The Theatrical World

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 62, 14 March 1931, Page 23 (Supplement)

The Theatrical World

A Travelled Actor. Harvey Adams, appearing in the Barrie play, “ Mary Rose,” has seen quite a lot of the world during the last few years. Before touring South Africa with Muriel Starr, prior to going to Australia, he was appearing in principal roles with a company which was playing through South America and the West Indies in “ French Leave ” and other comedies. “ The funniest part of the trip,” said Mr Adams, “ was to see whole rows of shining white shirt-fronts of the audience in the Bermudas, with no faces above them. The wearers, of course, were negroes, and in the darkened theatre their heads were invisible. The natives are keen theatregoers, and during the fortnight’s season in the Bermudas every seat was booked days ahead. For a matinee performance the gallery would be full before nine o’clock in the morning. Actor Of Many Parts. An actor of many parts, whose specialty is character roles, is Arthur Cornell, who is the spy, Pierre, in “ Sons o’ Guns ” at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne. Mr Cornell first went to Australia with the Willoughby-Ward Company in .1906, and two years later returned to London, but went back to Australia a year or two later, to remain, excepting for a visit to the United States in 1917. He has played in innumerable productions under the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management, one of his best-remembered roles being that of the Doctor in “ The Trial of Mary Dugan.” Prior to going to Australia one of his most important engagements was with the late Edward Terry, with whom he appeared in a repertoire of cemedies extending over five years. Gilbert And Sullivan Opera. For their forthcoming season of Gilbert and Sullivan opera, J. C. Williamson, Ltd., will he in the fortunate position of being able to present in leading roles three artists who have appeared in these parts in London productions, namely, Ivan Menzies. Gregory Stroud and Dorothy Gill. By arrangement with Rupert D’Oyly Carte, who now directs and controls the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, these artists have been made available to J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for the Australian season, and they will have associated with them in the repertoire a organised company of picked artists. With Minnie Everett as producer, and Gustave Slapoffski as musical director, each of whom has been connected with the Gilbert and Sullivan productions of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for a long period of years, it goes without saying that the operas will be presented under the most favourable conditions. Recent Productions. One ven- striking thing about recent stage productions in London is that nearly every play is the work, either alone or in collaboration, of a practised playwright, says a London writer. Even outside the list of established successes the old hands are prominent. Mr A. A. Milne (whose “ Michael and Mary ” seerps below his best, but whose “ Toad of Toad Hall ” is a miracle of delicate craftsmanship), Mr Eden Philpotts, Mr Roland Pertwee and “ Sapper ” all contribute, to the bag. So does Miss Joan Temple, whose “ Charles and Mary ” deserved better fortune than it got. New \ writers, however, are rare. Two call ■ for mention—-Miss E. M. Delafield, whose first play. “ To See Ourselves.” . is full of quality, and Mr Emlyn Wil- ( liams, whose sense of the theatre in ! “ A Murder Has Been Arranged,” is I strong enough to carry the dead weight of an unlikely and complicated story. In this connection Mr Rodney t Ackland’s “ Dance With No Music,” produced at the Arts Theatre for a trial trip, showed promise.

Allan Wilkie’s Bad Luck. Allan Wilkie’s season of Noel Coward’s “ Hay Fever ” at the Melbourne King’s was indefinitely postponed following fire at the theatre. A Stage Celebrity. Basil Rathbone, English stage celebrity, who has been doing talkie work in the States, is returning to England. Basil was to play under Arch. Selwyn, Broadway producer, for a season, in “A Paris Divorce,” and negotiations in -progress to induce Gloria Swanson to forsake the films for the female role. Son of Moscovitch. Noel Maddison, son' of Maurice Moscovitch, recently completed two outstanding stage characterisations in Los Angeles. He was star in the stage version of “ Rope’s End,” and now has been assigned the lead in Galsworthy's “ Justice.” He has also commenced work on Nicolav Gogol’s famous Russian comedy, “ The Inspector General,” under the direction of the Repertory Theatre’s actor-producer, Michael Visaroff. “On the Spot.” “On the Spot,” the racy play, in which Frank Harvey is appearing in Sydney, closed in London last month, after a record run. London papers say it is Mr Edgar "Wallace’s most successful play, having beaten all his “ thrillers.” Pirie Bush, of Wellington, is in “ On the Spot,” and the cast also includes John Fernside, Rowena Ronald (Mrs Herbert Browne), Campbell Copelin, Frank Leighton and Tal Qrdell, the Ginger Mick of “ The Sentimental Bloke,” New Zealand season. In connection with the production of J. M. Barrie's play, “ Mary Rose,” by J. C. Williamson at the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, it is interesting to note that Barrie was both actor and playwright long before he was out of his teens. Ilis passion for theatricals was kindled in liis school days, when he acted as honorary secretary to an amateur dramatic club at. Dumfries. This throws some light upon Barrie’s success in stagecraft, which is so greatly indicated in “ Mary Rose,” and none can doubt that his brief experience as an amateur was of essential service to him in laying the foundation of a brilliant career. Theatrical Crisis.

Australia is not the only country where the theatrical profession is meeting with evil times. In Germany, too, there is a crisis in the theatrical world. Of 12.000 professionals, 8000 are yearning for a billet. They have drastic ways, over there, of dealing with such impasses. In more prosperous days the municipalities would have aided the unemployed by subsidies from the rates, but, as the finances of the country are generally very much impaired, many theatres hitherto relying upon the

annual bounties have been closed, and the outlet has become restricted. So the State has stepped in and ordained that all theatrical agencies must cease business, and that the medium of obtaining engagements must be found in the powerful Actors’ Society, in connection with the national Labour Bureau. The object of the new regulation is to centralise the regulations between employers—i.e., the managers—and the artists; in other words, to. create an exchange where the unemployed are informed of vacancies and can negotiate contracts on equitable conditions. The new combination will enable the actors to be better posted as to the law of demand and supply, Marie Burke Doing Well. Marie Burke is doing well at Drury Lane, having crossed from New York to take up a part in the Christmas production. writes our Sydney correspondant. Lance Fairfax, for some reason yet unknown, withdrew* from the lead and and Boby Howes got it. Clarice Hardwicke is also in it. The piece is musical, of course and is called “ The Song of the Drum.” An old Twelfth Night custom was adhered to behind the scenes, though the date had to be advanced this year on acount of the fire on the stage which delayed the opening of this piece. Robert Baddeley, a famous eighteenth century comedian, left £IOO in his will to provide actors at this theatre with cakes and wine each Twelfth Night. Probably the orig« inal £IOO has ben exhausted by this, but the English being people who honour traditions, would surely find a generous successor to Robert B. Free Cough Drops. There will no longer be any excuse for patrons of the Potsdam Dramatic Theatre to disturb the performances by coughing. Persons who suffer from colds can now receive a package of cough drops free of. charge at the refreshment stand in the lobby. The theatre, which was founded by Frederick the Great, has over the entrance the inscription: “ For the pleasure of the inhabitants.” Paris Hears Strauss. Paris has lately heard Richard Strauss conduct for the first time since the w r ar. He led a concert of his works and his “ Rosenkavalier ” at the opera. Paderewski’s Opera Revived. In honour of Paderewski’s seventieth birthday. Posen, Poland, has revived his opera, “ Manru,” composed about 1902. London Recitals. Recitals in London have recently been given by Adolf Busch, Mischa Elman and Yelty d’Aranyi (violinists), Egon Petri, Serge Rachmaninoff, Arthur Rubenstein and Nikolai . Orloff (pianists) and Elena Gerhard t and Amelita Galli-Curci (singers).