STAGE GOSSIP

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18444, 30 March 1922, Page 6

STAGE GOSSIP

PLAYS AND PLAYERS. When I .ouis Benmson makes hi s first appearance in Australia at the Theatre Royal tonight, in “Johnny <Jet Your Gun,’’ ho will be supported by a strong company. Among the names, most of which are familiar, are Majorie Bennett, Diana Wilson. H. H. Wallace, J. B. Atholwood, Raymond Lawrence, Robert E. Homans, Lance Lister, Gwen Burroughs, Dorothy Seacoin be. H. C. Nightingale, Jack Hooker, ' George Blunt, Harry Paulton. Nellie Mortyne, Doris Kendall, Leslie Victor, John Bedouin, Vivian Edwards, and Olive Proctor. The prologue is acted in a moving picture studio, and the other acts pass in a Long Island home. At first Air. Bennison is seen as a picture cowboy. Mr. Dan Agar, who was a quaint “dame” in the King’s Theatre production of the “Sinbad” pantomime, took Air. Alfred Frith’s place in several recent performances of “A Night Out,” and provided good fun, All*. Agar has played many parts in English musical productions. “Paddy tlie Next Best Thing” is given in England under the management of Mr. Robert Courtneidge, remembered in Australia as actor and producer. His son. Mr. Charles Courtneidge, plays Lawrence JBlake in the Melbourne production, and his daughter, Miss Rosalind Courtneidge, was here in “The Alan from Toronto.” A part for which Miss Hunter Watts has a special liking i s Desdemona in “Othello.” It was her first Shakespearian “lead,” and she expresses great admiration for the delicate purity of the character. The happy charm of Rosalind in “As You Like It” also has much attraction for Miss Hunter Watts, who will repeat her impersonations of both parts early in the current season at the Palace. Miss Eileen Robinson, who is appear, ing with Air. Bert Gilbert at the Tivoli, had her first stage successes half-a-doizen years ago with Air. Hugh Buckler’s clever comedy company at the Little Theatre, Sydney, now called the Playhouse. One of her best parts was the coster girl in Shaw’s “ Fanny’s First Play.” Latterly Aliss Robinson has had varied experience in America. Several representatives of “character old women” are well placed in “Paddy.” The aged O’Hara sisters ar© neatly portrayed by Aliss ATeta Pel. ham and Aliss Iza Millett. Aliss Pelham was the quaint and crotchety grandmother in “Tilly of Bloomsbury.” Aliss Katie Towers, who plays one of the comic dispensary patients, was the giddy spinster with long curls in “Old Lady 31.” The other patient is Aliss Madge Herrick. All these actresses have had much experience of character work, as well, as of other parts. Romeo and Juliet, according to the play, fell in love at first sight, but surely that could not have happened if Romeo had worn a mask as ugly as the one assumed by Air. Leslie Manners, of the Alan Wilkie company, in the scene of festival at the home of the Capulets. In many productions of the play Romeo has taken the reasonable liberty of allowing Juliet to see the face behind the mask, though hiding it from others.