PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 105, Issue 17750, 29 June 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

THEATRE ROYAL. July 6—Allan Wilkie (“Much Ado About Nothing”). July 17, 18.—William Heughan (Scottish actor-singer). July 22. —Frankton Boxing Association. August—Sir Benjamin and Mr John ' Fuller (“Rio Rita,” with Gladys Moncrieff). Hamilton Little Theatre Society. It is gratifying to find that "widespread interest is being taken in the formation Of the Hamilton Little Theatre Society, and applications for membership are already coming in freely. The excellence of the production of “Falling Leaves’ .’evidently impressed playgoers, who now realise the possibilities of the movement.

A meeting will be held at. St. Peter’s Hall on Wednesday night. All interested should make a point of being present.

Where Were They? . Where were some of the people who, from their professions and activities, one would have expected to see at the performance of “Fallen Leaves” by the Hamilton Little Theatre Society this week? The weather was bad, certainly, but not bad enough to prevent real enthusiasts from attending. ..One was forced to the conclusion that the professions of interest in art and the drama by some of these people are fnore or less a pose.

The production of “Falling Leaves” was of such a high proved so conclusively the value' of such a society in discovering and developing talent and providing real lovers of the drama with an interesting evening, that it was a great pity the financial success did not equal that secured artistically. However, the promoters of the society are keen and enthusiastic, and there is little doubt that they will be successful in forming a society that will do'even better work rthan that of the initial production. Honorary members and playing members are wanted, and it is to be hoped that they will be forthcoming. The movement has been launched so auspiciously that it would.be almost a; disgrace if 'it- were'allowed to languish. There is no reason why the--- Little Theatare . Society, Shakespeare , Club, Operatic Society,- and kindred organisations should not-work together, keeping the. productions separate, of course,, but providing players for each other. There is much talent in the town and district. Let us do all we can to make the most of it.

Return of Allan Wilkie. The return of . the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company, on Saturday next, is.eagerly awaited by playgoers, and a record house is assured. Ado About Nothing’’ has not : been staged in Hamilton before. It is one of Shakespeare’s finest plays, combining drama and comedy very happily. The company, headed by Mr Wilkie as Benedick and Miss Hunter-Watts as Beatrice, still includes Lorna Forbes, Mildred Howard, Hilda Scurr, Dennis Bdrry, Alexander Marsh, Arthur Keane, John Cairns, John Cameron, Herbert Sheldrick, Alan Harkness, Russell Chapman, and others.

Harry Lauder’s Last Tour. Prior to leaving Wellington for Australia Sir Harry Lauder said lie Is not likely to tour New Zealand again as a performer, though it was his desire and intention to return to spend a holiday here if he got the chance. The Scots comedian has already been approached to appear in the “talkies. 1 ’

Pavlova Not Coming to N.Z. -V'' The Melbourne season of the Pavlova Ballet ended last Monday, The ' Adelaide season opened on Wednesday, and the company will then go to . On July 22 Pavlova will embark for i England with her company./ After- a holiday in London and Paris she will .* • appear at Govent Garden, London.

M Dlo Rita” for Christchurch.

“Rio Rita,” after a record-breaking fortnight’in Wellington, will open at Christchurch on Monday. There have been many brilliant first nights in Wellington theatres -.within recent memory;.but seldom has there been the like of the premiere performance of Sir Benjamin and Mr John Fuller’s musical comedy “Rio Rita,” which served also to re-introduce Miss Gladys Moncrieff .to her legion of ad-, mirers (says the Wellington Dominion) Miss Moncrieff was given an ovation, and her satisfying work in the title role more than merited it. Two newcomers here —Janette Gilmore and Dave Mallen —sprang into instant popular favour, the former winning loud applause for her dexterous eccentric dancing.

Owning for “ Show Boat.” Frederick Bentley, the.little English comedian who was Hard-boiled Herman in “ Rose Marie,” will return to Australia next month for “ Show Boat," the spectacular musical play.

Bertha Belmore, who was one of the snatchers (first diffident, then eager!) In “The Cradle Snatchers,” is also coming out again for “ Show Boat.” She will take the part of the sinister Parthy Ann Hawkes.

