THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 437, 20 February 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE

"The world's a theatre, the earth a stage."— Heywood. . . ' (By Sylvius.) , Ti" ; ■ ■ "Tito Princo of Pilscn." The fun and frolic of the Prince of Pilsen, the two-act musical comedy that'follows the Red Mill at the Opera House on' Monday next, with the backing of. bright scenery, and beautiful drosses, are likely to be a big success for'the. six nights of occupation. Mr.. Charles "Willem" of>the Rod Mill—-will bo;the "Hans Wagner"; of the Prince of -Pilsen, and Us said to be a whole team in himself as,'a* laughter-maker. The hew comedy is accredited with being witty, and clothed in the dantiest wrappings, and tuneful, . sparkling music. Tho masquerading '"Prince" and. the "Earl" 1 .woo the'merry, golden-haired widow of tho play with, a human- touch of jealousy, which makes tho rivalry very great and very real and . very amusing. Complications ensue through the ludicrous game of . cross:.purposes. Mr,' Charles Loder, as the inexpressible Hans Wagner,, is likely to become an immense favourite, and both Mr., John' Ford, as . "Jimmy tho Bell Boy," and Mr. Fred Loslie, ■as Francois, Mvo strong parts. "The Prince of Pilsen", is'reported to be especially strong in . ladies,' who have far greater opportunities ,than those allowed in the "Red Mill." After the'.--Prince' of- Pilsen has ..run its allotted .'■course; Vthe'.final production of the season will :bo; embarked .upon. "The Belle of. New York" will be played with, probably the strongest- cast that has yet been seen in Wellington. The Melbourne Pantomimes. .; rival pantomimes . entered ; upon, the ninth week of their season in Melbourne a week ago, and the race for a record has be-, "cojne interesting. There is i always popular controversy and comparison as to tho merits of pantomin:es, and Mr. J. C. Williamson has, presented during the last three years so, fine a series!.in '' Mother Goose,"'Humpty' Drimpty," and " Jack and Jill?'; that, the variation in individual tastes makes just the difference in; a choice between them. , However'opinions may diffor upon other matters;; there.can'beno.doubt whatever-that, for its splendid - mechanical and electrical effects, ''.'.Jack and Jill" is. the finest production as yet staged in . Australia.. Three' illusions of this pantomime would have "assured the success of any piece. -_.One.-is the climbing 'of the ; magic hill; where' tho' whole stage setting sinks;:s)owly • out' of. sight, . thus giving . the impression of the.olimbers ever' gaining higher' altitudes,, until from . tho summit a... far-, stretching landscape is revealed. The change from .winter to .flowery spring- and : ,back again to winter, with skaters on the; ice,. is quite, a triumph in; stagecraft, to the perfection of which.there is and can be no end. Finally,' ' •' anyone: acquainted with. theglories "of; a tropical night,; the glint of .fireflies through the palms when Miss Mater.sings "The; Firefly, and the Hooh," is most realistic!—''.' Australasian." ■ ''. .v," v-:, ; .

A Croat "Henry V." "Mr. Waller's performance' of;. Henry is the greatest heroic performance I:have ever seen or am ever likely to see. .He speaks the 'wonderful, words quite simply, without' any straining /after /strange meanings. Never' does he emphasise one. word unduly,; or fail to emphasise ..the 'right word, and always, as he., forks' ,up .to the / splendid olimax of each, great , speech, he seoms to do so be-' cause/tlie; feeling: which is the source of'.the words, is gathering; strength., Not dram'atio 1 ■A' play which;'gives the'priiicipU character an opportunity..of:showing royalty of .mien; indignation, 'suppressed, passion, ! a struggle between compassion and justice, splendid courage, humbleness of soul before God/and pride of race, all .in supreme/degree, ,to say ■nothing of the'lighter scenes with/Williams and 7 with- Kathernie I I can only say that, ■played as .it is now at the Lyric, I found ■itumore'. soul-stirring, than;; any, 'play, I. have .ever.seen,befpre, -and"'if it/fails to,;attraet" •in;the town which'boasts six million, inhabitants who' have a special, cause to': be/stirred with pardonable ; prido,. 'rcmemberihg . .what; cause.'tho,notices ;havo not been'of a k'intl to ihake people. understand that this .is a production which, truly, it would be a sin to miss."—London '.'Truth.":, ' ..

"What Every Woman Knows." " • / The'; new Barry,: play, "What- Every Wo(man Knows,"' is said to be quite s up. to the ! of . that'cle ver , and fantastic writer's' best"efforts,':, and, its Success,'at Home'is a's- : sured.;./,;It; will Jntorest: those who- follow the". • something of' JlM.B.'s, latest, , hoping: against hope that though we ! .'missed ; -better;fate' awaits-'.us' with '"lift. Every AVonnm Knows.", The story deals with the - fortunes, of '.an ambitious young scholar, ' who _ commits burglary upon the house : of his 'neighbours, the Wylies, in order that he may do able;to m'ake use of their library. .. One night he is caught in the act, and tho ■■ brothers. Wylie, sympathising with' his; economic zeal,; not only condona his offonco, . but ; , agree to help him ..with - his education, if he will agree, at the end of-.five years, .to Marry their .sister' Maggie, who is in danger ,of life-long spinsterliood." Ho agreeß, ►arid' l keeps', his;- promiso, although at ,the_ ond,\of. the 1 allotted time ho has-' won a position -which would justify him in" hoping for a more brilliant match. But, as it turns out,'- Maggie, instead of being a clog upon .hisi ca proves of the'greatest assistance to .him. l -She .possesses;'the. gift-of; humour, in which : hd is entirely deficient,'and Seasons ;hta speeches with the spice of wit arid satire which is; their/ chief/ attraction,. and coutributes anores than, anything else to his brilliant; success in public 'life. . But his egotism prevents him .from realising .the truth, or valuing Maggie, at her true worth, ami he allows himself to be fascinated by, 'a social butterfly, who flatters ■ his self-esteein arid .encourages .him, to discard, the woman who has stood'by.him so faithfully. Fortunately,: Maggie is-able'to bring him 'tojhis' senses; by a demonstration of her own superiority, and the piece 'endsj with her conjugal triumph.

