THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 19 June 1909, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

"Tho world's a thcatro, the enrth a Btage."— Hey wood. (By Sir.vici.) Henry Kolker and His Successor. Mr. Hcniy Kolker, after a year's work in Australia with tho J. C. Williamson management, will sail from Adelaide for London by tho China on Juno 24, in order to fill an important engagement in New York. This is duo to the interest. taken in him by tho American dramatist, Eugino Walters, who years ago, wrote a drama entitled "Sargoant James," in which Kolker played the leading part. Tho piece failed, and tho author thou promised tho actor that ho would some day writo a stronger part for him, and that if tho play were accepted at a leading house ho would stipulate that his frien'd should bo sent for. Mr. Kolker will accordingly sail in time to begin rehearsing in August for tho autumn season. The second production at Adelaide will bo "Tho Silver King," when Mr. Walter Bentley will appear in ono of his most successful characters to the Nellie Donver of Miss Ola Humphries, and' tho "Spider" of Mr. Harry l'limmer. On Tuesday next two, of this _ firm's starring artists will 'close seasons —Miss Nellie Stewart at Adelaide, before coming on to Sydney, and Miss Tittell Brune at Brisbane, before terminating her Australian career at Toowoombaand Newcastle. , .

Hugh Ward Back Again. Mr. Hugh Ward's Company of Comedians began its tour of Australia at Perth on May 29 with "A Bachelor's Honeymoon," a farcical comedy in three acts, by John Stapleton, under tho most gratifying circumstances. Long before tho curtain rose every part of the theatre was occupied, and the loss practical members of the audience, who had neglected to reserve scats, had to be content with standing room. The company was paid a high compliment at tho end of the piece, when they were chc-ered to tho echo. Requests for a speech were shouted across the-footlfchts, hut it was some time before Sir. Ward consented, and when at last he did speak tho applause was deafening. -It is doubtful if a more successful comedy has been staged here before. "A Bachelor's Honeymoon" never flagged for one moment, a fact duo to tho excellence of tho various artists oonoerned in its production.

In Mr Ward's smart company are the brightest lot'of girls known to tho colonial Btage. Tbese include Miss Grace Palotta (tho exGaiety star), Miss llose Musgrove, Miss Celia Ghiloni, Miss Florence Kedfem, and Miss Ruby Baxter. Others included in tho cast were:—Mr. H. H. Wallace, Mr. Reginald Wykeham, Mr. Arthur Eldrcd, and Mr. Robert Greig. ■ ,

"Tho Persian princess." Of Sidney Jones's new comic opera, "The Persian Princess," which is supposed to convey a flavour of Omar. Khayham's gospel, tho London "Standard" says: —"One cannot recall a single lino of real wit in the dialogue, or any freshness of idea in the incidents. Tho story is chaotic, and its development along the lines of pantomime. Tho plot cf the disguised princess who' has to marry lie princo sho has never seen is not atoned f(.r by' any. spontaneity, of humour or originality ill episode. Tho introduction of a real camel —a very handsome camel—is, perhaps, the most striking thing in tho performance. Always excepting the wondrous costumes an.l tho lovely stage pictures, than which nothing moro perfect has been seen upon the stage."

Successful Plays are Clean. . Frederic Thompson, tho, well-known American theatrical manager, writing in "Success Magazine," says: ."The most successful plays and the most successful musical entcrtainmonts, not only of recent years, but of all time, havo been clean. This is a statement which goes'with absolutely, no qualification of reservation. It applies also to players, playwrights, and managers—just why I don't know, . unless, as I said before, cleanliness of all kinds is a tremendous factor in final success. And by . success I, as a manager, am still talking of..dollars and cents. lilaw and Krlanger's 'Ben Hur,' and 'Little Nemo,' and William A. Brady's 'Way Down East,' havo made moro money and will livo longe"r on the forty-\yeek's-a-year boards .than-any two cleverlywritten, but suggestively immoral French or English or German or American plays which you or anyone else can name. 'Brewster's Millions' and 'Polly of tho Circus,' both of which I am proud to havo produced, have been, are now, and will continuo to bo, productive of bigger returns than any two American plays of tho present day which deal with indecency. Miss Maudo Adams is the greatest drawing card in the wholo theatrical firmament. Sho is more respected and is wealthier . than Madame Bernhardt— which does not mean that Bernhardt is not the greatest actress of the last or present generaion. 1 'Klorodora,' 'Little Johnny Jones,' 'The Red Mill," and 'Mademoisello Modiste,' have made moro money than a hundred such productions as tho 'Queen of the Moulin Rouge' havo or will."

Sarah Bomhardt's Eyes. In a character study in "Cassell's" of the famous actress by Jean Victor Bates occurs this description of her eyes: "The.immortality of her spirit flashes out so brilliantly from her eyes that the mortal is obscured. Heedless of time /and suffering, the light from tho soul behind shines out through its mask. It is this inward firo that gives such subtle sweetness to 'the ,Mona Lisa smile' of her thin, red. lips, parted over her white teeth.'. It is this fire that makes her eyes so wonderful, those long, mysterious eyca whose pupils distend, and oontract, and alter in colour with every change in light or with every passing , mood, every thought—tlioso eyes that are sometimes sleepy, and like dull gold—soniotimoa yellow and cruel as a lioness's—sometimes, as in : moments of passionate anger of; excitement, green as a March wind-swept meadow; or, as darkly, tenderly blue as the ocean with love.and pleasure; but, as someone remarked, 'eyes that , lose all lifo and colour, oyes. that close and narrow into mere slits, that become like blinded 'windows in tho presence of death, whether real or imagined.' "

Notes. _■ Among the many clever Australian artists who have clutched fame (and let us liopo fortune) on the London stage i 6 that dainty performer Miss Olive Lenton, who made her debut on the old-time Dix circuit in New Zealand, and Who afterwards became a finh favourite with tho Richards' audiences in Australia. Miss Lenton is now a "star" in her own right, and was recently billed as "Australia's own artiste" at tho Palace Theatre, where she was doing a musical song scena entitled "Harvest Time." Miss Lenton has many friends in New Zealand who will bo,glad to learn of her success.

Boorbohm Tree's London revival of "School for Scandal," which gives pretty 19-year-old Marie I»ohr an unheard-of chance as Lady Teazle in a cast considered "all-star" even in London, fairly establishes the young Australian as a "top-notcher." In tho Tree cast aro Herman Vezin (80), Lionel Brou'gh (76), Edward Terry (65), and a number of other ancient lights. The old folks tottered on tho stago, mumbling and mouthing; yet tho "firstnigbtors" were pathetically enthusiastic, and would have shouted tho roof off if anybody had shown them an actor 100 years old. Before the curtain fell, however, youth oad scored heavily, Marie Lohr, Lorai'ne (Charles Surfaco), and Basil Gill • (Joseph) dividing tho real, applause with Tree .himself — "Bulletin;"

Messrs. John Fuller and Sons have received cable advice that they havo been fortunate in securing what' is probably tho most ambitious effort of tho notablo Patho Freres' film entitled, "The Life'of Napoleon." This, film is no less than 2300 ft. long, and its exhibition will take three-quarters of an hour to run off, and will be shown at His Majesty's Theatre, Comtenay Place, immediately on arrival. The importation of the Oscar Asehe-Lily Brayton Company of 26 peoplo is the biggest and most expensive theatrical onterpriso ever undertaken in Australia. The tour, which is under the management, of Rupert Clarke, Meynoll and Cmui, will commence in Melbourne on July 17. Tho staging and mounting, will bo on exactly tho same scale a S in London. Over 600 tons of scenery is boinc brought out from England.