THE STAGE IN LONDON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 168, 20 July 1935, Page 14

THE STAGE IN LONDON

RUSH OF NEW PLAYS. AN OUTLAY OF £90,000. LONDON, April 20. I Tire most remarkable burst of activ- . ■ ily iu tile history of the London stag*. ; is approaching its climax. I 1 estimate that a total sum in the 1 neighbourhood of £90,000 has been i invested in the new productions which : are to open in the YYest End in rapid succession within the next few weeks. More than 1000 people will be employed in them. Four of the most important ana elaborate of these shows are due to 1 be produced within 10 days of each I other. The first of these is “Dancing City,’’ the musical iplay of old Vienna which Andre Chariot is producing at the Coliseum on Friday. Lea Beidi and Franco Foresta, the Americanttnlian tenor, head a large company. A definite date for “The Flying | Trapeze” at the Alhambra has not yet been fixed, but it should be ready by the beginning of next week. Jack Buchanan. Ivy St. Helier and .tune Clyde head a company which includes genuine circus performers. Within a day Or so of this opening —on May 2—-comes the Drury Lane | production, “Glamorous Night.” written and composed bv Ivor Novcllo. A J big company, headed by Mary Ellis

II and Ivor Novello, will make this a lavish anj expensive entertainment. 1 hen, shortly afterwards, Seymour Hicks is beginning his tenancy ot . the Victoria Palace with what promises to he the most elaborate play I seen at this famous theatre. The piece I is set in Canada. Gilbert Miller starts the ball rolling to-night at the Lyric with “Tovarchi,” in which Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Eugenie Leoutowich, the Russian actress, are starring. There is a clash to-morrow between a stage version of “3066 and All that,” the burlesque of history books, at the Strand, and “The *" Shadow Man” at the Piccadilly. Among the other attractions due during the next month or so arc— Iwo Cochran productions. “Mesmer,” hy Beverley Nichols, and “ Anything Goes,” the Cole Porter musical comedy. A new Andre Chariot musical show. “Shall We Reverse?” with June and Robert Hale heading the company. “Hungarian Rhapsody,” a big mu<i cal show for the Prince 's. '“La Revue Splendide,*'’ at the Prince of Wales Theatre. A farce with George Robey ano Alice Delysia co-starring for the first time. I ‘‘The Mask of Virtue,” a comedy I adapted from the French of Didc.et, for the Ambassadors. “Stevedore.” an American d.ama with Paul Robeson in the leading part, which is to be produced at the Dm bassy, Swiss Cottage, on May b, with the likelihood of a transfer to .he West End. More than naif a d'-zea produc l io.’s now in preparation will hiv,. • awa.. West End thea. es before dates cat b.« announce!. Far the first Cine—a' any period c e the year except ( Lustma's-- every Jiw-.ire in the Wot End i is in demand. j News has been received by Columbia . I’h-turos, Wellington, that the New . Zealand actor, Colin Tapley, is the latI c.st addition to the cast for Columbia 's “Black Room Mystery,” starring Boris Karloff, with Marian Marsh as leading woman. Robert Allen. John Buckler, He.derik Vogeding. Totbcn Moyes ana Katherine De Mille are among the pro niinent players already signed for this thrilling drama, which is being brought t<> the screen bv Roy William Neill. I I hp, story is by Arthur Strawn, who, with Henry Myers, did the adaptation. R. L. Grant has received the following cable from British Empire Funis, Sydney, after the private screening of “Grandad Rudd” starring the well known comely actur Bert Bailey: “Just come from private screening ‘Grandad Rudd.’ Undoubtedly dne- | sounds’ biggest money-get!er tu dale. I Screams from start to finish. In every j ay superior to • (_)n Our Selection. (Whole organisation can fee] elated with this o.ic. Definitely qualifies for long | i<rn. Release State Theatre, Sydney.” (Those who saw and enjoyed “On Our j Selection” will be delighted to hear jthat this new film, which is coming soon to New Zealand, far surpasses the I old with it’, combination of human m- ■ terest, appealing humour and line I workmanship, all of which are present to a far greater degree in “Grandad J K/l<»

Paramount starss W. C. Fields, Gary * ooper, l.ec l'ia<y and Randolph »scu,t, seldom, use make up. Mary J \>lor, who has th<* loading • '‘mi inne ig.-c in the f irst National production “Red Hot ’lyres,” makes ”.o seciCt about hei pet method of exercise. she lives in the exclusive Toluca Lake District in North Hollywood and each morning before breakfast she starts out, togged in heavy sweater and loose athletic shorts. aiH j trots aning the ruail skilling the lake shore for a half mile. At the hall-way mark she pauses for a brief tort and then jogs back to lier home. ,\ I'tvr a shower she is ready for a hearty break Inst, and then picpares Iyr her ‘lay at. the studio. Her latest picture, “lied Hol lyres,’’ i.-* a dynamic drama of the auto race tracks with speed thrills that will take the breath. There is a .-tirrii'g and unusual romance in which two daredevil drivers battle both for racing honours and the love of a beautiful girl, the part played by Miss Astor. Lylq Talbot, heads the cast, which also include* Roscoe Karns. Frankie Darro, Gavin Gordon, Mary Ti'cen and IHnry lxolNur. D. Ross Lederman directed.