Kentucky Coloured Combination Cornin’ Some of the most attractive, impressive and original dramatic and musical presentations will shortly be given in New Zealand by the Kentucky Coloured Combination, from the United States, which will open at Auckland next Saturday. There will be many beautiful settings which add realism to the singing. Some oi these are “On the Levee,” “On a Plantation,” “A Dug-out in France,” “The Present Time” and others equally varied.. To give an indication of the varied nature of the) programme of musical and dramatic acts it may be stated that they, include such beautiful and stirring melodies as “Wasn’t Dat a Wide Ribber?” “Rain Song," “Exhortation,” “Dance -Solos," “Plantation Melody,” “Roll, Jordan, Roll,” “It’s Me, 0 Lord” and "Who’ll Be a Witness,” etc. In one very effective setting a dugout in France, the musical items are not only wonderfully appropriate, but they in themselves teach a great lesson. These include “Going to Study War No More,” “Stand Steady,” “Going Home,” “Don’t Close Dat Gate,” and other appealing melodies. . ..The principal artists are Arthur .Gaines and Robert Caver, first tenors; Hinton Jones and Augustus Simpns, second tenors; Archie Cross and William Veasey, first basses; and Arthur Payne and Ala 4 Houseley, second basses.

Had Own Company In England. An Interesting member of Allan Wilkie's Shakespearean Company is Alexander Marsh, the English actor.

Mr Marsh has had an extensive experience on the stage In the Old Country, despite his comparative youthfulness. He conducted his own Shakespearean company in England from 1910 until Christmas, 1914, when practically all the male members of his organisation joined up with the colours. From 1922 until 1926 he again controlled a company presenting the works of the Bard.

Mr Marsh has appeared in London in several plays that have had lengthy runs, including Ashley Duke’s “The Man With a Load of Mischief” and “Interference ”

“Young Woodley" In “Journey’s End." There is a possibility that Lewis Shaw, .who played “Young Woodley" here, will be in the cast of the new war play, “Journey’s End,” when it is produced in Australia shortly.

The Young Actors’ Ambition Every young actor I knew wanted to play "Young Woodley.” Now they all want to appear in “Journey’s End," the war play by A. Sherriff which is the hit of the London and New York seasons and comes to Australia shortly. “Journey’s End” has an all-male cast, the action taking place in a dugout.

Byrl Refuses to Come Home. Byrl Walkley (last "in New Zealand in “Tip Toes”) sends home some news from England to her ain folk—

“George Highland came up to Leeds last Thursday to see the show (“Show Boat”), and asked me if I’d like to go back to Australia and play Julie. I said ‘No; I’d only go back to play leads.’ I wrote to Sir George Tallis and thanked him, but felt I hadn’t been away long enough, and I would not go back unless it was to play leading parts. Mr Highland told me that John Tait had cabled him to ask me if I would return. Thelma Burness goes to India on May 3 for twelve months. I’ll miss her very much when I get back (to London). Flo. Hunter and Josie Melville will be in London, anyway. After refusing to come back ("to Australia) I had the blues, but it would have been silly, as I’rii getting a leg in here. They soon forget in this country. There are so many artists. Cheerios."

Elsie Prince’s Plans.

The contract between Fullers’ Theatres, Ltd., and Miss Elsie Prince will expire in March. Miss Prince will return to London by way of Hollywood,, where she has friends in .the film industry. “Lido L&dy," in which she and Mr James Godden have Just closed a season in Melbourne, will be produced in other States and New Zealand.

Allan Wilkie Dropß Wanganui, Mr. Allan Wilkie, after a number of tours of New Zealand with his Shakespearean company, is of the opinion that Wanganui is the most unsatisfactory place in-the whole Dominion as a show place for Shakespeare. Elsewhere, Shakespeare’s plays, he said, were highly appreciated. Mr. Wilkie has decided not to include Wanganui in future tours of the Dominion. Buhver Hylton's “Richelieu ” may be produced by Allan Wilkie, in addition to the three 18th. Century comedies, Sheridan’s " School for Scandal ” and “ The Rivals," and Goldsmith’s “ She jjtoops to Conquer.” Shows In Sydney.

