PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17384, 21 April 1928, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

THEATBE Rf.fAL. April 23, 24.—J. C. Williamson (Maurice Moscovitch in "the Ringer" and "The Terror."). May 14—E. J. Gravestock (Amy Evans anrl Fraser Gange). June 12.—J. and N. Tait (Benno Moiseiwitsch. pianist). July 2 and 3—Fullers ("Archie" and "Sunny"). TOWN HALL.) April 28—i Gayle Wyer Bandbox Revue. Maurice Moscovitch Next Week. Hamilton playgoers; are anxiously awaiting the re-appearanre next week of the distinguished actor, Mr Maurice Moscovitch. and his. dramatic company. "The Ringer" will' be played on Monday, and "The Terror" on Tuesday.' The company has been drawing crowded houses in Auckland since Easter Saturday. Of "The Ringer" an Auckland paper sayst "Fascinating it is to watch the massing of evidence, the unravelling of knots, the elucidation of clues as suspicion falls first on one character and then on another. In this play Mr Wallace has contrived to crystallise allthe inventive methods of storylelling familiarised in his novels into an astonishingly clever dramatic form."'

Some of the Moscovitch People. Nat Madison (son of Maurice Moscovitch), though born in New York, made his first stage appearance in England—with a nigger minstrel'show at Seafordl "It was a hard life," he says', with a reminiscent, smile* . "The only compensation for the generally black outlook was the fresh air—rand, iidieve me, we got plenty of. that I".. Mary Macgregor. is a young Aus'ralian who has gone far in her. .profession since ' her appearance here ome. years ago in "Gappy Ricks." . Patric. Curwen is a distinguished London actor who. was brought out i.cciaily to play Dr .Lomond in "The inger," which he had played.in the .oiidon production, i Reginald Newson knows Egypt and ic East intimately. During the war. icriod he saw service in Egypt and .';.icstine, and after the armistice he iiured the East—lndia,. . China and .;;pan—for two years. ..Returning to England, he played leading parts,, including that of Wembury in "The liinger," ■ which he plays with Moscovilcli. Mr Newson is an Australian by birth. Jack Dunne was last, in Hamilton with the Renee Kelly Company in ""Polly With a Past." Don't you relacmber his clever work as one of the iliree bachelor pals—the others were ilonald Wan) and Piric Bush. Ashton Jarry will be remembered as lii'e delightful Mr Pirn, in Marie Tempest's production of "Mr Pirn Passes Liy" and as tho fanatical Indian in '• i'he Green Goddess" with Guy Bates Post.

Kiore King and Richard Webster are New Zealanders, from Hawke's Bay. Mr Webster was here last year with Moscovitch, and also apperaed here with Guy Bates Post.

Gladys Moncrleff's Return. Miss Gladys Moncrieff, who has returned to Australia after two years abroad, will make her re-appearance at the St. James' Theatre, on Saturday, in "Rio Rita," under the Fuller management. Her salary, it is 'said, is £250 per week. Miss Janette Gilmore (comedienne) and Messrs David Mallei) (chief comedian) and John Valentine (tenor), are to appear in "Rio Rita," recently arrived from America.

Farewell to Gilbert and Sullivan. The season of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company at Melbourne concluded last night. This marked the end of a very successful tour of Australia and New Zealand lasting over two years. Good News I Playgoers will be pleased to see that the musical comedy company headed by Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden (so successful last year in " No, No, Nanette) will appear here in ' Archie " and " Sunny," which are drawing crowded houses in the South. Jack Cannot Back. J. C. Williamson will shortly send out a company through the country towns of New South Wales and Victoria, and they will present such wellknown stage successes as "Tip Toes," "Whirled Into Happiness," and "The Cabaret Girl." The cast will include.those popular comedians Hector St. Clair and Jack Cannot. Theatre-goers May Smoke. Mr John Fuller, who returned to Melbourne by the Drama, thinks that smoking should be permitted in theatres in Australia. He says that he will make the innovation in the dress circles of his firm's theatres, with the non-smokers in the sfalls, if the police regulations can be amended. Comedian Gets £2OOO a Week.

Something more than £BOOO will be paid Al Jolson, famous blackface comedian, for a, four-week engagement in Chicago. This is said in theatrical circles to be the highest salary ever paid to an individual-performer, and is taken as an indication that movie salaries boost the pay of stage stars, .lolson will step into "A Night in Spain."

News of the illness of one of the other .performers brought J. J. Shuhprt from New York. Then came a telephone conversation with Al Jolson, who was in New York preparing to go to California to make another picture.

"I'd do anything in the world just to help you out," said Jolson to his friend, Shubert, "for a certain sum."

