PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

THEATRE ROYAL. November 3 and A —Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players (“Henry VIII” and “Hamlet.”) January 16—J. C. Williamson (“Rose Marie”). TO,WN HALT,. October 29—Walter Russell-Wood's Recital. November 21, 22—“ Princess Ida,” by boys of Southwell School. Flattery? It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that is so, the manner in which these columns of mine are used week after week by other papers, without acknowledgment of any kind, should make me feel very flattered.

Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players.

The Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players concluded a month’s season at Auckland last night, the productions during the week being “Measure for Measure,” “Macbeth,” “As You Like It,” “Julius Caesar.” “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet.”

The company will appear at Hamilton next week, playing “Henry VIII." on Thursday and “I-lamlet” on Friday. Mr Wilkie will appear as Cardinal Wolsey and Miss Hunter-Watts (Mrs Wilkie) as Queen Katharine in “Henry VIII." Mr Frank Clewlow will be the King. There is ' a strong supporting company.

Impressed by New Zealand. i Mr P..E. Wright, who was in Hamilton this week as personal representative of Mr Allan Wilkie, was a captain in the British Artillery during the war.

This is Mr 1 Wright’s first visit to New Zealand, and, like most Englishmen, he finds it very pleasant and will say good-bye with regret. ■ He has nothing but nice things to say about , the people, and has been impressed by the varied nature of the scenery, and particularly the beauty of the New Zealand bush—“l have seen nothing more beautiful in ali my travels,” he said.

Mr Wright spoke of the great growth of the "Little Theatre” movement in other parts of the world, and the possibilities of something being done in this direction in New Zealand. “By means of this movement,” he said, "people arc enabled to see plays which would perhaps not reach the commercial theatre, and particularly are they kept in touch with modern developments in thought and production. New Zealanders are so appreciative of the host in drama and literature —we have had an illustration of that by their understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare—that I am sure a ‘Little Theatre’ would be a success.” 7 Shakespeare’s Longest Run I Alfred Shakespeare, of W.A., comiplained in Court that the defendant grabbed a bag full of money he was carrying and took to his heels, and was only caught after a chase of five miles. That’s the longest Shakespearean run on record! Ventriloquist Becomes Manager. .In the picture, “The Man They Could Not Hang,” screened at Hamilton last week, the lead was taken by Mr Carlton Max. I understand that Mr Max has been for some time a picture theatre manager at Invercargill; that’s a pity, for though no doubt he is a perfectly good manager, he was the finest ventriloquist we have seen in New Zealand, and we miss him from the stage.

A Cockney on Shakespeare. For long there was an impression that Shakespeare’s plays were only for the “intellectuals.” That impression, happily, is disappearing; it is now generally recognised that these plays, by| their humanness, their dramatic action, their humour, appeal to everyone. In its notice of “Twelfth Night” a Dunedin paper said:—That Shakespeare's comedy should remain living ,and real, effective and fresh, after the passing of more than 300 years, is one of the most striking tributes to his greatness. The story is told of a London cockney who, on seeing one of the comedies for the first time, admitted his enjoyment, but observed that it was “a bit stale, because a lot of it was old vaudeville jokes.” This, / jn rude fashion, was praise indeed, for -V truly may it be said in respect of Shakespeare’s comedy that imitation has been the sinccrest form of flattery. / The humour of plays such as “Twelfth Night” is humour that has appealed to the hearts of people of every generation since that of the playwright himself. and to-day its instant effect upon an audience is as strongly marked as ever. The wit. the irony, the satire, and the frank fun- remain modern in every phrase, and so it will always be until human nature follows different lines of reasoning.

Hugh Ward’s Mew Activities. Negotiations may be completed tin's ■week for the disposal of the big block of shares held by Hugh J. Ward in j c. Williamson, Ltd., bringing to an end his association of 2t) years with the firm, first as actor and afterwards as director (says a Sydney paper). Mr Arthur Allen., acting for himself as well as others, has been mentioned as the prospective purchaser, and the price is stated to he considerably over £OO.OOO.

If the sale is completed, Mr Ward may forsake the theatrical business for at least a year, as his time will be fully occupied in the erection of four- blocks of flats, containing over 100 apartments, on his Darlinghurst and Double Bay properties. Later, it is declared, at the request Of an influential group, Mr Ward may go into a new company which proposes to launch out with the building and management of theatres in the principal capitals.

