THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tho World's a theatre; tho Larttt a stage.—Ueywood. ••

(By Srtvius.)

"Mars" And Another Stsr. Tho popular and talented PlimmerDenuiston Comedy Company aro to commenco' a brief farewell season at tho Opera Houro this evening. Since tho company was in Wellington in October last year, it has toured tho whole of the Dominion, and has been warmly welcomed everywhere'. Only in tho Watkato did fate provo unkind, and then it was a succession of stormy, days, with drenching rain, which prevented the public tearing tho box office down in its anxiety to secure seats. This company, or rather its management, is working on sound lines, with decent ideals, 'which entitles it to a fair sharo of public favour. Take' tho class of play selected for production, and place them beside tho repertoire of other companies which havo'toured New Zealand recently, throw into tho balance tho even, artistic merit of the members of tho company, and ono must concede tho Plimmcr-Donniston Company a very high placo indeed. Since- they havo been 111 New Zealand, the plays produced havo been: "Lover's Lano," "Tho Passing of tho Third Floor Hack,"'"A Message from Mars," !'Tho Second Mrs. Tnnquoroy," and "Tho Prolligato,"- arid of theso "A Mcssago from Mars," "Lovers' Lane," and "Tho Passing of the Third, Floor Back" aio to bo produced during tho fivo nights commencing this evening. Of Mr. Harry Plimmcr's performance,'' in- "Mars" (to bo staged this evening) '-tho' "Lyttelton Times" said: "Mr. Harry Plimmcr has uovcr beon better suited than in tho part of, Horaco Parker, and throughout his arduous evening's work ho played with an abandon that made tho cleverlydrawn character stand out as a fino study. In tho first, act bo was as breezily and brutally selfish as anyqno could be, and tho transformation wrought by tho Messenger was always nicely shaded and never obtrusive. At the conclusion of tho performance Mr. I'limmor received several rounds of well- j deserved applause." . A feature of tho tour, has .been tho I wonderful development of Miss Lizetto' Parkes, who is to-day tho most charming and accomplished of Australian actresses. Miss-Parkes, Whoso 'personal charm makes so deep an appeal, was fascinating as Baby /Parkes..'.Sho has becir a joy, as a girl actress; and now sho has grown into long frocks and "grown-up" parts,"• tho charm of her personality, tho natural grace and roposo of her stago manner, and tho deep intelligence .with which sho invests every part sho plays mark her down for high honours in the immediate future. Her friends and admirers will bo vastly interested in Miss Parkes's assumption of tho rolo of "Smith" in Sydney shortly. I liko to consider her tho rival of Miss Mario Lohr, who mado such a success of tho part in'. London, and as such believe t v -hat Miss Parkes will hold her own with any of tho younger "stars" now before the playgoing world.

Hugh Ward on His Prospootivc Partner.

In a recent interview in Sydney, Sir. Hugh Ward said:—"l really consider Mr. Williamson is tho. nirfn who Iku brought tho Australian stago up to its present Jhigh standard. ' All through he lias had only tho highest ideals, and no matter what tho stylo of ontcrtainmont was—Shakespeare, gralid opera, comic" opera, drama, farce, or pantomime—tho subject has always been treated by him with a master Jhantl. His versatility is astounding. Indeed, such powers as thoso which ho possesses in this respect could only como from long experience, combined with' abnormal artistic sensitiveness. Australian audiences have been educated up to tho extent of-being satisfied only with the world's successes, and it is ijhis which makes it so difficult to bo for over catering satisfactorily to their theatrical taste. Possessing tho knowledgo ho docs as tn what is wanted here, Mr. Williamson lias completed arrangements whereby Australia will have during t'.ho coming year' grand, opera, hoaded by tho world's greatest singer, Mclba, and classical drama by the-finest English-speaking- actor,' lIV IJV- -Irving. Aro not these two engagements at lea3t some evidence of "what 1* liavo declared to bo Mr. Williamson's, high ideals? r Our Miss Ciibbs' oivd;«Tho Whip' will compares with tho original •London production, whilo tho pantomime, 'Jack and tho Beanstalk'—which I saw on my way through Melbourne—is a colossal performance, not only romarkablo for this country, but a production ; that could bo given with every assurance of tho greatest success in tho West End of London." ■

Mary Mannorlng Coming.

