STAGE PRODUCTIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 15 (Supplement)

STAGE PRODUCTIONS

BIQ REVUE FOR HAMILTON revival of pantomime A Happy New Year A happy New Year to my readers and friends in the theatrical profession. May 1939 be the best ever ! Christmas Greetings from London William Heughan, the Scottish actorsinger, and his wife Gladys Saver, a brilliant pianist, always remember New Zealand friends at Christmas time. From their home in London this week came a card with “ Friendly greetings for Auld Lang Sync.” I See “Why be Serious?” At Auckland on Saturday night T saw the first presentation of the Frank Neil revue ‘‘Why be Serious?” and with the rest of the large audience was delighted by one of the most entertaining programmes seen in New Zealand. Will Mahoney is something new in comedians—in fact, the word “comedian” does not cover a tenth of his work. Not only does he keep the audience laughing, but he impresses greatly by his very clever dancing and his brilliant dialect work and characterisations (his impressions of Tauber and Hitler are as lifelike as they are funny). And he plays classical selections on the xylophone by dancing on it I Violet Carlson, in her burlesque of a prima donna. Is even funnier than she was in “Balalaika.” and the immaculate Jimae is the cleverest manipulator of cards and lighted cigarettes and pipes that I have ever seen. Tex Morton, the yodelling cowboy, has worked up a very attractive turn, and other clever people are Evie Hayes, a radio star: Johnny Bryant, a very melodious whistler; Whiter Roberts, juggler and comedian, and Laurence Brooks, tenor. Nloola at Wellington Nicola the Magician has been mystifying holiday crowds at the Wellington Opera House all the week. It Ran Only a Month “I Married an Angel,” the spectacular musical play for which a number of New York stars were imported, ran only a month in Melbourne. It has been succeeded by the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk.” “I Married an Angel” has been one of the greatest successes ever known on Broadway. Evidently Australian and American tastes differ. Violet Carlson is Very Funny Violet Carlson, the diminutive American comedienne who was so funny In “Balalaika” and “The Desert Song.” is even more amusing in the revue “Why Be Serious?” coming to Hamilton on January 9. Her burlesque of a prima donna is one of the funniest things I have seen, while her grotesque dancing and clever wisecracks keep the audience chuckling. Last Saturday night, at Auckland, she created something of a riot. Don Nicol as Pantomime Dame Don Nicol, the popular comedian, is playing Dame Trot in the pantomime “Jack and the Beanstalk” in Melbourne. Here is the full cast of the pantomime ; Jack Bernice Claire The Princess .... Kathryn Crawford Dame Trott Don Nicol Mifllns Fred Harper The Baron Jack Arthur Broker’s Men— George Dobbs and Leslie Donaghev The King Sydney Wheeler The Giant William O’Neal The Cow Jessica. . . Bert Matthews Fairy Queen Daphne Lowe Second Girl Maryon Dale The principal dancers are Helene Denizon and Jan Kowsky. Stanley McKay’s Gaieties in N.Z. Another company of Stanley McKay’s Gaieties will open a New Zealand tour at Christchurch next week.

“Lofty” Thanks Gladys Moncrieff “Lofty” Johns, the f»ft. Sin. giant, to whom Gladys Moncrieff gave a week’s work by paying his wages as messenger for Canon Hammond, made a trip to the singer’s Bellevue Hill home to express his thanks, says a Sydney paper. He took with him a large sheaf of gladioli, and a gift of poultry. The Ballet Does Conjuring Tricks The ballet is a feature of the revue “Why be Serious?” which will come to Hamilton on January 9. When t saw the show in Auckland on Saturday night T enjoyed the work of the ballot, especially one number in which, while dancing, they performed «omo of the magician’s tricks which Hamilton saw done by Nicola recently. Christmas Attractions In Australia 'Tho principal stage attractions in Sydney during the holidays are the Russian Rallet and the pantomime “Aladdin.” In Melbourne there are the pantomimes. “.Tack and the Beanstalk” and "The Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”: “Hollywood Hotel,” the btg American revue; “The Women.” the daring American comedy; “White Oaks.” a strong drama, and “It’s You I Want,” a very amusing comedy that was done in London by Sir Sewnour Hicks. £2OO a Week for Seal Slicker, the seal, who was George Raft’s constant companion In “Spawn of the North.” is getting £2OO a week for appearing in a new film. Award For Broadcasters The first award between the Actors Equity of Australia and the Australian Broadcasting was made by Judee Beeby in Sydney. The parties, it was stated, had agreed on the terms. The award covers radio artists, choristers, actors and actresses employed by the A.B.C. For beginners in broadcasting, the minimum rate is £4 a week, for those experienced £0 a week, and for choristers £f» a week. For children's plays and children’s j serials. the rate for each perform- | ance is £1 Is for adults and 10s 6d for ) children.

Two screen orphans are wanted for the parts made famous by the Gish sisters in “Orphans of the Storm.” Max Mack is refilming the old play, under its original title, “The Two Orphans.”