THEATRICAL NOTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22961, 12 February 1938, Page 14 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL NOTES

COMING PRODUCTIONS , THEATRE AND CONCERT HALL HIB MAJESTY'S THEATRE .To-day.—Fay Compton Company. Production by Georgian Readers " The three-act play "Short Story," by Bobert Morley, will be presented by the' Georgian Readers for a season of four nights, ' commencing this evening. The' play ! is produced by the official British . Drama League tutor Miss Elizabeth- Loe, and 5 the cast includes Ethelwyn : Geddes, Peggy Beaumont, John Kelsey, Margery Kelsey, Terry Agrnon Smith and Norman Pilcher.

Music of Tudor Period The New English Singers, headed by Mr:'Cuthbert Kelly, on their return to New York last month, were praised, riot only'for'the poetical feeling and dictjon and sensibility of their performance, but also for their programme, which consisted largely of works which these'accomplished artists have made fnmiliar. The programme included Christmas motets and carols and madrigals and lutenist compositions of the Tudor period. Other English composers represented were Henry Purcell, Peter Warlock and _ Gustav Hoist. Andreas Hammerschmidt's "The Mote and the Beam" was music of another school. Thawlute Bongs were sung with accompaniments upon the instrument, played by Nellie Carson.

Second Fay Compton Production The second play to he presented in Auckland bv the Fay Compton company will be "George and Margaret, 1 ' a sophisticated comedy written by a young actor. Gerald Savory, who is the son of Grace Lane, noted English actress. "George and Margaret" has been a sensational success in London, and has been secured for American production as well. It has a Noel Coward-ish "Hay Fever" theme, and in a light and very amusing presentation of odd domestic complications. It allows Miss Compton and her company ample scope for the light-hearted revelations of London sophisticates. Incidentally Miss Compton and the ladies of her company will wear lovely gowns, and the settings will be ultramodernistic.

Cutting of the Baddeley Oake On Thursday, January 6, which is Twelfth Night, the famous Baddeley Cake was cut at Drury Lane Theatre for the 144 th year in succession. The ceremony is witnessed only b.y the management and the company appearing in the current play. This time Ivor Novello saw it for the second consecutive year, for his play, "Crest of the Wave," lias followed his last season's success, "Careless Rapture," on the stage of this historic theatre. Robert Baddeley perpetuated his name in this way with a £IOO clause in his will. He directed that the interest on this sum should be used for the making of a cake to be eaten by the company at Drury Lane every Twelfth Night. He has another claim on the memory of posterity, for he created the part of Moses in "The School for Scandal."

Actors' Orphanage Pantomime The special matinees of the Actors' Orphanage pantomime, "Cinderella, took place on January 10, 11 and 12 at the Gaiety Theatre, London, to raise money for the endowment of a scholarship to train any child who shows special talent for the stage. This was the twenty-first pantomime to be produced at the Orphanage at Langley and the second to be brought to London. The matinees at the Gaiety were started last year by Leslie Henson, who isi one of the vice-presidents of the Orphanage. There was plenty of comedv in this "Cinderella," which was a fulllencth show in the traditional manner. The book was by the secretary of the Orphanage, Peter Jackson, with additional comedy scenes by the stagemanager of the Gaiety, Rob Curne. Debroy Somers and his band provided nvusic.