THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 395, 2 January 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(By Sylvius.) : "Tho world's a theatre, the .earth a stage."—. Heywood. "Cinderella" in Melbourne. . Meynell and Gunn entered the; arena; ofpantomime on December 19, when they switched the "Miss.Hook of Holland" Company. off the musical; comedy, .hook, and; on to "Cinderella."; After lavishly praising '.the.; scenery .of . Pliil.'' -Goatcher, E. Vaughan and F. Grist,'tlio "Age" says ;— ' "The cast consists of-tho 'Miss-Hook. of Holland' Company,' 'reinforced:.; with r, MissMeredith Mcredro as principal boy; and one or two minor characters.; As each of the old favourites made his or her appearance tho reception .accorded was embarrassing- in its. iSxuberanHe .of welcome.; Miss. Mer,eclro ; :;who comes with a London and American .'reputation, .was - also .warmly welcomed. .The new-, comer created 'a ; good iiapressiou., .-She .is tall,' with a." figure .that admirably-fits -the part, and is the possessor of. a flight but beautiful 'soprano; voice wliich_ she." produces with well trained: art, -.and .with which .she. soars with , larklike ease Jnto. the upper;, regions of the musical staff.. .'A Faded Rose' was the first song, a sentimental composition which; gave good opportunity; for the display of her vocal powers,;and for which she was encored. She earned a. similar compliment for another contribution, more. of. a miisic hall type, entitled 'Hello, Little -80y,':. - in which the singer, used a hand, mirror;as a searchlight for the supposed admirer in the audience to which the song is addressed. Miss Ruth Lincoln made "a 1 -charming ;;Cinderellaj whether gowned in the russet; brown dress; of opening, scenes or in ballroom 'attire, and scored, an\ unequivocal success; both'.in.the the dramatic arid musical, expression of the character. Her first.song, .'I. Want Someone to/Love -Me,' secured an-undeniable recall.. The. two Selfish : were' personated, by. Miss Jennie Opie and Miss Evelino Orford,; iri -a manner which-accentuated' in . very pleasant fashion the comical elements of .the situation. The . two / prime funmakers, of course, were Mr." Edwin Brett as the Baroness, aiid Mr. Wm. Cromwell as the Baron. As might have been anticipated-from .their • success in Miss Hook, they, fully, exploited all the . laughter-provoking possibilities; of their parts. Mr. Brett made, a very droll dame, with an extraordinary; penchant for. malapropisms. ,'His >vocal ; efforts: included a. ,-song with a catchy/refrain,_/'IH;e Struck ; a ■ Chorus;'" Mr.' Cromwell's Baron, -which was somewhat reminiscent' of his Simon.Slinks/in 'Miss Hook,' was • also a . mirth-provoking ; delineation. • Some, of .'.the situations in; whicn ; these two artists took 'pairt;werb ;so' irresisjtibly funny as to produce explosive laughter. Mr. Tom Payne as/Gapers,. tn'e:/Baroii's : gen-, ■tleman of all. work",;also, 'cbritributed a; very acceptable share to' the:; mirth and gaiety of ■ the "evening; and;in. cbnjuictibn. : .with'' : Miss' Essie Perrin, . the premiere danseuser; tookpart in a number of dances. Miss Perrin's skipping' rope dance ~was'.«a;.sp6cially'; appreciated terpsichoroan tour, de. force. . Mr. Ro-: land Bottomlev found; a;, picturesque rolo in that ofDandini, and his'spirited'rendition of- : the son, 'I Want You to Sen Mv Girl,' found much favour. Miss Norah-.Delaney .made a pleasant fairy godmother,' Miss/Tina Lincoln a protty dream fairy, arid Miss Helena Roso au attractive Duko of Whistbridge." . About Miss Beatrice Day. Miss Beatrice Day, who has recently joined the Julius Knight.Company, under the J. C. Williamson management,/'has;a very varied and'-interesting stage career, to ier --credit.';She began her theatrical life with the Beeriboh'm .Tree Company,//in;.which';.(at' the/time)' jw'a's' alsqVMissv. Evelyn-i-JSlillard; '.-.'who, by •; a curious created ; the . part, of '"Princess Flaivia". •'■in'-Londdii -.with George Alexander —the same'character which marked Miss Day's entry, .intp.'