STAGE ACTIVITIES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21200, 24 August 1940, Page 13 (Supplement)

STAGE ACTIVITIES

Strange Ways of Fate During the 150th anniversary of New South Wales I sat on the beach at Bondi, in Sydney, waiting for a bathing friend to come out of the water. Suddenly there was wild commotion as a “ dumper ” broke, throwing hundreds of bathers into difficulties, and seven or eight were drowned desDite the efforts of rescuers. My friend was fortunate, for he was just thrown head over heels and then back on his feet, and was able to walk out of the water. This week I received word that my friend, who had had such a narrow escape from drowning in Sydney, went down with a ship when it was torpedoed by the Germans recently. He was Gary McClatchie. who lived in Hamilton four or five years ago. Megan Taylor Leaves Ice Show Megan Taylor, world champion skater, has left the Switzerland Ice Show, and is teaching skating in Australia. The show, which will open a ictum season in Sydney shortly, has been changed, with new specialties and more spectacular settings. The tour is still breaking records. Muriel Starr in America Muriel Starr, at cmo time a great favourite in drama in Australia and New Zealand, is doing big business in America in a revival of “Outward Bound.” 3larie Ney’s Season Postponed Marie Ney arrived at Sydney on August 12. But “Ladies in Retirement,” will not open until September 14. For the J. C. Williamson management has changed its plans and the Ice Show will open today. Amusing New Ballet Pleases London Prokofiev, the clever Russian musician, has 'never written anything more quaint than “Peter and the Wolf,” a fable without a moral, says a London writer. Flanked by the choreography of Frank Staff, and costumes and settings by Guy Sheppard, this new ballet produced by the Ballet Rambert and the London Ballet at the Arts Theatre is amusing and attractive. All the animals concerned have appropriate “musical” sounds in the orchestra—the wolf, duck, cat, bird, as well as Peter and his grandfather. A show out of the common, and children, youvig and old, will chuckle.