THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 942, 8 October 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the 'Earth a stage.—Heywood. ... ;'■..:..', (By Sylvius.) "The Firm's" Coming Attractions,, ■'.: Mr. Bert Royle, , Mr. 3. Q. 'William-, son's representative. in New 'Zealand,; has been advised that the' Christmas attraction ■ for Wellington will bo- the Royal Comic Opera. Company-in, "Our MissGibbs"- and "The Waltz, Dreani." The!'dramatic company, headed by, : Miss Katheriho Grey. ■ will- ; commence ;;a tour, of , ; New: Zealand at Christchurch on Boxing Night,, playing; "Tho; Third Degree," and "The.Lion and 'the Mouse!" The. New Comic Opera Company, playing "The Dollar princess," will com-' mence a tour of the Dominion .'at Auckland.at Easter; "The :AVhip"will follow' about the middle of May in 'the same city; and the pantomime "Jack /and the Beanstalk" will commence at ■Auckland on July; 24. ■ . "Lover's Lane"; Tour. y S . ■' The' following -is i! the'.-New. Zealand tour of Hamilton, Plimmer, and Denniston's. "Lover's. LaneV' Dramatic;, Com-; pany, .now- appearing 'successfully .in ■ Auckland':—Auckland,: Monday, October 3, to Tuesday, OctoberlS: New,;' Plymouth, Thursday and Friday, October 20 ■;.. and 21.; Stratford, : . Saturday, October 22; Hawcra, Monday; October •24; Palmorston'. North, , Tuesday .. and AVednesday,, Octobor 25 and 26; Wellington, .;■; Thursday,.; October- 27, ~to, Saturday;' Novembei'-o: Dunediri;'.Moil--day, November-7,.,t0 Monday; -November 14; Gpre, ; Tuesday, -November' 15.;' liivercargill, Wednesday and Thursday, November. 16" and : 17,; Timaru,.'Friday and-Saturday, .'November 18. : ahcL r l9;' 1 Oa'maru, Monday and .Tuesday," Novem-; be'r; 21-,' and 22; - Ghristchurch;'. ; Wednes-'' ;day;' November [ 23,'t0 '''-Tuesday,' :; 'erriber;29'; G-reytowhj; Thursday;'Decern-' . ber. ■I'V.-'.Masterton,: ,-Friday - and-' :Satur-, day, December 2. and", 3;'- :Dannevirke,'j Mondays/December '5V Hastings;'(lues;' day, December; 6;/Napier, i ; ahd -Thursday, .December"'7 .and 8 j'-ZGis-'r- 1 .bp'rhe); Saturday; .Monday , ; .-ahd v Tuesday;' December: 10,'12,';and; 13; -jAudkland,'! December 26 to; Januarjrli^''^v^yv':^'!

.;Flamlng.'loe':Creanili^'-^H^^v^/:r. ; V : :' /*Mr.;Harcouri;Beatty,' Nellie .Stewart at : ! a; : good ; story- to tell\'about; :old : time; stage', J/When/a .youngster,! he >was /playing/ Armand;. In; those -'.days '■..-', they'): did/ ;-nbfW -carry/ ;fealism 'to'. the .extent/■th.ey ; and/South'. Sea/cotton/represented'-- :.ice: Camille.were'seated.''ai; a .table', when,a servant -entered carry. irig.f a'.-lighted'.' placediit.j'pn/the ; tab'le: '■■ between//the lbyers;' .busily/,engaged /inVconyersatibn,one ..of ■',tlie..•'candles /'tpppled': .oyer;j arid -to," the -iceTcreant,- which 'shot', forth/a red flame; immediately gave/way; to, comedy':v. ; ,,,i': /^W"'/'/; '! ■

