PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19899, 30 May 1936, Page 19 (Supplement)

PLAYS AND PLAYERS.

HAMILTON PASSED OVIR. GILBERT AND SULLIVAN FAREWELL lot. 6omln¢ to Hamilton. Once again Hamilton hae the “diatinctlon " of being the only town In New Iceland to be paaeed over by a J. o. Williamson company. Iven towne half Its size are belng vlalud. It Ia atlted that the rental asked 'or the local theatre to the highon In New lealand, and makee ‘ It lmpceelhle for the company - headed by Elaine Hamill. the Hamllton girl who haa become a etafiO our, to come here. cannot aomethlno be done about it? 'l’hla question has been asked ln then oolumne before. and mode the attention at every person lnterootod In the cultural development of the town. They Love New Zoalend. A member or the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera LlUlleuil)'. writing me be—fore the company sailed from \\‘eiling—ten for Stdney on \\X'Llnesdny, suitl—‘ ".\t Christchurch on Friday night the whole company assembled on the stage after the show t‘uux and Box' and '1i..\1.5. i’inai‘orc', and presented Evelyn L-ardiner willi a beautitul gold pen and pencil. There were much emotion. speeches. music by the orchestra and a surprise least for the entire company, gnen by .\liSs Liar—diner. “we have had a most successful tour. The south island theatres were not large enough to hold the crowds. and people have been most hospitable to us. so is it any wonder that we love your country? “Owing to the .\launsanul being a day late we did an extra night at Christchurch, giving a mixed bill—‘Triai by Jury.‘ one act of ‘Patience.’ and one act of 'iolanthe.‘ “By the way. i had the honour of playing a genuine Stradivarius whilst in Wellington. The beautiful thing used to belong to Mr Hayward. of Auckland. and is now in the possession or Dr. Garnet liarty. Its glory of tone'is indescribable. “Your country, Government and people are marvellous, your weather mild. and your food nood; and \\‘e have had it very happy little.“ Sorry to Say Good-bye. Evelyn Gardiner. principal contralto or the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera (ioni—pany. will leave Auckland by the Monterey to-day for America. “I am heart-broken at parting with the present company.“ .\liss Gardiner . sald. ”They ‘ane wonderful comrades and we have been so happy together. All connected 'with the productions have been such kind friends to me that I am very sad at parting from them. But a career makes great demands that cannot be disregarded. And. oi course, I know 1 am very lucky to get such a splendid chance; I realise it is a great honour to be recalled from a distance of 12,000 miles to take a, position for which I know so many are waiting.“ "Waltzes from Vienna" In Melbourne. The spcelarular musical play “Waltzes from Vienna" will be, revived in Melbourne to—night. Strella Wilson will emerge from retirement to take the part played in New Zealand a year or two ago by Sylvia \\‘clling. and John Fraser and\ Marie Bremner will haic the other romantic leads. The company includes Lois Green, Cecil Kciieway. Frank Bradley. Leslie Donaghey. Leslie Holland. Eric Bush. Guy Ilastimts, iiohert tioutr, lanl Devereux, Sidney \\‘heeler and Charles I Zoii. Farewell to Gilbert and Sullivan. The Gilbert and :iuilivan Upera Company closed a successful tour at New Zealand at Christchurch on Monday night and left this week for Sydney. The company‘s movement: are mapped out tor a year ahead. The company will 50 to Melbourne for a series of Gilbert and Sullivan revimls. to be followed by productions of the old comic. operas. " Paul Jones" and " Merrie England.“ | Sir Hurry Lauder In Dublin. Sir Harry Lauder. when the last mail left England. was appearing with great success In lhibiin. . He was described as “sprigiitlieru more humorous and pawkicr than ever.“ “ Rio Rite" Over the Air. ”Rio Rita." the great stage suc—cess of a few years ago, \\as broad—cast trOm Sydney last week. Gladys .\lonrriet‘t' sang as well as over in the leading role, and other old favourites in the vast inrludcd .\linnie Love. (llaudo Flemming and Phil Smith. The orchestra and choirs were exoeilent. Hamilton Girl In Wellington. The third production of tho \Viiliamson dramatic company in \\‘cllinxton was “ Tile Shining: Hour." a daring play by Keith \V'intcr. Of the performance of Elaine llamiil. the former Hamilton girl, the Even- . ing Post says2—Eiztinc Hmniii handles the extraordinary part at .\iariella as well as may be. but it is to be doubted whether a youthful Surnh Bernhardt at. her best could have made- .\lariclia a convincing woman. Licrtninly .\liss Hamill makes her a vcry pretty onc—so pretty that all the thrcr brothers in the play are in love with her. ilonry Linden bring her husband, )ouna Mickey Linden hcr boyish lover, and David Linden her pro—ordninmi talc. To be such a maunrt as that :1 woman needs some \nr)‘ nice gowns. and Miss -Ilaniili \\mrs thrinwrin the humblifurmhuuscwniost lu-colulusly. Engaged for Australia. iiyrnn llrown, \\eli linouu through—out. New Zmlnnii as an elncution ind.“ at competition festivals. ii.|\' been en—gaged by the .\uslruiizln liramimisiin; (Zoinmissi‘ni to riw .1 series ot‘ recitals from thr .\ustrnllan national stations during July. Ella Shields in London. I'Tll.i Shields i>.|.\.\ a London luiiw‘r‘ is iii-re. iinmnrulnftv. with new lllilli< lucrs and (lirrnilrss in say. for no .Ill‘l irnrv would let iirr l.il\-- tit‘i‘ lili.li lmw \\iilmut Li . in'r mus: unions rrraliou. “Burlington Bettie." .