THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 990, 3 December 1910, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The 'World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywood. (By Si'lvius.) - Fred Craham's Company. Mr. Fred Graham, -who heads his own comedy company, which hi to stago "Tlio Brixton Burglary" at tho Opera Houso to-night, has had a successful laughter-making carccr. ■ On his original appearance in tho colonics, ho was engaged for a six months' tour, but stayed threo and a half years with the "firm," and then "wont on tho road for himself." Ho won his spurs as Fred Leslio's successor at the London Gaiety in "Little Jack Sheppard," after which he toured in drama, burlesque, and pantomime throughout the English provinces, and returned to Drury Lano and tho Gaiety as tho principal in a number of leading productions. While with Mr. Williamson, Mr. Graham produced, and played principal' comedian in, tho following picces:—"San Toy," "Runaway Girl," "Belle of New York," "In Town," "Tlio Circus Girl," "Tho French Maid," "Tho Messenger Boy,'' "Floradora," "A Gaiety Girl," "Alice in 'Wonderland." His. representation of Mrs. Sinbad, in tho "Sinbad the Sailor" pantomime, in which he told the droll story, "Man, by 0110 who knows him," surpassed every tiling of tho kind iu Australia. "The Brixton Burglary" is described as a bright and breezy comedy, illuminated with some lively songs and dances. Tho company includes Mr. Gerald Souper, who was a member of the Oscar Asclio Company. "The Dollar Princess." While I regret to hear that tlio. visit of "Our Gibbs" to Wellington is indefinitely postponed, o'wing to ; the splendid time she is having in Sydney, Wellington will doubtless .welcome with open arms "Tho Dollar Princess," a musical comedy which has a success wherever produced, and which iu London was regarded as a fitting successor to "Tho Merry Widow." That it will bo adequately presented, therocan bo. no anticipatory doubt. Tho New Comics is merely another name for the Royal Comics, and both shows run neck and neck in public popularity. Though wo will not see Miss Blajieho Brown (who has become such a favourite ill Sydney), Mr. Leslie Holland, Mr. Bertie, Wright, and Mr. Iluggiiison, wo will have Miv Bert Gilbert, Miss Toby ; Clande, Miss Florence Young, Mr. and Mr. Wm. Percy to carol to us during the Christmas season. " Two Gsofl Plays. The' Plimmer-Denniston Dramatic Company, which has so f:y set a high standard, both in plays and performance, have secured the rights of Somerset Maughan's most successful comedy, "Smith" (tho play in which Miss Marie Lohr made such a pronounced success in London, .'and which is now being played in New. 'York by Mr. John Drew), and that sterling drama, ' "The .Mills of God," described as 0110 of tho strongest and best-written plays seen in tho colonies for years. Tho. company is especially fortunate in securing"Smith" (a play which has never failed to attract anywhere),', and especially fortunate in having at its disposal for tho leading part, an actress so ideally constituted for tho role of Smith as Miss Lizette Parkes. A New Comic Opera Company. Mr. Frank Dauby will be tho chief comedian of the new company engaged by Clarke and Meyncll for tho production of "Tho Gay Gordons," and . will appear in the role of Nat, a bombastic and eccentric showman. Another prominent member of the cast will bo Mr. Frank Lincoln, who has had a long experience in tlio part of Angus Graeme in London and the provinces. Others of tho company will be Miss Evelyn Aborn, who has appeared with Frank Curzon's and George Edwardes's companies ; Miss Nellie Cosens,. who plays Connie Ediss parts, of the nature of Mrs. Smith in '.'The Arcadians"; Miss Sylvia Maurier, from tho Prince of Wales. Theatre, London; Miss.Kathleen Starling, who numbers amongst her successes, the rolo of Sally Hook in the provincial production of "Miss Hook of Holland"; Miss Esiiio-Edwards, who has been a prominent'member of Frank Curzon's London company; Miss Mabel Dark, from Mr. George- Edwardes's company at Daly's Theatre; Miss Nellie Finuis, who has played • soubrettc roles with Mr. George Dance's London company. Mr.