GOOD COMPANIES WILL VISIT N.Z.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18576, 26 September 1928, Page 11

GOOD COMPANIES WILL VISIT N.Z.

THEATRICAL TREATS IN STORE FOR DOMINION. Mr Charles E. Bonner, manager for the J. C. Williamson Company, returned to Christchurch this morning alter a health and business trip to Australia. The grand opera season at Ilis Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, said Mr Bonner, was a huge success. After a long season the company would go to Adelaide and then to Perth, where it would disband. The firm w’as very disappointed that it could not bring the operas t 6 New Zealand. In addition to a large complement of people, it was necessary to transport over 400 tons of scenery and costumes, and this made a tour of New Zealand almost an impossible successful venture. The Margaret Bannerman Company, at the Criterion, had had a phenomenal run, playing several English comedies. This company would start a New Zealand tour in Auckland next week. Maurice Moscovitch, who was in Christchurch some months ago, made a big success in Sydney with his new play, “ The Silent House.” He produced the play for the first time in Dunedin, and only played it in that city and in Auckland. After running for several weeks to packed houses at Ilis Majesty’s, Melbourne, “ The Girl Friend ” was taken off in order to allow “ Hit the Deck,” another tremendously popular musical comedy, to be produced, said Mr Bonner. Both these shows were due in New Zealand next month, and would be in Christchurch about Christmas time. At J.C.W.’s new Melbourne theatre, the Comedy, the Vanbrugh-Boucicault Company had been well established for months. It was a difficult matter to get seats without booking well ahead. This company would also visit New Zealand in the summer with an extensive repertoire. When they were last here they scored tremendous successes. What Mr Bonner called one of the outstanding comedy successes in recent years, “ The Patsey,” is now in its fourteenth week, and before coming to New Zealand will run in Sydney. On returning from New Zealand Moseiwitsch, said Mr Bonner, had big sriccesses in Melbourne and Adelaide, both town halls holding capacity audiences at each concert. After finishing with Moseiwitch, Mr Bonner took over Mr John Brownlee, the principal baritone of the Melba - Williamson Grand Opera Company, for a series of concerts in Melbourne and Victorian provincial towns. “It is no exaggeration to say,” said Mr Bonner, “ that the concerts were the biggest success since before the war. The MelbUurne Town Hall was booked out, an unheard of thing, and Brownlee was obliged to give two extra concerts.” Unfortunately this singer will not come to New Zealand as he leaves Australia to-morrow on contract to the Paris Opera. For the first time in a number of years, J. C. Williamson are taking a company to the West Coast. The “Rookery Nook” Company will play there, and, if it is successful, there will be. possibly, regular tours of the Coast. Mr Bonner leaves for Greymouth tomorrow.