PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 9817, 22 February 1936, Page 21 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

“ The Gondoliers ” In Auckland. The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, after a long and recordbreaking season in Sydney, commenced a New Zealand lour at Auckland on Wednesday with “ The Gondoliers.” The cast was:— Duke of Plaza-Toro .. Ivan Menzies Duchess of Plaza-Toro . Evelyn Gardiner Casilda „.. Winifred Lawson Gianetta Helen Langton Tessa Eileen Kelly Giuseppe Gregory Stroud Lulz ...... Clifford Cowley Marco Godfrey Stirling Grand Inquisitor ... Richard Watson Others in the cast, were Harry Neill, Robert Illidge, Chester Harris, Prank Bermingham. Valarie Walshe, Phyllis Dickinson. Nina Robbins, and Augusta Poole. There was also a strong chorus. Andrew MacCunn conducted and Minnie Everett (the only professional woman producer of Gilbert and Sullivan in the world) directed. An Auckland paper says: "Last night s production was satisfying In the highest degree, and the present oompany need not fear comparison with the best that have preceded it in the past quarter of a century.” Commencing on Monday “ The Pirates of Penzance.” preceded by "Trial by Jury,” will be staged. Coming to Hamilton. The Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company is due in Hamilton on Maroh 16 and 17, giving three performances, two evening and a matinee. It is possible that the operas produced will be “The Gondoliers,” “ Pirates of Penzance,” and “ The of the Guard.” A Letter from London. Joe Shriner, a popular member of the Clem Dawe Revue Company, writes from London by the last mail:— “ How different is Christmas here from that of last year, which we spent so happily in New Zealand. We cannot get used to living in ‘digs’ in the provincial towns. You may hardly believe it when I tell you that the majority of the dwellings haven’t got baths, and some haven’t even got electric light—only gas Jets. So you can Imagine how we feel living in them after the lovely hotels In New Zealand and Australia. Why, the worst town in New Zealand is better than these towns regarding accommodation. The

big hotels are too expensive and it is either those or the ‘digs,’ and all the .•' lists live in the latter—big and small alike.

We have played such towns as Bir- ! niingham, Hull, Swansea, and South- ! 1 i'"ii. and, would you believe it, at I the house we lived In at Hull the land- ! i> said she had lived In the same h"iiM' i'nr 30 years—without a bathIvi.l Hot water is brought up, in a i""l I ;isin. and you take a ‘lick and a promise ’ bath. “ The show Is doing fine, with splendid business, but it is hard for us, with two shows nightly, at 6.30 and 9 p.m.—two hours each show—and that’s very different from 8 till 1". in, as in New Zealand, People smoke in the theatres, too; that kills us. But worst of all is the terrible travelling on each Sunday. We never have a day of rest, for the moment we arrive in a town the battle ie cm looking for places in which to live. “ I am enclosing a notice of our show from Birmingham, the ‘hometown’ of Clem and family where we had a great reception. One of Noel Coward’s new shows, too. We saw three one-hour plays—and they are wonderful. Imagine seeing Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence for sixpence on a Saturday afternoon. “ The weather has been terrible—fogs, rain, and cold. We struck them all at onoe. Of course we are seeing England at its worst time, and the weather will get better later on. Everybody is well, except Clem’s mother, Mrs White. The change of climate has affected her, and she miSses the sunshine of the Southern Hemisphere. “ London Is great, and you would love it. Of course one must have lots of money to enjoy it thoroughly. Imagine picture theatres asking 13s 6d for a seat, and you stand in line for hours in some theatres to get in for Is 6d. They make one walk up to the heavens for that; “ The show business is at its height now, with theatres crowded everywhere. And when people have money spend on theatres it’s a sign of prosperity. Clothes are oheap here—and meat dear. There is plenty of publicity of 4 Buy Australian Goods,’ and 4 Buy New Zealand Butter and Lamb.’ We are giving away at some of our shows merchandise from Australia and New Zealand and I’m sure we are the means of promoting 4 Buy New Zealand and Australian Goods ’ and publicity for the two places. “ All members of the company send greetings to friends In New Zealand.” Run of 1000 Performances. n “ The Wind and the Rain,” the oomedy by Dr. Merton Hodge, a New Zealander, is to be withdrawn in London this month after a reoord run of iOOO performanoae. “Jill, Darling,” In Melbourne. ” Yes, Madame," the new musical oomedy,’ has been succeeded in Melbourne by " Jill. Darling. Qua Bluett is very popular in the chief oomedy role. Messenger from Mars Dead.

0 P. Haggle, who was the Messenger In “ A Message from Mars ” on the Sew Zealand stage many years ago, Is dead. Of late years he had attained prominence in the Aims in Hollywood. Gaieties In Wellington. Stanley McKay's Gaieties of 1936, after a successful tour of the South Island, will open a season at Wellington to-night The oompany Inoludes Ike Delavale, Jewish oomedlan; Joe Rox and Geo. Corelli, character comedians; Maggie Buckley, queen of syncopation; Wyn. Edgerton, soprano; Russ Callow, tenor; Patricia and Colin, adagio experts; Gerry and Phyllis, step and tap danc-

ers; The Alexanders, acrobatic performers; Jerry Keogh, aerobatic tap specialist; Elvy Fergusqn, violinist; Tittfiapo, the hobo who juggles oil olothes lines; Reno's Performing Dogs, a wonderful canine act; and The Gaieties' Beauty Ballet and May Brooke's prehestra.

“ White Horse Inn ” Goes South. After breaking records in the North Island, with 17 nights in Wellington, the spectacular musical play “ White Horse Inn ” will open at Christchurch to-night. Seasons at Oamaru, Tlmaru, Dunedin and Christchurch will follow, and the company will sail for Australia on March 31. He Has Seen It Eight Times! Several people have seen 44 White Horse Inn,” the spectacular musical play now in New Zealand, four or five times. I myself saw it three times, and found so muoh in it that the third visit was as enjoyable as the first. There is one enthusiastic playgoer in Hamilton who has seen the play eight times, in Australia and New Zealand, and he says he would like to see it again I Play Runs Over a Year. The 44 last weeks ” are now announced of Diana Wynyard’s immensely long run with 44 Sweet Aloes,” says a London paper. It Is at least possible that when a play that has run as long as a year signifies its last weeks the booking suddenly takes an upward turn. At the end of the London run Miss Wynyard is going, with the play, on a short provincial and suburban tour. Australian Favourite for London. Sidney Burchall, of J. C. Williamson musical comedy companies, will leave Sydney for London on the Orontes on February -26. On an extended holiday

to his homeland, he hopes to combine pleasure with theatrical or concert engagements. Mr Buroh&U, who came to Australia as a young magj made a name for himself as a soloist In the ohoir of Chester Cathedral. His last parts In Sydney were the bandmaster In 44 Miss Hook of Holland ” and the Red Shadow in 44 Desert Song.” New Zealander Returning. Ethel Morrison, who commenced her theatrical life with the Wellington Operatio Society as Ettie Maginnity, and since then has won sucoess In London, New York, Australia and New Zealand in a wide variety of roles, is returning to her homeland at Easter, with the oompany that is to appear in 44 The Shining Hour,” “ (Fresh Fields” and 14 Night Must Fall.” Another New Zealand girl, Elaine Hamill (formerly of Hamilton) will have the lead in this company. Miss Morrison scored one of her biggest successes a few years ago in 44 The First Mrs Fraser,” and was last in New Zealand a rew months ago with the company headed by Madge Elliott and Cyril Ritchard.