THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1497, 20 July 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Bγ Sitvics.) The World'a a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Heywcod. The "Green" Dandies. Following up the, suec-ess of tho "H«l" Dandies, Mr. Edward Branscombe's next company is now to occupy the Concert Chamber in the 'Town Hall. These- will ba known as the "Green" Dandies. The new company opens next Wednesday ovening, and it is claimed for them that they are equally ~ns versatile and talented as tho "Keds," ond this should be sufficient recommendation. In Mr. Herbert Walton, tho principal comedian, Mr. Branscombe has secured an artist of reputation. Mr. Walton has teen round tho world three time.', nnd has figured in many musical coniedies. In one week whilst'in South Africa with _ ono of Wheeler and Edwardos's companies, ho played Barney in "Tho Country Girl," Miggles in "The Shop Girl," Meakin in "Tho Orchid." Sammy Ligg; in "The Toreador," Cupid in "Three Little Maids," mid Tony Bangs in "The. Messenger Hoy." Mr. Walton lias also.had an extensive music-hall experience, and it was whilst running lii.s own company in England in l!) 10 that Mr. Hrah,scombe engaged him for a five years' contract in Australia. Tho other members, of the company—Misses Elsie Itosslyn (soprano), Tessa" Bryne (contralto), Florence 'Henderson 'soubrette), Messrs. Kcnn Miller (basso), George Horton (light comedian), Joseph Bronnnn (monologiiist), and, William Spiers (pianist)—have all been most successful in Australia; and nil will be making their first appearance here.

"The Blue Bird." Maeterlinck's "Blue Bird" has not been a pronounced success in Australia, and it is now very problematical ■ if it will bo sent h. New Zealand at all. This is to bo keenly regretted, as past experience, has indicated that Hint which does not please Sydney ami Melbourne may attract in New Zealand. "Peter-Pan"'is a. ca.se in point, and as "The Blue Bird" 13 .poetically fantastical in character (as was Tetcr Pan") there is not the slightest grounds for assuming that it v.cuid not 1« a box-office success (apart from liny other consideration) in this country.The piny has not-been attracting lar?e audiences in Melbourne, where the Quinlan Opera Co. and "A Woman of No Importance" have been attracting tli« bulk of the ploy-going public.

Maeterlinck Honoured. The London "Daily Telegraph" mentions a remarkable demonstration, cabled by its Brussels correspondent, that look place at tho lloyal Opera Theatre do la Monnaie in honour of Maeterlinck, the author of "Tho Blue Bird.-" The King and Queen of the Belgians and a notable audience were present at a performance in, which portions of Maeterlinck's works' were performed, and'in-the'interval the author, was summoned to the Royal box and presented with tho Conimandership of the Order of Leopold, the highest distinction conferable upon art The incident was remarkable as' indicating the desire on the part of his countrymen to make reparation to Maeterlinck, who for a considerable lime has' lived in France, and whose works have been published in tliafe country, .".'.''•■"

Another Brough and Boueicault Company. • "The point of vital interest to playgoers is (says the "Australasian," in writing of the revival in Melbourne of "A Woman of No Importance") that if this company may be held together, it has qualities which will ripen vastly with experience. It is capable of reviving almost the best that we once enjoyed under tlio old Bijou roof. Wo arc not aware to what extent tho management may command.tho rights of some nf the old comedies, but ju*t a.s the Williamson management has realised the opportunity for a special revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas, so Messrs. Pliinmer and Denniston may find in this revival encouragement to re.produ'etf soiUP.of the bostof the old comedies. It is for ' those'Vrho' havo so often appealed for a better class of dramatic, entertainment for. the reinstatement of acting and acting possibilities as a feature" of the Australian .stage, to back up the movement in the heartiest manner. The. task is made easy, since it.dpmands 310. sacrifice tor art's sake, but' a very real and unusual enjoyment."

