THEATRICAL TOPICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20104, 24 March 1928, Page 15 (Supplement)

THEATRICAL TOPICS

PLAYS AND PLAYERS GOSSIP FROM GREENROOM AND STAGE Muriel Starr and her dramatic, company will tour New Zealand again thit year, playing several thrillers. Bert Errol, the female impersonator who toured New Zealand with his wife Ray Hartley, some years ago, is return ing to Australia. » » nt •

Jimmy Goddcn may not come to New Zealand with the “Mercenary Mary” company, as there is a fat part for him in “Rio Rita.” The transfer may also be influenced because there is no part to fit him in “Good News,’’ which will bring the “Mercenary Mary” company back to Melbourne late in the year. * # * ♦

The J. C. Williamson company, of which Mr Moscoviteh is the, head, will

produce “The Ringer,” as well as “The Terror,” during their New Zealand tour. One member of the company, Air Patrick Curwen, who plays the. part of Divisional-Surgeon Lomond in “The Ringer.” came out to Australia and New Zealand under a special engagement to play this particular part. Ho is said to be one of the best actors London has seen for wars. # * •

Maurice Moscoviteh will tour New Zealand with “The Ringer” and “The Terror,” two thrilling Edgar Wallace dramas which have been produced with signal success in London and Australia. The particularly strong company appearing with Moscoviteh will leave Sydney for New eZaland at the end of March and the Dominion tour will open at Auckland on Wednesday. April 4, thus providing the principal theatrical attraction for the Easter holiday sea-

“The Letter.” a powerful drama by Somerset Maugham, which will probably mark the initial production in New Zealand of the Vanbrugh-Bouci-cault Company, is a play that necessitates an early appearance of the audience, for one of the most dramatic events occurs just as the curtain rises. Miss Irene Vanbrugh and Mr Norman MeKinnoll, the well-known London actor who was specially engaged for the Australian and New Zealand tour, appear in the principal roles. Air Dion Boucicault, who is also producer, appears in a brilliant part as a plausible and verv shrewd Chinese Jaw student. ♦ ♦ ♦ #

Maurice Moscoviteh does not agree with those who declare that it is lowering the prestige of an artist like Mr Moscoviteh to appear in drama of the type of “The Terror,” by Edgar Wallace. “In the first plsrr," Mr Moscovitch pointed out. “ ‘The Terror’ is a very good play of its kind. Secondly, I consider that drama and melodrama are. as popular with the public as any other classes of stage production, and are intended to cater to a very large section. Moreover, they are many playgoers of what may be described as the more cultured type, who enjoy a good drama as a kind of mental stimulant, just as a literary person might occasionally take to a thrilling detective story for a change from his usual literature. I have received letters from doctors, lawyers, judges’ school teachers, and the head of a very important college for girls who tell inc that they have greatly enjoyed ‘The Terror.’” * * * #

Mr Richard White, of the firm of White and Edgeley, who introduced the Joseph Cunningham English Comedy Company and the Midnight Frolics to New Zealand last year, passed through Auckland recently en route to New York to confer with Air E. J. Carroll on the matter of securing suitable plays for Australia and New Zealand. Messrs White and Edgeley have a. working arrangement with the firm of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., who are now presenting “The Last Warning” and “The Alarm Clock” for them in Australia. Those two mystery plays have had a monopoly of Alelbourne for some time now, but it is understood they will be seen in New Zealand during the present year.