Among the continuing attractions are “The Desert Song,” the spectacular musical play with Lance Fairfax, the New Zealander, in the lead; “Dracula," a thrilling vampire play, with ,> Nat Madison and Ashton Jarry; “Applesauce,” an American comedy, with Alan Bruce and Ruth Nugent; “Whoopee,” musical comedy, with Genevieve McCormack and Charlie Sylber; “The Baby Cyclone,” comedy, with Leona Hogarth and Leonard Doyle. - To-night Leon Gordon, in the Edgar Wallace thriller “The Flying Squad,” dealing with the cocaine traffic, will succeed the not-very-sucoessful Noel Coward revue “This Year of Grace." Gordon appears as chief of the detectives.

■‘Are You a Mason?" has been revived by Frank Neil, who, as George Fisher, is supported by Lily Molloy as Lottie, Leslie Woods as Frank Perry, Field Fisher as Hamilton Travers, ’Bertie Wright as Amos Bloodgood, Mary Gannon as Ena Perry, and Betterton Glover as Mrs Bloodgood.

Prlnolpal Comedian of ”Rlo Rita.” Mr Dave Mallen, -the droll little comedian of “Rio Rita,” now at Wellington, is a New York artist, and has a considerable record of success in musical comedy and vaudeville. Though not encouraged by his people, who had been water-front policemen for generations, the youthful Mallen decided on the stage as a career, and started early in “Little Johnny Jones,” a George m. Cohan success. He appeared in several t>f this playwright’s productions before he went into vaudeville for a season on the Keith circuit.

, After a long period in musical comedy he served In the army for twelve months during the latter period of the war. On his return to the stage he was associated with Arthur Hgmmerstein, and played the part of T, Boggs-Jones in “Queen High" in New York for 96 weeks. _

They Love New Zealand.

Mr Dennis Barry, the young English actor who plays romantic leads like Romeo with the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company, says his feeling of being “at home” becomes greater the longer he remains in New Zealand. He finds the audiences here responsive and unusually quick In picking up a point, ■while the hospitailty extended off stage overwhelms him. “The people here are so very English in their outlook and customs that I feel quite at home,” said Mr Barry.

Tom Mooro as Producer. Mr Tom Moore, husband of Miss Gladys Moncrieff, who recently returned from abroad, has become a producer of plays. While in America he purchased the Commonwealth rights of several pieces, including a melodrama called “The Zeppelin Terror,” with which he will begin a season at the Palace Theatre, Melbourne, early in July. The cast will include Mr Charles Roadknight, who appeared in Australia several years ago in the melodrama, “Bulldog Drummond,” by “Sapper."

“ Whoopee ” In Sydney. Principals in “ Whoopee," the new musical comedy at Sydney Empire, are Jane Sells, Beulah Berson, Genevieve MacCorrnack, Charley Sylber and Forest Yardell, all carrying big American reputations. Local favourites included in the cast are Leyland Hodgson, James Hughes, Freddie Conyngham, Paul Plunket, Queenie Ashton, Jessica Harcourt, and Arthur Clarke.

Footllght Flashes, “The Black Ace” ran for only 10 nights at the Globe Theatre, London. “Lido Lady," with Elsie Prince and Jimmy Godden, finished its Melbourne season last Saturday.

Some ne\v artists engaged for “The Show Boat” are Nydia D’Arnel, Muriel Creel, and Frederick Bentley. “The Merchant of Venice” will be played by the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company at Cambridge on Monday. Minnie Rayner (here in “The Ghost Train") may be coming back to Australia from London shortly.

“Young Woodley" has had a successful country tour, and will open at Wellington to-night. It .is understood that the Regent Theatre, Wanganui, will show its first talkie some time next month, probably “The Bellamy Trial.” The Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company staged “Much Ado About Nothing,” , “Romeo and Juliet,” “Twelfth Night,”- and “The Taming of the Shrew” at Wanganui this week. “The Fourth Wall” will shortly be put into rehearsal in Sydney. Rowena Ronald (Mrs Herbert Browne) will play in it. ‘.This Year of . Grace,” the Noel Coward revue, will probably be seen in New Zealand soon. Miss Maisie Gay, English low comedienne, heads the cast.

Miss Lorna Forbes is still a prominent member of the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company. What a delightful speaking voice Miss Forbes has —surely one of the most musical on the Australasian stage 1