STAGELAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 726, 27 July 1929, Page 28

STAGELAND

FIXTURES HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE Now Playing.—Allan Wilkie Company, in “The School for Scandal.” Tuesday: “The Rivals.” August 29 (indefinite): “Floradora.” Amateur Operatic Society. September 4: “The Desert Song.” Lance Fairfax. COMING “This Year of Grace,” Maisie Gay. “No. 17,” Nat Madison. “Pigs” and “Apple Sauce.” ST. .AMES THEATRE Now Playing: Frank O’Brian’s Co. August 24: “Rio Rita,” Gladys Moncriefi. COMING “Lido Lady.” “Baby Cyclone” and “Good News,” Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden. CONCERT CHAMBER September 25-2 S: “The Scrape o’ the Pen,” St. Andrew’s Society. Irene Homer, of “The Patsy,” left Australia last week by the Sonoma on her return to America. Thurza Rogers, of Wellington, who attained fame as a dancer with the Pavlova Company, is appearing in vaudeville in the English provinces. She is supported by Robert Lascelles, who also visited New Zealand with the famous Russian dancer. With Alfred Frith, Gus Bluett, Cecil Kelleway, and Leo Franklyn supplying the comedy, “A Night Out” should be very refreshing. This musical comedy has taken the place of “The Five O’clock Girl” at His Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. “A Scrape o’ the Pen,” a comedy by Graham Moffat, will be presented at the concert chamber on September 25 by the St.'Andrew’s Society. Last year the society did “Bunty Pulls the Strings,” by the same author. Scottish comedies are alwrjs admirably presented by this society, and with Mr. Kenneth Brampton as producer, this season’s play should be excellent. The season will last for four nights. Minnie Love, in Australia many years ago, was appearing in vaudeville in Leeds, England, according to the latest theatre papers.

H'J COTHURNUS Allan Wilkie’s production of “The School for Scandal” is most excellently staged and acted. The last performance of Sheridan’s brilliant satire will be given on Monday evening. “The Rivals,” his other masterpiece, will follow on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The brilliant Irish playwright, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, whose work Allan \. ilkie is now presenting at His Majesty’s Theatre, was as famous for his wit as he was for oratory and playwriting. A favourite story, told of his nimble application of words is as follows: —Sheridan’s tailor, named Berry, died and was succeeded by a junior Berry, who instantly presented his father's bill to the impecunious playwright. Sheridan eyed him for a moment and then said: “Why, you have made a Mulberry, to bring in your Bilberry, before it was Dewberry. Your father the Elderberry would never have been such a Gooseberry. Now pray don’t look Blackberry, for I don’t care a Strawberry.”

Reginald Tate, who understudied Colin Clive in the London production of “Journey’s End,” has arrived in Australia to play Captain Stanhope in “Journey’s End,” to be staged in Melbourne next month. Before long there W’ill be eight “Journey’s End” companies playing simultaneously in different parts of the world.

London is now being given the opportunity of simultaneously seeing “Coquette” as a talkie (Mary Pickford) and on the stage (Helen Ford). The story is that of a young girl who falls in love with a man, disliked by her fathei', who, to prevent a runaway marriage, shoots him, and is brought to trial for murder. The father in the stage version, presented by Williamson-Tait, Ltd., is played by Frank Harvey.

Shabby gentility—with light, bibulous humour—-is perfectly illustrated by Frank Bradley as Sedeman in “The Flying Squad.” in Sydney. Obvious over-acting is the defect of many in the cast. The result is to enhance the artistry of Mr. Bradley’s performance because of the contrast in his getting the desired effects without ever appearing to be acting at all. He was last in New Zealand with “The Trial of Mary Dugan.”

The remains of the late Dion Boucicault, the fa vus actor-manager, were interred at Hurley, near Maidenhead, England. Simultaneously, a memorial service was held at the Church of St. M artin’s-in-the-Fields, conducted by the vicar, the Rev. P. McCormick. Among those present were the dead actor’s brother-in-law, Kenneth Barnes, Marie Lohr, and several who went to Australia with the Boucieaults. There was a large gathering of people connected with the stage.

The Savoy Theatre, London, is being altered at a cost of £70,000. It is expected that the reconstructed theatre will open on October 1 with a season of Gilbert and Sullivan opera.

The singing strength of "The Desert Song” is illustrated in the fact that John Ralston—the possessor of a fine, resonant voice—is not heard, in this respect, except for a few notes delivered in the dark when “The Red Shadow” is consigned to the hardships of the desert.