THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1437, 11 May 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Br Stlvitis.) Th« World's » theatre; the Earth i. stage.—lleywood. Censorship of Pictures. The. London County Council has decider! to' exercise its powers by the creation of a censorship of moving pictures. It may bo taken tor granted that such a step has not been taken, without there being ample reason for it. As a matter of factj a great many people who have visile England and America and the Continent sinco tho picture boom developed, tell of pictures publicly exhibited that showed acted scenes which were well over the border of decency. The picturc-niakerß, too, liavo learnt that much can be conveyed by suggestion, and tho cutting short of a scene or section of tho picture-story may bo as baneful "in'its effect as if the eceno is played right out. With such picturos they can ask with safety—"Where is the harm ?" It is rot there—and yet it is doubly in the suggestion conveyed. Whilst there is little risk of New Zealand picture show proprietors screening' anything that is likely to offend propriety, it might not be untimely—in view of the London County Council's action—to exercise extreme care in tho choice of pictures. There is one department of the picture business that is not given enough thought to. I refer to the pictures shown at matinee performances, when 90 per cent, of tho audience consists of children of tender years—from six io sixteen. Even tho programmes, which consist to a' large extent of heated love passages in pictured romances, could and should be censored. Your matured patron is safe enough, but such pictures implant new and unhealthy thoughts in the minds of j youngsters. There aro plenty of subjects —children studies, children's plays, pantomimes, educational scenio views, indus; trial pictures, and' innocent "comics that would delight boys and girls, but to throw such pictures as "Gipsy Love" and "Vanitv Fair" at fourteen-year-old boys and girls is not desirable, to say the least. Return of tho Pierrots. Many in Wellington will be pleased to see the merry English Pierrots again. » ith such clever and attractive artists as Mr. Maynard Dakin and Miss Elsa. Langley at their head they cannot f to repeat with success the charming performances that were given at the Exhibition here last year. As a matter of fact the company has been strengthened by tho addition of a basso; which should greatly improve tho part singing. The Pierrots, who will commence a season at tho Concert Chamber on Thursday next, now consist of the following performers:—Mr. Maynard Dakin, Miss Elsa Langley, Mr. Leslie Austin, Mr. W. P. Turner,' Miss Nellie 1101den,- Mr. Kingsley Chapman, Mr. Hoy Cook, and Mr. Hob Thomas. A Big Entrepreneur Now that tho Australian visit of the Quinlan Grand Opera Company is ap : proaching, a good deal of interest centres in tho man who has sent a company of IGO artists nearly 14,000 miles completely equipped in every detail. Mr. Thomas Qiimlan is tho proprietor of the Quinlan International Musical Agency, New York, which controls the concert contracts in America and elsewhere of Caruso, Krcislcr, Mischa Elman, Schn-.mnnu-Heinick, Sousa's Band, and other celebrated 6tars and organisations. Mr. Quinlan is a dapper, alert man of thirty-five,. always dressed to perfection,, and looking considerably younger than his years. His ruling passion is the production of grand opera; Ho is himself an accomplished singer, a pupil of the great Maurcl, and during a recent London rehearsal when Mr. Hobert Parker was absent, he went on tho stago and sang tho rolo of Valentine in "Faust" in a manner that brought down the house—which on that .occasion consisted solely"of press critics,, and the musicians. Mrs...Quinkn will also be with the company\;f. '?■'•;£ r-;;:;\. if'.^y "The Dandies." Edward Bransconibe.'s '"The Dandies" are to eotnmcncu a-.."prolonged winter season at tho Concert Chamber towards tho cud of the mouth. "Tho Dandies," who aro first cousins of "The Scarlet Troubadours," "Tho Jesters," and."The Merrymakers," were established bv Mr. Branscombo in the summer of 1910, and Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbano know their worth. Tho personnel of the company is as follows:—Oliver Peacock (baritone), Percy Coward (alto), Claude JJampier (comedian}, George Morgan (eccentric dancer), Gavin Wood (bass), Leonard Griffiths (pianist), Irene Vare (sonbrette), Hilda Lano (soprano), aud Evelyn. Ward (contralto) ,■ "Salt Bush Bill.". '~'... When the King, as Duke of York, was travelling in Australia he saw some of the performances of "Salt Bush Bill," who.is known as "an expert with tho stockwhip, lasso, and boomerang," and invited him to call npon him if Le should ever come to London. Accordingly (says the London "Mail" of March 27) his Majesty consented to receive "Salt Bush Bill' at Buckingham Palace en Monday afternoon, and to see again some displays of his skill. The King and ijneon were accompanied by Queen Alexandra, the Prince tf Wales, and Princess Victoria. There were also present Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Frederick, Master