THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 817, 14 May 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The Worid'e a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood., (Bi Sylvius.) "Pete" and "The Hypocrites." For, a number of years past, the. public have, through the enterprise of wellknown theatrical entrepreneurs, had the opportunity of witnessing quite a number of the latest and most successful productions in the stage world. Consequently theatregoers have been educated to a higher standard than ever bofore. Theatrical managers are fully alive to this, and realise now that the public of Now Zealaud will only appreciate tho thing that is artistically sound. For several years past Messrs. Clarke and Mcynell have toured these parts with' plays which have invariably bit the popular taste, and as a result anything they submit to the public receives consideration. Through the advent of kinematography, managers have found it necessary to introduce only x the latest and best London and New York successes, and also at great expense deem it advisable to engage the best artists to undertake the important roles. Next month Messrs. Clarke and Mcynell will inaugurate a season of high-class drama in this Dominion, commencing at Auckland. The productions will include "The Hypocrites, and "Pete." In "Tho Hypocrites Henry Arthur Jones is claimpd to give us something of life, something that has tho interest of the actual. _ The story is not merely a trite plot introducing marionette characters, garnished with dull virtues and duller vices, who are the people of fiction rather than the men and women of our own world. He takes society as he finds it, and presents truth with startling vividness, and for this alone the man who holds that the drama of the day should present tho mode and manner of the time must be grateful. "There is an intelligent delight," says a lading writer, "i ndiscussing a play like ' The Hypocrites,' which presents its men and women with marked individuality and the breath of life." "Pete" is a drama of sentiment by Hall Caine, who has been assisted in this work by. Mr. Louis N; Parker. Tho themo of the play is novel and fresh. Tlie authors have clothed their story with the garments of rich .im-agination,-and coloured it with the thoughts and customs of an interesting people, and have chosen as its locale an island alive with its own traditions. ' The stars of the company to produco these plays in New Zealand under the regimo of Messrs. Clarke and Meynell are, Mr. H. R. Roberts and Miss Beatrice' Day, and they will be supported by a company of prominent English and oolonial artists who have been specially selected to fill the many parts. A Morality Play. ' The Rev. Thomas Phillips, of Bloomsbury Mission, London, is '(says Mr. W. T. Stead in the "Review of Reviews") longing to be able to run a music-hall and a theatre in connection with his church. Pending the transfer of all the entertainments of London to tho churches—which Mr. Phillips desires — tho churches might perhaps do something to encourago the theatre under its present management when it condescends to be a teacher of Righteousness. Take, for instance, Mr. Galsworthy's now play of "Justice" at the Repertoire Theatre—the Duke of York's. There you have a tragedy filling the soul of ' the spectator with emotions of pity and horror. Prisons aro tab-rJloblo and necessary institutat no one really knows _ how they influence their inmates until he has been a prisoner himself. The Salvation Army and the Church Army, and all societies which look after prisoners, would do well to send their friends and supporters to See Mr. Galsworthy's >play.. Also, in the interests of humanity, one box ought to be specially reserved for tho Home Secretary and the staff of the Prison Department of the Home Office, another for police magistrates and judges,, yhile the pit and tho gallery might profitably be filled by tho police. The men who feed its grim hoppers with the flesh.and blood material which it grinds up and often destroys—all these should make it their duty to see "Justice." It is a grim play, and a play which grips. ( "The Passion Play." The first performance in this decade of the "Passion Play" is to bo given at Ober-Ammergau on Monday next (May 16), and the last on September 25.' The play begins at eight o'clock in the morning, and continues till six o'clock at night. Despite the early start tho villagers are up sufficiently early to traverse tho village in. solemn procession, and to attend the church in a body. The great theatre, which seats 4000, is, reserved exclusively for the "Passion. Play," and is unused during the nine intervening years. During the year preceding the play all the villagers concentrate their energies on its production. No wigs or mako-up of any kind are allowed, and tho long and curling locks and beards of tho players are a picturesque feature of the village The reverent