THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 158, 28 March 1908, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

Br Sylvius. ■ "The world's a- .thoatro, the earth a . stage."—Heywood. Miss Lillian Russell to Visit Australia. Mr. Harry Ivplictt Chambers, formerly of Sydnoy, writes.from the American Dramatists' Club, Now York, that, Miss Lillian Russell contemplates an Australian tour with his new comedy, "The Butterfly." This would prove an interesting, event in every way, as "The Butterfly" has been played continuously all over, America, sinco the "actress first appbrired in it in New York, nearly 18 months ago,- whilst, the star herself, though little known in this country, is, briefly described, "the Nellio Stewart of the States." Miss Lillian Russell created several .of the leading soprano roles in tho Gilbert-Sullivan series, sang Dorotliy in tlio opqra of that name, and Marton in "La Cigalcj" with a host of other characters, starred at the.London Lyceum in "The Queen of .Brilliants" in. 1894 (li'er second visit to England),, and has for some years aeted . with success in : spoken drama. Kellett Chambers's' other well-known plays are "Abigail,"'a comedy, and "A Case of Frenzied Finance," a farcical piece, ;'all of which have brought/him money. He'writes of "The Butterfly' 1 that ."whilst its raw mate-' rials are almost iis old as the theatre itself, in atmosphere and characterisation it .possesses some originality, and lias the merit of keeping an audierico laughing every minute." Attractions for New Zealand.

Mr; Harry Rickards (in conjunction with' Allah Hamilton) will send .through Now Zealand shortly'. Tlvhiit, lie rightly considers the strongest vaudeville, company that .lid has ever despatched to the. Dominion.'; Tlio coftip.ariy .will consist Tlir.ee' Sisters Kids (the famous aeriplists,iri : ,their thrilmg sensational g,Vriiriastic act), the Artbis Brothers,' Who at tlio present moiheut ~ard. crd|itiug' k furore it, the Sydticy Tivoli Theatre in their' lidrizbrita 1 .bar. perfbrrharicej the MileS-StaVor-dalo Quartettg; tlio ..distinguished musicians, who wefe in .Australia about foiir years agd under. Mr; . Harry . RickardS's ni&nfigenieiit; They le'alfe London e'arly tidxt month, and will travel direct to New Zealand,, In . additibri to \tliese "stars','.of the vaudeville world, the ■ .company will ihdliide Miss Alma Gray, ihei, favoiti'ito Australian vocalist and dancer (just returned .froiri England), Irving Sdyl&s, . the king of all hegro' Leonard Nelson, ,Miss ; Lottie Kay, English soprano, Miss Olive' Robinson, and several other favourite artistes,, In addition, there will bo an entirely now series of bio. pictures, just received from '. London and tho .Continent. , .. ~. . 1. . "

. Mr. Allan Hamilton lias'arranged . with ' Messrs. Meynell and dunn for a. Now Zealand toiir, to ed'mmehes at- Cliristchiirch on .August 7. TKb attraction,will bo their new-ly-formed dramatic-company.'in a repertoire consisting of. "Tl» Breadwinner' \ (which promises ,to .cclipso "The 'Fatal Wedding" - in popularity), Tho .Old; Folks at Home," and "Tho Fatal Redding." A completo tour of tho Dominion will bo,'made,. Extending ifrorii August, until the end of October, under the .direction of Allan Hamilton.

It will bp welcome '■ news - to all playgoers to learn that thero is every prospect; of an early visit from that most versatile actor, Mr. Harry Roberts, and complete company, in the comedy "The Prince Chap," with which he scored such an undoubted success at- tho Criterion Theatre, London, last year.

