The Haddon Chambers Play

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1126, 13 May 1911, Page 9

The Haddon Chambers Play

Mr. I)addon Chambers, after a loiir; period of silence, has produced another new play, "Passers-by," the success of which was recently reported by cable. The English notice's now to hand show that the author has contrived to impart a wealth of philosophy and fun, of tender sentiment and shrewd common sense, to the characters who pass in review in Peter Wavorton's rooms. Peter, out of temper with himself, ami even with his prosperity in his engagement to a charming young girl, begins the play with an angry argument with his immaculate valet Pine, whom he caught regaling an old cabman upon his whisky and his best cigars. His argument onds not only m his having the cabman brought back to amuse him, but in his further demanding the company of the first loafer whom ho chances to see in the fog outside, and whom, to the horror of his servant, ho insists on keeping to supper. In the talk between this oddly-assort-ed quartet is provided the. whimsical comedy of Mr. Chambers's play. Action, however, is soon started when yet another passer-by is invited in, and proves to be Margaret, a girl whom Peter had loved and wronged and lost six years ago. The outcome of the play, therefore, is a touching story of tho love and sdf-sacrince of a couple of good women for a man not good enough—how could he be?—for either of them. Mr. Gerald du Maurior as Wayerton and Miss Irene Vanbnigh and Miss Nina Sevc.ning as tho two' women are prominent in tho cast. The observant studies from humble life are interpreted by Messrs. George Shelton, 0. P. Hcggie.'and Gayer ilackay.

"A Fool Tliaro Was," Lurid is, 1 suppose, tho appropriate adjective for,the American importation which was produced at tho Queen's Theatre (says tho "Manchester Guardian's" London correspondent). It is called "A Fool Thero A\as," and is said by its author to bo "bascd"_ on "Tho Vampire," a poem which Kudyard Kipling wrote some years ago. Thero was a picture which was painted ul about thu samo time by Sir Philip BurneJoiies, and was said to illustrate the poem. It achieved a certain amount of notoriety through the supposed resemblance of tht female figure to a well-known actress. This picture is recalled by the bright red posters which advertise Mr. Porter Emerson Browne's play. A certain part of the London theatrical public is becoming so Americanised that possibly it, may be taken in by this rather nauseous and artistically quite contemptible sensation-mon-gering. Certainly tho applause of the lirst-night audience was vehement. Tho play itself is a very crude kind of melodrama, similar in kind to but not nearly so effective as "Drink," of which Mr. Charles Warner gave such an enormous number of performances. Wo are shown the husband with- his devoted wife and affectionate little daughter. We aro shown the snake-like fascinations of tho siren, and wo aro shown how the happy homo is wrecked in spite of the vigorous protests of the faithful friend. Miss Kathcrine Kaelred—also imported—-played tho part of tho vampire certainly as well as it deserved to be played, and Mr. Frank Cooper as tho husband, and Mr. Charles Bryant as the friend, kept tho thing: goinp; witli commendable energy. Miss Kaelred appeared in Wellington ns Miss Eliiert Orion with Mr. Julius Knight about four years ago. mtos,- - The provincial tour for Allan Hamilton's venture "Why' Men Love Women" Company will bo as follows: —May 15 and 16, Palmerston North; May 17 and 13; Hawera; May 20, Wangaiiui; May 22 and 23, Stratford; May '21 and 25, New Plymouth; May 29 and 30, Hamilton; May 31, Cambridge. Mr. Henry Bracy is busily engaged in selecting voices in Sydney for the Molba Grand Opera, and, whenever ho hears a good voice, he feels that lie wants it there and then. The other night- lie was at "Jack and tho Beanstalk," and, during tho singing of tho chorus to the "LaLa" song, a line, dcop bass voice was hoard distinctly through the medley of sound that came from the gallery at Mr. Cannot's invitation. A messenger was sent to the gallery to discover the owner of the voice, and sccuro him for the chorus straightway. After some little trouble, he was found, and when the proposition was put to him he acquiesced and Mr. Bracy felt that ho had done a good night's work and added considerably to tho strength of his chorus. William Anderson's Dramatic Company, headed by Mr. H. R. Roberts and' Miss Beatrice Day, commenced a season at Auckland on Tuesday last in "The Prince and the Beggar-Maid," which, by tho way, is by tlio same author (Walter Howard) as "Why Men Lovo Women."