THE THEATRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1503, 27 July 1912, Page 9

THE THEATRE.

(Br Sylvius.) The World's a theatre; the Earth a stage.—Hoywood. Vaudeville Once More. The artists comprising tho Kickards 'Vaudeville 'Company, direct from the Sydney Tivoli Thcatro, which is to be responsible for tho re-establishment of that management's direction in Xew Zetland, includes several artists who, only as recently as early in June, were creating "opinion" in the vaudeville theatres of the Commonwealth., Thu dispatch of such a talented company to this Dominion, (wo tho: intended opening at the Opera House on Wednesday next, is only I a resumption of. the policy which was identified with tho Uieknnlian direction when 'it was last in evidence in New Zealand, li-inaldo, the wandering violinist, is tho chief star of the company now on its way to appear here, liinnldo 'stands end plays as an artist in a class of his own, not so much as a trick performer, as an eccentric player and producer r f (be most enchanting melodies by nii'Uiuds- iepresenting on entirely new concvpt'ion of fingering and bowing upon the' striked instrument; Mr. Will 11. I'.ji. ordinal monologue artist and pianist, included in his novel repertoire the humorous demonstration of a young m.in playing the only tune he knows. Miss Jlonle Mine, a dainty English soubrette, sings s.nart and up-to-date songs, all her cwn ]>ii(kii successes, dances cleverly, and die.-sss handsomely.

H. B. Irving and a New Play. ' Scarcely had Mr. H. B. Irving reached London last month after his long and successful tour of Australasia than ho was obliged to. hurry off to Paris. His attention had been called to a very striking drama "recently produced at the Paris Ocleon, which it was suggested might suit his purposes. So Mr. Irving packed his portmanteau and crossed' the Channel. Tho London "Daily Telegraph" learns that, his enterprise has.met- with ils due .'reward'. ,Ho has, in short, secured the English rights in "L'Hoiineur Japonias," a five-act play by Mr. :l'aiil Anthelme, upon which all the leading 'I'nrisinn critics ■have bestowed the highest,praise. This is' a piece .founded on a Japanese legend, and shows how 47 va-ssals oi a prinoa avenged his death, and (hen committed hari-kari upon his tomb. This -seems cheerful; but the adapter has given the story a happy ending—how on earth he has done so is not at all clear—and has tempered the narrative , with the softening influence of a love interest. Instead of 17 heroes, there will'be one—the courageous and resourceful captain of the band. This will form a strong part for Mr. Irving. The play is likely',to be seen at a West End theatre in the coming autumn.

"Ben Hur" in Retrospect. "Ben Hur" will bo remembered in the future more for the beauty of its scenery rather than for its histrionics. In truth, there are no outstanding performances that will burn into the memory. The dramatist, keenly sensing the scenic resources of the romance, has not created great characters from the many in General Lew Wallace's novel. Tho best and closest to tho author's intention is the Simonicks of Mr. Eartlley Turner, who conveys across the footlights a kindly antl fai.thful disposition allied to strength of character, .and just.the tint of subtlety that connotes the Jew. Mr; Eric Mnxoh looked well; as Judah, the Hebrew youth, but was quite iihiriiposing. as' Arrius, the Roman, appearing all th'e time as if he had donned tho dress of'the'latc Tribune and was., masquerading in it. It was Mr. Maxon's earnestness which pulled him through. Miss Dorothy Dix will be.remembered for her beauty—little more. A good feature of the performance was. the finished manner in which the minor parts were played. They were in the experienced hands of such" sterling actors as Mr. J. B. Atholwood, Mr. Leslie Victor, -Mr. Geo. "Chalmers, and others quite capable of gracing bigger Wiles.; ; Still it is the scenery that is the thing, ■ No' more- delightful scene has been set oh the'stage of tlio Opera' House.. , than the Orchard of the Palm's. Tho housetop scene in Jerusalem was, cleverly painted, as also was the tent of Sheik, the Generous. The chariot race should not be attempted. It was utterly unconvincing. Two pairs of horses gallop madly on (ravelling'platforms, a panorama behind v-hirls at express rate in the opposite direction, whilst the wings, stand still. Granted that it is a culminating point in the play, but is it art?

"Aulumn Manoeuvres." The new musical play with which Mr. .George Edwardes. reopened, 'the Adelphi ■Theatre o'n Saturday' evening (says the London "Daily Mail-.of June 1) is a real military play, with inarching music and a story ns"cl«nrly told as ,if it wero nn nutumii drama. ' . " "Autumn' Manoeuvres" '■ comes from Vienna^-but tho "book" has been completely rewritten by Mr. Henry Hamilton, and some of the most popular composers ■in London have contributed new musical numbers. There is a happy impression of novelty about "Autumn Manoeuvres"; every man in the play wears a soldier's uniform—l2th Hussars and Territorials— and all through one hears the marching of men, trumpet calls, and regimental bands.' Where there are soldiers one may ■be sure to find pretty girls, and no one over saw prettier or more charmingly dressed girls than those in this play on Saturday evening. , The military "atmosphere" of the play niade its fortune; the novelty and spirit' of it delighted the audience. The finish to tho first of the three acts is "the most effective piece of stage management in London; soldiers asleep round a camp fire in a country park; far away the challenging- cry of a sentry echoing in the- night air; a trumpet call; silence; and then the curtain.