Big Theatrical Eritsfprise* . An in theatrical affairs has (says, the Melbourne "Ago") been brought about by the doriibiriatiori in partner-.' ship of severalgentlemen, r who enter, upon their business with a very largo capital and a determination'to, .keep, busy at-{tho'task of providing, the public:,of tho Commonwealth with tho' "vory. latest'.', in the shapo.of theatrical entertainment. Tho partnership deeds, ■which havo. been; signed, comprise the names of Sir Rupert Clarke, Mr.-.Claude Meynell, Mr. • John Wren, ahd , Mr; johii Gunii. Sir Rupert Clarke had previously been associated in a "sleeping-partner'' capacity with Messrs. Moyflell and..Guhri, and •;Mf;-,'WrOii had ahready taken .preliminary,'steps to embark as ai theatrical- entrepreneur on his- own account.' Both sidfls having realised the probability of interests clashing >by the 1 overlapping of dates, the expense of building, tho necessary difficulties .between .their English, •Amorican, nnd . Continental .agents, etc.; a {conference-' was: arranged, i the outcome of which was that they . decided to, join' forces. Tho new firm claims'that it will obtain and procluco anything and everything in drama, !opera, comedy, or vhriety that i,s characterised by tplerit and sduiid ropiitajile merit. The.firm is of unusual, financial strength; arid it is declared that cost will be rid object ..so long as tho , production 'is .one likely ,tP nlcet the tastes of tho public of Australia. As far as. Victoriaarid ■ Now South Wales, are concerned, thoatrp accdirimodatiOn is already provided ,iri tho Royal, Melbourne, arid the. Criterion,. Sydney, and if they require iriofe theatres they will build'some. The first piecd vto be staged in Melbourne at tho-Royal will bo "MisS Hook of Holland," a rnusical cpmbdy or comib opbrfa, which 'is mOetirig; with iihprecedentdd success iri England aiid the tfriited States.' Three dramatic companies, each a proved success,-'will follow. "Miss; Hook of Holland", has run 400 nigh'ts in 'London, arid is still ' "going strong," and in America it lias been produced .by Frdhmann in Chicago arid Philadelphia simultaneously. : Sir Rupert Clarke, who, With' Mr. Griinilj made personal arrangements .'with Paul ;Reubeiis : and Austin , Hurgon, its creators,: describes the now, piece as the brightest of its class which he has seen in any part of the world; The pooplo who appear in it, who.aro all new to Australia/ _ number twenty-sis and are on board tho incoming Omrah;, ; ■ .In ordei 1 , that there, shail be no mistakb. about .obtaining a sure footing and giving the, whole public the benefit of competition aiid enterprise, tlio riw■ firm states that it is deterriiiiied to .jirociiro theatres for its owri companies eveii if it lifts to build therii. iiio deed of partriershi|) will extend dvor a lengthened period,_'ahd may Or may not expire by ! effluxion of time, but contracts "have been niadd for the next" eight yearS. ,Mr. Meynell leaves for . England irririiediately to sccuro •"stars." . He :goes with' an unlimited co'mriiission , as regards price, 'for ; the company says .that it and tho neoplo "want the goods." / Sir Riijiert Clarke who follows Mr. Jleynell; hopes to. be able to arrange with both Caruso and Tbtrazzini to come to Australia under the firm's.-,mariagetnent, when their dates are' available.' -The securing qf band . and orchestral'. .music , of ' the highest grade will be part of Sir Rupfcrt Qlarlce's mis' sion, arid in this connection Sousa will probably bo approached.' : .The direotion of all musical-matters ,will:.be,'left in the handa of Mr. Wynne Jones,;who is now.* well-estab-lished faVouHti;in Melbourne;.; ITie Crlteriori Thoatre, Sydney,'. .will- be "renovated' and brought, up to' dateaiid the.Theatre Royal, Melbourne, which is how iri, first-class order, may receive a little attention in detail. With the exception of a short , season of afhaterir pbrformances, comic opera', has riot been performed ~in ,the Theatre Royal sirice tho Broughs took the' -public ,by storm twenty years ago. The deSire of the now firm is to be. abreast of England and America in everything pertaining to theatrical matters. Notes. . Joe Webor, ■ the New York comedian, recently staged a musical, farce entitled "Hip, Hip, Hooray I" but the public only said "Bool" and it was withdrawn in favour Of a burlesque on "Tire Merry Widow." . Tho rumour that Miss Amy Murphy was retiring-from tlio stago is not true; Tho Julius Knight Company lias revived that popular sucoessor to "East Lynne," "A Royal Divoreflj" and wo are to once more hoar Julius, hiss—"the Rock! the Rock I" as ha stands Napoleoriically in the jimclightt When aro Wo going to hear of the decreo being Tnade absoluta in this divorcoP

