STAGE PERSONAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19840, 14 May 1927, Page 15 (Supplement)

STAGE PERSONAGES

AN INTERESTING GALAXY WITH “ABIE’S IRISH ROSE o It is questionable whether any company that has come to Now Zealand has possessed more interesting personages thanjfchoso included in the cast of “Abie’s Irish Rose,” the record breaking comedy now visiting provincial districts (Hawera, Eltham, Stratford, New Plymouth and Levin), before opening the Christchurch season on Wednesday May 11. Miss Grace Stafford, who plays the part of Rdsemary Murphy so cleverly, is a charming young American actress who has already made many friends in New Zealand, and is likely to make manv more before she bids farewell to our shores. Miss Berta Walden (Mrs Isaac Cohen), is one of the most entertaining women, and possesses a rare grace of manner, and makes an ideal Jack’ Trainer (Solomon Levy) in “Abie’s Irish Rose,” the record breaking comedy coining to Wanganui, has some really practical advice on many of the social and economic problems of the day —provided he can be induced to broadcsat it. Henry Mortimer (Rabbi Jacob Samuels) is a much travelled man, an interesting conversationalist and a brilliant raconteur. John McCabe (Patrick Murphy, which character he has played for four years) knows a good deal about the world and its peoples. Alfred Gordon (Isaac Cohen) displays a keen interest in all branches of art, the theatre, painting, sculpture, music, and has scored signal successes David Wall (Father Whalen) is an enthusiastic student of nature, and has already seen enough of New Zealand’s majestic mountains and peaceful sylvan glades to threaten to write a book about them when he returns to America. Last, but not least, George Duryea (Abie Levy, who loves Rosemary Murphy), one of the most popular juveniles on the American stage, has played leading roles on stage and in pictures opposite world-famous stars. Truly an. interesting and versatile combination of high-grade artists.