Eight, to the end, throughout, the second and third acts, the soldiers "carry" this play. "Autumn Manoeuvres" is a" man's storv. It has. of course, a heroine—played bv Miss Phvllis le Grand—and'it hns two other equally charming young I.id ; es .nlaved most- effeellvcly. -.by' Miss Hilda Antony and Miss Ellistou. Rut thpy are onlv in the story j n a s"cnnil<ii-y chni-acter: thev ar» there to love (he soldiers—and tliey d'.> love-them. I In the second act there is ii bewildei-iii" feast of colour and iinvpinent nt Hi" ball given to the officers at the manor. There nre Jmsrle calls and fMindS' of distant firimr, but no ono i> frig'it-pnxd—it >'■; "II "limin. warffl''A. Captain Withers (n{ the Territorials), the drollest character Mr. Hunt.ley WnVht has <"'er nre?Piled. on himself "-itlrt'iP lightest of lioorts the of hat-in.<r ruined his "ene''nl's nbns. This pnH as "lnyed by Mr. Wright ] ce pt the audience in "oncfnnt 'a"Thtrr. , Mr. finbsrt Fvett was t'<e monlv UHle liuwir officer «-ho wasunt to bs bul'ief' nr fijolefl • Vr. LionM Maclcindei , and AT r . Mockay a'so wer-» "oo<!; and Mr. F'lward Siss was to Hie life the n.-nnory old cnvairy cimm.inder. One co"'d f«re-v-hat (i fine "hnractev pprt Mr. P.i« will in n. short time >"ake of thi=. And lost, bnt not len< t'">re w.-s <irel"«. cn'iicefiil. wncere Afi«s rtvaei" viHi merry laugh and twinkling feet, to charm everyone.

A Great Repertoire. It is now definitely decided that All-. Oscar Ascbe and Miss T.ily Bray-ton, with .then- London company, visit ;Xew Zeahnd rn f=i'ptciiiber23, whin they will ojjo-i nt Auckland. Thi .towns to Ve played are\cu- Plyinoiit.li. October 11; Wiin?anii : , October 13 and 10; Volme'rston N-n'-th, October 17 niid IS; Wellington, October 1!) to November 2; Chrislclnircii, November 4 to 2">; Oamani, November 25;. Dmiotlin. November- 2G to December 5: Invor-. cargill, December 0 ami 7.. At Auckland fclio star attraction mill begin with "Kismet." nnd t!:« other plays taken to New Zealand will .be all Slinkesnearicin--"Tnm-in,sf of the Shrew." "Othello," "The Merchant, of Venice." and possibly "Tho Mctt.v-Wives'<sf Windsor.' , The cimpaiir nnd m'oductious will no to New Zealand complete, .-ind each piny mill be staged exactly a« in London. Over' one hundred psonle will Ik travelled, so tint t.he. organisation will be the largest, in the drainajie field that lins over visited the Dominion. In ]xmdon,.Mv'. Asche's prices were lialf a guinea' a. stall, and "Kismet", ran over a year and at t.lv time it'was withdrawn in order (hut the Australasian en(ra.Erement bo fulfilled, it was estimated that.'it could easily have run another yomy The stalls and circlo nrieps in Aintralin wo.re. on account of the mn-jiiidiilc of the m-odurUon?, nised from d<. to 7=. M., nnd the ]a!br price rcill be the tajiff wr the Domiaiou.

j G. B. Shaw in Australia. A great (leal of curicsilv has been felt by plnygors us (o the principals of "The JjhiE Dinl" appearing in another liltiy. Jms opportunity will bo provYiul when bluiws "You .Never Can Tell" will be sluged.at Melbourne Theatre Kuyal. Briliant characterisation unci living porIrailuro is one of Shaw's stroiu »oint.« "lid the members of the company will have parts worlhy of (heir skill. An important feature of the production will iii°-i" pp ™ ranc '-' of Vr - Xormnii Page sis 1 liilip Clamlon-the -.-olc- he created in )ou Never Can Tell" at tie Court .Uiealre, London—where the comedy was Riven its first really important representation. Strangely enough, bhaw's acidulated comedy was recently produced bv amateurs in Sydney, under Hie direction ot Mr. Gerald K. Souper, who originally came ire,,,, Englnntl with tho first linear AicliD Company. ■