THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 16 March 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Bl SILVIUS.)

The World's t theatre; the Earth a etage.—Heywood. Good-bye to Ethol Irving. It is with profound Tegrct that playgoers will ray. good-byo to Miss Ethel Irving on Monday evening. Her coming has bsen a ray of sunshine; her going will leave a blank that will take a deal of filling up. It has been like a whiff ol the old Brough and Boucicault days to witness such au actress and company at work in "Lady Frederick," and it has served to cheer up those who have almost de-:paired at the modern trend of theatrics in these parts. Melodrama and thin musical comedy aro poor food for those hungry for genuino drama (who of late years have been given a klo'uo when crying for bread). It is rather unsatisfactory to 1» givon such plays as "Tho Speckled Band," for example, when wo linve not yet seen such.plays as "John Glayde's Honour," "His House In Order," "Preserving Mr. Panmuro," "Penelope," "Mrs. Dot," "The Mulluse," and n. hundred other plays which could be mentioned off-hand. With so ninny failures in mediocre drama and melodrama of lalo years, tho wonder is that the better class of play is not given a chance, At all events, we have to be thankful for having se_en Miss Irving, tho brilliant actress who is at tho top of her class in England. Old Ideas Newly Dressed. At first blush "Lady Frederick"—Somerset Miiughan's charming comedy—which lias been attracting large audiences during the week, strikes one as a good deal moro original than it actually is. Mr. Maugham appeals to have a happy knack of turning episodic ideas into good account without disturbing the novelty of his central theme. If playgoers had teen l'inero's "His House in Order" they would have recognised at least ono very telling idea which dots guod service in "lady Frederick." 1 refer to tho all-im-portant allusion that is frequently made by Lady Meroston to her late husband (who was an awful platform-stumping old fraud), and of tho lapses of the deceased when alive. In "Lady Frederick" Lady Mereston is permitted to go on, indeiiuitcly, thinking that her late husband was a paragon of all tho virtues, but it is not so in tho case of Filmer Josson, who in his quaint cold manner has made a saint of his dead wife, and everyone elso intensely miserable round him, until his second wife Nina finds letters in an old desk exposing an affair between tho first Mrs.iJesson and Major Maurowarde, Filmev's friend. In this case Hilary Jeshon, Filmer , s brother, coming in from the outside- world, notes the frigid manner in which Nina is twing treated, a-.ul on her consulting him about tho letters, Hilary faces Filmer with them, bogging for some thought ,for the living and not quite so much for the faulty dead. By-the-way, "His House in Order" should have been played by the Ethel Irving Company. )Vo shall not look upon such another Nina as Miss Irving would make. "Beauty and ths Qargc." On Tuesday evening next, ,Mr. Allan Hamilton will commence- n seven nights' season at tho Opera House, when ho will •introduce a new company in W. W. Jacob's rollicking farce, "Beauty and the Barge."' Tho revival of this piece at tho Palace Theatre, Sydney, some time ago, created considerable interest, and throughout tho company's tour in Australia it has proved a strong attraction. Tho present combination was organised by Mr. Hamilton for tho production of "Beauty and the Barge," «nd each moniker has boon cast in a part particularly suited to his or her talent. Mr. Charles Brown, the well-known comedian in many of Bland Holt's productions, appears as Captain James Barley, of the "Heart in Hand," tho part played in New Zealand by tho lato Robert Brough, and. originally by Mr. Cyril Maude. Mr ( . Brown is,tho rollicking,! affable, old sea-dog, with rolling gait,.gruff ; voice, careless,attire, and wonderful flow of language. Ho is said to invest tho part with much breezinoss, and plays with naturalness and case. Miss Beatrice Holloway is dainty and winsome aa Ethel Smedley. Other members of tho company are Miss Lillian Lloyd, Miss Muriel Dale, Miss Katherino Towers, and Miss Agnes Kcogh, Messrs. Kenneth Br.imptoij, Stuart, Clyde, John Bruce, and Hilliard Vox. During the season Walter Howard's drama, "Why Men Love Women," and "A Message From Mars"' will be staged. Oscar Asdic's Company. Tho English mail last w.eek brought to hand the list of players Mr. Oscar Asche and Miss Lily Brayton are bringing to Australia for their season, which opens in Melbourne on April ti in "Kisniet"— tho wonderful Oriental spectacular play. Mr. Asche has made a few alterations in the personnel of tho company, but most of the principals who were hero last