PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 17840, 12 October 1929, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

THEATRE ROYAL. October 22.—Gladys Denz’s Recital. October 28 to November 2—Hamilton Operatic Society ("Gipsy Love"). November 11—J. C. Williamson (pencilled), ‘•Journey’s End.” November 12, 13 —William Heugban, actor-singer (farewell season). November 26 —J. C. Williamson (“ The Desert Song ’’). Gladys Denz’s Recital. Miss Gladys Denz has arranged a very attractive programme of dancing, singing and elocution for her'recital on October 22. Special features will be the appearance of a clever child soubrette and an exhibition of toe dancing. “The Coming of Day” will be a big spectacular production, in which characters ranging from Darkness to Dawn will be introduced with beautiful effect. "Gretchen and Hans and Their Dutch Family” will be another outstanding number. Miss Denz’s annual recital is always looked forward to, and this year it promises to be as popular as ever.

Hamiltonians In America. Mr and Mrs H. G. Ross, of Hamilton, left Liverpool on September 20 for the United States. Writing by this week’s mail Mr RoSs mentions that he and Mrs Ross expect to arrive at Auckland on November 4, and it is a matter of deep regret to both of them that they will get back just too late to see the Operatic Society’s production of "Gipsy Love,” which will conclude on November 2. "We are so glad to read in copies of the Waikato Times forwarded to us that the society is doing so well,” Bays Mr Ross. "Give the members our best wishes for success.”

Theatre Slump In Australia. "Business in general theatrical entertainment Is, and might be for an indefinite term, rather depressed, and I therefore do not think it desirable to increase working costs more than is clearly necessary in justice to employees,” said Chief Justice Dethridge, in delivering in the Commonwealth Arbitration Court a voluminous judgment covering practically every class of work done by musicians at theatres, picture shows, broadcasting stations, private theatricals, concerts, religious performances, dancing classes, and other places of amusement. Talkies at Cambridge. For the Inauguration of the talkies at Cambridge Town Hall to-night a very attractive programme has been chosen, headed by “The Broadway Melody"—an all talking, all. singing, and all dancing show. It is safe to predict that many Hamilton people will go to Cambridge to ■ee and hear this programme. Buooeßßes In Australia. "Lombardi, Limited,” with Leo Carillo, Is the outstanding success in Sydney. The part of Tito Lombardi is one of the longest ever written. Leo Carillo declares it covers 175 “sides"—the vernacular term for pages on the stage. “Whoopee,” the musical comedy which "flopped" so badly in Sydney, is said to be drawing the biggest audiences in Melbourne. Fuller Revue Companies. Jim Gerald and his revue company opened a season at the St. James Theatre, Auckland, on Tuesday. George Wallace is still entertaining the crowds at His Majesty’s Theatre, Wellington. At Christchurch Nat Phillips ("Stlffy") and his Whirligigs are appearing. The company includes Hector St.' Clair, Stella Lamond, Kitty Stewart and A 1 Mack. Australian’s Buooesa in Now York. Robert Chisholm, the Australian, who last year won great success in "The Golden Dawn," is the juvenile lead in the new musical comedy "Adeline," in New York. Mr Chisholm was last In New Zealand with Gladys Moncrieff in “The Maid of the Mountains.” Oomedy, Companies for N.Z. The Fuller management has several comedy companies arriving at the St. James Theatre, Auckland, before very long. The first will be an American comedy company headed by Leona Hogarth, in “Baby Cyclone” and "White Collars.” This will be followed by Freddie Forbes, a comedian who has a big following in London, in "Lido Lady” and "Good News,” the musical comedies which were done in Australia by Elsie Prince. The company includes Irene Shamrock, Aster Faire, Betty Lambert, Charles Megan and the Big Four. Althouse Seeks Divorce. Paul S. Althouse, of New York, prominent American tenor who toured New Zealand some years ago, has entered a suit for divorce against his wife, Mrs Elizabeth Breen Althouse, also of New York. I They were married in 1914 and separated two years ago. Desertion |was given as the ground for divorce. Ivor Novello’s Latest Play. i "Symphony in Two Flats” is the f title of Ivor Novello’s new comedy, /which was produced in Edinburgh on September 23. I In it the author plays the part of a composer, and leading parts are taken by Lilian Braitlnvaite and Viola Tree.