/the.'ranks of. the J. C. Williamson organisation. ' The institution which is known to-day as the Tree School of Dramatic Art practically owes; its 'existence ito Miss Day. ■ It jvas .she who originally .suggested the ideas on' which it is carried. out Ito the.members 'of"the - company,, who -very soon forihed it into v i - practical; working' organisation'. y Miss; Day's next' move, after itwelve^months" speht; .with /the'. pany; was:,.tq : join /Alfred Maltby's' Farcical Comqdy .Company, oventually leaving .that or;ganis'atibri;;to/!take..Hhe/Jeadirig ; parts with Charies;Garthorne for the whole;of tho Kendal repertoire./; This meant-for/her! : . the best, theatrical experience she could possibly have had.; . After .spending ."some. time as a /mem:ber? of vWillie; Edouin's Company, Miss Day became her own manager, and' produced a play called "The White Queen." A.lengthy ;tour-with this piece succeeded;'."and came, ■back to London, 'the next eight years being spent with tho Wecdon-Gro'asmith'Company^: iShe joined / the - late;;Mf .vlHerbert •' Fleniming" 'early in 1900,:, and/went; with; him; to .South : 'Africa/ as leading'''lady./-' .During the/early part of the South African War, .while shut up • in Bloemfonteiri) ;they: pla'y^':'bri y fewer ,than ; ••47'pieces iff <44 weeks.;"After-'South'/Africa- . came Australia, 1 and of Misa Day's popularity Uiero it.is unnecessary to, speak. ~. This Year's Pantomime. : ; This' year.'s;Melbourne ..pantomime/is next :year!s.' with 'us,, as "The; has.learned, that a 'big slioivy produotion can : be payably 'travelled. We-saw "Mother Goose" 111 190", "Humpty Duinpt.v" ..this year, so the assumption tniit we will see ; "Jack and Jill" m. a-'few months; is but a''fair ; oner/Writing'of; this production, the -"Argus said;,;/;/ • ; ; "Miss Fanny- Dango and Miss Stella Gastelje (Jill and Jack) are .just the needed-pan-toiriimic principal girl and boy. Their great feat of climbing to fetch, the pail of water is arranged by the clever'device of lowering the hills slowly. •" It is winter time when they reach the summit, ; the- ; whole' depth /of the' stage being. given • over- to. a; beautiful, frost : and snow • effect,' - with ;the..- ballet' -in ; white,; icicle-crowned. A : draught' at'tlie 'riiagic: well and the entire scenery in a few seconds . changes to: a summer of roses;,and;sun,'/the' flower-painting; ajono' beiiig a• worthy tribute to Mr. ■; Colemari's; and : Mr. /Upward's - art./ Demoniacal influence again ; brings ' winter back with a rush, and the whole ballet enjoys' roller-skating in-.showers .of snowflakes,' .verity ably a charming illusion. : ' . "We have; lost our, pantoniimo crown, but tho Bad'Ba'ron'hns .taken liis'place, arid Mr. Bert Gilbert makes hini: the most cheeriful and amusing of mortals. r The 1 second/farcical character is Mr. J. M. Campbell, the widow who lives in.a shoe as-'roomy as some suburban villasj with "a number:of children nearly aH -of . the- same, age..' .' Tho .Baron arid the widow keep the fun going for all it is worth, and always within' wholesome- limits. .;,; Mr. Gilbert has many 'arid- iiiany- songs, W'hich:he.gives;in;his own fetching .aiid humorous vein.- - Duririg.his.;afternopir;callVqn: the w'idow—^when-'arrayed/as ;a - Gibson ./girl ;. in 1 black velvet—a, sly'.-rub'.'is given' tb/tlie aftbr-noori-tea . habit,- nb" fewer.; thari ' three' teapots being required to: keep time with the/gossip/ Mr. Campbell lias '• a- neat and - pretty .knack' of. telling, his stories,, arid is to be- congratulated . on ■ keeping - his . 'comic; ,'wbmanl "'-Well, on. the right side ot tlie - border iinc.';; His poetical quotations aro also very apt, or, 110 doubt, would be;/ but / lib"' cannot'.'.remember them;,. and. is ;not quite/sure; even if .he did whoso they are—Burris's or Johnson's. Now the intense strain" of the first night; is"'over, these chartered libertines.can- be : depended on to' elaborate?; their parts, and omit //where found riecessary.' : A..'remarkably quaint and clever delineation is Mi\ Harry Shine's Scarecrow, arid it. seems' iiiore than a 'pity that so fine a study in. eccentric comedy disappears after the first act. Z;His;;makb-up is no, less I ingenious'.than; his -weird postures aiid querulous ..voice, that seems just the; very /one' expccted to issuo frorir'a .turnip-hea'd:!'.. | Miss Bruno Makes a Hit. Miss - Tittell: Brune and-. Co.-. formed-••tho Christmas theatrical '&'£tractioj£V:.a'i Jr/OKristcliurch, and, judging;frpm;'.the;.criticisrii '.'in; tho " Press,"-tho popular-actress does'-very well as " the . Girl ".;/iri" i-'-VTlio•• ■Girl"'--of- tho' Golden/\Vest.' : ' Tlie' " Press;" says".Miss Tittell Bnuie's interpretation of the part of tho heroine was not only an exceedingly clever piece of character acting, but in parts —notably the scene afcthe end of the iecond act —full of dramatic power; : Miss Brune's portrayal of the - whirlwind-"of'""rage, . which transforms, the.'loving- girl to an avenging fury on learning, thoitriie' character of he'r lover, was replete witlrtragic power.' She also great artistic ability* in working out most strongly the . reaotion which sets in

