THE THEATRE

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 954, 22 October 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE

.-— —-4- — ■ ■ The World's a. theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywoocl. (By Sylvius.) "The Passing of tho Third Floor Back." Interest strong and deep has' been created in Auckland by Jerome K. Jerome's remarkable play "The Passing of the Third Floor Back," which is being played thoro by tho PlimmerDenniston Company. The opening jncluded some half-dozen of Auckland's clergy,' all of whom were impressed with tho great beauty and fascination of the theme. The principal character, who is called in. turns "A Passerby," "The Third Floor Back," or merely, a friend, is a, wonderful personality, whose purity of thought and refining influence, so meekly and gently applied, suggest that the author Jerome has attempted to typify tho Master on earth. The, "Passer-by" takes a room on the third floor back in a slum lodginghouse, where ' such characters as "the painted lady," ' "the cheat," "the rogue," "the cad," "the hussy," "the bully," and "the slavey" gravitate. It is over these characters that a subtle change of the spirit more than anything else takes place after, association with the "Passer-by." He seems to. cause a quickening of the conscience, and that is reflected in their actions even down to , Stasia, the smutty-faced slavey (played by Lizetto Parkes). Who is this man? ,' What is'the message he conveys?. That is-what .everybody .is compelled to think. Ministers of Auckland were present in force at tho play, and several .have written.to the manage-, ment .expressing their admiration of the performance, and their sound conviction that such plays must make for good. ' .' This rather mysterious'but strangely mesmeric play will be produced, at the Opera House on Thursday evening next by the Plimrhev-Denniston Company,; .which includes .such talented players'a« Mrs. Robert BrbughY Miss' Lizetto Parkes (of "Peter .Pan" fame), Miss Valentino Sidney, ' Miss Myra 'Wall, Marie la Crois.ette, Alice Deorwyn, Mr. Harry Plimmer.(who plays "the Passer-, by"), Mr. Reynolds Denniston, Mr. Charles Thorosby, Mr. Harry Neville, S. A. Fitzgerald,^Paget;Hunter, and Paul Latham.. Later in the. season 1 the_c6mpahy. will .: be seen in Clyde Fitch's charming % comedy-drama, "Lover's Lane," a .play-of much atmospheric charm, in which tho company made a ' distinct hit in Sydney.

