‘THE WOMEN'

Evening Star, Issue 23270, 19 May 1939, Page 1

‘THE WOMEN'

DUNEDIN PREHiEK TO-NIGHT To-night at His Majesty’s Theatre will be presented the long-awaited and much-discussed stage play, 4 The Women,’ Clare Boothe’s witty satire on modern society. The all-teminine past of 40 is headed hy Irene Purcell, the distinguished New York actress. She is supported by a brilliant cast, which includes Mary Dees, Jean Harlow’s double, Marjorie Crossland, Jessica Rogers, Doris Packer, Suzanne Jackson, Debby Dare, Christine Maple, and Arden Young, all of whom come from the United States. Several leading Australian actresses also are in tha cast. 4 The Women,’ which has been described as one of the most, stimulating plays of the day, depends mainly for its effect upon the scintillating dialogua and its many and varied, scenes. Tha technical production is one of the most noteworthy of its kind, and last, but not least, is its costuming. New Zealanders should take special interest m the appearance of Eileen Collins, » daughter of Dr Collins. Gisborne, who takes the part of Miss Purcell’s (Mary Haines in the play) mother. Unique in the history of the theatre in Dunedin is this presentation of a play written by a woman about women and played by an all-woman cast. Even the stag* direction includes two women stag* managers, Debby Dare and Mary Duncan, both'of whom appear in the play* Bos plans are at the D.I.C.