PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17131, 18 June 1927, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

THEATRE ROYAL. Tune 27—Boxing Association. July 21—Leo du Chateau. July 27—J. C. Williamson (Renee Kelly Comedy Company). August—Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players. STRAND THEATRE. Next Week.—. Tack Lumsdaine. Nightly—Pictures. FRANKTON THEATRE. Nightly—Pictures. **Can Hamilton Boat That?” A • correspondent at Greymouth writes me concerning the big business done by touring companies in that town. He mentions that, although the population is only 7000 (about half that of Hamilton), “The Best People” drew packed houses for three nights, Muriel Starr for four, the Futurists for six, and the Humphrey Bishop Company for five. “Can Hamilton beat that?” he asks. I’m afraid the answer must be “No!” My correspondent states that plans are out for a new theatre at Greymouth to seat 2500 and to cost £33,000. - Williamson’s New Departure.

J. C. Williamson’s announced that a No. 2 musical comedy company had been formed to tour the country towns of Australia. The company left Melbourne on June 9, and after touching a few New South Wales centres, will play the show dates in Queensland. Adele Crane is the leading lady, with Leo Franklyn as chief comedian. Roy Galloway and Beryl Heydon, who recently arrived. Roy Carey, a Melbourne tenor, and Nellie Dennes, an Adelaide girl, are included in the company. Victor is stage manager and also appears in comedy parts. The plays include “Katja,” “Kissing Time,” and “The Cousin from Nowhere.” Chas. A. Wenman, associate director of J. C. Williamson’s, stated that this was the first time that the firm had attempted to stage musical comedy in the smaller centres, and they were sending out a company that they could be proud of. The success achieved with the “White Cargo” touring company recently had influenced / the present action.

Allan Wilkie’s Return. Miss Hunter-Watts will again appear in several of the leading feminine roles during the New Zealand tour of the Allan Wilkie Company, which will commence at Wellington on July 6. Since last in New Zealand Mr Wilkie has added the following plays to his repertoire:—“Henry VIII.,” “Antony and Cleopatra,” “Measure for Measure,” “The Tempest,” “King Lear,” i “Much Ado About Nothing,” “A WinI ter’s Tale,” “Cymbeline,” and “The 1 Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Amateur Activities.

The live nights’ season of “Florodera” by the Wellington Operatic Society closed last night. ‘The Lilies of the Field,” a comedy, was given by a company of Hastings amateurs this week, under the direction of Miss Irene Stollery. “The Cassilis Engagement,” by St. John Hankin, will be the next production of the Auckland Little Theatre Society. The Waipukuran Operatic Society gave a performance of “Dorothy” at Hastings on Saturday night on behalf of the Hawke’s Bay Children’s Homes. The Greymouth Operatic Society recently gave three performances of “Mariette,” an original musical comedy, the takings for the three nights being £635. Rehearsals of “Katinka” by the Hamilton Operatic Society are proceeding successfully. The musical score is dicult, but under the buidance of Mrs H. C. Ross the difficulties are being overcome. The Auckland Operatic Society hi busily rehearsing “La Mascotte,” which was done by the Hamilton Society some years ago. Mr Colin Muston is conductor. Mr W. Crowther is sole selector for the cast.

Rehearsals for “The Arcadians, ,x the next production of the Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society, are progressing well. Mr Theo Trezise will produce the show. He was producer for the Auckland Society’s production of the same musical comedy last year.

The following cast for “The Sunshine Girl” has been chosen by the Masterton Operatic Society:—Lord Bicester, Mr Seymour Gilding; Vernon Bundle, Mr G. Rodgers; Commodore Parker. Mr Steve Wilson; Hodson, Mr Rex Shaw; Stepniak, Mr C. G. Marsack; Floot, Mr Harry Hall; Clarence (the footman), Mr Gordon Trevellyn; Lady Rosabell, Miss Alma Styles; Marie, Miss Mollie Collier; Delia Dale, Miss E. Ralph; Brenda Blacker, Miss Edna Jenkins.

Of the Wellington Operatic Society’s production of “Florodora” this week, a Wellington’paper says: “The presentation was a distinct triumph for the Society. The production went with a swing right through, and there was erjtire absence of first-night uneasiness—and prompting;—and in many respects the eating of some of the principals closely approached professional standard. For an amateur effort the frocking and general scenery effects were a revelation, evoking continual applause from the large audience present. The work of the chorus was good, as was also the dancing."

