STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 22276, 29 February 1936, Page 5

STAGE FOLK

Miriam Lester, who will make her reappearance here in J. C. Williamson’s gorgeous spectacular musical play, ‘ While Horse Inn,’ on March 14, is the possessor of a soprano voice much above the average heard in musical plays. She is equally at home in comic opera, musical comedy, or grand opera, but her best success has been achieved in ‘ White Horse Inn,’ in which she has some fine musical numbers attached to the role she portrays.

Harry Langdon, the famous screen star, who has also made many stage appearances, has “captured” Sydney bv his comedy performance in ‘ Anytl'iing Goes,’ which J. G. Williamson Ltd.” are presenting at the Theatre Royal, fn this piquant musical play, Harry Langdon nas the role of Rev. Dr Moo 11. The famous comedian who was engaged in Hollywood by J. C. Williamson Ltd., was a member of the original Alack Sennett team, which included Gloria Swanson, Ford Sterling, and Chester Conklin.

There arc some outstanding musical numbers in ‘Jill, Darling,’ the new English musical comedy which J. C. Williamson Ltd. is staging at His Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, for the

first time in Australia, (Vac of these, ‘Dancing With a Ghost.’ was likened by a London newspaper critic to the famous Cole Porter number, ‘Night and Day.' Others that cling to the memory include ‘ Budapest,’ ‘ Lot’s Lay Our Heads Together,’ ‘ A Flower for Yon,’ 1 Xomiy, Noiiny, No.,’ ‘ I’m On a Sec-Saw.’ and ‘ Pardon Sly English.’ By the way, the “ book ” of ‘ Jil, Darling,’ was written by Marriott Edgar, the comedian, who came to Australia years ago to appear in pantomime under the J. C. Williamson Ltd. management.

Colin Crane, who will make his reappearance here in J. C. Williamson’s spectacular musical play, ‘ White Horse

sonality that is unusually charming, that great things are predicted for her. She is definitely on the way to making a name for herself as an actress, and so confident are the directors of Messrs J. C. Williamson in the future of this talented young lady that they took' her from the repertory and screen ranks in Australia and gave her the stellar roles in their plays ‘ Sixteen ’■ and ‘ The Shining Hour.’ So successful was Miss Hamill in these parts —(in ‘Tlie Shining Hour’ she played Gladys Cooper’s famous London role), that the firm further engaged the fascinating young actress for their later production, ‘ Night Must Fall.’ Mist

STAGE FOLK.—Continued. Now well settled into His Majesty’s Theatre, Auckland, for a run of Gilbert and Sullivan operas that will keep it in the northern city until March 14, is the Williamson Company of Savoyards that for many, months has been touring Australia. „ It says much for the agility of Gilbert’s mind that so many of his satires on nineteenth century institutions should have survived the conventions they ridiculed. New Zealand audiences will enjoy the burlesques, the impudence of the dialogue, the jollity of the music, and' the loveliness of the staging, for Messrs Williamson arc presenting the operas in a very ornate manner. The company is having a splendid season at Auckland, where once again the spell of G. and S. has fallen over everybody, from school children to near-centenarians, so wide is the appeal of the piquant works of two famous collaborators. The_ com-pany-includes Ivan - Menzies, Evelyn Gardiner, Gregory Stroud, Winifred Lawson. Clifford Cowley, Bernard Manning, Richard Watson, Godfrey Stirling, Diana Belmont, Helen Langton Eileen Kelly, Phyllis Dickinson, Nina Robbins, Augusta Poole, and Vincent M‘Murray.

There is quite a romance involved in the phenomenal success all over the world of the famous farce, ‘ Three Men on a Horse,’ which J. C. Williamson Ltd. will stage for the first time in Australia on March 21, and for which five noted American artists are now on their, way to Australia. ‘ Three Men on a Horse ’ was written by John Cecil Holm, a young and obscure actor, who had been trying his hand at playwriting, but without success. The idea cam© to him while he was appearing as a Scottish halberdier during the New York run of ‘ Mary of Scotland,’ as the result of a conversation among a group of seedy race track followers he overheard in a Broadway lunch room, which gave him th© inspiration. ‘ Three Men on a Horse ’ has made the author rich for life. To date offers for the acting rights ; have been received as follow :—Twelve from Great Britain, two from France, three from South America, and one each from Austria, Hungary, Italy, Russia, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Albert Locke, the producer of the J. C. Williamson Ltd. production of the London Coliseum musical play, ‘ White Horse Inn,’ was specially engaged in England to supervise the Australian representation. He produced ‘ White Horse Inn ’ in quite a number of English cities, and much of the success won by it in th© Commonwealth is due- to his excellent organising capabilities. But for his thorough knowledge of the mechanics it would not have been possible to have staged ‘ White Horse Inn ’ in Dunedin. At the round-the-table conference in Melbourne Mr Locke was in the chair, and after over a week’s discussion with the members of the J. C. Williamson Ltd. mechanical, electrical, and technical experts all the difficulties were overcome, and Dunedin playgoers will therefor© see ‘ White Horse Inn ’ on the same scale of magnificence and completeness as the London and Sydney productions. On© of the main expenditures was the essential building of two huge revolving stages. This was done so that while the play is being presented in one town th© duplicate revolving stage is sent on to the next place, together with a small army of expert mechanics. It takes a large staff three full days to erect the revolving stage and to make the necessary structural alterations to the various theatres, so that this staff will arrive in Dunedin about March 10.

“ Enterprise ” is the watchword of the Repertory Society, and in producing J. M. Barrie’s 1 The Admirable ■Crichton.’ next, month, the society is living up to its reputation. The play is generally considered to be Barrie’s best; it abounds ifa situations, wit, and humour, and has an almost universal appeal. The staging, requiring, as it does, two very unusual scenes, is also an item of particular interest, and the stage manager (Mr T. C. Wyness) and his assistants are already hard at work producing scenery which promises to open the eyes of patrons. The cast is probably the strongest which has yet taken part in a repertory production here.