'Miss Mary Mannoring.'ono of America's most charming leading actresses and stars, is coming to Australia, y ■:

"Just now," said Miss Manncring a. month ago.to a San Francisco "Call" interviewer, "1 am contemplating an Australian tour. .My contract with tho Shuborts expires in another year, and then, if I retain'my present plans, I shall start for tho antipodes-in a repertoire. I would play Rosalind in As You Liko It'; Por.tia.in 'Tho Merchant of Vcnico'; I would produce my present play, 'A Alan's World,' and , possibly 'Glorious Betsy.''' In addition there would bo this big American comedy that I'm looking for. Margaret Anglin went to Australia and mado a big success and much money. . I should like to seo how I would get along over there.

Virtus of Good Plays. Messrs.; A. Hamilton, Harry Plimmcr, and Reynolds .D.c'nniston havo been;fortunate, enough to sccuro tho solo rights for Australasia of the comedy, "Smith, whWii will bo tho first of Somerset Moughan's plays to bo produced in Australia. Mr. PUmmer received tho script of tho comedy whilst in Christchurwi, and is delighted with tho play, Which is to bo staged at the Sydney Palace on March 11. Ho prophesies that Miss Lizctto Parkos will score n great artistic success in tho namo part, which is of tho refined London "slavey" typo. Tho play is nglo'w with delicato comedy, and tho interest is held' by tho sustained action and the occasional emotional note born of "Smith's" wonderful lovo affair with the innn,,from Africa. So far, Messrs. Plimmcr and . Donniston havo been extraordinarily fortunato in tho securing of plays'. ■'"Lovers' Lane" has proved a splondid drawing bill everywhere, and in cases where tho company lias appeared twico tho " receipts for "Lovers' Lano" have always improved. That oddly beautiful play of Jerome It Jerome's," "Tho Passing of tlio Third Floor Back," was another lucky find, and now. they have secured ono of tho brightest of Somerset Mniifjhah's wonderfully successful comedies, "Smith," now being played to crowded business in England and America. Realism In Danolns. In Paris recently an emphatic protest was mado against what was regarded as unduo realism in dniioiug. 'L'.io feature of tho third net of a new play at one of the theatres was a dance performed by Mdllo, Rogina Badet, a celebrated danscuso of tho Opera Comiquc. Tho scone, nccordinjj'to tlin Paris correspondent, of tho "Pall Mall Gazette," represented a low haunt in Cadiz, whore ilio dance was supposed to lie given.for i/io benefit of a number of English tourists, who retired, murmuring "Shocking!" Senator 15ciengcr, nt tho head of a vigilance league, reported Mdlle.. Bndet's performance tfj tho authorities as being a spectacle detrimental to good morals, and tho director

