warmly received by many who had said and thought sharp things about him.”

So great has been the' success at Auckland of the Ella Shields-George .Wallace Revue and Vaudeville Company that the season has had to be extended, and the combination, supported by one of the best _ all-round company of versatile artists over brought to New Zealand, will now hold the boards at His Majesty’s until next Tuesday, January 24th. As the company opened on Boxing Night, no greater testimony of the public’s appreciation of the splendid and varied bill-of-fare could he given. In addition to the two stars heading the programme,’ there are, close on forty other hjighly-talentcd performers who provide dc luxe turns, while the dancing forms;.quite a feature of one of the fastest-moving entertainments ever presented, to New Zealand audiences. The company will play Hamilton (Wednesday, January 25th) on the way south,, and will- open the Wellington season .at the Grand Opera House next Saturday (January 28). A southern tour follows.

Sir John Martin Harvey recently appeared at the King’s Theatre, Hammersmith, as Matthias in ‘ The Bells,’ for the first time in London.

.The Haymarket, London, is reviving the G. B. Shaw play, ‘ Getting .Married, 1 which was first staged in 1908. Milton Rosmer is the producer, with 'Aubrey Mather, George Hayes, Gabrielle Casartelli, Edith Sharpe, and Viola Lyel as the chief members of the east.

"A betrothal of interest in theatrical circlesris' that of Miss Mary Hothain, a member ,of the Gilbert and Sullivan company which last year visited New Zealand, and is now playing in Sydney. Her fiance is Air Harold Owers, of Auckland. Miss Hotham, who has a fine voice, made her first appearance with the Gilbert and Sullivan company about two years ago, taking leading roles in ‘ lolanthe,’ as Phoebe in ‘ Yeomen of the Guard,’ Tessa in ‘ The Gondoliers,’ and Mad Margaret in ‘ Ruddigore.’ ...

After starring in two British films, Edna Best and Herbert Marshall have returned to the British stage to introduce the American success, ‘ Another Language,’ which opened to full houses recently in Manchester, The excellent attendance may have been accorded largely to the attraction of the names of the 'stars, whose roles were played in the New York and Chicago versions by Dorothy Stickney and Glenn Anders. The play was considerably altered as regards characters and locale, which were both essentially American.

At • the. conclusion of the highly'suceessful season of the Sybil Thorndike English Company at Christchurch this splendid combination appeared at Titnaru , last night (Friday), before a large and highly-entbusiastic audience, and to-day. (Saturday) journeyed to Dunedin, where the season will commence to-night. The repertoire will be practically the same as given at .Wellington and Christchurch, and will again demonstrate the outstanding histrionic capacity as well as the astonishing versatility of Sybil Thorndike — one of the , greatest stage personalities to visit the Dominion. After the Dunedin season, which will terminate next Saturday (January 28), Invercargill will bo played (January 30 and 31), the company then returning to the North Island, Palmerston North being visited on Thursday, February 2, the Auckland season commencing on Saturday, February 4. Miss Nellie Bramley has become almost an institution in Melbourne, where she is presenting a new play, ‘ Mummy With , the Mumps,’ a farce. Acordmg to the ‘ Graphic,’ hundred., were turned ftway during the first peek’s run of ‘ Dancing Partners,’ which has just completed a fortnight’s season at the Palace, where it preceded ‘ Mummy With the Mumps.’ Melbourne was given a brand-new (theatrical thrill recently when, at the Australasian premiere of the Continental production, * Waltzes From (Vienna, ’ a new scheme of stage lighting was introduced at the Theatre Royal. Said the ‘Graphic’: “Colours seemed to lie blended in tlrr- air and thrown on the stage, which at times appeared to be bathed in varied hues that changed even as one looked at them. At times, too, the'ballet seemed'to dance iu pools of flame. Every costume stood out in natural colours, and then, suddenly, every tint was different. The audience bcfflld Sifdfe restrain itg enthusiasm

over the novelty, and frequently the production was interrupted with appreciative applause.” This was the first time that the new lighting_ system had been used in any Australian theatre, and it seems obvious from the results that it will not be the last.

Wellington residents who have returned from Auckland wax enthusiastic regarding the Ella Shields-George Wallace Revue-Vaudeville Company, appearing under the joint sponsorship of J. C. Williamson Ltd. and Frank Neil, who is also well and favourably known in the entertainment world. The repertoire of this splendid combination is as rich as it is varied. The opening presentation is ‘ Pleasure Bound,’ full of lowed by another spectacular show, attractive and novel acts. This is fol-

‘ Whoopee Night,’ in which a complete change of programme is presented. This in turn gives way to ‘Hello, Happiness,’ anoiher fast-mov-ing and brilliant entertainment, while '‘Sunny Days’ is another . georgenus and spectacular revue, in which the fun is fast and furious from rise to fall of the final curtain, in addition to tbs hilarious fun, there are many acts that are highly sensational, provided by noted artists who have appeared in the world’s centres, and whose original and hair-raising seemis have never before been seen in New Zealand. There arc also Maurice Diamond’s sun-kissed girls of the Beauty Ballot, while the Four Daring Diaboios are international dancing stars de luxe, who present a most spectacular and daring act. Regarding the iwo principals, they are unique in their own particular realms.

Ernest C. Rolls is producing a spectacular new pantomime, tor adult audiences, in Melbourne, of the type w;,-eh Australians have, often proved to he a popular item on the theatrical menu. Close on 30,000 people will have seen it at the Princess by now, judging by the rate of patronage reported up to*lnst Saturday. The production is entitled ‘ Dick Whittington and His Hat-,’ and features Nellie Barnes and Ray Fisher, the lovely little star of the Australian film, ‘ The Sentimental Bioko.’