‘THE WIND AND THE RAIN’

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12252, 6 April 1935, Page 7

‘THE WIND AND THE RAIN’

OPENS OPERA HOUSE NEXT SATURDAY

The stage was suffering rather :1 bad time of it in London until “The "Wind and the Rain” the brilliant eomedv triumph which is to be staged here, at the Opera House °n Satnrdav next and i:n Mon." tv. April Id became the rage. It- was acclaimed by critics as the finest- play the stage has known during the past decade, and although it has been runuin? in London continuously for over Id months it is still attracting; record audiences there.

The production of “The Wind and the Lain’ is of the utmost importance ho’ro because of the fact that it was written by Dr Merton TToctee. who is a native of New Zealand. Dr Hodge was a student at the Otago University. Dunedin, anj for several year's lie was attached to the staff of the Wellington Hospital. Afterwards he went to the University at- Edinbw-.rh and it was there that lie wrote ‘The Wind and the Rain.'' which has won for him the reputation of being one of the'- finest plavwri'dits the English stage has ever known. “The M ind and the Rain” lias proved tin; outstanding- theatrical attraction in Australia, dirriivi recent years, and it is now breaking all known records in Now Zealand. Tn this brilliant comedy Merton Hodge lias ‘achieved.' bri'ditentertainment Lv dramatising lodginghouse life, with medical students as the lodgers in a Scottish University fitly. For a comedy of the type °1 'The Wind and the Rain’ it is essential that the artists should be definitely suited to the characters thev portray, and iii this respect the Williamson Ltd. ■management has been fortunate in having evidently engaged a perfect combination of dramatic and comedy -stars, beaded by the young London leading- man. Air. George Tbirlwell, who is regarded s<s one of tha finest actors at present appearing on the stage or screen today. It is Jiis brilliant interpretation of the role of Charles Tritton that has materh illy assisted to make ‘The Wind arid the Rain” the most -successful play Australia an d- New Zealand has known for many years. Miss Jocelyn Howartb is said to hu-ye achieved' her best- .success- in the part of Anne Hargreaves, and Arundel Nixon, a notable Louden actor, has scored an outstanding sue cess 'as Dtr Paul Duhamel. Air Tommy Jay, as Gilbert Raymond, has the audience in roars of laughter the wholo time ho is on the stage, and Dm company includes Gwen Alunro, R. L. Atliohvood, Richard Ea-h', Ronald Roberts, Nan Taylor and other well knctwn artists. The boix plans will he opened , a't Tattersall , and Bayly s on Thursday morning next at nine -o’clock. A queue will be formed inom S a.m.