THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20306, 13 July 1929, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

oCOMING PRODUCTIONS. His Ma]osty's. Now Playing.—Kentucky Jubilee Singers. (Last Night). 'July 20.—Allan Willtio Season. To Follow—" The Flying Squad " (Leon Gordon), " Pigs and Applesauce," and " Tho Desert Song." St. James'. Now Playing—Frank O'Brian's " Kevelloi.-.." 'August 17—" llio Rita."|Town Hall. Tonight and Monday.—William Jlcughan Concerts. PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Miss Mario Nyman, who was leading lady with Mr. George Wallace's rovuo company during its Auckland season nt tho St. James' Theatre, is now appearing in Australia with tho vaudeville company headed by Sir Harry Lauder.

A comparative newcomer to local musical circles, Mrs. J. Craig, L.T.C. L., L.A.8., of Otielninga, lias been appointed conductor of tho recently formed Ain k-, land Academic Club Choir. Miss 0. Win; throp has been appointed oliicial accompanist.

Tho spectacular musical play, " Rio Tvila," with Miss Gladys Moncrieff, Miss Janet Gihnoro and Mr. Davo Mallen, enjoyed a triumphant season in Wellington ■when it was presented there by the Fuller management. The season had to he extended, and now tho play is packing the Fuller theatre at Christchurch. The Auckland season is scheduled to open at tho St. James' Theatre on August 17.

When " Show Boat," the spectacular musical play, founded on Edna Ferber's brilliant novel, opens under the Williamsou management in Melbourne next month nn attraction, in addition to a lengthy cast of noted principals will he a coloured ballet. The girls were engaged in the United States, and it should bo a rare treat to hear them singing the beautiful negro spirituals which abound in the play.

The magnificent ballad and folk song interpretations of Mr. William Hetighan liavo won for him a devoted public in Auckland, and his admirers liavo been given plenty of'good things in the first two programmes of his return season. lie will give his third concert at the Town Hall this evening, and tho final recital on Monday evening Mr. Ileughan is assisted- by Miss Gladys Sayer and Miss Maud Bell.

Increasing its musical comedy activities, the Fuller management is now finalising its preparations for the presentation of a new show, " Billy," In Australia. Miss Molly O'Doherty and Miss Irene Shamrock are two English principals who liavo been especially imported, and another engagement is that of Mr. Fred Forbes, a comedian with a considerable London reputation. Miss Mona Magnet, who was hero with the " Midnight Frolics," may also have a leading part.

A large body of Auckland theatregoers ■will welcome the news that Mr. Allan jWilkio is to pay a 1 return visit. In a new repertoire of English comedies he will open a season of ten nights at His Majesty's Theatre on July 20. During Jiis season, the popular actor-manager, who has given us practically our only tastes of Shakespeare for many years, will present " Much Ado About Nothing," GoldSmith's " She Stoops to Conquer," and Sheridan's " Tho School for Scandal," and " Tho Rivals."

It is unfortunate that tho incomparable Pavlova has to return from Australia to Europe without paying Now Zealand ail' other visit. Audiences throughout the Dominion were looking forward keenjy to seeing again the greatest dancer of her time, but we have the assurance of Mr. C. B. Westmacott, Australian manager for «T. C. Williamson, Limited, that Pavlova lias expressed tho wish to return, to Australia and New Zealand in the course of a few years.

Mr. Ben Travers does not ap"peac to know tho meaning of failure. Although ho hardly rivals Mr. Edgar Wallace in the quantity of his output, his plays and novels are welcomed by a public just as enthusiastic. Ilis fifth consecutive sue-; cess is now playing at the Aldwych Theatre, London. This is " A Cup of Kindness" and it is packing a theatre, once dubbed as unlucky, to tho same c-xtent as did " Rookery Nook," " A Cuckoo in tho Nest," " Tliark," and " Plunder." Tho first threo of these plays were presented hers by tho Williamson management, and it is to bo hoped that we shall see tho other two before long.

Tho Now Zealand tour, of a J. C. Williamson vaudeville combination, headed by tho London .comedienne, Miss Maisie Gav, has been postponed, if not cancelled. It was to have opened at His Majesty's Theatre on Wednesday, but Mr. Allan "Wilkio will occupy tho theatre for a season commencing next Saturday. Mr. C. B. Westmacott, general. manager in Australia for the Williamson firm, said on his arrival in Auckland on a business trip at tho beginning of the week that Miss Gay may yet visit Now Zealand with the Noel Coward revue, "This Year of Grace/' This is something which should p;r>vo outstandingly popular with New Zealand audiences.

Mr. Frank O'Brian and his perennially cheerful "Bevellors " continue on their bright way at the St. James' Theatre, beguiling large audiences nightly with the cream of revuo entertainment. Supporting Mr. o'Brian and Miss Hart is a company of aTtists equal to anything at present playing under the Fuller management and their popularity will he waxing rather than waning when they have to leave in order to make wav for " "Rio Rita," in which Miss Gladys Moricrieff is returning to Auckland. Mr, O' Brian is a hard worker, lfis comedy is first-rate, his dancing somo of the best that has ever been seen in Auckland, and apart from this ho has the task of pro- | during bis revues and drilling his ballet. I Ho does everything excellently. [

J he author of the remarkable war play, r Journey's End," Mr. H. C. Sheriff, has started work on another pl.iy dealing with -Antarctic exploration. At one time ho entertained the idea of building his forthcoming drama about the dramatic incident in Captain Scott's trip, wh en Cnptain Oates, stricken with blindness and faring that ho would hinder the expedition walked out into the blizzard, with no in tention of returning. The playwright lias abandoned this plan because of the pain it might causo to relatives of those who perished in -that ill-fated adventure. Before ho wrote " Journey's End," which Ss to be presented in Australia and N T ew Zealand shortly by tho Williamson management, and which is still the reignin" theatrical success of (he year in London and New York, Mr. Sheriff,- then an inBuranco clerk in a Midland town, had written several comedies, none of which ,wero over presented. Now, after the suecess of tho war play, there is a ready inarkct for anything he cares to write.