feeling with which tho play is given is intensified in consequence of the origin of the. play, an origin which lias preserved it to this day practically the solo survivor of similar plays which were performed in many places throughout Europe during tho Middle Ages. There are not so many changes in the principal characters this year as thero were in 1900. Anton Lang again takes the part of Christ; Johann Zwink for the third time takes that of Judas. Pilate is again represented by the Burgomaster, and all the Disciples, with the exception of Peter, John, Philip, and Bartholomew, are being played by the same actors as in' 1900. Peter Rondl, who played John in 1890 and 1900, now takes the part of Joßeph of 'Arimathea, John being played by the nineteen-year-old Alfred Bierling, who has, of course, never had an important part before.- Andreas Lang, who plays Peter, was the Rabbi in 1900, and-Thomas in 1890. Of the other important parts, that of Caiaphas is taken by the Nathaniel of 1900, that of Annas by Sebastian Lang, the heir of Daisenberger, who played Caiaphasin 1900. Nathaniel is played by the Ezekicl of 1900, tho Rabbi by the Nicodcmus of 1900, and Herod is being played by Hans Mayr, son of tho famous Christus Mayr, who played tho part of Christ five times, and died as Burgomaster to the village only a few years ago. It is the tradition of the village that Mary, tho mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene, Martha, and Veronica must all be played by women under thirty years of ago. Consequently none of those four principal parts is ever sustained, by the same players twice in succession. This year Ottilie Zwink,. the daughter of the Judas of 1890, 1900, and 1910, plays Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her father is probably the finest actor in tho village, and to judgo by her performance in. the Mystery Play of Sebastian, which she played last year, she will increaso tho reputation of tho family, and should make a notable Mary, as good probably as that of Rosa Lang in 1890. Maria Mayr will certainly make a very good Mary Magdalene; altogothor, tho women , this year will be oven hotter than in 1900. Popularity of Melodrama. "Why is melodrama so popular?" is a questiou that is continually rceurriug and finding the most convincing answer, perhaps in tho big business that is invariably dono by a dramatic company, providing it stages tho pieces effective-

ly. Such is at present being dono by the George Marlow Company at tho Opera House. Mr. G. K. Chesterton, writing recently in tho London "Daily News," remarked: "Many of the new critics ask in a wondering way why melodrama is so popular. I can tell thom on the spur of the moment, and without _ tho least hesitation. Mplodrama is popular because of its profound truth: because it goes on repeating the things which humanity has real ly found to J>e central facts. This endless (repetition profoundly annoys the irritable artist inside you and me. But it ought to profoundly plcaso the realist. The melodrama is perpetually telling us that mothers aro devoted to their children; becauso mothers -ARE devotod to their children. Humanity P la y f° r a time grow tired of Milling it., the melodramas say that men aro chieuy sensitive upon honour and their personal claims to courage,-■ men ARE. It bores one to hear one's honour reiterated; but it would startle ono to hear it denied. Now, the modern critics seem to want (when they talk of ideas) some ideas other than, or even opposite to, these old and certain ideas, but surely they are wrong." Notes. ~ Miss Grace Edmonds, a young and attractive American actress, is now on nor way out .to Australia under engagement to J, C. Williamson. During Iris recent stay in America, on behalf of J. C. Williamson, Mr. Harold Ashton was struck with the personal appearance, the ability, and charm of manner of Miss Edmonds, and at once entered into negotiations with -her for a trip out to Australia. Besides being a very fine actress, Miss Edmonds possesses a good voice, and the musical organisation which receives her should be much benefited by her inclusion in its ranks. , "Tfaat Woman from France," which the Marlow Company produce at the Opera House this evening, is a drama, of scenic splendour, and reproductions are made of aspects of life in tho gay resorts of the south of Europe. Thero is something, too, out of the orthodox in this drama, for tho principal members of the burglar gang are known by tho titles : of the Queen, King, Kmrve, and Ace. The Marlow Company leaves Wellington for Dunedin direct by the TJlimaroa on Thursday next, and opens in the southern city next Saturday evening for a fortnight. Cliristchurch follows Dunedin. ■ "Women and Wine," a melodrama played throughout New Zealand by the Bland Holt Company years ago, will be the opening bill of tho HamiltonMaxwell Dramatic Co. at Auckland on May 16. "In London Town'.' will he included in the repertoire.