Big Ventures. ■ "Kismet" continues to fill the Sydney Theatre Royal, where tbe Asche-Brayton Company is playing tha remarkable Oriental, dramatjc-spectacle-play. A season in T\b\y Zealand will follow".'• The company will not be seen in Melbourne again, until Christmas,. when "Antony and Cleopatra" will be staged for.tho first time by Mr. Asche and Miss Brayton. Mr. Ascho will probably stage "The Merry Wives, of Windsor" in Sydney'to allow of ."Kismet" being .transferred to New land—a work of exceeding- magnitude. . Includedrin the Asche-13rayt(m Company are Caleb Porter (who :was; a' prominent liiember. of the. late Wilson Barrett Company when: in Australia), R. -1 , . Ankn (a son of G. W Anson, well-remembered in Australia), Frederick Worloclc (a famous Shakespearean "juvenile lead"), Herbert Grimwood, R.-Jau Penny, Elfrida Clement, H. E. Hignett (a. notable Bensonian), Olive Noble (who was out here some years ago as a member of the Julius Knightr Maude Jefferies Company), Alexander Onslow (a relative , of a former Governor of New Zealand), Gordon. Harkcr (a son-of the famous, scenic artist), and others wellknown Oμ the English stage. The company altogether totals 64 artists, exclusive of extra, people nnd'supernumeraries.

A Rising Star. • Olive Godwin's place in "The Quaker Girl" is taken by Ivy Hickford, a young Melbourne girl of unusual vocal gifts, who has made a strong position for herself in musicU comedy. JFiss. Bickfonl received her vocal training at the' Conscrvatorium of 'Music, and in Paris, under the great Marche.-ii. Tn January Miss Hiekford relieved Miss Amy Murphy, of the role of Nadiiu in "The Chocolate Soldier," when Hid latter was suffering from a , sore throat in Wellington. On that occasion Thu Dominion* said: "Owing to Miss Amy Murphy hnving .contracted a sore, throat, the leading part of Xadina in "The Chocqlate'Soldicr" was taken last evening, by.-Miss Ivy Bickford,- who made a brilljalit!success.. Looking.as pretty as a picture], she sail" the dillicult and hijh-pitched'-miisic .with remarkable ease and finish, and acted with rare grace Somo actresses and 'singers only need an oppor-. tunity. Miss Bickford. had hers ln>t night, and she made the most of it. Her future should be a bright one."

Milk and Sugar. [ "An interview with thp sweetest thins on earth." is liow a talk with Mr. DicksonKenwin, who plays Sugar in "The Blue Bird," was described by an Adelaide newspaper writer. "In addition to being sweet, lie is' also very refined," added the writer. ;Mr. Kenwin, who appeared in the original production in London, invented the- fingers lie wears as Sugar. They are long buckram cones filled with real barley sugar, which ho distributes amongst the children who appear in the play Mr. Kenwin numbers amongst liis numerous London .appearances a lengthy season with Sir George Alexander, Sir Herbert Tree, and other actor-mana-ners. Sliss Elisc Hamilton, who appears as Jlillc, is in private life. Mrs. Dickson-Kouwiu.

A Famous French Actor, M. Le Bargy has made his last appearance at tho Comedie' Franeaise, Paris The curtain MI on the farewell benefit performance, to which every member of the House, of Molierc is entitled by right of leaving. For 31 years tho popular actor has played as a member of tho Comedie Francaise. M. lo Bargy's position is peculiar. He does liot intend to retire, ami he is engaged at an enormous salary to appear at tho Porto Saint-Martin noxt season. But the by-laws of the llouso of Moliere, which the great Xnpolnon himself was at pains to supervise, and which lie signed at Moscow, forbid a retired ir.ninb'w to net in any other Paris Theatre. Hence the ComedieTrancaiso will he compelled by its own constitution to prosecute iM. le Bargy, a>; it has prosecuted other rebel?, surli as Madame Sarah Bernhardt and Coquclih. M. le Bargy, aecordingfo precedent, Vj- I't ■.'■r'kred lo pay 'enormous damage?. The wHo'.k■•<:?! «Jvn;-s .sentenced to pay. and never do psy. Questioned as to his motives for leaving the Comedie I'Miicaisc, M le llni'sy declared that he was not himpelf in th« leM i> bo hi any lnu-juit Hie tlaeitro might Umx asaiwt him. He <%.•.

