STAGE FOLK

Evening Star, Issue 22514, 5 December 1936, Page 5

STAGE FOLK

The latest inquiry regarding the Dunedin Little Theatre Society’s curtain set and flats comes from the Grafton Shakespeare _ and Dramatic Club of Auckland, which requests full details of this modern stage equipment.

The Dunedin Playgoers’ first public performance will be ‘ The Bat, a thriller from the pens of Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood. Mr Douglas Skene is the. producer, and the publicity will be controlled by Mr L. H. Frucle.

The Dunedin Little Theatre Society s next public production —about March of next vear—will be ‘ Youth at the Helm,’ from the German of Paul Vulpius, by Hubert Griffith. It is a farcical comedy in three acts, the action taking place in the London and Metropolitan Bank. There are 11 male and two female members in the cast, tne English critics give this comedy the distinction of being the nearest approach to perfect comedy that the moaem stage has yet produced. Major F. H. Lampen will be the producer.

Some indication of the elaborate nature of ‘Wild Violets/ the forthcoming Christmas production at ills Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne, is contained in the fact that the two acts comprise no fewer than 14 scenes, several of which are unusually spectacular. One of these, a big skating scene, took London by storm when the play was produced) at Drury Lane Theatre. The big revolving stage, which was a feature of ‘ White Horse Inn ’ at His Majesty’s Theatre, will again be brought into operation in ‘ Wild Violets ’ for the rapid change of the many varied scenes. J. 0. Williamson Ltd. is now presenting theatrical attractions in three States. In Melbourne Colonel W. de Basil’s Monte Carlo Russian Ballet is playing to capacity audiences at His Majesty’s Theatre. In Sydney the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company is repeating the success it achieved on its previous season in that city. In Adelaide the Gladys Moncrieff Company is appearing to crowded audiences in ‘ The Merry Widow,’ which will be followed in due course by ‘ The Maid of the Mountains.’ After Melbourne the Russian Ballet will go to Sydney, where it will be the Christmas attraction, and Brisbane will follow. There will also be a tour of New Zeaand.