THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The. World's a theatre;" tho Earth a' . stage—Hey wood. :.. -': (By Sylvius.) "Havana." " v The second production'of the J. C. Williamson New.Comic Opera Company! will be tho new musical' comedy, "Havana." "Havana", comes. with a fine reputation! as, a breezy, tuneful work, gorgeous with colour, prodigal of dance and comic business. ,It is said-that, as Nix, tho down-trodden boatswain of tho Wasp, Mr. Bert. Gilbert -is at his very, top as a clover eccentric-comedian, the Australian press.unanimously voting it the. very finest comedy impersonation.' As Reginald Brown, the cabin boy, Mr. W. S. Percy will bo.seeu in one of his best parts. Mr. Tercy is so pronounced a favourite that .there is little doubt that a fine welcome is awaiting, him. Consuelo, tho Cuban belle, >will havoan ablo exponent-in.Miss' Olive Goodwin, also a prime favourite. "Havana" is to bo exceptionally well, provided - with attractive features in tho way of .bright and catchy melodies, and an interesting story : concerning the romance of .a handsome,-Cuban heiress. Messrs. Bert Gilbert, Herbert Clayton, W. ,S. Percy, Frank Greene, Pat. Bath-, urst.have all congenial parts, whilst among" tho ladies Miss ' Olive, Gidwih",-Miss-Lottie Sargent, Miss/Ivy. Scott, Miss Dorienne Dayno will, be found to., beespecially well provided for..

"The Lily.".;!" Nance O'Neill has at length" como into her own. Read:-"It was' the'first night of 'The Lily', in "New York, and a night that fully justified, Mr. Belasco's. choice of play, and; for the ! most ..part, his choice . of . players.;. .Mr.' Charles Cartwright, Missi'Julia: Dean, ..Mr.; Alfred Hickman, "o'nd'.-'Mr.. Bruce .M.'Rao shared liberally.in the honours that were earned. Mi'.. Cartwright, indeed,"., came licxt' : . to Miss O'Neill. /His- part, was' an. 'extremely difficult one,■'; turning away, at every/instant the sympathy of the audience, and depending ' wholly upon his remarkable skill and judgment for its holding-power. Miss .Dean, in what must be called the great scene of the play, depicted with unexpected; art'.''heights of .anguish.'.!.which touched all hearts. And then, to'cap all, Miss O'Neill;for some moments took.the ■whole play, into her strange, even. wonderful, personality,' seemed. to absorb/it and all its woo and passions,. and to bear it aloft, carrying.the audience upward with her to a mountain of/.imagination, from which shV!commanded 'the spectators to" behold ■■ the suffering of "all loving women whoso hearts- -havo 1 been torn,. who' liavo toiled up the path of duty or have turned along the primrose lanes of dalliance 1 and havb borno the' shock of'contumely. ■ - ~ ■ "Hero is powerful drama, true .'and searching... Here: is acting which will .crowd the jilayhouso for many months,to come."—"ftow York Tribune", of Deccmber'2l.'„ /.", ':'.:. : '-;

