ALL MEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 806, 29 October 1929, Page 11

ALL MEN

Experienced Players in “Journey’s End” Coy. MANAGERS LOOK TO THEIR LAURELS A whole theatrical company arrived in Auckland without making itself obvious. There were no leading ladles in expensive fur coats, no dashing chorus girls with their mascots and no lads q£ the chorus. Every member of the company which is to play "Journey's End’’ in New Zealand is a man. Most of them are experienced London actors—all of them have had interesting stage careers. Reginald Tate, who plays the principal role, began in repertory in the Leeds Art Theatre, England—o.ne of the finest possible schools. "We playeef only plays which were worth while,” he said this morning on the Ulimaroa. “Then we always tried to encourage local talent. We did one play by a local author which was afterward done by the Birmingham Repertory Company, but, of course, we did several plays which were never heard of again.” From repertory Mr. Tate graduated to London. He played in “Macbeth” and then joined Sir Nigel Playfair and appeared in a number of his 18th century productions, one of which was "When Crummies Played.” Vincent Lawson, another member of the company, has had 35 years’ experience an the stage and has played under all the leading managers in London, including Sir Gerald Du Maurier, Cyril Maude, Seymour Hicks and the late Sir Charles Hawtrey. He was stage manager for Seymour Hicks and appeared with him in 20 plays. Mr. Lawson has appeared with every London star of any magnitude and has played in musical comedy as well as straight plays. DISCOVERER OF HAMMOND One of his proudest memories is the discovery of Walter Hammond, the Gloucestershire and All-England cricketer, who two days altet leaving the Cirencester Grammar School in 1920 made a century for Cirencester Town against a team from Stroud. It was Mr. Lawson who, after watching Hammond at the wickets, told the captain of the Cirencester Town Cricket Club to keep an eye on the boy. Mr. Lawson, who is a well-known Rugby player and cricketer, has a brother in Wellington. Mr. Redge Carey, stage manager for the company, is making his thirtieth trip to New Zealand. He has. charge of the armoury which is necessary to provide the realistic off-stage war noises. Lewis Shaw, the hero of “Young Woodley,” confesses to feeling rather homesick. He will return to England at the end of the present tour of "Journey’s End,” which will go on to South Africa after New Zealand and Sydney have been played. Reginald Wvkeham was last here with Renee Nelly and before that with the late Dion Boucicault. Harvey Adams played the leading male roles with Muriel Starr and is a familiar figure to New Zealand theatre-goers. Arthur Stigaut's son is also with the company.