'-.ijThoso-': who.■' : : wei;e ! ;..struck' ';;with;-xthe,j .Peter:.Pan of'MissiTarkes will be'.re- j -freshed' by her/performance in,-.' Lover's Lane:". -Says : the' Auckland;'' Herald*':. V--'-Perhaps /the' . 'playwrighVs. .finest ;touch -is/shown, in •* Simplicity ,; Johnson-,, the",young; .orphan; girl : ;.\ybp''.haslpro'ved. 'unmanageable in/three whose/wilful: tioriate.-;arid '• inspired:' -guidance 1 ofrij-the: Simplicity;:/'as'; played "by .M.issvLizette;'/.Parke's...;(alias Peter': pah), :is ■:' the ; ;/most.' 'refreshing, :bf.;;.: feminine ■' /creations/-/-'Precocious,, /piquante;; and. affectionate; ;she:/rpuips;' and,*sparkles'; thrpugh';.;the'; four ./' acts,/ arid; is>;the life and : soul: pfvthe./pla'y;' ;W;hether;;in;\thertapple; ; ;,lea'TCs;i,ahdvfruit ot Xso ..that/Uncle:Bill.;is'inipresse'd..vwith; ■in'o'-'ceirtainty.',6f'.;aJi ; ing/ 'th'Ohildren'&'revelsvtb'/the') strains' . nig/various-works: '.'of; mischief,'/Simpli4; city, is the 1 pf- young "girlish: /grace: arid .abandon/: /Uiidoub'te'diyj' 'Miss' '/Lizettp Parkes/ bore * thb/hVnburs'ij.bf JthV! 'everting:'';-./.'.;?:////V';///;/*:;'^^^

for! Australia;!/! ■}' : }':^'--'-).\ ! ; :;>During'. the dram'atic.!6eason!.-wliiph' is! Jb7 begin "Ji.cC^Willia^ ;introduce>!!■',two,!;!! hiiteres&giVy plays!tb;7 Australia.- ;;,The7'first? of^ltliese !inll!-:: ; be;.;! ,^Paid^'-;:m;A!;:yulli^S>!:ai !vivid':-piece;-'of ; Q:'drain'atib:!! work,;!;'the' success of which, 1 hbarlyj'three'years.'ago., ;in.;: New7YPrk',';..'brbiignt'^,i"feV-'. aiith'qri ' ■Eugene..Walter, into/line!with;the front;'; It; ; is : ,a; /strange ■';bhahoe->'&^t:;;-;!jkiss\ ; !Katlierihe' !Grey!;'will;;head/ithe. company;;tq'Vplay! ; it,,."abt:'by. aot,■as'it .was. being;written,! the!.; authori;being;'!aV'persbnal ; f : riendrof j hWs. v There, or!two;of her. ideas; ;;in7the; piece,',as': she;:discussed;''it.,with! :the7autnbr.--7f^^^ ho.'was'at-' ,to'< say;r!he; ; ' was ■', writing ,7 the £ leading! .woman'part; for,'Missi,Grey! m'thbs'edays.xjfvhis!obscurity,karid;; shp:'wbuld7 : haye had:7the role: JfbrHlib; ;f act; that -at : : the7'time7 she-; wasVu'ndef cbritraot ■■ to .'anothbr-'management ...than' the :Shuberts.'!;-'This firm ;bad!'.a.'failure'. a'tiOne; of their. New! York Vtheatres,-,and.' ,by!'Way!!of. a stop-gap -''.decided to risk the production of, .'iTaid in Full.'.' 'Its'•author bad offered: ; them play: ,\ afteri play..without success, and he '-subsequently stated it. to ,be his .belief that, tho- Shuberts. took; this-opportunity to demonstrate; to'; : him. : ; tbat, be : -.'jbouldnH. write; plays.!■ •''Paid in!' Full''• 'created- a! sensation, and ran'.i.twb years' to !■ boom, busines'sj and.to-day is/one'qf.'/thevbest dramatic, properties in: 'America!.; : Since then Eugene, Walter v has' found ■ his public with several other plays'.'.' 7 To. support Miss Grey, a new leading man, Mr. William- Desmond, wlipyhas gained his reputation in; sympathetic' parts in New York,.will arrive',by,;t)ie ; Zealandia.,- He will . :have.7;:,as;,;,7a; :'fellpw-passenger - : •Mr;,! Dayid., Burton;' 'who'-is ;alsp under engagement to :'the J. -C- Williamson management.;. -Mr. Burton was stage, manager,.for' JUrs.; Fisko iu her greatest success of recent years, ; "Salvation 'Nell."' -This' .play, deals with American slum life;- Its'" author is Mr. Edward Sheldon, and it. is said-to bo. a,remarkable,achieyeTnent,! by reason! of tho combination of, literary! and dramatic quality/ 1 The 7 pfoy;. will' be -added to'--Miss .'Katlierino/.^Gfey.'s 1 repertoire. '■■■;>. :-; : ' : !,-'-'-.-'!" . 7,, : .-'';.;.- 7;;