of tho thcalro was summoned to answer tho accusation before Oho Courts. The j director is n man of high standing in I the Paris theatrical world, and ex- ! pressed strong resentment at the action taken him. Thero can bo no doubt that advanced "realistic" dancing has in Europo and America passed far beyond the utmost limits that legitimately can bo claimed for art. Kyrlo Ballow. Tho London "Era" states that Mr. Kyrlo Bellow has arranged with Mr. Charles Frohman and .1 London navigation syndicate to niako a thrco years' cruiso on a steamship, accompanied by two theatrical companies, one for drama, and the other for musical comedy. The tour will include Africa, Arabia, India, Indo-Cliinn, tho Straits Settlements, tho East Indies, Australia, Tasmania, the Philippines, China, Japan, , and ' the South Sea Islands. Tho steamer will call at all cities and towns where the English-speaking population is largo enough to warrant tho giving of plays in English. Mr. Bellew will start from London about tho middle of August, and tho West Coast of Africa will bo visited first. ... v The stylish actor who shines in romantic parts is an Englishman with a goad deal of Australian experience. Boforo he took to the stago Mr. Bellew worked as a newspaper reporter in Melbourne. When-ho camo back to Australia it was to sharo tho honours of several successful seasons with Mrs. Brown-Potter. Tho fine-looking • Thespian is best remembered for hisartistic .work as Baron Scarpia in "La Tosca." For somo years past Mr. Bel-' low has been a favourito in tho United States. ■ ■. ' ■ A "Drought" Story. George Musgrove, fresh .in Sydney from M.L.. and tho management of the Nellio Stewart tour, is (says tho "Bulletin'.') simply'oozing Prohibition stories. ' Ono of them.. It occurred at Ncvcv-Mind-Where. Harcourt 'Beatty returned to tho hotel' after tho performance, and told Musgrovo that ho would gladly give a week's salary for a long whisky, and soda. Like Sergeant Mulvanoy, he was "spitting chips." Ho had Ifto thirst 1 that is made- only in Prohibition centres. Musgrovo heard his plaints and assured him: "I novor saw a better sort than tho landlady looks.' She must have a bottle stowed somewhere." The : landlady camo in. , "Miis is Mr. Beatty." -1 (Beatty was lying on tho sofa' apparently in great ! pain.) "You saw him playing to-night, ' Mrs. Drouth—l noticed you in thn audience.!'.'.. Tho landlady glowed. '.'Yes, and if I wore 20 years younger I'd bh in lovo —oh, that King Charles I" ' "Well," Musgrovo continued, "I really don't know what v/e'll do about Mr. ' Beatty. Ho is suffering very severe internal pains. Now, surely you could ' find'lis somo whisky or brandy If you only " "I'lljhavo him right in fivo ; minutes," said tho lady. "Just ! wait." And sho whisked from' tho ] room. "It means ono each," said Mus- ' grove, sinking back in a chair and '. sighing luxuriously. "Long ones," • agreed Beatty in a tone, low, deep, and '< desperately ecstatic. Back whisked tho f lady, bearing and carrying a —mustard ' plaster. •' ; i Notes. Tho Hugh Ward Company is to leave , Sydney for Auckland on March 8, and j will commenco its farewell tour of tho' ■ Dominion in the 'northern city on March j 13. Tho Wellington season will extend ~ from March 26 to Anril 12. • - . ,

, Some idea of the immense hold that "Our Miss Gibbs" has established may bo gauged from tho fact that no fewer than GOUO copies of ( tho vocal scoro have been sold in Australia sinco tho first night of tho opera in Sydney, „This total (which is from an authoritative source) exceeds that of tho total sales for any t'orco years of any opera ever played in Australia

A (Jhoatro committee, says tho London". "Daily 'Polygraph." ' has been, formed in connection with the Festival of Empire, which h to bo held under tho auspices of tho Government from . May to" October' next, at tho Crystal Palace. Up to tho present the following actor-managers jhavo joined tho committeo: —Mr. Gcoreo Alexander, Mr. Charles Hawtrey, Mr. H. 8.-Irv-. inp, Mr. .Cyril Maud, Sir Herbert Tree (chairman),,'and Sir Charles Wyndham. A valunblo block of ' laud, 85ft. by 200 ft., has been secured by a syndicate in tho most populous portion of Sydney Road, Brunswick, Melbourne. It is intended to erect a new theatre there, cipablo of holding 2500 persons, and i,":o plans include tho buildinj of a largo stap;o for the production of comic opern and drama at no distant tlato. Thero is to bo a "winter garden" for open-air entertainment, and for- the first season it.is probablo that a scries of picturo programmes will bo presented, i :