PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17326, 11 February 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

THEATRE RCfAL. February iO, 11.—lUai’s Hawaiian , Troubadours. February 27.—J. C. Williamson (“Tip Toes’.)’ March 5.—J. C. Williamson (Burr’s Comedians, in “Up in Mabel’s Room.”). • March 7—Gherniavsky Trio. Coming In March—Wirth’s Circus. TOWN HALL. February 23—Concert on behalf of Plunket-Beautifyin# Society. Kaat’s Hawaiian Troubadours. Kaai’s Troubadours, who present a novel programme of Hawaiian melodies and latest American song hits, will give their final performance in Hamilton—indeed, in Nev F Zealand, for they leave next week for Singapore—tonight. Wlrths’ Circus. Wirths’ Circus is due in Hamilton early next month. The headline act is Pallenberg’s bears, which ride bicycles, play football, and perform on stilts and skates. Chester Dieck is an Indian who does amazing things on a motor-cycle. The Radam Troupe .consists of a mJI and three women in feats of strength. Other acts are Hilary Long, head balancer; the performing-lions, trained by Captain Smith; Chico and Grace, acrobats; Mdlle. Hoyer, in her dance in a lion’s den; Alfred Clarke, the well-known equestrian. Tiri-hare racing, which is so popular abroad, will be introduced.

Australian Shows.

Sydney: “The Letter,” with Dion Roucicault and Irene Vanbrugh; “The Trial of Mary Dugan," with Leon Gordon and Gwyneth Grahame; “The Girl Friend,” with Annie Croft; “Archie,” with Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden; “The Film Girl,” with Van Lowe; “Up in Mabel’s Room,” •with Frahk Neil; “The Eternal Magdalen,” with Muriel Starr; vaudeville at Tivoli, headed by Sonjiy Clay’s Plantation Band (coloured); vaudeville at Fuller’s, headed by Jim Gerald’s revue.

Melbourne; “The Terror,” with Maurice Moscovitch; “A Cuckoo in the Nest,” with Hastings Lynn.; •‘The Student Prince,” with Beppie de Vries and James Liddy; vaudeville at Tivoli, headed by Murray, escapologist; Humphrey Bishop Company at St. Hilda.

"Up In Mabel’s Room.”

Miss Hilda Attenboro, who was here some time ago with Claude Dampier, the comedian, will return as a member of the “Up in Mabel’s Room” Company.

Other members of the company are Misses Zara Clinton, Shirley Cooke, Sybil Atholwood (daughter of the well-known character actor, J. B. Atholwood), Eric Harrison (here some years ago in “Scandal”), A. BrandonCremer (who made theatrical history in Auckland some years ago by running a two-years’ season of melodrama at the King’s Theatre), Billy O’Hanlon, and Warwick Beattie.

“Tip Toes” Coming.

Williamson’s new musical comedycompany will open a New Zealand tour at Auckland next Wednesday with “Tip Toes.” The company is headed by. Mr R. Barrett-Lennard (the comedian who won so much popularity in “Katja”), Misses Byrl Walkely and Thelma Burness. . Hugo and Ramona, specialty dancers from Paris, are with the show. The second piece in the company’s repertoire is “Queen High,” a musical comedy version of the farce, “A Pair of Sixes.” London Artist Coming. The rumour that Lilian Davies, famous English musical comedy star, is coming to Australia, was confirmed by J. G. Williamson, but she will not play in “The Desert Song.” Her plays will probably be “The Vagabond King” and “Princess Charming.” A London critic on Lilian Davies: — “She has the finest voice for musical comedy in the country—and far better than most voices at Convent Garden she has presence, dignity and personality. Alone, she should draw in the crowd.” Miss Davies achieved notable success in “The Beggar’s Opera” anjl its sequel, “Polly,” also in “The Beloved Vagabond.” N.Z. Dancers Do Well Abroad. Miss Joan Beere, the New Zealand danseuse (Desiree) is still meeting with wonderful success in England and Scotland, supported by her dancing partner Doret (Jack Morris). After a brilliant three months’ engagement at the New Princess, Pic‘cadilly,. London, they have been touring. playing in the south and in Liverpool and Manchester. Early in December they were working in Glasgow and on December 19 they opened in the West End, London, for the Christmas season..

