JPLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19052, 16 September 1933, Page 16 (Supplement)

JPLAYS AND PLAYERS.

COMING EVENTS. October 9 to 14—Hamilton 'Operatio Society (“Firefly”). October 16—Hamilton Music Students ■ (Request Programme). November 22, 28—J. C. Williamson ' .(Dante, the Magician). •• You Mutt Give Your Best.” Rene Rlano, the clever American "comedienne, who is to appear here in “Bright Side Up ” is the fourth generation of a prominent theatrical family,- and says that to belong to a family like this gives one a reverence and respect for the theatre which makes you give of your best. “It hurts me, she says, “ to hear people who have just come into it speak °* » and to see them take their work lightly. You cannot do this if you have grown up in its atmosphere as I have with parents who" are also steeped m theatre lore. You must give your best to It.” Clever Dancers. Miss Maie Baird and Mr Archie Thompson, who present a very thri 1ing and highly amusing burlesque dance on the “ Spanish Tango in Ernest C. Rolls’ stupendous spectacular musical production 1 Bright Side Up,’’ 1 have previously toured New Zealand in a series of musical comedy successes, Including “ The Maid of the Mountains ” and “The Pink Lady in which they were the principal dancers. Subsequently Miss Baird and Mr Thompson visited England and America, where they have been appearing very successfully in London and New York, one of their greatest triumphs In those cities being won in “ The Spanish Tango ” burlesque. 380 Performances. The run of Mr Walter Haokett’s comedy “Road House” recently ended at the Whitehall Theatre, when It was within a week of its 350th performance. , The 350th performance of the piay will still be performed, however, for after a week at the Streatham- Hill Theatre, opening on. Monday, August 7 the play started a" final week at the Golders Green Hippodrome, on August 14 which marked the 350th performance. The' entire Whitehall production and cast appeared at both suburban theatres. The Whitehall Theatre will re-open early in October with a new play by Mr Walter Hackett in which Miss Marion Lome and Mi" Gordon Marker will appear. Oriole Fields’ Salary.

Miss Grade Fields has signed a new contract with the Ealing Studios under which she will play in a Aim as yet unnamed, but described as having a Nell Gwynn part. It is announced from the studios that Miss Fields’ fee for tola 0™ will be the biggest yet paid to any oinema star in Britain. „ , „ The studio officials on August i refused to give any more Preoise information than that she would reoeive payment at the rate of m *The -average time needed to produce a film starring. Miss Fields is 30 days, with an eight-hour day, simple arithmetic shows that she is likely to work 14,400 minutes for a total sum of £28,800. It is reasonable to expect a film starring Miss Fields to earn £IOO,OOO or more in rentals in Britain alone. As it has also been stated that Miss 'Fields Is to receive 25 per cent, of the total earnings of her Aim the figure of £2 a minute is well within eoonomio possibilities. An Accomplished Artist.

A recent polo week In Melbourne had a special attraction for Charles Norman, the good-looking comedian of “Bright Side Up,” as toe has played it in the United States of America and England, and loves the game. He is a keen horseman, indeed is an allround versatile individual. ’ Mr Nornfan is one of the fortunate few who cannot 'complain that & prophet has no honour in his own country. He describes himself as an Australian, though English toorn, and In both countries he has scored success. His clever eccentric dancing, pleasing personality, and good singing voice attracted attention, and in emergency he was chosen to replace Charley Sylber, in “ Rio Rita," and' played the role throughout Australia and New Zealand. He has had the proud experience of seeing his name blazoned in big electric lights over Daly’s Theatre, London. He passes his scant leisure with music—he is a good musician—reading, and writing. He is also an enthusiastic golfer. Noel Coward In London.

Noel Coward is back In London after his very successful season in New York with his latest play' “Design for Living"—ln.which he played one of the four principal characters. Mr Coward was able to dispel the persistent rumours which had come from New York that this play had been banned by tiie Lord Chamberlain for London production. It had not even been submitted for Lord approval, and Mr Coward has no desire —at any rate for the time being—to do the piece in this country. He has just had one holiday in the West Indies, and is now going Into the country for another before getting to work on directing the revival of Hay Fever, the best-balanced of all his earlier plays, which C. B. Cochran Is presenting In the West End in the early autumn. Constance Collier, who in this revival is to play the part of the retired actress, originally portrayed by Marie Tempest, is at the moment in Chicago, where “Dinner at Eight.” in which she has been playing throughout its American run, is nearing the end of its career. George Wallace Again.

George’ Wallace, the stage and screen comedian, appeared in a new role one recent evening, when he had to select from among the dancers at a cabaret in Melbourne suitable types of both sexes to appear in the cabaret scene in his new screen comedy, nowin production. George Wallace will play a prominent part in the scene, in which lie will appear both as oabarct artist and comedy waiter. It is expected that this' will be one of the most elaborate as well as one of the funniest soenos in the film,

Miss Jennie Benson “ Baokstage.”

A eulogistio admirer of the qualities of the colonial girl is Miss Jennie Benson, who will make her appearance here in the J. C. Williamson production “ Bright Side Up ” on Wednesday. “ I have acted in many countries,” says Miss Benson, “ hut never I have I met with such wonderful I stamina," such’'cleanness of body and cleannes of outlook, as are typical of the Australian chorus girl. She is a born trouper, and even if she is ill or in trouble; she puts the show first, and keeps going all the same.” If Miss Benson is loud in her praises .of the girls, they are not far behind in their appreciation of the humanness and understanding of this unique star. “ Why, she isn’t like a star at all,” an alluring brunette charmer voiced the opinion ofV the cast. “ She's helping us all . the time. And her dressing-, room’s an absolute confessional. Miss Benson hears all the secrets of the - theatre. When we do terrible things she scolds us—but she understands j all the time. There’s only one word j for Jennie Benson—she’s a darling.”