“ROOKERY NOOK”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 410, 19 July 1928, Page 16

“ROOKERY NOOK”

HIS MAJESTY’S NEXT WEEK It is only on rare occasions that playgoers of New Zealand are given an opportunity to enjoy English plays, interpreted by English artists, and in scenes that all take place in English homes. This is to happen during the approaching J. C. Williamson, Ltd., oomedy season, which is to be in;|igurated on Wednesday night nei:t, when the initial New Zealand production of Ben Travers’s enormously successful and clever farce-comedy, “Rookery Nook,” is to be staged. During the season there will also be produced “Thark,” and “Cuckoo in the Nest,” both of which were written by Ben Travers, and both of which have proved record-breakers in England and Australia. “The players,” wrote a Sydney critic, “have an unusually attractive background throughout. The three acts all take place in the lounge hall of an English country, house, built and furnished in typically English style. Oak panelled walls form a background for prints of hunting scenes and groupings of warlike weapons and trophies, while the staircase at the side is continued across the back of the stage and along the other side to form a gallery. All round this are pewter pots and mugs and candlesticks. Through the main doorway can be seen a real motor-car speeding between the house and the garage.” Mr. Hastings Lynn is said to be a brilliant and original comedian, and has his audience in roars of laughter the whole time he is on the stage. His chief ally is Mr. Basil Radford, whose splendid work in “The Ghost Train” will still be fresh in the minds of Auckland playgoers. Equally amusing, it is said, is Miss Minnie Rayner in the role of Mrs. Leverett. Miss Donald Warne, the dainty 16-year-old Australian star, receives exceptional opportunities as the “pyjama girl” for the display of her extraordinary talents, and others who scored triumphs in Australia are Leslie Victor, Jane Comfort, Beth Mackey, Helene Simon, Cyril Vernon, Nellie Mortyne, end Victor Fitzherbert. The season must necessarily be limited to 12 nights. The box plans will be opened at Lewis R. Eady’s on Monday morning, at nine o’clock.