THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

Tlio World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—lleywood. (Br Svlvius.] "Sergeant Bruc." Tlio policeman has always been a source of innocent enjoyment 011 tlio stage. Thackeray really invented him in his "Bnllads of the Force," but Sir W. S. Gilbert brought him over the toot-lights and showed us-.what au amount of innocent amusement there is in constabulary duty when handled by a humorist. In the—alas!—defunct harlequinade he was always quite as important a figure as the clown and it is said that Mr. Owen Hall in "Sergeant Bruo" has found some extravagant and eccentric fun in a member of Sir Kobert Peel's force. Mr. Hall , originally intended his work for a comedy, but the fashion of the day overcamo his first' idea and, securiug tho services of Madame Liza Lchmann for the score, and Mr. Hickory Wood for the lyrics, converted his sergeant into the customary musical comedy. .Madame Lehiuann, who first becamo famous through her song cycle "In a Persian Garden," is a writer of dainty and melodious songs, and tho has converted a number of tuneful and vivacious air 3 that move along gossamerlike, wit'h the action of the piece. Tho music that exhibits the most individualty is that supplied for the quadrille at the end of the second act, dauccd by society people in the Green Park- Hotel, and enthusiastically encored nightly. "ScTgeant Brue" is a happy hunting ground for tho comedians, and Clarke and Meynell's English Company which is to present it at the termination of Hie. Wellington season is said to do it justice. "Our Miss Gibbs." "Writing of "Our Miss Gibbs" now in Auckland, tho "Herald" says:— "Th« piece itself is up-to-date musical comedy, and, in its own class, the standard of which is not high, artistically speaking, may be taken as a shining exemple. Tho "book," as is quite customarily the case, is "thin," although a touching enough thread of a love story runs through it. Much of flio libretto is made up of duologues that are sometimes amusing, often nonsensical, and most of the time sheer "gagging" on the part' of tho comedians. Opinions will differ as to the humorous quality of tho spoken play (designed to amuso a London audience more than a colonial one), but it must be said that however vapid some of it is there is nothing offensive at which t'o cavil. Tho music comprises a collection of catchy airs, several of which have been mado familiar in advance, and tho ear is continuously pleased, the effect being enhanced by pretty orchestration. In sending "Our Miss Gibbes" to New 7,ealand. the J. C. Williamson firm has denuded it of none of the attractiveness that characterised this play of tho record Australian run. . Tho cast and tho stage setting are tlio same. Scenically t'lio first act eelinses anything seen hero before in musical comcdy. The interior nf a fashionable store, with the long flight of stairs leading ur> to the millinery gallery where the latest creations in Indies* hats nre r!-'«n!nvfd. is remarkable slawcrnft. The setting to the second act the c.ouH of honour at tho FraneoBr'tish Fxpo='Hon. and is exceedingly pictnresfiue. Lavish expenditure and exnnisito teste have be«n undertaken in W'e drnsees. -n-lu'ch will Iv> the envv and nd-mii-nlinri of all feminine beholders. Indeed "Our Miss Oi'liW lnrrelv constitutes a nnrade of olcnnFr-gowned women—in itself a great attraction.' Miss Blanche Browne. It is only given to few imported artiste to win immediate popularity with Australian audiences. Miss Blanche Browne is one of tho elect. . Miss Browne, who will be seen hero presently in "Our Miss Gibbs," is blessed with a larije quantity of that indefinable something called charm. You know when one has it, and, alas, you also know when one has it not. She also has the advantages of being a good .dancer and pleasing singer. Although only 21 years of age, she has nevertheless been nine years on the stage, and has had her disappointments. "Ir. England," says Miss Browne, "opportunities are few and far between." tier chance camo at tho Gaiety Theatre in London. Miss Gertie Millar bec.ime rerionsly indisposed, and the management were at their wit's end to fill her place. The understudy, bv a strange circumstance, was unavailable. Someone suggested to the great Mr. George Edwerdcs to send for Miss Browne, lie did, with tho result that the clever little lady played the part that night with such success that she was retained, and appeared in the character permanently. Mips Browne has succeeded in establishing herself in popular favour on the other side of tho lasman Sen. At" the fall of tlio final curtain on tho eight months and a half searon in that city, the charming comedienne received a send-off that has not often been surpassed. Miss Browne is a native of Seaton, a favourite watering placo in tho South of England.

Mr. Frank Lincoln, the dapper romedian who scores so heavily in "Th-? Gay Gordons," has been engaged by J. C. Williamson, Ltd., for a long term, to commence at the termination of "The Gay Gordons" tour, nis first performance will bs as. leading man in "Tho Quaker Girl," which is to be produced by tho firm in Australia in November. London Successes, The London theatrical season ends on July 31, and in respect to the season iust closed English papers tp hand state,that it has been on the whole a busy and successful one. Ono theatre is said to have made a profit of .€35,000, whilst another is credited with a loss of JIM,OOO. The total number of productions given during the season was 415, which included' ten of Shakespeare's plays. Those plays credited with having made the longest runs are as follow (those marked with an asterisk wcro still running in July) :— Performances. Tho Chocolate Soldier," Lyric 3G-1 '"Tho Quaker Girl," Adolphi 2G!) "Ineoustant George," Prince of Wales 218 "Nobody's Daughter," Wyndham's ... 185 *"Bnby Mint," Criterion : 105 "Count Hannibal," New 10-i "Witness for tho Dcfenee," St. 150 The Man from Mexico," Strand 150 "Tho Popinjay," New 117 ""Passers by," Wyndham's 118 "Peggy," Gaiety in Notes. Robert Grieg, an Australian, who did some sound eharacter-acting with the dismantled Hugh Ward Company, has joined Allan Hamilton's "Beauty ami the Barge" crowd. As one result of tho theatrical combine, the Australian will seemingly have to depend for a shop almas! entirely on either Hamilton, Flimmrr, and Denniston, or Anderson. 'Jlie shows controlled by these pooplo have lapped up a dozen capablo artists of local extraction during tho past month.—"Bulletin.'' In view of the fact that, last week, "The Chocolate Soldier" reached its twelfth month at the Lyric Theatre, Tendon, it is interesting to note that, when it was staged. in London, some of the theatrical opponents of the Whitney enterprise' predicted a run of less than that number of weeks, despite the enthusiasm of the first-night audience It was said that tho play was "too much of an opera" to bo a success, as . tho pnblic preferred the "more frivolous type of musical play —a bubbly entertainment." The success of the-piece has indicated, however, that this kind of musical play may after all be what the public wants.. The same applies to the success of tho opera in Melbourne. "Struck Oil" has bsen revived once more under William Anderson's management in Melbourne. This ancient drama, with the vital spark, would not lto tho same were Miss Maggie Mcorc not the Lizzie Stofcl, and probably 110 management would have the temerity to produce it without her. Mr. Harry Roberts was John Stofel (originally played in Australia by Mr. J. C. Williamson), and John Fordo is the Deacon Skinner of tho cast onco more. Under, the direction of Mr. Gregan MacMalion, another short season will bo given, at the Melbourne Repertory Theatre, commencing on Monday next. Tile programme will incliido Bernard Shaw's play, "Candida," with ".Makeshifts" as ,1 curtain-raiser. "Tho Fountain" will bo staged uu October 2, and 011 the fltli Granville Barker's play, "The Voysey Inheritance." Amongst local piece's under consideration for early production aro an Australian political drama by Louisa Esson, and one-act pieces by Edward Dyson, Alfred Buchanan, Blawiro Youiig, and William Moore.