THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20520, 22 March 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

COMING PRODUCTIONS. Eis Majesty's. .To-night.—" Sunny," Fr&ddie . Forbes' " Musical Comedy Company. [To Follow.—" The Flying Squad " (Leon Gordon); "The Five O'Clock Girl"- and "Hold Everything"; V Love Lies (Clem Dawe). JTown Hall Concert Chamber. April 2.—" The Man They Buried." (Little Theatre Society). April B.—Alexander Watson Recitals. PLAYS AND PLAYERS. " The Way Out," a new play by Lieut.Colonel Cyril McNeile, who writes under the pen-name of " Sapper," was recently presented in London. It is described as an interesting piece, although hardly as successful as his famous " Bulldog Drumin ond,."-

One of the great masters' of English speech, Mr. Alexander Watson, is now on his fifth tour of New Zealand, repeating his former triumphs in Southern centres. Reports indicate that Mr. Watson's work

has lost none of its vigour, clarity and i sympathetic characterisation. His Auckland /season will commeuce at the Town Hall Concert Chamber on April 8.

" Journey's End " was seen in Sydney recently by ten Australian holders of the .Victoria Cross, who were the guests of J. C. Williamson, Limited, at the performance. They were enthusiastic about the whole production, praised Mr. Slierriff's brilliant character sketching of the little group of English officers, and the equally brilliant characterisations by the actors, and were struck by the wonderful reality of the sound effects. They made a tour of inspection behind the scenes after the performance.

A correspondent, A.C.8., wishes to know* which play has had the longest continuous run in any one city. The record goes to Mr. Oscar Asche's' " Chu Chin •Chow," which played in London for 2238 consecutive performances. The famous revue company " The Co-optimists" played in London continuously for 2325 performances, but they staged several changes of programmes. The first programme ran for 500 performances. More recently " Rose Mnrie_" was given in London for 851 performances without a break.

The Little Theatre Society plans to make 1930 an eventful year in its history. It will commence its activities with " The Man They Buried " on .April 2, and probably the next production will be a Galsworthy play, either Eldest Son " or " Justice." Giving to the success of •*' Outward Bou.ad,"- tho society is considering staging another Sutton Yane play, " Overture," while efforts will also be made to present Eugene O'Neill's famous " Anna Christie." It has not yet been definitely decided whether the year will be brought to a close with a triple bill.'' ° P

Australia and New Zealand will be comparatively well catered for this season. Kreisler, Backhaus, Louis Graveure, and Ycdluu Menuliin aro some of the great artists, who will visit this part of the world, aud now Madame Florence Ausftral,' the brilliant soprano, and her husband, Mr. John Amadio, ,the flautist, will leave England for Australia and New Zealand at the beginning of April. They rcceptly completed a successful tour of tho British Isles. It is ten years since Madame Austral left her native Australia, and she is looking forward keenly to her return.

Mr. Freddie Forbes and his musical comedy company coutinije to make merry at His Majesty's -Theatre. The company scored an all-round success in the revival .of "Lady Be Good," and this evening will be seen for the first time in "Sunuy," which was the outstanding play in the musical comedy season with which Miss Elsie Prince and Mr. Jimmy Godden opened the St. James' Theatre. Mr. . Forbes is even better equipped for the leading comedy role than was Mr. Godden and, as " Snnny" is a show .that can be ■j seen and-enjoyed many times, its week's season, should prove highly popular. Other musical comedies will be staged later in the season. i Keen, interest is being taken in the Little Theatre Society's forthcoming production of Karen Bramson's remarkable play, " The Man They Buried," which . will be given for a season of four nights in the Town Hall Concert Chamber, commencing April 2. It is a daring piece of work, giving a picture of a doctor who' - believes he is about to die. He wanders round Paris to all kinds of queer places, | meeting a number of varied people, a clairvoyante, a murderer, a statesman, a philosopher, a beggar, a woman of doubtful character. He returns to his 'home to undergo an operation, practically convinced that it will be unsuccessful. It 1 would, bo a pity to give away the climax, which lends itself to highly powerful acting. There are 22 parts in the play, and a npmber of new players will appear in the cast.