.Harry Lauder's start.' ;; i ; .::"I ;\yas: touring : ,tli6.^small towns of Scotlarid'.fat-vtlio^ Noil KenyorijijwKpihiis: comei/from.land ,to, play Hlie 'chief ;;cpmecly role' hi ' "The; Islander." ■• ; : -."orio ; /ja y- ■ I 'was; sit-: ting in-the'hall-way'/tulking 'to'..'/'the ' custodian when a chap in a,.collier's dress/came.- in:'.iHo asked to see .the manager,,'Vuyfl, :: l;-.t6ld-';liim.'l was tho. stage ; mana/gc/i'..r',He•,:said -he' had a recitation-;'oaH«ii v'Tlio 'Collier,': and asked me if • I/.would: pht;','hiiri. through, it, and givte/i'Kim point's; . : I went.through tho po^m-with him';/then ho-Vivaiitcd .to. know how. to. 'dress' ■ for' the piece. 'Dross' as 'you are;'/! -said, 'and wear the'la/mp in-your He thanked ;• mo! kin'dly for.:, the I-'hints I had. given him'y'ncl ,leftt/"That : :nian was •/Harry ■'■iaudor.'|Yt|ie;-'<»mc.dia'n.'' : .Wetiavo boeiiHl]6./olosfebVfrjpnds.. ; over siiicd;".Crarid . ,' ' ■ Aii'atlditioaal':ihtorestvwh.s added to the return .Reason!of 'the/Grand -Opera Company in,' Sydney on September ■ 24/ from tho 'fact that... it. gave the' opportunity., for; Mr.'.; Reginald Roberts to appear for tho first timo in that city in a grind opera role, "Carmen" was ,the \mi\i- selected.' for ' the ' opening

night.. Mdlle. Del Sorol appeared in tho prima donna role, and that of Don Jose wa-s sustained by Mr. Roberts. 'Mr.. Roberts has,, for so.many years past, given proof -of li is sterling qualities as an actor and .'singer that ho. was expected to do : justice to tho rolo, but his . work far exceeded anticipations, and he surpassed himself, . throwing himself heart and soul into the' part. The result was a really excellent rendering, which, both from a dramatic and vocal point of view, was deserving of the highest praise. The Sydnoy season will' last for,eighteen nights, and. then tho company will go to Brisbane, which, will'be their, last playing town ere thej disband. .

Notes, ... . ','•'■;'-.' .Tho first presentation'in 1 Australia of "Our Miss Gibbs" at Her : Majesty's Theatre,-Sydney, on Saturday week,: was a.brilliant success. It. is., said to be a; typical; Gaiety piece, finely.staged and'costumed throughout, and with a particularly gorgeous setting , for. the second act. ■' Miss Blanche. Browne, an English, artist, made'her .first appearance,, and had a warm reception. Mr.. Bertie Wright has ;an excellent comedy character. ■' ' . ;■■■•. T'. ••. .'!..' ; ; It has been cabled from: London that .Mr.' Williamson has. concluded his contract.' this 'week with Mr. H'.B. Irving,, who .will open with his ' company.'..in Melbourne next -. June;, Mrs., Irving' (Dprothea Baird) will.';be.in the-, com-, pany.;-;. Amongst the pieces which it-has been "arranged to; play are: "Hamlet;" ■ "Faust;" ''Charles'-I,''.': "The ;; Bells,'.', ;ahd.:the "Lyons.Mail." •:. -'•;■ • ';-.,, -.-■' An .interesting,;theatrical event-took place in Melbourne'.on-Thursday.i.evon-' ihg.' last, . when. ;at.. a -" farewell , benefit 'tendered • to' Mr. - -Julius 'Knight, ■": Miss Maudo Jeffries (Mrs. J; Osborne) made _her;reappearance.''on'..thc. stage, playing. Galatea; to' Mr. • Knight's Pygmalion; : in W^S;; , .;..;v •; -Fpry'th'is'/year's .pantomime in.,- Mel-' /bourne,, Nyhich -is to 1)6; ''Jack and tho .Beanstalk," Mr. .J; C.; Williamson .has enga'ged Sibyl Arundale '■■ for.;.prir/cipal : "boy,":''. Dorothy. -.Firman, Hannah'' Dpherty, and;, Lilian Dpherty are al9p engaged, as well- as -MiN-Sam Elton/for 'cemedian, and'-'the," Paiitzer. .family,,; of 'specialty acrobats.; ;,/ ; ■■./-.- ;-.; : ., : „'-"''.■