Adi Cheery

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1013, 2 July 1930, Page 9

Adi Cheery

“LOVE LIES” COMPANY ARRIVES HAPPY ABOUT THE FUTURE I j There was no need to ask if a j theatrical company were on board the Marama yesterday. It seemed like old times again—like the days when theatrical companies J arrived regularly and not at intervals | of months and months and months. Trim little ladies skipped about the j deck, wrapping their coats, fur and J otherwise, round slim figures. Their ! tiny, high-heeled shoes pattered up ! ! and down stairs —and there were piles | ■ - Familiar faces appeared among the j few non-theatrical passengers. No- i body seemed gloomy about the future ‘ of the legitimate stage. The whole ! company was brightness itself —keen I on the tour of New Zealand. Clem Dawe was as cheery as ever, jHe has been to England end the I United Stat< New Zealand, and confirms bis earlier opinion that the legitimate stage will J not be so drastically affected by the I talkies after all. Uric Edgley supi ports his brother both in attitude and I opinion. They have all the confidence ; necessary to dispel any gloom which might linger because of the talking j film. | Betty Eley is making her first visit ( to New Zealand—and likes it. She had played in several big London imieical shows and .toured the provinces playing leading roles in others. “This tour has given me lots of conI fidence,” she remarked. “It has taken away the horror of first-nights.. Shows ! go on so quickly and so often that one gets accustomed to the opening nights." Miss Eley played in “The Vagabond King.” for 18 months in and played Betty in ‘ Betty in Mayfair” on | tour. She has played opposite George i Grossmith in “Lady Mary.” Miss Eley j has also played in two British talking pictures—“ Harmony Heaven” and “The Beggar’s Opera.” Bobby Gordon has understudied Jack Buchanan, London’s musical comedy idol, and played his parts on tour, lie is a bright young rnan and helped to brighten “Sunny” and “Lady Luck” in the English provinces and at the London Hippodrome. Michael Cole has hoard a lot about New Zealand and particularly Auckland before he ever thought of touring this side of the world. He played in “Rose Marie,” at Drury Lane, with Robert Geddes, the Aucklander who is now in New York. Now that he has seen the green hills of Auckland he is eager to tour the Dominion which, everyone in Australia told him, was “terribly, terribly English.” Dan Agar, the comedian,*was last here . with Josio Melvill in “Sally.” After that tour he returned to England for five years and played in “The Girl Friend,” “Hit the Deck” and “Funny Face.” I really came back to Australia to settle down.” he said this morning. “The English winters proved too severe for me after the sunshine of Australia. I also brought my wife and family out because 1 think they will have a better chance here. Now they are all in business.” Marie Eaton was last in New Zealand witji “Frasquita.” She is a most popular ' stage personality and has appeared in numerous musical comedies and straight plays in Australia Mona Barlee is a daughter of comedian Phil Smith. Paul Plunket is ■wellknown to New Zealand theatregoers Last, but not least, there is Mrs. j White, mother of Edglev and Dawe and Dick and Dorothy White. Though well on in years she never misses a performance or a tour. Nor is she gloomy about the future. Tho company will open with “Love Lies” on Saturday evening at His : Majesty’s Theatre.