Hugh Ward Coming. • Mr. Hugh Ward's company,, which is to; visit Australia shortly under the'management of Mr.; Allan Hamilton, ;is reported to 'have just closed; a successful season at tho -new ; Opera House,'. Calcutta; and the members are now on their way to .China, where seasons will be played' in Hong-Kong and Shanghai.' The.company will then come'to'Auslrai lia "by way of Singapore and Colombo,. and will begin the campaign in the Commonwealth at tho Theatre Royal, Perth,, on r May 29, with a tour of; the goldfields to follow. Melbourne will bo reached on July 16 ;- then New .-Zealand will be visited ; arid , it will be rioxt Boxing, Night before Sydney audiences /will,-.:welcome Sir. Ward, : whose., popularity will certainly ensure him a great reception.'In a. letter to Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Ward writes in glowing terms of the success achieved in his latest, piece, "The Bachelor's Honeymoon" which is said to have fine parts for himself and the ;threo -ladies of the company, Miss Grace Palotta, Miss Rose Mur igrove; and Miss Celia Ghiloni. Mr. Ward ', thinks j "The Bachelor's Honeymoon" will prove to be the best farce, ho has ever introduced into Australia. Tlio "Englishman, in a review of tlio performance,. writes of thl piece as vivacious. , - ' A New Zealand Actress. , Miss /Rosemary Reus; daughter of Mr. W. L. Rees, of Gisborno, who .has been on the English stago for, some years past;-, and has been. visiting her poople up north : has accepted an engagement with Mr. jUlan Hamiltoiij who is organising a new dramatic company for a tour itf the Dominion. The actress's latest, engagements were with Mr. Lowis Waller's Co.i in "The 'Education of Elizabeth," and with Miss Marie-Tempest in "Mrs. Dot.", Other notable successes^were in "Zaza," "A Judicial Separation," "A Desperate Marriage,'' "Miss .Tack," and "The Admiral's Lady." The nowcomer brings flattering letters from hor London managers, including Sir Charles fWyndham, Mr. Lowis Wallor, Mr. Cyril Maude, and Miss FannyBrougli. Miss -Rees possesses the literary faculty,-and has. contributed much 'to newspapers and magazines. She has'.also written a number of'plays, amongst the most successful of which havo-been "Her Dearest Friend,", '-"Vilnia" (toured successfully by Mrs.;Lowis Waller), and "A Desperate Marriage" (produced by, Mr. Fred. Mouillot).

Notes. Mr. Allan ■ Hamilton lias arranged with a well-known New York manager to-dispatch a complete company to Australia next September with musical plays similar to-those performed by "The ,'rravesty. Stars," 'which included "Fiddle-de-dee" and others ,of ; the light and ; airy, description.' ;This' form of-en-tertainment is now amongst ' tho most popular of all attractions throughout the United States. Tlie contract calls for a company of 30 principals and chorus singers, and the chorus will be augmonted in Australia. | "In tho Ranks" is about to be revived in Sydney by an Allan Hamilton company, that manager having made an arrangement with Mr.'. Geo. Rignold (who holds the rights), whicih . actor will be remembered .in . the drama named." " Two successful new plays have just been produced in London: "Penelope," by Mr. W. S. Maugham—(in which Miss Marie, Tempest, plays); and " Henry' of Navarre," by. William Devereux. Miss Julia Nelson and Mr. Fred. Terry aro in the last-named piece. The control of London theatres is being transferred from the Lord' Chamberlain to the County. Council, and the censorship of plays;will be practically 1 abolished. " . °. Sardou, the dramatist,was interviewed just before'his death as to his methods. He .wrote • usually in the morning, and never under any circumstances at-night; He first : made a sketch of the play, and soon afterwards the' first: act, then allowed it to dty , velop before writing,, re-writing tho whole play, and handing it over to his secretaries to'make a fair copy. When he thought of a good plot, lie pigeon-holed it,, and then, slowly added everything-ho could- find, bearing on the theme, so. that.the play often: evolved .with the:mero',accumulation' of incidents. .-

-The Julius Knight Company are busy in Sydney, with preparations for The Duke's' Motto,',' , which .will be the next new production. *_ The action of "the play takes place 1 in the time, of Louis XIII, and the costumes are appropriate' to that picturesque: period. The mot-to, " I am here," is. '.adopted.- by Lagardere when he swears to -be revenged on the enemies of. tho Duko Louis de Nevers, from - whom'. he - also adopts : the ,' famous " sword thrust that no dozen men can parry." . -Mr. Knight plays Lagardere. '

_ The " popularity of pantomime in- London .is; indicated' by .'the. fact that -in city ;and- sub-! urban theatres 15 pantomimed are being pro-' duced.. Tho subjects . are Cinderella," 8; Red Riding Hood," 4; " Dick Whittington," _2; " Babes in the Wood," 2;;' with thd " Robin Hood " : story introduced in each; 1 ; '' Dick;; Whittingdon," " House.: that,'' : Jack Built," " Blue Beard," and'" Aladdin." In addition, there are Peter Pan" and two new seasonable fairy plays. .

.- A demonstration "was: lately given in London before .representatives of ■ the ■' LondonCounty ' Council and the; fire insurance' companies, to show hojv perfect . were the new appliances of extinguishing' kinematograph' fires]; which had become alarmingly, ferquent.