THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE

Tho World's a theatro: tho Earth a stage.—Heywood. (By Sylvius.) Hugh Ward Again. Hugh Ward, the merriest of mummers, and his company of clever comedians, will begin a season of farcical comedy at the Opera House on Monday evening, when ''The Girl lrom Rector's" will he staged for tho first time in New Zealand. Among the many comedians whose business it 13 to induce laughter, Mr. Hugh Ward holds, perhaps, the ' highest place m tho existing Australasian scroll. riis buffoonery is always artistic, and his business original even to a vagrant kie> or wink. ,Ho is so constituted that he cannot do anything exactly like anvbody else, and having an ingratiating personality and a funny way with it, he would be a. churl who would not be tuned up to a brighter tone for an hour or two of his companv. Once more Mr. Ward is associated with Miss Grace Falotta, an exgaietv star, who has found a more congenial forte in racy comedy. Miss Palotta is bewitchingly graceful, and has a charm of personality not to bo resisted. As a frocker she has no superior on the Australian stage. Perhaps it is that the woman "makes" tho frock—but other women cannot be expected to accept that theory. Among other favourites to frolic on Monday evening are Miss Celia Ghiloni, Miss Maud Chetwvnd, Mr. Wykeham, and. Mr. Wallace. As to tho comedy, let it speak for itself. "Lovers' Lana." "Lovers' Lane," to be produced in Wellington towards the end of October by the Plrmmer-Dennisten combination, made quite a fortune for its author, Clyde- Fitch, in America. It was written in 1001, the same year m which he turned out those sterling plays "Tho Last of the Dandies," and "The Wav of the World," and the best prool that "Lovers' Lane" has tho elements of popularity is that it is still being played, whilst others from the same facile and prolific pen have been laid aside. Now that Clyde Fitch is dead there are bound to bo revivals of his plays, and the news comes from London that a West End theatro has been secured for the production of "Lovers' Lane" next season. Another of the lato dramatist's plays, "Tho Woman in the Case," is to be staged in Australia shortly. The Asches Farewelled. One of the most enthusiastic farewells ever accorded to a theatrical organisation in Melbourne was that given to the Oscar Asche-Lily Braytoij Company, at the Theatro Royal, Melbourne, on Friday night last. At tho final fall of the curtain, the audience broke out into loud cheering, and for the nest few minutes the various members of the company were busily engaged in handing floral tributes to Miss Brayton and the other ladies of tho company. Most of the remaining members of tho company were recipients of gifts of various kinds. In response to insistent demands for a speech, Mr. Oscar Ascho returned thanks for the manner in which tho company had been received, .and expressed regret that tho time, for departure had now arrived. Ho mentioned that they would return in about two years' time with a new • repertoire, and this announcement was received with much applause. Tho proceedings wero brought to a termination by the singing of "A"W Lang Syne" by the audienco.