Ella Shields’. Twenty-fifth Year. I It Is twenty-five years ago this month since Ella Shields made her first appearance in London, and that was at •the old Foresters’ Ilall in the East 'End. It was not long before she bo'cam'e an established favourite not only in the Metropolis but in the provinces, j She has made many world tours, and according to her present plans the ■next one will be her farewell. Ethel Barrymore as Negress. Miss Ethel Barrymore says that she will put on “an absolutely black makeup" when she acts "Scarlet Sister Alary" in New York. That will be 'about the first of the year. I she says, 100, that she will do ‘‘Measure for Measure” in New York this season. I Harry Plinuner, a New Zealand factor, is a member of Miss Barrymore’s Icompany.

It Happens That Way Sometimes I Some years ago Mr Gordon Goldswain, an English violinist, spent some weeks in Hamilton, and while here met Mr and Mrs H. C. Ross. Mr and Mrs Ross, while in England, decided to renew the friendship, and motored down to Eastbourne, where Mr Goldswain was established with his orchestra for the season. To the regret of all parties the violinist-conductor had chosen that particular Sunday to go away for the day—for the first time in two months! —so the meeting did not take place. However, It was hoped to arrange a meeting before the Hamiltonians left England. Mr Goldswain, writing by this week’s mail, says he has the happiest memories of New Zealand, and is determined to come back before long. 98 New Plays in a Month. A friend writes from New York by this week’s mail—"No fewer than 96 new plays have been announced to open this'month, which means three openings every night. It will take me some time to catch up! So far we have had only two openings, and both are hits. They arc “It’s a Wise Child,” a Belasco production, and "J. Murray Anderson’s Almanac,” a revue. "It’s a Wise Child” deals with illegitimacy and is very funny, although its plot, i s hackneyed. "Almanac” is a spectacular show. “Rose Marie” Revival In Melbourne. “Rose Marie” is to be revived in Melbourne by the "Show Boat” company. Now (asks a Sydney paper) what about Marie Bremner staying back from New Zealand and "The Desert Song” company “on private business"? It was presaged that she was being kept for the "Rose Marie” revival, though Marie and the management denied it.

Talkies at Hamilton. The wiring of the Strand Theatre for the talkies has been completed, and on Monday Hamilton picture-lovers Will have the opportunity of hearing the stars whom they formerly only saw. The film will be the 100 per cent, talkie, “The Home Towners." Mr. Tombs, the manager, has arranged for several of the -big talkie successes to be screened at the theatre. Tennis Champion as Actor. "I come as an actor. My Davis Cup days are over. Tennis henceforth will be only a sideline,” said W. T. Tilden, when he landed at Southampton from America, to appear on the stage in England in the comedy "They All Want Something.” "I still love the game, and I don’t suppose I'll be able to forego it entirely, but I have decided to concentrate on a theatrical career.” No Talkies for Bt. James's. The popularity of talkies has given rise to the rumour that the St. James Theatre, Auckland, would soon follow suit, but iiiis story i s emphatically denied by Mr W. Burton, genera] manager in New Zealand for John Fuller and Sons, Ltd. Mr Burton is confident that the Fullers’ shows put on at moderate prices have nothing to fear from the talkies. That the prices are moderate is proved by the charge of 8s for the best seats for a big production like "Rio Rita.” English Companies In Canada. Wee Georgia Wood heads an English pantomime company which commenced a tour of Canada last month with "Mother Goose" and "Humpty Dumpty." Sir John Martin-Harvey Is also touring Canada with the dramas "The Only Way,” "The Lowland Wolf,” and "Rosemary”

English Plays for New York. The next Shubert dramatic undertaking in New York will be “Rope,” the crime play by Patrick Hamilton, which has just closed in London. The company is headed by Ernest Milton, who will have the role he played there. The play’s title will, of course, be changed for New York, inasmuch as that city saw a play of that name at. Biltrnore Theatre not many seasons ago. Reginald Denham will stage the importation, and in the cast will be Sebastian Shaw, Ivor Brandt, Hugh Dempster, Margaret Delamere, Sam Lvsons and Nora Nicholson. ‘Lee Shubert is to present “The Matriarch,” with Constance Collier at the head of the cast, in November, and another play he acquired in London—the one bearing the provocative title of “The Infinite Shoeblack” —in December The latter was written by the father of Michael MacOvvan, who was in Hamilton with “Young Woodley."