Finally a figure exceeding £2OOO a week for four weeks was agreed upon.

"The nearest, thing to that just now," said a Chicagoan well known in theatrical circles, "is the salary of Marilyn Miller in 'Rosalie," £I2OO a week. Eddie Cantor was drawing £IOOO a. week in Ziefeld's 'Follies' when he quit because of illness. ' "Harry Lauder makes about £2OOO a week, but that's because he practieally owns his show. A team like Moran and Mack gets about £6OO a week. The only sensation in high salaries'equal to the Jolson engagement, was when they paid Gaby Deslys £IOOO a week. That was before Ihe war, when £IOOO was a startling salary."

Meanwhile Jolson was aboard a train for Chicago, bent on helping his friend out of a hole.

"Princess Charming" In Bydney,

"Princess Charming," the new musical comedy which J. C. Williamson, Ltd., will present shortly at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, is the story of a'princess who was not a bit keen on her title. The music is said to be particularly good. Miss Kathryn Reece has been brought specially from America to play the litis role. Also in the-cast and playing an important part will be Miss Olive Sldane. who made an outstanding success of "Cradle Snatrhers." Reginald Dandy, Cecil Kelleway, Lou Vernon, Leslie Holland, and Lionel Lunt will also appear. Stephanie Deste (who made such a sensational success in "Rose Marie") will be the solo dancer. "The Terror." 'Here is. the cast of "The Terror," the second production of the Maurice Moscovitch Company:— Warder Timms - - Carleton Stuart. Bennett - - - - Leslie Donaghey Stein ----- Frank Ditson. Chief Warder Joyce - - Ray Smith Major Craddock - Herbert Leigh Joe Connor - - - - Hal Percy Superintendent Hallick - Rep. Newson Soapy Marks - - - Nat Madison Cotton ----- Ashton Jarry William' Goodman - - Guy Hastings Veronica Elvery - '- Mildred Cottell Colonel Redmayne - Patric Curwen Mary. Redmayne - Bertha Riccardo Ferdinand Fane <- Maurice Moscovitch P.C. Starr - - . - - Jack Dunne

Superintendent Aske - R. Webster Sergeant Dobcy - - George Blunt Detective Constable Smith - R. Fair

Australian Girl's Big Chance. Donalda Warne. a Sydney girl who is not quite 16, and who left college only a year ago, was chosen to play a leading role with the new English comedy company in "Rookery Nook."

It was the first time Miss Warne had spoken a line on a stage. Until recently she was in the ballet £f "The Girl Friend" in Sydney. Amateur Activities.

The well-attended and happy annual meeting of the Hamilton Operatic Society this week augurs well for another successful season. Members are still glowing from the artistic and financial success of "Katinka" —the best amateur operatic show I have «seen in New Zealand —and are eager to commence rehearsals of " High Jinks." Here's success to the Society in 19281 . , The Masterton Operatic Society commenced rehearsals of "High Jinks" this week. .

Mr W. T. Foster. M.A., B.Litt., headmaster of the Napier Boys' High School, has been\ appointed musical director of the Napier Operatic Society, which will shortly produce "The Arcadians."

The National Repertory Theatre Society at Wellington has returned to comedy for its next production on May 3,4, and 5, having chosen "Hay Fever," by Noel Coward. Mr Ilarison Cook is again the producer. The Wellington Operatic Society will commence a season of "The Belle of New York" to-night. Mr Lester Brown is producer and Mr Lpn Barnes conV ductor. The cast includes Amy Woodward, Edith Buckmaster, Pauline Shotlander, Mavis Halliday, Barton Ginger, Lionel Inch, Alf. Mazengarb, Doug. Stark, James Cooke, Dudley Alexander. The annual of the Auckland University College Students' Association is to be. produced for a season commencing on May 15. The play, which is entitled "Tilly in the City," is by the author of, and a sequpl to, "Tilly of Tamaki," which was produced three years ago. Mr Kenneth Brampton, of the Little Theatre, will be producer.

"Lilies of the Field" will be staged in Auckland next week by members cf the Little Theatre Society. Miss Una Dysart Buddie, who has appeared professionally in England, will act as producer. The cast will be: Rev. John Head. W. H. Graham; Ann. his wife, Constance Clark; Katherine. Margot Finlaysbn; Elizabeth, Joy Bartley; Mrs Rooke-WaJter, Susan McCallum: Barnaby Haddon, Montagu Steels; Bryan Ropes, John N. Gordon; Hon. Monica Flane, Cicely Russell; Lady Susan Rocker, Ysolinde McVeagh; Wither, Robert Finlayson.

