THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the ■ Knrth a stage.—lleywood.

(By Sylvius.)

About "Aladtln." ! "l'\in at a Turkish Bath" is one of tho funniest events hi the coining pantomime "Aladdin." In good old innocent amusement the donkey takes a leading part, his final joke, being to send the thermometer up until it burst the bulb, and all the bathers come out parboiled. Turns, scenes, and incidents, it is said, follow each other so rapidly, that one has scarcely time to , appreciate one effect before another is presented. The turn introduced by Messrs. Price and Revost in "Aladdin" is said to. bo an astounding one. One of them is a straight acrobat, the other a comedian, who has the audience shouting with apprehension one moment when tragedy js threatened, and roaring with laughter tho next, when comedy is realised. Reports state that it is wonderful to see Price falling over chairs and tables, entangling himself ludicrously with the furniture, and finally overbalancing-and falling backwards into the orchestra, yet escaping both death and dislocation. An enterprising young lady in Adelaide was so anxious for front seats for the opening production of "Aladdin," that sho arfived at the box office at 4 a.m., and as the plans 'were not to be opened until 8 o'clock, she. made herself comfortable by fetching with her a stool, a foot-warmer, and one of the latest novels. • . . Richard Mansfield. : , Mr. William Winter,-the well-known American theatrical critic and litteratuer, has written "The Life and Art of Richard Mansfield," in which he gives, chiefly through the dead actor's letters, an insight into tho mind of.ono of the most remarkable characters who have illuminated the American stage. With all this force of character,, his talent which fell little short of Remus, his eccentricities, Mansfield was peihaps the actors' actor rather than a stage idol of the public's. Indeed from the letters which he-wrote to his friend and stern critic, Winter, one can only, conclude that the bitterness of his professional battle had eaten into his heart. Mansfield was very jealous, of Irving. At one time, after his-experi-ence in London at the Lyceum Theatre, Mansfield had been driven to' despair by , .his failures and debts. The debts ho soon relieved himself of by his splendid energy and resourcefulness. In , tho meanwhile he felt "neglected, deserted, persecuted, damned." His letters to Mr.- Winter became insufferable, and their'discontinuance was asked for.. One of tho letters of this period reads: '■ ' ■ "... Damn your criticisms! >!o man can keep nje back for long! You can injure' my pocket, and you certainly nave —on occasions! 1 h'ad a deuce of a turn;, getting our only patrons, the Jews,, to 'come and see "The-Merchant,' because you made me out a fiend and a vulture. SOOO dollars more of my hard-earned dollars gone; and you impractical Devil— what do I—urn I—can I, live on? Air, Bo you think I am eternally to sweat and labour for no earthly return ?.•''•• • "Ihavo been harassed and.worried and hounded beyond all endurance. It seems I must even suffer in silence! .It seems that I must never look forward to anything but a life of work! ...'■•■>' "Irving has been feting the critics hero (in Chicago), and I have again found the trail of the serpent and its.slime! I have oven an accurate and verbatim report of his. conversation with them—one of his not least amazing declarations being that ho is to present 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' in London. That being the play in which I should makes my re-entree there, his Snakcship will, snakelike, forestall mo! The Drama. You • are tho- living Art, . . .tho. Poet's pen - , . Conjures up dreams in Fancy s magic realms, ■ Tho Artist's brush to tho pale canvas The "low-of life, the Sculptor from tho, cold . . ' White marble carves the human forni,' and in . ■' The magic spells that Music weaves the soul — : Is rapt' or. stirred, . . . but all are fairy arts/. While.you , ..are of the great wide, living world. ~'Y V ' ■ ■ , To-day is'yours, to-morrow soon will be, 'And all the migUty heritage that Time Has left of life and. action but awaits The magic of your genius .to become Alive again; all'passions: of the mind, • Grief, Hate and Fear, and Laughter, with gay Wit, • . / Are- handmaids to your vast, majestic art ' As deep as'life, eternal as the. soul. ■ .. . —Charles■ Stewart Booth. Moynell and Cunn's Big Plans. ' From the end of the year, Rupert Clarke and Meynoil's theatres hero and in Melbourne will (says the "Sydney Morning Herald") be continuously occupied for many months by musical productions. With this end in view, Mr. Clyde Meynell is being assisted in-Lon-don-by the firm's English partners, Messrs. Charles St. John Den ton, Milton Bode, and Mackenzie., in forming an entirely new comic opera company. During the week the first important engagements'for it have been cabled to Sir Rupert Clarke. Mr. Frank Lincoln, who must not be confused with tho celohrated .American ponologuist of tho samo name who visited this countiy some years ago, has been engaged as tho principal artist, and the piece for wbish tho combination is being especially formed is , "The Gay Gordons." Mr. Seymour Hicks,, part author and chief actor in it, produced this piece in 1907. During the' run of the musical comedy, Mr. Hicks was absent from tho cast for some weeks, when Mr. Lincoln, who is noted for a fine stagepresence, replaced him. Mr. Tom Graves, a comedian who has appeared in many comio opera roles' has also been engaged. This actor'is a brother of tho George Graves who made such a success as Baron Popoff in the original English production of "Tho Merry Widow." As regards Miss Winifred O'Connor, the new prima donna to replace Miss Maie 'Sydney the present company produces "Tom Jones," sho was recently engaged to play the name-part in "The Belle ot Brittany" in New York, and could have settled down in the United States, but did not take kindly to the life. This artist is credited' with "a line voice, stylish looks, and valuable ex r periencc." the repertoire at present available for the two companies will ■ include:—"Tom Jones," "The Gay "Gordons," "The Gay Grisette," "The Talk of tho Town," "Orlando Dando," "The Belle of Brittany," and another piece, the title of which is not yet announced. Tho new artists will leave England in October, so as to open in Australia at Christmas, before which time Mr. Charles A. Weuman (general manager) will have formed an Australian chorus of the best available voices. New Plays in London. . In the arrangements' foi the opening of the autumn theatrical • season in London next month, Miss'Mario Lohr is to go to the Comedy Theatre as leading lady in a now play, probably from the French, to be presented by Messrs. Arthur Ohudleigh and Charles Frohinan, and later on in a drama (as yet unfinished) by Sir Arthur I'inero. There will bo at the Garrick a now Hall Caino piece, in which, as already stated, Miss Tittoll Bruno is to appear as the leading lady. The Drury I/am* attraction will be a naval drama In- 'Messrs. CVc-il ' Maloigh and Henry Hamilton, which is likely, to bo pro-