N.Z. Boy’s Success. The Nellie Bramley Company made its fairwel! appearance at His Majesty’s Theatre. Auckland, in “Camille” on Saturday night, Miss Bramley giving a sincere arid thoughtful interpretation of the fascinating but fateful lady of the camellias, and winning the sympathies of the audience with her final jelf-sacrifice. Mr William Raymond in the role of Armand (which he took ata practically i day’s notice, owing to the illness of Mr George Hewlett) gave a careful delineation of a difficult and moodful character. At the conclusion of the performance, Mr William Bussell, director of the company, after thanking the audience for their appreciation during the season, made special reference to Mr Raymond’s promptitude in taking up Mr Hewlett’s part, and stressed the) fact that an Auckland boy had stepped ! into the breach at the eleventh hour, | and had given such a fine performance. J This tribute was received with hearty ■ applause, and Mr Raymond bowed his i acknowledgments. i Mr Raymond is really Mr Ray Gas- ! ley, son of Mr and Mrs Casley, of j Matamata, and has a sister residing in j Kami it 00. j

Tastes Differ. In view of the failure of “The Green Hat” in Melbourne, it is interesfing to read that Miss Katharine Cornell has just closed a tour of 701 performances in America, in just this play by Michael Arlcn.

It will be remembered that “Rain,” a tremendous success in America, was a failure in Australia.

Warde Morgan Grateful to the Public. “I do realise that it is through the marvellous help and sympathetic understanding which Ihe public have given rnc that I have, been able. In put up the fight I have done,” says Warde Morgan, who recently re-appeared on the Sydney stage for the first, lime since ihe terrible railway accident last year. “It has been worth it. To come back after a year! You can have no conception of the feeling—ilic majority of you—for only people who have been connected with the stage can realise the tremendous call of it, and the loneliness of being without a theatre—of not belonging to any company. I can never be too grateful to Australians for the wonderful help they have given me, and t only hope that it will he in my power some day to do something for them. - '

The Poor Amateurs! A correspondent writes to a Stratford paper:—Amateur theatricalism to me seems, and has always seemed, a futile form of recreation, and as something in the nature of an outlet for the energies of flappers of both sexes who would be much better employed if they spent their spare time doing something useful. If people want to go Jo'a theatre there are plenty of high-class entertainments given by professionals, and amateur attractions are mostly nothing more than poor imitations of these. After appearing before the public once or twice, amateurs are apt to become swelled-head-ed and imagine they are up to professional standard, because their friends are too considerate to hurt their feelings by telling them otherwise. Oscar Asche for America? “Kong,” bought in London by A 1 Woods, has been dramatised for Oscar Asche from Harold Kingsley’s novel. “It is a story of revenge,” explained Woods, “and has a real thrill. That fellow, Oscar Asche, is a great actor. ‘What Shall It Profit a Man?’ in which I saw him at Golders Green, could be re-written into a fine play. “In ‘Kong,’ in which I want to take him to America, he plays the part of a wrestler, a giant of a fellow, who revenges himself upon his enemy, and gets a real punch home. His size will help the wrestling part.” Aocldents to Players. Mr Nelson Keys, the well-known actor, was thrown to the ground and, for a moment, rendered unconscious when a real bomb exploded at Twickenham, London, during the filming of an air raid scene in the war film, “Mumsey.” His right hand was badly injured. Pauline Frederick recently was rendered unconscious in a similar manner, and suffered a cut on her head.

Widespread interest has been aroused by the announcement that Jack Lumsdaine, the Australian Whispering Baritone and “Radio Rascal,” will appear in Hamilton next week. He will open at the Strand Theatre on Monday.

Mr Lumsdaine has .just closed a lengthy and highly successful season at the Strand and Majestic Theatres in Auckland, where he proved very popular. lie sings a number of his own compositions.

Highest Salaried Company in London, Of “Whitebirds,” the revue in which Mr George Gee recently made his reappearance in London after a long stay in Australia in Williamson musical comedy, a London paper says:—lt would be perfectly safe to wager that Itm formidable company engaged for “Whitebirds" at Ilis Majesty's is the highest salaried on record. Here are some of them: Maurice. Chevalier, Jose Collins. Maisie Gay, Ed. Lowry, Gilbert Wells and Florence Brady, Gwen Farrar, Lucycnne lierval, Chick Farr, Anton Dolin, Mildred Melrose, George Gee, Nina de Valois, Doreen Read and Billy Mayorl. In addition to all these, eight French mannequins have to be paid, and no fewer tiuni ACly English £U *’.ccr&.

No Amalgamation. Rumours of an amalgamation of the two biggest theatrical firms in Australia —Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller and J. C. Williamson, Ltd.—were contradicted by Mr John Fuller. “Mo, there is nothing to it,” he said. “We find that we work quite well as we are.”

