“Good-bye Forever”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 20

“Good-bye Forever”

Wirth’s Circus Rebukes Dunedin free entertainment Dunedin has been rebuked by Wirth’s Circus. , . A When the famous organisation passed, through that city recently, the banc played “Good-bye Forever” on the station platform. The story was told to a newspapei , representative by Mr. G. Anderson, general manager of Wirth’s Circus. “When we pass through Dunedin we are giving an entertainment free of charge, so I daresay plenty of Dunedin people will attend," he said. This interesting programme will take place on the Dunedin railway station. The circus band is chiefly concerned, and will play “Auld Lang Syne" and •‘Good-bye Forever.” At the close of the rendering the special train will move on, leaving Dunedin residents to swallow the dignified rebuke as best they can. “I want you to tell your readers about, the arrangement I have made," added Mr. Anderson. "It will serve to show them that they are never to have Wirth’s in Dunedin again.” According to this veteran manager, who has been associated with Wirth’s for 42 years, Dunedin does not like circuses. This has been proved in recent years, when the visits to the Edinburgh of the’ South consistently showed a loss, lie alleged that the company lost £BOO on its last visit two years ago. The dislike has therefore become mutual, big top and everything beneath it have with the result that the joys of the

Marie Burke, who is playing a farewell season of “Wildflower” in Sydney, sends a note of good wishes to her admirers in New Zealand.

The new personal successes of recent months in London have been made in “Chance Acquaintance” by Benita Hume, a young actress of 21, who previously appeared in a small part in “Mr. What’s His Name” with Seymour Hicks, and bq Sydney Howard in “Hit the Deck.” But, according to Herbert Clayton, of Clayton and Waller, there are still no signs of any fresh young actresses who look as if they might develop into Evelyn Layes or Gertrude Lawrences. “We have a comedian up our sleeves for London, but no new girl who can act, and sing, and dance,” he said recently.

A number of mishaps occurred on the stage at the. Apollo Theatre, London, during Robert Loraine’s revival of the heroic comedy “Cyrano.” Winifred Wynne, who was making her first appearance on the stage and who in private life is Mrs. Loraine, was taking a curtain call when the heavy curtain almost hit her. She was seen to fall and scream. But fortunately she was unhurt—merely frightened. Had she been standing a foot nearer the orchestra the premature fall of the curtain might have led to a serious accident. In one scene a coach broke down and Mr. Loraine, among others, had to drag it farther on to the stage. And in the last scene a portion of the setting fell forward during one of the best speeches of the play. Once again Mr. Loraine had to rush to the rescue. After holding up the mutinous bit of scenery until it was arrested from behind, Mr. Loraine calmly proceeded with his part.

“Potiphar’s Wife,” the play by Edgar Middleton, which attracted all London to the Savoy Theatre and which has drawn crowded houses to the Theatre Albert Premier ip Paris, where Edward Stirling and an English company of players have been giving it, is likely to be more discussed than ever owing to an incident which has arisen between Mr. Stirling and Mr. Middleton. Mr. Middleton has sent to the English players in Paris an entirely new ending to the play. In this version the play ends with Allen, the chauffeur, carrying off the lady, whose final expression is: “You brute! Kiss me!” In his letter to Mr. Stirling Mr. Middleton stated that the end of the play as given at the Savoy Theatre, London, and which is being given in Paris, is not the ending which he intended for the play, but one which was forced upon him by the censor. He adds: “This question of hypocritical morality which pervades England today does not arise in Paris,” and he further asks that “my original ending, and not the censor’s version, shall be used.”

To this Mr. Stirling has wired a reply that he cannot consent to alter the ending. Mr. Middleton has answered stating that he forbids further performances without the new ending, and will take legal action.

Robert Adams (here with “The Best People”), and John O’Hara (here with “Lightnin’ ”), are playing in “What Anne Brought Home” in San Francisco. It is remarkable that though there are many J. C. Williamson houses in Australia and New Zealand none has yet been called the Williamson Theatre. Senorita de Alvarez, the tennis player, is to go on the London stage in the New Year. Certainly she is so vivacious and charming that she ought to be as great a success behind the footlights as on the tennis courts. “The Alarm Clock,” a farcical comedy by Avery Hopwood, author of “The Best People,” will be staged this evening in Melbourne, and a •strong cast has been arranged for this Christmas offering. Madge Mclntosh, Frank Bradley, Basil Radford, Henrieetta Cavendish, Douglas Calderwood, Campbell Copelin, Mollie Raynor and. Frank Foster are in it.

Irene North, who was brought from England for musical comedy, will have the leading role in “Queen High” to be done in Sydney shortly. This musical comedy will be the Christmas attraction at the Royal. It is based on the farcical comedy, “A Pair of Sixes,” and has been described in London as a jazzical farce. There are two important comedy parts in “Queen High.” They will be taken by Cecil Kelleway and R. Barrett-Lennard. Jessamine Newcombe, who was one of the wives in “Cradle Snatchers,” will also be in the cast.