THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 984, 26 November 1910, Page 13

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; tho Earth a ■ stage.—Ecywood. (Bi Sylvius.) ( Nellie Stewart's Provincial Tour. Miss Nollio Stewart and her own specially-selected supporting company of SO artists, including Mr. Harcourt Beatty, will begin a tour.of the Now Zealand "smalls" in "Sweet Nell of Old Drury" at Gore on Tuesday, November 29. The tour will include Balclutlia November 30, Oamaru December 1, Timaru. December 2, Ashburton December 3, when tho company will proceed to tho'West Coast. Mastortoil will follow on December 24, Palmerston iNortli on December 2C, Marton December 27, Wansanui December 2S and 29, btratford December 30, New Plymouth JJccember 31 ami January 2, Hawera January 3, Foiltling January i, Dannevirko January 5, Napier January 6 and 7, and .Hastings on January 9. "Sweet IN ell will ba staged in each of tho above, towns on'a complete scale of magnificence, and with every attention to detail. Tho bos plans will bo opened at tho local depots for each performance, six days ahead of tho openinc night. ' l r An Interesting Revival. During tho Christmas season of tho iJimraer-Demuston Company tho master problem play of the last century, lineros Second Mrs. Tanqueray," is to bo revived. As it is ten or twelve years since this brilliant play has been in New Zealand there is suro to bo a Jot of interest in tho performance, particularly as Mrs.. Robert Brough—tho only Paula .Tanqueray wo have ever known—will reappear in. tho wonderful role. The caste, too, will bo a strong one. Mr. Harry Plimmer, who played Aubrey Tanqueray throughout tho East with the Brousrh Company after tho secession of Mr. Geo. S. Titheradge, will'play his old part; Mr. Reynolds Denniston .will play Captain Ardale, Mr. Henry Neville will bo the Caylcy ■Drummlo, and Miss Lizette ParkesNviil be Ellean (Paul's daughter from the convent); ■ ,- Tho Auckland season, beginning on .Monday, December 26 T (Boxing Night), will commence with "A Message from -Mars," a play that breathes the very bouquet- of Christmas a la Dickens—tho Christmas that we all like to ' imagino is "real • English" in I sentiment.' It is tho happiest idea to stage this dramatic analosry' to tho "Christmas. Carol" at 'Christmas time, and its influence should benefit tho charities. .There will, in all probability, 'be revivals of '-'Lover's Lano'-' aiid "Tho Passing of tho Third Floor Back" during tho season. Between now and then tho company, which has continued to earn golden opinions in tho south, will play as follows:—Masterton December 2 and 3, Dannevirke December 5, Hastings December 6, Napier December 7 and 8, Gisborno December. 10-to 13. • By tho way, tho management of .this company have received information from Mr. Allan Hamilton (in Sydney) that he has secured for them tho sue-, cessful comedy, "My Wife's Husband," a "screamer," by' Mr. Frederic Horner, which play will, also bo pro-, duced, durins. tho -Auckland season.! This will be,of interest to Wellington, as 'the company has arranged to ,play a. brief return season of seven nights hero, .staging "A-Message from Mars," "Tho Second Mrs. Tnnqucray," and "My Wife's Husband," and perhaps another performance of "Tho Passing of tlib'Third Floor Back." > ■'; ." Encouraging British Voices. The ."British-Australasian" --pi October "6 published this paragraph:—"Miss Brenda Barnet, who is engaged in tho Bcecham Opera Company, has a part in 'Elektra, , the Richard Strauss opera, oil Tuesday night. Brenda Barnet is a Sydney soprano, daughter of Mrs. M. Stewart. Barnet, Ranelagh Gardens, Darling Point. Mr. Beeeham is giving a chance '■ to English and Australian singers which no. ono else has ever done, and consequently deserves 'all- the good wishes of Australian artists and playgoers." ' ■

Mr. Beecham is the son of tho famous pill manufacturer. His object is to provide good opera at reasonable prices all tho year round in London. After seeing ono of tho ■ performances recently a wag is said to liayo remarked that it was worth three guineas a box. Notes. . The original "Merry Widow" at Daly's, 'London, is about to becomo a wife. Miss Lily Elsio has in point of fact becomo engaged to be married. i Still- another clergyman preached a sermon on "The Passing ot the Third floor Back" at Timaru on Sunday evening last. It is related also that a prominent sportsman in Duncdin understood that tho leading, character in tho play was a footballer. , ■ John Utting, who wrote up the story of Herbert Flemming's.theatrical career a few years ago, states that "Tho Lono Hand" articles on. Australian Mummers have erred iu claiming Plcmming as a Maorilaiider. He was a Cockney by birth, it appears, and had put in some time as an amateur on tho boards of London suburban theatres ere lie migrated.to Maoriland for, his health's sake. But seeing that- Flemming was only 22 when he changed 'his hemisphere, and had begun bis new lifo in a wool storo at Christchurch beforo taking to tho professional stage, "Tho-Lono Hand" writer may bo pardoned for classing him among Maoriland actors.— "Bulletin." "Our Miss Gibbs"—the Christmas bill for Wellington—continues to boom along at His Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; It is tho biggest musical comedy success sinco "The Merry AVidow.".