THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1348, 27 January 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Bt SiLvrus.) The World's a theatre; tho Earth a Btage.—Hejwood.; An Event. Mr. 11. 13. Irving appears as "Hamlet" at the Opera House this evening. The Return of Geo. S. Titheradge. I'hn production of "A Woman of No Importance" at the Palace Theatre last night (says ilie Sydney "Sun" of January M) v.'its notable for two things—the return ot Mr. George S. Titheradge to tho stage, and the success of a literary play. Atr. Titheradge received an ovation. His impersonation of Lord Illingworth was a happy inspiration, and he got right away from himself in the portrayal of tho philosopher of material pleasures. Oscar Wilde did not write solitary star partshe placed a completo astral system in the firmament of his plays. Kverv character is clear-cut and distinct, and fills a large part in the play. Miss Beatrice Day had a. part in which she revelled as the cynical Mrs. Allonby, whilst the perplexed Lady Hunstanton had a more than clever impersonator in Miss Valentine Sidney. Miss Lizctte Parkes was dainty as Hester Worsley, the American young lady with a mission to preach to English aristocratic sinners; and Mrs. Itobert Brough gave that natural reading to the part of Mrs. Arbuthnot which is so characteristic of all her acting. "Nothing .succeeds like excess," says Lord Illingworth, and it is this inverted maxim that, is the dominant note of the piece. The. artistes found a mine of literary genius in the plav, and each part was briljidntly polished. The staging of "A Woman of No Importance" may have been equalled in its best London success by the. Trees and Miss Julia Nelson, but last night's production lias never been excelled. The Actor in the Street. Arthur Styan, who is to jilav the tramp in the forthcoming production of Haddon Chambers's comedy-drama "Passers-By," at the Theatre ltoyal, Melbourne, has been seeking "real life touches" for tho character, mill many amusing experiences he has had in his search for a real, typical tramp _who might be of use to him in liis building up of the part. "I think, that Melbourne is. too. prosperous at present to provide what I want," said Mr. Styan. "The men who are out of -work don't seem to bo too keen on finding it. Down on tho wharf the other afternoon I saw a typical 'Yarra bank ilosser' whom 1 thought a likely subject for questioning. I spoko to him, and said, 'Don't you find'it a hard existence? Can't yon get work.?' Do you know, I felt quite sympathetic about that man. He looked so forlorn, and 1 thought that lie might have some romantic history. He merely smiled at me in a pitying kind of way, and replied: 'Work? It's only men like you who have to work to live. You'ro so helpless. I can live without work, and every day is a holiday.' That shattered all the romance, and, as a matter of fact, I think that the professional tramp, in Melbourne, at any rale, is a tramp by choice, and not. through any necessitous circumstances." Miss Ethel Irving Coming. Great news this, playgoers! Miss Ethel Irving is the polished article in refined modern comedy. She is full of fire, fun, and subtlety, and is a natural artist to the tips of her dainty fingers. I saw her a couple of months ago in Somerset Maughan's brilliant comedy "Lady Frederick," and was convinced that at last I had seen a first-rater in her prime. She is a small, almost insignificant woman, with no great, claim to beauty, except in her art,, and there she shines lik-v a diamond against black velvet.

Miss Irving's earliest years were spent on the stage as a child dancer; then, having learned to act, she became a musical comedy artist. Later, under Mr. George Kdwardes's management, sho created tlie rolo of Dudley, the maid in "San Toy," and appeared in important parts in musical plays. Then came a notablo success in tho leading part in "The Girl Prom

I\jiy s. 1!or exceptional qualinealion.s speedily si her out for something more qmhitious, ami the opportunity haviii;j presented iUeM, her success was instantaneous. Mh«» critics hailed her as the most notable comedy of today. Step by step Mi-?.* Irving made hor u*ay, until at: last .-.he was acclaimed as leading actress, and .she entered into management on ls«r own account, the climax of tu?i .achievement reached, with the production of J.adv I'rederiek." which put np a record bv bom? successively stored at live London theatre.?, aiul ran for hundreds of nights. It. is peculiar how few judges there are of a good play. .Miss .Irving cannot claim to be one cf them. It. is related that she refusal ( n appear in "Lady L-'nileriek" tor over a year. Initially her husband. Mr. (.iilljert Porlemis, arnved home one day (in London) ami informed lii'i' thiit in had sigiieii a contract un hor behalf to appear in play. ,Sho was iiinous at his action, and sulked for two • a - v , s T' l J' was " le ri ' : cloud in their married life. Thru Miss Irving consented la read the part at a rehear.-al. It read T i c rc ' K '^r,>o(l; the play was produced; and was, as the world knows, the success which placed the actress nil (lie pinnacle of fame. Bernhardt in New Zealand, New Zealandcrs are to be afforded an opportunity of seeing, by medium of the kuieinatograph, Madam Sarah Bernhardt m one of hor most artistic triumphs. The rights of Bernhardt in "l.'am!"e,' in which (he celebrated actress appears for the first time in any photo play as the central figure, has been secured by West's Pictures, Ltd. West's, Ltd., have also arranged for a film in which Madame ltejane, the beautiful French actress, takes the leading part in "Madame Suns-Gere. ■" Madame ltejane is one of the best-known and most popular actresses on the Continental stoge. Notes. That fine actor, Eardley Turner, gives an impressive rendering of the role of -Nobody in "Everywoman," at Melbourne Theatre Ko,v.il. Nobody is a weird figure in si monkish robe, who introduces the play, and, as it were, conducts the audience through it—never without .i green glow of light upon him that at times makes him almost invisible against the green curtains from which he emerges. In addition to forming one of the characters in the play, Nobody delivers the prologue and epilogue, Mr. Turner's elocutionary effect making his speeches doubly effective. In this evening's _ production of Haddon (Jhambcrs's Transatlantic success, "Passers-By," at the Theatre ltoyal, Melbourne, tho role of Peter Waverton will lie played by Harcotirt Beatty. The popular actor will have a fine part, and one that should suit him admirably. Peter is a strenuous young man, who makes a deep study ofJife, and lias a sense of humour. He is given to observing people, and makes il: a hobby. So one night lie invites into his room a miscellaneous assortment of people from the street. The result is- amazing, and makes the play. Hiss Hilda Spong and Sir. Arthur St van will/ also appear in "Passers-By."

A season of melodrama will open at the Palace Theatre, Sydney, on February 17, when Mr. Walter Baker and Miss Frances ltoss will appear, with a strong company supporting tiicm, under the direction of Mr. William Anderson. The pieces to be played during the season are "Mv Partner," "The French Spy," and 'Tommy Atkins."

The Marvellous Howards, telepathists, are once more in Australia. They are performing under the Brennati management in Sydney.

Mr. Charles Frohman revived "Peter Pan, or the Boy who Wouldnt Grow Up," in London, for the eighth year oil Saturday evening, December 23, at the Duke of; York's Theatre. . The chief characters in the cast are: Peter Pan, Miss Pauline Chase; Jas. Hook, Mr. Kolman Clark; Mr. Darling, Mr. Donald Callhrop; .Mrs. Darling. Miss Viva Birkett; Wendy Moira .Angela Darling, Miss Hilda Trovel.van; a u d Tinker Bell, Miss Jane Wren.