THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 431, 13 February 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

"The world's a theatre, the earth a stage,"—■ Heywood. . ....':''■ -.';.■'■ (By Sylvius.) "The Bed Mill." . , The procession of shows will bo varied on Monday evening, when a Williamson Musical Comedy Company will produce;the American frivolity "The lied, Mill," which is said to be musical nonsonso of tho brightest and best gambolled in a quamt Dutch setting. The company—a capable one—introduces Mr. John Ford,- a clever American dancer and comedian, Mr. Charles-. Loder, another character comedian, and Mr. lldward bherras, baritone, besides many, old fnends and new faces.-':. Tlio music is sparkling ..and . the scenery a. refreshing eye-bath. _. ,

Afßussf Pair. ",■■ ; : . 'If energy and versatility count for any r . thing ; there should bo substantial compensation for Messrs.. Thos. Humphreys .(composer) and-Mr J. Youlm Birch (author),of Auckland, who; in less than.two years of collaboration, already have four operatic pieces to their'credit. ".Mr. Humphreys "_ is Dr. de Clivo Rowe.Vwhose hobby T is_music. He wrote and composed.' Typist , , and " The Tea Girl," in addition to supplying the music for Mr. Birch's four " books " and for a musical comedy (" Sixes and Sevens,"-written, by an Aucklandyoung lady, Miss Maud Peacock). Mr. Birch is a journalist, one time of Wellington, and both ho and his collaborator have so many, hours per. day occupied in their individual professions .that; it is wonderful how they find time to write opera; -Yet. they are indeed a busy 'pair. Their.list /of .combined works comprises : "Thp 'Golden-Wedge "-'and "Ptah Ptah"-,,(comic operas), "Manuella " . (operatic ganza), and "The Kitten,andl-th« GoWfish" (musical comedy). Of these Mr. Torn Pollard has the .Australasian nghts of "The Golden Wedge," Miss May Moore Duprez. (the JoUy Dutch Girl) has the, British rights of "The -Kitten," and Mr. Max. Cohen,-of. New York, the option over the Australasian rights of "Manuella,".which he is producing in April next at Auckland. Meantime,.Mr: Tom Pollard'is to play "The. Tea .Girl" (now "The Gay Hussar") through New Zealand on his coming tour, and to produce "The- Golden iWedge". in Auckland at' Easter.. Miss Duprez expects'to-stage, "Tho Kitten ".at Home this year. This -will, "be the. second work in which: Mr. Birch has had a hand, which is to bs put on in England. He previously, wrote the libretto and lyrics of Alfred Hill's " A Maid," shortly ;to be played at a West-End theatre in London. ANewPlecb for Australia. ~ , : ■ 1 "The Dollar Princess,", secured by the J. C. ! Williamson firm for Australia, is said to have made a hit/at .the,-Prince's. . Theatre, Manchester, where the first performance of the piece in iEngland was given at Christmas under Mr. Georgo Edwarues's Management. The new comic opera, adapted from the German by Captain Basil Hood, with lyrica by Adrian Boss, and musio: by Dr. Leo Fall,'is ''written/of :'as a well-<ionceived. and humorously keen satire on the power of the dojlar, and.relates the story of a multi-millionaire's daughterj who falls in love with her father's secretary., iMiss Hilda Moody is playing the daughter, Alice, and.Mr.:Robert Michaelis is the secretary, Freddy Fairfax, while Mr. Eichard Golden is the multi-millionaire. Phinr 'eas.-'.Q. Conder, who is- so rich, that he jhas only titled' personages as his' , servants, the Duke of Stonehenge being his butler, for instance/ and Lady Augusta- Brpadstairs his daughter's niaid. vMiss Alice Pollard,' Mr. T.■ Pollard's.daughter, a newcomer in.Manchester/; but well-known in Australia, is, reported most favourable '• impression, playing with "great vivacity and, charm." ;

A Theatre for Children. 0 ■ ' Theatres, for various nationalities exist .in New York', -including,a;Chinese playhouse,' who'r.efCelestial.viands and-American drinks are served • during the intervals, but' so. far there 'has .been no place designed exclusively for children. : Anierica'e : . - first;' theatre; 'for children will shortly be .built, however, ■ because bankers have been:found, plans furnished, and a site secured..; According to the "New , York World,", tho;'founders .of tho juvenile playhouso, where, fairy'stories, pantomimes, and other "entertainment suitable for the. j'oung will -be -performed, include Mrs. Carter Harrison, .'of Chicago, Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett,-arid Mrs. Russell Sago. It will be a sort of national juvenile theatre, and will open-..'on October. 1 next.- Tho' company, which has been, incorporated, ; has alsubscribed £230,000, and the'names of prominent society persons : aro in the list .of lncorporatbrs. .The theatre will bo ootagonal, and instead of ; the ordinary orchestra chairs, pew-like boxes will be installed .capable .of holding from four to:eight persons: Already plays for the first performance-have been prepared by Mrs. Burnett, Mrs.. Carter Harrison, and Mr..)Frankßaum. .. - - , ... r

