THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 113, Issue 18927, 22 April 1933, Page 16 (Supplement)

THE STAGE IN AUSTRALIA.

AS SEEN BY NEW ZEALANDER.

SOME INTERESTING IMPRESSIONS,

A friend who recently passed through Australia on his way to England writes by this week’s mail:—

“ We arrived in Sydney on Sunday afternoon, and on Monday night went to see “ Our Miss Gibbs.” Owing, I imagine, to the fact that it was Monday, and also that the show was in its 11th week, the house vvas not very large, but they have been having crowded houses for weeks. What I ■always notice—and like—about Sydney people is that they all seem to know their shows —usually they have seen them and can discuss them intelligently. ‘Miss Gibbs’ vvas a bright production. Madge Elliott did not seem to me to be quite at home as Mary Gibbs, but Cyril Ritchard as Hughie was excellent, dancing as well as, or better than, ever, and doing his comedy work with vigour. Gus Bluett, as Timothy Gibbs, vvas as amusing as I have ever seen him. The other principals—Frank Leighton, Marie La Varre, Leo Franklyn—were as usual, while the staging and dressing were uniformly good.

A Disappointing Comody,

"On Wednesday afternoon (no other time being available) we managed to see ‘ While Parents Sleep’— and wondered afterwards why we had bothered 1 To me, its London success

is Inexplicable, unless the players have •absolutely lifted the play out of itself. Such a conventional and stilted comedy I have not seen for a long time. The situations were creaking, and the comedy—what little there was of it—laboured.

“ The one really bright line occurred when Jerry asked Lady CatterIng what the tune she was playing was out of, and she answered: ‘My dear, It’s a song, not a racehorse 1 ’ “ The cast was adequate, without being brilliant. Mona Barlee looked extremely attractive and acted well. Harvey Adams did good work, as did Agnes Doyle and Noel Boyd. The latter looked charming as the mother. Hendrick Hudson, a newcomer from repertory, was satisfactory, but John Wdod was disappointing. A Sheer Delight. “ On the other hand the one show we were able to see in Melbourne, 1 The Cat’s Cradle,’ was a sheer delight. Once more a Monday night, hut certainly not sufficient excuse for the mere handful of people present. The play is extremely amusing, both in situations and dialogue, and was made even more enjoyable by the very capable manner in which it was played. “ Nicholas Hannen does not play In ‘ The Cat’s Cradle,’ nor does either of the two daughters, hut the family reputation is admirably upheld by Athene Seyler, who is simply charming, and •a worthy follower of Marie Tempest and Irene Vanbrugh, in the same type of role as they played out here. She has a most attractive voice, and very smart clothes. John Longden, the male lead, was, by virtue of a beard, quite unrecognisable from his film work, and although he didn’t impress as a great actor, he worked well. “ The rest of the cast, including Maureen O’Moor, in the difficult part of the mother, Cecily Clarence, and Christopher Ilassall, a trifle boisterous, but very good looking, were very good. Apparently they are to go to New Zealand after Australia, so you will have the opportunity of seeing them in more than one show —an experience I envy you.”