THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20136, 22 December 1928, Page 8 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

COMING PRODUCTIONS. His Majesty's. „ Now Playing—" The Midnight Frolics. January B—Vanbrugh Bouccicault Company.'; Coming—" The Defcert Song. St James'. Now Playing—George Wallace Revae. January—" League of Notions " Revue. February—Frank Neil's Comedy Company. March—"The Mystery Bride and " Tons of Money." r PLAYS AND PLAYERS. , " Funny Face," the musical play by the Astaires, which i» down for production in Australia and New Zealand by the company, headed by Miss Elsie Prince and Mr. Jimmie Godden, has commenced its London season with many approving blasts on the trumpets of the critics. Mr. Leslie Henson appears in the chief comedy role and, from all accounts, is extraordinarily funny. It should be a role well suited to Mr. Godden it comic talents

The well-known and popular Fuller Mr. Georgfi Wallace, with "• •new revue company, will open a season at the St. James' Theatre this evening. He is confident that he has some bright new material for revue entertainment. His own work needs no introduction to Auckland audiences, and he should experience a successful season. During his stay at the St. James', Mr. Wallace hopes to produce the musical farce, " Wlun Knights Were Bold."

An actor who has proved his worth in many .7. C. Williamson productions, Mr. Reginald Wykeman, will again visit New Zealand with the Vanbrugh-Bo lccicault company, which is to open a :ea son at His Majesty's Theatre at the «ouelusion of the " Tho Midnight Frolics" season. The opening production, probably a Lonsdale comedy, will be staged on January 8, according to present arrangements. Mr. Wykeman was last here with Miss Renee Kelly's company in 1927.

Included in the Vaubrugh-Boucckaalt company, which is to open a season at Hiii Majesty's Theatre on January !3, is Mi:ss Prudence Vanbrugh, a niece of Miss Irene Vanbrugh and already bidding fair to follow in the footsteps of one of England's greatest comedy actresses. She has had wide experience on the English stage and has shown a pronounced aptitude for portraying light-comedy characters, *uch as those created so well by Mr. Frederick Lonsdale. She will appear here in the Lonsdale play, " The High Read."

In collaboration with the author, Major P. C. Wren, Mr. Basil Dean, the famous Loudon producer, has completed his dramatisation of tha outstanding novel of two or threo years ago, Eleau Geste." The book has in it material for a fine pl&y—this was shown by the superb motion picture produced from it —but it is just a question whether the long delay after the publication of the novel 'will not detract from the success of the play. Then, too, the film cf " Beau Geste" was so magnificently done that the play will have to be something out of the ordinary to live up to itt-

The musical comedy " Virginia," which has been booked for presentation by the J. C. WUliamson management in Australia and Now Zealand, has opened successfully hi London. Despito its American setting, it is an entirely English production, and it ia also a play with something of a history. It was" written first some years a go—the present version, of course, has been thoroughly modernised —and the first musical score was written by Mr. Frederick Norton, who composed the music for " Chu Chin Chow." Indeed, despairing of the success oi Virginia," ho transferred most of his music to the Oscar A.scho play. " The Robbers Song," one of the hits of " Chu Chin Chow," originally belonged to " Virginia." In the cast for the London production are. two names well known in New Zealand. Mr. John Kirby, the Mew Zealander, and Mr. George Gee have the leading comedy roles, and are responsible for much of the brightness of the show/

The "Williamson management can have Ito regrets about their engagement of the famous " Midnight Frolics" company. For the three weeks I>sforo Christmas, usually a somewhat lfean time in Auckland s theatrical year/Mr. Clem Dawe and his associates have succeeded in drawing consistently largo audiences to His Majesty's Theatre and with thiei production of each new programme their popularity seems to increase. Before the Wellington feason the company will probably be strengthened by the inclusion of Miss Mona Magnet, an English artist of considerable standing. who was last in New Zealand .ight years ago with ths " Forty Thieves " pantomime and "The Peep Show." Incidentally, it was in thbse productions that Edgely and Dawe made their bow to New Zealand audiences, Mr. Dawe cautioning all and sundry to " keep an eye on my umbeiella." . Auckland ;rs should be able to renew their acquaintance with Miss Magnet if the " Midnight Frolics " play a return season. This, at present, seems mons than likely. There will certainly be the demand for a farewell appearance, seeing that it is rumoured the " Frolics " may shortly make alterations in the style of their productions.