ACTIVITIES OF THE STAGE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

ACTIVITIES OF THE STAGE

HAMILTON GIRL’S SUCCESS—COMING PRODUCTIONS

Hamilton Girl In Sydney Betty Welch, of Hamilton, writing from Sydney this week, says:— "I am working hard, recording dozens of plays, and getting great experience. One needs to be very versatile in radio work. It ts nothing to have to play six different characters a day. from Queen Elizabeth and ‘Bloody Mary' to charwomen and street urchins. Still, variety is the spice of life! I am getting quite accustomed to turning on the radio and hearing my own voice. “I hope some of the plays I have made go to New Zealand soon. Here are a few of the characters 1 have played: A series of historical plays entitled ‘The Birth of the British Nation’; Queen Elizabeth, wife of Edward, in ‘Richard of Gloucester’; Bloody Mary in ‘Queen Elizabeth'; Jsobella, a Scottish prirl in a dramatic half-hour play entitled ‘The Black Dwarf.’ “I am meeting such interesting people in my work. I met Nell Douglas the other day. She was a great stage favourite at the time of the last war. She is a delightful woman and has just finished playing an important part in The Women' company. “Mr Russell-Wood gave me the elocution championship at the Eisteddfod. It was a light to get it; there was one Australian girl very close behind me. I had to collect my radio prize the other day, and guess what it was—a standard lamp! I am also to receive a silver trophy, a gold medal and a cheque.” The radio contest, which was won by Miss Welch, in addition to the elocution championship, was a stiff test of all-round ability, for it covered all branches of radio work. The judges were radio officials, not the elocution judge at the Eisteddfod. Miss Welch has also been given a film test at the Cincsound Studio, so this talented Hamilton girl seems all set for a career in Australia 14 Under Your Hat ” Delights Melbourne “ Under Your Hat,” the new musical comedy, is said to be the gayest show seen in Melbourne for a long Marjorie Gordon and Edwin Styles, in the roles filled in the London production by Cecily Courtneidge and Jack Hulbert, are scoring a big hit. Skating Revue Delights Sydney Skating enthusiasts could not have been more entertained or thrilled than they were on Saturday night when “Switzerland” opened at the Theatre Royal, says a Sydney paper. With the stage converted into an Ice rink, the effect was dazzling and picturesque in the extreme. Costume and colour made an ensemble which was as pleasing to the eye and as thrilling at times as the actual skating performances. These facts were all the more remarkable because of the limited space given to the skaters, but “dancing in letters” did not hamper that wonderful skating champion, Phil Taylor, whose versatility and ingenious figure work were among the highlights of the evening’s entertainment. Elsie Heathcote, the Mackinnon Sisters, Ronald Priestly, Rita ’Bramley, Diana Grafton, Ray Caldicott and Eddie Marcel all contributed to the animation and interest of an entertaining evening. During the short second act, with the ice covered by planks, Connie Graham, a Sydney girl who has returned after 12 years, had the house roaring with laughter at her performance with Hal Scott. Tommy Russell and Ernie Marconi also appeared in an instrumental comedy turn. Swinging War Songs The first of what will probably be a big crop of war songs was born on Saturday night, when Cinesound gave a party to celebrate the completion of "Coming Up Smiling,” says a Sydney paper. Twenty times, till she dropped exhausted, did Evie Haves warble the chorus of the composition of her husband, Will Mahoney, and Bob Geraghty, his manager, and in a flash the company of 200 merrymakers picked up the swinging tune. Here’s bow it goes:— “It’s up to you and it’s up to me, To rid the world of insanity. And make it safe for humanity. So it's up to you and it’s up to me To go get a gun And look for the one Who wants our liberty, it won’t be fun, But I know it’s got to be done. Jt’s nuts to all the Nazis from now on. Years ago we knocked the Kaiser. And this guy Hitler is no wiser, fro it’s up to you and me.” Another war song which seems to be heading for popularity is “The Boys of the Dardanelles,” which has a rollicking air and is written around i a reference by Mr Chamberlain to: '‘being tough and acting tough.” Another is ’There Will Always be an England.” i

China Troupe for Hamilton Of the North China Troupe, which will appear in Hamilton shortly, a Wellington paper says:— Another thrilled and enthusiastic audience came away from the Opera House after seeing the Great North China Troupe, lithe, smiling Asiatic entertainment artists who have come direct to Wellington from Hong Kong. Herbert Young, a ninc-year-old singer who has fine qualities of diction, modulation, and expression, reached the hearts of the audience; and a beautiful young girl, Chiu Chiu, gave a graceful and much appreciated fan dance. , Probably the most amazing act was that performed by a small girl who contorted her body while balancing and moving two glasses of coloured water An added attraction is the reappearance of Colin and John Campbell, internationally known as “ The Campbell Boys.” * These artists feature the world's largest and smallest concertinas. In addition, there arc “Royston,” the popular ventriloquist; Connolly and Hoskins, the topical two; Effie Fellows, male impersonator; the Musical Camerons; Latona and Sparks, ac-

robatic dancers; and Alex Cooper, baritone. Comedy Harmonists for New Zealand iDne of the greatest crowds seen at the Sydney Town Hall for a long while fare welled the Comedy Harmonists, with a queue reaching from the Town Hall past St. Andrew’s Cathedral, towards Bathurst Street, striving to gain admittance. Half an hour after the performance started, although the “House Full” sign was up, a hopeful queue still waited. One of the Comedy Harmonists was born in Poland, and others were born in Germany and Austria, but the war has not affected their Australian tour. Their itinerary remains unchanged, and they are being received with even more enthusiasm than before the war commenced. Those who were born in Germany and Austria have not been back to their native countries for years. AH of them are profoundly upset by the turn of events, and discuss it as little as possible. They are travelling on British alien papers. They will return to Sydney on October 2, on their way to New Zealand. Wendy Hiller In Shaw’s “ Major Barbara ’* On August 24, Gaum on t British Dominions announced that £2,745,000 had been allotted for the production of 26 pictures to be released during the 1940 season. It is of particular importance that Bernard Shaw’s “ Major Barbara,” to be produced by Gabriel Pascal, who also made “ Pygmalion,” heads the list of 26. Wendy Hiller (who was Eliza in “Pygmalion”) will be at the head of a cast which includes Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Richardson, C. Aubrey Smith, Gordon Harker, Jean Cadell, John Mills, Dame Sybil Thorndike, David Tree and Marie Lohr. New Zealand Girls in America Latest news of Joan and Betty Raynor, who arc Iroubadouring with their caravan in America, include accounts of a sail-boat trip to an island, called Martha’s Orchard, some 20 miles off the coast of Maine, where they were accommodated in what was once a convent and which now has the reputation of being haunted. Another peril-ous passage was their trip to Cabot’s treasure, in Massachusetts, where they were bogged in an icy river till a welcome lorry arrived and towed them out. Recently they were the guests of Mrs Bok. a relative of the famous founder of the Ladies’ Home Journal, who has a wonderful bird sanctuary erected to liis memory, with a carillon tower as a memorial also.