THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1407, 6 April 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(By Svr.vii'9.) The- World's a. theatre; the Earth a •stage.—l.leywood. "Evcrywoman." "Kvorywoman." to be played in Auckland on Monday evening luwl, will not iv:h-Ii Wclliiujloh ~,,tjl M,,y i>l. Tin! cost (slightly dilfcront from that of Australia) will boas follows:-Nouody, William Desmond: Yoiitl,. Klsio Clarens; l!c;u,ly, Dorothy Ciiinming; ,Mode>lv, Knid lieiinelt; Conscience, riorenco I'laltci'.v. .li.hii Kalston; Truth. Kinina ! lemple; King Li.ve the First, A. J. I'uU lii-lc HliilV. lie<i S e MilU-r; Stuff, KolM-rt Whyte. jiiu.; Pull , . ,1. A. Williams; Passion, John UaUtunj Time, William l.wkharl; Wealth, llorherl Leigh; Witless. A. J. I'atriek; Age, William Locklwr! ; Greed. Oissi,- .lamieson; Self. Florrio Ferguson; A niiilv, Mmlgo Grillilhs; Vice, \eno 'lanswell; Charity, Kobert Uccslon; JiVoryiiomnn, Hilda Spong. "Bon Hur» Again. J. C. Williamson, Ltd., is to put on a great production of "lien Ilur" shortly in Sydney, and last week a number of nuigninceiit horses wero inspected with a view to purchase for use in tho chariot race, scene. It will bo remembered that the pieco had but a brief run in Sydney some years ago. when it was cut short, b'y the liro at Her Majesty's, and plavfioers over sinci! havo expressed eagerness for ifa reproduction. A fine company is being gathered together, and Oeneral ],e\v Wallaces sh-ikiiig play will be given on a lavish scale. Mr. F.ric Juixon, hero with 11. B. Irving, is mentioned as tho Hen }lur. During tho last production of this play in Sydnov, llis Majesty's Theatre was' destroyed by lire. A Chinese Play.

In Little liuurke Street, the Chinose quarter of Melbourne, thoro lived a wellknown merchant named Kong Meng. Hβ was known to all tho community, and his name is still to bo seen in the 'brickw.irk above a couple of substantial-looking buildings. Kong Jlpng's son lms written a play, which has been accepted bv Oscar Asche, who appears to think that'it will provo another "Kismet." Mr. Asclio says that it will be spoken in a gibberish of" a phonetic, kind, Ih-it it will bo quite understandable, and will keep the action going. Th-o costumes will b.-> made in China, and the scenes will depict lifo in a Chinese jimk. When Mr Asohe returns hi London after his Australian tour, he will travel via Singapore, Java, ajid China, so that he will bo ablo to get "local colour" and ideas for the staging of tho play. The New Censor of Plays. Mr. Ernest -Alfred Kendall (the new joint censor of plays who is to act with Mr. Charles Brookfield) is the dramatic critic of the London "Daily Mail" and tho "o).v?rver," and i» (it! years of aye. Educated at. the Edinburgh Academy and the City of London School, he'became a clerk in the Paymaster-General's Office in ISIiG, nud his introduction to journalism b;gan on his association with "The London Figaro." As "Almaviva" he succeeded Sir. Clement Scott, and was the immediate .predecessor of Mr. 'William Archer. He also ivroto for "The St. James's Gazette," "The Mornim; Post." "The Daily News," and "The Standard." "I was asked to po down on Saturday morning to see Sir Douglas Dawson," ha said in an interview, "and was asked then and there to say whether.! would take tho position. The reason for tha hurry was that Lord Spencer wanted the appointment to bo inad<- by himself, and not by his successor. Fifteen years ago I was one of the candidates -when Mr. liedford was appointed. Probably one of the reasons for appointing me is that I have had experience of official work already. I was eighteen years in the office of the Paymaster-General. There will be no question of seniority between Mr. Brookgeld and myself. We are to be joint examiners of ploys."

