GLAD TO BE BACK,

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19597, 8 June 1935, Page 17 (Supplement)

GLAD TO BE BACK,

NELLIE BRAMLEY IN CHRISTCHURCH OPENS A LONG SEASON. After seven years' absence Nellie Bramley has returned to Christchurch, anxious to renew acquaintance with the many friends she made on her previous visits. She and her company started a season at St. James Theatre on Saturday with Avery Hopwood s play, “Beware of Widows.’ Apart from the fact that she had a happy time seven years ago, Mis-s Bramley told a Christchurch Sun leporter that she was particularly interested in Christchurch- which has been chosen as the starting place for 'her present New Zealand 'tour because on her last visit -she raised £3OO towards the -Bridge of Remembrance at a benefit matinee. I feel that 1 placed a brick or two in your bridge,” she said with a smile. Record Seasons. Miss Bramley and her company -come fresh from record-breaking successes. In Brisbane they had an unbroken -season of two years; 67 unbroken weeks at the Palace Theatre (now Ihe Apollo) in Melbourne, and one year, to the day, in Perth. She had brought a very strong company with her- Her leading man, John Cameron, had been with the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Players and J. C. Williamson’s production of “Fresh Fields”; Noel Boyd, who plays opposite Miss Bramley, had just finished an engagement with Gus Bluett in “Nice Goings On”; and Nan Taylor would be fresh in the minds of theatregoers a-s the old Scottish housekeeper In "The Wind and the Rain.”

Mr -Cameron played the juvenile lead in the Australian film "Grandad Rudd,” but none of the other members of the cast had had experience of film work, she continued. Moncrieff McCullum is the only member of the cast who is a New Zealander. Season of Indefinite Length.

The season will be of indefinite length—it will depend on how much the public like the fare provided. ■Miss Bramley’s company has plenty of plays in its repertoire for a very long season. “ My stay here couldn’t be too long to suit me,” she said. “I like New Zealand very much. One of the saddest things about the theatrical profession is that one makes such very good friends, especially during long seasons -such as we have had, and then one has to go away and leave them. It is very pleasant when one is able to come back and renew old acquaintances, as is the -case in Christchurch. “I believe that flesh-and-blood shows have definitely come back in Australia, though not necessarily at the expense of the talkies. There is room for both, provided they are good. Leaning Towards Comedy. “What class of play is most popular? Well, in the first place, it has to he first class. -But I think there is rather a general leaning towards comedy, and comedies and comedydramas are found to he the best money-makers. Plenty of good plays are now being written."