New Theatre for Hawera. The directors of the Hawera Theatre Co., Ltd., which controls the ' Opera House and Grand Theatre, are proposing to demolish the Grand Theatre and build a new- and up-to-date picture theatre on the site, Pio\ision is being made in the plans for a /theatre of modern design, containing Lll" the latest refinements. A number of- innovations are also planned for the Opera House. A.' it j ias also been arranged to reduce -prices for admission to both thealres to Is 6d and Is, excepting when special vaudeville attractions aic engaged or where the prices to be ciiarged for adrrp.'-y'^-on other factors.

Is Gladys Coming Home? Gladys Moncrieff, on arrival in New York, told reporters that she was there to secure two theatrical productions for Australia. One was to be “The Golden Dawn.” in which, by the way, the male lead is being played by Robert Chisholm, an Australian who has appeared here in several operas with Miss Moncrieff. Revival of Opera Bouffe.

It is said that on its return to Sydney from New Zealand the J.C.W. Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company will dive into the realms of French opera bouffe, and that elaborate revivals of “La Fille de Madame Angot,” “The Grand Duchess” and “Les Cloches de Corneville,” are contemplated by the management.

“The Gorilla” in Sydney. “The Gorilla,” which opened at Sydney last Saturday, is said to be a fascinating mixture of farce and mystery.

Frank Neil appears as a black-faced butler, and he is supported by Paul Plunket, Vivian, Edwards, Bert le Blanc, Frederick Ward, Eric Harrison, Ed. Wynne, and Robert Purdie.

Shows in Australia. The reigning attractions at Sydney are:—“Rain,” with Margaret Lawrence and Louis Bennison; “The Ringer,” with Maurice Moscovitch; “Castles in the Air,” with Rowena Arnold (Mrs Herbert Browne), Gus Blucti and Roy Russell; “Outward Bound,’ with Peter Gawthorne and Zillah Bateman; “Lady, Be Good,” with Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden; “The Gorilla,” with Frank Neil; “Tweckic,” with Bobby Jarvis, Aileen Poe and Loring Smith; The Tivoli'Follies, with Olsen and Johnson, Elizabeth Morgan, the Big Four, and Herbert Browne. Marie Burke In Comedy. “The Whole Town’s Talking,” at Melbourne Royal (says, an Australian paper), is one of those inconsequential bits of nonsense that one would expect from the'pen of Anita Loos one farcical situation chasing another to breathless finale. It reveals Marie Burke in quite an unexpected vein. Comedian R. Barrett-Lennard impresses by his quiet style. Hamilton theatregoers remember Mr Barrett-Lennard very vividly; his work and personality in “Katja” made a great appeal. Mr Pirie *Bush, the New Zealander who was here with Renee Kellv, is in the cast of “The Whole Town’s Talking.” Arthur Bourchier’s Last Words.

Among the last words of Mr Arthur Bourchier, the London actor-manager, who died at Johannesburg, South Africa, were: “Is this St. Peter come to unlock the gates of Heaven?” They were uttered as the medical specialist entered the room.

During the early hours of the morning he gave a message to the public. “I am unable to give my farewell speech in public,” he said. “ But I will give it now. I thank the public of Johannesburg for all their kindness. Now let the curtain descend!” He then lapsed again into a state of coma. Actress Secures Divorce. j

Miss Marie Lohr, the Australian actress, has secured

a divorce from hei husband, Anthony Vat Prinsep, on the ground of his misconduct with Margaret Bannerman, an actress who is shortly to leave for Australia.

Miss Marie Lohr, ageress of the Globe Theatre, London, was born in July, 1890, at Sydney. Her mother was the well-known actress, Kate Bishop, and her father the late “Daddy” Lohr. She married Mr Anthony Leyland Val Prinsep, theatrical manager, some years ago.

Miss Margaret Bannerman was born at Toronto, Canada, in 1890.

Gilbert and Sullivan Opera.

The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company will conclude its Wellington season to-night with “Pirates of Penzance.” The company will open at Christchurch on Tuesday with “Ruddigore.” Amateur Activities. The Auckland Operatic Society gave two performances of “La Masco'.te” at Whangarei this week. The Palmerston North Operatic Society will commence a five-nights’ season of “ A Runaway Girl,” on Tuesday.

The Opotiki Amateur Operatic Society will give its first public performance shortly, when it will stage “A Country Girl.” There are 90,000 amateur actors in England, there being 900 societies in the membership of the British National Operatic and Dramatic Association. “The Babes in the Wood” pantomime, at Wanganui last week on behalf 'of the Queen Alexandra Band,, was produced by the well-known John Hopkins. The next production by the Auckland Little Theatre Society will be Bernard Shaw’s ’“Pygmalion,” on December 7,8, and 9. , Mr Kenneth Brampton, producer for the society, has received a letter from Lord Dunsany granting the society permission to perform most of his plays. Next year’s season most probably will begin with a performance of Dunsany’s “If."

