LIFE IN LONDON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19131, 28 September 1936, Page 4

LIFE IN LONDON

A ROUND OF GAIETY AMONG STAGE STARS GIANT LINERS COMPARED Interesting sidelights on life in London are contained in a letter to a friend from Mr. W. Barrington Miller, formerly a well-known Gisborne business man, now resident in the Empire metropolis. Mr. Miller tells of a reception given by Noel Coward to members of the Egyptian delegation which was in Loudon in connection with the signing of the new treaty, and to which he was invited. There were, he says, some 200 people present, including no less a personage than the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Anthony Eden, and such welbknown diplomats of the stage and screen as Mr. Ivor Novello, Mr.- Owen Nares, Mr. Fred Astaire, Miss Evelyn Laye, Miss Constance Collier, and Miss Ann Harding. "Noel Coward," adds- Mr. _ Miller, "who is an excellent host, received his visitors at. the head of the .stairs,. thi3 reviving an .old. political .custom in London. Of course, he has,an immense advantage over most hosts, since he is not only entertaining, but can entertain. In fact, during the evening he sat down at the piano, and with a nice touch of topicality sang his 'Mad dog and Englishmen go out in the Noonday Sun." This was much applauded by the Egyptian guests. PLAYBOY'S PROGRESS "The progress of Noel Coward, who gave this party in return for hospitality shown to him in Egypt, from an unknown and very young actor to a man of significance is extraordinary. He now definitely wears the mantle of Sir Oerald du Maurier as the most important, figure on the English stage. His detractors say that he owes his success as a writer and composer to hi 9 marvellous memory. If there be anything in that rather rude charge, Noel might retort that he at least remembers the liveliest parts of other men's works, unlike so many of his contemporaries, who only remember the dullest. In fact, he possesses adroitness, a superb sense of theatre, and remarkable powers of industry. He does not go deep, and his plays, perhaps, do not stand reading, but in his own artificial realm, where men have no occupations and women no children, lie has created many witty and emotional moments that bespeak a mind iioth capable and sensitive. "Noel is rich, so the playboy of the West End stage progresses relentlessly toward the full responsibility of British citizenship. But, after all, he did write 'Cavalcade,' and from that to receiving the Egyptian delegation was nothing more than a, change of scene." QUEEN MARY'S TRIUMPH • Mr. Miller tells of his short trips in both the Queen Mary and her French rival, the Normandie. "Truly," he says, 'there were never two ships more diverse in personality. The Queen Mary is as British as her name. Her vast open deck -paces call her passengers irresistibly from the .card-room and cocktail bar Jo the sweet excitements and comfort of tlie sun, the wind, and the lovely music ■if "foam breaking from the bow. "In the Normandie, the sea is hardly more than a rumour. The ebony dining room does not boast a- single port-hole, for daylight is not intended to appear. French people never did like fresh air or daylight. The promenade deck of the ship is entirely enclosed with only narrow panes of glass where -the sea can definitely be observed by one who determines to see it.

"The Queen Mary is the spirit of England at noon. The Normandie is the spirit of France at midnight. The Queen Mary is for a race of people who love the open air. The Normandie is for the Frenchwomen whose toilettes need never he exposed to the crude masculine scrutiny of the sun. The stewards on- the British ship serve the meals as a natural anatomical procedure, with pleasant social surroundings. The French j waiters sei've dinner as an event. It,is a brave man who can refuse La Crepe Suzette. But I find it is a- strong man whose digestion can survive it. Not that you always need to digest everything you eat while at sea." GREAT TALKIE SUCCESS Describing the premiere at His Majesty's Theatre of the longest talking film yet made, "The Great Ziegfeld," ,Mr. Miller says it was a most impressive opening. Most of . the audience, which included dozens of stage and screen celebrities, paid up to one guinea a seat. The film ran for three hours. "What Sir Herbert Tree would think of his famous theatre, altered at .a cost of £40,000, for showing films, has worried those with long memories; but I am sure he would have enjoyed' this picture immensely. Produced on the grand scale, it is a lively and exciting biography of the great New York showman who died in 1932. His start as manager :>f Sandow, the strong man, at the Chicago World Fair in 1893, was followed by his swiftly becoming a great impressario, by courage, audacity, and bluff.

"I used to know Ziegfeld very well. He was, of course, a remarkable man. I cannot imagine how Hollywood can do any better with this class of film, for, ■is The Times said the other day, 'the artistry is a triumph of design and photography, and the femininity a welter of discreet sex appeal.'

"This is just the beginning of the theatre season and we- are promised some wonderful shows. Last night two of the new productions were presented, 'Swing Along' at the Gaiety and 'O-Kay Sound* at the Palladium, both receiving splendid notices this morning. I shall see them later. To-night I am going to the first night of Elizabeth Bergner in her Sim version of 'As You Like ItThere is such a demand lor seats that thousands have been unable to secure reservations."