-Albert Vernon, the musical director, and,- Mr. George Wynn, under whoso chargo the company will be, have already arrived in Australia. The New. York Opera Season. For the first timo for two or three feverishly active years New York has only 0110 houso dedicated to grand opera. Oscar Hammcrstein, the wonderful, has resigned from the field of grand opera, and tho Metropolitan will no longer have tho Manhattan as a competitor,. Tho consequence! is that not nearly so many novelties or artists will bo'required;'to fill out' tho twenty-two weeks' season, and a- more peaceful atinosphero will pervade . grand opera circles than in tho artistic hurly-burly created by the hot competition of recent seasons; The Metropolitan will bo under the ..direction of Signor Ga-tti-Casazza" who is tprmed thdj "artistic 'dictator." Tho bright particular light of the sea-son will be the premiere, of Puccini's _new-' opera "The Girl, of tho Golden West" (produced ere this). The iibret-to, - written . by Zangarini/ and Civini, is,, of course, based oil David Bela-sco's play of the same, name (played in Wellington some two years ago by a company headed by Miss Tittel Bruno and Mr. Tlios. Kingston). Great things arc expected of tho opera and its production. Puccini was expected to attend the premiere in. person,'and Toseanini was to conduct. Erny ■ Destinn was cast for the titlo rolo, with Caruso as the road agent-, and Amato as tho Sheriff—the three most important characters. But there arc a number of secondary roles, and as tho composer is said t-o liavo vested theso with musical difficulties it.was more than likely that there would bo an all-star cast. Among tlio composers to visit New }ork to witness the performance of their works were Humperdinck, Debussy,- Mascagni, and Puccini, and tho artists include Campanini (conductor), Melba. Sophie, Brandt. Edmond Clement, Bessie Abbott, Destinn, Caruso, Amato, Scotti. Ferrar, Fremstad. Sammarco, John M'Cormack, Mary Garden, Reii-nud, Marguerite Sylva, and Bress-lcr-Giaiioli. Besides "Tlio Girl of tlio Golden West" several new operas will vibrato for the first timo in American air. These includo Mascagni's "Ysobel," SaintSaens' "Henry VIII," Ganne's "Hans, tlio Flute Player." Notes. "So you've seen my new part?" said tho actor smilingly. "How did you think I acted it?" Tho girl looked at him: "I left tho thea.tre with intense delight 1" she replied. "Why is it," asks a dramatic .critic, "that when reporters are put on the stago they aro always made absurd?" Perhaps it is bccauso tho playwright invariably takes a dramatic critic as his prototype. Miv P, G. Ivonody, tho art critic, has bec-n to the Passion Play at Oheramniergnit. Writing in tho London "Evening News," ho says: "The Passion Play has ceased to be an impressive artistic production, because it is no longer the natural expression of unsophisticated re-

ligious enthusiasm. There is too much conscious art in it, crude, bnt not naive.", ... . ... Henry Arthur Jones suggests a tax on bad theatrical jokes. . But' if' Mr. Jones's conscience pricks him, surely 1)0 caii l'onvard "conscience money" to tlie Chancellor of the Exchequer without dragging other people to extra expense. 1 rovinciat playgoers aro staying away from the theatre bccauso they iind 110 originality there —nothing but London plays and an imitation of .London actlug. This vicious- system is killing tho provincial theatre, and it is killing English (histrionic art.— 1 "fall Mall Gazette." 'Iho new Viscountess Torrington- is tho daughter of a bricklayer. In 1594 Mr. Souray was living at Barking, where he was engaged by Messrs. Kirk and Randall, tbo contractors, -to work on the public offices which were then being built. Mr. Souray was grieved when his daughter decided to becomo an actress, but after she had- achieved success he was delighted. The Plimmer-Denuiston Company, which gavo so much genuino . pleasure to ■ Wellington playgoers,' will continue its tour of tho North Island at Masterton this evening, ' when "Tho Passing of the Third Floor Back" will bo produced. Dannevirke, Hastings, Napier, and'Gisborue will bo visited in that order. Tiio company -is to play a return season iii Wellington, commencing .February 10. ,Mr.'Neil Kenyon, tho Scotch comedian, who arrived in Wellington from London a fev.; weeks ago, oil holiday, is now; appearing at the Tivoli Theatre, Sydney. Mr. Harry, Phydora, hero recently with "Aladdin," is appearing at the National' Theatre, Sydney. Entertainers aro an unappreciated class. A conjurer, performing a trick which requires, eight- hours' daily practice, heard a lady in the-audieuco murmur, "I supposo he's in some business in the day time." ; 1 While "Sir Walter Raleigh" was. being, played in Dui»!in tho other flight, a young man roso in, the dress circle and protested against "this insult to tho" Catholic faith." This was the' signal for a great outcry in the gallery, and for some time a storm of hissing an'd booing interrupted tho progress of tlie play. Tho demonstration ended! with tho singing of tlie Raman Catholic hymn "Faith of Our Fathers." The play had, it is said, been specially reconstructed and "sterilised" for Irish audiences.