time are included, amongst them being Herbert Grimwootl. Caleb Porter, Reginald I. Penny, R. P. Anson, J. Fritz Russell, John Flanagan, Gordon Harkcr, Arthur Tranton, Bemiio Major, Elfrida Clement, Muriel Huichinsou, and Mat. Coverdale. Tho new people include F. R. Hignett, an old Beuscnian, and in the front rank of London actors; Frederic Worlock, a rising young "juvenile," who will play the Caliph, the pait taken in London by Ben Webster, who is unable to come. Miss Frances Wetherall has a big reputation iu London, and will appear us luit-al-Kulub. Others in tho company include Pcndel Price, Olive Noble, Lilian Birtles. Zara Lander, and Mario Lawrie. Mr. B. A. Meyer will again bo general manager, Mr. J. Fritz Russell stago manager, and Mr. John FJanagan assist-aut-stajjo manager. ! Artists Abroad. Amongst various artists who send word of their movements is Miss Ada Ward, "actress-evangelist," who has been ordered to avoid the English winter, and is now due at Frematitle by tho GrosserKiirfurst. After a month in Western Australia Miss Wnrd (who' was the original heroine in "The New Magdalen," at tho Sydney Opera House,; in ISSS, with Mr. A. R. Lawrence; as the Rev. Julian Gray) will lour tho Commonwealth and" New Zealand,-' Returning via British Columbia and New. York. Mr. Walter Whyte, the tenor of the last Gilbert-Sullivan revivals, in which Miss Dolly Castles figured foino years ago, who" has since appeared frequently both with the Koyal Sydney Philharmonic Society in oratorio, and at ■ the vaudeville theatres in ballads, writes from Colombo en his way to London, which ho hns not visited before. Mr. Ben Diivics i.iul Mr. John Tillott (London concert agent), have promised to help him on his arrival, and h»is to study tor a while under.M.. Darcski, a teacher recommended by tho Welsh tenor. Mr. Whyto has been singing on board the Orontes to accompaniments played by Miss Lilian Frost. Miss Amy Castles has reached London, and, aa toon as eho arrived there, was engaged for tho opening Queen's Hall ballad concert on January 6, and subsequently appeared on January 13, 20, and 27. Shakespeare Redivlvas. Australian managements are awaking to tho fact that Shakespeare can still arouse great enthusiasms. Oscar Ascho and Lily Brayton surprised the managers (and themselves) when they came along to Aus» tralia with "The Taming of tho Shrew, "As You.Like It," "Othello," and "Tho Merchant." . • They thought hard an tho big money camo rolling in, and the book-shops began to run but o£ Shakcspeares in' Melbourne. Then both Williamson, Ltd., and Meynell and Gumi made a jump for H. B. Irving and his "Hamlet'," and they wore niado to jump until Mr. Irving got terms probablv 6uch as he has never bofore enjoyed in his life. "Hamlet" ran a month in Sydney to big business, once more justifying old Shakespeare This year we aro to seo Oscar Ascho in New Zealand, probably in several of Shakespearo's plays, and Louis Waller wheU he conies next year is almost sure to star as ''Henry V." This revival in the best of plays over written is timely. It comes at n timo when tho limit of banality has been reached in melodrama—plays of tho type of "Tho Bad Girl of the Family" and "The Faco at ' "Tho Million." "The Million,"' e. farce adapted from the French of Messrs. Bor and Guillclnand, recently produced in Now York, is described as one of tho l>est laughterprovokere tie Americu" ttnfc has 6een

for many a, day. The etory has to do with the disappearance of, and tho frenzied hunt for, a winning lottery ticket. A number of artists ore living in Bohemian style in company of tlieir models. They subsist chiefly on credit and kisses. Their funds aro about exhausted, and the laudlord threatens oviction, when suddenly one of them finds that a despised lottery ticket, in which he liad placed littlo faith, lias won tho Grand Prize for a million. Immediately thero ie a wild whoop of joy, and to celebrate the occasion tho artists begin to smash up thinps—chairs, easels, and plnslorcasta being sent *o smithereens amid a whirlwind of dust nuJ noise. When this cyclone of joy had quioted down they find to their horror that the lottery ticket was in an old coat which had been Riven to an escaping burglar. Immediately a wild hunt begins for tho missiiiK garment, and tho chuso is kept up with nil kinds of adventures throughout four acts. Tho plot, as sot forth, is distinctly thin, and not over-originnl. StiU, if it can make tho Waso playgoer.of Brojdway grin it should have a tickle hero and there among its hilarious Boliemianism. Notes. "The Learned Ladies," one of Molicre'i comedies, was recently produced in Now York with Mr. Donald Robertson as Chrinsale, and Charlotte Granvillo as Philaminte. These Americans stick at nothing.