The Value of Applause. “Though there is a certain superior class of actor who will tell you that he does not like applause—that it is inartistic and distracts him from his work—it may be accepted as an axiom that no actor can give his best work without it,” says Mr Allan Wilkie. “It is not a question of satisfied vanity; it is a consciousness that his efforts are being appreciated that inspires him to greater efforts and increases his nervous excitability, spurring him on to greater heights of emotional expression.

"Any actor worth his salt will sympathise with the American tragedian. Edwin Forrest, who, playing to a particularly dead audience, broke off in the middle of a scene and plaintively addressed them with, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t applaud I can’t act.’ ”

“Abie’s Irish Rose” Ends. “Abie’s Irish Rose” ended its record run of 5i years (2327 consecutive peVformances) in New York this week This was 100 performances mort than the record put up by "Ghu Chin Chow” in London.

Ex-Hamilton Girl’s Success. Miss Dorothea Vautier, formerly of Hamilton, lias been appointed organiser of Children’s sessions for 2YA, Wellington. Miss Vautier won the Shakespearean test at Wellington last year against 29 competitors. Shakespeare in Modern Clothes. “ Measure for Measure ” is to he done in modern clothes in New York by Basil Sydney and Mary Ellis, who recently appeared in “ Hamlet ” in the clothes of to-day. Mr Russell-Wood’s Recital. To-night, at the Hamilton Town Hall Mr W. Russell-Wood and his pupils will submit a programme of one-act plays, recitals, monologues, etc. Many of the items will lie costumed and there will be special lighting effects.

Shakespearean Player and Singer. Miss Dulcie Cherry, a charming member of the Allan Wilkie Comnany, has a beautiful singing voice, which she diplay in the part of Ariel in “The Tempest,” the fairy songs in “A Mid-summer Night’s Dream," and in several other plays of Mr Wilkie’s repertoire. A graduate of the Melbourne/Con'servatorium of Music, Miss Cherry was at one lime a protege of Madame Melba.

Footlight Flashes. “The Ghost Train” will commence a season at Auckland to-night. “Rose Marie” has broken another record, having played for six weeks in Adelaide. “All’s Well That Ends Well” is in rehearsal by the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company. The naughty “Cradle Snatchers” is due in New Zealand next week, opening at Wellington. Mr Reginald Roberts, who played a small part in “The Ghost Train, was at one time prominent in comic opera. Mr Alexander Watson, the wellknown elocutionist, left Auckland for Vancouver by the Aorangi on Tuesday. A spectacular Pageant of Industry has been carried out at Wellington this week, under the direction of Mr Ilarison Cook. Two actors called on at a moment’s , notice to take parts in the new' play, “The Lonely Road,” at the “Q” Theatre, London, one night last month, played holding the books in their hands. It is possible that “The Terror,” another mystery play, will succeed “The Ringer,” the present Moscovilch production, in Sydney, instead of “The Music Master, ’’ as intended. When Mr Rex Harrison, an actor appearing at a Reading (England) theatre, was thrown* out" of a canoe on the Thames he was saved by Mr Charles Baker, of Reading, who pulled him out with a garden rake. “The Music Master,” with which Guy Bates Post and Dorothy Brunton failed in London, had a disastrous run through New Zealand some years ago, when Ihe late Florence Young essayed it under her own management. Renee Kelly, recently in New Zealand, writes from New York, after a short stay in America to look at the theatres, that she is sailing soon for London with husband Hylton Allen. Their future plans were indefinite. Sir Barry Jackson, director of the Birmingham Repertory Company, England, made his first American production last month, when Eden Phillpotts’ “Yellow Sands” was produced at the Fullon Theatre, New York. Mr Harcus Plimmer, of the Wellington Dominion, and Mr Harry Plimmer, his brother (who has been on the stage in America for some years, lately with Ethel Barrymore), intend returning to New Zealand shortly. They are at present in Belgium. Miss Lorna Forbes is sure of a warm welcome-with the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players next week, for local playgoers remember her well. During Mrs Wijldc’s absence through illness some years ago, Miss Forbes played Ihe leads —and played them well. She has a very beautiful speaking voice. Vera Nemlchinova, the beautiful Russian who is dancing with Anion Dolin at the London Coliseum, has cut the “t" out of her name. “When people address me and try to pronounce my name with that unnecessary ‘t,’ ” she said the other day, “the result is very much ltko a sneeze that backfires;’*