"The! Lion and. the Mouse." .' :.•''";• "The lion is John Burkett Ryder! (says ■ the- Sydney "Telegraph"), ; a.-.powerful financier,- whose .operations" in lthe.,struggle/for tho supremacy .which.greatiwcalth, brings to its^possessor have, gained him the title, of ''the. great American octopus"; .the mouse is ■Shirley Kossmqre, and she. becoriies' so: because ■ in' waging war - against Ryde>, to ' defeat tho ' plot . ho has cpntrived for her father's ruin, sho-;arouses his better nature, and presumably; sets him" free. from , (ho toils woven about liis heart through:the. pur- ; suit of-power. ': .--... ' "Such'', is' the allegory which Charles . Klein .develops' with the.'fall; of; the cilrtain in.'- the .strong, well-written play pro-'-..duced for..the first.time in Australia at the .Sydnoy'Theatre <Royal on Saturday | week. But thisjis by.;the .way. The great •motivo ■of ■.tho.:new piece: is tie .conflict .which the girl, quick-witted, independent; 'and 'courageous,'- resolutely undertakes on behalf, of her father whcn'.sho "faces, ,'tlie 'multi-millionaire. This' leads to/.the. great' scenoVin 1 . tho third; apt; when>;.she_■.. de-; . noiinces : Ryder!: for, .-'liis '■ ferocityT '.'and': ;'oruolty-7-a: scene 1 played .; with.: such: sincerity and ■conviction by! Miss .Katherino Grey,;, the now ;Am'crica.n'■ star,: arid) Mr; Julius' Knight, that it io'ok tho. crowded ' houso'.by. storm:v''i':';\ '■ i '■ : :'. '.'.'■''<'!;■<' },: "It''mustlbel'said.!'at the same 'tiniej, .puat; MissrßossmWe's .J'athy'o.'ivictory.'. is. jfludo, singularly .'easy: son 'falls .in lovo • with" l-fitst ■ greati. ndvan? tngo':in tho':game she'has to play. Their "■sho .has, ,; under- th 6 , . .Sarah. Green, written" a novel, which 'at- ; tracts the attention of! .tho Colossus, from ;tho fact that: the chief ■ character in ; at ; is. si. striking .likeness of himself.i There■fore,' entirely ■ ignorant that she : is-, tho ; daughter of .the judge he t is seeking -tb .destroy,;ho invites hbrto;;]ns.house;.'c6trii. missions her to write.bis biography,/arid bauds over to hoiT-a. complete, strangerpapers, so important! that sho :is >jhot al- : lowed'to loavo while they. ore ■in -her pos-' session. This- from the' man whoso safety is so jealously .guarded 'that,- as his sou says, tho -place is. like a barracks. "The ■ thing is. too simple.. Shirley'.' does'' even . more. - •:.Sho secures, with the assistance of her-.lover, the keys of Ryder's, private drawer,..and abstracts\ a letter .of considerable ; importance as ■' assisting to' establish her father's innocence; So that,' the chances .are distinctly in her favour' from the .beginning. ..';" y : .. ,"H the premises. are admitted,- however,the drama iuust.be recognised as.poworful and well written. Its design is-mani-festly to illnstrato'the. methods of-.'un-scrupulous: in America," for siuco Judge, Rossmore, ; by his legal, decisions," has frustrated; the schemes of Ryder and his,fellow-speculators, ho riiiist be driven' from the Bench. Ho is accordingly imnli-, cated .in, certain business transactions" in. such a way that it is made to appear thatho: has accepted bribes.': His relentless' enemies'use their power to control votes ' m the Senate, in order to bring about bis impeachment—an example of, the extent to which, corruption.may go.'when tho '.wires', aro properly pulled. Ryder is. asked whether, ho:'would ; press the-im-peachment if he: wero convinced of Ross-more's-innocence. .'Yes,.it.would be allthe same,' is tho pitiless reply; .'I cannot' go back on my'friiinds.' , ' '.'. . ■ "Miss Kathcrino, Grey, portrayed with, telling, judgment": all these qualities..Slight in figure, coufidentin manner, and with a full, effective voice which she is apt to employ. in the lower - range, tlio actress mado a decidedly favourable, impression; arid in tho big scene, where ber shrill tones of defiance rang through tho theatre, she. gavo a 'fine . exhibition: of passionate emotion. .The'' curtain .was raised fivo times after this act. ~ Miss Grey: fully; realises 'thelvalue., of artistic restraint; but in certain places in the first .act ; hcr'perforraance was too'restrained. For: instance, !.the annouricoment, .'I am going to fisht'John Burkett Ryder,' 1 demanded greater feeling. And the same thing might be said of tho scene where Miss: Rossmore, putting her hands' upon her father's shoulders, and' gazing into' his eyes, exclaimed With indignation against bis being accused of injustice. On tho other band, the hysterical mood, ■when she fully realised .ttiat the judge was threatened. with; ruin, was exceptionally well simulated. Miss Grey bad a ; great reception, arid evidently became a i .favourite .with. tho. .crowded audience." Mr. . Knight's Ryder •■ is- characterised among tho best bits of work ho has ever done. .'".-.'■."••-■

