Successful Plays of Dr. Merton Hodge

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 184, 6 August 1938, Page 3

Successful Plays of Dr. Merton Hodge

LONG SUN OP “THE ISLAND CONTINUES

LONDON, July 20.

The New Zealand dramatist Dr. Merton Hodge is watching another of his plays racing on to success. ‘ 1 The island" has already completed 185 performances at the .Apolio Theatre, London, and is almost certain to pass its second century. Audiences continue to fill the theatre every day, and no change has b ien made in tho cast, which is led by Godfrey Tearle. There is a possibility that Dr. Hodge may see two of his plays running in the West End during tho autumn if

“The Island'* continues to draw tne public, for ho has completed another which will be produced when a suitaDle theatre can bo secured by Mr Basil Dean. It is a dramatisation of “The Story of a South African Farm,'' by Olive Schreiner, written in 18S0 and widely read both in the Union and in the United States. It deals with the Cecil Rhodes period. For the past 10 weeks “Tho Wind and the Rain" has been running in Paris at tho Theatre des Arts, made famous by M. Piteoss and his wife. Although tho author had some doubts as to whether it would be too naive for Paris audiences, largo numbers of people have flocked to see “La Vent et La Pluie," and Dr. Hodge was given a most enthusiastic reception when he attended tho first night.