duccd early next month. Mr. Cyril Maude has uoiv a new four-act comedy by Mr. Hulkml Henry Dnvics (aiitlior of "Tli« Moiluse") for tho I'layhousu in September. Tho first of that nioiil) , . will sco Sir Herbert Tree's production of "King Henry V1IJ" at His Majesty's Theatre. Mr. George Edwardes will liavo at the Adolphi a new musical play, by Messrs. James T. Tanner and Lionel Monckton, entitled "The Quaker Girl." "The Man from Mexico," played experimentally in London at the Coronet in November, 1903, in the- midst of a long and prosperous career in America, and after a successful tour of Australia, "is to be given .a more satisfactory London production next month at the Strand, under the management of 'Mr. .Stanley Cooko, who made a hit at the . Coronet as Benjamin Fitzhugh. Advice to Stage-struck Cirls. Miss Maie Sydney, who is playing the leading part in "The Arcadians" in Sydney, says, in the course of a letter to the ''Sydney Daily Telegraph," that she, being a returned Australian, has been overwhelmed' with letters from girls desirous of qualifying for the stage at Home, and begs the indulgence of that paper to answer them generally. In the course of the letter Miss Sydney says:— "I would lirst of all point out that tho most necessary of all qualifications for success is\ talent. A goou many Australians who go to London forget that, lniluenci! counts' for nothing in London.' Australians have done so much that they have/set a standard those wiio follow have to keep up. And 1 1 would suggest that m> ono should leave Australia without having lirsl had a thorough training in both acting and singing. The latter is the more important, though the fonrer n> likowise necessary. Allied to talent 1 should say that self-confidence and ambition, as well as a capacity for hard work, should play an important pan! But,there is another point which 1 would advise should be well Ihought out —financial preparedness for a long' wait before the lookerl-for engagement eventuates. Australians who go to London with the idea that, even th'ough possessed of a. good deal of' ability, they will immediately bo provided with the opportunity to liiake use of it, will probably have to go through a lot of disappointments before they reach, the go.il of their ambition. . "And unless one knows London, and the means of spending money to the very best, advantage, living eats up a good deal of capital. "However, the Australian girl lias plenty of pluck, and I am sure thul these warning words will not deter those who have the qualifications to make them get on, from seeking their I fortune on tho London stage or concert jHat''"Hii; ■ These I would most certaini ly advise to try their luck in London. At the present time there is plenty of room for young people of real talent. Competition for artists is very keen, and most of tho Australians there are doing well;" ' . Notes. ■ That old-time excellent play. " Jim tho. Penman," lias been revived in New York,, with Mr. Wilton Lackayc in the leading part. . '.Mr. Laclcaye was the original Svengali in "Trilby." ' . Tivo interesting theatrical marriages* will shortly take place in Paris:* In the iirst Mlie. Linn Caralieri ic to marry Mr. Chamel, a rich American. In .the second instance, the < Cuckoo in "Chantecler" is to marry tho White Hen, or in other words, 31. Ohomin and Mile.' Floro Bcrgoys are to wed. M. Eostand : has promised to give the bride away.'