Miss Tittell-Brune in London. The advance, stories .'of. Miss TittellBruno having scored:a success in London are borne out by London, papers, which arrived by, the last-English mail.. Sho waTcalledatshortnoticeto play.'Miss Violet Vanbru'gh's.part in Clyde ■ Pitch's play, "Tho Woman in - the Case," at the New.Theatre on December 20. How sho succeeded-is best told by, the press 110tiocs,' three of 'which were sont mo this week. These are.:—;, ' ■ i "It is not an easy matter, for an.unknown actress who. has never, played-,in this country before to follow in the. footsteps of a well-known .artist, but Miss ■Tittell-Bruno surmounted' every difficulty ■ and won her English. laurels at. tho Now Theatre -in; 'Tho Woman, in tho Case' last night. She had;ran excellent .reception from the" largo, audionco who- had gathered to soe the mow 'star' play.. Claire I'orster, the part made famous by Miss Violet Vanbrugh. Miss TittellBruno had many obstacles to overcome. Sho,has had a comparatively short tinio to study a difficult part, and there is no doubt that she has in n measure recreated the rolo of the notorious Claire. Her dreading of tho-.woman's '., character varied somewhat from . the' conception formed by ..Miss Vanbrugh, and (here was no attempt at uiiderstudving. Thoro was no doubt that Miss Tittell-Bruno. 1 deserved tho splendid reception accorded

her. : She was recalled six times at the oloso of Act 2,' and after, the famous scene between . Miss , Ellis . Jeffrey's : and herself the audience showed their: real appreciation . of the plucky .'Australian' actress, who ..had proved her merit: so .well."—"Standard." • •','■■

"It is seldom that a young actress wins' so emphatic: a success as Miss - TittellBruno scored last uighty.whenshe.mado her first appearance before, an English andienco at the Now Theatre. -.The task she had undertaken was no,.easy• one. Miss Violet Vanbrugh had created Clairo Forster in . "The . Woman, in the Case," and the young Australian' had' to' follow where a clover and well-known'actress had led tho way. It was evident from her first appearance that the'large audience was in sympathy with the plucky.girl who had taken a very strong part, but the' friendly desiro to give' her a> good start was .quickly-, swamped in the real enthusiasm at her undoubted merit. Miss Tittell-Bruno was good' -in ; the prison scene. She' was.excellent:in tho dramatic act where .'Margaret Holfe. .fights with Claire. Forster for the. life of the-man sho loves*. There'was a strong colonial element in the theatre last night,.' and Australian bush: 'coo-ees I '..were, roared to' an accompaniment,: of English claps, but both, the 'coo-ees' and . the '.claps were unanimous in their .verdict, that tho new 'star' has proved her merit and won her laurels."—"Evening ■ Standard .': and ':. St. James Gazette." ■.

"Miss Minnie Tittell-Brunc, the young Australian actress, was'given a splendid reception last night, .when she appeared as Claire Forster, in 'The Woman in the' .Caso' at the Now Theatre.' She had'not previously played in England. It was not an easy task for.a-newcomer to tako'up a part made famous by Miss Violet Van-, brugli, but'fhat.Miss.Tittell-Bruno accomplished it was! shown by. the. fact that she was recalled renentedly after the second and third acts." There.:is 'no 'doubt that

