PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18229, 17 January 1931, Page 16 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Now Williamson Productions. “Dearest Enemy” will be the next J C. Williamson musical comedy production. Dorothy Brunton, who recently returned to Australia, from a long stay abroad, will appear in it. “On The Spot,” the Edgar Wallace racing play, will he produced in Sydney within the next week or two, with Frank Harvey (just returned from England) in the lead. The Gilbert and Sullivan revival will commence at Melbourne at Easter. New Zealand Girl In England. Isabel Wilford, of Wellington, daughter of Sir Thomas Wilford, High Commissioner for New Zealand at Home, was selected for the lead in Mrs Kilpatrick’s new comedy, “Getting George Married,” which was put on at the Everyman Theatre Guild, Hampstead (says a correspondent of the Wellington Evening Post). The piece is cjassed as a comedy written around a “Hawtry part.” George is an amiable type of character;' his embarrassing adventures in the social world following, the sudden inheritance of a dukedom form the theme of the story. Miss Wynne (played by Miss Wilford) is the secretary to the Hon.' George Tremayne, student of old coins, who inherits the title. There is a designing and managing old aunt, whose mission is to get George married, which she attempts to do most aggressively. Louise Hampton essayed this role with complete success. It is a foregone conclusion that George will eventually marry his secretary, but the comedy kills him off first in a fire, then conveniently resurrects him in a sale- j room, where he is indulging his hobby for old coins. The aunt’s designs and j those of a very modern cousin being i thwarted, George and Marion come into their own. Also in the cast were Bruce Belfrage, Marie Dainton, Freda Lockhart, Brember Wills, and Rex Harrison. Of Miss Wilford it is said that she played the part with a pretty natural j charm,, her acting being one . of the ’ outstanding memories of the initial j performance of the four-act new comedy. . She is the first person on the stage at the opening, and one of the two at the close. Shows In Sydney. At the St. James Theatre, Sydney, which is now under the. management. of Ernest . G. Rolls, the ' pantomime “Puss in Boots” is playing twice daily at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Gorgeous ensembles, wonderful colouring, and brilliant spectacle are features of the show. “Beauty and the Beast” pantomime at; the Grand Opera House is also drawing large audiences'. J. C. Williamson’s musical farce, “Turned Up,” is at Her Majesty’s Theatre. There are over 100 singing and dancing stars, headed by Elsie Prince and Gus Bluett. "Eliza Comes to Stay” is still being played at the Criterion Theatre. A big cast includes Agnes Doyle, Frank Bradley, Campbell Copelin, Harvey Adams and Charles Wheeler. “Peter Pan” In London. “Peter Pan” was presented for matinees only at the London Palladium from December 22. The cast includes Jean Forbes- . Robertson, George Curzon, Stella Patrick Campbell, Mary Casson, Jimmy Hanley, Freddie Springett, George Elliston, Jenny Wren, Ralph Hazel, Jack Skinner, W. G. Manning, Douglas Beaumont and James C. Wilton. News From London. The following Items Trom the London papers regarding people known here will be of interest:— Shayle Gardner (the New- Zealander) was impressive Dawes in the revival of "The Man From Blankley’s.” Lance Fairfax, a fine young New Zealand singer, has been brought over from Australia for the new musical drama at Drury Lane. Marie Burke, also well known in New Zealand, , is the she-villain. Jack Mayer, the Australian Song Lad, occupies a premier position on' the bill, with Alan Kitson (formerly of the Humphrey Bishop Company), at the piano, - and rightly so, for these two boys rollick along with an effervescent style of their own, which! immediately gets them on good terms; with tbe audience, who immediately realise their “value for money” feeling., Reginald Tate (Captain Stanhope in “Journey’s End”) appeared in a comedy-mystery dance (whatever that may mean!) with Robin Irvine and John Clements, at the Little Theatre. In “Getting George Married,” Isabel Wilford is dainty and demure, so was effective as the secretary, Marion Wynne. The new romantic musical comedy at Drury Lane is called “The Song of the Drum.” Helen Gilliand is the leading lady. Miss Gilliand was formerly a star in the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company. Another important addition to the cast is Allan Jeayes, who takes the part of the Ilkhani, the Prince who is at the head of the conspiracy against the British rule; while Lance Fairfax, the New Zealander, and Brian Gilmour are also in the cast. Professor Stern is at present working on the scene in the Ilkhani’s Palace, which is promised to rival, on a bigger scale, any of his stage pictures in "Sumurun." Marie Nyman (for so long with George Wallace in nevue on the Fuller circuit), the Australian musical comedy artist, now travels her own musical director, R. Braithwait, who was previously with Miss Hetty King. Marie has had several offers for panto, and has been engaged as principal boy in T. T. Convery’s “Cinderella” at Sunderland. Her eight months’ consecutive variety since she landed on these shores is something of a record for a newcomer. Peter Dawson (at London Palladium) is not in a humorous mood this time. ■ He gives us the prologue to “Pagliacci,” “ The Lute Player ” and Rudyard Kipling’s “Cells,” with “If '< I Were King” as encore; yet in "this sentimental mood he is as successful as before. i Early in the new year Julian Wylie 1 is to get to work on the musical adap- ] tation of “The Good Companions," < which J- B. Priestley has made himself. The composer has not been de- I cided upon, but I understand that, t Priestley is writing his nmJyrjcSg j_ ]

talkies have made to vaudeville is that instead of two and three shows a day four are played, and five on Sundays. Footllght Flashes. # “Turned Up,’’ as was expected, had a very short run in Sydney. It finished last night. Percy Grainger is broadcasting in America. The famous pianist-com-poser is very.popular in the States. The “New Moon" company will play a short return season in Sydney, and later some of its members, will go into the Gilbert and .Sullivan operas. The Christmas attractions in London include revivals of “Treasure Island,” “Where ihe Rainbow Ends,” “Peter Pan,” and “The Windmill Man,” also several pantomimes. Sir Harry Lauder was appearing in London, at the Palladium, for the first time in three years, when the mail left 4 ; .