THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19986, 30 June 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

COMING PRODUCTIONS. His Majesty's. .To-night.™" The Silent House" (Moscovitch). The season closes next Thursday. Julv —" EooKery Nook," '"A Cuckoo in the Nest," and "Thark." Ct. Jamss'. July s—" Archie." August 25 Gonsalcz Grand Opera Company. Town Hall. To-night and Monday—Alfred 0 Shea Concerts. Concert Chamber. July s—Little Theatre Society in *' Outward Bound." July"' 25—St. Andrew's Society in "Bunty Pulls the Strings."

Embassy. ... Now Playing—"The Diplomats" Revue. PLAYS AND PLAYERS. Containing all the ingredients for a popular "thriller," "The Silent House, played by Sir. Maurice Moscovitch and the* very strong company associated with him, is meeting with considerable success at His Majesty's. Unfortunately, the season cannot be extended after next Thursday.

"The Midnight Frolics," peer of revue companies, have just concluded, a highly successful season at Adelaide and are now playing at the Bijou Theatre, Melbourne. Before long Mr. Clem Da we and the other brilliant members of the company may return to Auckland to play a season at the St. -James'.

Onlv two more concerts remain in the 'Auckland season of the Australian tenor, Mr.' Alfred O'Shca. He will appear again ; ,t the Town Hall this evening and on Monday evening before returning to the South. There is a possibility of a return season in Auckland and those who hn\e licard's O'Shea's glorious voice and the exceptionally fine programmes he presents v.iil J-.ope that this can be arranged. -

J. C. Williamson, Ltd., intend to "provide Australian and New Zealand audiences with bright musical comedy before the end of the year. The musical play

" Princess Charming," is now running in Sydney, and, following this " The Desert Song," the successor to " Rose Marie' at Drury Lane will be produced. Another piece" bought by Williamsons is the American musical comedy "Hit the Deck." which is running successfully, in London. " Outward Bound," a play in three acts by. Sutton Vane, will be produced in the concert chamber next Thursday evening, by Mr. Kenneth Brampton with the following cast: — = Scrubby Arnold Goodwin. Aim Isance Kt. LlairWhyte. Henry Montagu Steele. Mr. x'rior Roberts Tole.

Mrs. Cleveden-Banks Daphne Knight. Rev. William Duke John Stewart. Mrs. Midget Lynda Murphy. Mr. Lingley J. D. Swan. Rev. Frank Thomson F. L. Armitage.

An alteration in the dates for the Fuller"Oonsalez grand opera season at the new St.. James' has been announced, and the company will now open on August 25, at the conclusion of the musical comedy festival which is to provide the opening attraction. There will be a three weeks' season. The is;'now enjoying most successful seasons in the South and it comes with the commendation of Mr. Alfred O'Shea, the Australian tenor, who says the company is .excellently balanced and contains some fine individual singers.

Graham Moffatt's fine delineation of Scottish life and character, "Buntv Pulls the Strings," is to be given in the Conceit Chamber by the St. Andrew's Society on Wednesday, July 25, for a season of four nights. It will be remembered that some 13 years ago the author toured New Zealand in the play, which was enthusiastically greeted even by those whose ancestors had not come from north of Tweed. The forthcoming presentation of the play promises to be most successful. Mr. Kenneth Brampton has been engaged as producer and ho will have at his command a. strong cast of some of the most prominent local amateurs.

Fuller's magnificent new theatre, the St. James', will open next Thursday evening, with the production of " Archie," a musical comedy in two acts, with book .nid lyrics by George Arthurs and Worton David and' music by Haydn Wood and Jack Waller, played by the following cast:—

Jin: Parkes » - - - Leonard Rich Rosie Green * . t, . - Gladys Hermes L:tdy Violet ..... Jessie Paste Angela - - - - - Elsie Parkes To iv Kerwyn .... Charlton Morton Carter ..... Royston McDonnell Archie Cobb .... Jimrriie Godden Sir Michael . • - George Willoughby Billie Cob Elsie Prince Mr. Curtis - >- - - - George Jennings Mrs. Curtis - - - Marjorie L'Strange Alvena „ - . - - Nelle Dean

At the conclusion of the season of "Archie," the opening attraction at Fuller's new St.. James' Theatre, three other musical comedies will be presented before the Flsie Prince-Jimmy Godden company returrs to the South. These are "Sunny," "Mercenary M*ry" and "Funny Face," and the last-named will receive its first presentation in Australia or New Zealand. "Funny Face" will go on tour through the Dominion and then the company will return to present "Julie" and "Betty Lee" before returning to Sydney. The Fuller management intends to give Auckland a good supply of musical comedy, always a popular theatrical' commodity, and for its provision, in Miss Prince and Godden, they have two of the finest artists on the musical comedy stage.