plained that, for 15 years, ho hud vainlv Iweii seeking to have alterations made iii lie direction of the theatre, and particularly in reference to holidays.' Not obtaining satisfaction, ho determined lo resign, ■4,-i , i , at prepared to add is Mint Jio has signed nit engagement at ho I'orte-Saint-ltiirtiii, whom lie will follow tof|iielin in "Cyrano do Bergerac," nnd create Hie leading characler in 13aUillcs new plav.

An American Invasion. Three members of the new Williamson Uunedy Company, who are to appear in "Uet Hich Quick arrived in Sydney from America oil Saturday week l>y. ihi; Makiira They were Mr. Fred NiUo, who will appe.ir as Wnllinp-ford; Miss Josephine Cohan, the stenographer, in the farce; and Mr. Janios Planning, stiige manager and Irish comedinn. Mr. Harry Corson Clarke an<l Mrs. Margaret Dale Owen, two othei principals of the company, wore already in Sydney. Miss .Josephine Cohan is n member of a wellrkiioivn theatrical family • The Cohans havo l>een entertaining in New lorlc for many years, and Miss Cohan has played in tho majority of their recent productions. Her brother is George M. Cohan, who wrote "Gpt-liich-Quick'Wall-ingford' and other farces and musical comcuies.

"The Amazons" Revived. On .Tune 13, Mr. Dion Boucicr.iilt, who is lust known in London as a producsr. faced the footlights at tho Duke of York Theatre in Air. Charles Prohnian's revival of "The I'hp star cast included Mifs Phyllis Neilson Terry, Miss Pauline Chase, Miss Marie.Lohr, Miss Kllis Jeffreys, Mr. Weedon Grossmith, and Mr. Godfrey Tearle. Shortly after the original I.ondoii performance of Sir A W. Pinero's comedy, in ISM, Mr. Boueicault, in conjunct ion with the late, "Sir. Robert Brotigh, produced "Tlie Amazons" in Sydney at the Criterion Theatre, and later'in New Zealand. His associates then were: Mr. G. H. Titheradge, Mr. Cecil Ward, Mrs. Bolert Broiigh, Miss Grace Noble, Miss Bessie Major.. Miss Romer, and Miss Emma Temple. . . . Notes. The name of the latest drama staged by Mr. Win. Anderson in Melbourne is "Tlie.-Girl Who Knew a Bit." From the title,- one may be excused from crediting either tho author or Mr. Anderson with a desire to uplift the stage. Mr. Allen Doone, the Irish-American actor, commenced a, season at tho (Sydney) Palace Theatre on Saturday week, in "Tho Wearing of the Green." Tho Richards Vaudeville Company, now iii Auckland, will commence a provincial tour at Wauganui on Monday evening, and will play there on the following evening also. Other dates are as follow: Palmorston North, July 2i; Dannevirko, July 25; Napier, July .2G und 27,- Hastings, JuJy 29; and Masterton, July 30. Dates for Miss Margaret Cooper's provincial lour are:—Dannevirko, August 12; Napier, August 13; Hastings, August 11; Palmerston North, August 15 and 1G; Feilding, August 19; Wanganui, August 20. and 21; Ha-wcrn, Ansust 22; New.Plymouth, An just 23; Auckland, August 2G to 31. At the conclusion of the New Zealand tour Miss Cooper is to pay return visits to Sydney nnd Melbourne, and then, still under the management, c.f Messrs. J! and N. Tail , , is to proceed to South Africa. "Two Little Brides" is tho title of ono of the latest musicnl comedy successes in New York. Mr. Louis Koemmenich has been appointed conductor of the New York Oratorio Society in succession to Mr. Walter Dnmrosch.