PLAY AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

A Happy Christmas. Again I extend good wishes to readers —my friends of the stage and the general public —for a happy Christmas. May the holiday season be indeed a time of joy to them ait. Revue “ New Faces ” at Auckland. The “ New International Variety ” Company, under the J. 'C. WilliamsonFrank Neil direction, will commence a New Zealand tour at Auckland on Boxing Day, when a novel and spectacular revue, “ New Faces, will presented. ' . With its lavish scenes, splendid comedy and outstanding specialty acts, the revue should prove an excellent holiday entertainment. A s P selected cast of players is headed by Nice, Florio and Lubow, American acrobatic dancers. Another prominent player is Joey Porter, the diminutne English comedian, who is highly amus ing in a quiet conversational manner. Alec 'Halls gives a new interpretation of popular music, while Les JV a " monds, from the Folies Bergere, Pans are seen in a posing and dancim, act of rare beauty. Grace Partington, soprano, has appeared in several leading roles in musical comedies, and , _ Donald and Graham, tap and ada ß u> dancers, have taken part in'C. B. oocn "C.’SS’ fTL W«M «*£ dians, and the Three Alexanders, with their modern songs, are incl u ded .. the company. There is also a splendid ballet, trained by Maurice Diamond. Drama and Comedy for N.Z.

Commencing at Wellington on January 18, Messrs. J. C. Williamson ar presenting a - season of drama. and comedy-drama by a line conapany headed by George Thirlwell, a handsome young Englishman. The play* to be presented are:— Ten Minute Alibi” and “The Wind and the Rain, the latter by a New Zealand medico. The former tells of the perfie d, crime dreamed by the hero under the influence of a drugged cigarette, administered by the villain, who has d. honourable intentions towaids the girl loved by the hero. Having dreamed, the young man commits the actual murder, and proves his alibi by cleverly manipulating the clock It is a play of thrills, excitement, qftick en frances, and hurried exits, and strik 1 new note in mystery plays. The* company to interpret thisi anc “The Wind and the Rain,’ also includes F " ,*Xdley, Guy Haslidgs; The ma Scott, Arundel Nixon, Ronald Athol wood, Russell Chapman, Alan RanUn. Tocelvn Howarth (scieen st )• SS Mincliin, Nan Tn «, Tommy Jay, Richard Fair, Ronald Robeits. etc. To Play Lead lrt Sydney.

"Plays in London are enjoying much longer runs these days, an( j screen aVo^who “arrived in Sydney °M r ayer 'wiR 1 fday' the ’ male lead opposite Sylvia Welling m Viktoria and Her Hlifcsar.” Before leaving London Mr May appeared in several musical successes playing opposite leading screen stars in three of them. Mr Mayer has acted in seveiai films, the last' one being Behold We Love ” with Margaret Graham. Alan Kitson, an Australian, who has spent several years in England, acjompanied Mr Mayer, Mr Kitson was at one time with the ljumphiey Bishop Company in New Zealand. Pantomime In Sydney. A pantomime, “ Aladdin,” will commence a season at the Eimpire Theatre, Sydney, to-day, with Nellie Kolle as principal hoy. There will be a grand Palace Transformation Scene, beautiful illuminated swings, a funny 'Harlequinade, and the amazing Hyman Troupe o Acrobats. Gladys Monorleff in New Play. “ The Cedar Tree,” another original spectacular musical play, with music by Varney Monk, has been staged in Melbourne, following successful seasons of “'Collit’s Inn” and Jolly ■Gladvs Moncrieff, as in the other D iays, has the principal role. She is said to be singing better than ever. Pantomimes In London.

Pantomime is more popular than ever in England, and about 200 will bo produced during the Christmas season. At the Victoria Palace Theatre a new and elaborate pantomime. “Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, ’ will be produced on Boxing Day. The pantomime, of course, will be once nightly, performances commencing at 7.30, and there will be matinees daily at two o'clock. -Gladys Stanley will be the principal boy, Robin; Douglas Wakefield will 'be principal comedian, his part being the Chief Robber; Billy Nelson has been engaged for the* Second Robber; Ivor Yintor will be the -Boy Babe; Eddie Jayc the Baron, and Mark Daly the Dame. English Dancer With Russian Ballet. Stanley Judson, one of the Principal"dancers of the Russian Ballet Company at the King’s Theatre, Melbourne, has attracted considerable attention not only because of his outstanding performances as a dancer, but also by reason of his striking appearance and Hie met that ire is English. His first stage experience was gained as a dancer in Robert Courtneidge’s production of "Catherine,” with Jose Collins. His fine work attracted attention, and ho was then engaged as chief male dancer at the London Coliseum and the Alhambra. Later, he joined Pavlova for a Covent Garden season, which was followed by a tour of Europe and South America. In 133 1 he undertook a tour of the United Stales for six months with the Chicago Opera ComPflI \ great honour fell to his lot when be* was chosen by Adelina Genre to dance before the Prince of Wales at ■i gala performance organised by Vr for charity. In the same year he was engaged for the Camargo Ballet Season at-the Savoy, when Sir Thomas Beceham conducted on several occasions. The ballet will probably be seen *n New Zealand early in the New Year.

