CHRISTMAS IN THE THEATRE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 17 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS IN THE THEATRE

Christmas Greetings Received In sending Christmas' and New Year greetings, the following wish me to pass them on to readers: — Mr Walter George, of who produced “Rio Rita” “A Vagabond King” so successfully for the Hamilton Operatic Society. Mrs Ralph Bremner ('Della Clapham), of Brisbane, formerly a prominent member of the Hamilton Operatic Society. * * .*»' ♦ Mr Roland I/6ster, Professor of Singing at Sydney Conservatorium. Mr Foster/"was married last week to Miss Theflma Houston, and they will spend Uneir honeymoon in New Zealand. • * * * Ivlr Frank Hutchens, New Zealand p/lanist-composer, of Sydney Conserstaff. Mrs Otterson-Lowe, of Auckland, formerly prominent in the Hamilton Operatic Society. Mr Philip Maddock, of Wellington, New Zealand manager for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Films. Mr Ferg. Mason, formerly manager of the Theatre Royal, Hamilton. Billy Kershaw, Australian dancer, just back from England, where, among other things, he had a television engagement. He hopes to come back tp New Zealand this year.

Brilliant Ice Show in Auckland Brilliant costumes, colourful lighting. original humour, picturesque ballets and the rhythm of world-famous skaters are said to be some of the features which have made “Switzerland,” the ice show and ice ballet, which is to be staged at Auckland tonight, one of the most entertaining productions presented by the J. C. Williamson management in New Zealand. It is said to be more than a mere ice-gala revue. High class figure and trick skating is performed by Megan Taylor, Phil Taylor, Eddie Marcel and other champions with grace and ease on a stage transformed into an ice rink.

Although “Switzerland” bristles with surprises—many of them intensely funny—it is the skaters who thrill, with the exquisitely performed solo and pas-de-deux work, with the barrel jumping and stilt skating of Phil Taylor, or with the sheer loveliness of the “Symphony on Ice,” in which the dancing of the ballet is said to reach an apogee of grace to the music of Debussy’s “Au Clair de Lune.”

Dramatic Company in New Zealand It is a long time since New Zealand was visited by a dramatic company, therefore the opening of “I Killed the Count” at Wellington tonight is of particular interest. “I Killed the Count” is an unusual play, for it is just as funny as it is thrilling, and when four people confess to a murder the exciting results may be imagined.

Doris Packer, Atholl Flemming (just from England), and Harvey Adams head the company, which also includes Jane Conolly, Alec. Pratt, Clifford Cowley, Eric Reiman, Katie Towers, Hori Thomas, Dennis Glenrw and Barrett Lennar d. Jim Gerald in Sydney Pantomime The pantomime “Mother Goose” will be staged at Sydney Tivoli today, with the popular comedian Jim Gerald as the “dame.” One of the specialties is provided by Salici’s Parisian Puppets, which were in New Zealand some months ago. Russian Ballet in Sydney The Russian Ballet will open in Sydney on December 30, in the new ballet, “Paganini.” Three of the world’s premier ballerinas, Toumanova, Raibouchinska, and Nemchinova, are in the company and the male dancers are headed by Lichine and Paul Petroff, while the comedian, Serge Ungar, is also returning.

Balletomanes are already tip-toe with the anticipation of seeing Tamara Toumanova, who was one of the trio of youngest members of Colonel de Basil’s revival of the Diaghileif establishment in modern ballet, says a Sydney paper.

The others were Baronova and Riabouchinska, who were with the* last ballet company, and the latter of whom will come again with the ballet at the end of the month. An official at J. C. Williamson’s says that Tamara Toumanova was born in Russia during the Revolution, travelled to Paris via Siberia and China, and at the age of seven began dancing with Preobrajenska as ballet master.

Hamilton Girl From Sydney Betty Welch, who returned from Sydney this week for a short holiday with her parents, after finding a niche for herself in the entertainment world in Australia, has been having a happy time renewing friendships. She speaks enthusiastically of her

work in the recording of plays, and naturally is proud of the fact that she is one of the two permanent women members of the company, her contract having been renewed for a further six months. She is looking forward to participating in a new series of “Dad and Dave” plays, among others when she returns to Sydney. Miss Welch is hoping to take up stage work later, and among her “dreams” is a visit to England. She leaves for Wellington next week, and will return to Sydney very shortly. Her friends here will wish her further success.

Blazing the Trail in N.Z. It was pleasant to meet members of the “Charley’s Aunt” company as they passed through on their way to Dunedin this week.

As they are playing the small townships as well as the larger cities, they are having some unusual experiences owing to limited stage room and other inconveniences, but like true troupers they are accepting these philosophically. “We are literally blazing the trail,” said one member, “for at one township they had never had a professional flesh and blood show before. However, it is all good fun and we are enjoying our tour of your lovely New Zealand.

The company will return to Hamilton early next year with the very amusing comedy, “Are You a Mason?”

"Charley’s Aunt” at Dunedin “Charley’s Aunt” “jumped” this week from Rotorua to Dunedin, where a season will be commenced on Boxing Day. Don Nicol and his clever associates will doubtless prove just as successful in the South Island as they were in the North.