"The Blue Bird." By the Qsterley there arrived in Sydney the members of the "Blue Bird" "Company, who open under the tf. C. Williamson management nt the Criterion 'I'hcatre to-night, in Maeterlinck's wonderful fairy play. They include Madge M'lnlosh, the lino actress who gained such popularity for herself ivhen last in Australia; Ernest Ilendrie, who plays the Dog, and who was for years with the Kendall's, for whom ho wrote the enormously successful piny, "The Elder Miss Blossom"; Norman Page, who appears as the Cat, and also produces the play; Evan Brocke and Caroline Haylpy, both of whom wero last in Australia as members of tho AscheBrayton Company; A. E. Warburton. who was a member of the Julius Knisht-Maudo Jeffries Company in Australia; ]■'. Eigby, J)ixon Kemvin, and others. Mr. W. Angus M'Leod is general manager of tho company, and representative for Mr. Frederick Harrison, of the Haymarket Theatre, London. A Feat of Memory. When Mr. William Anderson's Company was playing "Cyrano de Btrgerac" in Sydney some years ago, the leading character, Mr. Lee, made an insulting speech to the audience because the play was progressing slowly. Xcxt day the actor did not appear at rehearsal, and sent word that he could not play at night, as he was suffering from gout. Mr. Edwin Duncan was asked to loam tho part and appear,iu it in the evening, and he reluctantly complied, although ho knew it was the longest part of any drama yet staged in Australia. However, he studied hard for about six hours, and became sufficiently word perfect to go through nil right and earn the hearty applause of the audience. There were 180 pagi-s to commit to memory. This was the biggest mental strain Mr. Duggan ever went through, ami it may be «u'd that tho feat was a record iu rapid study. Hβ played the character for a week, and the season was a success, though at one time it looked like falling through.

"The Only Son." Wincheil Smith, who scored a big success in "Brewster's Millions," has written another play, entitled "Thp Only Son." Tho pist of it all is (says "The Theatre") that "the only son" reconciles his father with his mother after she hail confessed to infidelity and- been driven from home by her husband. After all is said and done in the plav, the' problem remains, Shall an Unfaithful Wife be Forgiven? Common sense will tell us (ho answer to that question as a proposition of universal application. In this particular case, tho husband has provided his beautiful young wife with every luxury, but, in his pursuit of money, has neglected her. leaving her for a long period without his companionship. She offers no other explanation of her conduct. The husband calls in his two children, his only son and his daughter, and makes the revelation to them. Tho daughter turns away in horror, uttering reproaches. The son declares that it his mother is driven from the house he will accompany her. This he docs.

George Edwardcs's New Venture. An interesting announcement has followed tho Lord Ghamlwrlain's new regulations in regard to the London music halls. Mr. Walter Gibbons has arranged with Jfr. George Edwardes for the production at the Palladium of "The Duchess of Dantzig," with Hiss Evie Green in her original part of Mndame Sans Gene. The new feature will be added to tho programme on March i, if possible, but at any rate not later than Kaster. Mr. Walter Gibbons explained that, while condensed for the music hall, the piece would bo produced with all tho Mimptuousness that marks Mr. George Edwardes's productions. "Miss Evie Greene is delighted at the thought of playing her old part," added Sfr. Gibbons, "especially as she will be playing under the direction of George Edwardes's again, for the pieco will bo under his entire supervision. This is the first arrangement that has been concluded with the manager of the Gaiety Theatre under the new regulations. I have made further arrangements with him to produce 'The Country Girl,' 'Kitty Grey,' 'Madame Sherry,' and 'Vcronii|ue,' with Miss. Kulli Vincent in her original part." The production of "The Duchess of .Dautzig" will not interfere with Mr. George Edwardes's "biff slwws." Mr. I-M----irardes is running "The (Quaker (iirl" at tho Adelphi Theatre, and "The Count of Luxembourg" i't Daly's Theatre. The new musical comedy at the Gaiety Theatre was ready for production at the end of January. Cheap Grand Opera. Sir. Osoar Haramorstcin h«a decided to ojinw) tluvitre prions for eo*t» at Ui» UadoA Qjw» fiaus« Jox tin) oX