Hall] Caine on .Tittel Brune. i Thus Hall Caine, the novelist:—l call Mi«s. Tittel Briine 1 a great'actress because, •■ to begin with, slid has the sense/of; the theatre, and this is, ■strangely enough,"the rarest.quality in! ,the theatrical.profession;, .Some of the ablest men and women on the stage have. not. got a 'particle of it pothershave got-it in a very high-state of de-velopment,-arid in a-few it: is-an iiiborn 1 gift barely conscious of itself, and only called into play, by- acute emergencies. Irving, had it; Novelli has', it,_ and. I have never seen it more splendidly ex-, hibited than'iby an admirable. English actor, whom no.one would put! in.quite' the same. Fernandez: ,' ■■ Our Christinas Attraction'. : . .Immense; audiences.coritinuevto/visit >"our : Miss-Gibbs" .in! Sydney/.'.On;each, iri'glit.of :tho'^yeek,"stariding^room : '.:bnly'', iwa's posted, in 'the-' vestibule.:''/'As] for last' night,';', well,';.the man /who found 'standing room anywhere mu'st have been; ■ extremely' clever. ■: .•.The..]music'.o£ '".Our ■Miss■ 'Globs'-!/ is (says' ; 'tlio' : -'""Sun") : well !w.rittcity:■ -It'-is •music - of V'a'.?kirid';that/"willj,bcdr hearing'. .',a: second, or!ahy].nuriiber, : .bf -'iiiries; even ,:bjv -the; fcla'ssjcally ; -/"Mary," which;; ;is]/wa]rljled'/by ■'■•' Miss/;Blanche :,Browne',..is; a,; r&l-ge'ni, set. TivL;an,.ex-. .quisitely dainty :fraraewbfk 'of orchestra-; iibn.' ;''Yip-i-'iiddy-i-ad'dy-i-ay" iis.ono'iof the finest'examplesi!of riotous,nonsense; ,whicliv,we',hav;B.seeriV.or'heard'for, rriaiy a' day, and,it'iiis'.certainly, the .browning! !ifem roleof; the "Hon.:. Hughie ;teuryßaffles^;:: The: wayliin; which. the' Ichbrus "enunciate-''' the- '.'iYip'?;''scream, lis/truly rnarviijllbu's r while, the .'orchestfationi]at r 'date.y.,Fredf.Lesliei':Ber.tie' ■Wright/Miss' Ivy; Schilling/ 'arid! Miss:, Florence vVieji jail; contribute,',to '~the^fun-malrin'g: , '.; ; an'd' ith€--o'th^r.'-favourite^V.6f^ihe : .^ydr , ;Opera;;Cqmpariy: are; seeii arid; 'heard -to ; :the ■.b'est'~adyantage; inithbir^re'spectiye: ■ '■.'■'our---Mis's,.\.6ibbsV-'''is''-'.tev',bb'i!Be6]i-;in-/Wellington!, at Christmas.'; !///,/!■-/• ■ •/:■■ iAn;'flustrallan;,Star.;:!/// ;:■///;■'""■ ;-!!/!!! ... ; ;has/attained;! :prominence .on' the , ; stage in '; America,:! hails 'from;,-Australia, t for''she. was! born: in New. South "Wales, so that'.her: first appearance' in London the othsr day, in tho play which opened the new theatrical season, is not without considerable interest in this 'part, of tip world.' The piece,;;was i'Thel-Bejuvehatiou 'of' Aunt Mary,!' with .Miss/Itobson as Aunt, Mary-r7"a dear, little, elderly, spinster,; mid-Victorian in -appearance/ curled and fussy, a termagant on the surface, but intensely sentimental and foolishly fond, and generous at heart." The actress appears to.have made.a great hit—indeed, tho "Standard" speculates as ,to the', reason why London has had- to "wait" so long; for an artist s of such' !wide experience arid.obvious ability." !

Letty Unci's Sisters. The London "Stage" has published a peculiar kind of letter from Millie Hylton, whose - sister, Fanny Dango, retired, last month from, the- Williamson Koyal. Comic. Opera/Company.-' /Millie Hyltpn. sent' this complaint from' tho Shepherd's Bush Empire Theatre:— "My attention has' been called to new artist bearing the-namej.of 'Hylton,' who has recently appeared on the music-hail stage,, and in order to endeavour to avoid misapprehension, on the part' of the public/and misunderstandings by managers and others connected with the profession, I am'writing to inform you that this particular performer is not in any way connected with my sisters or,myself, my sisters ueing respectively known -as/-Letty Lind, Adelaide ■ Astor (now Mrs.George Grossmith, jun.), Ly'dia Flopp, and Fanny Dango (at present playing in Australia under the management of J-..C. Williamson)/It; seems 'a thousand pities that newcomers do- not seek and adopt-fresh, and-, distinctive names or, titles, and so; obviate clashing." 1 Ola of tho Aeroplane. Miss Ola Humphrey, a charming young Californian actress, new to England, will (says an English paper) play the'leading lady's part in "The Man from Mexico" at tho,Strand Theatre on September 10. Miss Humphrey recently made a voyage in an airship, and is so enchanted with the experience that she has decided to take up aeroplaning after tho production of "The Man from Mexico." Miss Humphrey will bo remembored in Wellington as an actress of certain talent, who appeared hero with Mr. Julius Knight two years ago, and with Mr. Henry Kolker since then. George Fuller Golden. When Mr..Walter Kelly, the American monologue entertainer, arrived in Sydney by tho Zealandia recently ho spoke of George Fuller Golden, who visited Australia at tho time that Andrew Mack was playing his fust season under the Williamson management. In Sydney. Golden was showing at the