Christmas Greetings from London. This week’s mail brought Christmas greetings from London. Ella Shields, wherever she may be, never forgets old friends, and her seasonable wishes are as warm and sincere as ever. Messages also come from Shayle Gardner, the New Zealand actor now established in London; William Ileughan, the Scottish actor-singer, and his wife Gladys Sayer, pianist; Andrew Broom, who was personal representative for Mr. Heughan and is now manager of a news-reel theatre in London; Billy Kershaw, the clever young Australian dancer who was in Hamilton last year in the revue “ Bright Side Up” and is now dancineat the Grosvenor Hotel in London; Malcolm Miller, the young Christchurch basso who recently received the distinction of being appointed to Westminster Abbey Choir; and Gordon Goidswain, the English violinist who spent a couple of months in Hamilton some years ago, and who lias just returned to London from one of his frequent visits to the Continent. Greetings have also arrived from Alan Kitson (formerly of the Humphrey Bishop Company), who has just returned to Australia after years of success in English vaudeville. Ah have very pleasant memories of New Zealand and want to come hack some day. I Attend a Wedding In Auckland. 'On Wednesday evening I had the pleasure of being present at Auckland at the wedding of Miss Nina Scott, formerly of Hamilton, and Mr. John Griffiths, of’ Sydney. It was a very

popular event, and not only was the church crowded but hundreds of people congregated outside. Miss Scott’s connection with the Auckland Operatic Society, Little Theatre 'Society, Friendly Road (as “Aunty Nina”), and other entertainment and social activities in Auckland has won her wide popularity. The wedding was broadcast through the Friendly Road station. The bride and her maids—Miss Ruth Scott and Miss Betty Mulholland —looked very lovely, the bridal group being one of the prettiest I have seen. The Friendly Road Choir participated in the ceremony. At the reception which followed in the Fabian 'Hall a very happy time was spent. Among those who contributed to the programme were several who formerly resided in Hamilton —the three Moore sisters 'in instrumental 'trios, 'Mrs N. le Petit in songs at the piano; and Mr Robert Simmers (baritone). Mr. J. F. Montague and Mr. Dudley Wrathall also gave items. The opportunity was taken to welcome home Miss Ruth Scott, who during the past year has won great success in Australia and who will return to Sydney Conservatorium early next year. •Mr. and M£s. Griffiths will sail next week for Sydney, where they will make their home. New Production In Sydney. “ Viktoria and Her Hussar ” will be .staged ,in /Sydney to-jnight by the company recently in New Zealand in “ The Dubarry." Of Hungarian origin, the play will feature Sylvia Welling in the title role. The story of “Viktoria and Her Hussar ” is an unusual one, with the action ebunging rapidly from place to place, opening in Siberia, then whisking to Japan, across to Pctrograd, and winding up in an Hungarian vineyard. -Comedy is the keynote, and gay -and charming songs are liberally sprinkled throughout. ’“Jolly Roger” In Melbourne. Set, amid the extravagant colours of Jamaica, its lines full of sparkling satire, ornamented with songs of romance and the Spanish Main, the comic opera, “Jolly Roger,” which recently completed a successful run, was one of the brightest and most beautiful productions seen in Melbourne for some time. Gladys Moncrieff, as Amelia, has rather less than usual to do, but she sings more beautifully than ever, especially the songs that were written for tier by Dudley Glass. Alan Priora, just back from America, was an immediate success as the gallant Roger, and George Wallace, as Bold Ren. gave the performance of his career. The villainous Governor was cleverly burlesqued by Claude Fleming. £2OOO Taken at Two Performances. q\vo thousand pounds were paid for H,e first two performances of ■‘Streamline,” dims. B. Cochran s new revue at the Palace Theatre. London, and establishes a box-olliee record at this theatre. Mr Cochran has received a cabled | offer to reproduce the revue on Broadway, with American artists, in Nuvi ember.