DUE FOR LONG RUN?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 110, 12 May 1938, Page 3

DUE FOR LONG RUN?

N.Z. AUTHOR’S PLAY. MERTON HODGE SUCCESSES. “The Island,” latest work of the New Zealand playwright, Dr. Merton Hodge, is reported by the ticket agencies to have been doing third best business of any play in London during recent weeks. It has now reached its 67th. performance and seems likely to have a long run, writes the Evening Post’s London correspondent on April 6. Its chief rivals are John Gielgud’s presentation of “The Three Sisters,” by Tchehov, which will shortly be taken off after a limited season, and St. John Ervine's play, “Robert’s Wife.” The trio seems likely to be joined by Robert E. Sherwood’s “Idiot’s Delight,” which commenced recently and in which Raymond Massey is scoring as great a success as did Allred Lunt and Lynn Fontaine when it was produced in America. Dr. Hodge has sold the American rights of “The Island” to a management which is planning to take the play on tour with a first-class company in Canada, and to New York in the autumn. In recent months Dr. Hodge’s earlier play “The Wind and the Rain,” has been proving exceedingly popular in the large French provincial cities, much to the surprise of the author, who declares France was the last place in the world he thought it would succeed. The French version is practically a literal translation, and the scene has been retained in Edinburgh. The chief part has been taken by a well-known young French actor, Rene de Villiers. The play is likely to be produced in Paris. Asked if he had any information for New Zealand readers about his future theatrical plans, Dr. Hodge said he had written another comedy, but he could not say much about it at the moment. It was the subject of negotiations at present, hut nothing had been decided on so far. It was unlikely to be produced in the near future as it might clash with “The Island.” Chester Morris may play the part of Houdini, world-famous magician, in a screen biography. Radio own the rights subject to Mrs. Houdini’s approval of the actor cast and she is favourably disposed towards Morris.