Ins \nntri- season, m> lh.it (ho prices will now rango h-oin uu. |],|. | 01 . s |.,|| s | 0 ls . lor llii' gallery. This will In. London's lirsl. op|url unity of witnessing Grand Opera '«l tin- siinii' prices which an- oli-l-jiiiicd mi tln> i>riiiri|>:il t lira I n«. Tinier lli« now si-Ik-iih- London Opera llouso prices wi/1 now hi- us follow :—r>llo scats at. Is.. Mil ,-cnts at is. (i,|., r.llO Mats ..it. 45.. r>llll seals at Ik, stalls rodiiml 7s. lid. nnil hull a guinea, Ixixcs two, I lira-. an-;| live {.•unions. AH 11,,. 5 ,,,,| S j,, (1,,, i 1 0, ,5 1, w jt U llii' exception ill , tint g.illrrv will be reserved ami can In- Imali.d ill advance. Strauss Overshadows All. *'•>* Wsiu Slmilcy-llall, Die tnlcnled Queensland i>i;*,isl, who has Ikh-ii ten .years in I-Inijland. lias arrived in Svdncv. In an iiilitvh.iv. she sni.l: " ' I have n| /ini'is inaili- niniiv .■iiipcarances in l,om;(in a1l( | (|,,. provinces, having given recitals of inv own at Iho Nlciiiway 11,,||, 1.n5i.1.-s appearim: from Jin'' to time will, Sir IleiiiT 'Wood's Orchestra at Ouoi-n's Hall. As a matter 01 lad, cancelled an engagement as with Dan Godfrey's famous orchestra at ]'onrncmoiith as well as many oilier dales, in or,|e,- to revisit, my parents, and t<. recuperate at our home near .VulJiirn. l'wo years ago 1 toured on Iho (.ontiiuMit iv, ||, ii,p |.'.,,1k Song Voenl Qunrljv. cousist-ins; of four cultivated wrists, headed l.y Mr. V ox |.on Ferguson, an < xlord University man, who collects tln-sj old folk-songs of all iintioiis, and makes a spoeial study of them. This lour Uok nit- to Jiprlin. anionjst oilier places my own contributions (~ tho procrimmo consisting laifjcly of Urahms number., That great composer stands verv hidi in Gein>any, yet. ~<,,,e tl 1(! |~S s IJiehard Strauss there- overshadows all. Jfis predominance in his own rminlry is MiimM indescribable and lie is m .-ikin R μ-rcat headway in l'.inilimil. Tho twelve performances "I Ins Moklra' by the Ilccchain Opera Cnmpiny wero crowded, ami his winphonies fi C ure frequently in Ha- Qucni's Hall Orchestra pro-ram mes "

A Theatrical Revolution. Pittsficid, Mass.. is blessed with publicspirited citizens who, when they see (hiu-s (Wing wrong, vt out vigorously to put hem right. Theatrical conditions in the own were not all they mi»lit bo. so the Iwiter element: in the place took the reins into their own hands. The following statement, made in the form of an artistic pamphlet, issued by tho gentlemen concerned, tolls ils own story: "It will interest you, porliaps, to know of a step taken by (ho people of n New Kngland city towards the improvement of conditions which affect the and the theatrical profession. The city is Pittsfiald, Mass.. a place of 3.'U)l)fl inhabitants in the Berkshire Hills. Pittslield is a prosperous and growing town. Ten years ago a modern theatre superseded the opera hous? of rural tradition. The new theatre was built and conducted by gentlemen v/horo interest in it seamed to us to bo a purely commercial oils and directed almost solely from the point of view of porsoncl profit. It. was, so far as we could see, n commercial enterprise, like a grocery. "After a time we found that, we wero not enjoying the theatre, as much as we thought we ought to. ISarring vaudeville and moving picture establishments, this theatre, the Colonial, is the only ond in Pittsfield. We l.v;ran, of our owii accord, to talk it over. We have no 'highbrow , notions, and we are not theatrical experts, but we believe that in a town like ours the theatre justifies a consideration not dissimjj.ru- to that which we regard our public library or our art museum.