when - tho- all-absorbing lore she has fo< Johnson once more.asßerts its sway. Thegam- ■ bliiig "scene, with Jack Rince, where the girl hazards the life of her lover and her own happiness on the result of a game at poker, /.;;/ was played throughout with much intensity ••• and dramatic power. In the lighter iscenea . —especially those of her -lovable tyranny;' over the boj's,'reminiscent in a shadowy, faroff kind of way, of the charming scenes in ■■■; ' Sunday-—Miss Brune was equally Buccess-v . • fbU 'The'enthusiastic-reception accorded on Miss "Bruno's first: appearance on the stago . .- ;;/, ; most emphatically .showed that so far as Miss ' Bruno- is concerned, Chriatchurch playgoers have decidedly kept their memories green." - "The Red Mill." ./Musical Comedy Company commenced a tour, of New Zealand at Auck- 1 /' land last week, '.when "The Red' Mill," a droll " ■ American musical farce, was presented. Of the.' performance -the Auckland "Herald" ; . said:— . ■ "■■■■' :•" " The combination is wholly delightful, and * as .: 'The .Red Millis moreover full o£ .■ bright, music,;, sinart, dialogue;; .'and clever'":'/; dancing, it takes .rank as one of: the. best; ~ " entertainments, seen in-Auckland for;.a.long ."' while.' The; dancing is the. outstanding fea- . ' : ture; .Never has better. grotesque.and/eccentrie dancing been seen on the stage than-thafc :. which Messrs. J/Ford and F. Leslie,/as Con ■ 1 Kidder and "Kid Conner, ■. two . !Americans '.doing; Europe,favo'urod Auckland:;., theatregoers •. with. Mr. 'Leslie is an es- .; .1.. ; tablished' favourite 1 with Auckland.audiences,/.: ■ ; r I bat in'this piece he excels ; his previous Best /' work.; . Mr. Ford made his. first appearance . : in : Auckland,; and' he' quickly - won favour by his skilful dancing and ..'irresistible drollery. He /also; introduces some genuinely funny'new business, and/in the first act his ' by-play 'as at. 1 ,; - .•■■■. waiter is an exquisite 'bit of fooling. /In-the :; act .he is associated with Mr. Leslie V.';' i-in'.an; ingeniously novel turn representing an Italian organ-grinder and his. assistant. Later/ : ; on the same clever pair had the audience aI T . - . . • .-most' helpless with laughter; with a smart, burlesque of Sherlock Holmes and his friend..... , | Dr. Watson.; ' The Red Mill,' like imosfe modern .'musical comedies, , has: very: .little story. What there is deals with. the. .between a Dutch burgomaster and 'his: pretty daughter concerning the disposal of the lat- V; ter's •' hand. There is an, ancient - wealthy-;. , suitor,; with; whom the young lady .will hav« ! nothing'to.do,;iji. spite*', of her father's :threats.". She is; imprisoned in the' Red Mill. .; >'■■■' • by. her .'father, to bring. about her submission;// .v, •but love triumphs in the end, and the girl : 1; is happy with: her.' lover,' while' the ; ancient ■•': /;■ ;'i suitor is consolcd with the; hand of a wealthy - . |. aunt; >• This ■ slight story - serves^as.' a thread. , : to hang on some charming musical numbers. I/ /' :B^t ? ;tho slender- thread is ::repeatedly..br.okeff; , ;to 'allow: for the. interpolation 'of; clever and: - r.-'-f-; diverting, variety turns. In a word,- "TIIO • Red.Mill' .is. a-frolicsome,.diversified,', merry trifle,, \vell acted, sung, and danced,.; and-* •• . without a dull moment in it." ' : '- " The Red Mill" Company succeeds WiP lianison's Dramatic ' Company-at; .-the: Operaf House. Not Too Many Books. ' , 1-Niriety-riine ;out'ofa: hundred" ; (irit-ics,** : sa-ys Mr. .G.-.P. Huntley, "have a shot a# me. for haying so many collaborators. '•-. .'Too; •' ,; . maiiy . cooks,' ■I- am told,: 'spoil the .dinner.'." ■'•:/.'