THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 930, 24 September 1910, Page 12

THE THEATRE.

. —■ ——— . Tho World's, a theatre; tlio Earth a stage.—Hey wood. .

1 (By Sylvius.)

"Lovor's Lano" In Sydnoy. "Lovers' Lano," a" comedy of character and of .' atmosphere, : staged • withtwo rustic scenes of touching beauty, for the last two acts from the brusli of Mr.-Harry Whaite; was'(says the "Sydney ;■ Morning Herald" of September 12) successfully,launched upon tho tide of public opinion at tho Theatre R-qyal on Saturday. Tlio current was all in its favour,\ and - "carried : it along, not swiftly or boisterously, but-with..calm serenity to, '/that. wished-for .haven at the end of tho 'little; theatrical voyage which. takes ' tho formof >•' cordial applause, and manifestations of delight. The author of the'new play is ..tho late Clyde Fitch,', an American -dramatist, known in this country by. "The Truth," introduced here. by. Miss Margaret AngUn as rraently as' two.years ago, though a • score : of . his pieces'; liave! won. accept' ance in Now York, whilst "Beau.Brumniel'';;(lß9o), "Pamela's Prodigy,'' ' 'The Cowboy ; and..' the Lady,'.',"Barbara Krietchife,"., "The Climbers," "The Last .of .the. Dandies," , and S'Thei'Vfoman in the Case," have also passed'.tue,ordeal of performance in London. In,this way tho production at the Theatre Royal formed "an event of artistic importance,

arid , it*:should /be' noted - that ..it' stands to'the' Conspicuous credit 'of a new' thef atrical 'firihj consisting'of ; Allan i Hamil-; toil, Harry Plimmer, and Reynolds Dettniston. ; The venture received' tlib.support of. a'- crowded house, .which , \included '.'many'' society -"first-nighters" i by,: ance of 'Mrs.'!'Broiig'h ) : newly returned ■ from*. :EnglanH,;vin' 'a''./character; which she played 'admirably; . The dominating personage. of - the, ,'storyi— that of , a sensible,unaffected, 'manly "country clergyman—was interpreted effectively, ,' ; yeii .withi judicious■:reserve, - by. Mr. .Plimmer. iln. othor .rospects tlio ensemble con-sisted:-of, ;a/mosaic bf small, parts, skilfully'cemented together so as to; reflect from ithb'smooiih surface..thus'ipresented many : acceritijated' traits pf rsentiment: and'-/iviyacity»'.!v l^p j 6tty-mindetlrieiss,. and jealojisy^thatj especially'mart liiinianity'. 111 villago communities. i —C~ Austria's Leading Actor. ■An -;agreement, wh ic h ia;prob ably - unique iii; thb.history;;of, the' : st'ag<}Vhas : jus£ been' signed' in Austria. . .-Tlio. leading actor, ■ in, thi%t ..country' is; Joseph. In\ July'.; his. ; health broke down, and he was cpuple'ipf'; months' rest bai; tlie ' mountains. ; Before; leaving, |'.'VieMa";Herr.VKa.iijz; : : wai.^asKcd.v : fo : fVr6 : - ; ' new his contract with the Burg TheaW.' Under.; the'- jiewi j'agreement. 'the actor vis', engaged. for six 'months: out of: the j;twelve;.:at.!a /salary 0f... £3750. In'.tho illness, Ve'yen ;if prolonged over, an • entiro • year, 'tlio salary-paid, ,iii the liature/of. a retain-ing-:febjvis ,not. : .to; be,'less. thah^i£l2so. : This agreement 'is onoof the first acts of thom'ew'Genefal Intendent Baron von. Berg6rj'-and.icbraes,intb,;force' : on;.Janu-: 'aryj I,' . lQll--; Meanwhile,; commencing l on. November .1, the ifamousactor. 'Will, give a. series of perfofmajices'as'."guestV m Berlin.' '/ ' Notes. -y ';Kv ' i:? ' ■I: ■ ■ Mr. George;. Alexander, will, produco 'D.'Arcy of - the - Guards," in 'which : Mr. 'is®pryi''^|ller-^#^ji v jn';New/.Yprkila;st'; seasony ! at \his;: St...' : James's --Theatre; in ;Lphdph..nest; season?;; He will play'the leading.part-,-and Miss Evelyn D'Alroy the;heroine;-:i.; .-■ The' tho' stage :ajid .the.jwriteripf .a.'.pp'werful -play,- 1 can exert .. lately.-. been' ■ shown m a remarkable'iaishion. • _ 'Mr., John Gals-J worthy's; "Justice," in which he pill-: '°ned.^liersent«noo f ;jto'; solitary confine-: ment, a-hd ■ other horrors: of the priso'ii 1 system, Has been followed by practical action on " the j part - of Mr. Winston Churchill, who, ; as. Homo - Secretary,- is responsible, ioi: the 1 ' English ; prison [system, and..who/has decided to carryi out many, of tho reforms suggested by l the drama. • I - - -• ■-. . ; Hafry the .clever .'. juvenile actor, has joined " William: 'Anderson's management. He . will'make .his . first appearance,"with, bis/ new manager .in the/ forthcoming'; production in- Sydney: of "Tho Chance of' ; a Lifetime." ; ;Mt.,.C.;R.'Stanford has' been engaged as: stage manager;for William -Anderson for his dramatic company, which opens in Sydney on Saturday, September 24, at the Criterion., . "Mrs. - Pondbury's Past" was played by Sydney, on September 11. Tho Hamilton-Maxwell Dramatic Company commenced: aVseason of; melor drama,at the' Palace, Theatre, Sydney, on Saturday eveningilast r ; : , -; . Says:'the. "Sydney "-Morning Herald" of Miss Lizetto Parkes's performance in "Lover's Lane":—"Miss Lizette Parkes, a youthful actress of decided talent, made quite : a - hit as Simplicity, with her boyish voice,. romping ways, abrupt frankness of speech, and sudden gusts of temper , and .repentant love, in tho amiising scenes with her 'Pop'—for some of the Americanisms of the orig- ; inal are retained,, and it was in that .'way that-his...Simple addressed ; her adopted- father. -.Miss Parkes, indeed, proved a gratefully bright clement in the: comedy." :.V . With the last -English mail camo tho news , that "The Islander," the new musical, play acquired for Australasia by J.-C. Ltd., had passed its 100 th performance at tho Apollo Theatro, London. . ■ Miss Brandon Usher, a well-known S.vdnoy society girl, will accompany the "Lover's Lane" Company to Now Zealand. :