THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE

"The world's a theatre, the earth a stage."— Heywood. (By- Sylvius.) . "Havana." '.According to Mr.. Spencer Barry, .who 'is preparing '.the 'successful'-': Gaiety piece "Havana " for presentation in .Sydney -by tho J. C. "Williamson .management, production'is now recognised in .London, as one of the most important branches of the theatrical profession. ' Havana,' produced by Mr. George Edwardes,. at the Gaiety, was the most beautifully mounted musical play ever staged there," says he. "The pictures were simply superb, aud they;'took the town.' Dancing camo into its own again, and. there was an. air of- joyousness about tho whole entertainment that was hard to resist; The choruses and duets have.humour and prettihess, and there are concerted numbers and ballads which' appeal to cultivated taste. Leslie Stuart, as you know,, is the composer, and no.one can suggest more effectively the languor of tropical Havana, where all the scenes are laid, than he." . '. - When Mr.. Barry loft London, where ho fills tho position of stage director at the Empire .Theatre, the: pantomimes were in full swing. Tho most/notable features, of them was the .absence ' of vulgarity and coarseness; and the refinement of spectaoular;beauty. The children's play was also a significant movement. ■'. Passing through Melbourne, /Mr. Barry saw "Jack and Jill," than which, ho says, he has yet to see a better pantomime. His stay in Australia is limited to a few months. . He has been engaged by Mr. J; C. Williamson to produoe three or. four musical plays, and then he will return to 'the Empire.: ■'. ;. • . "Jack and Jill." Prosperity,.' continues to .mark the career, of the " Jack and Jill" pantomime at Her Majesty's: Theatre,-Melbourne, and the size and enthusiasm of the 'audiences that continue to .visit the popular production night after: night go to prove that;the piece is still exerting .'! its exceptional-., attractive power. Seldom; if ever, has..any Australian pantomime boasted such a wealth of attractive' features gathered from, various sources and 'cleverly welded to'getbor into, one harmonious .whole,. and forming a veritable feast of !good.things in the theatrical line. '■ ':■■' As a 1 general rule pantomimes boast of one "dame, but " Jack and Jill "is. an exception ! to,, the rule in-so far as, at one time during the action: of the play there are no fewer than, two - comedians masquerading ". as women.! Mr. Campbell, as the'bona-fide "dame," appears in a' loose blouse:covered with .checks ; of large dimensions, a looselyfitting .skirt,''and : a large cover-all 'apron., Mr;'..Campbell, is impersonating ho-less a personage than Tho Old Woman Who Lived iiia Shoe,'land being the porentof the extensive family of nursery .rhyme fame, has not too much.of this world's wealth to expend on finery until Jack, and Jill succeed in getting 'the Magic. Water, and then tho Widow: renews -her youthj. and, oomes smiling on to the stage.inrari ,up-to-date direbtoiregown and a hat which in circumference is really something to'be wondered at.. Mr. Gilbert, who doiis ..feminine garb for the.afternoon tea scene j. is. the proud possessor-of two elaborato/oostumes, which .he can :alternate at pleasure according;to;.the temperature. For instance, when, a cold: snap comes along from the Antarctic : -regions,- as it sometimes does • even in the, middle,of-what is supposed to be the summer season, Mr. Gilbert can-apparel rlumsplf ,in his black velvet costume, which is ,now,; so .well..known to 'playgoers,.but.:when, •the temperature rises and.a ; hot .spell is in 'full swingv the popular, comedian can-order .out<his .elaborate- dress-of .cream lace'over satin of the'same hue,-.-with, slashings of gold braid on the sleeves, and a girdle to match, not forgetting; the .scintillating diamond .ibrooch,: which fastens the collar in front, and :the,.larg« white;hat,.boasting'a .wealth of ostrich feathers on the top.' Indeed Mr. Gilbert, looks a very fascinating; dashing, young damsel, with the sweetest-.of• smiles and an abundance of ; -.fair. hair; dressed in ; the latest ..mode,- ; and, moreover, he has,the advantage 'of .experiencing, that'pleasorit 'feeling;,which ;is engendered.when. an'individual feels that he or she. is appearing in a garb' appropriate to the. .weather. ;:;:', ■■'..-''■.' '■',-'/ ,-■■ Mr. Companies, ...Mr.' William Anderson, who is'to leave on a holiday trip to London, with his, wife (Miss. Eugenie Duggari), on April 20, from Melbourne, proposes to bring out a company !headed.'by.Miss,Ada Reeve,! to reach Mel-. :bourno':, at: Cup time..!, One. of .the English; pantomimes • will be played •by this .company at! .Christmas: , Mr. Anderson has-.also /.arranged for the return to Australia .of Mr. Roy. .Eedgfave^ynow. inVEnglahd, and lip .will appear as' leading'.man,. in.May: next. Upon the retirement of Miss Eugenie Duggan, to visit, England, Miss Frances Ross,, and-Mr.! Walter Baker, now, playjhg in "My Part- ■ ner," in Melbourne, ,will.join! Mr. Anderson's, principal, company. -Though the manager will, during his English visit,. engage five or six. dramatic artists,; he- proposes to retain his; Australian, companies. ■-~"•'; .! ...

