THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 966, 5 November 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hey wood. (By Sylvius.) A New Management. The Plimmer-Denniston management has more than justified its existence. If it had only produced "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" it would have done that. As it was, the performance was in every respect on a high artistic level, and all doubts which may have existed in a new management handling such delicate dramatic goods disappeared from the minds of thqse capable of judging good work after the first performance. "Lovers' Lane," a much simpler, easier, and, shall I say, popular play, was staged and acted with the same conscientious attention to detail and dramatic fitness as the "Third Floor Back." The impression made has been entirely favourable, and the audiences have grown from medium and full _ size through the agency of sheer merit. When a young management sets itself up to uphold high traditions that are fraying out in some quarters they deserve success. Messrs. Plimmer and Denniston, if they contiuue to pursue the lines they at present work along, will command it. Paid In Full. "Paid in Full," at the Theatre Royal (Sydney), has attracted more than a usual amount of attention from playgoers. It v has been challenged in certain quarters for its ■ life-like realism. It is a story in the life of a city clerk, who has not the force of character to go through tho test of hard, faithful service, that brings its ultimate reward. Ho thieves moneys entrusted : to him. The scone presented hero is where his employer, .Captain Williams, suddenly returns, and tho embezzling clerk knows that the game is up. Williams is remarking to his faithless employee's wife that if he had a wife like her he guessed he'd work hard for her and EARN sufficient to make her happy. He significantly emphasises the Word "earn." 111 a subsequent scene the clerk sends his wife to Williams to bargain that no prosecution take place. The meeting botween the wife and Williams provides ono of the most thrilling and intense situations that tho Australian stage has known. ■ . Bernhardt at "The Halls."

Madame Sara Bernhardt, in the second act of "L'Aiglon," made a sensation in London in September at the Colisoum. She thrilled and roused to the utmost pitch of enthusiasm (says the "Daily Express") an audience fully two-thirds of which knew her only by name: an audience .whose knowledge of French was a negligible quantity. For the great mass of them were British, especially in the cheaper parts of the house. The London public waited for hours outside to gain admi.tance, and long before Mme. Bernhardt appeared there was'not a vacant corner m the vast theatre from the stalls to tho topmost gallery. It was a restless audience that listened half-heartedly to the singers who preceded the "turn" of the evening. But as the lights went down and the number "12" flamed out on the proscenium, a sudden calm seized the house, only to break into a whirlwind of applause as tho celebrated actress stepped on the stage. At such an age it is wonderful enough merely to play such a part; that slio also looks it renders Mine. Bernhardt* the miracle of tho century. She has grown younger. The last time she played in London, there were signs of age; the voice was harsher, tho figure no longer so supple, tho face lined. Now it is all changed. No art of the theatre, no make-up can account,for the extraordinary youthfulfulness of her appearance. And as she seemed on the stage,:' so sho 'appeared in .her-, dressing-room'.- ~."A superb theatre,-a superb audience!" slio exclaimed' delightedly, to .an "Express" representative. "jW'ha'J? Tired after two ' performances a • day 1 No, it amuses me." "Salvation Nell."

The cast of "Salvation Nell," now in rehearsal at the Theatre Royal, Sydney, has caused more than ordinary trouble to. the producers. There are, to begin with, forty-eight speaking characters, each a character study of an individual type. There is a religious feeling in the play that has to be treated with great delicacy in an atmosphere of "toughdom." The characters aredrawn from two distinct New York districts—. the Tenderloin and the Bowery. The J. C. Williamson management has been specially fortunate in securing Mr. Burton to stage the play. He was associated with Mrs. Fiske, the "Salvation Noll", of America, in her three years' starring tour of the States with this piece. Mr. Burton knows every character so well that he jocularly stated that no under-studies were necessary—which is just as well, seeing the number of characters that would have to bo duplicated. Miss Katherine Grey, however, challenged this statement, saying that Mr. Burton could hardly prove equal to "Salvation Nell" or "Hallelujah Mary," particularly the latter, who, according to the author's instructions, must be an overwhelming muscular Christian.

