PLAYS AND PICTURES

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19663, 24 August 1935, Page 17 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PICTURES

Hamiltonian In London. A letter came this week from London from Gordon Ireland, at one time •prominent in amateur theatrical circles in Hamilton. Mr Ireland writes: — “No doubt you will be surprised to get these lines —it must be ten years ago since I last saw you, in Sydney. I suppose you are still as keen on the theatre as before. You would 'be in your element in London. The theatres here are inexhaustible, though don’t run away with the idea that a play must 'be good to get a production in London. Frequently, we have to sit through terrible stuff that would merely be frozen off the boards in the Dominions. If the Australian and New Zealand public is nurtured on theatrical best-sellers, you are at least spared the painful “flops”—and some of them, believe me, deserve it. “We often see Mr and Mrs Will Frye, formerly of 'Hamilton. They are still enchanted with London. Do you remember the “Follies” (a company of .Hamilton amateurs organised 'by Mrs H. C. Ross to give entertainments for charities) days when you trouped with us in the green buses to those outlandish halls in the country centres of Waikato? That must have taken courage I “ You may be interesled to hear I am writing now for the British Broadcasting Company—sketches, patter, etc. I have a contract with the 8.8. C. for a big show, “Wings Over Westralia,” which goes into production during the winter. Val Gielgud, the Drama Director, I believe is to produce. They have been very good and given me a free hand. We will probably engage an all-Australian cast, quite a lengthy one. You will hear it on short wave, "as the Empire Section is to take the transmission. There will probably be colonial versions, or 8.8. C. recordings from the Australian and N. Z. stations at a later date. I am now waiting to flx up a translated version in ■German with the ■Reich shortwave ■station in Berlin. “ I broadcast (in German) from the Frankfurt studios on visit to Germany, when the officials were hospitality itself. They are a splendid people, the majority of them, though your cables would have you believe them mediaeval hooligans. There is a lot in Nazi-ism that is repugnant, but we can trace many of our impressions to our own ignorance. People prefer to look at effects rather than for causes This autumn I am looking forward to giving some talks over the air there on Australia and New Zealand, with special reference to the Maoris and their music.” Musloal Comedies for New Zealand. Mr John Farrell has received word from Sydney that Madge Elliot and | Cyril Bitc-hards will arrive in Auckland towards the middle of next month on . their honeymoon trip, and will spend ! a holiday in Rotorua. The ,T. C. Williamson Musical Com- ) edy Company,’ which they head, will arrive later, and they will open in Auckland early in October with “ Ro- , berta,’ with revivals of “ Our Miss Gibbs ’’ and “ High Jinks” to follow. "Polly With a Past" In Auckland. After a successful week with “Fair and Warmer," the Nellie Bramlev company will end its season in Auckland to-night with the romantic comedy, “Polly With a Past." Now Zealander In London. Stafford Byrne, a New Zealander (he comes from Wellington), receives praise in a small part in the open-air performance of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” in Regent’s Park, London. “ Miss Hook of Holland ” fn Sydney. A revival of “ Miss Hook of Holland ” will succeed “ Desert Song ” at Sydney next Saturday night. The cast j will include: — | Slinks Gus Bluett j Mr Hook Cecil Kelleway Sally Marie Bremner The Bandmaster ... Sidney Burchall Mina Sylvia Kelleway Gretchen Minnie Love Schnapps Robert Conte Van Esk Sydney Wheeler Van Buren Phil Smith Williamson Attractions In Australia. A number of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., companies are now appearing through- J out Australia. In Melbourne, the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company has achieved remarkable success at His Majesty’s Theatre. At the Theatre Royal, Sydney, a spectacular revival of the record- 1 breaking musical play, “The Desert \ Song," is playing to crowded audiences. j The Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard 1 musical comedy company in “ Ro-; berta" and “High Jinks" "has been i playing to capacity at the Theatre | Royal. Adelaide, and will go on to j Perth for a season. I Touring Queensland Is a musical! comedy company, including Romola Hansen and Herbert Browne, in a varied repertoire. On August 17, a special company organised by the produced “White Horse Inn” at His Majesty’s Theatre,’ Brisbane, with New Zealand to follow.

Later, a new musical comedy company will appear in the latest London sueress, “ Yes, Madam,” in which Freddie Foss and Diana Du Cane will appear.

In Melbourne the Viennese Boys’ Choir has opened successfully, and Yehudi Menuhin, the violinist, will appear with a symphony orchestra tonight.

New Zealand Playwright Makes £SOOO. Dr Merton Hodge, a 30-year-old New Zealand medical man, is making theatre history In London’s West End. day ho works as an anaesthetist in a big hospital at Hyde Park Corner; at night he has been writing plays which are the success of the season. Ho is the author of the longest-run-Ing London play, “ The Wind and the Rain," He is also the first man to havo his first, and second plays running successfully in the West End at the same time. The second play, "Grief Goes Over," celebrated its 50tli London performance last month; but was withdrawn shortly afterwards. "The Wind and the Rain” is nowwell in its second year in London, it has been done in America. Dr. Hodge has made £SOOO out of it and is slill earning. Dr Hodge slill works as an anaesthetist, but he is in great demand as a writer. He is now working on film plays. He is a smallish, slightly built, quick-moving young man. He lives and works in bachelor rooms not far from hosuital