A New Conjurer. Onn of the many departures from the traditional methods of illusionists, sleight-of-hand performers, etc., made by Janscn the Great, whose, season at the .Opera House here will commence on Wednesday, , March 27, is in connection with tho lighting of the sfago. Janscn will hnvp nothing.' to do with dim lights, but insists upon . having them at, full pressure' all the time. That in ib.elf is an uncommon proof of his ,own confidence in his skill, . but a further proof was given in Sydney, when the talented American, with his managers (Messrs. Portns , anil Tnlbot), were the guests of tho Press Club on the night before the big show opened at tho Criterion Theatre. Standing as it were in the midst of the pressmen, certainly only a feet from thorn,' wi.th no stage or assistant, ho performed a number of the pick of' the tricks, which on tho next night he performed at the Criterion. And the hundred nr so pressmen, although they worn almost jostling against Jnnspii in tho small dub-room, wore as utterly mystified as was tho theatre audience watching tho entertainer from a dilitancf tho following evening. On the Hoardings. Apart from picture shows, which, like tho poor, me always with us, Wellington has at present no fewer than four companies with their bills on tho city hoardings. Those are Miss Ethol Irving, Fasola, "Beauty and the Barge" (in which is incorporated "Why Men Lovo Women" and "A Message from Mars"), and Jansen, the American conjurer. By tho way, conjurers are multiplying. Fasola has been mystifying tho many for the past week at the Royal; Janseu, from America, is to commence nt tho Opera House on March 27; and at Easter, a certain Von Arx (Nicola's brother) will mnko the .lack of Hearts rise fiflin tho enchanted glass. The big stores in America which sell conjuror , ;' outfits must have been very busy of late. Notes. , According to Mr. .Harry Plimmcr, the new theatre in Hobart is acoustically llw most perfect in Australasia. Two unusual musical plays purchased by Mr. J. C. Williamson y;hen abroad <iro "The Siren," music by Leo Fall, and "The Night Birds." The former was tho chief success of tho last New York seacon; and tho latter, nn adaptation of Straus's "Dio Fliudermaus," is now: one of tho reigning London attractions. Mr, Williamson also secured "Nobody's Widow," "The Woman" (by David Belasco), "Excuse Me," an intensely funny farcical play carried on in the - interior of a sleeping car, and "Get-Rich-Quick Wallinford." He also saw and purchased '/Bella Donna," in which Mrs.- Patrick J: Campbell has made an immense sue.Cess. i67~ ■ ' ' ; . The J. C. Williamson management have been inundated with applications from young men and women—particularly tho .latter—who desire to "walk on" in the Asche-Braytcu productions during tho forthcoming season opening in Melbourne. I Mr. Geq. Marlow's Dramatic Company, now playing in Sydney, is to open in Wellington on Saturday, April 27, iu "A Girl's Temptation." The company, which has been augmented by three ' English artists—Miss Louisa Hampton, Mr. Cecil Mannering, and Mr. Braiupton Howard — includes Miss Harris Ireland, Miss Alice Deonyvu, Mr. Godfrey Cass, Mr. J. P, O'Neill, and Mr. H. Linden. Besides the melodrama named, tho company will also produce ."Under Two • Flags," "Cripple Creek," and "Driving a Girl to Destruction." Andreas Dippel, goneral manager of (he Chicago-Philadelphia Opera Company, is congratulating himself on tho fact that the receipts of the company for tho season up to December 7 wai 100,000 dollars moro than during a corresponding period last year. The figures isoycr performances both in Chicago and Philadelphia. A French paper states that Sembrich has lost 2,000,000 dolltfrs by Wall Street speculation, and will 'iave to resume her career as a singer. ■ Sousa recently gave 'his' first New York concert since his return from - his phenomenally successful world tour. Ho has (says a New York paper) lost nothing of his power to grip his audiences. Elgnr's second symphony'has been produced in New York. It hus met with some bitter criticism and sono warm praise. Both its friends and its enemies seem to ogreo that it would benefit by a littlo pruning. '