Mr. J. C. Leo to Honoured,

■ The. esteem in'which. Mr. John C. Eeete is; held in Sydney was shown by the crowded .attendance at his-matinee on February 3. This was tendered by Mr. Harry: Rickards 'to 'a general manager who'has'-successfully assisted ■' him. in , , the control of . his .Australian vaudeville circuit since 1888. -The interests involved are very large, embracing the, principal variety theatres in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide.' Perth (Palace Gardens), and Kalgoorlje (Ci-emorne Gardens), as well as the direction of the starring parties. that are from time .to : . time- dispatched-on; tours of New Zealand. faithfully 'discharging his Tesponsible;duties,i Mr. Leeto'-has .made .many friends, ; and.to this fact was due .the crowded state of the Tivoli in every The. complimentary programme, besides. 'including the. principal artists'. of the present combination of the Tivoli,: also brought foi> ward volunteers from all the leading playhouses, including the National-Amphitheatre. Mr. ■ James Brennah's company' was well represented- by Miss Maggie Fraser. ■ and Little Percy,' and. Lennon, Hymanj and Lennon; whilst Mr. -Edwin company (Palace Theatre) , performed a/'comic scene from "A Modern Adventuress," in which Miss Ethel Buckley, Mr. T. E. Leonard,' and Mr. Laurie Nurin figured amusingly. . Miss Eugenie Duggan, -of the Criterion ,, company,, contributed with .feeling a dramatic recitation; Mr. Harry Plimmer (Theatre Royal) was similarly successful in. his spirited ..delivery of "Phil Blood's Leap"; Mr.-. Harry ■ Weir., won : the audience with "Come . into . the \ Garden Maud"; and there were clever' extra turns by the little Australian Dartos and the. Australian .'-Little' Tich.". The Jjtoyal Comic Opera Company ,was-:strongly.:in evidence .with- Mr.; Reginald Roberts's passionately tragic delivery of Leoncavallo's "On with the Motley" (encored),.'.and Messrs;: Cl' R.' Bantock- and W. S. Percy performed a sketcn",' "His 'First. Patient," . in■■.- dumbcrambo (music .by Mr.' Lewis Henderson), .which convulsed the audience. ; Mr. T. J. . pictures, "Tylda, the-;Liou Tamer,", formed an .interesting feature;;; and-. Mr. Harry-Leston.upset the gravity,of the house with a humorous dialect monologue. Mr. Harry Rickards himself made "his only ap- ; pearance- this year" ,-:in "Say ', Good-rbye to Leicester Square, "followed by. "The Little Nipper," and proving- in great form, enjoyed a splendid reception. ' V' • -; ;'"..'.-;'

Notes.;' •;...;":.-; '.'" ■'"■;'■ .".. <__ .'.'■' " ■;.;.',.. ;. The,, first' Australian, production of- the iriusical: comedy "Havana ivill take place iii.^Sydney.'.'.After the'run , of "The Duchess of Dantzic," now interesting large audiences at Her "Majesty's, : ", there will be a revival oi "Thp Dairymaids," and the Royal: Comic Opera , Company Twill then undertake the new piece; under the stage direction of Mr. Spencer . Barry, who has arrived in. Sydney ' to begin tlie rehearsals. . : The -Julius.'Knight Company will revive "The' Scarlet Pimpernel" in Sydney this evening. "The Breed of the Treshams" was not a popular, though an artistic, success. '.'. Miss Nellie Stewart left London on February 5 by th'o Asturias' for. Australia. -At Easter time sho is to open, at the Princess Theatre under the direction of J. C. 'Williamson in" "Sweet Kitty Bellairs," for which production she has secured the services of Mr. Langhorno Burton, Mr. A. B. Tapping, and others. The pieoo is by David Belkeoo,

and is founded on "The/Bath Comedy," by Agnes and Egert-on Castle. The London contingent engaged for the tour will leave London vby the Omrah a fortnight later than Miss Stewart. ' , '■'. Mr. Spencer Barry, who has already arrived in Australia, will devote the first portion of his time under the J.*C. Williamson management to the production of "The Waltz Dream," which is to be done by the Royal Comic Opera Company. The book is by Captain Basil Hood, and- the music by Oscar Strauss, and altogether playgoers may look for something really, good whbn the new musical attraction goes up at Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney. : ~ v .:' The Tommy Burns Dramatic Company is to commence its, career at. the Melbourne Bijou on April 10 in a drama entitled "For Fame and Fortune," written by Mr.; Geo. Darrell, who will also appear in the cast. After a three weeks'. season there a tour of New Zealand will be commenced at Dunedin; Mr. Claude Whaite, late advance representative with Mr. Herbert Fleming', has been engaged in a similar capacity by the pugilistactor. . .. >: : . . ■:■"' .•• :