PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18378, 11 July 1931, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Theatre Royal. August s.—Peter Dawson, bass-bari-tone,, and Mark Hambourg, pianist. August 19 and 20.—“ The Whispering; Woods,” by pupils of the Hamilton 'Technical High School. Williamson Comedy Company. The Williamson Comedy Company concluded a fortnight’s season at Wellington with two performances of “Let Ds Be Gay.” To-night the company will open a season at Christchurch with “The First Mrs Fraser.” “My Lady’s Dress” In Sydney. “The Calendar,” the Edgar Wallace racing play, closed a successful season in Sydney last night, with Frank HaTvey in the lead. To-night “My Lady’s Dress” will be revived, with Iris Darbyshire, an English actress, making her first appearance in Australia. Revival of Old Musical Comedies. Revivals of “Gipsy Love,”' “Dorothy,” “The Old Guard," "Paul Jones,” “The Geisha,” “Florodora,” etc., are to be seen in Melbourne shortly. A new company to present these old favourites is being formed by J. C. Williamson, Ltd. Recalled to England. Owing to the death in a motor accident in London of Bertha Lewis, Gilbert and Sullivan contralto, Dorothy Gill, who is' taking the contralto roles in the revival in Melbourne, has been recalled to England. Her place in Melbourne will be taken by Evelyn Gardner, from England. Jim Gerald In Sydney. 1 Jim Gerald, the well-known comedian, lajst in New Zealand as dame in the pantomime "The House That Jack Built," will head a new revue at the Haymarket Theatre, Sydney, to-night. Revival In Vaudeville In Australia. There seems to be a distinct revival in vaudeville In Australia. In Sydney Nat ("Stiffy”) Phillips and Sid Beck are in their ninth month at the Grand Opera House, and Mike Connors, Queenie Paul and Roy (“Mo") ■Rene are doing well at another theatre. In Melbourne Clem Dawe is attracting the crowds to the Bijou Theatre, and there is a strong company at the Tivoli. Sam Stern, an old favourite, is appearing at a picture theatre. Variety has also been revived in Adelaide, with a company headed by Amy Rochelle, who was principal boy In the pantomime, “The House That Jack Built," in New Zealand a few months ago. Two Performances a Day. The comedy “Almost a Honeymoon" Is being played every afternoon as w-ell as in the evenings by the Frank Neil company in Sydney.

Not Engaged to Married Woman! Lothar Mendes, the Paramount illm company director, was asked whether he was to become the husband of Lady Inverclyde—June, the actress—■ who is seeking a divorce at Reno, Nevada.

j “Any statement from me,” he said, “would be, to say the least, premature. After all, she is still the wife of Lord Inverclyde, even if a Reno divorce is granted, and any announcement would have to be made by her." ; Mr Mendes professed a deep admiration for the “most charming woman I have ever met."

“I cannot understand why such a friendship cannot exist regardless of ■the marital state of either party," ho said. "We saw a good deal of each other, but what of it? Hollywood makes a fuss over such matters unnecessarily, and the engagement rumours so started I can neither affirm nor deny. "One simply does not become engaged to a married woman."

Savages Fraternise. The Wanganui Savage Club intends paying a visit to Wellington on August 8, when it will be the guest of the Wellington Savage Club. Going Back with Husband.

A Edna Best, who threw up her part jn a talkie film at Hollywood two ■ months ago because she wanted to join 'her husband, Herbert Marshall, Is the subject of good-natured chil'f In the American Press because of her decision to give up her part as costar of th» highly successful play "Melo" on the day that Mr Marshall returns to England. Mr Marshall, who has been starring all the season in "To-morrow and Tomorrow," is abandoning his part to fulfil an English film contract, and Miss Best announces that she will accompany him to London. As, however, her contract permits her the privilege of leaving the play should she be afflicted with another attack of loncsomenesf will not be necessary for her to Mogiso this time, as she did when she look French leave of the talking films. Miss Best does not, she says, believe In husbands and wives who are happily married allowing the exigencies of their profession 'to impose on them long periods of separation. “Stop This Way" In Sydnoy.

The St. James Theatre (says a Sydney paper) raised its curtain on a new revue, "Step This Way," which certainly lacked nothing in the way of colour and charm. The charm was supplied, in the main, by a ballet which danced on and off the stage in a bewildering variety of costumes. Each time at. its departure the ballet left the audience in considerable distress lest the girls should make their next appearance in costumes which were briefer than the last. The distress was unnecessary.

Fred Bluett was star comedian; but in this show it was not so much what tie said as what lie was Ilial. won him laughter. At Mack was an energetic comedian, and was one of llic great successes of the show. "One Slop to Heaven,” a romantic song with brisk movement to it. was sung by .loan Graham, assisted by the ballet, and the house liked it immensely. A clever and brealhless apache dance by Decima and Eddie McLean, Len Rich's lightning footwork in a dance all 1 1 is own, a lilllo hit of open Ivy Arthur Clark. Charles Stephens and Cwladys Evans, and many oilier bright turns helped to give goo 1 money's worth.