STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 21992, 30 March 1935, Page 9

STAGE FOLK

Frank Perrin, principal funmaker With the M'Kay Revue Company, now playing Dunedin, was imported to Australia by Tivoli Celebrity Vaudeville, and he played several seasons on the Sir Ben. and John Fuller circuit. Lately he has been principal comedian with Humphrey Bishop Musical Comedy Co. Prior to coming to Australia he was associated with the late Geo. Edwardes’ Musical Comedies in London and the provinces. B'rank has also played in the London productions of Albert De Courvillc.

‘ Laburnum Grove,’ a new comedy in three acts by J. B. Priestley, was presented for the first time in Australia by J. C. ‘Williamson Ltd. at the Comedy Theatre on Saturday, March 16. Recent experience has convinced the firm that the Australian public wants these types of theatrical attractions. ‘ Laburnum Grove ’ ran for nine months Jn London, and it is now being played in New York. The play is produced in Australia by Gabriel Toync, who was last hero with his wife, Margaret Rawlings, and produced for the firm ‘ The Barretts of Wimpole Street.’ Excellent roles are provided lor the members of the new English Comedy Company in ‘ Laburnum Grove.’ Aliss Sybil Davidson as Elsie Radfcrn has a great role. Miss Davidson has appeared in England as Jit! Manneriny in ‘ The Wind and the Rain.’ and in New York in ‘ Bitter Sweet ’ and 4 This Year of Grace.' The cast, also includes Ella Daincourt, Betty Bowden, James Raglan. Gabriel Toyne. Vernon Kelso, Cyril Vernon, Hilary Fisher-White, John Cameron.

In ‘Nice Goings On,’ which J. C. Williamson Ltd. presented at the King’s Theatre, on Saturday, March 16, there are three Australian girls who add charm and vivacity to their respective parts. They are, Agnes

Doyle, whose last straight comedy role was in ‘ Fresh Fields ’; Noel Boyd, an attractive actress of outstanding ability, and Lois Green. Agnes Doyle was given her first part by Leon Gordon when that actor-producer presented

‘ The Green Hat,’ some time back. After weeks of rehearsals Agnes landed on stage for her big moment an hour before time, but so engrossed was she in the whys and wherefores of the stagehands, property men, and so on,

that she completely forgot why she was on stage and missed her cue. That night Agnes made a resolution not to miss her entrance again. In ‘ Nice Goings On,’ Miss Doyle plays the part of Tutti, which provides her with

plenty of scope to display her talent in comedy roles. Another Australian girl who was given her lirst part hj Leon Gordon, is Noel Boyd, whose artistry has won her high praise. Lois Green completes the trio. She plays the role _of _ Lorelei, the captivating little typist in ‘ Nice Goings On.’

Last month Benno Moiseiwitsch celebrated his silver jubilee as a pianist, for it was as long ago as February, 1910, that ho gave his first recital at the Wigmore Hall, London. During his long reign at the piano, Moiseiwitsch has given thirty-live recitals at the Wigmore Hall, twenty-five at the Queen’s Hall, where ho has, too, taken part in more than a hundred orchestral concerts. He has made numerous tours of Australia, North and South America, and the Far East, and has_ visited New Zealand and South Africa. Unlike a few of his contemporaries, Moiseiwitsch is a keen supporter of broadcasting, which, be claims, is not only a boon to the public, but also of considerable benefit to the musician.

Not many comedians can claim to have made an appearance on the London stage before they vere thirteen years old. Gus Bluett holds this distinction. He accompanied his father to London ns a lad, where his father was engaged to play in revue, ami young Gus Bluett was given the part of the page boy. ‘ Nice Goings On.’ is one of the recent musical comedy successes in London, and Gusßllicit is the chief funmaker in this brilliant musical comedy, now in Melbourne. Gus Bluett as Olaf Hcnscuttle, a very much wronged Civil Servant, lias a role which might have been written for him. It is a frivolously light comedy and gaily decorated with snappy ballets and musical numbers. Clever people in the cast besides Gus Bluett are, Charles Norman, Agnes Doyle, Don Nicol, Phil Smith, Eric Bush, Lucy Adair, Victor Gonriet, Reg. Wykeham, George Moon, Lois Green. The hope was expressed at a dinner of the Musicians’ Club in London that

those responsible for the celebrations of the King’s silver jubilee would sec that music was given its lit and proper place. Since 1933, when there was an output in the year of 40,000 pianos of British manufacture, there had been an increase of nearly 20 per cent, on that figure, representing an export to all parts of the world. Professor Dent, of Cambridge, said lie had been able to appreciate in recent years the enormous strides that had been made in general musicianship among the younger generation. It was a very striking thing that so many young men and women should want to play musical instruments, and especially wind instruments. Young people must he trained not to regard music as existing for their own amusement, but as something they held in trust to give away to other people.