THEATRICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20768, 10 January 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES.

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

A young English .violinist, Mr, Loris lilofeld, of Bradford, made his debut in the Grotrian Hall in London recently. His performance came in for very favourable notice from the critics, who hail him as cue of the most promising of the younger performers. On his programme were the E Minor Sonata of Batch, the Goossens Sonata in the same key, and Ernest Bloch's " Baal Shem."

For nearly two years " The First Mrs. Fraser " has been tunning in London to enormous business, and the Morning Post " recently expressed the opinion that it would run indefinitely. St. John Ermine's comedy has also taken New Yorkaudiences by storm-a rare achievement (for a play of English origin. Particular interest, under these circumstances, attaches to the first production in Australia t,f " The First Mrs. Fraser," at the .Comedy Theatre, Melbourne. A special company has been carefully selected in order that each character shall be true to type. The principals include Ethel Morrison as Mrs. Janet Fraser (the part played in "the London production by Marie flompest), J, B. Rowe as James Fraser, John Wood as Ninian Fraser, Roger i Barry as Murdo Fraser, Noel Boyd as (Mrs Murdo Fraser, Leslie v ictor as Philip Logan, Mary Macgregor as Mrs. Ethel Fraser, and Eileen Morris as the maid. The play, in three acts, is produced by Georgo D. Parker.

The cast of "Uncle Tom's Cabin at the lung's Theatre, Melbourne, is as follows:—Will Innes as Uncle Torn. Gertrude Boswell as Chloe, Fred Macdonald as Saml,o, Vincent Scully as Mr. Selby, Rutland Beckett as Simon Legree, Norman Wister as George Harris, Dorothy Stanward as Eliza Harris, John D'Arcy as Mr. Wilson, D'Arcv Kelway as Marks the Lawyer, Ida Gresham as Mrs. Shelby, Herbert Lancaster as Solomon Jude, Tom Sutter}>v as the Captain of the Mississippi boat, Reginald Roberts as Mr. St. Clair, Nellie Mortyne as Miss Ophelia, Jeannie Beinkie as Little Eva, Pat Fallow as lopsy, Manon Marcus Clarke as Mrs. St. Clair, Bet 1 Mackev as Emmeline, Marjone Carr as Cassv, Ivan Squirrell as Qnimbo. There nre four rrts, which take place in Uncle Tom's Cabin/a toll house on the way to the river. Mr. St. Clair's southern home, and on Legree's plantation. The Piccajiinnv dances, have been arranged by Minnie Everett, tho musical director is Gustavo Slapoffski, and the whole production is produced under the direction of Gregan McMalion. >*.

Gregan McMahon, the producer of 1" ITncle Tom's Cabin," which is being presented in Melbourne, confesses that this is one of the most interesting productions -with which he has ever been associated. f It is a many-sided production," he says, i" and contains every phase of the stage tlrania, music, comedy, sentiment, spectacle, and thrills in plenty. The company is a big one, and there are no fewer than 30 characters in the cast. I have seldom felt such keen interest, in a performance, and find it most absorbing to watch this ?>ig production grow day by day. This is not the first time Mr. McMahon has lie en connected with a musical production. In Sydney he produced four operas lor the State Conservatorium of Music, chief of which was Rutland Boughton's famous work, " The Immortal Hour." Associated with Mr- McMahon in "Undo Horn's Cabin" is Reginald Roberts,"'an old stage favourite, who, in addition to playing the role of Mr. St. Clair, is Mr, HcMahon's right-hand man as stage manager. , ■ .