THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1150, 10 June 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—lleywood, (Br Sylvius.) "Tho Prince and the Beggar-Maid." Olio expects (hat tho words " a fairy tale" should follow the title of alter Howard's play, but that it docs not is not surprising to those who have an intimate acquaintance with this writer's work, which, with some sections of the community, is very popular. Mr. Howard is a prolific writer of that class of play which endeavours to blend all the elements of transpontine melodrama with the romantic historical play, with its kings and courtiers, fioricl dressing, and brave show, but, as a rule, such ingredients arc as oil and water. Whether this is so in the case of "The Prince and the Beggar-Maid" will be known this evening. Further than that, it should be noted that the play has been written down as a success elsewhere, and, with Mr. If. li. Roberts and Miss Beatrice Day in tho chief parts, the performance promises to bo acceptable. An Australian Girl's Chance. Miss Irby Marshall, a young Australian actress who possesses emotional ability in a marked degree, has been selected by Mr. J. C. Williamson to go to West Australia in support of Mr. William Desmond (vice Miss Katherine Grey). Miss Marshall is a Brisbane girl, and first came under notice when appearing with the late Mr. George Holloway, who "starred" her. She then joined Miss Tittell Bruno, and afterwards was attached to 'the Julius Ivnight Company, tinderstudying Miss Elbert-Orton, now known to fame as Katherine Kaelrad in romantic drama. Miss Marshall won a chorus of praise for her reading of tho part of Heitda Gabler at a performance in Sydney some months back, and Mr. J. C. Williamson decided to give her an attractive contract after witnessing her performance of Cilatl in "The Dawn of a To-morrow," when she played that difficult part with striking success in Sydney. "The Arcadians." "The Arcadians," one of tho greatest musical comedy successes of recent years, is to bo introduced to local playgoers by Messrs. Clarke and Meynell 011 July ti, when a fortnight's season will he initiated. Christchurch follows Wellington, then Palmcrston North, 011 August V, 8, and 9, and Wanganui on August 10. Gilbert's Earlier Work. The death of W. S. Ciilbc-rt, recorded during the week, removes not only tne most brilliant satiric librettist of his day, but also an interesting personality. Few people now remember that, before the author made himself rich and iamous with the Sullivan operatic scries, he wroio many burlesques for tlie old Queen s Theatre, the tfaymnrket, and tho Gaiety. His first was upon the grand opera "L'Elixir d'Amore," and was entitled "Dulcamara; or the Little Duck and the Great Quack." After the piece, winch was written hurriedly in a fortnight, showed signs of developing into a run, the manager suddenly remembered that he had forgot'en to settle terms with tho young author. Gilbert signified that "■£3o would do," and was astonished to receive the advice "never sell so good a piece as this for .£3O again." In his autobiography, Gilbert caps the anecdote with tho remark, "I never have!" He mentions a burlesque on "La Figlia De Regimento," which ran 120 nights, and one 011 "Tho Bohemian Girl," which also ran 120 nights, and when the old Gaiety Theatre was opened with a burlesque 011 "Robert the Devil," it was from his pen. All those things have so completely perished that in tin estimate of his literary work, published in London in 18Di, ins writer remarks that Gilbert's career begins with "Princess Toto" (ISTG), "from which date the fourteen witty and humorous libretti, all conceived in the same manner and tone, by which he will bo remembered." The explanation is that the late AV. S, Gilbert, who died at 75, was much older than he looked, so that his early beginnings were separated by a long interval from his lasting successes. Indeed, his reeollect'ion actually dated back to an evening when the llaymarket Theatre was entirely lighted with wax candles! It was at that house in l- 5 70 that his "Palace of Truth" ran 150 night;. Tlie day before the production the author received a packet containing 21 dress circle seats, 21 upper box, 21 pit, and 21 gallery seats, and was informed that these 9G seats were his perquisite throughout whatever run his piece might achieve. Gilbert declined the privilege thus offered Mm by the Buckstone management, and tho long-standing custom was abolished. The Staircase Play. In support of a fanciful argument that the latest development in modern drama is tha "Staircase Play," the London "Daily Chronicle" remarks. "At the Palladium a tcrrific scene is being enacted with swords upon the staircase of 'The House 011. the Heath,' the Claude Duval