NEW PRODUCTIONS.

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

NEW PRODUCTIONS.

FOR J. C. WILLIAMSON. MUSICAL AND STRAIGHT PLAYS. Many artists will be brought to Australia for new J. C. Williamson productions. Frederic Bentley, the comedian of “Rose Marie,” and Josie Melville (best remembered as "Sally”) are among those who may be expected. “Show Boat” is to be the first of the new productions. This musical play will have its Australian premiere in Melbourne about the end of August. George Highland, who has just completed a trip around the world in 16 weeks, has already set to work on this production, and is in Sydney trying out a number of coloured people wanted for it. There are to be 96 In the chorus and ballet, and of those 48 should be coloured. Paul Robeson, the negro actor and singer, is said to have provided the choicest memory of the London production by his singing of "Old Man River," and it is intended to bring out a negro artist to play the role of Joe which he took. Mr Bentley will be Captain Andy in this adaptation of Edna Berber's novel. Bertha Belmore, seen here in “Cradle Snatchers,” is coming back from New York to play the role of Parthy Ann Hawks. The piece begins on the Cotton Blossom, Captain Andy’s floating theatre on the Mississippi, in the late eighteeneighties, and at the end the audience is taken back to the Show Boat 40 years later.

Josie Melville In “Mr Cinders.”

“New Moon” will be the second musical play. Mr Highland says that this will be presented by “The Desert Song" Company. As, however, “The Desert Song” is still enjoying great success the new production will not be seen for many months. Mr Highland expects that Josie Melville will play the lead in the musical comedy "Mr Cinders,” one of the pieces which J. C. Williamson, Ltd., recently produced in London. She is at present appearing in the revue “Coo-ee” in that city. “Hold Everything” Is a light musical comedy which the company now staging “The Five o’clock Girl" at the Royal, Melbourne, will present in due course. The story concerns two boxers, and towards the end the hero wins a championship contest in view of the audience. This musical comedy has achieved a notable success In America. It was staged at the London Palace on June 12, with George Gee as one of the boxers. John Kirby and Mamie Watson, also well remembered by New Zealand theatregoers, arc among others in the cast. Another musical comedy is “Follow Through.” In this the heroine wins a golf championship. She will probably be Josie Melville. Human Relationships In a Crisis.

Mr Highland was profoundly impressed with "Journey’s End," a threeact war drama by R. C. Sherriff, which Is the hit of the London and New York seasons. This is, to be acted by a specially selected company, including several English artists. There is no woman in “Journey’s End.” It has been described as one of the best pieces seen in London for years, a study of human relationships" in ’ a crisis, an ennobling study of an interesting set of men thrown together haphazardly and bound by one idea.