DRAMA REVIVALS

Evening Star, Issue 25003, 23 October 1943, Page 3

DRAMA REVIVALS

TREAT FOR OLDER THEATRE-GOERS Elder theatregoers will be reminded of the more spacious days of the Australian stage by mere mention of the titles of some pieces J. C. Williamson Ltd. proposes to present at the Itoyal in a series of late matinees (says the 'Sydney Morning Herald'). First' play of the series. will be 'White Cargo,' which Leon Gordon wrote precisely 20 years ago. and in which the author subsequently played in Australia. I'reseut plans are to run this one-time senatixm piece for three weeks, and to follow it with ' Smilin' Thru.' Other plays owned by the firm which mav be run include ' Madame X.' ' Eves'of Youth.' 'De Luxe Annie,' ' Bought and Paid For,' 'Trial of Mary Dugan,' 'Mv Lady's Dress,' ' Peg o' My Heart, ' Nothing But the Truth.' and dozens of equally old favourites. Mr Harold Bowdeu, general manager of J. C. Williamson Ltd., said during the week that he hoped to present, besides the revivals, a number of new plavs. One set down for early production is 'A Good AVoman, Poor Dear,' by Dillard Long, which was played in New York in 1939 by the well-,kno\vu English actor, Arthur Margetson, and Irene Purcell, who was in the Australian production,of 'The Women.' It also is proposed to do a season of ' Lady in Danger,' by the Australian writer Max Afford, which recently was given a quite successful premiere by the Independent Theatre. The theatre staff is going to be kept fairly busy when the play seasons begin. ' On Wednesdays and Saturdays thev will have three shows to handle—the' ordinary 2 o'clock matinee of 'The Merry Widow,' the play matinee at I s.3o,'and then the night performance lof 'The Merry Widow' at 8. For a , beginning, the play matinee will be limited to pieces that can-be put on with one set. „,. . . Arundel Nixon is to do Witzel in ' White Cargo,' and Carlotte Kalmar, a Viennese who came to Australia, as the outbreak of war. has been cast as Tondeleyo. . Miss Kalmar has made a number of appearances on the Sydney ! stage—at the Minerva and in Elizabeth ! Bergner's role in ' Escape Me .Never when it was played at Bryants Play- : house some time back. ..,.'• ..-..' ■ Public taste has been exposed to many I strong influences since Australia irst 1 saw ' White Cargo.' What shocked us I a dozen or so years ago might be reI carded as fairly mild and perhaps quite j humorous stuff these days. it will I be interesting to see, too, what to-day s I audiences think of what the Americans call" tear .jerkers," done here in past Idavs by people like ■ Ennlie Polim. i Muriel Starr, and Nellie Bramley.