her clever rendering of tho .part will en- . sure added'popularity 'for j the play.— "Daily ""'.'..-.; '~"''..'"■ ~ ' Miss.'Bruno's many friends and admirers in New .Zealand will be delighted to hear, of - her success■in tho wider fiold of dramatic art.'lt is an indication anyhow, that -New '.Zealand. l audiences; were_ not so. far out in showing' an. appreciation for ono 1 - who,, within, certain' limits, was : quite; a: clever and likeable actress, -. : : ... Smallest Play Ever Written.' '.'..:'■ ,■'■■'. -Amelia Bingham's appearance' in London in /'Great Moments: from Great Plays," or '■ condensed dramas, as .it has been calledvin 'Europe, .has brought to ..light.tho fact that Italy is-the country; which gavo, birth to the. .smallest. play over ■ written. 'The:. "Berliner Tagcblatt" 'spoke. about Liliputian dramas that were in vogue at one. timo in '.Germany. : . Professor Milan. Begovic then called attention to tho .work of the Italian poot'Gio : vanni Ventura, whoMs the.author .of the shortest' play ever 'written. 'In/the, forties of '■' tho last, century'..his work, was quite in vogue in Italy.-."ltr.was..then that ho wrote •' r ßosmunda,"-, which, was produced. 'Here : .is the play in full as presented at -the time: . '■'"■;"■':.[ ■;■:•:'■..•,'■ ';• ''ROSMUNDA.';' v; : '.-' ■''•■' /' Tragedy, in .Five Acts, by Gioyanni. '" .'■;■; :■::'''<'. -Ventura.''..-. .■.:■: ■ ••'''. '.■ -■■'. -'-:.,. Persons, of the Play. ,Y : ' ' King/Albion: .;'-:.: , Eosmunda, daughter df.:King Kunimond, ..-'':■ and!wifo of Albion:, >,\..--.- ■■'.."'/,.- ■.'* '■' ..',.: .-Perideus, a slave.;- '::-- ".-'/■; :' .'••.'■''Act'.f. I .';''".;':'/';.:- ./.':''; ' Albion (giving Kosmunda'the skull .of -her; father filled with .wine): "Drink!; ..'lt is. the .'skull of your father." ..- .uA-:.r . Rosmunda (horrified): ''Oh!" > ;.«:,-■:.': 'Albion (commanding): "I wish it!";' , 'liosmunda: (drinks)': 'fWoe ;unto" , -yoiii" ' -■'.''■■ ;.'"A- : ' ■'''•'■Act'lt 1 - : > :: r~; : y% ". !'■'' Albion (affectionately to "Why/so sad?"'' \,: . ■-..: ■■'-. .'.■:'.'_''. ';''. : m liosmunda:. "Can I bo' otherwise.?"..;' ,'-. . j Albion: - is, past must, be for-' 'gotten.";':.. ... :\ ,-, ..-■■■■-■ ■•.' vJ-.-V-- ..?:,".'■■■ ',- Rosmunda:.:'T)o not touch. me." -1 'J' : . : Albion': 'H'ou' hate :mo?" •'" : .:,;'•■: ..;•"' '.' ..,ll6s , muiida':;'"How can : "I?" •' . :"■ . ■'■ ; J! ; : -' ■?-'' ■ '■' r 4°' y.V ' : ?y ■. Ebsinuhda . (examines .'closely :.a.'',stfletto, -then' calls) :!'Slave!" ' ..,':'; : ' ■ Perideus (comes and keels before; her): "Queen!" , . '"•,; .-. •/.'-! , ■ : Kosmunda';(passibnately)V."l ; lovbyou." | i.: Perideus (astbiiished)/:'.'/'.Oh, my God!" ? liosmunda: ;"Cbme with .. me.",.-.- (Em..braces ,him.)'';. :v."' ; '" ".'",:' V>.i ■ ti'^ J <y ."', : ('Kroni- adjoinrngv^iVpmV ; v;wiiere;:,'King: .Albion, sleeps/>snorihg''.isi'hca:i;d:), :-.<viv;- : ': Rosmunda .;(hands'.fhe : -stiletto-'.toV.'Pari-:-''GoHall;him;" ■'■;«;■■.'■'..''.: ; ';■;: ~'•. Pofi'dcus'-' (hesitating) •:',''Thb •Kihg?""'-; ; '■': Hos.muhda (quickly) ::. ; ,"Thb; rival,".'';'- ;■' '.:; Perideus ."-'(with- defermiiiatipn",-; and .courage): "He shall die.":,.• (GocsiJ'dcter-* minedly..-to■ tho .sleeping'npartm'ont-'of Albion.) ■ - '■':,'. ■•■'-- :■:..' :.'-'.''. ■>■' - l '-: ; ;:v:'.:' : ;.'' : ;';'iAot'v. -U;' ;. Albion', (with":stifled:.voicei : ; off;, stage): ."Help.". ; '.iv■'.■..'.- ''■-■:'■•■;. ■-.:■:'; j-.i-y J.:- '■■'.'■•:-'>■■"• > Rosniunda (listening):."Die! Die! Die!" .'Perideus (rushes into the: room with the bloody stiletto in hand): Ho is.dead'! .-,'Eosmunda .(suatches • !the., stiletto,, 'andholding it up- to' heaven, .yells).:'•'•. -you drink, father! Now, you : 'drink!"-','.•>.: .' -: ■■■.•'■. : - .-'.'■:' Curtain. .V.V : .-'!:;'^-?y'