■ I don't agree with them a . bit. They giyo-* . •//"' variety: to, the menu. The man. who' does' the ' spatchcock shouldn't" make the .curry.:"; .'S Thebright'lyristwho, is a- pastmastei- at. the*:., love-duet . shouldn't write the song for the ,/;/.;/ comedian. I. like to see a big field among., .the.lyrists as T;do anions thehorses; ; .V want various styles, a. change of . hand, ai fresh accent.. When I. go. to a: concert:L; I,;; don't Want every song to. bo written • bjTv ■ "V ■Molloy or Mr. Lawrence Kellie. In a,musi->. ; cal-comedy menu. we should. have -as many'' "j; /cooks; as possible.". Let, the'.'master■ chef L sctV eabh. man. to: the dishib's; best at. We shalli enjoy our dinner then,. for • it ! . will be . thai , ' work : of experts.". ' '• ,The Latest Musical Comedy. The "Belle of Brittany" (by LeedhaS* , Bantock and P. J. Barrow, lyrics by Percy • ,Greenbank,." music by Howard Talbot and ~; Marie Home) is rather difficult to describe. '. (says the London "Tinies'ildf October 30). ; It; is rather pretty, and rather funny, and ■rather:; bright..:'. It. was - rather well and riot- than rather well'played ;■■■■ and so jit "was rather well received, and will probably, be rather'successful.' No inore'de;finite pronouncement can be!: made upon .itV. ' . v It has the faults of its class only in a mild" degree. ; . r . V.--'/i-/,'.-".- ; X : ; There is plenty of-, promise for the future., Mr.' George. Graves as an elderly, impecunious, amorous. French marquis, who ha® mortgaged his estates to Pequelin—no playwright this, but a milkr; 31r. Walter Pass-' more as a great Parisian chef, who has-comav. ;to PonfcAven:toi;claiin the hand of Babetto n I the miller's. daughter, only to ; fmd Babette« . . jin;love-. with Rayitond,' the heir-' : ; and;, his ;love ' and ; his cooking alike spoiled: by tho jealousy of Toinette, tho Marquis's confidential.maidservant; Miss -Ruth Vincent, as Babette and Mr. • Lav.-rence Rea as ■ Ray-V ;mond'; .Brittauy in;'iiaffoclil-time" in that Asia, Minor. of .; a period; Icuowh as, the IBth v eea*. ■ ■ ;:. ' tury ■. •; (the;' dresses,"7.by.. the ; way, were Em-,.;.,. V'. , : : pire); thero -'isj: plenty''/of, promise .here.' -'AniK;.':;".'■:■■■/■ ';there;.%a.s/a'.certaiih ; amount-of. ■ : .Mr. Graves's study for the picture 110 means, .:. ? to'.,;paint::;wasZ: delightfully ' droll ■' Sir. Pass- ! . more-is really funnier wOienihe sketches than : when .lie follows his -nsiial. practice of 1 : ing liis • powers to the utmost. Mr. Lawrence Rea will soon clear his -voice,; we hope,. : and; get.'.'rid.'o'f his:; first-night-'a\vkwardnessf ; ;and'Miss Ruth; Vincent was; alreadyi iu' such /- 'i.'. fino voico ■ that the audience nearly/ a breach in a wise rule (only temporary, doubt) against encores. ;v y':-? ■-/;'/.'■' f-'i-, ':, Of the plot w;e havo told all that matters,. ' ...rj' for, of course,- it ends happily. It is rather feeble,- but not so feeble as-thp music, iwhich>- ■/.; ./-'/; bcyoiid giving Miss Vincent some, telling .passages -and' Mr. Rea;.-a;-.'swinging ; song:, '.-v,i about ■ .-'.'the kingdom 'jota. woman's heart,"did nothing - that-' .was/ ev;ca; on/ a/ level -. with' /, the - "lyrics.".;-:'ohej :; -at- least/- however,.-of ", • pretty, a duet about stopping-stones. '• y Happiness of Truo Art. ' ' . "I do. not. care to speak.of.the stage aa ' a piilpit,'-'' remarks' Mr.- Forbes Robertson.: "It.seems priggish in a inan to make too" ( high a claim for liis profession. But, ;of course/J/reCogiiise .that .the; spoken w'ord; has l;.' ;. great- power, aiid tliar., the stage must hava -.'Jf an' iiilluence : of some^kind'on tho public; j'in ■■'for/'a-'/v'--'//r-; sense ;of.responsibility;:;in the /artist.' -To .//K? use the >vords/w'hich;Mr.: Jerome-piitk .iri. my; -v.;'; mouth in-a .play, 'It'/is the business of Art to.reveal tho. beauty., of underlying all things.' So if wo succeed in creating an ■ : appreciation of what is ' true, and'iioble, and '; \ /;;- beautiful,, we' ought to "be.".happy." V'i'r- ,' ;;f :: I have -receivedv/a programme, from; Mr.<' Geo. '.Munro Gate ./manager; o'f; : the New Zea-Z. ../;;..' land; Exhibition) of "The Merry AVidow" running at Daly's Theatre, London, 111 which bis daughter, Miss Mabel /Munro, ls 'playing Margot; (0110 of- the girls; at Maxim's). •';/ :r