The Art of the Actor. Mr Patric Curwen, whose study of the kindly old Scotch doctor in "The Ringer" demonstrates his masterly art in characterisation, is an English actor competently versed in the wide school of experience. The Dr Lomond of "The Ringer" was played by him for months in the English provinces," and he was specially chosen by J. C. Williamson's representative for the part in the present production. "There's a cycle of these plays at present," said Mr Curwen. " People enjoy the suspensive interest, and they like something that keeps them guessing."

Mr Curwen "makes up" old and loquacious, but he's really young, clean-shaven, and reticent, and, moreover, he has a very pretty wife, who also hails" from Hie Old Country, but, i* not before the footlights.

Guy Bates Post Again Misses. An American paper says that Guy Bates Post, who is %aid to have refused to bring "The Silent House"' over from London in favour of "The Wreckers," which he opened at the Cort Theatre, is undaunted by the panning handed out to that latter mystery play by the metropolitan reviewers, and is now casting a second company of "The Wreckers," which he will send to Boston. Mr Post, lias been rather unfortunate since he left, New Zealand, for his production of a play in London was a failure. Tho Boucicaults in Sydney. In "The High Road," which has succeeded "Caroline" in Sydney, Miss Irene Vanbrugh and Mr Dion Rouricault are supported by Norman McKinnel, Annie Saker. Prudence Vanbrugh, Gwynne Whitby. J. R. Rowe, Hugh Williams. Gerald K. Souper, Ronald Ward. Reginald Wykeham. and Desmond McMinn. "The Patsy." * "The Patsy," which had a preat. run in America, js to be staged in Australia by the Williamson management, by an ail-new company, headed by Irene Homer. Justification for a Fight!

"What caused the fight between the circus Fal Lady and her husband, the Tattooed Man?" "He found the Living Skeleton in her cupboard."

Bandbox Revue Returning. The Gayle Wyer Bandbox Revue, which had a successful season here a few weeks ago, will return to Hamilton next Saturday, appearing at the Town Hall. •'Madame Pompadour" Coming.

"Madame Pompadour" and "The Student Prince," now in Perth, will come to New Zealand next, month.

Beppie De Vries and James Liddy head a sterling company of players, including Arthur Stigant, Frank Webster, Vera Spaull. Peg Desmond (Mrs Noel Dainton), Medley Hall, Bussell Scott, Noel Dainton, Adele Crane, and Mason Wood. Footlight Flashes. "Maya," in New York, was closed by the' police after two or three performances. "The Cradle Snatchers," a big success in America and out here, has proved a failure in London. Annette Kellerman is giving exhibitions of swimming and diving in England, i William Tilden, the tennis champion, is playing the lead in a mystery play. "The Buzzard," in New York. Miss Betty Boss-Clarke, here in "The Ghost Train.' 'is producing "The Bride" in Melbourne. She will leave for America shortly.

Maggie Dickenson, the Australian dancer, and her husband Syd Culver are still winning success in England. Owing to the heavy amusement taxes, J. C. Williamson Ltd. may curtail—jf n ot altogether cut out—its Adelaide theatrical programme. Wallis Clark, who played the doctor in "White Cargo" in New Zealand last year, is in the revival of "Within the Law" in New York. Leon Gordon, who is interesting Melbourne playgoers in "The Trial of Mary Dugan," will be seen later in "The Crooked Billet," a play written by Dion jhtheradge.

Claude Saunders, an Australian, formerly with the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players, is appearing in "Excess Baggage," in Los Angeles. Hp went abroad with the hope of getting into the movies.

The popular Humphrey Bishop Company is to he seen on the Union Theatres circuit in Australia, commencing in June. It will give onehalf the programme, the rest to be devoted to pictures, etaoin shrdlu ,iN

Francis Lister, the English actor, who has come to Australia as leading man with Margaret Bannerman, opening this month in "Our Betters" is a brother of Lance Lister, who was here with the Lee White revue some years ago.

A brother of Mr P. W. Maddock formerly of Hamilton, has arrived in Australia, from England to appear with Percy Hutchinson's New English Comedy Company in "The Joker," in Melbourne. He is known professionally as Steward West.

Mr and Mrs David Lyle recently held a re-union of members of the old "Dandies" and "English Pierotts" companies, at Perth. A number of the members of these companies are settled in West Australia, while some are at present visiiing Perth. Fullers' Follies opened at His Majesty's Theatre, Wellington, this week. The company is headed by Nat Hanley and Stud Foley, comedians, and includes Eddie and Decima McLean (the well-known dancers), Eric Masters, Lulla Fanning, Iris Ackworth, Harry Gould, Winnie Edgerton, William Beresford, and the Follies Ballet.