THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 852, 25 June 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tho World's a theatro; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. (Br Sylvius.) Cost of Stage Costumes. Interesting information as to tho cost of theatrical dresses, and tho methods of obtaining and using them, 'was given in 'Melbourne on June 5 to tho Commonwealth Minister for Customs (Mr. Tudor) by a deputation of representatives of theatrical companies and manufacturers. A previous deputation had expressed to Mr. Tudor the fear that tho law was being evaded by the importation i'reo of duty of costumes which ,\vere used for other purposes than theatrical. It was also stated that theatrical dresses, which could well b6 made here, were made in Kngland, and brought out free. Today's deputaion wished to put another aspcct before the Minister, and to urgo that no duty be imposed upon costumes that could not bo made in Australia. -

Dr. Moloney introduced tho deputation, and expressed regret that Mr. J. 0. Williamson liatl not seen fit to join in tho request. Mr. Oscar Ascho gave thu result of his experience in staging historical plays. "It is impossible to obtain in Australia," iie said, "the necessary costumes belonging to certain periods."' Ho instanced the case of "Tho Taming of the Shrew." The material for the costumes work in that play by Miss Lily Brayton was woven upon special looms. He referred to the vast expense of "costuming a play." "I valno tho costumes I brought here at £10,000," he .said, "but if I offered them for sale in tho open market, probably they would not letch more than .fioOO." Mr. Ascho added that for bis Australian tour lie brought about 2000 dresses with him.

C. J. Lane, manufacturer of theatrical costumes, said that lie had taken four trips round the world to see models. He had to refuse orders from Mr. JuliuS Knight, because lie could not get the materials in Australia. Ho would have had' to buy 10 or 12 yards of very expensive gold braid, specially woven, for two dresses, and a cloak for Miss Mackintosh, in "Cainille," for which 132 guineas were paid, and the play was put on for only about one. week. At the end of tho season the gowns were generally worn out. . They were thcli bought by theatrical caterers in London and renovated. That was how such gowns came to bo i seen in certain productions. Five or six of them would cost in Vienna. 140 guineas each. In reply, Mr. Tudor explained that tho fear was that modern' clothing was coming in without paying duty. The provision was "theatrical costumes may be admitted free of duty under item 4-13 of the tariff —provided that security be given that- they shall be used only for tho purpose of theatrical representation, and provided that they bo exported within six months after tho delivery by customs or such further time as the Collector may allow." Ho would noC say that historical costumes which could not be made here should bo prevented from coming ill free. Under that regulation, until Parliament altered the provision, it would bo read as Parliament intended. Nevertheless he believed that whatever could bp made in Australia should be made here, and no evasion of tho law would bo tolerated. The London Theatres Reopened. The death of King Edward has naturally exercised far-reaching influenco on the London season; but King George, with commendable thoughtfulness ior people out of work, sent a message to the managers of the theatres, expressing the wish that these places of amusement. should be reopened, and should remain open, except oil tho day of tho funeral. This meant a great deal to a vast army of people, for the West End managers had decided, with two exceptions, to close their houses until after the funeral, and, although somo of them determined to pay their employees during tho interval, thousands of actors, actresses, and stage hands would liavQ been thrown out of employment if -this decision had been adhered to. As soon as King Gcorgo learnt of this, ho mado his wish known to tho Lord Chamberlain, who summoned Sir Herbert Tree and Mr. George Alexander, and communicated . the King's wish to them. The managers met immediately, and requested tho Lord Chamberlain to convey to his Majesty their deep appreciation of his kindly and thoughtful act. The Lyceum and Aldwych Theatres reopened at once, the Strand and His Majesty's Theatres on tho following evening, the Qucon's Theatre on the Saturday, and tho remaining theatres during the Week. "Henry of Navarre." Describing Wm. Devereux's play, "Henry of Navarro," produced in Sydney by the Knight-Grey combination on Juno 12, tho "Daily Telegraph" ssys. "Tho play plunges straight to the point; at the very outset, and everyono who is of consequence is before tho audience in the first act set in th'o Louvre—tho grim Queen Mother Catherine,. eternally plotting against Navarre and the hated Huguenots; the weak, vacillating Charles IX, torn between a genuine' love of Henry and fear for the loss of his throne; the beauteous Marguerite de Valois, fit heroine for a love story; the gay and gallant Henry of Navarre, always for France, but never a laggard in an affair of love; tho weird astrologer, liuggieri, man of mystery, crafty in his knowledge of tho portent of the stars: the iiercy Due de Guise, enemy of Henry, would-be lover of Margot, and leader of tho Catholic cause; tho Due d'Anjou, brother of tho King; and many others of more or less import. Henry of Navarro is being lured to court by the offer of marriage with Margot, in order that ho and the rest of tho Huguenots may be destroyed. He is to bo poisoned or smothered, according to the scheme of Catherine, but is warned by tho astrologer. A bright incident in tho ai;t is the meeting of Henry and Margot, in which the Prince, at first shamefully boorish in his manner, in order to punish Margot for her apparent indifference, ends by making ardent love. But in the general atmosphere of intrigue which pervades tho court Henry cannot make up liis mind whether or not Margot is playing him false, and the act closes leaving liini a prey to distracting doubts. Catherine in the next act attempts to poison Henry by his wife's hand. Doubting, whether she loves him, or is luring him, Henry lias left her alone on her. marriage night, and the woman so , scorned eagerly accepts the lo've-potion offered by her mother, which is, of course, poison, and- offers it to her husband, who, suspecting guile, bids Margot drink first. Innocent of any harm she joyously consents, hut as she raises the poisoned cup to her lips Henry dashes it to the ground, and snatching up another, calls the toast "My Wil'e."

Thoiiccfpnvard tlio story hastens oil at a tragic pace. In the next act tlio Queen Mother attempts tlio murder of Henry by means of a powder cast on tlio (ire in 5! argot's bedroom, but fails. Margot, desperate at her husband's previous indilfcrcnct-, has mad" an assig-nat-ion with the Guise, which she now repents of, but it is too late, for the Duke has arrived. Henry has been warned of the event,' and the King also knows ilargot's call for help is responded to by her husband, ill disguise. The Guise is hurried through the window, and when the King ami his guards burst into the room they linrl, not the 'iuise, but Henry, who replies to infiuirics. "Where else should a husband be but in his wifo's bedroom?" Thril-

ling as this act is, and ingeniously as i it is _ contrived, tho fourth and final I contains some ol ! the most exciting" fea- 1 tures of tho play, hi tho first scene consent is at last wrung from the. weakling Charles to tho massacre of tho Huguenots. In that which follows wo are onco again in llargot's bedroom, ausl from Alnrgob m\d her woman, watching at tho easement, wc hear the news of what is abroad in the night, l'irst to their affrighted ears comes the deep tolling of the grim bell of St. Germain, which tolled the signal for the slaughter. AVikl shouts, screams, and oaths, loud explosions, and other .evidences of the awful holocaust are heard, and tho marching past of the merciless hordes thirsting for Huguenot blood is vividly suggested. From his wife's arms tienry rushes away to save his devoted follower, do and ho brings him in with tho Ciuiso and his men fast upon his heels. Kor some moments the fray is fast and furious, but \Vhen it is seen that Henry wears the white badge of the Catholics, which Margot, without his knowledge, has bound upon his arm, they drop the point of their swords and" taunt him. The marks of safety aTe indignantly torn Qv;ay» and Henry prepares to die sword in hand, when Charles appears and saves him, and he is presently •left in Margot-'s arms." Great praise is given Sir. Knight for his Henry, but Miss Catherine Grey is said to be ill-suited as Margot.