The Late Charles Warner., •' ■;. Mr.'' Charles/Warmer,"whose.death ,Wm 'reported in ..the'-'cable messages 'lately,:, was a - ' notable .figure ,on the English'stage, .inasmuch as he war able to recall a career from ,theearly vage'. of 16 years, when he* played with the great Samuel Phelps, whose name is' now. in'these. modern days a'link with the renowned past. '"Great actor and kindest of. teachers "was Warner's ' description of Phelps,: from whose' art' and. instruction in Shakespearo.i he profited' much.- Warner played v Orlando to the .Rosalind of Miss Helen Faucit. (Lady Martin) ■when, lie was ■only -26 years'of ago; and in his judgment,she. was'.one of:the.best.Rosalinds the Eng-' lish.theatre has.ever seen. Mrs. Hermann Vezin, in his opinion, camenoxt. "The Juliet of Miss. .Adelaide Neilson was: a : .traditional piece of, acting.that stood/out in his memory.'. She.; was famous in tho role at the.Lon-don-Hayniarket, and.in her English tour ho Was the leading man. .In the: Lyceum days, -with Henry'lrving,, ho'played with him only, once, in-"The Two.>,Roses.".\He was at. the London Vaudeville in the 700-nights' run of "Our Boys," and appeared as Charles. face in ." The School for Scandal," Puff in "The/Critic,", Charles Coutrley in "London Assurance," Harry Dornton in "Tho Road to Ruin,",', and in all "the fine old ..come-' dies and majiy,modern ones.- He had five years ; at the Adelphi Theatre in the wellknown".'! In. the. Ranks,'?, and several other successful dramas. His celebrated character was,,of course,:Coupeau, in " Drink "; in it he ,recorded.'liis-sPooth' night in New York a couple of. years ago. He. was the original Kleschria in C. S: M'Lellan's drama, "Leah Kleschna," when it was ■ produced in London, and wade'that part remarkably powerful; the Leah'wasMiss IjenaAshwell, so that the big scene was played well. Mr. Warner used to' say that' the . American tour when; he achieved his record as Coupeau was the most pleasant of 'his life-r-" except," he added, "my tour in Australia,.where:l went for 16 weeks, and.staycd three years.": : A Famous Play. J. : C. Williamson has secured the Australian rights, of "The Englishman's Home," : ' the play .by Major G.-L. B; Du Maurier, D.5.0.; of the Royal Fusiliers, which is meeting with such, exceptional success in London at tho present time. The playwright had an object in view when' he> constructed tho piece, and that object was to .bring home' forcibly, to tlio English nation their need of bestirring themsolvcs on the question of Imperial defence, i That Major Du. Maurier has succecdod in his object : ; is amply proved by the phenomenal success which is attending the production at Wyndham's".Theatre,, as well as~ by the speeches and articles concerning it, which are of daily occurrence. The! seating'accommodation of the theatre has been so. overtaxed that,it has been decided to lease another theatre and "The Englishman's Home" will thus achieve the • unique distinction' of running at two London theatres simultaneously. Notes. Sydney playgoers con tinuo to support "The Duchess of'Dantzic"at Her Majesty's Theatre in tho most gratifying manner, and the popular musical attraction enters upon the eighth week of its successful run this evening with undiminished vigour, and playgoers^

are as keenly interested as ever in watching tho' progress of the play, which: deals with; the fortunes of Madamo Sans Geno, the washerwoman, who rises'to the rank of a duchess at tho French Imperial Court.

Prior to tho production of "The Duke's Motto" at the Sydney Theatre Royal, the Julius Knight Company are giving a revival of "The Scarlet Pimpernel." Mr.Knight, of course, appears as Sir Percy Blakeriey,'with Miss Beatrice Day as Lady Blakeney, a role to-.which she does full justice.

At Invorcargill this evening Miss Tittell Brime brings her New Zealand-tour to a conclusion. Tasmania will be tho next objective of the company; and Hobart and Launceston will be favoured in succession. ' Thereafter they .will depart for Victoria.. , :

Before Mr. Oscar Asche arid Miss Lily Brayton come to Australia this year, under the >Meynpll-Gunn management, they will complete a tour of the provinces, when Sheffield, Bristol, Birmingham,' Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester,,,;and other' towns, will bo visited. This tour will-con-clude at Liverpool on May 10, and they will then sot out for this part of the'world.. ,'.

'■ In order to be quite ready to, start /rehearsals for "Sweet Kitty Bellairs," ■' on the arrival of Miss Nellie Stewart and .her London : contingent in Melbourne, preliminary, preparations are being steadily, carried' on. Many important engagements have'' already been made ; and Everything will bedone tb make the .inaugural production.at the: Melbourne' Princess Theatre on Easter Saturday a memorable occasion. .:

• Meynell and Gunn's Dramatio ! Company opens at His Majesty's Theatre; Auckland, on' March 15,, with, an -Australian drama (mining),-entitled "A Miner's; Trust.','• The second piece will be. "Two Little - Sailor Boys." The leading members of 'the company are Miss Beatrice Holloway and Mr. Herbert J. Bentley. . :