Started With Allan Wilkie. In a statement to a Melbourne. Interviewer on ids return from England, Allan Wilkie, who wall begin a Dominion tour at Wellington on July 0, outlined the London success of some of his earlier artists: —“I was extremely interested and delighted to find that no fewer than four of my original Australian company are now prominent figures on the London West End stage, notably Marie IS'ey (formerly of Wellington), who began her stage career with me in Australia. Stic is now plnyincr an important nart in ‘The Constant Nymph’ at the New Theatre, and was also for a lime a leading actress in Shakespearean plays at the ‘Old Vic.’ Jack Kirby, who is now prominent in London revue, was my first stage manager in Australia: Anthony Clark, a young Tasmanian, who commenced his career with me; and Doro-

thy Scacombe, with several others who were temporarily asspeiated with me, are also doing well in London.”

Footllght Flashes. '~' i ' Misses Ruth and Nina Scott will broadcast from IYA, Auckland, on Wednesday next. Rebc Keslova, the violinist, was in Hamilton during the week. TilLon and West, “The Joy Boys,” are appearing at thc~New Regent Theatre dn Wellington. The Humphrey Bishop Company opened at the Sirand Theatre, Auckland, yesterday, playing in conjunction with the pictures. “Abie’s Irish Rose” is in its sixth year in New York, and on July 6 will pass the world’s record for length of run established by “Chu Chin Chow.” Maurice Moscovitch will probably be seen in a revival of “Trilby” in Melbourne when the run of the “crook.” play, “The Ringer,” ends. “Camille” was played at Wanganui by the Nellie Bramley Company this week. An old playgoer says that Miss Bramley is one of the best Camilles he has seen. Dorothy Lena, the clever comedienne ■ who toured New Zealand in Williamson musical comedy, has returned to 1 London. I Mr John Montfort, tenor, a popular member of the Humphrey Bishop Company, is a nephew of the Bishop of London. “I’ll have the Town Hall for a washhouse,” sang one of the comedians of tiic Humphrey Bishop Company on Monday night. The reference was wildly applauded by the audience. “Abie’s Irish Rose” Company had a big “jump” last week-end, closing at Invercargill on Friday night and opening at Masterton on Monday. Carlton Chase, who was in New Zealand with the “Hermie" Ward revue company, will return to America next month. The next tour of New Zealand by a J. C. Williamson Celebrity Vaudeville Company will commence at Auckland, the season at His Majesty’s Theatre being from July 19 to July 27. “On the Road to Shanghai,” which was sung by Mr Walter Kingsley at the Humphrey Bishop entertainment on Monday night, was composed by Jack Lumsdaine, the Australian Whispering Baritone, who will commence a season at the Strand Theatre on Monday. The transfer of the rights of "Sunny” (the musical comedy success at the new Empire Theatre, Sydney) to the Fullers for the rest of Australia, is announced, the price paid being £BOOO. Besides appearing with the Humphrey Bishop Company at the Strand Theatre, Auckland, Mr Walter Kingsley (baritone) is appearing at The Majestci Theatre, with Mr Alan Kitson at the piano. Miss Judith Anderson, the Australian girl whose season in Melbourne was a comparative failure, has left for New York, where she will resume her contract with David Bclasco, appearing in a new play, “The Desert,” with Basil Rathbonc. A midnight performance of “Getting Gertie’s Garter” was given by the Frank Neil Company at Sydney last week, in order to give members of the ! theatrical profession an opportunity of seeing the comedy. ! Mr Robert Simmons, an Auckland baritone who has been connected with Williamson’s musical comedies for some lime, is understudying the principal role in the comedy, “Tip Toes.” He was broadcasting from “Farmer’s,” Sydney, last week. It is likely that the Renee Kelly Company, now presenting “Polly Willi a Past,” “The Last of Mrs Cheyney” and “Brown Sugar,” through New Zealand, will play a return tour with “Daddy Longlegs” (in which Miss Kelly was the original Judy in London) and “Meet the Wife.” In the London production of “The Fanatics.” which is described as “a play largely composed of argument about sex and war.” Mr Oscar Nares plays the part of a youth who believes that he knows much more about life than anyone older than himself in a manner that makes the most obvious platitude sound like gospel. The Williamson Musical Comedy Company which recently did “No, No, Nanette” so successfully, is back in the North Island, and will open at Wel'mgton to-night in “Lady, Be Good.” Mr Leonard Rich came across from Australia to act as juvenile lead.