HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1564, 15 April 1920, Page 32

HIS MAJESTY’S THEATRE.

“POSSUM PADDOCK.” The wonderfully successful laugh-ter-making Australian comedy, “Possum Paddock,” which is described by our contemporaries as one long riot of mirth and merriment, will be presented at His Majesty’s on Tuesday, April 20. This much-heralded play, with its heart to heart story of life in the great “Outback,” has so far had a career that may safely be described as meteoric; It is presented by a company of sixteen specially selected Australian artists, notably amongst whom’ are Mr. Fred. Macdonald, the inimitable “Dave” in “Our Selection”; Mr. Jack Kirby, Australia’s, most popular leading man. (late A.1.F.); and Miss Kate Howarde herself, who has written, produced, and personally presented this greatest of all Australia’s laughing successes. The opening night of “Possum Paddock” at the Theatre Royal in Sydney presented a scene of wild enthusiasm. In spite of the tremendous counter attractions the theatre was packed to the doors. The booking alone prior to the opening was enormous, and it clearly demonstrated Miss Howarde had struck a winner. Fred. Macdonald, it is said, was the star performer, and he was received in a way that clearly proved Australians have a keen appreciation of art in their own kind. The play teems with true local colour of the bush, the reason is because Miss Howarde went to the bush to get the atmosphere. There are no crude caricatures of Australian' outback types in this play, rather are all the people real. This fact tends to make its great human appeal. We know that “Dad McQuade” is a real old farmer, that “Mum McQuade” is the actual lovable type of bush mother.