PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 115, Issue 19236, 21 April 1934, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

COMING EVENTS. Anzao Day—Oratorio, “ The Creation.” April 29—St. ‘Mary’s Choir Concert. April 30—Hamilton Music Students Italian music). May—Hamilton Playbox (“The Secret Panel.”) June 11.—Hugo Larsen (PouishnofT, pianist, and Harold Stevens, baritone). They Enjoyed N.Z. Tour. The Williamson Musical Comedy Company, which sailed from Auckland on Monday night, will undertake a season in Brisbane next week. Letters I received from members of the company indicated that they thoroughly enjoyed the four months New Zealand tour, and hope to return some day. They are particularly gratified at the financial success of the tour. Another Australian for London. Billy Kershaw, the young Australian whose clever dancing was such a feature of the 'Rolls revue, “So This is Paris,” in New Zealand last year, writes from Sydney that he sails for London to-day. Since he was in the Dominion he has been appearing successfully in revue and pantomime in Sydney • and Melbourne. For the last few weeks he has been a member of Clem Dawe’s Midnight Frolics. Billy should do well in London, for he Is, a brilliantly clever dancer—l will aways remember his dance duo with Miss Audrey Lewis as the very poetry of motion —and has a likeable personality. *« The Dubarry ” for Now Zealand. The Williamson Company playing “ The Dubarry" in Melbourne at present will most likely come to New Zealand about September. Other plays in the company’s repertoire Include “Music in the Air,” and “Waltzes in Vienna.” ‘ Sylvia Welling, the London actress who understudied the late Anny Ahlers (German actress) and filled the •position creditably when the German ■ singer died tragically in London, is a • versatile player. The cast includes Cecil Kelleway, John Dudley, Leslie Holland, Jean 'Duncan, Nellie Barnes, Lorna Forbes, Douglas Herald, Dorothy Stanward, ' Leslie Vietor, lan Djvereux, Lou Vernon, Richard Parry, Ivy Kirby, and many others. “The Dubarry” Is a spectacular production of the French court, in which a petite milliner becomes a king’s favourite. Ivor Novello Play In Sydney. To Its comedy ‘Fresh Fields," at the Criterion, says a Sydney paper, allies unexpected romance, which is shared by Gerald Savory, one of the most personable young actors seen here for some time, and Agnes Doyle. Grace Lane and Jane Wood are the leading English artists who handle the best lines of the play, and their Australian guests are played by Katie Towers and Harvey Adams. Pantomime Popular In London. " Queen of Hearts," the Lyceum pantomime, has been played over 100 times (twloe a day since Boxing Day), which means that it has been seen by at least 400,000 people, said a writer in a London paper on March It. Big Salaries In London. £4OO a week is said to be the salary paid in London to Elizabeth Bergner, the Austrian actress in “ Escape Me Never," and Yvonne Printemps, the French actress, in the Noel Coward ' play “ Conversation Piece.” John Gielgud is said to be one of the highest paid ‘straight" actors in London. In ‘Richard of Bordeaux,” one of the biggest hits of the season, he is getting £2OO a week. The Passion Play In Sydney. Scott Alexander intends to produce the Oberammergau Passion Play in Sydney, and rehearsals for this ambitious undertaking have commenced at his Repertory Theatre; 123 speaking parts have been allotted and three months’ work is being planned. News of Favourite Players. Miss Strella Wilson, who returned to Australia to take the lead in ‘‘White Horse Inn,” addressed business girls at their luncheon at David Jones, Sydney, last week. Miss Wilson told the girls the latest news of actors and actresses who had appeared in Sydney. Fred Conningham was one of the principal ijuvenile leads, and Lance Fairfax (the New Zealander), who was playing with Donalda Warne, in “Music in the Air." had now gone In for picture work. John Wood and Mary Macgregor, were playing in “Charley’s Aunt” and Mildred Cottell In ‘‘Du Barry.” Mabel Gibson, the singer, Miss Wilson said, had changed her name to Katherine Vinnestrome. and Reginald Dandy Is now John Garriok. Miss Wilson, who played in “Cavalcade ” in London, was asked by Noel Coward to take a singing part in his new play “Conversation Piece,” but owing to the severo illness of her father she returned to Sydney. A Brilliant English Girl. Florence Desmond (the English girl whoso mimicry In "The Hollywood Party ’’ caused something of a sensation). returned from Hollywood to the Victoria Palace, and started off with Impressions of the stars she met in Los Angeles, says a London writer. Sho had a cleverly written introduction, but I did not think her first vehicle, that of a game of bridge between Jimmy Durante, Zasu Pitts, Mae West, and Lupc Velz was strong enough. Miss Desmond is to be congratulated however, on the fact that not once in her impersonation nf 'Mae West did she say, " Come up and see me some time.” Her subsequent impersonations, such as Greta Garbo, Graeic Fields, Marlene Dietrich, and Cicely Courtneidge were brilliant, and Miss Des- " nrond had a magnificent reception.