Somebody should toll Leon Gordon that the “g” is not silent in “ recognise, ” says a Sydney paragraphist. A little shudder passes through his admiring audience when the immaculate Loon in “The Trial of Afary Dugan” says, “I recker’nisc it.” No, no, Loon! * # * • Air Loo flu Chateau has been commissioned to prepare a tour of New Zealand for the notable tenor, Alfred O'Shea, particularly renowned by his, gramophone records. Mr O’Shea has the distinction of being acknow lodged by the Columbia firm of being easily the best sfdler on their records. Mr O'Shea, like Dame Nellie Alelbn, was born in Australia, ami was recently selected with the diva to sing at the opening of the Canberra Parliament. After Air O’Shea's first Albert Hall (London) concert the critic of the London Morning Post wrote: “Australia has sent us some great singers, including Alelba, ami now. for the first time, a distinctive tenur with the sorrow of Ireland and the sunshine of the Antipodes in his voice. Effortless, sweet, pure, and always a delight. Mr O'Shea held his vast audience as if under a spell. ♦ « ♦ # j For years Nellie Stewart reigned supreme, and it was tht* opinion of theatre-goers that as actress ami singer she was matchless. Al any in N w Zealand will remember her with the happiest recollections, and will be delighted to hear and see her ome again before her name becomes but a plea.-ant memory. It was as “Sweet Nell of Old Drury” that Nellie Stewart set the seal of fame on her career, ami the announcement made by .1. C. Williamson that she will appear once more in this most charming of characterisations will be received with considerable enthusiasm. To see Nidlie Stewart in thi* beautiful musical play, and in the title role in. “Trilby” (which will probably also be staged) will be one of the theatrical events of the year. Details of the New Zealand tour are now being arranged. The company will probably open in Wellington at Easter. * * JJC ♦ The J. C. Williamson new English comedy company to appear in New Zealand in “A Cuckoo in the Nest.” “Rookery Nook,” and “Thark,’’ three of Ben Travers’ most amusing comedies, is described as an exceptionally strong one. Alost people have lauulied over the sayings and doings of the bland Reverend Sloley-Jones in “A (‘uekuo in the Nest.” All those woudeiful char acters have now been transferred to the stage. Among those who came out from T.ondon under engagamerit to J. C. Williamson are Hastings Lynn. Helene Simon. Cyril A'ernon (a son of the late Air W. H. A’ernon. one of the most accomplished actors ever seen in Australia and New Zealand), Vera Gerald, Raymond Langley, Alinnie Rayner (who has been playing in London for four consecutive years). Aliss Willa Lyndberg, Jane Comfort, ami Willie Clifton. In Australia they were joined by four experienced artists in Leslie A’ictor, Alary Rigby, J. B. Atholwood and Alec Alves. The company opens in Auckland on April 7 and in Wellington on Afay 9. * * # # Having witnessed 193 plays in a seven-months’ trip abroad. Mr Ernest C. Rolls, producer ami booking manager for Fullers’, has returned to Sydney with his bag containing two of New Y’ork’s capacity hits—“ Rio Rita” and “Good News”—to say nothing of half-a-dozen other plays calculated to whet the appetite of Australian audiences. “Rio Rita,” Siegfield’s spectacular musical play, will introduce again to Australian audiences Aliss Gladys Alonerieff in the title-role. In these two successes the Blackbottom and Charleston are passed out as popular American dam es, before the Kinkajon in “Rio Rita” and the ’Varsity Drag in “Good News.” Th-e “Rio Rita” score is melodious—of the musical comedy order—while “Good News” is of the jazz order. Americans who will star in “Rio Rita”—Aliss .Janette Glemnoro, comedienne and dancer, who made a hit in “O Kay”; Dave Alallen, a Broadway favourite, resourceful and clean, who can be compared with George AL Cohan in his heyday: John Vah idine. a juvenile lead, an Englishman and most successful in America; Alaric Delaine. an English soprano, and Guy Sanders, English character comedy artist, “Alary Alalones, ” George AL Cohan’s latest and greatest musical success; “Baby Cyclone,” a George AL

Cohan farce, and “Los Angeles,” depicting life at Hollywood, are among the other treats which Fullers have in store for their patrons as the result of the hunt all over the world bv Air Rolls. ❖ * * ♦ Edmund Lowe, the popular leading man. plays the part of Gordon, a newspaper reporter, in “The Wizard,” a screen production, based on Gaston Leroux's sensational drama, “Balaoo.’’ The mysterious identity of the wizarl and his uncanny house, makes for much tense action in the story, and this fact, coupled with thrilling adventures and a murder or two thrown in, makes “The Wizard” one of the most “spine-tingling” mystery dramas screened.