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Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20966, 19 February 1938, Page 16

Arnold Ridley, the author of that most successful of mystery thrillers, “The Ghost Train,” presented at Richmond, London, on January 17 a new play written by himself, entitled “Needs Must.” Mr Ridley directed and supervised all the details of the production. His play is described as “strong drama—with laughs." The exceptionally good cast which was assembled portended a future transference to Central London. It includes Mary Clare. Moira Lynd, June Deprez, Polly Emery, John Teed, George Elton, and Hugh Miller.

The special matinees of the Actors' Orphanage pantomime, “Cinderella,’* took place on January 10, 11 and 12 at the Gaiety Theatre, London, to raise money for the endowment of a scholarship to train any child who shows special talent for the stage. This was the twenty-first pantomime to be produced at the Orphanage at Langley and the second to be brought to London. The matinees at the Gaiety were started last year by Leslie Henson, who is one of the vice-presidents of the Orphanage. There was plenty of comedy in this “Cinderella," which was a full-length show in the traditional manner. The book was by the secretary of the Orphanage, Peter Jackson, with additional comedy scenes by the stage-manager of the Gaiety, Ro’o Currie. Debroy Somers and his band provided music.

While Lloyd Hughes was in Australia acting in "Lovers and Luggers” lie remarked that in acting for a camera a mistake can usually be rectified, but that it was not so on the stage. He related how in a play in which he was playing the lead at a New York theatre he had an embarrassing experience. In a scene he had to have a cheque all ready in his pocket and hand it to his leading lady, who would tear it up and fling the pieces away. One night the stage manager failed to hand him the cheque, and halfway through the scene he remembered the omission. “The business with the cheque was very important, and I couldn’t think what I should do when the time came for me to produce it. Somehow I got through the scene, but I was in a panic. Then, when the aw’ful moment came. I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. I was too scared to look at it, but merely handed it to the leading lady with the necessary remarks. I noticed that instead of tearing the paper she crumpled it up and threw it away. It was my receipt for iny actors equity dues.”