sketch in which Matheson Lang and Miss Ilutin Britton have returned to the favour of popular audiences after their tour in Australia." Again, it is upon a staircase of a chateau ill Franco that Mrs. Fowler"s dramatic sketch "The Accolade," is brought to a close at the Coliseum. But most wonderful of all is to be the staircase waltz in "Tho Count of Luxembourg," the musical play by Lchar, which is to replace "A Waltz Dream" at Daly's Theatre. In Germany a waltz is performed in this opera in which the dancers mark the rhythm of every revolution with a kiss, and towards the end they waltz up a broad staircase at the back of tho stage, and waltz down again with never a torn frock to argue the dangers of so remarkable a feat. An Experienced Actor. Mr. Frank Tyars, v. ho came to Australia with Mr. H. B. Irving, is one of the most interesting of London actors today. "My earliest recollections are," he confesses, "a round of Shakespearean characters, with Phelps, Henry Marston, and Barry Sullivan, playing also with James Anderson, Benjamin Yt'cbstcr, and J. L. Toole. For twenty-five years 110 was with Sir Henry Irving, a record engageKent. It ceased when, as Fitzurse, Tyars said: "The traitor's dead, and will arise 110 more," and Sir Henry uttered his last words: "Into Thy Hands, O Lord!" Eight times he accompanied his old chief to tho United States, and, as his understudy, played King Arthur with success. Ml-. Tyars has been to the States with H. B. Irving, and has played in most of his English productions. The Passing of the Suffragette. Tho writer of "A Woman's Letter" from London, in the "Sydney Morning Herald," says, under date of April 28:— "1 have only space to record the production of a new play by Mr. Jerome Jerome at the Kovaltv Theatre two nights ago. It is a Suffragist play, assuming that women have secured the vote and can sit in Parliament. In this case a husband and wifo contest an election, and this with all the humours of such a situation makes the play. 1 expcct jt will prove very popular, for the question gets threshed out in a manner entirely new. The acting, with Miss Lena Ashwetl as the w-ife, and Mr. Dennis Eadie as the candidate who is opposing her, was far beyond anything we usually get. 1 wonder how it'would take in Australia, where tho women have already got the vote? The danger of feminine representation 111 this country would be that no men w'ould, through force of numbers against them, ever reach St. Stephen's at all. Me should be governed entirely by women. Chinese at the Theatre. A Chinaman is easily entertained, and it is 110 difficult matter to gather a crowd to witness a wrestling match, or the performance of a sword-swallower, a fireeater, a juggler, or a conjurer. 1 he lastmentioned species of entertainer probably does belter than any other open-air performer—that is, the crowd will melt away less rapidly when the hat begins to bo passed round. Many conjurers earn largo incomes by giving performances at private houses 011 tho occasion of marriage and other feasts, and some of them are famous throughout the length and breadth of the land. A few even have been heard of in other lands—Clung Ling l'oo, for instance, performed for several weeks in London some timo ago. Afterwards he made a tour of the principal German cities, accompanied by his little daughter, Chec Toy, who has learnt to sing coon songs.

Drama is, however, the main source of entertainment to tho Chinese, Mostly all that is known, or supposed to be known, of China's prohist iric greatness lias been learned from stage representations. As nothiiig ever chaises in China, there is no pcsvihilily of having any anachronisms of costume, as the garments of to-day are cut 0:1 the same plan as were those of the. Chinaman who dwelt in the Land of Sinim while Nineveh was less than a "geographical expression." As to scenery, that is supplied by the audience in their imagination.—Shanghai correspondent of "The Stage." Notes. "The Round Up"—a new American drama —has boon .i<!;led to the repertoire with which Mr. William Anderson's Dramatic Company, headed by Mr. Harry Roberts and Miss Beatrice Day, commences a season at the Opera House this evening. The company is now visiting the small towns (en route to Wellington alter concluding a highly-successful season in Auckland), and, 011 June ]2, they are due to open in Wellington with "The Prince and the Beggar Maid" as the opening attraction. The lale Robert Brough has one friend in Calcutta Who keeps his memory green. Every year this in memoriam appears in the "Indian Daily News":—"ln remembrance of Mr. Robert Brough (of the Br,nigh Comedy Company), wlxi died at .1.30 p.m. at Svdnev, Australia, on Friday, April 20, 1000, aged 50. 'The comedy is finished.' nian in his life played many parts.'"