"A Necklace of Kohlnoors." Meauwhilo Mr. 11. C. Carton has expressed certain viows on the subject of the Repertory '.Theat.ro, which are decidedly interesting, though everybody may not agree with him. "A Repertory Theatre," he said, "needs lime. It is a growth. My best example of a genuine Repertory Theatre would be that at the Lyceum during Sir Henry (| Irving's tenure of the house. Sir J Henry, by dint of time, work, experience, and an infinite patience, got n genuine repertory of plays about him— u collection of perfectly equipped revivals which he could mount on tho shortest possible nc.Lici, There vou had the flower in full.bloom—the piant in its perfection.. Where I join issue with our frieud Mr. Frohmau's arrangement is in his rapidity and prodigality of presentation. It seems to me perfectly ludncbus to . produce plays by Air. Shaw, Mr. Barker, and Mr. Galsworthy and hand over these valuable goods within a month. Mr. Frohmun literally dazzled us with his embartassment of riches. Ho throw a necklace of Koliinoors round the public neck, and expected tho public at once to appreciate the glittering circle at its proper value. And that brings mo to my point. Instead of the repertory system—as wo vwlorstiintl it to-day- [ would revert to the Vedrenne-Barkcr system at- tho Court Theatre, and givo each play a short run—inteivpersod by the revival of plays which have already succeeded. For consider! Mr. Frohman next season is to have plays by Mr. Henry Arthur Jones, Mr. Stitro, Mr. Haddon Chambers, Mr. Maugham, Mr Barrie, and others: Assume that the plays provided by these gentlemen are among their most successful work, and make immediate hits. Immediately Mr. T'rohmau will bo confronted with the necessity of transferring thorn to neighbouring houses. If he .ve-ru to try to keep them at home, the Duke of York's Theatre might easily perish of artistic and financial congestion. If he does not—away goes the bedrock of the repertory system." "Tha Brass Bottla." A new Williamson company, almost entirely composed of English actors and actresses, appeared in Sydney on Saturday last. • The opening night of the new company was marked by tho first performance in Australia of "The Brass Bottle," by F. Anstey, which is described as a joke in four acts. The new piece will be produced by Mr. Claud Vernon, with Mr. Maurice Dudley as stage manager. This is tho cast: / Horaco Ventimore Leslie Holland. Professor Anthony Futvoye Kenyon Milsgrave Fakrasli-01-Amash \. Evelyn Vernon Spencer Pringle Arthur Soames Samuel AVackerbath... Herbert Greville liapkin Fred. Cam bourne Head Eirrcet Frank Itarcourt ■Waiter Albert Forgusson Mrs. Futvoye Augusta H'aviland Sylvia Futvoye Dora Eignold Mrs. Raplcin Simia St. Clair Mrs. AVackerbath Lily Douglas Jessie , 'Aland AVingfiehl Zobeida (A dancer) ... EWo Stevenson Barrie and His Plays."What Kvery AVoman Knows," in which Miss Nellie Stewart appeared at tho Theatre Royal last night, is likely to have a larger mcasuro of success in Australia than several other J. M. Barrie plays. AA'e associate the.name of Miss Pa'ttio Browne with "The Little Minister." Little more than a year ago Miss Tittell Brunc appeared in "Peter Pan" at the Theatre Royal. Tho Williamson management did nothave a success with "Peter Pan" until the play was scut on lour through New Zealand with Miss Lizetto Parkos, a Sydney girl, in the principal part this year. Another tour of the charming play, which captured England and the United States from the slarl, is now being arranged, with Miss Parkes as the "boy who never grew up. In "What' Kvery Woman Knows," as in the "Little 'Minister," Barrie handles Scottish types of character.

In his interesting "Reminiscences" Mr. Cyril Maudo recalls a peculiar incident (luring tlio rehearsal of "The Little Minister" at the Haymarkct, London, when Mr. Barrio was nearly lulled. "He and I," writes Mr. Maude, "wore sitting, as usual, on a sort of little platform built on to the front of the stage, from which we conducted the. rehearsal. "Unfortunately the railing that surrounded the platform was not of the strongest, and Barrio, who had a habit of lolling about on chairs in somewhat unusual attitudes, leant heavily against it, with his seat tilted up. Smash went the railing, and ovci lie fell into the orchestra. We picked him up, apparently lifeless, and, dismissing tho rehearsal, carried him up to my office, and laid him on the sofa. Happily ho soon recovered, and, curiously enough, suffered practically no ill effects from a fall which might conceivably have proved a very serious one." Notes. Mr. Edmund Duggan and Miss Eugenie Duggan, of the King's Theatre, Melbourne, received information froin America that their bother, Mr. Patrick .Joseph Duggan, who for the past twenty years lias been in that country, has""died in New York at tho ago of forty-nine years. The late P. J. Duggan." who was unmarried, was the principal in "Tho lloscians," an amateur company which produced ' a round of Shakespearean plays in Melbourne several years ago. Ho was an ardent student of Shakespeare, and soon after his arrival in America gained a professorship, and lectured in tho universities on the dramatist's works. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lynch, of the well-known Lynch Family BeTlringers, were passenger from London by the R.M.S. Otranto, which reached Port Melbourne on Monday of last week. A number of musical attractions suitable for - Australian audiences have been _ secured by Mr. Lynch during his English and European tour. "Tho Blue Bird" is still flying strong and well at the Haymarkct, says tho London "Pelican" of Juno 1. Tho 250 th performance will take place next Tuesday night. Nine performances a week are being given, tho best proof in the world of how powerfully tho play is still appealing to tho public.