Joan is but 16 years old, and she and her partner were trained by Miss Estelle Beere, of Wellington.

Amatour Activities.

The Opotiki Operatic Society has “A Country Girl” in rehearsal. The comedy “Jane” will be produced by Mr A. Stanley Warwick this month on behalf of the Oamaru Competitions Society. Vaudeville In America.

American vaudeville has never been on a better footing, says Mr Harry P. Muller, American representative for J. C. Williamson, who is touring New Zealand, as the cinema organisations are willing to pay tremendous sums for the best acts procurable in the country. Despite this, prices are remarkably low, and the average top price for a mixed show —pictures and vaudeville —is two shillings. No Higher Prices on Saturday.

A plan to raise the prices of seats in London theatres on Saturdays has just been given up. A number of managers were strongly considering such a scheme. The chief argument for higher prices on Saturdays was that the public demand for seats on that day generally exceeds the capacity of many theatres. Among the objections made was that, although certain people might be inclined to pay more on Saturdays, increase in prices would be dangerous as a general policy.

Chinese Troupe Coming. The Kwong Sing Wah Troupe, whose act has been amazing big audiences at the Regent Theatre, Auckland, during the week, will appear at Hamilton next Saturday.

Launceston Cold to Shakespeare. Launceston is about as apathetic towards Shakespeare as Hobart was, says an Australian paper. Allan Wilkie and his company opened a two-week season at the Academy of Music, but business is only fair, and there seems nothing to encourage Wilkie from altering his determination not to return to Tasmania until 1930.

Footlight Flashes. Nellie Bramley was recently appearing in a new melodrama, “The White Rat,” in Adelaide.

Elinor Glyn, the novelist, has been appearing in vaudeville in New York, at a salary of £SOO a week.

Joe Brennan’s revue company, the English Futurists, will succeed the Gayle Wyer revue company at Fuller’3 Theatre at Wellington to-night.

Mr Allan Wilkie said that his reeenl Shakespearean season in Hobart was

the worst in the whole of his Australian experience.

Herbert Brown has signed up to broadcast from 2FG, Melbourne, for a considerable period.

The Kwong Sing Wah Troupe, who are said to be drawing £SOO a week, opened at the Regent Theatre, Auckland, on Monday.

Oscar Beck, in New Zealand with the Midnight Frolics, is now a member of the Stiffy and Mo comedy company, at the Bijou, Melbourne. In the Irene Vanbrugh-Dion Boucicault season in Sydney there will be quick changes of bill. To-night “.Ml the King’s Horses” will succeed “The Letter.”

Mr Maurice Guttridge, conductor at the New Regent Theatre, Auckland, has signed another contract, to become active at the termination of his present one.

Mr Brandon Peters plays juvenile lead with Mr Leon Gordon’s company in, “The Trial of Mary Dugan” in Sydney. He is a young American actor who has been associated with such stars as Margaret Anglin, William Farnum and John Barrymore. “Archie,” the musical comedy which has had a record run in Sydney with Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden in the leads, will give way to-night to a revival of "Mercenary Mary." After the Sydney season the company will come to New Zealand.

John McCormack, the Irish tenor, is jubilant over recently finding a composition of Handel’s, written 157 years ago. It is called “Praise the Lord,” and was composed for voice, violoncello, organ, and pianoforte. Jim Gerald, who has for the past ten years been consistently playing the Fuller circuit, will leave for a vacation abroad on the conclusion of his present Sydney season. With his departure the company will be disbanded.

Louis Bennison’s Allegations Denied. It was published in the press in the evidence of Louis Bennison in his action against J. C. Williamson Ltd., that Bennison stated one of the reasons his contract had been terminated, was because lie had requested that the name of E. J. Tait be taken down from the proposed membership of the Lambs’ Club, New York, because the latter had done certain things to actors out here. In reply to that statement, Mr E. J. Tait states: "The incident referred to took place in 1918, and the person who requested that my name he taken down from the Lambs’ Club members’ board was a rival Australian manager. I first met Mr Bennison in Australia in 1922, and re-engaged him in 1927, clearly showing that there could be no personal animus.” Violinist's Tour Postponed. News lias been received by cable that the promised tour of New Zealand and Australia by Erica Morini has been postponed until next year.