Tivoli while Mack was doing "Tom ■Moore" at Her Majesty's. One lino afternoon tho two American showmen wont to Manly and nailed on Cardinal Moran, who "received" them at his seaside palace. Mr. Kelly says that Golden has finished telling- stories over the footlights. The professional humorist is waiting for the sunset as a victim to consumption at liis hotel, Grant Avenue, Los Angeles. His brother, Mart Fuller, is with tho dying man, who is tenderly cared by his devoted wife. A benefit is being arranged in Now York for Mrs. Golden and her children.. < Gulden was the founder of tho theatrical society which is called "The White Rats." When first seen on the English variety stage Golden succeeded tho late Mr. Swconey as partner with Cliff Ryland. Then he sought histrionic fame, and went through a rough time, to find himself eventually a most successful jester at the Palace Theatre. Unfortunately, this great success could not be followed up. Tho illness from which the invalid cannot recover began to show itself, and tho most favoured American comedian, as he was at tho time, returned to his native laud a stricken mani Bertie Wright and the Parisian Jehu. -'. Bertie Wright tells most of his. stories against himself, and not the least amusing in his" repertoire is one of a visit to Paris when his wife accompanied him. "Frequently we encountered difficulty in getting about," ho relates, "as . often as not ,'cabby taking us in just the opposite direction to that wo wished to go. My wife, said I tried to talk French too rapidly, and on her advice I decided to try a day speaking.slowly and distinctly; Well, we sot out for the tomb of Napoleon, and, to my .surprise,-reached it. Having made the rounds, we returned to tho.carriage, and, with all the.grace of a native Frenchman, I stood aside,for Mrs. Wright. 'Apres vous, Madame,' I said, bowing low. With the best accent I could muster,. .I: directed the cabby to take us to our hotel. -How am I doing?''l asked my-wife. 'Splendidly, Bertie,' she ■' said,' 'I'm imro we arc-going in the right direction'.*: When we reached, the hotel.''l said :to the cabby, .'Combien vous\dois je?'. 'It will be half a quid to you, Mr. Wright,', he replied; 'I used to' drive you ■<■ home from the Gaiety often when I was in London!',"

Novel Drum Symphony. . ; , In the very east end of London there is a play-house bearing the distinguished title, "The. Palace of Varieties," .and,, of this aristocratic resort, Mr. Ambrose Manning has something to say. •'■ The scale of charges, for instance, begins with. Id., and ranges up to 3d., while, ;for a seat in one of. the.boxes, : Is. 6d. is demahded. In these boxes the. "gen-, try" of the surrounding district gather, and regale themselves in sheeps' trotters. Tie bones which survive the feast are,used as pellets, which they aim with remarkable precision at the big-drum in the orchestra. I At a more pretentious house of entertainment, the continual "plomb-plomb"; of-.the- bon-es on' the drum .would, no doubt, meet with'distinct disapproval,; but the audiences who patronise "The Palace" have grown quito .accustomed, to'- such little diversion's, 'and take them as a matter of course. -.- ....";'! -' - Notes: '] ']]■;; ;,./]'■. .-•'.-'.' '];.!!..'.'>! ]'■':'] ':,.-• 'The Belle of Brittany" will be' staged iiv Melbourne'durhig the present season .of. iho Clark, arid Meyhell Comic Opera Company, when "Tom Jones" has finished its allotted Tun. -. .:!!..';''].:■'! -!. ; '..The.whble of: Willia- Anderson's Melbourne'stage staff is,busily engaged on the new 'detective' drama, founded on the Cripperi case, which, will unfold .it's story : ui,]the King's, Theatre, Melbourne,''in a few 'week's.: ''.",■'] : -V ' V ; .-. i . i "-'a■•!/:-'i'?i "■ '■"«■'.-"."'' :, i-!' Mi Miss; Dolly Castles' 'is;to be'.the'.prfe icipaligiri.-.in'.tlio.Drury Lane-pantomime this year/;]]; :';;!':',,!,,].;■;<"!:.:.4/ : > :-\'^ r i'lliamV:Audprson ; 's teuririg] : company are ' reported/;to, have made a-.-popular .success-in/the-, latest.- melodrama - "Tie" ■Bad Girbof tho. Family." ■:':■.:■ ::,.'