The Boys In Plus Fours! "When the ‘Journey’s End’ Company go to New Zealand,” writes a friend from Melbourne, "they will probably be known as the Boys in Plus Fours, for they nearly all wear ’em. The cast is an all-male one, as you know, and most of the members are Englishmen. Melba’s Characteristic Modesty! "Go and tell everybody that my voice is as beautiful as ever, and as fresh as a young girl’s,” said Dame Nellie Melba to a London interviewer. She sang at Brighton this week in aid of the Sussex hospitals, and then returned to Paris. "Please make it clear,” the Diva added, “that I am only appearing for charity. I shall never sing again for money.” Veterans. In Variety. Vaudeville stars of a former day— Jake Friedman, J. C. Bain, Maud Fanning, George Deane, Bobbie Watson, Harry Linden, Manny Aarons, Bob Driscoll, Ida Berridge, Sid Doody—appeared in the farewell programme at Sydney Tivoli before the theatre closed its doors. Leon Gordon In Melbourne. After a long and successful season in Sydney the Leon Gordon Company will open at Melbourne to-night in “Brewster’s Millions," to be followed by "The Squeaker” and "It Pays to Advertise.” Footlight Flashes. “Journey’s End,” the successful war play, is to be staged in Hamilton shortly. ".Charley’s Aunt” has been revived successfully in Melbourne by Frank Neil. John Cameron, the young New Zealander with the Allan Wilkie Company, wrote before the company sailed for Sydney yesterday to bid farewell to the friends he made in Hamilton. He

says his memories of this town are of the happiest. Mr Cameron mentions that the company had a very successful season in the South Island, especially at Nelson and Blenheim. At Melbourne the spectacular musical show “Show Boat” is in its last nights. “The Desert Song" has been drawing large audiences at Christchurch all the week. Sam Stern, the well-known Jewish comedian, is running cabarets at Invercargill. “The Silver King” has been done as a “talkie,” with Percy Marmont as Wilfred Denver. Cecil Haines, the New Zealand girl, has a small part in Edgar Wallace’s play, “Brothers,” in London. Mr “Jim” Scott, formerly of Hamilton, has a small part in “The Desert Song,” and his name appears in the billing. Les Levante, the illusionist, who toured New Zealand some years ago, is in Melbourne with the Tagalog Firewalkers. Stella Power, the Australian singer, at one time billed as “The Little Melba,” is one of the principals in the revue “Almanac” in New York. Percy Hutchison, who was in New Zealand a year or two ago, produced “Miss Adventure” in England last month. Renee Kelly, also well known here, is the leading lady. The Allan Wilkie Company sailed from Wellington yesterday for Sydney, where a season will be commenced on Saturday with "The School for Scandal.” New Zealand Girl In London. Marie Ney, the New Zealand girl, took the title role in the fantastic play by C. K. Munro, “Veronica,” with which the Arts Theatre in London opened the season. Will They Bring In the Girl? One of the points at issue in filming the successful war play, “Journey’s End,” says the London Era, is whether Captain ‘ Stanhope's girl shall be brought into the picture. In the play, of course, the cast is all-male, and the girl is only referred to. Hamilton High School Concerts. For several weeks the pupils of the Hamilton High School have been rehearsing for the annual concerts, commencing on Octo'ber 22, and their work augurs well for a successful production. Last year’s concert, in which scenes from “The Gondoliers" and Shakespearean plays were presented, was 'a great success, but it is hoped that an even higher standard will be attained this year. The programme will consist of a presentation of Baife’s “Bohemian Girl," by the girls, and school choruses, together with selections from Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” by the boys. .. *— .