"We have done more than talk about it. Last week we bought the theatre, and we shall try to run it in accordance with our own id?as. ■ A corporation of fifty reliable citizens of Pittsfield now owns the theatre—men of vocations as diverse as the law, medicine, farming, trade, hotel keeping, life insurance, manufacturing, journalism, banking, architecture. We do not look upon ourselves as public benefactors:, and we do not intend to lose money, but wo do not care in tho least about making it at the sacrifice of our idea of what a theatre should "We have begun to spend 5000 dollars on the cleansing and re-eoiiipiiient of the Colonial, and we have already discovered some thinirs which must have been sufficient in themselves to cripple the exercise of dramatic art on our stage. For instance, the condition of the actors' dressing-rooms appalled us. We are making these rooms fit for ladies and gentlemen, and wo slinll keep them so. We are going to spend as much money for the physical comfort of our performers as for that of our audiences; and this not merely from a motive of generosity, but also because wo beliovo that it is sound common ssiise. ■

"Now. we are not in this thing for a. fad or for tho fun of it. Any advice or comment, however brief, which you may fee! inclined to send us, will he Kratcfillly rcceived and properly used. We therefore havo taken the liberty of bringing to your attention ' this effort of a community to make its theatre a bettor placo of entertainment for intelligent people." Notes. Miss Lillah llacarthy and Mr. Granville Barber havo gone into joint management in London. Their first production was Jvden Philpott's "The Secret Woman," the play which the Censor insisted on cutting about 'for public performance. This was resented to such e.n extent that a number of private performances were arranged. Tho cast included Messrs. Claudo King, Horace Hodge?, and Miss Janet Achurch.

Sir K. lirerliohm Tree revived "Trilby" nt His Majesty's Theatre, London, on February 19, with the actor-n'nunger once more as Svcncali, Kdmnnd Maurice as Taffy, A. K. Geoim- as tho Loird, K. I). Swinlev'ns Little llillee, and Miss Phyllis Neilson-Terry as Trilby.

In a spirit of fun. no doubt, Messrs. Charles Hawtrey and Frank Curzon revived Charles Hrnokfteld's comedy, "Dear 01(1 Charley" in London on February 20. This comedy was written in th« cavalier days of tho present Censor of I'lays, and its revival after the fierce controversy following on Mr. Krookfiold's appointment should !-.!> interesting.

"Tho Fire Screen" is the tit!? of Alfred Sutra's latest play, produced nt the Ciarrick Theatre, London, on February 7. The "Daily Telegraph" conclude* a highly involved critique by saying :—"The play has one masterly character, and many good scenes. As a whole it is not to bo put on a level with some of Mr. Siilro's other work. Hut the (laws, which hayo been sufficiently indicated, do not spoil it. A play to bo seen and heartily enjoyed, and well deserving the growing enthusiasm of its welcome." .

New Zealand is just mow experiencing a small invasion of side-lines—mostly American—in the theatrical business. Janson, the "transformist," now at thn Opera House, performing prodigies in the black art. is the vanmiard of tho Utfcle army. lie will l>a followed by tho 'Norwoods, hypnotists; thru will follow Von Arx, n conjuror (brother of Nikola, who visited Wellington last year); ami after that still another dealer in stage magic, named Do Villiers, is to pile mystery on mystery. When the theatre-going public has digested tho efforts of th?se people tho science of deception will bo duo for a long rost. The dates for the Plimiuer-Dcniiiston Comedy Company in New Zealand aro as follow:'—lnvercarjjill, September 2 and 3; Uunedin, September i to fl; Chvistchurch, September 12 to 20; Wellington, September 23 to October 2; Auckland, October li to 19. Of the productions now running at tho Louden theatres, no fewer than' m.\ aro included amongst the J. C. Willinnuon attractions for Australia. These iwiude the following striking successes: "Delia Donna" at the St. James, "The Count of Luxembourg" at Daly's, "Tho Nightbirds" at tho Lyric, and "Moiistm , " at the Shaftesbury. All of these will Iβ staged in Australia in due course.

the "advance guard" of tlie AschoBrayton Oemipanv lias arrived in Melbourne. The enriy-eomcrs include Mr. J. I'ritz-Kusfcll, the stage manager, who to here with the company on .its last visit; Jli?3 Bessie. Mnior, who u:\de a big hit in "The Merry Wives of Windsor" when Mr. Aseho staged that play in Melbourne, and win) went with tho'■■•ompany to London. .Miss M'nvcr has a congenial part in "Kismet." Mr. Mat. Cnverdale. tho head mechanist, has also rcin-hrd Melbourne The remainder of I,'ie company will arrive liy Ihe next two mail bti'umers from England.