From Cibraltar to Shanghai. Mr. Henry Neville, who is so good as Undo Bill in "Lovers' Lane," has recently come from the East, where ho served a long, engagement under Mr. Bandmann, tho manager who controls most of the treatrical attractions which visit that part of the world. The tour, strango to say, commences at Gibraltar, then follows Malta and Cairo. At Colombo the companies tranship to' Calcutta, and after a month or six weeks there (with frequent change of bill) they go to Rangoon, Singapore, HongKong, Shanghai, and possibly K»bo and Yokohama. A very good class of actor was usually secured, but owing to the great amount of travelling as little as possible was wasted on scenery and effects. The actor had to carry tho load, and owing to the big repertoire needed' it was. usually a fairly heavy one. Mr. Neville is a clever character actor, who is refined and conscientious in his work. Miss Marie le Croisetto (Bridget in "Lovers' Lane") is Mrs. Nevillo. Choristers' and Ballet Dancers' Association. The president of the Federal Arbitartion Court (Mr. Justico Higgins) on October 28 delivered his reserved dccis- • ion on the application by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., to review the decision of the Industrial Registrar, granting a certificate of registration to the Australian Theatrical Choristers and Ballet Ladies' Association.

His Honour said tho first ground taken by the objector was that the alleged industry was not an industry within the meaning of the Constitution. To his mind it was obviously an industry within tho interpretation of Section i of tho Act. As for the Constitution, it did not uso the word industry, but both sides in the present matter took it for granted that if the pursuit in question was not 'an industry the association could be registered. He ventured to doubt that assumption. Ho would not attempt to define the word "industry," but it was enough for him that in tho present case the entrepreneurs carried on business for pecuniary profit, and employed many persons to a-ssist them. He (his Honour) overruled tho objection. In regard to the sccond, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grounds, he was against tho objectors' contentions. There was, however, another ground, which was not included in the.

notice of appeal, but which lie had allowed the objectors to add to the others, viz., that tho alleged members wero not recommended for membership by a delegate or by one of the members of the committee of management. Thero was no such "recommendation," and therefore persons who were not "recommended" were not members, and, therefore, there could be 110 registration. Whatever might bo tho scope of Section 25 of the Act, it did not cover tho defect on this ground. Therefore, he had to annul the registration. In fairness to the Registrar, his Honour added, he would point out that this ground was not urged before him, and in his opinion tho objections which were urged before him (the Registrar) wero rightly rejected by him. Notes. It is just possible that the PlimmerDenniston Dramatic Company may play a short return season in Wellington early in the New Year. If that is decided, playgoers will probably be given an opportunity of seeing Sirs. Robert Brough as Paula Tanquoray once more, l'inero always revives well, and it is. a long time since we liavo seen the best of all the problem plays. The company are also rehearsing "A Message from Mars," which is to be produced 111 Auckland at Christinas. Sir. Plimmer will play Horace Parker, Mr. Denniston the Messenger, Mr. S. A. Fitzgerald the tramp, and Miss Lizette Parkes Minnie. Miss Elbert Orton, tho beautiful amateur-professional actress who was brought out from England for "Robin Hood" by Mr. Julius Knight, is no,w touring at the head of her own. company in America under the name of Miss Katherine ICaelraed. It is rumoured in theatrical circles that Mr. Hugh J. Ward, the popular actor-manager, will later on join J. C. Williamson, Ltd., as one of the principal partners. Mr. Ramaeiotti retires from the business nearly next year. Sir. Leslio Holland, a new English comedian, has taken Mr. Langford Kirby's place in "Our Sliss Gibbs" in Sydney. The great hit of this comedy ii' "Yip-I-affdy-I-ay," which has had a great run at tho smoke concerts in Wellington during tho past winter. The Harry Roberts-Maggie Mooro Company will comm'enco a season at the Sydney "Palace" on November-28.