Jefferson's Crandson Hangs Himself. Charles Jackson, actor, member of. the Laiiibs Club, and a grdJiilsdn of Joseph JofForSoii, the famous Thespian, was found dead oii Jnnwirj 11 in-bin "TOom at the Gerard Htfcjl, New York, a. tictini of his own hand. The actor, who was to have played Ihi cbincdy relo.of liotv Ettihger in tholNo. 2 Colripiiny wliibh « now rehearsing for a road torn* of "Thd Witching Hour,'.! was last seen alive by a newspaper acquaintance -at :oiie o'clock in the morning. Ton hourS later a porter of the Gerard Hotel who went to

his room to arouso him found the door locked. Alter knocking and receiving no response the porter went back to the hotel office and reported to the management. Accompanied by one of the clerks ho thou returned to the actor's room arid opened the door with a pass koy. v / A gjlaiico at the bod showed that it had been unoccupied; The porter noticed that the closet door of tlio room was open and going over to it he saw Mr. Jackson's body hanging to one of the ciothos hooks. Jackson had taken a trunk strap, and after tying olio end of it to a hook had made a slip nooso at tlio other end. Ho had then, apparently, carried a eiiair into tlio closet arid placed it directly under the hook. As tlio chair was found turned over in. a. corner; of tlio closet, f Is . P[. 6Sui ned that he had mounted it and alter slipping the riooso around his neck had kicked it frorii undor bini. ■ ) Jacksoii, who was forty-live years old, ■ r ? n } a distinguished family of actors. Although he neVor achieved the reputation of ° 1 ? M grandfather, Joseph Jefferson* he. was "ell-known in the profession and had piayed prominent parts in many successful plays, :

M. Gfemcnceau as Stage Manager; I Fifteen years ago the word "Commune" had only to be pronounced for both the efirisei'vative. and' socialist parties, to seo red. In IJOB a' play, the action of which passed during, the Commune, is produced at tlio Odednj a State siibventidhed theatre; and the public is not moved. A few weeks before another; play, drawn from the same period, was givon at the Theatro Antoine, No one protested. This is proof that time is doing its .work, and that tbo Commune 'Henceforth pas entered into the serene domain of his'r r sl M: Clemoriceau abandoned the carei ■.tsts soriiewliat this week and became stage, nlanager .at. a rehearsal' of "L'Apprentie, by M. Gustavo 1 Geffr'oyj tis collaborator when editing La Justice.' In the third adt the orchestra, was'playing an bver''®F« *????'Clerilericeau had the curtain . rung down in order that,- as the curtaiii .was ,°ut,to nsd oh a battle sctiriOj the musicians' glay. a ( maftial air, ' "Ld Ghaiit.dii. IJepart; —Paris' of "New lork Herald:" , . \ • Note, '\ iit¥! M piaying : in M alr ®.A es St the Forte Saint. ~l'vesin the qjuarter.of the vhaumorit. Missing'her omriibiis rell®„ ai'oot, when she iriet a ~P!. She appealed ,to the ruffian .to conduct hor home safely)' telling him on.tho ."J# ; I sile .. aii actress; / The ruffian;, who owned to his trade, begged Her at the door to send t a theatre 'ticket to - his address.' JUlei-BSrengefo-complied. The man aii'd his affinity wore present at the. play;and sehlTa bouqilet to tlio actress and a safe fioriduct ,?f aK attack : By ruffians in/her quarter.—l iris correspondent of: "New lork Herald." '/■< i ■ ■