of the, Household, the Hon. Sir Derek Keppel, a large number of members of the Household stalt, and as many servants as could be spared from their duties. Using a number of whips, somo of them nearly 50ft. long, "Salt , Bush Bill" gavo a display of "cracking" them in which the lash was plied with extraordinary precision. The heads of bottles, quill pens, and other objects were afterwards cut asunder with the coils of the whips. The girl assistant held some of tho objects, and these were severed close up to her fingers without inflicting injury. The perforjner occasionally held a 'tuiii in his own hand and then, launching tho thong into tho air, made it curl and twist until the lash returned like a boomerang, and cut away the quill. Then the girl was placed several feet away from .him, and, using two whips, he lassoed her by (he neck quite securely, but as geutlv* as if the lash had been wound 1 round her neck by hand at close quarters. First the thong wielded by the right hand ! shot out past the assistant, and, curlin? back, encircled her neck many times; then the left-hand whip was used in a similar manner. Next "Salt Bush Bill blindfolded, cut a. lighted match- from tho girl's hand and a cigarette from her mouth. Their Majesties and (he Prince of Wales frequently applauded tho performance. "Salt Bush Bill" afterwards went io the grounds of tho palace, and in the presence of several members of Ihe party gave displavs of boomerang throwing. Before he left the Palace the King present?:! him with a diamond pin and thanked him on behalf oH'nr. Eoyal party foM.ho pleasuro that his entertainment had given. A Nonsonse Play, Apparently tho new comedy, "08.9," which Robert Loraine has just produced in London, is sheer nonsense. A leading critic says of it: "Mr. Stanley Miles, tho impudent, the voluble, gains access to the presence of Miss Grace Challismoro in tho character of a disinterested stranger seeking to become the tenant of her aunt's house. When once his month is opened no one can interrupt his stream of words. Ho recites his birth, pareniags, ancestry, all with documentary proof. Hβ quotes his own books, and presents copies of them to the household. Before he can be stopped he proposes marriage to Miss Grace, who rcjec(n him with ecorn. Thereupon he marches off with n cry of triumph; it is the first point in the snssie, which he maintains he'has already virtually won. It is an amusing first act, practically one long—or rather headlong— monologue for Mr. Miles. After it tho play drops, is snatched up jus', as yon fear it is goinsr to pieces, and drops again. Mr. Miles crfiilinues (0 press his suit, nnd to refuse to take "Xo' for an answer. There is n soim with mandolin accompaniment outside (BonSiehera). Thn gentleman is bidden Io go to Ecuador, but invite* everybody Io his liouso at Clnddingfnld. where 'they are to meet in the 'Studio.'" The studio turns out tn be a nursery, filled with ■ rockimr-borsos. Teddy-bear?, and expensive tlolls, and there the lovers plight their troth. A Now Dramatist, Onco a dramatist—or, for the mutter of that, anybody—makes'a hit in London,

ho gets plenty of opportunities of showing tho kind* of stuf'l' of which ho is made. Mr. Macdonald Hastings, n new playwright, is experiencing the truth of this proposition. The other day ho scored a success 'villi his first play, "The New Sin," and now 'no is in demand. His second piece, a three-act comedy entitled "Love—and What Then?" has been snapped up by Mr. Cyril Maude,'who has secured the English and American rights, and intends to produce it early—probably this month. Mr. Macdonald Hastings is writing n further play for Messrs. Vtdionne and Eadic, and lias been commissioned for future comedies by thro" other managers. Success in London is the thing! Notes, "Plain Brown," a new comedy by Cosmo Hamilton, has been secured by Charles F-roliiiian. It will have, its first New York performance at tho Garrick Theatre in September. Mrs. Piobert Brough, Miss Beatrice Day, and Mr. G. S. Tithcradge, who have ail been individual "star" performers under different management at various times, have all been secured for the PlimmerDenniston Comedy Company. Artistically thero is no stronger company now on the road in Australasia. George Miller, who gives a clever and amusing caricature of a theatrical manager in "Evcrywotnan," and who was brought out from London to play the part, appeared in London in tho famous f oduction of the dramatisation of Elinor yn's "Three Weeks." The Lord Chamberlain, having refused to issue a license for the play, it was staged privately at the Adelphi Theatre in the presence of a distinguished audience. Tho cast was a brilliant on», and the piay was produced by Mr. Ohas. Hawtrey. Mr. MilW appeared as Captain Grigsby, and the principal part was taken by Elinor Glyn herself. The waiters and footmen for the play were "borrowed" from the fashionable- Kit?, Hotel, as was also tho silverware, napery, and glassware. The production, says Mr. Miller, was altogether unique. The Xegro Minstrel Company, which Messrs. Portns and Talbot is importing from America, will commence Its tour of Australasia in Auckland on June 10.